www.warpco.com

For books by Wells on Coptic
see www.warpco.com/sahidica

Joe Wells - Writer
Copyright (c) 2012 by Joe Wells. All Rights Reserved.

Time Magazine

Time Digital Magazine
Photo by Axel Koester

Curriculum Vitae of Joseph (Joe) Wells.

Wells has over 20 years experience in credibility training, which enables people
to recognize fraud, scams, identity theft, and other forms of social engineering.

"I am also seeking companies that understands today's critical need for
advanced, next-generation, anti-malware research and development."

Email: oxyrhino@hotmail.com

Status: Currently working on several patentable technologies
to solve problems with scan speed, scantime overhead, sample glut, etc.

"Traditional antivirus engines have been slow to adapt to emerging threats,
especially the blending of antispyware threats with antivirus threats.

To bridge the best of traditional antivirus with new cutting-edge thinking,
Sunbelt Software hired veteran antivirus expert Joe Wells for a one-year
stint to help design a "hybrid" antivirus antispyware engine."

CNET Review on Sunbelt Software's VIPRE. 07/30/2008

Approaching 25 Years in Security Research and Development

Wells has been in the research and development of security software since August of 1987. His primary focus had been on anti-Trojan and anti-virus solutions. Since 2004 that focus has expanded into solutions for anti-spyware, anti-adware, and other related threats. During his career Wells has authored over 60 technical articles and scientific papers in the field of security research. If you count his monthly risk reports, the number of published works in the field are more than 180. He has been the chief editor of two online, technical journals. He has been widely quoted in the world press.

Google Joe Wells

Formerly: Key Scientist Advanced Technologies - Lavasoft AB
Formerly: Chief Scientist Security Research - Sunbelt Software
Formerly: Chief Antivirus Scientist - Fortinet, Inc.
Formerly: CEO and Chairman of Wells Antivirus Research Lab (a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Trend Micro).
Formerly: Director of Antivirus Research - Cybersoft, Inc.

Founder and former CTO of the WildList Organization International, Inc.
Owner of the non-profit Sahidica Project.

Patents Granted

6,016,546 Kephart, et al. January 18, 2000. [IBM]
6,338,141 Wells January 8, 2002. [Cybersoft] *
6,779,117 Wells August 17, 2004. [Cybersoft] *
7,093,135 Radatti, et al. August 15, 2006. [Cybersoft]
7,389,538 Wells, June 17, 2008 [Fortinet] *

* Listed as sole inventor.

