Type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Video game industry |
Founded | 2009 |
Headquarters | California |
Website | choiceofgames.com |
Choice of Games LLC is a video game developer based in California that creates interactive fiction.[1]
Half-Life is a first-person shooter video game developed by Valve and published by Sierra Studios for Microsoft Windows in 1998. It was Valve's debut product and the first game in the Half-Life series. Players assume the role of Gordon Freeman, a scientist who must escape the Black Mesa Research Facility after it is invaded by aliens. Mar 24, 2021 But despite its double life on x86 and ARM processors and its increasingly close ties to iOS and iPadOS, today's macOS is still very much a direct descendant of that original Mac OS X release.
They create their games in the custom-made ChoiceScript programming language, which is designed for writing multiple-choice games with a small number of variables.[2]
Downloaded the iso image and proceeded to make a Mac OS X bootable USB on windows. To create a bootable media to install Mac OS X leopard on my old macbook A1181. I used imageusb and installed. I was very happy to find this 10.5.4 version which worked perfectly. Many thanks to all. Explore the world of Mac. Check out MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini, and more. Visit the Apple site to learn, buy, and get support.
The company was founded by Dan Fabulich and Adam Strong-Morse in 2009.[3][4] It has been noted for making games that are accessible to the visually impaired.[5] Its games have been praised for their diverse portrayals of gender and sexuality.[6]
The company also hosts user-submitted games on their site and app store listing in exchange for a share of the profits.[7]
Titles[edit]
Year | Title | Author(s) | Editor | Word Count | System |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Choice of the Dragon[8] | Dan Fabulich and Adam Strong-Morse | 30,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Kindle, Web | |
2010 | Choice of Broadsides | Adam Strong-Morse, Heather Albano, and Dan Fabulich | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Kindle, Web | ||
2010 | Affairs of the Court: Choice of Romance | Heather Albano and Adam Strong-Morse | Dan Fabulich | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Kindle, Web | |
2010 | Choice of the Vampire | Jason Stevan Hill | Dan Fabulich | iOS, Android, Kindle, Web | |
2011 | Affairs of the Court: Choice of Intrigues | Heather Albano and Adam Strong-Morse | Dan Fabulich | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Kindle, Web | |
2012 | Choice of Zombies | Heather Albano and Richard Jackson | Dan Fabulich | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Kindle, Web | |
2012 | Heroes Rise: The Prodigy | Zachary Sergi | Jason Stevan Hill | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Kindle, Web | |
2012 | For Rent: Haunted House | Gavin Inglis | Jason Stevan Hill | iOS, Android, Kindle, Web | |
2012 | Choice of the Star Captain | Dorian Hart | Adam Strong-Morse | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Kindle, Web | |
2012 | To the City of the Clouds | Catherine Bailey | Jason Stevan Hill | iOS, Android, Kindle, Web | |
2012 | The Fleet | Jonathan Valuckas | Jason Stevan Hill | 102,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Kindle, Web |
2012 | Choice of Kung Fu | Alana Joli Abbott | Adam Strong-Morse | 116,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Kindle, Web |
2013 | Treasure Seekers of Lady Luck | Christopher Brendel | Adam Strong-Morse | 99,000 | iOS, Android, Web |
2013 | Slammed! | Paolo Chikiamco | Adam Strong-Morse | 250,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2013 | Choice of the Ninja | Katherine Buffington | Adam Strong-Morse | 185,000 | iOS, Android, Web |
2013 | Choice of the Vampire: The Fall of Memphis | Jason Stevan Hill | Dan Fabulich | 314,000 | iOS, Android, Web |
2013 | Affairs of the Court: 'Til Death Do Us Part | Heather Albano and Adam Strong-Morse | Dan Fabulich | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web | |
2013 | Heroes Rise: The Hero Project | Zachary Sergi | Jason Stevan Hill | 179,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2013 | The ORPHEUS Ruse | Paul Gresty | Jason Stevan Hill | 152,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2013 | Showdown at Willow Creek | Alana Joli Abbott | Adam Strong-Morse | 71,000 | iOS, Android, Web |
