updated January 22, 1999
2600 Magazine - Fall 1998, page 14. An article on Back Orifice.
Abcnews.com - "Windows Faces Hack Attack" - August 11, 1998. Pic of the group at Defcon (including crotch shot of Grandmaster Ratte!); info on how to deal with it/get rid of it; info on email attachment security holes; nice quotes from Bruce Schneier. http://www.abcnews.com/sections/tech/DailyNews/backorifice980811.html
Abcnews.com - "New Version of IE May Have Security Problem" - March 16, 1999. BO mentioned in an article on IE 5.0 and its "AutoComplete" feature. http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/tech/DailyNews/iehole990315.html
AntiOnline - Back Orifice press releases, editorial coverage, links to removal information. http://www.antionline.com/SpecialReports/backorifice/
Atlanta Journal Constitution - Paper edition, August 16, 1998. An article on Bo.
Avp.ch - Info on what Back Orifice is, and its capabilities. http://www.avp.ch/avpve/trojan/win/bo.stm
Axent.Com - Axent Technologies - Info on what it is, our logo, info on how to remove it, pointers to our site, Microsoft rebuttal, and to related articles. Links to plugins, and links to solutions. http://www.axent.com/swat/1attacks/win95/backorifice/backo.htm
BusinessWeek - "News: Analysis & Commentary: THE INTERNET" "NOW ANY HACK CAN BE A HACKER" August 31, 1998. by Ira Sager. Also had an article in the August 24 issue. http://www.businessweek.com/1998/35/b3593100.htm
Cnet.com - September 26, 1998 - "Technology Terrors! 10 Products that Will Scare You to Death." Back Orifice is Terror #10. http://www.cnet.com/Content/Gadgets/Guides/Terrors/?st.cn.gp.rl.dl&st.cn.nws.rl.cn
CNN - "Warding off Hack Attacks." Back Orifice mentioned in an article about hostile code, Symantec and eSafe. http://www.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9808/07/hackatak.idg/
Computer Active Weekly - Paper only. October 21, 1998. "This BO Thing Stinks." Uri Geller disses cDc.
ComputerWorld - August 17, 1998 - "Microsoft: Backdoor Hack No Threat to Cautious Users." ""Knowledgeable, hard-to-impress security people came out of CDC's Back Orifice presentation with their jaws on the floor." http://www.computerworld.com/home/print.nsf/all/980817622A
CyberSentry - Rebecca Rohan's article on "How to Help Your Customers" deal with BO. http://www.zdnet.com/sr/columns/rohan/980914.html. And an article called "Tearing a New One: Back Orifice's NT Counterpart." http://www.zdnet.com/sr/columns/rohan/980924.html
Daily Planet - September 2, 1998. An article in Dutch on BO. http://www.planet.nl/archief/daily/dp867.html
DGL.com - "Back Orifice Strikes Australian Computers." http://dgl.com/dglinfo/1998/dg981117.html
Edmonton Journal - "BO Sets off Feeding Frenzy." September 10, 1998. "It's called Back Orifice, and a wicked piece of work it is.." http://www.edmontonjournal.com/computers/091098stor7.html
G-kabel.si - A page on Back Orifice in, I believe, Slovakian? http://www.g-kabel.si/~luznikp/Varnost_na_Internetu/backorifice.html
HackWatch News - August 14, 1998. Briefly mentioned its release and possible problems. http://homepages.iol.ie/~kooltek/
InfoSecurityMag - "Perimeter/Network Security". Bo, Netcat, other tools described. http://www.infosecuritymag.com/mar99/hackers.htm
InfoWorld - "HTML provides opening for e-mail vandals" August
13,
http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayStory.pl?980813.whemail.htm,
"Hacker Tools Target Windows Systems" August 7, 1998.
http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayStory.pl?98087.wnhack.htm,
"Latest Back Orifice Breach Raises Questions over Security Ethics" by
Matthew Nelson, August 24, 1998. Info on a Israel company named WithinReach which released Back Orifice as a Java applet.
