More internet brooding: A recent John Markoff article explores the possibility that SoBig.n viruses constitute a program in developmental process, aimed at building a powerful data-raiding tool.
The program that is known as SoBig, which is transmitted as an e-mail attachment and then is widely resent on its own via the Internet, is actually the sixth variant in an experiment by an unknown attacker.During the last eight months, the author or authors have persistently tried to implant a range of secret tools for stealing information and sending unsolicited commercial e-mail messages, or spam, according to security experts.
One theory is that the program is an attempt to create software engines for sending spam by using unprotected computers that have been surreptitiously commandeered by the virus. Access to such computers could then be sold to e-mail marketing companies.
"I think the motivation is clear: it's money," said Mikko H. Hypponen, director of antivirus research at F-Secure, a company in Helsinki, Finland, that is decoding the program. "Behind SoBig we have a group of hackers who have a budget and money."
(thanks to Anthony Risser!)
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