Zotob author charged in Morocco
Abingdon, U.K. — SophosLabs, Sophos’s global network of virus, spyware and spam analysis centres, said that one of the men arrested in connection with the Zotob worm outbreak which exploited a Microsoft security hole, could be linked to over 20 other viruses.
Farid Essebar, an 18-year-old Russian-born resident of Morocco, was arrested by the authorities on August 25 — less than two weeks after worms disrupted high profile organizations around the world. Essebar is believed to go by the handle “Diabl0”, a phrase embedded inside the Zotob-A worm.
It is not unusual for malware authors to leave handles inside their malicious code, sometimes alongside other messages, Sophos said.
Essebar’s alleged associate, Atilla Ekici, was also detained in Turkey.
Sophos researchers have determined that more than 20 other viruses include the Diablo handle, including Mydoom-BG and versions of the Mytob worm.
Simon says CryptoLogic
Toronto — CryptoLogic Inc., a software developer for the global Internet gaming market, announced that Nigel Simon has been appointed as a non-executive director of the company’s board of directors.
Simon, a veteran British business executive, has more than 25 years of broad senior management and strategic experience in leading and managing international businesses, the company said.
He brings particular expertise in strategy, marketing, regulatory issues, sales, banking, corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions. CryptoLogic said Simon’s global expertise will be a significant asset as CryptoLogic continues its growth in the UK and European Internet gaming markets.
