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| Marcus Hutchins |
Hutchins, who works for Los Angeles-based Crypto Logic, said late Monday that hundreds of computer experts worked throughout the weekend to fight the virus, which paralyzed computers in some 150 countries.
"I'm definitely not a hero," he said. "I'm just doing someone to shut down the botnet."
In the first hours after the virus arrived on Friday, computer whiz and surfing enthusiasts discovered a so-called "kill switch" in a small seaside town in southwest England, which slowed the unprecedented outbreak. He then spent the next three days fighting the worm that crippled the UK hospital network as well as factories, government agencies, banks and other businesses around the world.
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WannaCry paralyzes computers running mostly older versions of Microsoft Windows by encrypting users' computer files and displaying a message demanding a ransom of $300 to $600 to release them; Failure to pay will degrade data and is likely to be beyond repair.
Hutchins said that while he was analyzing a sample of the malicious code, he stumbled across the solution and saw that it was associated with an unregistered web address. He immediately registered the domain, something he does regularly to find ways to track or prevent cyber threats, and found that prevented the worm from spreading.
Cryptos Logic chief executive Salim Nino said Hutchins' quick work allowed him to slow down the virus in European time on Friday afternoon before it could fully affect the United States.
"Marcus, with the program running in crypto logic, not only saved the United States, but prevented further damage to the rest of the world," Nino said in an interview from Venice, Italy. "Within a few moments, we were able to confirm that there was indeed a kill switch. It was a very exciting moment."
Nino said the worm was "poorly designed" - pashed together and "the sum of individual parts" with a different payment system.
Crypto Logic is one of hundreds of companies working to combat online threats for companies, government agencies and individuals around the world. Hutchins himself is part of a global community that constantly watches for attacks and works to thwart them, often sharing information on Twitter.
It's not uncommon for members to use nicknames, protect against retaliatory attacks, and ensure privacy, and Hutchins has long tweeted under the handle of Malwaretech, confronting a cat wearing heavy sunglasses Profile photo of cat falling.
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But he realizes that his new fame will mean the end of oblivion.
"I don't think I'm ever going back to Malwaretech doing what everyone knew," said the curly haired young man, a smiling and winning smile.
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