2013 | Reckless Space Pirates | Rachel Zakuta | Adam Strong-Morse | 122,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2013 | Choice of the Deathless | Max Gladstone | Adam Strong-Morse | 99,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2014 | Choice of the Rock Star | Jonathan Zimmerman | Adam Strong-Morse | 73,000 | iOS, Android, Web |
2014 | NOLA is Burning | Claudia Starling | Jason Stevan Hill | 74,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2014 | Neighbourhood Necromancer | Gavin Inglis | Jason Stevan Hill | 104,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2014 | Mecha Ace | Paul Wang | Jason Stevan Hill | 238,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2014 | Heroes Rise: HeroFall | Zachary Sergi | Jason Stevan Hill | 119,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2014 | Yeti's Parole Officer | KT Bryski | Rebecca Slitt | 68,000 | iOS, Android, Web |
2014 | Thieves' Gambit: The Curse of the Black Cat | Dana Duffield | Rebecca Slitt | 96,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2014 | Creatures Such As We | Lynnea Glasser | 118,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web | |
2014 | Psy High | Rebecca Slitt | Adam Strong-Morse | 185,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2014 | Choice of Robots | Kevin Gold | Adam Strong-Morse | 300,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2014 | The Last Monster Master | Ben Serviss | Jason Stevan Hill | 250,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2015 | The Hero of Kendrickstone | Paul Wang | Jason Stevan Hill | 240,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2015 | Choice of the Petal Throne | Danielle Goudeau | Adam Strong-Morse | 124,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2015 | Hollywood Visionary | Aaron A. Reed | Rebecca Slitt | 150,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2015 | It's Killing Time | Eric Bonholtzer | Jason Stevan Hill | 140,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2015 | Champion of the Gods | Jonathan Valuckas | Jason Stevan Hill | 217,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2015 | VERSUS: The Lost Ones | Zachary Sergi | Jason Stevan Hill | 123,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2015 | A Wise Use of Time | Jim Dattilo | Jason Stevan Hill | 260,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2015 | Ratings War | Eddy Webb | Jason Stevan Hill | 80,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2015 | Deathless: The City's Thirst | Max Gladstone | Adam Strong-Morse | 150,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2015 | Diabolical | Nick Aires | Rebecca Slitt | 130,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2015 | Pendragon Rising | Ian Thomas | Rebecca Slitt | 112,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2015 | MetaHuman Inc. | Paul Gresty | Jason Stevan Hill | 260,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2015 | Sixth Grade Detective | Logan Hughes | Adam Strong-Morse | 109,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2016 | The Daring Mermaid Expedition | Andrea Phillips | Rebecca Slitt | 71,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2016 | The Hero Project: Redemption Season | Zachary Sergi | Jason Stevan Hill | 129,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2016 | The Sea Eternal | Lynnea Glasser | Jason Stevan Hill | 283,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2016 | Choice of the Pirate | Alana Joli Abbott | Rebecca Slitt | 165,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2016 | Choice of Alexandria | Kevin Gold | Adam Strong-Morse | 90,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2016 | A Midsummer Night's Choice | Kreg Segall | Rebecca Slitt | 190,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2016 | Sorcery Is for Saps | Hilari Bell and Anna-Maria Crum | Adam Strong-Morse | 200,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2016 | Congresswolf | Ellen Cooper | Rebecca Slitt | 140,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2016 | Saga of the North Wind | Tom Knights | Jason Stevan Hill | 300,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2016 | Empyrean | Kyle Marquis | Jason Stevan Hill | 325,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2016 | Cannonfire Concerto | Caleb Wilson | Rebecca Slitt | 190,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2016 | VERSUS: The Elite Trials | Zachary Sergi | Jason Stevan Hill | 140,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2017 | Runt of the Litter | Kelly Sandoval | Rebecca Slitt | 150,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2017 | The Eagle's Heir | Jo Graham and Amy Griswold | Jason Stevan Hill | 200,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2017 | Welcome to Moreytown | S. Andrew Swann | Rebecca Slitt | 150,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2017 | Demon Mark: A Russian Saga | Lorraine Fryer and Vladimir Barash | Adam Strong-Morse | 200,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2017 | Avatar of the Wolf | Bendi Barrett | Jason Stevan Hill | 135,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2017 | The Hero Unmasked! | Christopher Huang | Rebecca Slitt | 300,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2017 | Trials of the Thief-Taker | Joey Donald Jones | Jason Stevan Hill | 140,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2017 | Grand Academy for Future Villains | Katherine Nehring | Mary Duffy | 200,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2017 | Choice of the Cat | Jordan Reyne | Mary Duffy | 600,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2017 | The Superlatives: Aetherfall | Alice Ripley | Mary Duffy | 260,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2017 | Heart of the House | Nissa Campbell | Jason Stevan Hill | 360,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2017 | Choice of Rebels: Uprising | Joel Havenstone | Adam Strong-Morse | 637,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2017 | Broadway: 1849 | Robert Davis | Mary Duffy | 150,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2017 | T-Rex Time Machine | Rosemary Claire Smith | Rebecca Slitt | 170,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2017 | Tally Ho | Kreg Segall | Rebecca Slitt | 638,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2017 | The Cryptkeepers of Hallowford | Paul Wang | Jason Stevan Hill | 360,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | Undercover Agent | Naomi Laeuchli | Rebecca Slitt | 135,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | The Fielder's Choice | Nathaniel Edwards | Mary Duffy | 115,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | The Hero Project: Open Season | Zachary Sergi | Jason Stevan Hill | 170,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | Silverworld | Kyle Marquis | Jason Stevan Hill | 560,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | The Road to Canterbury | Kate Heartfield | Rebecca Slitt | 175,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | Rent-a-Vice | Natalia Theodoridou | Jason Stevan Hill | 150,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | I, Cyborg | Tracy Canfield | Rebecca Slitt | 300,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | Blood Money | Hannah Powell-Smith | Mary Duffy | 290,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | Werewolves: Haven Rising | Jeffrey Dean | Jason Stevan Hill | 280,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | Choice of Magics | Kevin Gold | Jason Stevan Hill | 550,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | DinoKnights | K.T. Bryski | Mary Duffy | 177,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | Choice of Broadsides: HMS Foraker | Paul Wang | Abby Trevor | 85,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | The Mysteries of Baroque | William Brown | Mary Duffy | 200,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | The Martian Job | M. Darusha Wehm | Rebecca Slitt | 155,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | Gilded Rails | Anaea Lay | Jason Stevan Hill | 340,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | Stronghold: A Hero's Fate | Jo Graham and Amy Griswold | Mary Duffy | 250,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | Weyrwood | Isabella Shaw | Rebecca Slitt | 174,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | Death Collector | Jordan Reyne | Mary Duffy | 300,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | 7th Sea: A Pirate's Pact | Danielle Lauzon | Rebecca Slitt | 200,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2018 | Tower Behind the Moon | Kyle Marquis | Mary Duffy | 400,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2019 | Chronicon Apocalyptica | Robert Davis | Mary Duffy | 250,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2019 | Drag Star! | Evan J. Peterson | Mary Duffy | 150,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2019 | The Superlatives: Shattered Worlds | Alice Ripley | Mary Duffy | 218,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2019 | Fog of War: The Battle for Cerberus | Bennett R. Coles | Jason Stevan Hill | 170,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2019 | Pon Para and the Great Southern Labyrinth | Kyle Marquis | Jason Stevan Hill | 430,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2019 | Fool! | Ben Rovik | Mary Duffy | 420,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2019 | Asteroid Run: No Questions Asked | Fay Ikin | Rebecca Slitt | 325,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2019 | Exile of the Gods | Jonathan Valuckas | Jason Stevan Hill | 460,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2019 | Heroes of Myth | Abigail C. Trevor | Rebecca Slitt | 560,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
2019 | Psy High 2: High Summer | Rebecca Slitt | Jason Stevan Hill | 270,000 | PC, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Web |
Hosted titles[edit]
Year | Title | Author(s) | Editor | Word Count |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Popcorn, Soda... Murder? | Pauzle | ||
2010 | The Nightmare Maze | Alex Livingston | ||
2010 | What Happened Last Night? | Kie Brooks | ||
2010 | Paranoia | Kie Brooks | ||
2011 | Land of Three Classes | Christopher Saloman | ||
2010 | Imprisoned | Myth Thrazz | ||
2011 | Marine Raider | Allen Gies | ||
2011 | Dilemma | Mikhail Koroviev | ||
2011 | Zombie Exodus | Jim Dattilo | 750,000 | |
2011 | Zebulon | Matt Slaybaugh | ||
2011 | Mobile Armored Marine: Mission to Far Hope | Steve Cave | ||
2011 | Dead Already? | Kie Brooks | ||
2011 | The Race | Andy Why | ||
Wizard's Choice | Sam Landstrom | |||
2012 | Apex Patrol | Allen Gies | ||
2010 | The Sons of the Cherry | Alex Livingston | ||
2012 | Way Walkers: University | J. Leigh | ||
2012 | Life of a Wizard | Mike Walter | 130,000 | |
2013 | Sabres of Infinity | Paul Wang | 200,000 | |
2013 | Paradox Factor | Mike Walter | ||
2013 | Way Walkers: University 2 | J. Leigh | ||
2013 | Burn(t) | Vivi Tran | ||
2013 | UnNatural | Sam Kabell | 285,000 | |
2013 | Tin Star | Allen Gies | 1,376,197 | |
2014 | Trial of the Demon Hunter | Samuel Harrison Young | 85,000 | |
2014 | Planetary Quarantine | Andrew J. Schaefer | ||
2014 | Life of a Mobster | Mike Walter | ||
2014 | Fatehaven | Devon Connell | ||
2014 | Path of Light | Ivailo Daskvalo | ||
2014 | Sword of the Elements | Dmitry Drugov | 200,000 | |
2014 | Gangs of Old Camp | Amith Shaju | ||
2014 | Divided We Fall | Alex Clifford | 130,000 | |
2014 | The Ascot | Duncan Bowsman | ||
2014 | Silent Gear | Lee Yuan | ||
2014 | Somme Trench | Andrew J. Schaefer | ||
2015 | Lords of Aswick | Teo Kuusela | ||
2015 | Seven Bullets | Cloud Buchholz | 280,000 | |
2015 | The Lost Heir: The Fall of Daria | Mike Walter | 145,000 | |
2015 | Zombien | Leon Naylor | ||
2015 | The Volunteer Firefighter | Stefanie Handshaw | 130,000 | |
2014 | The Shadow Horror | Allen Gies | 533,000 | |
2015 | No Proper Thief | Russell J. Dorn | ||
2015 | Double/Cross | Toni Owen-Blue | 85,000 | |
2015 | Samurai of Hyuga | Devon Connell | ||
2015 | Dancing with Demons | Ivailo Daskalov | ||
2015 | So, You're Possessed! | Tony R. Smith and Beth Townsend | 50,000 | |
2015 | Founders Saga: The Culling | Steve Spalding | ||
2015 | Attack of the Clockwork Army | Felicity Banks | ||
2015 | A Study in Steampunk: Choice by Gaslight | Heather Albano | Rebecca Slitt | 277,000 |
2015 | Factions: Raids of the Divided | Waseeq Mohammad | Sameer Abdali | |
2018 | Fallen Hero: Rebirth | Malin Rydén | Mouse Bowden | 380,000 |
2018 | The Wayhaven Chronicles: Book One | Mishka Jenkins | 440,000 | |
2020 | The Wayhaven Chronicles: Book Two | Mishka Jenkins | 750,000 |
References[edit]
- ^'Choice of Games - Choose Your Own Adventure Inspired Apps'. Wired. 2011-05-01. Retrieved 2017-08-17.
