Interview with Aristotle

Give me a short description of who you are!

Sure! - I'm a big mother-fucker with an attitude. :) I'm an old rocker from the 70's who happens to now enjoy computers a great deal and am rather pissed off at the way the AV has promolgated fear in order to sell their software. As a result of this, I have set out to fight all legislative issues relating to viruses by exposing their happy-asses for what they really are!

Why did you picked that alias, Aristotle?

Aristotle was among the first, if not the first, to study human behaviour. I saw all the fancy, way-cool, hyroglyphic-handles when I first got into this stuff and decided that I wanted to be different by using a name that closely represented my way of thinking, but on the other hand... I also agreed with George Bush's way of thinking - wouldn't that have been silly for me to have used HIS name?

Any thoughts behind your board name (Black Axis)?

It's a secret... I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you!

When did you discovered the world of computers?

Computers - around 1978... The neat shit, about 2 years ago :)

How long have you been scene-active? (both "normal" and "underground")

I have always had a fascination with computers, especially in the area of data control. He who owns the data (info) , is in control! I got active the first time I asked a question in the ViRUS_iNFO echo - The acting moderator crawled on my ass like cheap underwear! Well, that didn't really wash with me so I decided I would teach him the proper techniques of being an asshole!

How did you came into the virus scene?

Guido Sanchez, sysop of Nun-Beaters Anonymous BBS and cool-man extraordinaire gave me 400 viruses - I took them and set up a board called The Vx BBS. It was much like it is now - No ratios or crap like that, and nobody (well almost) nobody was ever too LAME to log on! You can imagine the results of the trading when I was the only person on the globe that advertised a collection up for grabs :) I got into the "ELiTE" scene by a fellow by the name of Count Zero of Phalcon/ Skism. He managed to get me access on The Landfill BBS. (Still thank you, CZ!)

What part of the underground do you think needs improvements?

The intelligence factor!

Positive/negative aspecs of the scene?

[Negative]
The bottom line is - People are too easily influenced by others.

[Positive]
Let me get back to you on this one...

Which groups have you been involved with?

All of them from time to time... Hell, I know everybody and their brother's dog! So, one way or another I have always had some inside contact with all the groups.

Which group are you in right now?

Well NuKE went psuedo-lame so I decided I'd simply rip-off the name and start my own little gathering... It's done pretty well thus far - we have some of the same members [g]You reckon Nowhere Man is pissed off about that? [heh] You could steam a large lobster on his ass! Ah well, come kick my ass! :)

How, and when did you join NuKE?

I was talking to Rock Steady one day about something and out of the blue he told me that if I wanted to fly the colors to go ahead and do it... This was shortly before NK-INFO5 came out, I believe - Not real sure! Was it some kind of religous experience or something, no... More or less, he just put his "good housekeepping seal of approval" on it!

What's your "position" (duty) in NuKE?

I'm the Minister of Defense!

How is NuKE currently organized?

The southern chapter runs like a clock! Up north, I don't see any organization or structure. Rock is definitely running that clan, but nothing is happening! He is busy in school and other things in his life and Nowhere Man seems like he's not doing anything but resting on laurels from previous creations like the DeathCow virus and the VCL...

Who is the head person(s) in NuKE?

Sara Gordon :) - Nah... Rock Steady is the group president for the Canadian branch. (A tiny sub-wing off the main group in Virginia :)

Which contacts do NuKE got with other virus-groups around the globe?

I think everybody is pretty much connected to everybody these days. I mean afterall, the advent of carrier pidgeons has made communications a real breeze!

What does it take being a NuKE member?

It only takes the right Spirit... I would rather enlist all of China into the ranks of NuKE and know that there was strength in numbers, than to have a half dozen people in NuKE call all the rest of the people in the world, lame or stupid!

Which members do NuKE got now?

Well, there's me and about half of Southeastern Virginia so far :) Everybody wants a piece of the pie - who am I to tell them they can't have it?

What do you consider as the biggest step that NuKE have done? (Umm.. thats it from where did they became, umr.. 'world fame')

Nothing! Once global recognition was achieved, they all laid down!

About VCL, the 1.00 is probably the most 'fame' generator out there, umm.. so.. when is the VCL200 out?! [Gee.. common 'n' boring question!]

No, your question are not boring, but waiting for the VCL 2.00 *is*...

NED (NuKE Encryption Device) was yet another Polymorphic Engine, what was the responses about that one?

Most of them were " HAHAHAHAHAHAHA " from the AV and Phalcon/Skism, but I personally think it makes great toast!

Which AntiVirus programs can detect/remove NED included in viruses?

All of them! Somebody "butter-fingered" the NED out too early :) ooops!

