Amateur Virus Analysts?

Is there such a thing as an amateur virus analyst? Who are the hackers who would specialise in analyzing a virus by how it operates.

I have one on my USB pen which my program isn't picking up. It causes the desktop of any computer it is plugged into to refresh every few minutes or every time a folder is closed.

I've been on forums before with lots of similar type problems but when it comes to virus problems there doesn't seem as much expertise about... Any ideas for go tos?

 

There are tons of "hacker" forums on the internet. I wouldn't trust any of them. I'm not too clear on your issue or your question, but MG isn't the place to ask for help getting a virus to function. If I misunderstood your question, please clarify.

 

Kind of like going on a car thief forum and asking how to secure your new Mustang?

Unless of course you take Jack Sparrows profound words "You can always trust a dishonest man to be dishonest, it's the honest ones you have to watch" :-D

 

Of course there is. Technically, an amateur is a person who earns their living doing something else. And if we go by that definition, we have some outstanding ones right here at MGs.

If you honestly believe you have a virus on that USB drive, go here and just follow the directions. They probably won't help you with analyzing how a virus operates, because they have better things to do, but if your main priority is to get rid of it, there is no better place.

 

Sounds like his trying to find help getting a possible source of malware checked out, no where does he state he wants to build or create a virus. Hacker used to mean more then criminal, so dont assume hes reffering to that.

https://www.virustotal.com/ Is a place that i would start with, uploading it your file there for analyses.

 

Thanks, sorry for the delay. the problem would be in first identifying the file so I could then submit it I guess. Virus, Anti malware, spyware programs (common ones) are not picking anything up. Is it fair to assume that all mainstream antivirus programs provide backdoors for 'legal' state access?

 

I am not a virus expert. Not even an amateur one. :-D But I was thinking about your post. Does the screen refresh stuff stop when you remove the USB drive out of the computer? If it does, I would have to wonder if it is some odd USB hardware issue. I have seen a few odd conflicts with USB devices. If it does not affect the computer after you remove the USB drive, that does not seem like a virus to me.

Good luck with it!

 

Antimalware producers operate within many countries and legal jurisdictions. However, there is no reason for antimalware producers to add in back doors for state access. There are no laws that I know of that require it, in any country. It would also be bad press for any company to be found with a backdoor.

As for your problem, have our antimalware people had a look at removing it?

If not, what is the file extension and name of the file?

 

Collins, he can't seem to identify the file, thus my ramblings about it possibly being something else. Of course in the lounge, I can do so. :cool

 

I was just asking, not trying to get at anyone.

 

Not a problem on my part Collins! Hope your weekend is going well. Mine just turned very well. :-D

 

This is the Lounge right? We can BS about such things with more latitude than the tech forums. And my thinking about the 'rouge' USB device is a bit far fetched, but not impossible.

Myself, I often over complicate trouble shooting, to my own detriment.

 

F.W.I.W.:- Given the very limited info given on this problem, it sounds more like a corrupt file than malware to me, with the screen refreshing every now and then. A Thumb-drive should be no different than any other S.S.D. drive and should be able to be removed the same as any other file(s) residing on an internal drive, including the A.V. progs. you mentioned, further making me believe that it may not be a virus at all. The only difference is that it's connected via the USB port.
An "Amateur Virus Analyst" would be someone who analyzes Virus' without being paid. He/She might be good at it or, (usually) he may suck at it.LOL

 

In that case, have you considered the little fairies that live inside USB drives? They sometimes leave little notes that we have never been able to open yet.

Is that enough BS?:-D

 

I would all so agree sounds more like a corrupted file.

But all so like others said not much info to go on.

 

Were you thinking of this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21042378

 

Personally, I don't judge the drives on their sexual orientation. Unlike a few.. :-D

 

Fairy in this context is not a sexual orientation, it is a job description. USB Fairies are at the same pay grade as tooth fairies, which is one above bridge troll and one below ghosts of Christmas past. Bridge trolls are dying out due to the fact that it takes a lot of them to stop one large herd of goats, leaving Fairies of all descriptions as the largest group of daemons. Second to them are imps, which appear in Personal Disorganisers, cameras (film and static) and other such devices.

 

Ahh, thanks. Always get the technical info here. :-D Seems they are the lesser cousins of the pink unicorn that Cra## Skittles and farts rainbows.

 

Nope, but they could apply to be the handlers for the animal. You see, the role of bridge troll encompasses a fairy wearing a mechanical troll suit, but they obviously don't need that for a role as tooth fairy or unicorn handler.

 

Sadly, here in the states, it seems the bridge trolls have been largely replaced with wireless technology. Rumor is that some of the trolls have taken up politics as a profession. :-D

 

No it was on the computer first. I just mentioned it was on the usb also because I thought the way it transmitted itself and started to replicate the refreshing when I plugged it into other PCs might tell you something about it.

I have many strange issues like my screen moving up and down randomly and other typical black hat style intimidation stuff. I doubt it is a malfunction. It is likely because I am a target. www.powerbase.info/index.php/Targeting_and_Information_Operations

 

*Meant to say 'window scrolling up and down' rather than 'screen moving...'