Warning! Virus!

[Robert Baer]

** W A R N I N G **
That URL has a nasty virus!

 

[Frank Bemelman]

** W A R N I N G **
That URL has a nasty virus!

What kind? I clicked it yesterday and saw an unshaven Santa with a
gun. Other than that, I have not noticed anything strange yet.

 

[Anders F]

What kind? I clicked it yesterday and saw an unshaven Santa with a
gun.

I guess a shaven Santa would be more scary for most ;-)

Other than that, I have not noticed anything strange yet.

You just wait *muhahaha*. ;oP
In any case all those virus warnings create more noise than they help!
People should just keep their anti-virus and windows updated - and don't do
obvious stupid stuff ;-)

Happy New Year....
Anders

 

[Frank Bemelman]

I guess a shaven Santa would be more scary for most ;-)


You just wait *muhahaha*. ;oP
In any case all those virus warnings create more noise than they help!
People should just keep their anti-virus and windows updated - and don't do
obvious stupid stuff ;-)

Clicking a valid url is not that bad, is it? I have no virus checker, never
had. I install the MS patches when I am advised to do so, and that's it.

 

[Barry & Nikki]

If you install MS patches that's a virus in itself that I would never want
on my computer. EVERY time I "download" MS stuff that is "recommended" my
computer screws up worse than it did prior to the download. I guess we
should have all taken the hint when Bill's entire system crashed in front of
the media when he was releasing Win2000 (or maybe it was 98??) Anyhow you
get the idea.

 

[Active8]

Clicking a valid url is not that bad, is it? I have no virus checker, never
had. I install the MS patches when I am advised to do so, and that's it.

Those patches won't stop a downloaded malware program you run. That
URL is unavailable now, but I run Antivir and I detected nothing bad
when I visited that link.

 

[Active8]

If you install MS patches that's a virus in itself that I would never want
on my computer. EVERY time I "download" MS stuff that is "recommended" my
computer screws up worse than it did prior to the download. I guess we
should have all taken the hint when Bill's entire system crashed in front of
the media when he was releasing Win2000 (or maybe it was 98??) Anyhow you
get the idea.

I *think* XP SP1 actually helped me. I read that it at least kills
the Windows Messenging Service which nailed me once. I was connected
for less than 10 min getting the latest ZoneAlarm when I realized I
didn't install the old one. Bam! Spyware Doom on me.

<definitions>
du-ma-nhieu - pronounced "doom on you"
Vietnamese for "Go f??k yourself."

"ca-man" -pronounced "come on" for "thank you" or
"ca-ma-nhieu" - pronounced "come on you"
for "thank you very much."
</definitions>

 

[Tom MacIntyre]

Clicking a valid url is not that bad, is it? I have no virus checker, never
had. I install the MS patches when I am advised to do so, and that's it.

So in other words, you don't even know if you have been infected.

Tom

 

[NSM]

| Clicking a valid url is not that bad, is it? I have no virus checker,
never
| had. I install the MS patches when I am advised to do so, and that's it.

Yikes! Install AVG Personal - it's free. I'd no more go on the 'net naked
than go shopping downtown naked.

N

 

[Don Lancaster]

If you install MS patches that's a virus in itself that I would never want
on my computer. EVERY time I "download" MS stuff that is "recommended" my
computer screws up worse than it did prior to the download. I guess we
should have all taken the hint when Bill's entire system crashed in front of
the media when he was releasing Win2000 (or maybe it was 98??) Anyhow you
get the idea.

I believe most email MS patches are in themselves viri.

--
Many thanks,

Don Lancaster
Synergetics 3860 West First Street Box 809 Thatcher, AZ 85552
voice: (928)428-4073 email: [email protected]

Please visit my GURU's LAIR web site at http://www.tinaja.com

 

[Mazi]

| Clicking a valid url is not that bad, is it? I have no virus checker,
never
| had. I install the MS patches when I am advised to do so, and that's it.

Yikes! Install AVG Personal - it's free. I'd no more go on the 'net naked
than go shopping downtown naked.

