Dark Avenger - Identity

Identity

The identity of the person behind the pseudonym has never been ascertained. However, a lot can be inferred via various details of the viruses. Additionally, Dark Avenger was the subject of an interview conducted by Sarah Gordon which contains revealing information. Some of Dark Avenger's contemporaries, mainly Vesselin Bontchev, have also shed light on his potential identity.

If Dark Avenger is to be tied with a certain name, there are two major candidates. One is Vesselin Bontchev himself, who may have deceptively posed as "Dark Avenger" for the sake of self-promotion. The other is Todor Todorov. Todor Todorov was a student of the Bulgarian National School of Mathematics who took particular interest in programming viruses during his school days, and even hosted his own BBS for the purpose of sharing them. Anton Ivanov, a schoolmate and friend of Todorov's, has ambiguously hinted at the possibility of Todorov being Dark Avenger.

Dark Avenger may have been a fan of heavy metal music. The string Eddie lives...somewhere in time, which the virus outputs, draws attention. Eddie the Head is the name of the mascot of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden. Additionally, Somewhere in Time is the name of the band's sixth album. Furthermore, in his interview with Sarah Gordon, Dark Avenger states that he named himself after "an old song"; Manowar (also a heavy metal band) have a song called Dark Avenger, on their debut album.