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Flaws threaten Microsoft
GlobalTechnology.com ^ | Friday, Nov. 7, 2003 | Associated Press
Posted on 11/08/2003 11:34:09 PM PST by zeugma
Flaws threaten Microsoft
SEATTLE — Microsoft Corp.'s offer this week of cash bounties for informants who help it collar virus-writers reflects
more than just an escalation of the war on those who would exploit the dominant power in software.
The campaign reveals just how much of a threat to Microsoft's bottom line security flaws now represent.
When the Blaster worm hobbled hundreds of thousands of computers around the world in August — only the latest plague
to exploit a flaw in Windows operating systems — it also hurt Microsoft's ability to book new contracts with corporate
customers.
For the first time, it seemed, flaws in Microsoft's software were translating into flaws in the company's business model.
"It's now starting to move from being a problem that they used to hear anecdotally to a problem they can now measure the
impact of," said Michael Cherry, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft, an independent research firm.
The cost of patching up Windows computers, for instance, is diverting money from tech budgets that might otherwise have
been earmarked for new software contracts, he said.
In its latest quarterly results, Microsoft said revenue from multiyear contracts dropped $768-million (U.S.) from the previous
quarter. The drop in so-called "deferred revenue" — money received for contracts that will be counted toward its earnings
over time — was about $450-million lower than the company anticipated.
Some of that was due to overly optimistic projections, said chief financial officer John Connors. But another reason, he
said, was that Microsoft's sales people were so busy helping corporate clients shore up their networks that they could not
close new deals.
Even before the Blaster attack, security was gnawing at Microsoft's stature. It had been cited among the reasons that various
government agencies in the United States and abroad have become more serious about adopting alternatives such as the open-source
Linux operating system.
Security, simply put, is beginning to play a larger role in decisions about what software companies buy.
Boscov's department stores are in the process of switching from Microsoft software on many of its servers to Linux-based
offerings provided by IBM Corp. Harry Roberts, chief information officer for Boscov's, a regional chain based in Reading,
Pa., said cost was by far the biggest reason.
But the company also had been hit hard by the Nimda worm in 2001, causing about $50,000 in staff time to repair damage
to the network, he said. "We do have a bad taste in our mouth."
Analysts say Microsoft's software is targeted most by hackers and virus writers because it is so prevalent. But that's
of little consolation to customers angry about the persistent security concerns.
"When enterprises have these big problems, they're very leery," said John Pescatore, vice president for Internet security
at the Gartner consulting firm. That wariness could prompt companies to delay software upgrades from every third to every
fourth year, for example, a threat for Microsoft. "That's what kills software companies," he said.
After the Blaster attack, Microsoft issued bulletins for another five critical flaws in versions of Windows. And it was
not the only Microsoft-centric Internet plague this year. The Slammer worm severely clogged on-line traffic in January.
Mr. Pescatore likened the recent problems to the situation two years ago, when the Code Red and Nimda viruses exploited
flaws in Microsoft software. The network pain produced by the twin scourges prompted Microsoft chairman Bill Gates in January
2002 to identify security as the company's top priority.
Among the recent steps Microsoft has taken to improve security is its announcement that it will have a free update to its
flagship Windows XP desktop operating system next year. The improvements are to include disabling certain features that can
allow hacker break-ins. The upgrade, or service pack, will also include an improved firewall.
As it adjusts, the challenge for Microsoft has been to alter its mind-set — from an emphasis on winning new customers
to the need to satisfy its now-huge existing customer base, said Joe Wilcox, an analyst with Jupiter Research.
"Microsoft needs to sit back and kind of rethink how to operate in more of a maintenance market," Mr. Wilcox said. "And
what that really means is that customer satisfaction has to be the number one priority."
TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; TechnicalKEYWORDS: BLASTER; CODERED1; CODERED2; COMPUTERSECURITY; ILOVEYOU; LINUX; MELISSA; MICROSOFT; NETWORKSECURITY; NIMDA; OPENSOURCE; SLAMMER; TROJANS; VIRUS; VIRUSES; WORMS
...reveals just how much of a threat to Microsoft's bottom line security flaws now represent.
For the first time, it seemed, flaws in Microsoft's software were translating into flaws in the company's business model.
About time.
1 posted on 11/08/2003 11:34:09 PM PST by zeugma
To: rdb3
Penguin Ping Please
2 posted on 11/08/2003 11:34:55 PM PST by zeugma (If you eat a live toad first thing in the morning, nothing worse will happen all day.)
To: zeugma
3 posted on 11/08/2003 11:38:32 PM PST by Prime Choice (The judiciary is supposed to be 1/3rd of the checks and balances; not a special interest trump card.)
To: zeugma
RedHat anyone????
4 posted on 11/08/2003 11:47:48 PM PST by clee1 (Where's the beef???)
To: clee1
RedHat anyone????
Red Hat is about to become a lot more expensive.
5 posted on 11/08/2003 11:57:41 PM PST by HAL9000
To: zeugma
Red Hat Drops Free Linux!
How do you make money from free software? Well, pretty much, you don't; at least not directly:
Red Hat Inc. has just announced that it is going to drop
support for Linux... users of any enterprise-level Linux
distro with the Red Hat name on it will need to pay for it.
http://www.linuxworld.com/story/37812.htm
There's more to the story--- Red Hat is pushing its non-paying customers to a new, untested free distro called "Fedora"
( http://www.fedora.us/index-main.html ). But Fedora isn't the same as Red Hat, and a lot of Red Hat users are now angry at being forced to pay or switch.
To: Tim Dr Hook McCracken
Red Hat Drops Free Linux!
Uh, not exactly.
They're re-naming their free line to 'Fedora'.
And they're focusing their business on 'Enterprise-class' work. They obviously think they can compete with IBM, Sun and
MS for a chunk of that market. It's a tactical choice, the same one made by IBM. It makes sense, for IBM, who makes most of
their real money from hardware and software infrastructure.
I'm not sure I think it's a smart choice for Red Hat, but it is their choice.
And this once again underscores perhaps the biggest single reason to use Linux -- Linux will go on. If you're not happy
with this, you can go with one of a dozen other distros.
If you were on a highly proprietary OS, like Solaris or Win2K3Server, and they made some move like this, you'd be screwed.
To: Dominic Harr
In a totalitaran environment you don't need to be afraid to make "mistakes"
8 posted on 11/09/2003 12:46:57 AM PST by Truth666
To: Dominic Harr
The battle between Microsoft and freedom loving persons1. Microsoft sells Windows with security holes that are not
revealed
2. One of these security holes is exposed by a freedom loving person.
3. Microsoft makes no clear statement
about which Windows versions are affected.
4. Microsoft orders an update.
5. This way Microsoft ensures that the exposed
hole is closed and at the same time a few new holes are added.
6. Freedom loving persons start looking for holes from
scratch.
9 posted on 11/09/2003 12:48:33 AM PST by Truth666
To: Truth666
"2. One of these security holes is exposed by a freedom loving person"
You sound like one of these mentally deranged hackers that have created so many problems for so many for no reason at all.
Get a life.
10 posted on 11/09/2003 1:24:11 AM PST by at bay (no deals, Jacquelyn, only choice of lobster, steak or chicken for last dinner party of one)
To: Truth666
Criminal behavior = Freedom.
You're a jerkoff.
To: Truth666
I know that you are simply a troll, but...
2. One of these security holes is exposed by a freedom loving person.
Do you vote Libertarian?
To: zeugma
bump
13 posted on 11/09/2003 5:25:03 AM PST by Chief_Joe (From where the sun now sits, I will fight on -FOREVER!)