http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayStory.pl?980824.ehbreach.htm
"Back Orifice Proves What We Already knew: Win95/98 Isn't Secure." by
Stuart McClure and Joel Scambray. August 24, 1998.
http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayNew.pl?/security/980824sw.htm
"Hackers Share Secrets at Black Hat Briefings." Mentions Dildog and
Back Orifice.
http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayStory.pl?98086.wnblackhat.htm
IDG.Net - "Black Hat" August 17, 1998 - info on Defcon, Black Hat, and cDc's release of Back Orifice. http://www.idg.net/idg_frames/english/content.cgi?vc=docid_9-68250.html
InfoWorld Electric - August 17, 1998 - "Back Orifice Threat - Getting Caught in the Digital Crossfire." http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayNew.pl?/odonnell/980817od.htm
InternetWeek - August 17, 1998 - "Hostile Applet Alert." Java applet found with Back Orifice. http://www.techweb.com/se/directlink.cgi?INW19980817S0020
ISS XForce Security Advisory - August 6, 1998 - A lengthy, well done initial description of Back Orifice. The first security company, incidentally, to write an advisory about BO. http://www.iss.net/xforce/alerts/advise5.html; http://www.geek-girl.com/bugtraq/1998_3/0419.html
Itrain - "Microsoft Reacts to Cracker Tools." Back Orifice and L0phtcrack. http://dgl.com/dglinfo/1998/dg980810.html
London Sunday Times - August 9, 1998. "Hacker Software Hijacks Windows." Some quotes from Weld Pond and Sir Dystic, and this goodie attributed to Microsoft: "Microsoft also says the Cult of the Dead Cow is simply seeking publicity and that its software will provide no risk for most Windows users." http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/news/pages/sti/98/08/09/stiinnnws01001.html?2528545
Microsoft - Their Security Bulletin was revised a few times since they first put it out on August 4. See mindnumbingly incorrect statements onthe page, including this goodie: '"Back Orifice" does not expose or exploit any security issue regarding Windows, Windows NT, or the Microsoft BackOffice suite of products.' http://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/ms98-010.asp
MSNBC - August 3, 1998. "Can Hacker's Tool Control Your PC?" A good article - one of the first early ones to take the program, and it's capabilities, seriously. http://www.msnbc.com/news/185056.asp
Montreal Gazette - September 2, 1998. "Hackers Can Get to you by Email." Info on BO, viruses/trojans. "They apparently pray to dead cows and they want to slip into your personal computer by quietly ripping a gaping orifice in your operating system." http://www.montrealgazette.com/WEBPAGE/980902/1976615.html
Multimedium - An article in French, with some links to BO removal tips. http://www.mmedium.com/cgi-bin/nouvelles.cgi?Id=1889
Network Command - September 14, 1998. Info on Microsoft's denials of BO's dangers; info on plugins, risks, some quotes from L0pht. http://www.networkcommand.com/news/index.html
Network World - by Dave Kearns. need access to read article. August 10, 1998. http://www.nwfusion.com/forum/0810kearns.html. And an article on Defcon by Ellen Messmer. http://www.nwfusion.com/news/0810defcon.html
New Scientist - "Your Computer In Their Power" August 22, 1998. By Kurt Kleiner. Brief info on what BO is. http://www.newscientist.com:80/ns/980822/ncomputer.html
New York Times - Paper edition, October 31, 1998. Article on hactivism and cDc; China.
News.Com - "Programmers Protest With Code" August 14, 1998. http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,25274,00.html?owv
New Zealand Herald - Paper edition, November 24, 1998. "Hackers Sniff out Net Secrets." Though it doesn't mention BO by name, it's clear BO was being used against many computers using New Zealand ISPs.
