By Andy McCue, 10 September 2004 15:10
NEWS Cheeky virus writers have put a secret message in the latest versions of the MyDoom email worm asking antivirus vendors for a job.
MyDoom-V and MyDoom-U contain a malicious email attachment that attempts to download a backdoor Trojan called Surila if the recipient tries to open the infected file.
Also secretly embedded inside the malicious code is a message to the antivirus industry, which reads "We searching 4 work in AV industry".
It is not clear if the job request is entirely serious but if the virus authors thought that the antivirus industry would be impressed with their handiwork, they've opened a whole different can of worms.
Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for antivirus firm Sophos, said no-one in the industry would "touch them with a bargepole".
"It's very simple - if you write a virus, we will never ever employ you. Not only is it deeply unethical to write malicious code, but it raises issues as to whether you could ever be trusted to develop the software which protects millions of users around the world from attack every day," he said in a statement.
He also said the skills used to write viruses and fight viruses are very different. "Virus writers don't care if their code crashes or causes incompatibilities - you don't have to be a genius to write a virus."
Comments
There are 5 comments. Join the discussion
1. Bob Potter
I was concerned by the remark made by Graham Cluely in the article concerning virus writers embedding job requests in the payload of their virii. The remark by Mr Cluely that rebuffs their probably "tongue-in-cheek" requests by suggesting the technical ability of certain virus writers isn't to the same standard as those in the AV industry surely won't help the situation. All I see goading them will do is serve to redouble their efforts and his profits.
Worried of Hants.
2. adrian
i'm sure a government research facility could give them a job testing a few viruses......
3. john hauxwell
Such as various Group 4 and Group 5 pathogens...like ebola.
4. Peter Scargill
Seems to me they should lead them on, get their names and addresses - interview them to ensure they did write the virii - and then JAIL THEM FOR LIFE!
5. anonymous
Has nobody in the AV industry ever watched The Sting ?!?!
Could have offered them a job in Anti Virus, making sure nothing breeds in the prison toilets perhaps ;-)