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Interesting tad bit - MS Windows Genuine Advantage Phones Home Every day
thunder7:
Just noticed Windows Update: wants to instal this.
Size: 1.6 MB - 4.8 MB
Security issues have been identified that could allow an attacker to remotely compromise a computer running Internet Explorer and gain control over it. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
More information for this update can be found at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=62568
Swiss Cheese filling a hole in water barrel with many holes
f0dder:
thunder7, once you have Service Pack 2 and recent patches installed, your computer can't (for what I know) be remotely exploited just by being connected to the internet - you'd have to use IE to browse some malicious site, run a trojan, whatever.
Fortunately, even if your original XP install media is vanilla without service packs, you can slipstream SP2+updates and burn a new install media. http://www.nliteos.com + http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn makes this process very easy.
It's unfortunately IE has so many exploits, but at least they're being found and fixed.
And really, don't think that other operating systems and programs aren't full of security issues as well. It's just a lot more interesting to attack Microsoft products for two reasons:
1) it's extremely much more widespread than anything else. If you want a botnet, you're not going to try infecting a few hundred machines if you can get a few hundred thousand.
2) it's political. Lots of people hate Microsoft.
As for apple, ho humm. They had this cute ad that basically claimed they were immune to virus attacks. Try googling for "os x exploit", though. And... http://cad-comic.com/comic.php?d=20060513 :)
As for the security update you linked to, it looks to me like it's just a regular "use IE to visit malicious site, *b00m*" - not like a proper "remote exploit".
Josh:
Josh no disrespect
However if you really think about it Windows XP Pro holes in it, "Like pouring water into a barrel watching to see where it leaks, wait it will.
I mean no disrespect.
However if WXP was this safe virus's would have nothing to latch on, and hacker would not be able to hack us, etc etc.
A friend of mine said once Oh you mean like my Apple.
I have never been rich enough to afford an Apple so I can not say.
However being Bill Gates Helped Steve Jobs and wow low and behold, Apple can now run Windows XP hmmm,...Intresting. Now why would you want to run XP if Apple is so good.
Because you can one friend of mine said.
Yeah ok!. I can understand, however is that Apple still as safe?
Any Apple users out running a dual OS (Apple & WXP) ???
I really can not believe Windows is so safe.
Because nothing is ever 100% safe.
Not routers not firewalls.
Not Windows XP Pro
-thunder7 (June 11, 2006, 12:58 AM)
--- End quote ---
Also, with all due respect, EVERY OS HAS HOLES IN IT. If you subscribe to any decent security mailing list, you will see that linux has several CORE PACKAGES which have exploits every day. I get more daily notifications for patches I need to apply via apt-get dist-upgrade than I do with windows monthly updates. OSX also puts out patches that fix batches and batches of holes. You just dont hear about these because these OS's are in the minority. But again, I also challenge you to write an OS that is used on millions of different hardware combinations with billions of different pieces of software that havent undergone any quality testing, and make it not have bugs or holes. Windows XP is a very decent OS, and the ONLY exploit I have ever been hit by was blaster. Just because these people are finding holes, doesnt mean the OS isnt usable. Microsoft patches the holes, and they do it well, in my opinion. With the advent of XP SP2, I have never had a single problem with winxp that I havent caused by installing a driver that wasnt WHQL certified, or by some oddball software configuration.
I ask you this, how many of these exploits have hit you that werent caused by you installing something, or visiting a site that has "questionable" content? As f0dder says, the main reason windows xp exploits are so widely publicised is that it is used far more than ANY OTHER OS. Another thing I noticed, that link you posted was a patch from APRIL, and you said windows update just now wants to install it. This is a problem, if you arent willing to update regularly (I installed this particular update back in early may), then you are asking to be exploited. A lot of users I see complain about the number of patches microsoft has, then they complain when something hits and that microsoft cant patch fast enough, or that they want to test it to make sure it works. Microsoft is in the unfortunate situation of they're damned if they do, damned if they dont, in the eyes of most tech users.
thunder7:
Again no disrespect Josh by any chance do you work for Microsoft???.
I understand everything you are saying however, being I only use my PC for Graphic art
http://thunder7.deviantart.com/
http://www.artwanted.com/artist.cfm?ArtID=24645&SetBG=Yes
http://www.artuproar.com/?profile=thunder7
And they find Windows graphics bug opens backdoor
From this URL http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2145755/windows-graphics-bug-opens
From a graphic now that is very intresting hmmm,...
Then of course here is all this info http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Windows+Microsoft+Backdoors&hl=en&lr=&cr=countryUK|countryGB&start=10&sa=N
I believe Carol Haynes Posted I believe.
129,000 Page hits - Windows Microsoft Backdoors.
And I also use my PC to surf the net, my friends call me a "SEEKER" [from Harry Potter] because I have a lot of bookmarks 58,000+ I have everything from A-to-Z. And I keep surfing for more.
I have many categories 'HEALTH' 'FAMILY' 'TECH' 'INTRESTING' 'COOL STUFF' 'AUDIO' 'ART' and many sub folders.
I get lost at times looking thru all the data.
I could spend 12 years showing you ever bookmark I have to prove my point.
I have info from very creditable people known on the net and computer industry.
So I can prove my point.
I am not trying to argue with you here,...
rather open discussion.
Josh:
Again no disrespect Josh by any chance do you work for Microsoft???.
I understand everything you are saying however, being I only use my PC for Graphic art
http://thunder7.deviantart.com/
http://www.artwanted.com/artist.cfm?ArtID=24645&SetBG=Yes
http://www.artuproar.com/?profile=thunder7
And they find Windows graphics bug opens backdoor
From this URL http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2145755/windows-graphics-bug-opens
From a graphic now that is very intresting hmmm,...
Then of course here is all this info http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Windows+Microsoft+Backdoors&hl=en&lr=&cr=countryUK|countryGB&start=10&sa=N
I believe Carol Haynes Posted I believe.
129,000 Page hits - Windows Microsoft Backdoors.
-thunder7 (June 11, 2006, 11:28 AM)
--- End quote ---
No, I do not work for microsoft. I work for the US Military (Army) doing satellite communications, so I am far from a microsoft employee. I do, however, try and keep an open mind about things and not try and get too paranoid about things.
On that note, You keep pointing to the link that carol posted, Which I have already replied to. That backdoor was a RUMOR and people were discussing whether or not microsoft would put one in. This was for the bitlocker drive encryption software that microsoft will be including in Vista. They already stated publicly that they will not put a backdoor in there as it would defeat the purpose of having drive encryption. The British gov't wanted this hole so they could get access to data on a criminal's pc. Again, this was shutdown by MS, which came to the same conclusion that someone would find this and exploit it.
The WMF bug, was patched immediately by microsoft. All of these exploits you list have all been patched by microsoft. And I ask, were you affected by the WMF bug? Did you have a pc crash because of it or were you hacked? You keep evading points I've made or questions I've asked you, please, I ask that you reply to them next time. You keep going to these same exploits and comments that you've already made. If you are so worried about security, why are you just now getting to installing an update that has existed since early may?
Also, please, post links that you have from your library showing these backdoors that you describe (That were proven to exist, and arent just conspiracy theory type articles or comments). I will be more than happy to discuss them with you.
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