20 Years Experience in Writing, Editing, and Security/Antivirus/Anti-malware Solutions

1987
Founded Wells Research Information Service (Aug 7, 1987).
Pioneered pre-web online information research using Dialog, NewsNet, etc.
1988
Wells Research Information Service. Senior Partner.
Research and development of custom security software.
Developed heuristic virus/Trojan detector.
1989
Damage Control Utilities (security/antivirus shareware)
Developed boot and file virus scanner.
Consulting on virus incidents.
1990
Research editor at a medium-sized business magazine. Did research-based and investigative articles.
Consultant to the antivirus industry.
1991
Joined Certus International as a programmer.
Product R&D: Certus Antivirus Product.
Product R&D: Prototype Antivirus Product in Portable C.
Paper: Standard Virus Testing and Disassembly Procedures.
1992
Joined Symantec's Peter Norton Group.
Product R&D: Novi Antivirus.
Paper: Impact of the Anti-Anti-Virus Virus.
Paper: The Issue of Detection vs. Prevention.
1993
Product R&D: Norton AntiVirus 3.0.
Designed combination detection, repair and information system.
Started producing monthly WildList report.
1994
Joined IBM's Thomas J Watson Research Center.
Product R&D: IBM Antivirus.
Paper: Viruses in the Wild (Statistical Report).
Paper: Viruses in the Wild.
1995
Product R&D: Developed automated replication and analysis system for IBM's Digital Immune System.
Technical advisor to National Computer Security Assn. (ICSA.net)
Paper: Virus Metrics
Paper: How Virus Naming Works.
1996
Started up IBM's antivirus online as Senior Editor.
Formed WildList Organization International.
Writer for NT Advantage.
Paper: Reality Check: Stalking the Wild Virus.
Paper: Stalking the PC Virus Hot Zones.
Paper: Understanding Viruses.
Articles: antivirus online, Several.
1997
Joined CyberSoft. Director of Virus Research.
Product R&D: VFind Antivirus.
Did product testing for PC World Review.
Paper: How to Spot a Virus Hoax.
Paper: What's the Confusion over Stealth Boot Variants (Coauthor).
Paper: Hoaxes and Hype (Coauthor).
Patent: Efficient detection of computer viruses and other data traits.
1998
Product R&D: Raven engine for VFind.
Joe Wells Virus Encyclopedia (Command Software).
Did product testing for PC World Review.
Paper: Triage: An Automated Virus Replication and Analysis System.
Paper: How Scientific Naming Works.
1999
Product R&D: Wave Antivirus.
Did product testing for PC World Review.
Paper: Radical New Approach to Virus Scanning.
Paper: Environmental Impact.
Paper: The WildList and its Critics.
Patents: Three applied for (CyberSoft).
2000
CEO and Chairman of Wells Antivirus Research Laboratory, Inc. (WarLab) a subsidiary of Trend Micro.
Design and implementation of website.
Editor of WarLab Journal.
Paper: Wild War.
Articles: WarLab Journal.
2001
CEO of AVTestLab.com and Informatrix Research and Development.
CTO, Director and Founder of WildList Organization International, Inc.
Paper: A Credibility Model for Antivirus Industry Self-Regulation. [Best of Papers. Eicar, Munich]
2002
Did product testing for PC World Review.
Did product testing for PC TechTV.
Consultant on testing for PC Magazine Review.
Chief Antivirus Scientist, Fortinet, Inc.
Product R&D: Research and Design, Content Pattern Recognition Language (CPRL)
Papers: White Papers and Technical Articles for Fortinet
2003
Product R&D: Research and Design, Static Code Image Modelling and Recognition (Skimmer)
Papers: More White Papers and Technical Articles for Fortinet
Patents: One applied for (Fortinet)
2004
Product R&D: Merging technologies research into Greyware (Adware, Spyware, Spam, etc.)
Research and development of detection heuristics and counter-heuristics.
Research into countering social engineering triggers.
Patents: One applied for (Fortinet)
2005
Advisor on Tracking Project. Department of Homeland Security.
Research into identity theft and related heuristics.
2006
Joined Sunbelt Software as Chief Scientist, Security Research.
Paper: Microbiological Impact: The Effect of Windows on Threat Evolution
2007
Completed projects as Chief Scientist, Security Research. Left Sunbelt in March.
Began work on interrelated patents, based on optimization using Advanced Recognition Processing.
Accepted position as CTO of Lavasoft AB in August, 2007.
Paper: How NOT to Test Anti-Malware Products.
2008
Paper: Mapping and Understanding Extinction Patterns for Viruses and Worms over 15 Years.
Parted company with Lavasoft (11/15) and began work on new technologies for patenting.
2009 - 2010
Focus on writing and designing courses (Counter-Social Engineering). Designed SDK (story development kit for writers.
2011
Focus during 2011 - 2012 on text books on ancient Coptic dialects: www.sahidica.org