How many "mutations" can NED generate?

I don't have a clue! It seems to crash and burn on the 5th generation and nobody has really tried to fix it to my knowledge.

Will Nowhere Man continue with the NED project? (fixing that bug?)

Sorry bubba, but you'll have to ask him about that. Look for him lecturing people on the NuKENET!

Why do you think almost no people use polymorphic engines in their viruses?

Most people can't code! Look at me... I am the world's lamest programmer! Did you ever see a virus with my name in it [g]

The Info Journals released from NuKE seems to be appreciated by the public, urm.. why, this massive response, you think?

People respond like lemmings! The neat little trinkets that get spilled out into the public are cool, but let's face it - people like to hear about the thoughts and ideas of other people. P/S has touched on this, but NuKE was always more of a personalized magazine.

Why did the info-journal changed from a "menu-based" journal, into a text-forum?

An over-run by a sheer attack of lazy, I reckon! The intro is what really helped push the mag into a global stance. Look around you! Notice all the other magazines - how many of them do what the old NK-INFO journals did? Those that do are generally thought of as "way-cool shit"! You have to understand, a lot of people get a real "woody" from showing these mags to their friends that have never seen them... The image helps!

Which viruses are NuKE responsible for? (exclude VCL by non-NuKEers)

[Didn't heard much of a answer here? let's continue instead!]

Which viruses have you in person written?

[g] Who me?

How would you describe the "split" after NuKE IJ2 - when Dark Man and some other guys had to leave?

Much like the split today between myself and the Canadian herd.

NuKE has in the past faced some trouble, for example the affair with RABID, the Australian bust with Talon, some more busts, etc. What do you thinks the group, still, after a period of umm.. 2«? year, still going, umm.. strong?

Take a closer look at *who* the active voices are, or were! Look at the change in ideology between Nk-INFO4 and 5 and again at NK-INFO6 and 7... That should give you some indication how and why NuKE made such global noise as they did!

Is the police (and any other law-department) a treat to the exictense of NuKE?

Not really - Viruses are not illegal in my country and the law enforcement agencies also believe as I, in that the AV *is* blowing things way out of proportion. They don't really care until some dork actually uses one on a major system.

Future Plans (goals) in NuKE?

The "other" NuKE.. Well, I see them as fading into the dust of their own exhalted glory and going out like wimpering dogs... Rock Steady will always be considered a friend and I hate to see him "weenied" around by a kid with less talent, so who knows his future...

How would you shortly describe the US-scene today, comparing to when you started?

Everybody has everything and nobody is too lame anymore! cha-ching! No longer must a person upload his first-born in order to download some cheesy 10 year old textfile... All are equal!

What are you "facinated" with in the scene today?

Well, for starters... The length and detail of this interview are really mind-boggling? Did you have anything a little longer winded :)

In which way have the scene influented in your "REAL" life?

It's made me quite a fair bit of money! The sale of computer viruses is up these days. I've learned a great deal about programming and people.

Why do you think it's important for groups to release magazine's, news-letter, info-journals, etc? (Why does everybody realese them?)

It's a cult custom to write about one's accomplishments or beliefs. People have always written something about themselves. Look at the ancient civilizations of the world - Many of the groups and cults wrote about themselves. So, it seems to pretty much inherent nature to do it.

Which magazine do you considering as the best one available today?

Phalcon/Skism-> 40HEX has always been the Technojournal of the underground, hands down!

CRyPT-> CRyPT has always been the best for "Insider Gossip" stories and is unrivaled by even some of the better commercial magazines.

NuKE-> NK-INFO was always fun to tinker with! The little extra trinkets in the archive made it a sought after item.

No Foggy Idea-> DNA is too "Anarchic"... Nobody really does a quarter of what is ever written about in those mags! The "nuclear-destructo" dribble is getting really old!

What part is the most important in a magazine?

The sentences must be constructed so that they make sense :)

Which magazine would you like to leave the scene?

"The Anarchist Cookbook" - It is so old and outdated, yet every "ELiTE" BBS in the world must have a copy... It's almost like a requirement for running a H/P/V/A/C BBS. I wonder if there are fines (geldstraffen) for not having it :)

Why do you run a VX bbs? What fun to you see with it?

Yes! People from all over the world call and exchange ideas and information. This is, by far, the most valuable part of having such a board! Look at yourself... You're in Sweden - The knowledge about you and your people is invaluable to me. The world is drawing closer and becomming a global community. Unless you learn all you can about the people with whom you deal, you'll always be left in the dark about what's going on around you! You can't gain this knowledge from any textbook!

Do you fear getting "busted" for illegal activity?

Not in the least!

Which virus-group(s) do you think is the best?

None really appear to be better than the others!