To: zeugma
Microsoft is itself responsible for this situation. They created an architecture which allows executable content
to be placed on machines without the consent of the user. They papered it over with a transparently flawed content-signing
model.
Microsoft has been negligent. By ignoring the obvious consequences of their decisions on customers, a court
might find them to have been civilly or criminally negligent.
Why did it happen? Because Microsoft managers are in
it for the money only, are short sighted, and are more concerned with surviving in the organization long enough to vest their
stock options, than in being customer or even corporate advocates.
Who will suffer? Well, we all will. But ultimately,
Microsoft will, and its preeminence will be lost.
To: zeugma
I wish those Penguin Pings included apps. Much as I would love to switch to a different OS till there are real
pro-music apps ready to use I just can't. Especially since win2003 server is so fast and solid...and no, I am NOT a M$ fan.
To: Tax Government
The users are to blame.
People keep finding excuses not to migrate off Microsoft, like a battered wife sticking with her abusive husband.
If they do it much longer, Microsoft will find a way to force people to use their server software, and, while they can
never really "kill" Linux, will minimize its impact.
Wake up people. This is the time to get off Microsoft, while the gettin' is good!
16 posted on 11/09/2003 6:31:55 AM PST by B Knotts (Go 'Nucks!)
To: John Robinson; B Knotts; stainlessbanner; TechJunkYard; ShadowAce; Knitebane; AppyPappy; jae471; ...
The Penguin Ping.
Wanna be Penguified? Just holla!
Got root?
17 posted on 11/09/2003 8:11:07 AM PST by rdb3 (We're all gonna go, but I hate to go fast. Then again, it won't be fun to stick around and go last.)
To: zeugma
wariness could prompt companies to delay software upgrades from every third to every fourth year
That's what I expect. This effect will probably kick the serious revenue from Longhorn down the calendar another year or
so. By the time Longhorn comes out, most of the Bad Stuff will have been wrung out of Windows 2003 server and the virus-writers
will be finding it tougher to find new holes in it. The first few guys who put Longhorn out there will get whacked a few times,
and everybody knows it. Most people will hang back and wait to see how many arrows in the back the pioneers get.
18 posted on 11/09/2003 11:07:56 AM PST by Nick Danger (With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.)
To: Dominic Harr
Uh, not exactly. They're re-naming their free line to 'Fedora'.
Rrrrrright, Harr. Fedora is going
to end up like Mozilla. Tepid support. Not widely used.
19 posted on 11/09/2003 1:12:44 PM PST by Bush2000
To: Bush2000
You always amaze me in how little you need to know before you feel the need to speak.
Red Hat is
changing their classic distro into a community project. It will be closer to Debian now in that it is developed by the community
for the community. It will feature the more cutting edge features and be where r&d occurs. The Linux enthusiast doesn't
demand production stability.
That's where the Enterprise Red Hat distro comes in. Features are second in priority
to stability, security, and support.
Updates for the Enterprise version will be tested and certified by Red Hat. The
same patches will be made available for Fedora, but without warrenty.
Fedora is free. Technically, so is Enterprise.
You can still download the packages. You can still copy the CDs and give them away legally.
But of course, you don't
care.It's your agenda to bash Linux and you've done that. Run along now, Sparky.
To: shadowman99
Red Hat is changing their classic distro into a community project. It will be closer to Debian now in that
it is developed by the community for the community. It will feature the more cutting edge features and be where r&d occurs.
The Linux enthusiast doesn't demand production stability
One of the primary reasons why Linux has come as far as
it has is because of corporate sponsorship from Red Hat, IBM, and many other companies. Without that sponsorship, the pace
of "innovation" (if you can call copying innovative) is going to slow. That may be fine for cheapskates but won't cut it for
many enterprises...
21 posted on 11/09/2003 4:38:05 PM PST by Bush2000
To: Bush2000
One of the primary reasons why Linux has come as far as it has is because of corporate sponsorship from Red
Hat, IBM, and many other companies. Without that sponsorship, the pace of "innovation" (if you can call copying innovative)
is going to slow. That may be fine for cheapskates but won't cut it for many enterprises...
And your point is?
Software / service companies are shying away from investing in linux? Could of fooled me.
22 posted on 11/09/2003 4:49:01 PM PST by lelio
To: lelio
And your point is? Software / service companies are shying away from investing in linux? Could of fooled
me.
This effectively spells the end of any hope that Linux had of becoming a desktop player.
23 posted on 11/09/2003 5:07:30 PM PST by Bush2000
To: Bush2000
Once again, wrong. Many of the Red Hat developers will continue on with Fedora. This is where new software will
be introduced and refined. This has always been the case, but until now that project was call "rawhide". Rawhide's goals will
be merged into Fedora.
Red Hat is not walking away from Fedora. They are going to cultivate the name brand "Red Hat"
to be identified with the Enterprise. But that's just a marketing move. They have the most recognized name in Linux. They're
going to more protective of that name now.
IBM and Novell re-committed their support to Linux this week with the announcement
that Novell has purchased Suse Linux. IBM has invested $50 million dollars in this new venture. What is interesting here is
that Novell is legally immune from the SCO lawsuit, and they now own a Linux distro.
The last thing you are missing
is that Linux is just a kernel. A great deal of the other stuff in the distro has been developed by the GNU Herd project,
Apache, MySQL, and countless independents. They aren't going away either.
If the Linux kernel died tomorrow in a courtroom
there are alternatives that would be plugged in it's place. But of course, that means SCO has to prove their case in 2 separate
court cases, and potentially more soon. IBM seems quite confident that no code theft has taken place - IBM is pushing 2 separate
motions for discovery, and SCO has missed deadlines to deliver discovery materials. SCO is attacking the GPL as "illegal and
unconstitutional" - but if by some slim chance they succeed, they still lose. SCO has distributed code under that GPL, and
would suddenly be guilty of copyright infringement. The GPL was the only permission they had from scores of developers to
sell code contributed to GNU/Linux.
You remind me of the Dems who underestimate Bush. They continue to lose ground
in each election. Linux is here to stay. It's not trivial. There are and will be heavy hitters behind it's continued development.
To: zeugma
All I can say is....
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
25 posted on 11/09/2003 5:48:28 PM PST by pctech
To: rdb3
as a matter of fact... yes... for three years.
To: Robert_Paulson2; rdb3
as a matter of fact... yes... for three years.
And I also, as of last night.
27 posted on 11/09/2003 6:38:11 PM PST by yhwhsman ("Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small..." -Sir Winston Churchill)
To: shadowman99
Once again, wrong. Many of the Red Hat developers will continue on with Fedora. This is where new software
will be introduced and refined. This has always been the case, but until now that project was call "rawhide". Rawhide's goals
will be merged into Fedora. Red Hat is not walking away from Fedora. They are going to cultivate the name brand "Red Hat"
to be identified with the Enterprise. But that's just a marketing move. They have the most recognized name in Linux. They're
going to more protective of that name now.
I suppose if you've gotta hold onto something, you might as well hold
onto that delusion. Because that's what it is. RedHat is turning Fedora into precisely the same thing that Netscape turned
Mozilla into: a marginalized, low-budget also-ran that few people use.
IBM and Novell re-committed their support
to Linux this week with the announcement that Novell has purchased Suse Linux.
I actually give Novell a lot of
credit for taking over Suse. If anybody has a chance of succeeding here, it's Novell, not Fedora. Investment dollars speak
louder than lame-ass freeware promises.
The last thing you are missing is that Linux is just a kernel. A great deal
of the other stuff in the distro has been developed by the GNU Herd project, Apache, MySQL, and countless independents. They
aren't going away either.
