The person who has stopped the spread of the Monk virus

What has turned into the life of an anonymous security specialist

On May 12, the Wannaacrypt virus is spread around the world. He encrypted the data on tens of thousands of computers - and demanded a ransom of $ 300 for decryption. Attackers earned at least 70 thousand dollars . In Russia, computers in Megafon, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Investigative Committee were infected with the virus.

The spread of the virus was stopped almost by accident. An anonymous security specialist conducted by Twitter @malwareTech found out that for some reason the virus is requested by the IUQERFSODPSDFJHGOSURIJFAEWERGWEA.com domain. He registered this domain , after which the spread of the virus ceased. As it turned out later, the virus encrypted data only if the request to this domain turned out to be unsuccessful.

@MalwareTech became a real hero - and the journalists started hunting for him: they found out his mail, name, address, found his photos with friends, although he himself did not want to reveal his personality (in English, the disclosure of personal information without the desire of a person is called a separate word DOXing; he actually underwit).

@MalWaretech himself was surprised that British journalists devoted whole paragraphs of texts that he loves pizza and ride a surf. Employees of publications contacted his acquaintances. As a result, he himself wrote on Twitter: "If you really want an interview, write to me in a personal." And after some time he specified: “If you appear at my house, I will not cooperate with your publication.”

Three days after the start of the hunt, @malWaretech still agreed to give an interview . Therefore, we can name his name: a person who has stopped the spread of the Mount Virus is called Marcus Hatchins; He lives with his parents in the UK in the County of Devon. Khatchins is 22 years old. He is self -taught and perceives his work as a hobby.

Marcus Khatchins writes on Twitter that local institutions have already begun to advertise as places, “where Hatchines constantly freezes,” although he has never been there. “When does anyone write already, what is my car? It is interesting to know, because I don’t know how to drive, ”the safety specialist jokes .

His friends, in turn, decided to help him cope with excessive interest from journalists. Hatchins was presented with a growth figure that can be left at home instead.

In fame, however, there are pluses. Just Eat delivery service gave Marcus Hatchins the year of free pizza . In addition, Khatchins was awarded a prize of 10 thousand dollars for stopping the spread of the virus. With this money, he is going to buy information security textbooks in order to transfer them to students who cannot afford these books.

Vladimir Tsybulsky