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Re: [News?] New computer virus threatens biz nets

__/ [ 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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