"Tin Foil Hat's" -- This "worm virus" ..effective...brings internet down

[cthrumatrix]

`Worm' shuts down Comcast Internet subscribers
2003-08-12
by Cydney Gillis
Journal Business Reporter

http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/sited/story/html/140099

snip..

It ``jumps'' from machine to machine by exploiting a flaw, announced by Microsoft in July, in the Windows operating system for both desktop computers and network servers.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned of an attack last week after hackers in China went public with software code to exploit the flaw.

Since then, several variants of the worm have appeared -- the first in Seattle over the weekend, said Ray Pompon, a security specialist with Seattle-based computer security firm Conjungi Networks.
snip...

Since when is Homeland security "on the ball" and warning of something like this that is "sooo effective"..?

Was this a "trial" so that when "an event" happens that the internet is brought to it's knees again so that people cannot communicate and "debunk" the crap that's going on.

I never thought Homeland Defense was "on the ball" (basically against us)...does this mean we are at code "pink panther" now?

[cthrumatrix]

1. Drudge story: Australia's Spy Agency Warns of Catastrophic Biological

Link is not working yet...but alot of crap terror stories are floating...plus the worm virus....I get the feeling of more.

Then you have to ask the question why? (not why am I paranoid)

[whirlygigspin]

2. Warning! protect yourself NOW!

here is a link to microsoft where you can download the
patch. Do it!


http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-026.asp

[twilight]

8. two things - which is right?

It says there is a 64 bit version for Win XP and a 32 bit version also. How do I know which one to d/l? What is the difference?
:shrug:

Windows XP 32 bit Edition
Windows XP 64 bit Edition

Please advise or message me. I am using an IBM ThinkPad that is fairly new and also two firewalls, the built in one with XP and also "ZoneAlarm" - the free download version. No sign of it here - on a dial-up connection.

Please either answer here or message me please.

Thanks.

twilight :D

[Desperadoe]

11. I'm fairly certain

You are running 32bit Edition. If you don't know the difference then I am damn sure.

[Davis_X_Machina]

3. If you don't run Windows XP --

-- you don't have a problem.

If you're running Windows as your server platform, you more or less could have seen this coming.

If you're an end user stuck with Windows, welcome to the glorious world of monopoly.

Someday, when there's exactly one strain of rice, or corn, or whatever, left, there'll be a lot more to worry about besides the health of the net.....

[whirlygigspin]

4. so true

but not to worry, your voting machines are safe
uhuh

[dweller]

5. or 2000, or NT 4.0

but everybody else is okay?
we'll see i suppose.

dp

[NYC]

6. Excellent point.

.

[alfredo]

7. I will not use Microsoft products

If I had to, I would quit using computers. I only use Unix variants. Right now I am helping two of my friends move over to Linux. It is a lot easier now than it was several years ago.

BTW, I have been using the Mac OS since the 80's and I have only seen one suspicious file. It got nuked and I went about my business. If something happens to get in my Linux box, I just delete the account, open another and party on.

You can use Windows for your bean counting or games, but if you surf, do it on a Linux or OSX box. It makes life less complicated.

[ParanoidPat]

10. Apple is good when it comes to worms and viral attacks....

.....but don't be fooled into believing that they're immune! :evilgrin:
From post #28 in this thread;

Low End Mac.com offers a utility to help ease the set up of the OSX built in firewall.

Secure Mac.com offers an in depth look at Mac security issues.

And from the Association of Apple Computer Users Groups.org

Stronger Firewall Protection for Mac OS X
IPNetSentryX Raises the Bar

Sustainable Softworks has released version 1.0 of IPNetSentryX, an Internet firewall application for Macintosh computers running Mac OS X.
What makes IPNetSentryX so unique is the ability to easily define hierarchial firewall rules. Like most conventional firewall products, including Apple's own built-in Personal Firewall, IPNetSentryX rules can be based on IP addresses, ports and protocols (services). But unlike conventional firewalls, IPNetSentryX also lets users base rules on the content of incoming datagrams (e.g. to detect worms). More importantly, IPNetSentryX easily lets users define which actions to take when rules are met. Such actions can be as simple as blocking an intruder (trigger), alerting you of the intrusion, sending off an email message pertaining to the intrusion, running a designated AppleScript, or any combination of the above.
<MORE>

Stay safe, hope this helps! :hi:

'cause ya' can't put a rubber on a floppy!

[BevHarris]

9. Here's the one they are saying nothing about

Look out Windows 95, 98, 2000, XP.

But they are saying nothing about CE.
Is that because they can't patch it? CE is usually customized -- is that why you don't see security patches for CE? Has anyone ever found a CE security patch? Can you point me to one?

It could be devastating to admit that Windows CE is vulnerable. That would affect the computers in the automotive industry; all kinds of portables with global positioning info; iPAQ and pocket PCs...

And of course, voting machines. The Diebold touch screens run on CE.

In short, that would call into question the most high growth area ever for Microsoft products.

No, I'm sure the reason they never mention CE when they discover a security flaw that affects "all versions of Windows" is that CE never has any security flaws, right?

Bev Harris

[ParanoidPat]

12. Bingo!

Strange, isn't it? :evilgrin:
If anyone has a link to CE patches would you please post it?
I have a friend who needs an upgrade for his Palm Pilot! :)

[nextbillgates]

13. Only NT-based OS's are affected

Windows 95, 98, ME, and (I presume) CE aren't vulnerable to this worm.

[ParanoidPat]

14. Sorry, we were OT.

:evilfrown: But this deserves a :kick:!

[BevHarris]

16. You can't "presume" it isn't vulnerable unless they say it isn't

The blockbuster security flaw released in July does not exclude CE, nor does it include it. The MS information just slinks away without mentioning Windows CE at all.

And note that this blockbuster flaw, while not mentioned by MS in the USA, has not been fully explained because they don't have protections in place for it yet on all systems. That is according to the LSD web site, from the hackers who found the flaw. They say they were asked not to go into the whole thing because patches and security weren't yet available.

Again, can anyone find any security patch for Windows CE? At all? Ever? Do you really believe it has never had a flaw?

[jafap]

15. remember when Gore was on Letterman

One of his top ten reasons to vote for him:
"Remember I invented the internet, and I can take it away."
This worm could be "Gore's Revenge"
Rue ha ha ha!