> After a dramatic rise in the number of virus authors during the late 1990's several highly publicized virus outbreaks and resulting law enforcement involvement have caused a large number of authors to either quit or "lay low". Some well known names from the early computer virus era have left the scene or have aimed their efforts on other computer related activities, often due to lack of interest. After the post Melissa scare and decline in activity amongst authors a definite increase in activity, the number of new virus projects and authors could be observed late 1999. There are signs that somewhere in the near future the number of actively virus producing individuals will reach an equilibrium, the number of people "dropping out" of the scene seems close to the number of new identities appearing on the scene. Apparently the media hypes and the resulting law enforcement involvement have a limiting effect on the number of people willing to put up with the perceived risks.

> Earlier when a source code of a virus was "released" either intentionally or unintentionally, budding, not so capable, virus authors could not resist the temptation of slightly changing the code and inserting their own name/handle and thus creating an immense number of variants of a particular virus strain. Some people with no clue at all just inserted their name/handle without changing anything else, ran the source through a shareware compiler/linker and uploaded the resulting virus to a VX site or some popular newsgroup. At the same time an increasing number of virus creation tools became available to an increasing number of people which resulted in a floodwave of viruses all signed by their "creators".

> Below you will find a list of "handles" that I found floating around in cyberspace until now. Many virus authors change their "handles" at least once in the course of their "career", some have a whole stack of them. Since it is almost impossible to keep track of this flow in names the list below contains "handles" that may belong to the same author. No effort was made to link these in any way.

> As most of you may already know, there is no apparent lack of imagination coming up with these image making "handles". No special ASCII characters were used in the list below (eg. Talon, Kohntark etc.). Furthermore the intermittent and erratic use of caps was disregarded.

> This list is by no means exhaustive / complete and does not even reflect all the handles mentioned elsewhere in VDAT, it is just meant to show the variety and multitude of names / handles that are used.

> For a more in depth analysis on virus writers the following material can be found in VDAT:

> > The Generic Virus Writer I by Sarah Gordon
> > The Generic Virus Writer II by Sarah Gordon
> > A virus is not always the product of a sick mind by Sarah Gordon
> > Anatomy of a virus author by Matthew Probert
> > What Motivates Virus Writers by Marko Salo
> > The Virus Writer Who Came In From The Cold by Joel Deane
> > Perusing The Virus Author Mentality by Lord Julus
> > Why I write viruses (and how not to stop me) by MidNyte

> Names/handles:

