The virus, dubbed Antiman.A, was discovered at the end of April and duped users into executing its payload by pretending to contain news about three Romanian journalists that had been kidnapped. When run, the virus searched the victim's computer for files containing the names of Romanian gypsy music singers.
At the time, BitDefender's chief technology officer Bogdan Dumitru said the virus writer was obviously a Romanian citizen that had "deep discontent" with gypsy music in Romania.
A Bitdefender spokesperson told ZDNet Australia that it released signature files to protect customers within hours of discovering the virus but instead of praise, the company started receiving e-mails from users that thought the virus was 'socially useful' and should be allowed to thrive.
One customer, whose details have withheld, said: "I appreciate your rapid reaction when new viruses are released... Nevertheless, when socially useful viruses are released, I think you could wait at least one day... This is not a virus, this is a utilitarian tool". The message concluded: "If you know the author of this virus, please give him my e-mail address; I'm ready to offer him food and drinks for at least 2 weeks".
Another customer was also hoping detection signatures were delayed but he went on to wish for a variant that could attack legacy systems: "Couldn't you guys wait two or three more days, until my whole neighbourhood was infected? Is there a version of this virus that can erase the cassettes played in cars that are stopped in traffic?"
Last word went to a BitDefender customer that offered to keep the antivirus labs staff busy to try give the virus more time to spread: "I would have gotten all of you drunk just to make sure you didn't get the [detection] tool out... god bless the guy who created this virus."
Hello :-)
This morning, I read this article headlined "Anti gypsy-music virus welcomed by victims"
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/0,2000061744,39196140,00.htm
One person who commented on it before me said "Its somewhat amusing, but it appears that after many many centuries, the Gypsies are still not much appreciated in eastern europe."
Anyone know why? From my point of view, though there probably are bad Gypsys like there are bad apples in every barrel, it doesn't make any more sense to hate all Gypsys because of the few who are bad just like it also doesn't make sense to me why some hate all cops and blacks because of the few cops and blacks who really are bad.
Most of not all of these people who hate Gypsys would themselves be none too happy about it if their own kind was treated 'n' thought about as badly as what they do with Gypsys.
For example (I'm not trying to start a discussion on homosexuality here), can you imagine the outcry from the gay 'n' lesbian community if someone did a virus that sought out 'n' deleted files connected with homosexual singers and other well known homosexuals?
No vague answers along the lines of "That's just the way this cursed world is," please
Cloudchaser, a disgusted red wolf fur