N

My Linux computer does not have any ad/spy-aware and anti virus software
installed, yet I don't see any harm to my Linux computer after visiting the
website. So, what's the deal?

 

[NSM]

|
| | >
| > | >
| > | Clicking a valid url is not that bad, is it? I have no virus checker,
| > never
| > | had. I install the MS patches when I am advised to do so, and that's
it.
| >
| > Yikes! Install AVG Personal - it's free. I'd no more go on the 'net
naked
| > than go shopping downtown naked.
| >
| > N
| >
|
| My Linux computer does not have any ad/spy-aware and anti virus software
| installed, yet I don't see any harm to my Linux computer after visiting
the
| website. So, what's the deal?

No big deal - until you find your entire hard drive erased or hopelessly
corrupted. It's a low risk with Linux, but still exists. Why take the
chance?

http://www.f-prot.com/products/home_use/linux/

"For home users using the Linux open-source operating system, we offer
F-Prot Antivirus for Linux Workstations. F-Prot Antivirus for Linux
Workstations utilizes the renowned F-Prot Antivirus scanning engine for
primary scan but has in addition to that a system of internal heuristics
devised to search for unknown viruses

F-Prot Antivirus for Linux was especially developed to effectively eradicate
viruses threatening workstations running Linux. It provides full protection
against macro viruses and other forms of malicious software - including
Trojans".

"Sure, there are Linux viruses. But let's compare the numbers. According to
Dr. Nic Peeling and Dr Julian Satchell's Analysis of the Impact of Open
Source Software:

"There are about 60,000 viruses known for Windows, 40 or so for the
Macintosh, about 5 for commercial Unix versions, and perhaps 40 for Linux.
Most of the Windows viruses are not important, but many hundreds have caused
widespread damage. Two or three of the Macintosh viruses were widespread
enough to be of importance. None of the Unix or Linux viruses became
widespread - most were confined to the laboratory."

So there are far fewer viruses for Mac OS X and Linux. It's true that those
two operating systems do not have monopoly numbers, though in some
industries they have substantial numbers of users. But even if Linux becomes
the dominant desktop computing platform, and Mac OS X continues its growth
in businesses and homes, these Unix-based OS's will never experience all of
the problems we're seeing now with email-borne viruses and worms in the
Microsoft world."

 

[Mazi]

|
| | >
| > | >
| > | Clicking a valid url is not that bad, is it? I have no virus checker,
| > never
| > | had. I install the MS patches when I am advised to do so, and that's
it.
| >
| > Yikes! Install AVG Personal - it's free. I'd no more go on the 'net
naked
| > than go shopping downtown naked.
| >
| > N
| >
|
| My Linux computer does not have any ad/spy-aware and anti virus software
| installed, yet I don't see any harm to my Linux computer after visiting
the
| website. So, what's the deal?

No big deal - until you find your entire hard drive erased or hopelessly
corrupted. It's a low risk with Linux, but still exists. Why take the
chance?

I wished that can be done when logon as a regular user. Every now and then,
I need to install/delete some files as a regular user and always got the
error messages saying no enought priviledge. Will any virus have such a
priviledge? If so, my Linux computer is now full of virus mainly because I
intentionally use it to read all my e-mails that contain virus. Alas, it is
still running in the office 24/7 since 10/5/3. Does anyone out here know how
much of the CPU resources are wasted to run anti-virus/trojan and
ad/spy-aware software on-demand on any MS OS based system? Wouldn't it be
nice if those wasted CPU resources can be used to perform some other tasks?

 

[James Sweet]

I wished that can be done when logon as a regular user. Every now and then,
I need to install/delete some files as a regular user and always got the
error messages saying no enought priviledge. Will any virus have such a
priviledge? If so, my Linux computer is now full of virus mainly because I
intentionally use it to read all my e-mails that contain virus. Alas, it is
still running in the office 24/7 since 10/5/3. Does anyone out here know how
much of the CPU resources are wasted to run anti-virus/trojan and
ad/spy-aware software on-demand on any MS OS based system? Wouldn't it be
nice if those wasted CPU resources can be used to perform some other tasks?

