Alex Shipp works as an anti-virus technologist for MessageLabs, where his job is to stop new malware from getting through to customers. He was the architect and lead programmer for MessageLabs' carrier class email system, and is now the architect and lead programmer for Skeptic, MessageLabs' heuristic virus scanner. Skeptic has had an unparalleled success rate in the last few years, having detected and stopped all the big new viruses such as Fizzer, Sobig, MiMail, Swen, Dumaru, Auric Scold, LoveBug, AnnaKournikova, Goner, Klez, Yaha, BugBear and Braid, as well as many smaller ones nobody gets to hear about. He is the MessageLabs press spokesman for virus related issues, and co-ordinates the data for the VirusEye website. Currently, his main areas of research are heuristic detection of malware, and windows file formats.

When they let him out to play, he enjoys hockey, cricket, golf and croquet. He is also the co-author of Hezarin, a text-based adventure game from which he has made almost enough money to go for a meal out.

AusCERT2004 Presentations:

Stopping MalWare: Has the battlefield changed?
Day One: Monday, 24th May 2004, 1430 - 1510 (Technical Stream)