In comp.os.linux.advocacy, Roy Schestowitz
<newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote
on Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:27:14 +0000
<2989012.IHkSukZsDV@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
> __/ [ The Ghost In The Machine ] on Thursday 01 March 2007 19:54 \__
>
>> http://money.cnn.com/2007/03/01/news/companies/virus/index.htm?cnn=yes
>>
>> NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A disgruntled hacker with
>> a personal grudge against Symantec, which provides
>> anti-virus software to leading Fortune 500 companies,
>> could be behind a new, crippling computer virus
>> that's already hit a division of at least one big U.S.
>> corporation on Thursday.
>>
>> If it spreads, technology experts warn the latest
>> strains of the insidious RINBOT computer virus could
>> hijack network systems of businesses worldwide.
>>
>> [...]
>>
>> According to [Graham] Cluley [senior technology
>> consultant with Boston-based IT security firm
>> Sophos], this version is designed to exploit security
>> vulnerabilities embedded in anti-virus software.
>>
>> "Traditionally hackers always went after Microsoft's
>> anti-virus programs. But now they're increasingly
>> targeting other commonly used programs such as Symantec
>> programs and others," he said.
>>
>> Cluley said this strain appears to be hitting MS SQL
>> servers. It looks for networks that run the Microsoft
>> (Charts) Windows operating system, including Windows
>> 2000, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT
>> and Windows XP. It then spreads through the network by
>> manipulating "weak" spots such as simple passwords.
>>
>> [...]
>>
>> Thomas Parsons, an IT specialist with Symantec,
>> confirmed to CNNMoney.com that the most recent variants
>> of RINBOT have targeted Symantec's anti-virus programs.
>>
>> "We're not sure what the motivation is, but we are aware
>> of a hacker that has been adding his own commands into
>> the strain," Parsons said. Using those codes, Parsons
>> said the hacker let it be known that he wasn't happy
>> that Symantec was calling the virus RINBOT.
>>
>> Now...doesn't that make all of you just want to rush out
>> and buy Microsoft Windows Vista(tm), the most secure
>> Microsoft Windows OS ever developed? :-P
>>
>> And of course the untold story is: what would he rather
>> they name it? Fred? Zapacacao? The Virus Thing From
>> Outer CyberSpace?
>>
>> ObSheesh: Sheesh. :-)
>
> Oh, dear. This one is new and it would be surprising if the CNN actually
> /breaks/ the news. An epidemic that's costly could truly spur Linux
> migrations in the enterprise. In fact, any such security headache can be the
> straw the breaks the camel's back.
>
Talk about torn in two! Is it a good thing to have such
a virus-riddled Internet that people want to migrate to
Linux just to avoid the stupidity of malware attempts such
as the above?
Gaah.
But yes, this does look relatively new -- and rather nasty.
--
#191, ewill3@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
If your CPU can't stand the heat, get another fan.
--
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