It all sort of starts here (http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/10/meet-badbios-the-mysterious-mac-and-pc-malware-that-jumps-airgaps/), with a slightly sensationalist account of a seemingly respected security analyst's assertion that he's been a victim of multiple infections of multiple OS's instantaneously, presumably through a USB attack. That much is in and of itself pretty crazy, when you think about it, but then it really jumps into overdrive when he claims that command and control of the various already infected PCs was being accomplished through the speakers and microphones of the machines.
The security researcher doesn't seem to have much of a reason to make this up, although he does run some events (which do not seem to lack for publicity). It is of course possible that this is just a giant stunt, or maybe this guy just went off the deep end. Certainly, most of the characterizations you'll read on this topic suggests as much, but his actual postings about it, largely on g+ (http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/10/meet-badbios-the-mysterious-mac-and-pc-malware-that-jumps-airgaps/) have seemed to some extent to acknowledge that this seems quite unlikely, he's even linked to one of the more prominent takedowns on the web of what he's posted.
Personally, I have no idea what to think. The claims really do sound too absurd. But it's hard to see why this individual would put his reputation on the line, and there are other people lining up to vouch for him as an honest individual. He's not provided enough material for others to independently verify, which really, really, really sets off hoax alarm bells, but I suppose he's starting to put some stuff out. We are either witnessing one of the weirdest hoaxes/publicity stunts in history or one of the scariest computer malwares the world has ever seen.
The security researcher doesn't seem to have much of a reason to make this up, although he does run some events (which do not seem to lack for publicity). It is of course possible that this is just a giant stunt, or maybe this guy just went off the deep end. Certainly, most of the characterizations you'll read on this topic suggests as much, but his actual postings about it, largely on g+ (http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/10/meet-badbios-the-mysterious-mac-and-pc-malware-that-jumps-airgaps/) have seemed to some extent to acknowledge that this seems quite unlikely, he's even linked to one of the more prominent takedowns on the web of what he's posted.
Personally, I have no idea what to think. The claims really do sound too absurd. But it's hard to see why this individual would put his reputation on the line, and there are other people lining up to vouch for him as an honest individual. He's not provided enough material for others to independently verify, which really, really, really sets off hoax alarm bells, but I suppose he's starting to put some stuff out. We are either witnessing one of the weirdest hoaxes/publicity stunts in history or one of the scariest computer malwares the world has ever seen.