> > > 1Internal
> > > Abraxas
> > > Absolute Overlord
> > > Ace of Spades
> > > Accupunk
> > > Admiral Bailey
> > > Albert Sen
> > > Alchemy
> > > ALT-F4
> > > ALT-F9
> > > ALT-F11
> > > Almighty
> > > Amjads
> > > Android
> > > Angel Of Death
> > > Angel Of Sin
> > > Anibal Lecter
> > > Annihilator
> > > Antigen
> > > Apache Warrior
> > > Aperson
> > > A.R. Jr
> > > Arnie II
> > > Aristotle
> > > Arsonic
> > > Asmhead
> > > Attitude Adjuster
> > > Aurodreph
> > > Australian Parasite
> > > Automag
> > > AVV
> > > AweScream
> > > Azrael
> > > Beer
> > > Benny
> > > Big Mazzy
> > > Billy Belcebú
> > > Billy The Kid
> > > Bizon
> > > Bit Addict
> > > Black Baron
> > > Black Wolf
> > > Blade Runner
> > > Blesk
> > > BlinDef
> > > Blonde
> > > Blue Skull
> > > Bozo
> > > B-Real
> > > Bugs Bunny
> > > Burglar
> > > Buz
> > > Cancerbero
> > > Case
> > > Casio
> > > CD-ROM Boy
> > > CdrPVC
> > > Cerebral Quantas
> > > Chaos
> > > Cinder
> > > Coke
> > > Conjurer
> > > Conzouler
> > > Cool Zero
> > > Corrupt
> > > Cozenza
> > > Cracker Jack
> > > Crazy
> > > Crazy Lord
> > > Criminal Behaviour
> > > Criminal Minded
> > > Crom-Cruach
> > > Chronomancer
> > > Cruel Entity
> > > Cryptkeeper
> > > CTRL-ALT-DEL
> > > Cursor Luxor
> > > Cyber Crack
> > > CyberGOD
> > > Cybershadow
> > > CyberYoda
> > > Cyborg (SLAM)
> > > Cyborg (EAS)
> > > Damion
> > > Dandler
> > > Dark
> > > Dark Angel
> > > Dark Avenger
> > > Dark Chasm
> > > Dark Elf
> > > Dark Fayte
> > > Dark Fiber
> > > Dark Helmet
> > > Dark Killer
> > > Darkman
> > > Dark Night
> > > Dark Prince
> > > Dark Ray
> > > Darkside1
> > > Dark Slayer
> > > Data Disruptor
> > > DeadSaxon
> > > Death Angel
> > > Deathboy
> > > Death Dealer Of Tempest
> > > Decimator
> > > Demogorgon
> > > Demon Emperor
> > > Descarts
> > > Devastator
> > > Deviator
> > > Digital Alchemy
> > > Digital Justice
> > > Digital Kid
> > > Digital Vampyr
> > > Dirty Nazi
> > > DoA
> > > Doctor Dissector
> > > Docter Revenge
> > > Doxtor L
> > > Drako
> > > Dreamer
> > > Dr. Retro
> > > Dr. White
> > > Dr. X
> > > Duke
> > > Duke / SMF
> > > DV8
> > > Eclypse
> > > Empire X
> > > Ender
> > > Eternal Maverick
> > > Evil Avatar
> > > Evul
> > > Executioner
> > > Exorcist
> > > Father Mac
> > > Firecracker
> > > Firefly
> > > Firststrike
> > > Flashlight
> > > Flatliner
> > > Flint
> > > Flitnic
> > > Ford Fairlane
> > > Foxman
> > > Foxz
> > > Frankenchrist
> > > Freestyler
> > > Frizer
> > > The Gabber
> > > Garfield
> > > Ghost
> > > Gigabyte
> > > Gill Iiriv
> > > Gingerbread Man
> > > Glen Benton
> > > God
> > > Godfather Suzuki
> > > God Man
> > > Goethe
> > > Gothmog
> > > Gordon Shumway
> > > GR8-Kyller
> > > Greyfire
> > > Grey Wolf
> > > Griyo
> > > Grog
> > > Guido Sanchez
> > > Guru-Killer
> > > Gump
> > > Guyam
> > > Gwaphingmen
> > > Hacking Hell
> > > Hades
> > > HamDan Wong
> > > Happy Hacker
> > > Harry McBungus
> > > Havoc The Chaos
> > > HDKiller
> > > Hellraiser
> > > Heuristic
> > > High Evolutionary
> > > Highlander
> > > Hitman
> > > Holy Spirit
> > > Horny Toad
> > > H.P. Lovecraft
> > > Hyperlock
> > > Hypodermic
> > > Ice-9
> > > Ice14
> > > Icebreaker
> > > Iceman
> > > Il Tagliaerbe
> > > Inquisitor
> > > Int13h
> > > IntMaster
> > > Int O'Dream
> > > Jack Damn
> > > Jackel
> > > Jackie Twoflower
> > > Jacky Qwerty
> > > Jaywalker
> > > Jerk1N
> > > Jesus
> > > JFK
> > > JHB
> > > Johnny Rotten
> > > John Tardy
> > > Judas
> > > J. Von Neumann
> > > Kernel Panic
> > > Kid Chaos
> > > KilJaeden
> > > Kim In-woo
> > > Kin Waing
> > > King Lizard
> > > Knight Of Virus
> > > Knight Rocker
> > > Knowdeth
> > > Kohntark
> > > Kowy
> > > Krackbaby
> > > Kryten
> > > Kufayvmen
> > > KzPro
> > > Lamer Slayer
> > > Lapidario
> > > Lazarus
> > > LethalMind
> > > Leugim San
> > > Leviathan
> > > Light General
> > > Liquid Code
> > > Liquid Jesus