Online Journalism Review - "Microsoft Bows to the Cow" August 13, 1998. Info on BO; an interview with Veggie, by Doug Thomas. http://olj.usc.edu/indexf.htm?/sections/departments/98_stories/hacker_081398.htm
PCWeek - August 3, 1998. "Back Orifice, a Hacker App, Wows Crowd at Defcon." Info on release of BO. "According to one source connected with the Defense Department, several DOD officials decided to stay in Las Vegas just to see and evaluate the application." http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/news/0803/03mdef.html
PCWeek - August 10, 1998. "Tales From the Dead Cow Reveal Dastardly Danger." Info on BO and cDc, speculation on cDc being just a bunch of "bored programmers." " They are worth paying attention to, which Microsoft has only minimally done." http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/opinion/0810/10week.html
PCWeek - August 10, 1998. "An Easier Way to Crack Windows." Info on debut of BO; lots of info on how it works and what it's capable of. http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/reviews/0810/10hack.html
PCWeek - August 20, 1998. "Back Orifice "Security" Tools Miss the Mark." Info on two supposed removal programs that don't work well. http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/news/0817/20mbosec.html
PCWeek - August 31, 1998. "Hackers' Barks are Worse Than Their Bites." Hackers as terrorists; BO released at Defcon. http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/opinion/0831/31worth.html
PCWeek - Paper and online. August 31, 1998. "Is it a Major Threat to Computer Security?" http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/opinion/0831/31mach.html
PCWeek - Paper and online. August 24, 1998. "If Your PC Has BO, Try Toilet Paper" - Solution attempts to Back Orifice. http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/opinion/0824/24mach.html
PCWeek - September 4, 1998. "A Warning About Techniques for Removing Back Orifice." Info on purported BO removers that are actually just modified copies of BO, or contain other viruses. http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/stories/news/0,4153,348557,00.html
PCWeek - September 15, 1998. "Back Orifice: New Dangers, Despite Removal Programs. Refers to cDc as "the perpetrator of BO." Starts the bogus netninja packet rumor. http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/stories/news/0,4153,350815,00.html
PCWeek - September 30, 1998. "Computer Warfare's Next Wave: The Group Attack." http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/stories/news/0,4153,356670,00.html
PCWorld - August 10, 1998. "Hackers Release Windows Surveillance, Control Tools." http://www.pcworld.com/pcwtoday/article/0,1510,7695,00.html
Politiken - Danish newspaper. August 20, 1998, had an article on BO. http://www.pol.dk
SANS Network Security Digest - August 19, 1998. An email publication, which mentioned BO and provided some links to solution attempts. http://www.sans.org/
Santa Rosa Press Democrat - Paper, column by Dan Keating, syndicated, September 7, 1998.
Slashdot - Coverage of BO's release at Defcon; and lots of reader commentary. http://www.slashdot.org/articles/980803/1321250.shtml
Slashdot - "cDc Releases *nix Back Orifice Client Open Source." August 10, 1998. http://www.slashdot.org/articles/980810/0932249_F.shtml
Sophos - Sophos Virus Info. "Type: Scare. Danger: Slight." One word, "Hahaha!" Maybe it's time for them to update their page. http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/scares/backorifice.html
Stiller.com - Info on Back Orifice, an explanation of why it is not a virus, warnings on how not to get it. http://www.stiller.com/backor.htm
TBTF - Tasty Bits From the Technology Front. "Back Orifice is Open for Mischief." August 10, 1998 - info on what various companies have had to say about BO, and links to press releases. http://www.tbtf.com/archive/08-10-98.html#s01
TBTF - Tasty Bits From the Technology Front. "Windows Users May Experience A Little Turbulence." http://www.tbtf.com/archive/07-27-98.html#s04
TBTF - "A Cautionary Tale of Back Orifice" August 24, 1998, by Chris Double. Info on what happened after someone posted BO to a newsgroup as a game addon. http://www.tbtf.com/resource/warstory.html
Techweb - "Security Firm Exposes Back Orifice Functions." An article about ISS's XForce learning about Back Orifice and devising a way to look for it and remove it. http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB19980807S0012
Techweb - "Vendors Rush Back Orifice Detectors to Market" - Article about various companies' attempts to make BO cleaners. http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB19980812S0019
Techweb - "Trojan Horse Infests 15,000 Internet Chat Users." October 8, 1998. Back Orifice getting onto an estimated 15,000 computers due to exposure on IRC. http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB19981008S0019
Ufonet - Info on how to protect your workstation from BO. http://www.ufonet.net/news/back_orifice.html
Westbrabant.net - Info on BO, what it is, in English and Dutch. http://home.westbrabant.net/~kwakkwak/infobo.html
Windows Magazine - August 5, 1998. Announcement of Bo's release; description of legitimate usage potential; and some quotes from Microsoft security person Karan Khanna. http://www.windowsmagazine.com/news/1998/0801/0805a.htm
Windows NT Magazine - Print version, October, 1998. "Is It a Tool or a Curse?" Info on BO and quotes from cDc members.
