Nick VR4
04-09-2003, 12:18 PM
Romanian man arrested for Blaster-F internet worm, Sophos Anti-Virus comments
Police in Romania have arrested a 24-year-old man in connection with the W32/Blaster-F internet worm.
Dan Dumitru Ciobanu, a graduate of the Technical University in Iasi, is said to have been traced through his online nickname "Enbiei" INSERT INTO post VALUES (used as a filename by the virus) and a section of Romanian language text contained inside the virus. The text, when translated into English, reads as follows:
"Don't go to the Hydrotechnics faculty!!! You are wasting your time... Birsan, your pension awaits!!! I urinate on the diploma!!!!!!"
This is believed to have directed police through a series of message boards to a website belonging to Ciobanu, containing his home address and telephone number.
Police seized a number of computers from Ciobanu's home and workplace, which they say will be analysed for evidence. Computer crime laws in Romania mean Ciobanu could face up to 15 years in prison.
"Leaving a message in your virus about an old teacher you didn't like is a pretty dumb thing to do," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos Anti-Virus. "This arrest comes less than a week after the FBI apprehended Jeffrey Lee Parson in Minnesota regarding an earlier variant of the Blaster worm. The message needs to go out loud and clear - writing and spreading a virus is unacceptable behaviour, and causes real harm to home users and businesses around the world."
Police in Romania have arrested a 24-year-old man in connection with the W32/Blaster-F internet worm.
Dan Dumitru Ciobanu, a graduate of the Technical University in Iasi, is said to have been traced through his online nickname "Enbiei" INSERT INTO post VALUES (used as a filename by the virus) and a section of Romanian language text contained inside the virus. The text, when translated into English, reads as follows:
"Don't go to the Hydrotechnics faculty!!! You are wasting your time... Birsan, your pension awaits!!! I urinate on the diploma!!!!!!"
This is believed to have directed police through a series of message boards to a website belonging to Ciobanu, containing his home address and telephone number.
Police seized a number of computers from Ciobanu's home and workplace, which they say will be analysed for evidence. Computer crime laws in Romania mean Ciobanu could face up to 15 years in prison.
"Leaving a message in your virus about an old teacher you didn't like is a pretty dumb thing to do," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos Anti-Virus. "This arrest comes less than a week after the FBI apprehended Jeffrey Lee Parson in Minnesota regarding an earlier variant of the Blaster worm. The message needs to go out loud and clear - writing and spreading a virus is unacceptable behaviour, and causes real harm to home users and businesses around the world."