So what. The thing that makes Windows pervasive is the fact that it integrates
all of those elements well enough for the average person to use. Linux hasn't succeeded in that space because it's generally
recognized as being immature from an integration standpoint. Fedora doesn't help its cause.
If the Linux kernel
died tomorrow in a courtroom there are alternatives that would be plugged in it's place.
If SCO prevails, you guys
will be relegated to selling disks on street corners. The corporate investment which got you here will dry up immediately,
if that happens.
28 posted on 11/09/2003 11:24:45 PM PST by Bush2000
To: Bush2000
... the pace of "innovation" (if you can call copying innovative)...
Bwhahaha... funny.
Isn't that how M$ "innovated"?
29 posted on 11/10/2003 5:05:08 AM PST by AFreeBird (your mileage may vary)
To: Bush2000
"If SCO prevails"
roflmao...
To: yhwhsman
good for you.
To: Robert_Paulson2
"If SCO prevails" roflmao...
Said the wannabe lawyer...
32 posted on 11/10/2003 11:46:35 AM PST by Bush2000
To: Bush2000
If SCO prevails, you guys will be relegated to selling disks on street corners.
Even if as you say for the sake of argument SCO prevails in its suit against IBM, and IBM is forced to pay a large amount
of damages to SCO and the Linux kernel is considered 'tainted' what happens? Now, I do not personally believe that this will
be the outcome, and my professional opinion is that SCO's claims of ownership of NUMA, SMP, JFS, and XFS are unfounded. But
for the sake of argument what if? Do you know what happens? Every body switches to BSD. Life goes on as usual.
33 posted on 11/10/2003 11:54:54 AM PST by Liberal Classic (No better friend, no worse enemy.)
To: Bush2000
I see you are busily trying to re-direct the discussion here to something other than the subject of the article,
which is how the flaws in Microsoft software are causing companies to abandon their products to find something better.
I understand why you might wish to re-direct a discussion away from the flaws in Microsoft software. You would surely
prefer that people talk about SCO and stuff, but you know, there really are flaws in Microsoft software and that's
really what this article was about. So to Hell with what you said, I insist on discussing the flaws in Microsoft software.
Did you see where the article talks about customers angry about the persistent security concerns? Can you blame
them?
I think that instead of responding to your comments about linux, I'll just keep referring to the many documented flaws
in Microsoft software, if for no other reason than to taunt you like a Happy Fun Ball.
34 posted on 11/10/2003 2:34:12 PM PST by Nick Danger (With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.)
To: Nick Danger
documented flaws in Microsoft software
Bump.
35 posted on 11/10/2003 2:46:00 PM PST by Stentor
To: Liberal Classic
Every body switches to BSD.
Not really. If SCO prevails and is granted full ownership of Linux,
then it's not a far stretch that the same lunatic judge would grant them total ownership of BSD as well.
36 posted on 11/11/2003 12:40:04 AM PST by Dimensio (The only thing you feel when you take a human life is recoil. -- Frank "Earl" Jones)
To: rdb3
Please add me to your ping list, thank you.
37 posted on 11/11/2003 1:48:25 AM PST by ezsmoke
To: Dimensio
I do not believe that SCO can make the same claims about BSD as it does now with Linux. I am sceptical of SCO's
current claims, of course, but they have less bearing on BSD. Though BSD can run on multiprocessor computers it doesn't have
files contaning the IBM copyright, which is the crux of the whole suit. If you recall the owner of UNIX (c) has settled with
BSDi Unix-clone over trademark and copyright violations similar to the current case. USL/Novell vs. BSDi settled the question
of whether Unix-clones have a right to exist. They do. They cannot contain copyright violations, but the current question
seems to be: does IBM have the right to put files they own may be included in Linux if SCO doesn't want them to. The question
is not whether Unix-clones have a right to exist. Now, SCO has hinted that is the question, claiming it fights 'unauthorized
UNIX implementations' with this case, but that is just in press releases. Unauthorized UNIX implementations clearly implies
BSD as well, but that's not the subject of the current case and due to a previous settlement I do not believe they can ignore
precedent.
38 posted on 11/11/2003 7:39:23 AM PST by Liberal Classic (No better friend, no worse enemy.)
To: zeugma
To: B Knotts
Agreed, it will take a hit to MS's bottomline before they get really serious. These bounties are just the start,
but MS is starting to feel the pressure.
To: All
It's greed that threatens MicrosoftI found out today that after paying hundreds of $$ for xp pro, that I cannot use
it on more than one computer
IN MY OWN HOME
I now join the ever growing ranks of Americans who will never again buy a MS product.
41 posted on 11/11/2003 7:44:40 AM PST by The Wizard (Saddamocrats are enemies of America, treasonous everytime they speak)
To: Nick Danger
Good catch. I was noticing that as I was reading through the thread.
42 posted on 11/11/2003 8:57:34 AM PST by B Knotts (Go 'Nucks!)
To: zeugma
Z,
I have been all over the internet tonight: Kim Komando, Ad Alarm, Symantec, Norton, etc etc etc
Maybe
you can help a frustrated FReeper:
Here's what happened. A couple of months ago, I noticed that my Norton no longer
flashed the warning I was accustomed to seeing, "virus detected; please quarantine, or delete" (or whatever it said). This
included periodic notices from the typical "Microsoft":
"Download this patch now", accompanied by an attachment. Which
I knew not to open.
At about the same time, I stopped receiving emails from people who would call saying they had
sent one to me (Locked up, apparently.) I called the local computer company. They ran Spybot, Symantec/Norton, and AdAware
for two days. Finally told me they had isolated a virus that most programs had missed. He said there is a new virus which
blocks anti-detection efforts, and actually 'disables' programs such as Norton. Two weeks later the technician returned, and
I told him since his last visit, that I still get the typical Microsoft notice, I do not open it, nor does it show up as a
virus. But it does not show up as previously with the red flashing warning. Again, he had said on the earlier visit that a
new virus is out there which disables Norton and other detection methods.
He checked again and found nothing, but
I am probably disabled from Norton insofar as I can ascertain. When I go to Kim Komando, Norton, et al, there is really not
a place to enter a question and to receive a response via email.
I tried some external PC checks also such as Panda,
but nothing showed up.
My question: Should I leave Norton and go to MacAfee or some other company?
ANY response,
or sharing of my question with those having expertise, is MUCH appreciated!
43 posted on 09/15/2004 9:18:13 PM PDT by ZOTnot ("The burden of Damascus." I'll take the side of Israel, thank you.....)
To: zeugma
Z,
I have been all over the internet tonight: Kim Komando, Ad Alarm, Symantec, Norton, etc etc etc
Maybe
you can help a frustrated FReeper:
Here's what happened. A couple of months ago, I noticed that my Norton no longer
flashed the warning I was accustomed to seeing, "virus detected; please quarantine, or delete" (or whatever it said). This
included periodic notices from the typical "Microsoft":
"Download this patch now", accompanied by an attachment. Which
I knew not to open.
At about the same time, I stopped receiving emails from people who would call saying they had
sent one to me (Locked up, apparently.) I called the local computer company. They ran Spybot, Symantec/Norton, and AdAware
for two days. Finally told me they had isolated a virus that most programs had missed. He said there is a new virus which
blocks anti-detection efforts, and actually 'disables' programs such as Norton. Two weeks later the technician returned, and
I told him since his last visit, that I still get the typical Microsoft notice, I do not open it, nor does it show up as a
virus. But it does not show up as previously with the red flashing warning. Again, he had said on the earlier visit that a
new virus is out there which disables Norton and other detection methods.
He checked again and found nothing, but
I am probably disabled from Norton insofar as I can ascertain. When I go to Kim Komando, Norton, et al, there is really not
a place to enter a question and to receive a response via email.
