Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Russian Police Know Who Wrote Gpcode Virus

Posted by timothy on from the nyet-nyet-nyet- dept.

rifles only writes "Russian police almost certainly know the identity of the programmer responsible for the frightening 'ransomware' crypto virus, Gpcode, which has hit the Internet several times since 2006, says a story at Techworld, which has tapped a Kaspersky Lab researcher. Gpcode used 1024-bit RSA/128-bit RC4 to lock up victims' data, an uncrackable combination that left the world with only one solution: find the virus author to get the master key. So why don't the cops do anything? Good question, but this is Russia we're talking about."

6 of 201 comments (clear)

  1. The enemy of my enemy is my friend by zappepcs · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Who is to say that Russian authorities are not using this coder as a cover for much more malicious activities? All we know is that there is a virus that encrypts your data. What is it that we don't know yet?

    --
    Support NYCountryLawyer RIAA vs People
  2. So why don't the cops do anything? by Daimanta · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Simple. They have an ulterior motive in not dragging his ass to prison. That or they're lying. Or lazy.

    --
    Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power lost.
    1. Re:So why don't the cops do anything? by phayes · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Theres a world of difference between knowing who did something, and having enough proof to be able to arrest them, charge them and convict them.

      There is a only a world of difference in countries that have an independant judiciary. In Putin's Russia where the judiciary is only there to serve as a fig leaf for Putin's ambitions, there is no difference at all...

      --
      Democracy is a sheep and two wolves deciding what to have for lunch. Freedom is a well armed sheep contesting the issue
  3. Re:what? by The+Master+Control+P · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The implication is that the Russian government is explicitly corrupt and does not put on any pretense of enforcing the law but instead protects those with money or ties to money.

    See also: Russian Mafia.

  4. Re:in America by I'm+not+really+here · · Score: 5, Interesting
    DISCLAIMER: I have friends from each of the countries mentioned below, and do not think this of them or their countries of origin.

    It is not xenophobia, it is simply stereotyping other cultures. Not that this is the best behavior, but it is common. Here are a few others that are often seen bandied about:
    • French: Stuck up snobs who run away from any fight.
    • German: Stubborn amoral mules who are in denial of Hitler and the Nazi regimes atrocities.
    • Australian: Down-under hicks who always say "G'Day mayte"
    • Americans: Fat slobs who think they're better than everyone else
    • British: Inbred, with bad teeth
    • Africa: Everyone is poor, hungry, and lives in a mud hut.

    Now that I've evenly offended pretty much everyone, please read the following before modding me into oblivion:

    Stereotyping is what happens when somenoe only sees what little they see in the news or what little they see from video games or movies.

    People from France are people (some nice, some not). People from Germany are people (some nice, some not). Etc., etc...

    Point being - People are just people, but often, for convenience, people latch onto the stereotypes and just repeat those.

    To be honest, for many Americans, their understanding of Russia is likely as follows:
    AllOfMP3.com, Russian Mafia from movies, and the Cold War in the history books.

    It's sad, I know.

    --
    Before commenting on the Bible, please read it first
  5. There is no police in Russia by svadu · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It's funny to mention there is no police in Russia, It's actually called militia :)