Interview with VicodinES
by Cicatrix
[August 1997]

How did you start out in computers?

I was 14 or 15 and my dad purchased a TI-99 4/A and I started teaching myself BASIC. Programs were loaded with a cassette tape :) A buddy of mine had one with a modem and we used to call all these bbs's long distance on stolen calling card numbers. We would read sex stories, curse out people on "the war boards" and download files on how to make bombs and such. The time-frame here was like 1982? Maybe a bit later. I also ran a small bbs for a time called "The Electric Death BBS" on a very early Compaq Lugable (fucking thing must have been 30 pounds) ... it was around the same time.

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

Hmmm, honestly I was bored, really high on prescription painkillers (purchased not prescribed) and I decided to do some assembly programming again.

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

Yes I write virii and I don't want to take any credit for the massively hacked virii that I stuck a bunch of AOL'ers with. Beta's are a bitch! Ummm I will take credit for anything that infected your system, even if I didn't program it. If it annoyed you then I want credit for it :)

How do you name your viruses?

They all end in .Poppy because I am a pill-head and all the good pills come from the poppy plant! Why? Why not? They all get their first names by accident.

Which programming languages do you know?

I took COBOL in high school but I forgot most of it. I know Modula and Pascal. I also do ok in Assembly and C++. I am working on my Visual C++ skills right now because I have a really good idea for my next virus ;)

What programming language do you like using the most?

They all suck!

Are you a member of a VX group?

I am part of The Narkotic Network. There is just three of us.

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

I use AVP the most so I guess I like that the best. I have a copy of every AV product on my hd so I can keep track of what programs can find what virii and to cross check my work. I don't really hate any of them - I don't have emotional attachments to any AV products.... I take that back I LOVE the ones that still can find my virii!

What are your goals (VX wise)?

To annoy countless users worldwide.

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

Don't really know much about it.

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

VicodinES is a the name for a painkiller here in the US. It's actually Vicodin Extra Strength. I love those little fucking pills so I took that name. It's just Hydrocodone and Tylanol. Anyway I was very high on the little bastards when I decided to start writing virii so I thought it was appropriate.

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

I played with NuKE NRLG and PS G2. I thought they were pretty cool. I liked the basic idea behind DREG - I never got a copy of the program (basically never bothered to download it) but I liked they whole philosophy behind it.

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

Macro's are cool by me. I think sometimes it's way too easy to create a new variant of a macro but I have seen some that really impressed me. I won't ever write one but that's my preference. HLL virii are the way to go. You can really kick some fucking ass with a C++ virii in 95 - just wait, you will see. I have also heard that someone is working on Microsoft Scripting virii? Kinda like batch virii in 95 .. but I haven't seen anything yet.

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

Too early to tell for me. Though I do have confirmation of 300+ people downloading an infected WinZip of mine. It was a carrier of Skim.Poppy so I suspect that one will do me proud. Hey Joe Wells get used to typing the word "POPPY" :)

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

I like 40 Hex - I re-read them now and again. The best new one is Xine. 29A is also cool.

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

I don't know any. I only respect those that helped me with or without knowing. People like Polt from the WCIVR and Cicatrix also AV'ers like Eugene Kaspersky who answered my questions without bias.

In the AV world?

see above

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

I like UPS in warez!! Fuckin' BIG UP'S FELLAZ! I also thought Da Chronic was amazing with AOHell. It's a simple thing now but unheard of when it came out. AOHell was even in Newsweek. New ideas don't need to be complex to gain my respect they just have to work. Da Chronic deserves much credit!

What is your view on destructive payloads in viruses?

Counter productive.

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

All mine are good, I don't understand the question :)

What do you do in 'real' life?

I run the MIS dept. for a large engineering firm (I only run one location though) and I am industrial music artist on the side. You may one day own one of my cd's.

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

Not many - I don't invite people to judge my actions.

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

I dabble in warez. Fastin.Blee does more warez than I do. He keeps me in the scene.

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

I don't think in those terms. I am not governed by other peoples morals. I wouldn't really take any heed in any laws. I would be forced to if it directly affected me but until it does I won't waste time on debating those issues with anyone or myself.

Describe the perfect virus.