I tried some external PC checks also such as Panda,
but nothing showed up.
My question: Should I leave Norton and go to MacAfee or some other company?
ANY response,
or sharing of my question with those having expertise, is MUCH appreciated!
44 posted on 09/15/2004 9:18:16 PM PDT by ZOTnot ("The burden of Damascus." I'll take the side of Israel, thank you.....)
To: ZOTnot
Well, I don't use windows at all anymore, so I'm unfortunately not going to be of much assistance. "bush2000"
is one of the local MS zealots, so you might want to ping him.
My suggestion, as always is to check out any of various linux distributions. and just abandon microsoft entirely.
45 posted on 09/16/2004 5:52:48 AM PDT by zeugma (If the gov. =must= assign me a number, it could at least be prime. How about 10980432398542099813?)
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News: Microsoft spreads virus--by accident
Special to ZDNet News ^ | June 14, 2002, 9:20 AM PT | By Robert Lemos
Posted on 06/14/2002 5:22:49 PM PDT by amigatec
By
Robert Lemos
Special to ZDNet News
June 14, 2002, 9:20 AM PT
Microsoft accidentally sent the virulent Nimda worm to South Korean developers when it distributed Korean-language versions
of Visual Studio .Net that carried the virus, the company acknowledged Friday.
Microsoft's flagship developer tools picked up the digital pest when a third-party company translated the program into
Korean, said Christopher Flores, lead product manager for Visual Studio .Net. Flores stressed that no other foreign-language
versions of the program were found to carry the worm, and he said the worm had not actually executed on any developers' systems.
"There have been no recorded infections," Flores said. In fact, he added, it's almost impossible to get the worm to execute
on computers with Visual Studio .Net installed.
The infected file is stored in the same location as the help files, Flores said, but it's a file created by Nimda, so the
.Net program's help system doesn't know it's there and will never reference--or open--the file. It's unlikely, then, that
Nimda would break loose, Flores said.
And if the worm did execute somehow, he said, it couldn't spread to the developer's system because the virus only runs
on systems running Internet Explorer 5.5 and lower, and Visual Studio .Net requires version 6.0 of the browser.
"It's extremely unlikely that a developer would ever accidentally get infected by Nimda," said Flores. "They would have
to try hard just to run the worm."
Still, the slip up is yet another stain on Microsoft's reputation as the company works to convince the public and the tech
community that its products are secure. In a company-wide memo sent last January, Bill Gates trumpeted a " trustworthy computing
initiative," calling on Microsoft's employees to put security above all else.
Nimda started infecting computers last September and quickly became an epidemic. However, since October, incidents of the
worm have dropped.
The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant released Visual Studio .Net in February, and the Korean version made it to market
some 90 days ago, Flores said.
The Korean version of the developer tools picked up Nimda from the third-party "localization" company Microsoft hired to
translate the program's help system into Korean. That company had already been infected by Nimda and spread the virus to the
help tools, which gained an extra, infected file.
Flores said that under Microsoft's security policy, the company normally scans every file being transferred to the master
of a program. But in this case, the company only analyzed files it expected to find. Since the Nimda-infected file had been
added by the worm, the company overlooked it.
"We have been (scanning all files) in every one of our geographies," Flores said. "There was a loophole in our Korean side
that caused us to miss files that we didn't expect to be there."
It wasn't until a Microsoft employee was adding the help documentation to the software giant's developer Web site that
the worm was found. "We have to go through a conversion process to an online HTML format," said Flores. "During that process
we found an extra file hanging around."
Microsoft has notified all its registered Korean customers, and the company posted a patch to its Web site Thursday night.
It also plans to send clean copies of the program to every registered customer free of charge and is attempting to contact
developers who may have bought the product but not registered it.
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Front Page News; TechnicalKEYWORDS: HEHEHEHE; MICROSOFT; NIMDA; TECHINDEX
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments. first 1-50, 51-52 next last
This is nice instead of waiting to get another MS virus, MS now supplies for you. Some "trustworthy computing"
1 posted on 06/14/2002 5:22:49 PM PDT by amigatec
To: Bush2000; Don Joe; Dominic Harr; innocentbystander
And a big ol' ping to you all!!!
2 posted on 06/14/2002 5:25:36 PM PDT by amigatec
To: amigatec
unbelievable bump sheeeeeeeesh what is the next microsoftflub?
To: amigatec
Ah yes...pinging the "PC" Hatfields and the "Mac" Coys. You will find me in the bomb shelter.
To: tubebender
Ah yes...pinging the "PC" Hatfields and the "Mac" Coys.
5 posted on 06/14/2002 5:34:15 PM PDT by steve-b
To: amigatec
I thought "Virus Free" meant "contains no viruses", not "virus included at no extra charge".
6 posted on 06/14/2002 5:35:39 PM PDT by steve-b
To: amigatec;Tech_index
I'm getting mighty tired of Microsuck screwups.
I don't care if Bill Gates is richer than the Aga Khan. I don't care if he has more money than any 5 countries picked at
random.
I purely hate the software he puts out.
Worse, since everyone else (99%) is using this obscene software I have to use it for file compatability.
Is there any other supplier that produces good software with Microsuck file compatability?
7 posted on 06/14/2002 5:41:34 PM PDT by LibKill
Comment #8 Removed by Moderator
To: amigatec
Flores stressed that no other foreign-language versions of the program were found to carry the worm, and
he said the worm had not actually executed on any developers' systems.
Whooooo, boy. Korean version. Nobody was
affected. Care for any cheese with your whine? Weak.
9 posted on 06/14/2002 5:52:12 PM PDT by Bush2000
To: LibKill
I purely hate the software he puts out.
Yeah, we can tell: Hate is the mind-killer.
10 posted on 06/14/2002 5:53:11 PM PDT by Bush2000
To: Bush2000
Did you just get off the phone with Bill?
Is he still trying to some way to worm out of this one. I thought according to MS only GPL software sent out patches with
Virus's in them?
This is what he has been telling the world.
11 posted on 06/14/2002 5:56:38 PM PDT by amigatec
To: Bush2000
Whooooo, boy. Korean version. Nobody was affected. Care for any cheese with your whine? Weak.
Could have been the English Version.
It just happened to be the Korean Version.
12 posted on 06/14/2002 5:58:26 PM PDT by amigatec
To: amigatec
I would suggest that Windows itself is a computer virus.
13 posted on 06/14/2002 5:58:27 PM PDT by magellan
To: Bush2000
Yeah, we can tell: Hate is the mind-killer.
Bzzzzzzt! Wrong!
Re-read the 'Dune' series by Frank Herbert.
Fear is the mind-killer.
14 posted on 06/14/2002 6:01:47 PM PDT by LibKill
To: amigatec
Did you just get off the phone with Bill?
Don't know the man. You?
Is he still trying
to some way to worm out of this one. I thought according to MS only GPL software sent out patches with Virus's in them? This
is what he has been telling the world.
Where did you read this? Reference, please.
15 posted on 06/14/2002 6:11:56 PM PDT by Bush2000
To: LibKill
Bzzzzzzt! Wrong! Re-read the 'Dune' series by Frank Herbert. Fear is the mind-killer.
And you
wonder why Linux is doomed to always live in the server rooms with the geeks. You guys can't even make the mental leap from
fear to hate.
16 posted on 06/14/2002 6:14:29 PM PDT by Bush2000
To: amigatec
Could have been the English Version.
Ah, but it wasn't.
It just happened to be the Korean
Version.
When was the last time you booted up the Korean version of Visual Studio or IIS? Don't you have anything
better to do than troll over this? This is weaaaaaaaaaaaaak...
