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August 26, 2005
Zotob (Bozori) virus author caught
According to some reports, the author of the Bozori worm has been arrested earlier today in Morocco.
Nothing on Google news yet - will update the post as the reports start to come in.
[Updates]
30.08.2005 12:20PM (GMT+2) - IRC Session with Diablo0 - Excerpts from an IRC session with Diabl0 by David Taylor.
27.08.2005 08:46PM (GMT+2) - Webpronews - The article mentions a $250,000 ransom in this case, which is incorrect according to my current knowledge.
27.08.2005 11:54AM (GMT+2) - An interview I gave for HWUpgrade.it (Italian) - 'Dallo scorso anno abbiamo potuto assistere a numerosi arresti di virus writer e ciò non può che essere un fatto positivo; sta diventando sempre più difficile scrivere un virus e poterla far franca' ci ha dichiarato Costin Raiu. By Marco Giuliani.
26.08.2005 11:29PM (GMT+2) - VNUNet - The Moroccan is believed to be the author of the initial worms and Ekici paid him for the code, Louis Reigell of the FBI's Cyber Division said in a conference call. He couldn't say how much was paid for the worms. It is common for worm authors to sell their creations.
26.08.2005 10:22PM (GMT+2) - The FBI PR - With the help of Moroccan authorities, Ministry of Interior Turkish National Police , and valuable assistance from Microsoft Corporation, these individuals were arrested yesterday without incident. Arrested in Morocco was Farid Essebar, 18, a Moroccan national born in Russia who went by the screen moniker "Diabl0." Arrested in Turkey was Atilla Ekici, aka "Coder," a 21-year old resident of Turkey. Both individuals will be subject to local prosecutions.
26.08.2005 8:40PM (GMT+2) - CNN - "Farid Essebar, a Moroccan who used the screen name "Diabl0," and Attilla Ekici of Turkey, who used the moniker "Coder," were arrested in their home countries by authorities who cooperated with U.S. investigators in tracking the origins of the Mytob worm and its damaging variant, Zotob."
26.08.2005 8:36PM (GMT+2) - Washington Post - "Moroccan authorities, working with the FBI, arrested Farid Essebar, 18, a Moroccan national born in Russia who went by the screen moniker “Diabl0.” Arrested in Turkey was Atilla Ekici, aka “Coder,” age 21. Both individuals will be subject to local prosecutions, the FBI said."
Posted by Costin Raiu at August 26, 2005 5:35 PM