- ^Short, Emily (2010-04-23). 'Analysis: Choose Your Own Adventure, 21st Century Style'. Gamasutra. Retrieved 2017-08-17.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^Caoili, Eric (2010-12-22). 'Choice Of Games Releases Interactive Fiction Apps For Kindle'. Gamasutra. Retrieved 2017-08-17.
- ^'Choice of Games' Kindle line-up'. GamesIndustry.biz. 2010-12-22. Retrieved 2017-08-17.
- ^Musgrave, Shaun (2015-05-06). 'Blind Gamers Are Embracing Developers Who Have an Eye for Accessibility'. TouchArcade. Retrieved 2017-08-17.
- ^'CABIN FEVER: Help For RPG-Frustrated New Parents'. Wired. 2011-02-25.
- ^Hodapp, Eli (2010-09-06). 'Choose Your Own Adventure with Choice of Games' Library of Interactive Fiction'. TouchArcade.
- ^Meer, Alec (2010-12-06). 'Scaled Up: Choice Of The Dragon'. Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2017-08-17.
External links[edit]
A year ago today, Apple released a software update to halt the spread of the Flashback worm, a malware strain that infected more than 650,000 Mac OS X systems using a vulnerability in Apple's version of Java. This somewhat dismal anniversary is probably as good a time as any to publish some clues I've gathered over the past year that point to the real-life identity of the Flashback worm's creator.
Before I delve into the gritty details, a little background on this insidious contagion is in order. A keenly detailed research paper (PDF) published last year by Finnish security firm F-Secure puts the impact and threat from Flashback in perspective, noting that the malware boasted a series of 'firsts' for its kind. For starters, Flashback was the first OS X malware to be 'VMware aware' — or to know when it was being run in a virtual environment (a trick designed to frustrate security researchers). It also was the first to disable XProtect, OS X's built-in malware protection program. These features, combined with its ability to spread through a then-unpatched vulnerability in Java made Flashback roughly as common for Macs as the Conficker Worm was for Windows PCs.
'This means Flashback is not only the most advanced, but also the most successful OS X malware we've ever seen,' wrote F-Secure's Broderick Ian Aquilino.
The F-Secure writeup answers an important question not found in other analyses: Namely, what was the apparent intended purpose of Flashback? Put simply: to redirect Google results to third-party advertisers, all for the author's profit. It's name was derived from the fact that it spread using a social engineering trick of presenting the OS X user with a bogus Flash Player installation prompt. F-Secure notes that this same behavior — both the Flash social engineering trick and the redirection to fake Google sites that served search results for third-party advertisers that benefited the author — was also found in the QHost malware, suggesting that Flashback may have been the next evolution of the Mac QHost malware.
The F-Secure writeup answers an important question not found in other analyses: Namely, what was the apparent intended purpose of Flashback? Put simply: to redirect Google results to third-party advertisers, all for the author's profit. It's name was derived from the fact that it spread using a social engineering trick of presenting the OS X user with a bogus Flash Player installation prompt. F-Secure notes that this same behavior — both the Flash social engineering trick and the redirection to fake Google sites that served search results for third-party advertisers that benefited the author — was also found in the QHost malware, suggesting that Flashback may have been the next evolution of the Mac QHost malware.
BLACK SEO
A year ago, I published a series that sought to identify the real-lifehackersbehindthetopspambotnets. Using much the same methodology, I was able to identify and locate a young man in Russia who appears (and privately claims) to be the author of Flashback. As it happens, this individual hangs out on many of the same forums as the world's top spammers (but more on that at another time).
Given Flashback's focus on gaming Google's ad networks, I suspected that the worm's author probably was a key member of forums that focus on so-called 'black hat SEO,' (search engine optimization), or learned in illicit ways to game search engines and manipulate ad revenues. Sure enough, this individual happens to be a very active and founding member of BlackSEO.com, a closely guarded Russian language forum dedicated to this topic.
