Re: Windows Update: A single point of failure for the world's economy?

[Michael Gale <michael () bluesuperman com>]

        Hey - just think of it this way - if Microsoft goes ahead with the auto patch install. All someone needs to do 
is get a automated install of any Linux ( preferred Slack ) version on to the patch server and BANG !!! Everyone is 
running Linux :)

Michael.


On Tue, 19 Aug 2003 12:47:25 -0400
"Richard M. Smith" <rms () computerbytesman com> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> The Washington Post has an article in today's paper saying that
> Microsoft is mulling over making the Auto-Update feature of Windows XP
> be turned on by default.  The article can be found here:
>
>    Microsoft Weighs Automatic Security Updates as a Default 
>    http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A11579-2003Aug18
>
> This move by Microsoft sounds pretty scary to me.  I am willing to bet
> that if Microsoft proceeds with these plans, the Windows Update Web site
> could easily distribute and install new software on hundreds of millions
> of Windows computers in a day or two.  
>
> The risk here is that the system could be exploited by a disgruntled
> Microsoft employee and become the ultimate malware distribution system.
> It seems to me that the Microsoft is in the process of creating a single
> point of failure for the world's economy.
>
> I am wondering what sort of security and accounting systems that
> Microsoft has in place to prevent an insider attack on the Windows
> Update Web site?
>
> As one data point, yesterday I updated my wife's Windows Me laptop at
> the Windows Update site to repair the DCOM security hole.  One of the 20
> patch files I downloaded was something for DirectX.  This patch file
> caused the laptop to blue screen of death in some VxD near the end of
> the Windows boot process.  Luckily for me, the system seem to repair
> itself after the 4th reboot.  I really didn't relish the idea of
> explaining to my wife how I broke her laptop.
>
> Richard M. Smith
> http://www.ComputerBytesMan.com
>
>
>
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