Interview with Stealth Warrior
by Cicatrix
[August 1997]

How did you start out in computers?

I got my first computer when I was 4 years old. It was a Commodore 64 and I only played games at first, but then started programming in BASIC. 5 years later I got my first PC and continued with BASIC. Then I learned some Pascal and C and also assembly.

How and when did you start out in the virus scene?

I started early in the 1996 when I got Internet access. First I downloaded all VCKs and played with them for a while. Then I discovered some tutorials and decided to learn about writing viruses. So I did. Then I joined Alliance (RIP) and now I'm in SLAM. I like sharing my knowledge with others, so I also write tutorials.

Have you written viruses? If so which would you like to take credit for?

Yes, I've written viruses. Mostly for testing my knowledge after learning something new - overwriting virus, simple COM infector, EXE infector... So, nothing to take credit for except my tutorials.

How do you name your viruses?

There's no particular rule. My test viruses have really lame names, like COMmander (COM appender), EXEcutor (EXE appender), Shredder (overwriter).
It really depends on how I feel at the moment I finish the virus. I'll try to be original :) I think that songs of heavy metal bands are a good source of names.

Which programming languages do you know?

I know BASIC well, some Pascal and C and of course Assembly.

What programming language do you like using the most?

Depends. When I need to write a util or some program for school, I use Pascal or C. But when it comes to viruses, it's 100% asm.

Are you a member of a VX group?

Yes. I'm a member of SLAM.

Which AV software do you like/respect the most? Which the least?

Mostly I use F-Prot and TBAV. I think they are both good products, especially for testing my viruses. Both have good heuristics. TBAV's flags are a good idea and I like F-Prot's virus information.
I don't like Scan. Few years back I had a virus and Scan said it couldn't be cleaned. F-Prot cleaned it without problems.

What are your goals (VX wise)?

It's hard to say :) I would like to master all main areas of virus writing, like TSR, stealth, poly, encryption, MBR infection...

What is your view on the continuous 'war' between VX and AV?

I don't mind it. As long as people can download new versions of AV software for free, it's OK with me. People need protection, but free of charge! If we can write viruses for free, AVers can write AV progs for free too! Let's see who will last longer :) So people stop buying expensive AV progs and download latest versions of F-Prot (http://www.f-prot.com) and/or ThunderByte AntiVirus (http://www.thunderbyte.com) for free!

Where did you get you handle? What does it mean?

I know quite a bit about airplanes and I liked the idea of a stealth plane like B2 or F117. When I got started in the scene I saw many viruses with stealth techniques, so... I was supposed to be Stealth Fighter, but since that name was taken (I think some guy from NuKE), it is Stealth Warrior, which means nearly the same :)

What is your view on Virus Creation software (eg. VCL, PS-MPC etc.)?

It can be helpful, but without knowledge of asm you won't get far and what's worse you won't understand the generated code. There's nothing worse than compiling something you don't understand.

What is your view on macro viruses vs. assembly or HLL viruses?

I don't have anything against macro viruses. I'm not writing them (yet) but I saw really neat ones with good ideas. And they spread extremely quickly! About HLL (Pascal/C/...) viruses: I think it's a waste of time. Learn asm!

Have you ever confirmed one of your viruses 'in-the-wild'?

Nope. I don't spread my viruses and those in my tutorials are really too simple to be a serious threat to anyone. I know that spreading is illegal and I stick to the law. I write viruses to test my skill, not to infect innocent people.

Which VX E-zine do you like to most? Which the least?

most: 40h & VLAD were the best, but among current ezines SLAM :)

least: Evolution

Which individual or what group do you like/respect in the VX world?

I like almost all virus writers I know. We're all friends. Same goes for groups.

In the AV world?

Fridrik Skulason and Alan Solomon are OK. I don't like McAfee or Ms. VSUM.

Which individual or what group do you like/respect outside the VX or the AV world?

I like Linus Torvalds (Thanx for the Linux, man!), IBM, elite chess players, Che Guevara etc. Too many to list. Certainly a lot more than those I don't like.

