Interesting People mailing list archives
more on Huge virus threat rocks Microsoft
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2006 18:15:28 -0500
Begin forwarded message: From: Bob Frankston <Bob2-19-0501 () bobf frankston com> Date: January 3, 2006 5:40:29 PM EST To: dave () farber net, ip () v2 listbox com Subject: RE: [IP] Huge virus threat rocks Microsoft This is a serious problem -- worse if it affects embedded systems. But I'm afraid to install the patch because I don't know exactly what it does. I may do it anyway. There are more detailed discussions as at http://www.aota.net/forums/showthread.php?p=143062.It emphasizes the need to deinstall the patch before installing Microsoft's fix -- this may be problematic for those with automatic updating enabled.
I have no simple solution for these kinds of problems -- but it's not just a computer problem. I'm still waiting for law enforcement organizations to
play a more visible role even if only as a deterrence.Is the NSA too busy mining data to track down more immediately threats -- at least if the miscreants are in other countries which is highly likely.
-----Original Message----- From: David Farber [mailto:dave () farber net] Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 16:40 To: ip () v2 listbox com Subject: [IP] Huge virus threat rocks Microsoft Begin forwarded message: From: EEkid () aol com Date: January 3, 2006 2:02:17 PM EST To: dave () farber net Subject: Huge virus threat rocks Microsoft Mr. Farber, This can't be a new discovery, I witnessed a virus infection from simply visiting a web page well over a year ago. Jerry Huge virus threat rocks Microsoft Report says a newly discovered flaw could expose hundreds of millions of Windows PCs to virus. January 3, 2006: 11:08 AM EST NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - The new year is off to a rocky start at Microsoft, where security experts are scrambling to confront a potentially massive virus threat to Windows PCs. According to a report Tuesday in the Financial Times, the latest vulnerability involves a flaw which allows hackers to infect computers using programs inserted into image files. The threat was discovered last week. But it mushroomed over the weekend, when a group of hackers published the source code they used to exploit the flaw. What makes this threat particularly vicious, according to the Times, is that unwitting victims can infect their computers simply by viewing a web page, e-mail, or instant message that includes a contaminated image. That differs from most virus attacks, which require a user to actually download an infected file. "The potential [security threat] is huge," Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer at F-Secure, an antivirus company, told the Times. "It's probably bigger than for any other vulnerability we've seen. "Any version of Windows is vulnerable right now," said Mr. Hypponen, including every Windows system shipped since 1990. Microsoft (Research) said in a security bulletin on its Web site, "we are working closely with our antivirus partners and aiding law enforcement in its investigation." http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/03/technology/windows_virusthreat/ index.htm?cnn=yes ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as BobIP () Bobf Frankston com To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ipArchives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting- people/
------------------------------------- You are subscribed as lists-ip () insecure org To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
Current thread:
- more on Huge virus threat rocks Microsoft David Farber (Jan 03)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- more on Huge virus threat rocks Microsoft David Farber (Jan 03)