I would end up spouting off "the one that was never caught" cliché here so I will pass.

What is your view on Windows (95)

Undiscovered country. Do yourself a favor and buy Andrew Schulman's "Unauthorized Windows 95 Developer's Resource Kit" - I am a big fan of GUI. I started in a text only world and I have no problems seeing it go away.

What is your advice for people just starting out?

I am not a good one for advice. Too selfish and sarcastic to be taken at face value, sorry.

Where can you be reached if at all?

vcru@hotmail.com

Any greets?

Yea shouts out to Klonopin.Jones, Fastin.Blee, Flexoral.DeZego, DeadPete, Mudcat "Grave" Rose, Monkey, Mousey and The Woobie!

Any other comments?

Yes my Turn-On's are skinny little blonde chicks with straight hair, very strong thuderstorms and getting free painkillers. Oh and one other thing don't think you can invite me over to your house without me searching your bathroom medicine cabinet for painkillers. I will steal them, you can count on that.

Short responses to the following names or words:

    - Dark Avenger       - created MtE right? If so then he rules!
    - Dark Angel         - some virus guy who followed the rules and took
                           a "spooky" name just like all the other sheep.
                           What his accomplishments are I have no idea.
    - Sarah Gordon       - Isn't she the queen of misinformation? I could be
                           wrong here.
    - Fridrik Skulason   - AV guy from Iceland
                         - many fat chicks come from Iceland
                         - I have seen Björk's tits and she has nasty ones
                         - ugggh don't go to Iceland
    - Alan Solomon       - AV guy from DSAV - name makes me think he is fat.
    - WordBasic/VBA      - cross-platform virii courtesy of Bill Gates
    - VDAT               - I dig it
    - VSUM               - loads of mistakes - bad source of information
    - Assembler          - not a good language for 95 virii
    - NuKE               - A group who I think are cool
    - Phalcon Skism      - I really don't know the difference between any of
                           the groups but I think these guys did a good job with G2
    - VLAD               - I have borrowed some ideas from these ingenious fellows
                         - I give you credit here and on my website.
    - Trident            - some poly engine right?
    - Polymorphic        - waste of time - just don't get detected in the first place
    - Stealth            - waste of time in 95 - no one uses TBAV in the US
                           anyway so I don't bother to think about stealth
    - I hate......         <list too long to print>
    - I love......         chocolate ice cream pops from Shop Rite and a 2
                           liter of Diet Mountain Dew on an empty stomach
    - IRC                - crap - who wants to chat while they are on a
                           computer anyway - fucking waste of time
    - Sex                - not as big of a driving force as in my life as it
                           seems to be for others but I love to fuck when I get
                           the chance

How and why did you get TNN started?

I told these two other guys (Klonopin.Jones + Fastin.Blee) who were helping me distribute, debug and design virii that they were now in a group and they didn't argue - so The Narkotic Network was born.

How is TNN organized?

Honestly there isn't much to be organized. I just kinda do what I want with it.

How are your other tutorials coming along?

I have mixed feelings on tutorials. I don't deny the fact that I have learned a TON from tutorials but I'm not so sure I am that comfortable giving away all my ideas. I may not write any more tutorials. I have noticed a few errors in my first tutorial anyway and I can't deal with the constant proof reading I do in my head after I post my ideas.

Will you ever release a virus creator?

I don't have that much free time. I divide my free time between programming and music. I have a computer dedicated to the internet and virii and one dedicated to running my samplers, drum machines and syths.

What is in your future and the future of TNN?

I want to turn the Narkotic Network web site into a a site where I ask total strangers to send me all the drugs in their medicine cabinet. But, I don't think I can get away with that. I really want to do that but I don't want to risk it all and get caught! I guess we will just keep moving forward with more complex virii and maybe more information. I will probably even relocate when GeoShitties kills the site.

Will TNN increase the number of members?

I don't really know. The Vx culture moves very slow and seems to communicate very little (I have made attempts to cross pollinate with very little success) so for right now three members is as good as it gets. I also tried to get on #virii once to "hang" but I didn't have my IRC setup to +o super-dork access so no chat for me.

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

We actually move a lot of warez. If you're into virii you gotta think about distribution and if we stay up on whats hot then we can infect you when you least expect it!