Anna Kournikova (computer virus)
| Anna Kournikova | |
|---|---|
| Type | Email vbs attachment |
| Origin | Netherlands |
| Authors | Jan de Wit |
| Technical details | |
| Written in | VBScript |
The Anna Kournikova computer virus was a computer virus authored by Dutch programmer Jan de Wit on February 11, 2001. It was designed to trick email users into opening a mail message purportedly containing a picture of tennis player Anna Kournikova, while actually hiding a malicious program. If set off, the program plunders the address book of the Microsoft Outlook e-mail program and attempts to send itself to all the people listed there.[1] The Kournikova virus tempts users with the message: "Hi: Check This!", with what appears to be a picture file labelled "AnnaKournikova.jpg.vbs".[1] The worm arrives in an email with the subject line "Here you have, ;0)" and an attached file called AnnaKournikova.jpg.vbs. When launched under Microsoft Windows the file does not display a picture of Anna Kournikova but launches a viral Visual Basic Script that forwards itself to everybody in the Microsoft Outlook address book of the victim.
The virus was created using a simple and widely available Visual Basic Worm Generator program developed by an Argentinian programmer called “[K]Alamar”.[2] While similar to the ILOVEYOU virus that struck a year earlier, in 2000, the Anna Kournikova virus did not corrupt data on the infected computer.[2]
Apparently, the author created the virus in a matter of hours. "The young man had downloaded a program on Sunday, February 11, from the Internet and later the same day, around 3:00 p.m., set the virus loose in a newsgroup."[3] De Wit turned himself in to authorities in the town of Sneek located in the northern province of Friesland in the Netherlands. "By the time he understood what the virus did, he had conferred with his parents and decided to turn himself in to the police,"[3]
It has been reported that the efforts of another virus writer working undercover for the FBI, David L. Smith, led to the identification of Jan de Wit and that the FBI passed the information to authorities in the Netherlands.[4] De Wit turned himself in to the police in his hometown Sneek on February 14, 2001, a few days after the virus was released.[5]
Reportedly, and resembling the cases of other computer virus writers, only a few days later the mayor of Sneek, Mayor Sieboldt Hartkamp, made a tentative job offer to De Wit, quoting his programming skills.[6]
De Wit was tried in Leeuwarden and was charged with spreading data into a computer network with the intention of causing damage, a crime that carried a maximum sentence of four years in prison and a fine of 100,000 guilders (US$41,300).[7]
The lawyers for Jan de Wit called for the dismissal of charges against him, arguing that the worm caused minimal damage. The FBI submitted evidence to the Dutch court and suggested that US$166,000 in damages was caused by the worm. De Wit admitted he created the worm using a virus creation toolkit but told the court when he posted the virus to a newsgroup he did it "without thinking and without overseeing the consequences". He denied any intent to cause damage. De Wit has been sentenced to 150 hours community service or 75 days in jail.[7]
In popular culture
In the episode The One in Barbados, Part One of the sitcom Friends, Ross's laptop was infected by the Kournikova virus when Chandler checked his email on it. The version of the virus in the episode was more malicious than the real thing, as it deleted Ross' speech on paleontology when it was opened.
See also
- List of computer viruses
- List of convicted computer criminals
- Timeline of notable computer viruses and worms
References
- ^ a b "Kournikova computer virus hits hard". BBC News. 13 February 2001. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
- ^ a b "Confession by author of Anna Kournikova virus". OUT-LAW News. February 14, 2001. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
- ^ a b Robert Lemos (February 14, 2001). "FBI probes virus outbreak after "Anna" arrest". CNET News. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
- ^ "Court documents reveal that Melissa's author helped authorities catch other virus writers". Sophos. September 18, 2003. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
- ^ Joris Evers (09/13/01). "Maker of Kournikova virus stands trial". IDG News Service. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Kournikova worm author should not be rewarded". Sophos. February 19, 2001. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
- ^ a b Robert Blincoe (2001-09-27). "Kournikova virus kiddie gets 150 hours community service". The Register. Retrieved 2009-05-10.