17 posted on 06/14/2002 6:15:49 PM PDT by Bush2000
To: libkill
ya gotta admit, his posts are pretty witty. :)
To: Bush2000
And you wonder why Linux is doomed to always live in the server rooms with the geeks. You guys can't even
make the mental leap from fear to hate.
Give me good software that does what I tell it to do, AND, file compatability with Microsuck.
There will be one more Linux geek. :)
19 posted on 06/14/2002 6:18:33 PM PDT by LibKill
To: LibKill
Give me good software that does what I tell it to do, AND, file compatability with Microsuck.
Don't
you have spell checkers under Linux? Or haven't you progressed the point of learning to use one?
20 posted on 06/14/2002 6:25:54 PM PDT by Bush2000
To: magellan
I would suggest that Windows itself is a computer virus.
That's profound. Call the DOJ.
21 posted on 06/14/2002 6:26:58 PM PDT by Bush2000
To: Bush2000
And you wonder why Linux is doomed to always live in the server rooms with the geeks. You guys can't even
make the mental leap from fear to hate.
Whistlin down the graveyard?
22 posted on 06/14/2002 6:28:44 PM PDT by Stentor
To: Stentor
Whistlin down the graveyard?
Add 'em to the same list as Palm, Sun, Oracle, Novell, Lotus, IBM,
Corel, WordPerfect, OS/2, and Mac...
23 posted on 06/14/2002 6:30:58 PM PDT by Bush2000
To: Bush2000
Dude, I ain't using Linux. Yet.
'Microsuck' is a put-down on the bug infested software that I am forced by circumstances to use.
Seriously, if there are alternatives to MicroSoft (TM) that have file compatability, I would like to hear about them.
But if all you have to offer is automatic defense of some of the worst software in the world (Microsoft [TM]), well I am
not interested.
24 posted on 06/14/2002 6:31:41 PM PDT by LibKill
To: LibKill
25 posted on 06/14/2002 6:35:34 PM PDT by Bush2000
To: amigatec
This really isn't anything new... Apple, Intel, and Novell have all shipped infected products...
Mark
26 posted on 06/14/2002 6:38:47 PM PDT by MarkL
To: Bush2000
Linux and Mac and Solaris are just as buggy as Windows.
Sorry, I mistook one of your posts to mean that you were into Linux.
I am not eager to learn another operating system. I have been through too many already since I first took up the challenge
and blessing of personal computers 20 years ago.
I know a couple of Linux geeks but it seems very complicated. I can't see where it will benefit me to learn this new system.
Solaris is something that I am blissfully unaware of.
I am familiar with Macs from work. They are OK for the office, but I would not have one in my home.:)
Still, I say that if another manufactorer gave me software (windows based?) that did what I wanted it to do and had MicroSoft(TM)
file compatability, I would buy it with my hard earned dollars.
My major gripe with MicroSoft(TM)is the versions of Word after Office 97.
You put a picture and some text here. You do a save and everything is automatically reformatted without so much as a 'by-your-leave-sir'.
Dammit! I am supposed to be the boss, not the software.
27 posted on 06/14/2002 6:46:47 PM PDT by LibKill
To: MarkL
To: LibKill
Still, I say that if another manufactorer gave me software (windows based?) that did what I wanted it to
do and had MicroSoft(TM) file compatability, I would buy it with my hard earned dollars.
Ah, Ok. I understand.
Have you ever tried Adobe Acrobat?
29 posted on 06/14/2002 6:57:19 PM PDT by Bush2000
To: Bush2000
This is weaaaaaaaaaaaaak
No..... that is bad quality control. Distributing bad software is not too bad. Every company does it from time to time.
Distributing a virus when you're as big as Microsoft is not acceptable. They aren't some small shareware developer, they are
one of the richest companies in the world.
30 posted on 06/14/2002 7:21:46 PM PDT by dheretic
To: Bush2000
Add Microsoft's XBox division to that as well. The XBox hacks can very well spell real trouble for Microsoft.
If I buy a XBox and turn it into a DivX player they just lost $100.
31 posted on 06/14/2002 7:24:36 PM PDT by dheretic
32 posted on 06/14/2002 7:25:11 PM PDT by Mo1
To: Bush2000
Why do you insist on trying to prove your points by going to windows-centric websites? That is as pointless
as a Socialist pointing to the Communist Manifesto as a good list of reasons why Capitalism ain't all it's cracked up to be.
33 posted on 06/14/2002 7:26:59 PM PDT by dheretic
To: LibKill
Is there any other supplier that produces good software with Microsuck file compatability
Try a mainstream Linux distribution (RedHat, etc...) then run WINE (Wine Is Not an Emulator) to run Windows in a window
:) If windows crashes close the window and restart it. A newer alternative that is comming out is Lindows, a unix distribution
that runs almost all windows software. I read about it on slashdot.
To: Bush2000
You guys can't even make the mental leap from fear to hate.
Well, B2K, a true geek (read: true technology enthusiast) is most certainly not a shill.
35 posted on 06/14/2002 7:28:08 PM PDT by rdb3
To: amigatec
Payback for the World Cup match with Korea???
36 posted on 06/14/2002 7:31:28 PM PDT by texson66
To: Bush2000
Linux and Mac and Solaris are just as buggy as Windows.
Well!
If that's the case, Linux must be ahead of the curve (using your logic, of course) since it started in the early '90s.
When the MS start? When did Apple begin? Solaris (Sun)?
Again, if "Linux and Mac and Solaris are just as buggy as Windows," Linux wins. The way you frame
it, there shouldn't even be a comparison!
37 posted on 06/14/2002 7:35:00 PM PDT by rdb3
To: dheretic
The article references statistics posted on www.securityfocus.com. And nobody is calling them a shill for MS,
either. Don't believe the article: Check out the numbers yourself.
38 posted on 06/14/2002 7:37:03 PM PDT by Bush2000
To: dheretic
Add Microsoft's XBox division to that as well. The XBox hacks can very well spell real trouble for Microsoft.
If I buy a XBox and turn it into a DivX player they just lost $100.
I don't think you quite know what's involved
to hack an XBox, dude. You have to remove the case and unsolder/solder components on the motherboard to get it to work. If
you think that's a mainstream job for just about any user, you're kidding yourself. It's strictly a geek hobby thing.
39 posted on 06/14/2002 7:39:41 PM PDT by Bush2000
To: dheretic
No..... that is bad quality control. Distributing bad software is not too bad. Every company does it from
time to time. Distributing a virus when you're as big as Microsoft is not acceptable. They aren't some small shareware developer,
they are one of the richest companies in the world.
I agree that it is unacceptable. But you will have to admit:
It didn't affect anyone; therefore, the practical damage is zero. You're crying over milk that was never spilled.
40 posted on 06/14/2002 7:41:03 PM PDT by Bush2000
To: magellan
I would suggest that Windows itself is a computer virus plague.
To: Bush2000
Have you ever tried Adobe Acrobat?
Yes. At work we use Adobe Acrobat for many uploads.
Even so, most of the back-and-forth is in Microsoft (tm) Word (TM) format.
The emails fly hither and thither, but the ruling factor is that eveyone is using Microsoft (tm) Word, or Microsoft (tm)
PowerPoint, or Microsoft (tm) Excel.
The basic problem is that we have no alternative for file compatibility.
I would not mind the cruddy Microsoft (tm) software so much if there was an alternative.
That alternative would be software that did what one told it to do, nothing more, and 100% file compatibility with Microsoft
(tm).
Microsoft (tm) is very much like the 100,000 pound gorilla, you can't ignore it.
I am not one of those liberal loosers who object to Bill getting rich. I only hope that someday I will come up with an
even better idea that will make me even richer than he.
I do object to bug filled software that does everything except what I want it to do.
