Malware: Fighting Malicious Code

Scenario 3: Silence of the Worms

Hannibal Cracker wanted to “own” some computer systems. Not “own” in the sense that he had title and deed to the machines; he wanted complete remote control of other people's computers. Hannibal wasn't an attacker for glory and fame. Cold, hard cash was his prize. Hannibal Cracker had a lifestyle to maintain: an appetite for overseas travel, some debts accumulated over the years, and a desire for cool electronic gadgetry. Hannibal's economic situation was pretty bleak as he had recently lost his job. He was pretty good at slinging code, and fancied himself something of a security expert.

Hannibal cooked up a scheme to make a little money from a computer attack. To understand his plan, let's look at the world viewed ...