Security Incidents mailing list archives
RE: FBI Virus Alerts
From: "Eaton, Arthur" <AEaton () FDIC gov>
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 18:04:11 -0400
Well, here it is now 29 hours after the post about the estimable FBI's warning of "a flood of new Terrorist [since when is that capitalized?] related viruses about to be released in the next couple of hours." If there was any such wave, the viruses/worms that rode it must have been rather puny little fellows. I think this reinforces two lessons: (1) Beware of the integrity of messages relayed a large number of times [in this case, from the FBI, via Cardinal Software, via another software vendors rep, via Stu's boss, via Stu (who was of course properly skeptical), to Security Focus - i.e., you and me]. (2) Our valiant FBI agents, including the folks at the NIPC, may not be the ones to rely on for virus data anyway. I would sooner rely on CERT or CIAC. Or even A-V vendors, regardless of visions of sales. Of course the best source of fresh malware information, without the F.U.D. that we get from certain agencies, is either Security Focus or Bugtraq; particularly input from known persons or entities. When we start to accept everything put out by our government without a serious level of skepticism, we will be ready to submit - as a people - to outlandish intrusions and stifling restrictions. We will then be no longer citizens, but subjects (we had a revolution a couple hundred years ago about that, you may remember). I'm sure everyone here knows that, but it bears repeating, especially in our current situation. Arthur Eaton FDIC CSIRT (By the way, it IS possible to resist the iron boot and the insolence of office - I just recently contested a "failure to obey a lawful [it wasn't] order and command by a police officer" in court, and won.) Take care, stay aware. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This list is provided by the SecurityFocus ARIS analyzer service. For more information on this free incident handling, management and tracking system please see: http://aris.securityfocus.com
Current thread:
- FBI Virus Alerts twistsiwt (Sep 27)
- Re: FBI Virus Alerts H C (Sep 27)
- Re: FBI Virus Alerts Big Woz (Sep 27)
- Re: FBI Virus Alerts H C (Sep 27)
- Re: FBI Virus Alerts info (Sep 28)
- Re: FBI Virus Alerts David Kennedy CISSP (Sep 29)
- Re: FBI Virus Alerts Chris Salter (Sep 29)
- Re: FBI Virus Alerts David Kennedy CISSP (Sep 29)
- Message not available
- Re: FBI Virus Alerts info (Sep 29)
- Re: FBI Virus Alerts Gary Maltzen (Sep 30)
- Re: FBI Virus Alerts info (Sep 29)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- RE: FBI Virus Alerts Krul Thomas (Sep 28)
- RE: FBI Virus Alerts Eaton, Arthur (Sep 28)
- RE: FBI Virus Alerts Kinsey, Robert (Sep 28)