42 posted on 06/14/2002 8:16:19 PM PDT by LibKill
To: Bush2000, all
Standard MS defense tactic #42: Peasants with Pitchforks'
When faced with an embarrasing situation for The Company, the sales agent should rely upon the 'peasants with pitchforks'
technique. Get out the 'torches' and burn the thread to the ground. Insult, attack people and generally make the thread too
hot for the MS "bashers".
Goal: MS critics generally dislike 'flame wars' and will abandon the thread, thereby stopping the criticism of MS in the
public forum.
To: LibKill
Here you go...
Knock yourself out. One less complainer is worth the loss in revenue to Microsoft.
Software602 PC Suite
To: Dominic Harr
Kill 'em all! Let Bill sort them out!
To: amigatec
Man, that has just GOT to be embarassing! Who reviewed the RTM???
To: Bush2000
How can you be so unconcerned by such a lack of quality control. It's not a bug, it's a friggin virus, man!
47 posted on 06/14/2002 8:49:27 PM PDT by dheretic
To: dheretic
How can you be so unconcerned by such a lack of quality control. It's not a bug, it's a friggin virus, man!
You're
not listening. I *am* concerned by the lack of quality control. I'm not excusing the fundamental issues; however, I am suggesting
that some of this feigned outrage is a little bit over the top considering that this problem never affected a single user.
48 posted on 06/15/2002 12:55:33 AM PDT by Bush2000
To: Bush2000
The trouble is that it revealed a stupified security methodology. It was plain dumb luck that it happened in
an environment which was not friendly to the worm. In some other environment -- such as a distribution of a service pack of
Windows -- where a user poking around could invoke the worm, it would be a disaster.
49 posted on 06/15/2002 1:24:22 AM PDT by drlevy88
To: Bush2000
P.S. If they had McAfee'd the whole distribution disk, they would have caught it.
50 posted on 06/15/2002 1:25:11 AM PDT by drlevy88
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E. Pluribus Unum
Since Nov 22, 1998
According to Microsoft, trying to figure out what makes their software crash is a crime.
17 posted on 11/11/2004 4:20:17 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Drug prohibition laws help fund terrorism.)
Knitebane
Since Oct 23, 1998
Sorry, but in my current business Those other mispelled and unheard of software packages, (that
I am sure also have bugs) will not handle my aps.
Really?
What apps are those?
I can run Micrsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, Outlook and Internet Explorer. I can run QuickBooks.
I can run Photoshop for Windows. I can run VB-created apps.
And I only use Linux.
If you've had a transition expert come in and he's determined that your apps will not run under Linux,
then fine.
Otherwise you are speaking of things of which you have no knowledge.
18 posted on 11/11/2004 4:26:31 PM PST by Knitebane
Skip to comments.
Microsoft complains about 'irresponsible' security revelation (Redmond Whine Alert)
ZDnet UK ^ | 11/10/2004 | Dan Ilett
Posted on 11/11/2004 2:30:02 PM PST by Prime Choice
Microsoft is admonishing those who found the IFRAME vulnerability - the flaw exploited by the bofra
virus - for the way they made it public.
Microsoft has slammed the people responsible for publishing details of the vulnerability that has lead
to the creation of the bofra virus.
The software giant, which has yet to release a patch for the flaw, said that the vulnerability was
not reported in a responsible fashion.
In a prepared email statement from a Microsoft spokesperson, the company said: "Microsoft is concerned
that this new report of a vulnerability in Internet Explorer was not disclosed responsibly, potentially putting computer users
at risk. We continue to encourage responsible disclosure of vulnerabilities. "
"We believe the commonly accepted practice of reporting vulnerabilities directly to a vendor serves
everyone's best interests, by helping to ensure that customers receive comprehensive, high-quality updates for security vulnerabilities
with no exposure to malicious attackers while the patch is being developed."
The bofra virus, which antivirus companies initially believed to be a MyDoom variant, emerged on Monday
after the vulnerability it was based on was published last week on a Web chat forum.
On Friday security firm Secunia issued an advisory on the vulnerability, saying that the flaw was 'extremely
critical'. Chief technology officer for the company Thomas Kristensen said that 'Ned', the individual who initially found
the bug, stumbled across it when testing browsers when using a publicly available tool. The tool crashed IE, so he posted
a question on an Internet forum asking others to look at why the program had failed. With some additional research from others
in the community, it came to light that the IFRAME flaw was causing the crash.
"Microsoft is right that those who disclose this kind of thing are irresponsible," said Kristensen.
"But in this case, it's slightly different because he [Ned] published the first part and they [the other researchers] published
the second part. And he didn't do it -- it was done with a tool. If you find a crash in a browser, you might not know if it's
serious or not. He might not have been able to test that."
The bofra virus sends out hundreds of emails from an infected machine. The reader on the target machine
follows a link sent in the email, which leads to a Web site hosted on the original infected PC. The IE exploit on that Web
site turns the computer into another infected machine, and the cycle starts again. All version of the worm also open a back
door to the infected computers.
Microsoft has yet to release a patch for the IE vulnerability, but advised users to upgrade to Windows
XP SP2, which is apparently unaffected by the flaw.
TOPICS: News/Current EventsKEYWORDS: CRAPWARE; MICROSOFT; TROJANS; VIRUSES; WORMS
Microsoft pulled this same idiotic crap when the vulnerability behind Code Red was discovered
in 2001. My suggestion to the shills in (and for) Redmond is that they shut up and fix their shoddy software.
And let's not forget Steve Ballmer's moronic statement on how security issues should be handled...
To: Prime Choice
I tend to agree with MS on this. Others in the business that find flaws in someone's software shouldn't
make it public for the very reasons stated. It is sad to hear a bunch of whiners that can't do the great things that MS has
done.
2 posted on 11/11/2004 2:32:50 PM PST by stockpirate (Tagline is hung over from the election parties.)
To: Prime Choice
If Microsoft put a bounty on each security flaw found, and made it a substantial sum, Windoze would
soon be hackproof.
3 posted on 11/11/2004 2:32:52 PM PST by Yo-Yo
To: Prime Choice
Sorry, but Microsoft has a point. Simply releasing info about a security breach before a fix has been
found is irresponsible. There ought to be a "decent interval" between the discovery of the breach and its public revelation.
I think a month is about right. The discoverer should first notify the software maker, then promise to hold off for at least
a month before announcing the problem. This strikes me as a reasonable compromise that protects the public's right to know
about the problem, but also minimizes the risk that the problem will be exploited by some scummy computer vandal.
4 posted on 11/11/2004 2:34:41 PM PST by ArcLight
To: stockpirate
So let me make sure I got this right:
1. Microsoft makes shoddy software, putting consumers at risk.
2. Independent group spanks Microsoft
for doing things as enumerated in #1.
3. And the members of the independent group are the "bad guys."
Maybe that's the way it is in the old Soviet Union. Here in the U.S., it's called free market capitalism.
If Microsoft can't manage its own malware, it should get out of the business.
5 posted on 11/11/2004 2:35:59 PM PST by Prime Choice (Hey-hey! Ho-ho! Arlen Specter's gotta go!)
To: ArcLight
6 posted on 11/11/2004 2:36:26 PM PST by Prime Choice (Hey-hey! Ho-ho! Arlen Specter's gotta go!)
To: ArcLight
I agree with you.
On the flipside though, couple of years ago I think, did not some third party announce a flaw and state
that they tried to tell MS about it but were being ignored?
Keep in mind that this is coming from a user that has spent at least 4 hours so far - holiday time
- cleaning up my kids computer.
Oh, the irony!