What is your view on destructive payloads in viruses?

I don't have a problem with destructive payloads as long as they wouldn't get in the way of spreading, like formatting the drive every third day. That kind of virus won't get far.

Do you think there is such a thing as a 'good' virus?

I don't think so. There should be a good reason for increasing file size and I don't see one (yet).

What do you do in 'real' life?

I go to school=study, play tennis and basketball, work on computer... A totally normal person. And unlike AVers say about virus writers, I'm not stupid and unsocialized. I am an excellent student.

Do people outside the VX scene know what you do (parents, girlfriend etc.)?

Yes. They don't mind as long as I don't infect their computers.

Do you do other computer stuff outside VX (Hacking, phreaking, warez etc.)?

I don't do H, P or W because it's illegal. I play CD-ROM computer games for relaxation and do some programming.

Should viruses be illegal? Is there a difference between creation and spreading?

Writing a virus should never be illegal. There IS a difference between creation and spreading as there is a difference between spreading to people who want viruses for studying and to people who don't want them. The last should be illegal, others shouldn't be.

Describe the perfect virus.

Here goes: MBR/COM/EXE/SYS/PE/NE/DOC stealth polymorphic anti-AV with cool activation routine, hard to clean.

What is your view on Windows (95)

I hate them. And I don't use them, I use DOS, OS/2 and Linux. You should really try Linux, you'll love it and it's free! And among commercial OSs, OS/2 is far more superior to any other (except commercial Unixes), including Windows 95 and NT!

What is your advice for people just starting out?

Get a good book about asm and learn it. Get as many tutorials as you can-first on basics (overwriting, COM and EXE appender) and then more advanced (TSR, encryption, ...)

Where can you be reached if at all?

I can be reached via e-mail at stealthwarrior@hotmail.com

Any greets?

Sure, but short. A big greet to SLAM and to all virus writers around the world.

Any other comments?

No.

Short responses to the following names or words:

- Dark Avenger

Among first virus writers. He lives...somewhere in time

- Dark Angel

one of best programmers in Phalcon/Skism

- Sarah Gordon

hmmmmm.... She interviewed Dark Avenger, didn't she?

- Fridrik Skulason

creator of F-Prot, OK as a person

- Alan Solomon

creator of Dr. Solomon Anti-Virus, also OK as a person

- WordBasic/VBA

macro language, good for writing viruses

- VDAT

the best collection of virus related info, a must have!

- VSUM

info about viruses by Patricia Hoffman

- Assembler

the only programming language for viruses

- NuKE

a big bunch of wannabes, but one or two were actually good

- Phalcon Skism

great programmers, IMO far better than NuKE

- VLAD

Australia's #1, one of the best ezines too

- Immortal Riot

A group that gets better and better

- Trident

Holland's #1 virus group

- Polymorphic

changing form, usually just the decryptor

- Stealth

mastery of hiding the changes your virus made

- I hate......

Micro$oft

- I love......

computers

- Internet

Thing that keeps ppl from all over the world connected

- IRC

a funny and expensive way to waste time and meet new people

- Sex

a finest way of telling 'I love you' :)

- World War 3

what war!!?? Two were more than enough!!!

How did you get into SLAM?

It all happened when I read SLAM ezine #2. I liked the group and since Alliance died, I decided to give it a try so I mailed the application. That's it.

How is SLAM organized?

Currently we have 13 members and two of them are the leaders.

What part of the world do you come from?

I'm from Slovenia (former Yugoslavian republic), a small country in middle Europe.

Will you release ever release a virus creator?

No, I don't plan to release a virus creator, but I'll keep writing tutorials.

What is in your future and the future of SLAM?

SLAM's goal is clear-to become the best virus group in the world and all members will do their best to make it happen.

Will SLAM increase the number of members?

I think yes, but to a certain limit (about 15 members should be enough).

Will SLAM go into other scenes except VX? (hacking, etc.)

As far as I know we're mainly a virus oriented group and it will stay that way.