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Hackers Underworld 2: Forbidden Knowledge
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Hackers Underworld 2: Forbidden Knowledge.iso
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VIRUS
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CRYPTLET.TR2
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1992-08-25
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**************************************
The CRYPT newsletter: semi-serious ish
number 2, or another in an intermittent
series. --URNST KOUCH. M.CS, D.d.(Master:
Cork-Screwin', Dirty-Dealin', etc.)*
***************************************
*[I got this from George C. Scott in "The Flim-Flam Man."
You should ren this excellent movie; perhaps even use
'The Flim-Flam Man' as your 'handle.'!]
NEWS! NEWS! NEWS! NEWS!
Hot from the gossip-mongers on the FidoNet virus echo:
Tim Caton (The Pallbearer) and a member of
Phalcon/SKISM, were recently given three month furloughs by moderator
Frans "Dutch" SomethingorotherAndersssomething for yakking
about virus exchanges, etc., blah-blah-blah. In "Dutch's"
own words: they were "excommunicated."
"Excommunication" translates loosely as "you can still
post, but no one is allowed to reply to you or they
will be excommunicated, too." No word from "Dutch"
on the inherent 'unworkability' of this arrangement,
although Caton continues to post and receive responses.
Apparently, even "Dutch" doesn't believe his own spout.
As for Caton: "This is just a hobby for me, you hear,
a hobby!! I could be baskin' in the sun in Florida!"
he bellowed.
The "Dutch" policy also does not explain why FidoNet
fave Gary ("I've been programming in assembly for 14
years!") Watson is given such a long leash to discuss
transfer of viral material when newer members are
continually slapped around for discussing the same
general topics.
Speaking of that rogue, Watson, wasn't it he
he who spent a recent afternoon running SCAN over
about 650,000 (?!??!) MtE loaded viral samples?
Now, izzit me, or does this strike you as nuts?
There is such a thing as being thorough, and then
there is: CLEARLY INSANE. Working on your
Ph.D. thesis Gary? I'm glad I'm not on your
committee - pass the No-Doze, Quimby, Watson's giving
his research report on the MtE thisafter...
SPOTTED ON THE CSERVE VIRUS FORUM: 'Outlaw Joz'
and 'Bocephus' viruses have been seen plaguing hapless
corporate stiffs. Our salute to whomever is responsible
for naming 'Outlaw Joz'! Obviously, they know how to
come up with a classy moniker.
Also seen (hey, this is like being one of those Audobon
society 'birder' weenies): GEEK virus, a mini-epidemic of
4096 and NPOX.
And a special slap upside the head to Virus Bulletin
'journalist' Mark Hamilton. Hamilton recently sent
derogatory private e-mail blind-siding fellow VIRUSFORUM member
Eric Essman as "a sleaze." Amazingly, Hamilton sent it
to Essman, too (by mistake, apparently).
Essman promptly turned it into a 'public' multi-mail. Oops!
Pay more attention to those account addresses, Mark!
That's an e-mail faux-pas!
THE GENVIR 1.0: THREAT OR MENACE??
Have you seen this program: The GENVIR 1.0 French virus
generator?
Outwardly, it's quite an elaborate menu-driven viral
design suite for "researchers." But when you get to
the punchline - the time for it to cough up a virus
to your specs - up comes a 'crippleware' nag screen.
Better part with the francs first and register, it
sez, or no viruses for you!
Well, c-a-l-l-l-l-l-l Dr. FileFinder!
In any case, the GENVIR 1.0 remains interesting for a number of
reasons. First, it's copyright date of 1990 makes it an early
attempt, if legit, to derive cash from viral code. This
predates Mark Ludwig's "Little Black Book" and viral companion
disk by at least two years.
Second, it shows that someone thought that a viral programming
tool had commercial potential, never mind the possible legal
ramifications.
Third, since it's 'crippled' shareware, the possibility exists
that GENVIR 1.0 is the software equivalent of the Piltdown
Man - an elaborate hoax designed to entice saps into sending
their hard-earned cash money to an anonymous POB. Haha!!
Whatever the truth, the GENVIR 1.0 is surrounded in controversy,
generated, perhaps, by the rage of virus fanatics who spend the
precious filepoints to download it.
Is there a GENVIR virus (like MANTA) floating around?
You tell me if you've got the 'registered' version!!*
[*Note: if you obtain GENVIR 1.0, better have your pocket
French-English dictionary ready. It's 100% frog, but
still easily doped out if you've got the patience.]
CASH FOR CODE: AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME?
Have you been charging for downloading rights on your exchange?
Well, if not, perhaps you should. From what I can tell
here in lower Slobville, Pennsylvania, viruses and their source
codes are in high demand. And a lot of people who want them
have trouble getting at them, either because they don't have
a unique virus to upload or don't wish to be bothered with
programming one.
Now, there's nothing wrong with this attitude. After all, should
you have to hand machine your own Mossburg AlleySweeper before you
stroll into a firearms store to purchase one? Of course not.
If that were so, the locals would be rioting in the streets from
here to the Florida Keys over infringement of their constitutional
rights.
This potential customer base cannot look to the anti-virus
community for help. Remember, John McAfee has said something to
the effect that passing on the code of Michelangelo would be akin to
giving some street urchin a vial of human pathogens.
So, the field is wide open for the virus exhanges. Rather
than ask for 'donations', why not simply package viral
samples in bulk lot and charge what the market will bear,
depending upon strain demand or prevalence?
Viral samples could also be packaged with descriptive docs to
enhance their value and given a guarantee test for 'live'
quality before put on line. Think of it. In the long run,
who do you think will attract more users: the virus exchange
with hundreds of cryptic archives totally loaded with misnamed
strains, dummy files, incomplete fragments of code or 100k
infected games, or the exchange that distributes well documented,
completely characterized, naked viral samples. [This, of
course, entails some work. The archivist will have to go
through his files and transfer virus-infected utilities/games/etc.
to a testing area where the virus can be 'trapped' in a small
generic .COMstub before return to the archive. Documents will
have to be prepared and formatted, too. This serves a double
purpose, screening out 'dead' files.]
Anyway, I think you know the answer. Think of the virus archive
as a specialty 'chemical' firm providing lab quality goods for
interested hobbyists, researchers and the occasional mis-guided
. . . um, terrorist.
American gadget freaks, particulary computer hobbyists, are
inveterate packrats and collectors. In my opinion, those
interested WILL pay for quality samples, easily obtained
from straightforward BBS's not saddled with idiotic posting ratios,
overly chatty menus or disdainful, mocking 'help' prompts.
Do yourself a favor. Start making some money off your long
distance collection.
SCAN 95B AND VCL CODE: A VERY BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT ALMOST
TOTALLY DEVOID OF EXACTING DETAIL
The news is out. SCAN