Windows can be setup the same way, well at least NT/2K/XP can, 9x is
hopelessly insecure. I finally put 2K on my mom's computer and set her up as
a standard user and haven't had any problems at all with it since, however
most people like the convenience of always being logged in as admin, not
good practice but most even fairly knowledgeable people I know do it.

A good virus scanner uses few system resources, I usually only start mine up
though when I'm installing something I've downloaded and do a scan every
once in a while to make sure nothing slipped by.

 

[NSM]

| I wished that can be done when logon as a regular user. Every now and
then,
| I need to install/delete some files as a regular user and always got the
| error messages saying no enough privilege.

Can't you su - root ??

| Will any virus have such a
| priviledge? If so, my Linux computer is now full of virus mainly because I
| intentionally use it to read all my e-mails that contain virus. Alas, it
is
| still running in the office 24/7 since 10/5/3. Does anyone out here know
how
| much of the CPU resources are wasted to run anti-virus/trojan and
| ad/spy-aware software on-demand on any MS OS based system? Wouldn't it be
| nice if those wasted CPU resources can be used to perform some other
tasks?

It'd be nice if you never needed brakes or seat belts in your car too but
that isn't worth wishing for. If Linux ever gets to be a major player in PCs
you'll see assholes creating viruses for it.

N

 

[Guy Macon]

My Linux computer does not have any ad/spy-aware and anti
virus software installed, yet I don't see any harm to my
Linux computer after visiting the website. So, what's the
deal?

The Commodore 128 that I use to access the web (yes, I have
Slakware Linux and Windows 2000 boxes, but the C128 is more
fun and boots in seconds) also does not have any adware/spyware
or antivirus software installed. In fact, I see one common
factor to all of these viruses: Microsoft operating systems...

 

[James Sweet]

The Commodore 128 that I use to access the web (yes, I have
Slakware Linux and Windows 2000 boxes, but the C128 is more
fun and boots in seconds) also does not have any adware/spyware
or antivirus software installed. In fact, I see one common
factor to all of these viruses: Microsoft operating systems...

What I don't understand is why it's not obvious to some people that if 95%
of people use a particular OS, 95% of the viruses, spyware, etc will be for
that OS. The OS itself has little to do with it, the biggest factor is the
users themselves, both in number and habbits. A secure OS can be made
insecure by sloppy usage, an insecure OS can be made reasonably secure with
diligence. As always there's a tradeoff between convenience/usability and
security. A bank vault door with a time lock as the only entrance to a house
would be very secure, but how long would it take for the typical user to
prop it open in the name of convenience?

 

[Ed Price]

SNIP


I believe most email MS patches are in themselves viri.

Well of course, ALL "emailed" virus patches are most suspicious. For
security, MS (and others) never email patches; they may notify you by email
of the availability of a patch, and direct you to a web site to get that
patch. But then you also need to avoid emails that look legit, but direct
you to a malicious site. Don't blindly click and follow, go to the site on
your own.

In the name of progress, the virus that kills the virus is my friend!

Ed
wb6wsn

 

[Ed Price]

The Commodore 128 that I use to access the web (yes, I have
Slakware Linux and Windows 2000 boxes, but the C128 is more
fun and boots in seconds) also does not have any adware/spyware
or antivirus software installed. In fact, I see one common
factor to all of these viruses: Microsoft operating systems...

Yes, it's hard to corrupt a ROM based OS!

OTOH, the C-128 allows for direct access of things like the keyboard buffer
registers, and allows for PEEKS and POKES direct to specific memory
locations. I suspect that if some malicious dude (an Ohio Scientific owner
with a grudge?) gave a rat's ass about bothering the microscopic C-128 user
base, he could march in, play a tune on your floppy drive track-zero stop,
and reformat whatever storage media you have.

But maybe you're actually running in the CP/M mode?

Ed
wb6wsn

 

[Ed Price]

i have a 128D, whats it worth to you?

Not heavy enough to hold the boat, too easy to trip over to hold the door;
why not put it up on eBay?

Ed
wb6wsn