> > > Little Loc
> > > Live Wire
> > > Llarian
> > > Lloyd
> > > Lobo
> > > LoFreq
> > > Loki
> > > Lone Wolf
> > > Lord Arz
> > > LordDark
> > > Lord Foul
> > > Lord Julus
> > > LordNatas
> > > Lord Of Navan
> > > Lord Zero
> > > LovinGOD
> > > Lucifer Messiah
> > > Lupus Yonderboy
> > > Lych
> > > Lys Kovick
> > > Macaroni Ted
> > > Mad Daemon
> > > Mad Satan
> > > Malinas
> > > Mandragore
> > > Massud Khafir
> > > Maz
> > > Memory Lapse
> > > Metabolis
> > > Metal Junkie
> > > Metal Militia
> > > Metal Thunder
> > > Methyl
> > > Mgl
> > > MidNyte
> > > Mikee
> > > Misguided Youth
> > > Mister Sandman
> > > Mnemonix
> > > Mongoose
> > > Morgan
> > > Moribindity
> > > Morrissey
> > > Mortal
> > > Moses
> > > Mr. Krinkle
> > > Mr. White
> > > MRM Snort
> > > Mr. Twister
> > > Murkry
> > > Mutation Interrupt
> > > Nameless One
> > > Napoleon
> > > Navrhar
> > > Necros The Hacker
> > > Ned239
> > > Nemesis
> > > Neophyte
> > > Nereus
> > > Neurobasher
> > > Neuron
> > > Neverone
> > > Night Crawler
> > > Night Hawk
> > > Nightmare Joker
> > > Night Spirit
> > > Nikademus
> > > Nipple
> > > Noah
> > > NoOne
> > > Nostradamus
> > > Nowhere Man
> > > Nucleii
> > > The Nuker
> > > Omega
> > > Opic
> > > Osiris
> > > Owl
> > > Pambihirang-pogi
> > > Page
> > > Paradizer
> > > The Penetrator
> > > Pentium Lee
> > > Pepper
> > > Pestilent
> > > Phardera
> > > Phoenix
> > > Phrozen Doberman
> > > Plague
> > > Pocket
> > > Populizer
> > > Pottie Rottie
> > > Priest
> > > The Priest
> > > Psychodad
> > > Psychogenius
> > > Psyclone X
> > > Pure Energy
> > > Pyro
> > > Qark
> > > Q The Misanthrope
> > > Quantum
> > > Rage
> > > Raid
> > > Rajaat
> > > Ramthes Jones
> > > Rapture
> > > Ratboy
> > > Raver
> > > Rave Lord
> > > Reality Tripper
> > > Random Killer
> > > Red-A
> > > Red Fox
> > > Reminder
> > > Renegade
> > > Reptile
> > > Retch
> > > Rhincewind
> > > Rickdogg
> > > Rock Steady
> > > Rogue Warrior
> > > Ruiner
> > > Rustbug
> > > Saboteur
> > > Sad Punk
> > > Sandoz
> > > Savage Beast
> > > Scorn
> > > Screaming Jesus
> > > Screaming Radish
> > > Sea4
> > > SEAlink
> > > Septic
> > > Sepultura
> > > Serg Enigma
> > > Serialkiller
> > > Shaitan
> > > Shindaq Arl'hur
> > > Silent Death
> > > Silent Shadow
> > > Silver Xpress
> > > Sinixstar
> > > Sirius
> > > The Slug
> > > Smaug
> > > SMT
> > > Smuilt
> > > Snakebyte
> > > Sniper
> > > Solar Designer
> > > Soltan Griss
> > > Somniun
> > > Spanska
> > > Spectral Shadow
> > > Spellbound
> > > Spencer Vivian
> > > Spooky
> > > Stainless Steel Rat
> > > Stalker-X
> > > Starzero
> > > Stealthfork
> > > Stealth Warrior
> > > Stingray
> > > Stormbringer
> > > Subcon
> > > Super
> > > T-2000
> > > T-Q
> > > Talon (Nuke)
> > > Talon
> > > Tatung
> > > Tcp
> > > Techno Phunk
> > > Terminal Silicosis
> > > Terminator Z
> > > Tesla 5
> > > Thespian
> > > Throbbing Grisle
> > > Titanium
> > > TNSe
> > > Tormentor
> > > Tornado
> > > Toxic Suicide
> > > TPVO Bye.Bye
> > > TPVO Fuck
> > > Track2Track
> > > Traumantic Stress
> > > Tricky Trout
> > > Trigger
> > > Trixter
> > > Trurl
> > > Ultras
> > > Underground Prophet
> > > The Unforgiven
> > > Urnst Kouch
> > > Uwat
> > > Vecna
> > > Venom
> > > Vibrant Pixel
> > > VicodinES
> > > Viking
> > > The Vile One
> > > Viper
> > > Virogen
> > > Virtual Daemon
> > > Virucidal Maniac
> > > Virus
> > > VirusBuster
> > > Virus-X
> > > Vixer
> > > Voodoo
> > > Vyvojar
> > > Warblade
> > > Wavefunc
> > > The Weird One
> > > Weasel
> > > Whisper
> > > White Angel
> > > White Cracker
> > > Wicked Rage
> > > Wildcat
> > > Wild WOrker
> > > Wintermute
> > > The Wizard
> > > WMA
> > > Wolfee J
> > > The Wombat
> > > Xavirus Hacker
> > > Yelihw
> > > Yesna
> > > Yosha
> > > Yozak
> > > Zar
> > > Zarathustra
> > > Zaxon
> > > Zeb
> > > Zeppelin
> > > Zhuge Jin
> > > Zodiac
> > > Zombie
> > > Zoom 23
> > > Zulu