Which virus group do you personal am considering as the one who have pushed up the scene most?

I know who has done this... Let me ask *you* who you think it is!

What's your opinion in using generators such as VCL, PS-MPC for making "own" viruses?

The PS-MPC revolutionized the way viruses are written, but some people fail to recognize this. Modular programming is an industry standard much like the use of CASE tools. What is wrong with borrowing segments from other people's code if you're going to end up writing the same thing over again? Isn't that a prime example of re-inventing the wheel? The PS-MPC was extremely helpful in teaching me how to write in ASM! The code was simple, effective, and easily manipulated into other variations. I give Dark Angel an (A+)

What do you think about using Polymorphic engines for making the virus harder to detect and clean?

In actuality, encryption schemes are easier to detect then most people actually realize - How can decrypt a virus if you encrypt the decryptor? Some part of the virus must remain unencrypted, otherwise you have what is commonly referred to as garbage!

What do you think about board-crashing? (and why??)

This *is* lame! Board crashing is comparable to shooting fish in a barrel. They are not nearly as technically skilled and are usually totally defenseless against the underground elements. If you want to really take on a challenge where the taste of victory is sweet, but the cost of defeat is great... screw around with the military on the Internet and trash some of their sites! They'll eat you for breakfast when they finally get their hands on you - one more thing... Time is on *their* side! Basically dude, it's like this... Why put yourself in a position that could absolutely ruin your ass, over a lousy computer program? It makes no sense to me!

How would you describe the (lame, greedy and corrupt!) AV-community?

I'll give you a "next issue" exclusive if you want it, but there is too much to cover for this article. I will say one thing though...

"Have you ever noticed how much of a dick, Rod Fewster is?" He's the Thunderbyte (TBscan) Australia representitive! Here's his FiDO address... Send him my regards

Rod Fewster at The Edge Of Reality Thunderbyte - Australia FiDONET (3:640\886) 61-7-886-1886

Which AV-program do you think it's the best? (why?)

F-PROTECT - Frisk is reliable. You can always count on him having all the latest viruses. His product makes a great BBS files list, and he sells it relatively cheap to places that really need the coverage.

Thunderbyte is good, but Franz has an attitude problem! He can criticize someone else product, but Lord help you if you talk about his...

About the new laws coming up sometime, what do you think about that? Do you think that really help agains new infections?

Not a chance! It will only serve to drive virus writing back into the underground. Once it's there, who will know has been written except those that write them? The laws only serve to pad the pockets of the anti-virus software developers who *know* that viruses will continue to be written.

Do you really think that the AV-persons would try to STOP the virus- writers from writing viruses, even if it would result in them being un-employed"?

Are you kidding? These fanatics are on some sort of "Ji-had"... I almost think some of them have contemplated murdering a few virus authors! The AV software developers are different... They *know* where their livelihood is made!

How do you look at the future for the virus-community?

The virus scene has changed dramatically over the last 2 years and will undoubtedly continue along the same track it is now following. The fear of viruses will be overshadowed by the hatred for the virus authors. More and more peer pressure will push these guys back into the underground, thus starting the cycle of "Eliteness" all over again! Old names will become folklore while new blood will step in to conquer their achievements, thus unseating the ruling figures!

Wow... "Gee Mr. Aristotle, those are some powerful words!"

Yeah well, they look great on paper don't they! [g]In simpler terms... Time will change the face of all things, yet none of us really know how!

Which "meaning" do you think that the virus-groups has for the future in the virus-scene?

I think a select few will cross some barriers with their programming skills and come up with a real program... Whether it be the world's most awesome MOD file or the world's most user friendly GUI, something has to break the monotony of what we're seeing now.

Any advice for newcomer's in the scene?

Take your balls in hand and let NOBODY tell you that you're too lame... Everybody starts off on the same foot!

How is the best way to contact you?

ARiSToTLE BLACK AXiS Vx
NuKE USAhq
804.599.4152
More viruses than your favorite hooker!

Something more you wanna say, but never had the opportunity to say before?

Not really something that I have never had the opportunity to say, but rather, thanks for the interview! I always appreciate the opportunity to rag on a few folks :) Stay loose - Don't let anyone tell you that you don't have what it takes... and if they do, steal theirs!

Want to send any greetings?

Yeah... Yo Snake Eyes, Nostradamus, Norrin Radd, TimeLord, Firstrike, Priest, Mammory Lips, er uh.. that's Memory Lapse :), Hellraiser, Rock Steady, Savage Beast, Newbomb Turk, Odin, the toothless bitch in Virginia Beach who still thinks viruses are illegal, and a dude named Adapa Anu in Gonzales, Texas! ...

ARiSToTLE NuKE'94