Interview with Duke
by Cicatrix
[March 1999]

How did you start out in computers?

> I have met with computers closely in May 1997. But only to at an end of a 1997 I began to be engaged in programming of serious things. Since January, 1998 I began to break the programs, and in April, 1998 I was one of the founders of crackinhg group SMF. So I have went to underground:)

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

> I had to work on treatment of the computer of my friend from a virus OneHalf at the end of 1997. Since then I began to be interested in viruses - began to collect a collection of viruses, publications, magazines. I have approached to creation viruses onl y in April 1998, after creation SMF. And really I have taken it only in summer 98, when I have prepared a magazine DVL #1 for one week.

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

> Naturally, I write viruses! Is quite good .bat-viruses, but they are rather simply. HLLS.ZYX and viruses demonstrating polymorphism on pascal are pleasant most of all to me .

How do you name your viruses?

> As it will come to my head;) And in an assotiation with my mood and in an assotiation what is used in a virus. But I select title for some viruses beforehand (for example HLLP.RAW).

Which programming languages do you know?

> Basic - :))
> The language of BAT-commands (DOS-scrypt) - my first virus was written on it.
> Turbo Pascal - the very simple language, I recommend to all beginners
> Turbo Assembler - not veru well, but for Trivial and search it is quite enough;)
> WordBasic - I getting fun from macro-viruses too;))
> And now I study Visual Basic and C ++ - wait for a new wave of viruses :-0

What programming language do you like using the most?

> Turbo Pascal. I want to tell, that many virmakers underestimate and do not like it. It is poorly adapted for writing viruses (in difference from Turbo Assembler), but... It is necessary to consider that art of programming is not bad dancing on healthy legs, but good dancing on artificial limbs - I have in an aspect TASM and TP.

Are you a member of a VX group?

> Yes, strangely enough:) Now I fulfil the responsibilities of the president of group SMF, one from which principal directions - VirMaking.

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

> I use russian antiviruses - AVP and DrWeb, as they detect those viruses, which are spreaded in Russia. Web have a lot of malfunctionings, AVP have its own disadvantages. From foreign AV I hate NAV - his monitor is not so bad, but scanner... SUX!

What are your goals (VX wise)?

> My purposes? I want to write something original... There are some successes:)

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

> So was, is and will be. On my sight,VX will win, early or late. And I shall put for this purpose all gains.

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

> I have selected my handle itself. Among my ancestors were princes and barons. Also there was no with a title "Duke" or "lord" :(( I have decided to select my handle from this gang. But as in Russian "lord" pronounced also, as in English, I have choosen Duke (in Russian transcription - [gertcog]).

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

> The good toy for those who can not write itself;) But all viruses are easily detected by AV: ((I wrote my own ñonstructors of viruses(for example DPOG, DPVG, SBVM, ABCD). It will be excellent, if users will add more individualities to the created viruses...

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

> Macro viruses also has the clain to life. They have found new, not affected early residence, and strongly have taken this niche. They conquer all new and new tops - iffects a heap of MS programs, they stealthing, they become polymorphic, they become multi-OS. But, I am not forget about old - such as ASM and HLL - viruses. I try to write both of those.

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

> Not yet, but who knows... When I shall write something really cool - I shall start it to the wild necessarily!!!

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

> There are not a lot of VX magazines in Russia. I would like to mark MooN BuG from them. Magazine "Infected Voice" I do not recognize due of personal conflicts with LovinGOD. From foreign modern issuings 29A is very good, only they too unperiodic and the material becomes outdated.

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

> It is necessary to mark such person, as Dark Avenger - he is a cult figure on the VX scene; nobody other has made of such large contribution in virmaking, as he. One more popular person is you, Cicatrix.

In the AV world?

> For what they can be loved? They pervert titles of your viruses and love only own purse.

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

> Among crackers I would like to select groups UCF and UCL - vigorous and fruitful. Excellent! d UCL - vigorous and fruitful. So to hold!

What is your view on destructive payloads in viruses?

> Some of my viruses are a bit destructive.I am not against! However am not fancy.

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

> Certainly. It depends of for whom it is "good":) For example, as BO for a hacker;))

What do you do in 'real' life?

> I study at University and I work in laboratory of a computer safety :)) Really so!

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

> Some close friends know about my thrust to viruses.

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

> Cracking/coding. I have even broken one BBS ;)

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

> Viruses are not legal in our country.

> There is a difference between creation and distribution "in-wild". Virmaker only writes, but others are spreading viruses to freedom.So there is nothing bad in virmaking.

Describe the perfect virus.

1. Is not detected by AV
2. Deletes AV
3. Without bugs
4. Polymorphic
5. Self-learning and adapted to an environment.

What is your view on Windows (95/98)

> Very big BUG!!!

What is your advice for people just starting out?

> Do not rush at once for steep work - begin with easy and primitive. Read VX publications and magazines - the previous generations of virmakers have made for you quite good text-books. Communicate with other virmakers and integrate in collectives - togeth er you will make more and better.

How did SMF start and what does SMF mean?

> The group was created in April of 1998 in Russia. I was one from it founders. After in August 98 group became mainly virmaking, and who not consent with it left us.There are only admirers of viruses in group today.We want to unit the adherents in large c ollective (on an example of 29A). Therefore our doors are open for all wishing to work.

How is it organized?

> Nobody does not force anybody to do something - each occupied in favourite matter. However idlers are not encouraged.

Where can you be reached if at all?

> My e-mail: smf@chat.ru
> My page: http://dvlabs.chat.ru

What part of the world are you from and how is the VX scene there?

> (not translatable in Western-Latin HTML)

Any info on the zine or other material you are about to release?

> Yes, our next release - magazine DVL #5.

Any greets?

> to all SMF members
> to RedArc/TAVC - my adherent
> Certainly to you, Cicatrix, for your work above VDAT
> to all VX people - for the fact that they are exists

Any other comments (take all the space you need)?

> Sorry for my English...