Articles Written

IBM antivirus online
Hare Hysteria.
Outbreak on the Internet.
Concept Virus World Tour.
Stealth C: Invisible Fire (Coauthor).
Viruses in the Wild.
Hoax, Hype, Hysteria.
Hopeful Monsters.
Identifying Virus Hot Zones.
International Regional Reports.
1996: Year of the Macro Virus.
Tutorial: Triggers and Warheads and Bugs. Oh My!
Tutorial: Understanding Encryption and Polymorphism
Tutorial: Survival Tactics and Camouflage.
Tutorial: Understanding Stealth.
Tutorial: Viruses and Real Viruses.
Understanding Computer Viruses.
Help! I'm Infected!
NT Advantage
Macro Viruses on NT. NT Advantage.
The Micro-Biological Impact of Windows. NT Advantage.
How to Spot a Virus Hoax. NT Advantage.
The Bogus Plague of '96. NT Advantage.
WarLab Journal
Stuck in the Old School, Eh?
Lies, Damn Lies, and Marketing (Credibility in Virus and Antivirus Issues).
Credibility and Ethics in Antivirus Product Reviewing. An Open Letter to CNET.
Wild War.
Fortinet
Network Based AV Technology
Impossible Performance (At Least for Software).
Antivirus: Marketing Deceptions.
Antivirus Product Testing - Good, Bad, and Ugly.
Antivirus Development A New Paradigm.
A Content Pattern Recognition Language.
Static Code Image Modelling.
Various
Stealth B: Invisible Fire. Virus Bulletin 7/94
Reality Check: Charting the PC Virus Hot Zones. NCSA News, 4/96
Denial of (Antivirus) Service. Virus Bulletin, 6/00
Why Wave? (cyber.com, 1999)
Pragmatic Antivirus Testing. Virus Bulletin, 9/01 Protecting the Door--Not just the Mail Slot. Virus Bulletin 12/02 Credibility in Persuation Process

Summary of Product Research and Development

Certus
Novi Antivirus (Certus/Symantec)
Norton AntiVirus (Symantec)
IBM Antivirus
IBM Digital Immune System (automated analysis component)
IBM antivirus online (journal)
VFind (CyberSoft)
Joe Wells Virus Encyclopedia (Command Software)
Wave (CyberSoft)
WarLab Journal
Triage (automated virus replication analysis systems) for Symantec, IBM, Trend, and CyberSoft
PC Viruses In the Wild (WildList Monthly Risk Report) 1993 - 2002.
Content Pattern Recognition Language (Fortinet)
Static Code Image Modelling and Recognition (Fortinet)
Manager on Counter-Spy SDK (Sunbelt Software)
Initial design work on Vipre (Sunbelt Software)
Designed next-generation anti-malware prototypes [Lavasoft]

Key Conferences

1991 Fourth Annual Virus & Security Conference (DC, US)
1992 Fifth Annual Virus & Security Conference (DC, US)
1992 IVPC 92 (DC, US)
1993 IVPC 93 (DC, US)
1994 IVPC 94 (DC, US)
1994 VB 94 (Jersey, UK)
1995 IVPC 95 (DC, US)
1995 VB 95 (Boston, US)
1995 IVPC 96 (DC, US)
1996 VB 96 (Brighton, UK)
1997 VB 97 (SF, US)
1997 TM Meeting (Hawaii)
1998 TM Meeting (Taiwan)
2000 VB 2000 (Orlando, US)
2001 Eicar 2001 (Munich, DE)
2002 VB 2002 (New Orleans, US)
2006 VB 2006 (Montreal, Canada)
2007 VB 2007 (Vienna, Austria)
2008 VB 2008 (Ottawa, Canada)

Media Quotes

CNN, Reuters, API, MSNBC, Time (Digital) [photo], Newsweek, Forbes, Wired, Brills Content, USA Today [front page], LA Times, NY Times, SF Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, PC World, PC Magazine, Small Business Computer, other US and foreign magazines and newspapers.

Featured: LA Times cover story (w/photos). ABC Evening News. Bloomberg Television, London

Affiliations

Antivirus Product Developers Consortium
International Computer Security Association Labs
WildList Organization International (Founder)
Advisory Committee of Virus Bulletin, Oxford
CARO (Computer Antivirus Research Organization) Hamburg (Emeritus)
European Institute of Computer Antivirus Research (eicar)