Klarinet Archive - Posting 000340.txt from 2003/08
From: "Daniel Stover" <kasparguy@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] <W32.Blaster.worm>
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2003 00:18:52 -0400
----Original Message Follows----
From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subject: Re: [kl] <W32.Blaster.worm>
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2003 22:58:38 -0400
At 08:09 PM 8/12/2003 -0500, Daniel Stover wrote:
>It's my belief that some viruses are released, rather than to cause
>malicious damage, as more of a message to people to make sure they are
>protecting themselves with Firewalls, Anti-Virus software, and to not open
>attachments from strangers. This worm, for example, is relatively harmless
>in terms of what a programmer COULD have had it done. And it's more of an
>attack on Microsoft to bring down their Updates websiite, and a nuissance
>to computer users who have to deal with it.
That's what the virus writers would like you to believe, but in fact, they
are rotten bullies who do things to other people's computers just because
they CAN. It is a power trip for them, pure and simple. The reason they
pick on Windows rather than Mac OS is that they get much more bang for the
buck -- viruses will spread much faster when 95% of existing computers are
vulnerable. Going after the other 5% is not worth the effort. It will not
get the headlines.
Bill Hausmann
That, of course, is true as well. But when you think about it, this
MSBlast.exe could have been written to cause serious damage to every
computer it infected. Hard drives could be erased, entired systems locked
down (and in fact, someone else could take the existing worm and modify it
to do just that). This worm gives the virus writer the power to execute any
command. But what do they have it do? Perform DNS attacks on the Windows
Update site. The patch from Windows for the flaw was released on the 16th
of July, nearly a month ago, and this worm is set go attack the WinUpdate
site on the 16th of every month. Which is why it blocks individuals'
computers from being able to access the site to patch the problem. I hate
to think what kind of hell Microsloth is going to be in on the 16th. And
probably the 16th of every month for some time to come.
So i see it as more of a lesson to people to keep their computers patched
(considering MS has updates constantly to fix problems... sometimes to fix
problems caused by previous updates). As much as I trust Apple, i still
usually wait a day or two run an update to see if there are any problems
from an update, which happens ony once every few months.
But it's certainly a plus being a Mac user. The only downside I have yet
been able to find for being a Mac person is the cost of the computer. I'd
rather pay a bit more for a better operating system, less worry about
viruses, and equal (if not better) productivity.
But, this is getting away from Klarinet-related topics, so I'll wind up my
posting on this topic.
Best wishes,
Daniel
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