Command Line Heroes

Lurking Logic Bombs

Mar 22, 2022
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ANECDOTE

Last-Minute Virus Cleanup

  • Paul Ducklin raced to help a company disinfect computers before the CIH logic bomb's trigger date.
  • He and a colleague cleaned systems after hours to try to stop an imminent worldwide detonation.
INSIGHT

Stealth Hiding Makes Logic Bombs Deadly

  • CIH used code-caving to hide inside executables so file sizes didn't change and infections stayed nearly invisible.
  • Stealthy hiding makes logic bombs effective because they rely on remaining undetected until detonation.
ANECDOTE

BIOS-Wiping Catastrophe

  • On April 26, 1999 CIH wiped partition tables and overwrote BIOS firmware, leaving many PCs unbootable.
  • The attack caused widespread panic and roughly a billion dollars in damage, especially in Asia.
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