LVM
7 posted on 11/11/2004 2:45:21 PM PST by LasVegasMac ("5 times ain't sh!t - My Daddy won here 10 times" DEjr)
To: ArcLight
"There ought to be a "decent interval" between the discovery of the breach and its public revelation."
Go back and read the story. You have your facts all wrong.
A tool found the crash and the guy asked for help in
determining why. Someone else found th actual problem. It was a colaborative discovery. Neither person alone found or published
the exploit. It was readily replicatable every time you pointed this tool at a microsoft browser.
Microsoft STILL
has not published a fix.
Had this been Nozilla, or Opera, or Konqueror browser the fix would be in WIDE distribrution
already.
8 posted on 11/11/2004 2:49:48 PM PST by konaice
To: LasVegasMac
"On the flipside though, couple of years ago I think, did not some third party announce a flaw and
state that they tried to tell MS about it but were being ignored?"
Billy G has promised that's not going to happen
anymore.
They STILL take way too long to get a fix out.
The problem with MS software, is even if I find a problem
I can't fix it or even research it's cause, because there is no access to the source code. Its like buying a car with the
Engine compartment welded shut. Might look like a fuel problem, but could be a gummed up carborator, but there is nothing
I can do but call the factory and wait for them to fix it.
9 posted on 11/11/2004 2:54:11 PM PST by konaice
To: Prime Choice
I guess we should all switch to Linex?
MS code is very robust, and of course has some problems,
(as all software does) but in the interests of us slubs that have to use it, others should not publish the flaws, (so AssH*les
can abuse us) but instead let MS know so it can be corrected.
10 posted on 11/11/2004 2:57:57 PM PST by stockpirate (Tagline is hung over from the election parties.)
To: konaice
"There ought to be a "decent interval" between the discovery of the breach and its public
revelation."
Yeah, that will give the people who actually know about it time do their exploits undisturbed.
11 posted on 11/11/2004 3:05:59 PM PST by glorgau
To: konaice
Good point. Still, the people working on the problem would have done better to carry on their discussion
on a private e-mail list rather than in public. In all fairness, many private bug hunters would not think to do this. But
it's the right way to investigate a security problem.
12 posted on 11/11/2004 3:07:29 PM PST by ArcLight
To: stockpirate
"I guess we should all switch to Linex? "
Its LunUx not linex, and you might try it some time,
you will be astounded. Go buy Novel's SuSE 9.2 personal edition for $30. It will knock you socks off with how easy it installs,
and how much ROCK SOLID software in includes for the price.
13 posted on 11/11/2004 3:10:21 PM PST by konaice
To: konaice
Sorry, but in my current business Those other mispelled and unheard of software packages, (that I am
sure also have bugs) will not handle my aps.
14 posted on 11/11/2004 3:13:12 PM PST by stockpirate (Tagline is hung over from the election parties.)
To: Prime Choice
"We believe the commonly accepted practice of reporting vulnerabilities directly to a
vendor serves everyone's best interests, by helping to ensure that customers receive comprehensive, high-quality updates
for security vulnerabilities with no exposure to malicious attackers while the patch is being developed."the vendors
best intrests in COVERING UP the flaw so they can keep selling the crap.
15 posted on 11/11/2004 3:16:19 PM PST by ChefKeith (Life is GREAT with CoCo..........NASCAR...everything else is just a game!(Except War & Love))
To: Prime Choice
Microsoft's assumptions are:
- A vulnerability that is not announced is not being exploited.
- Their users are helpless until a patch is released.
Nonsense.
- Never assume that a vulnerability that is not announced is not being exploited.
- Users can render themselves protected by switching to another browser or by using IE with extra caution.
These are a reasonable options and I have a right to know that I need them without delay.
To: Prime Choice
According to Microsoft, trying to figure out what makes their software crash is a crime.
17 posted on 11/11/2004 4:20:17 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Drug prohibition laws help fund terrorism.)
To: stockpirate
Sorry, but in my current business Those other mispelled and unheard of software packages,
(that I am sure also have bugs) will not handle my aps.
Really?
What apps are those?
I can run Micrsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, Outlook and Internet Explorer. I can run QuickBooks.
I can run Photoshop for Windows. I can run VB-created apps.
And I only use Linux.
If you've had a transition expert come in and he's determined that your apps will not run under Linux,
then fine.
Otherwise you are speaking of things of which you have no knowledge.
To: stockpirate
MS code is very robust, and of course has some problems
And with all the money they make, you'd think they could afford a decent security audit of their crapware.
19 posted on 11/11/2004 4:31:48 PM PST by Prime Choice (Hey-hey! Ho-ho! Arlen Specter's gotta go!)
To: konaice
stockpirate: It is sad to hear a bunch of whiners that can't do the great
things that MS has done.
koniace: The problem with MS software, is even if I find a problem I can't fix it or
even research it's cause, because there is no access to the source code.
----------------------
"great things" ... Yeah, riiiight...
The only great thing about Microsoft is the arrogance of their marketing people -- and the gullibility
of the sheeple who buy into their bu||$#!t...
20 posted on 11/11/2004 4:34:26 PM PST by TXnMA (Still glad to be back home in God's Country!!!)
To: Knitebane
I be software engineer. I be having worked for big international software company, I had been subject
matter expert. I be able to read and write.
My very simple DSL internet connection does not use junkware.
21 posted on 11/11/2004 4:44:51 PM PST by stockpirate (Tagline is hung over from the election parties.)
To: Prime Choice
Now we are at the heart of the problem, "all the money they make," nothing else needs to be said.
22 posted on 11/11/2004 4:46:13 PM PST by stockpirate (Tagline is hung over from the election parties.)
To: stockpirate
I be security engineer. I be having worked for big telecom provider. I had been Open Source
software transition engineer. I been responsible for successfully migrating a dozen small and medium business off of legacy
Microsoft software and onto Linux/FreeBSD/OpenBSD. I be able to read and write too. /end illiterate speak
Indeed, if what you've posted is an example of how well you read and write, I'd bet that I can read
and write much better than you can.
My extremely complicated DSL-connected hosting service and connected lab network uses OpenBSD on security
devices (firewall, intrusion detection, etc.) FreeBSD on servers and Linux on desktops (and some other miscellaneous machines)
I have one copy of Windows, Windows 98. It runs on a stand-alone, non-networked machine. I use it for
games.
After having been paid to clean and advise on the cleaning of hundreds of Windows machines, I won't
allow shoddy Microsoft operating systems on my network.
If you think that Open Source software is junkware, perhaps you've been living under a rock for the
past five years or so.
Oracle works on Linux, Google runs on Linux, Free Repbulic runs on Linux and uses Perl.
Many of the current DSL routers on the market run Linux. So do many of the top-listed supercomputers.
Linux is in data centers, on hundreds of thousands of desktops, in huge render farms, database clusters
and on web servers.
So you can call it junkware if you want, but you'd be wrong.
To: Knitebane
Right on Knitebane. Don't forget to mention that Linux is virtully virus immune and when there is a
flaw Novel, or whoevers version it is, fixes it quickly. As far as browsers go, I use netscape and save a lot of problems
for myself when it comes to spyware and viruses. Just my 2cents...
24 posted on 11/11/2004 5:25:25 PM PST by calex59
To: stockpirate
I think this is a browser issue. Firefox works for me.
25 posted on 11/11/2004 5:26:07 PM PST by Abcdefg
To: stockpirate
It is sad to hear a bunch of whiners that can't do the great things that MS has done.
Let's be specific, shall we?
Care to give us a list of the "great things" that Microsoft has done?
To: calex59
To be entirely fair, Linux isn't at all immune to viruses.
Linux, due to the way it is designed is very difficult to infect with a virus when it is operated normally.
