Security critic reveals details of 2001 raid
Alcoholic U.S. marshal bagged author of antivirus rootkit
Monday, February 26, 2007 Posted: 8:47 AM EST (1347 GMT)WELLMAN, IOWA — It took nearly six years, but noted computer security critic Rob Rosenberger has finally given his side of the story about a federal raid on his home in 2001. "U.S. marshal John McClane led the team of heavily armed police that broke down my door at 3am," he revealed in an exclusive interview with Government Computer News.
McClane is now on the short list to replace Greg Garcia as the Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Click here for McClane's Wikipedia biography.
Rosenberger admits he was about to release an update for his "ADVEIS" antivirus rootkit at the time of his arrest. "The antivirus industry didn't like how I could take over any server running their products," he explained. "One prominent member of the industry happened to attend the same Alcoholics Anonymous meetings with McClane, and he said I should be arrested for writing a rootkit that attacks antivirus software. Next thing you know, I'm face down on the floor, wearing a pair of handcuffs, and McClane is shoving a gun barrel into my cheek."
Rosenberger admitted his "big mouth" nearly got him killed. "I said 'dude, you smell like you just rammed your car into a helicopter or something.' He pistol-whipped me over that remark and the gun went off. The bullet took out a brand-new monitor."
It was the accidental discharge that kept Rosenberger from going to prison. "McClane's team got all flustered and they went off to talk privately in my living room. I shouted out something like 'I'll be taking a nap in the foyer if you need me.' They said they'd drop all charges if I agreed not to report the gunshot. Next thing you know, the cuffs are off and McClane is hightailing it out of my subdivision."