Wired - July 29, 1998. "Back Orifice a Pain in the ...?" by James Glave. Covers cDc press release and intention to release Back Orifice. "It is not a security threat" - Karan Khanna, Microsoft security manager. http://www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/14092.html
Wired - August 6, 1998. "Microsoft Discounts Threat." http://www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/14253.html
Wired - August 6, 1998. "ISS Chimes In on Back Orifice." Info on ISS's security alert about BO. http://www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/14272.html
Wired - August 7 1998. "Back Orifice Goes Forth." ISPs getting questions and complaints; security software companies scrambling to deal with the threat. http://www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/14301.html
Wired - August 7, 1998. "Email Links Carry Bad Code." BO mentioned in an article about Eudora bugs. http://www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/14288.html
Wired - October 5, 1998. "Geocities Rebuffs Trojan Horse." A program using port 31337 was unleashed on hapless Geocities users but does not appear to have been Back Orifice - perhaps a plugin? http://www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/15432.html
Wired - November 17, 1998. "Back Orifice Surfaces Down Under." States that over 1000 Internet account passwords have been compromised due to Back Orifice. http://www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/16310.html
ZDNN - "Is Back Orifice a Threat Or An Educational Tool?" August 11, 1998. Pic of Tfish; interview with Tfish and Sir Dystic; a Talkback forum; a video clip. http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/zdnn_smgraph_display/0,3441,2127049,00.html
ZDNN - "A Warning About Techniques for Removing Back Orifice" - Bill Machrone explains further on Back Orifice removal programs. http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/zdnn_rc_display/0,3443,2136292,00.html
ZDNN - "Computer Security: Fear and Fascination in Las Vegas." http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/zdnn_smgraph_display/0,3441,2124948,00.html
ZDNET UK - "Sir Dystic Savages Microsoft." August 5, 1998. A very brief paragraph. http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/1998/30/ns-5187.html
ZDNET UK - "Sir Dystic's Claims Rubbished." August 6, 1998. A strongly worded article insulting Sir Dystic, and stating ideas about BO being harmless, later proved wrong. "Countering Sir Dystics boasts that the program can take over a machine from a remote location, Bridger says "this only works over a corporate network". http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/1998/31/ns-5202.html
ZDTV - "Def Con Debate" - RealVideo debate; mention of BO release. http://www.zdnet.com/zdtv/siliconspin/features/story/0,3725,2126312,00.html
ZDTV - "Cult of the Dead Who?" - Annaliza's stuff on cDc, video interviews, etc. http://www.zdnet.com/zdtv/cybercrime/features/story/0,3700,2126858,00.html
ZDTV - Transcript: Hactivism. Mentions cDc and displays cDc logo. http://www.zdnet.com/zdtv/cybercrime/features/jump/0,3698,2124475,00.html
ZDTV - "Back Door Program." RealVideo of SirDystic. http://www.zdnet.com/zdtv/cybercrime/features/story/0,3700,2123636,00.html