 |
| Dan Dumitru Ciobanu is said to have admitted
spreading the virus. |
Romanian police have confirmed that a 24-year-old man has been
charged with cybercrime offences related to the internet worm
W32/Blaster-F.
If found guilty, the man could face up a maximum of 15 years in
prison under Romania's strict computer crime laws.
According to police, Dan Dumitru Ciobanu, admitted spreading the
virus, but claimed that its release was accidental. Ciobanu is said
to have claimed that the virus spread itself because he tested it
while his computer was connected to the internet.
According to a police statement, Ciobanu admitted that he
modified the original Blaster worm by switching filenames used by
the virus, and inserting a piece of Romanian text into the code.
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!!!!!!"
"Some people may think only 'geniuses' are capable of writing
viruses, however this is far from the truth," said Graham Cluley,
senior technology consultant for Sophos Anti-Virus. "In the past we
have seen some virus writers include their full name, address and
job history inside their malicious code. If Ciobanu is found to be
guilty, the vital clue may have been that a childish rant against a
university lecturer was there for all to see."
Ciobanu is said not to be in custody, and no date has been set
for his trial.
In late August the FBI arrested Jeffrey Lee
Parson in connection with another variant of the Blaster worm.
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