Below is a screen shot taken from a private message between a 'VIP' user named 'Mavook' and a top forum member on BlackSEO.com. The conversation took place on July 14, 2012. A rough translation of their conversation is superimposed on the redacted screen grab, but basically it shows Mavook asking the senior member for help in gaining access to Darkode.com, a fairly exclusive English-language cybercrime forum (and one that I profiled in a story earlier this week).
Ryden Life Mac Os X
BlackSEO.com member 'Mavook' claims responsibility for creating Flashback to a senior forum member.
Mavook asks the other member to get him an invitation to Darkode, and Mavook is instructed to come up with a brief bio stating his accomplishments, and to select a nickname to use on the forum if he's invited. Mavook replies that the Darkode nick should be not be easily tied back to his BlackSEO persona, and suggests the nickname 'Macbook.' He also states that he is the 'Creator of Flashback botnet for Macs,' and that he specializes in 'finding exploits and creating bots.'
The senior member that Mavook petitions is quite well known in the Russian cybercrime underground, and these two individuals also are well known to one another. In fact, in a separate exchange on the main BlackSEO forum between the senior member and a BlackSEO user named JPS, the senior member recommends Mavook as a guy who knows his stuff and can be counted on to produce reliable attack tools.
In the conversation screen-shotted here to the left, JPS can be seen asking the senior forum member for recommendations about reliable individuals who sell unique exploit packs, software toolkits built to be stitched into hacked Web sites and exploit common Web browser vulnerabilities. JPS says he's looking for a pro who can deliver decent exploitation rates.
'I have no time (and no desire) to roam chats and argue there with cool hackers,' JPS said. 'I need to check traffic in terms of exploitability, and in the future, if everything is alright, I can work on a continuous basis' with the hired expert.
Ryden Life Mac Os Download
The senior member tells JPS to ask Mavook. 'If Mavook won't budge, saying that he is no longer doing this stuff, write to me again.'
WHO IS MAVOOK?
If we take a closer look at Mavook's profile page on BlackSEO.com, we can see that he is a longtime member, dating back to 2005, when he was the 24th member registered on BlackSEO (out of thousands). Mavook's profile also shows that his personal home page was at one time mavook.com. The WHOIS registration records for mavook.com have long been hidden by commercial WHOIS privacy protection services, but I found the original WHOIS record for this domain using the indispensable historic WHOIS service maintained by domaintools.com. Those records show that the domain was originally registered in 2005 by a Maxim Selikhanovich in Saransk, the capital city in Mordovia, a republic in the eastern region of the East European Plain of Russia.
The email address used to register mavook.com was 'h0mini@mail.ru' (the second character in the address is a zero). A search for that email address in Skype's user database brings up a user with the screen name 'Maximsd'. Mavook also used the email address 'mavook@gmail.com.' That address is tied a Maxim Selikhanovich in Saransk via the registration records for the now defunct Website saransk-offline.com, which at one point sold popular MP3 files for pennies apiece.
One of the emails used by Maxim for that Website and a related site was 'troxel@yandex.ru,' which was the same email used to register a now-deleted Facebook account under a Maxim Selikhanovich from Saransk. Yet another abandoned music sales site — mavook-mp3.com — was registered to a 'Mavook aka Troxel' and to the h0mini@mail.ru' address used for mavook.com.
MACS, MAX and MAKS
Mac Os Mojave
The final clue offers perhaps the most tantalizing details: The h0mini@mail.ru address is the contact point of record for a business in Saransk called mak-rm.com, the domain name registered to a IT-outsourcing and Web design firm in Saransk called the Mordovia Outsourcing Company (the 'mak' part of the name comes from the Russian version of the company name, which is 'МОРДОВСКАЯ АУТСОРСИНГОВАЯ КОМПАНИЯ'). That domain is registered to a 'Max D. Sell' in Saransk (see a cached image from mak-rm.com's homepage in 2010 at the Internet Archive).
According to a trusted source who has the ability to look up tax information on citizens and corporations in Russia, the Mordovia Outsourcing Company was registered and founded by one Maxim Dmitrievich Selihanovich, a 30-year-old from Saransk, Mordovia.