Back Orifice - software
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Back Orifice was originally written by cDc member Sir Dystic. It is a piece of software designed to allow remote control of windows machines. Back Orifice 2000, the updated version released in 1999, includes support for the remote control of NT machines. This software resembles the Microsoft product SMS, but has a much more spiffy looking interface, has more options, and is free.
The cDc's BO2k release at Defcon 7 was a multimedia extravaganza with showmanship that surpassed that of commercial software releases. It featured video loops, spining cows heads projected onto the wall, a guitar being smashed into a stack of computers, and Swamp Ratte setting his clothes on fire, all accompanied by an original soundtrack.
The name Back Orifice is a pun that a) resembles the name of the Microsoft "Back Office" product, and b) hints at painful things that can be done with this software.