__/ [ 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.
--
~~ Best wishes
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