If you do a dumb thing like log in as root all the time, then virus infection is quite possible.
But note the difference. Under Linux you have to go out of your way to become vulnerable to viruses.
Under Windows, you just have to use it normally.
Bug fixes don't come from a company like Novell. They come from the hundreds and thousands of people
who use Linux. They can do this because they have the source code.
Netscape is a decent choice for a browser. (actually, once you get away from the buggy and unsecure
Internet Explorer using a browser is generally reduced to a matter of taste.)
I've tried Opera and it's ok. I've tried Galeon and Netscape and even though both of them are based
on Mozilla, I keep coming back to Firefox, although I also have Konqueror handy to replicate the kinds of functions that IE
handles on Windows (file management, multimedia, etc.)
To: Knitebane
Sorry, just having a bit of fun. All of the different software packages are very good.
My DSL
provider is Verizon, in my area it works with Windows.
MicroSoft makes a very good product, as do the others, I am
tired of whiners complaining about MS, when their beef is they can't do what MS has done.
28 posted on 11/11/2004 5:47:36 PM PST by stockpirate (Tagline is hung over from the election parties.)
To: Knitebane
29 posted on 11/11/2004 5:52:58 PM PST by stockpirate (Tagline is hung over from the election parties.)
To: stockpirate
MicroSoft makes a very good product, as do the others, I am tired of whiners complaining
about MS, when their beef is they can't do what MS has done.
At the risk of repeating myself...
What has MS done?
And I happen to disagree with you about Microsoft making a "very good" product. Most of their products
are horribly buggy, tremendously overpriced and nightmares to maintain.
To: stockpirate
To: Knitebane
32 posted on 11/11/2004 5:58:22 PM PST by stockpirate (Tagline is hung over from the election parties.)
To: Knitebane
Hired the most people.
Installed on the most computers.
Used by the most people.
Bought
out the most small companies.
33 posted on 11/11/2004 6:01:36 PM PST by stockpirate (Tagline is hung over from the election parties.)
To: stockpirate
And Al Capone used to be the richest man in Chicago.
So what?
To: stockpirate
Hired the most people.
Nope. Microsoft isn't even the largest employer in Redmond, WA. That's Boeing. And if you only count
software companies in Redmond, they still come in second. Behind Nintendo.
Installed on the most computers.
Through marketing practices such as dumping and per-cpu licenses...something that most decent people
discount as dishonest at best and criminal at worst.
Bought out the most small companies.
I'm pretty sure that IBM has Microsoft beat in that category. But if you want to talk about the companies
that Microsoft drove into bankrupcy and then bought them, you'd probably be right.
To: Knitebane
Comparing Al Capone to Bill Gates is stupid. John Kerry once visited Texas, does that make him like
GWB?
36 posted on 11/11/2004 6:08:59 PM PST by stockpirate (Tagline is hung over from the election parties.)
To: stockpirate
Comparing Al Capone to Bill Gates is stupid.
Your opinion.
And like most of your opinions on this thread, wrong.
To: Knitebane
It is called business. I understand that a lot of techies are anti-MS. But they need to stop whining
about it to everyone, no one cares except a small group of techies.
MS has done a large amount of good inthis country,
created many jobs, and I am sure the list could go on. But I tire of hearing from people that think MS is an evil big company.
38 posted on 11/11/2004 6:12:54 PM PST by stockpirate (Tagline is hung over from the election parties.)
To: Knitebane
Just because you claim my opinions are wrong doesn't make them so.
However, most would agree
that Bill Gates and big Al are not two of the same type of businessmen.
Most who are anti-MS are those who do not
have the ability to do the same in the business world or any other world for that matter as MS and Bill Gates have done.
39 posted on 11/11/2004 6:17:58 PM PST by stockpirate (Tagline is hung over from the election parties.)
To: stockpirate
It is called business.
So is prostitution, running an abortion clinic or selling crack on the street corner.
Just because it's "business" isn't an excuse for immoral or unethical practices and Microsoft has had
more than it's share of those kinds of problems.
MS has done a large amount of good inthis country, created many jobs, and I am sure the list could
go on.
And Al Capone opened a lot of soup kitchens and bread lines in Chicago during the Great Depression.
Again, it doesn't excuse bad behavior.
But I tire of hearing from people that think MS is an evil big company.
And I tire of people defending Microsoft's unethical business practices by tossing out some notion
that they've done some good things too.
To: stockpirate
Just because you claim my opinions are wrong doesn't make them so.
No, reality makes them so.
However, most would agree that Bill Gates and big Al are not two of the same type of businessmen.
Only the uninformed. Did you know that Bill Gates personally gave $100 million dollars to an organization
that forcibly sterilizes people and forces abortions on women?
Evil enough for you yet?
Most who are anti-MS are those who do not have the ability complete lack of ethical
values to do the same in the business world or any other world for that matter as MS and Bill Gates have done.
There, fixed it for ya.
To: Yo-Yo
That is sure a good idea......too bad MS won't be reading this.
42 posted on 11/11/2004 6:37:04 PM PST by pointsal
To: stockpirate
And MS did it first.
Let's see...UNIX was created in the 1960s. Microsoft came into existence in the 1980s.
What, precisely, are you claiming Microsoft did first? Hell, even the Windows GUI is nothing but a
cheap knock-off of the Macintosh interface.
43 posted on 11/11/2004 7:59:07 PM PST by Prime Choice (Hey-hey! Ho-ho! Arlen Specter's gotta go!)
To: Knitebane
Bill Gates personally gave $100 million dollars to an organization that forcibly sterilizes
people and forces abortions on women?
Just curious, what organization? Not that I don't believe ya, but we the
rest of us will sure look dumb if we tell that to coworkers and they ask us the same question ;-)
-paridel
44 posted on 11/12/2004 11:40:53 AM PST by Paridel
To: Paridel
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters
and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected
by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright
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Redcloak
Since Aug 19, 1998
Skip to comments.
Microsoft warns of 22 new security flaws
CNET via ZDNet.com ^ | October 12, 2004, 12:28 PM PT | Robert Lemos
Posted on 10/12/2004 2:45:09 PM PDT by Redcloak
Microsoft on Tuesday published 10 software security advisories, warning Windows users and corporate administrators of 22
new flaws that affect the company's products.
The advisories, and patches published with the bulletins, range from an "important" flaw affecting only Microsoft Windows
NT Server to a collection of eight security holes, including three rated "critical," that leave Internet Explorer open to
attack. Microsoft's highest severity rating for software flaws is its "critical" ranking, while "important" is considered
slightly less severe.
One flaw, in Microsoft Excel, even affects Apple Computer's Mac OS X.
The abundance of flaws could leave corporate PCs vulnerable to attack if administrators are not able to patch quickly.
A similar situation occurred in April, when Microsoft published seven advisories detailing 20 flaws. While one security hole
stood out among those 20--and led to the widespread Sasser worm--there are no standouts in the current gaggle of goofs.
"Our challenge is trying to guess what the criminals are going to attack," said Stephen Toulouse, security program manager
for Microsoft's security response team. "The guidance we are giving in general is to treat the critical ones first."
A single computer would not be vulnerable to all the flaws, Toulouse added.
Oliver Friedrichs, senior director of Symantec's security response center, said three vulnerabilities could lead to a Sasser-like
worm, but the danger is lessened by the fact that the vulnerable services are not started by default on most versions of Windows.
These flaws are related to three network protocols that are not generally activated on Windows computers: Simple Mail Transfer
Protocol (SMTP), Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP), and Network Dynamic Data Exchange (NetDDE)
(Excerpt) Read more at news.zdnet.com ...
TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; Technical
KEYWORDS: EXPLOIT; GETAMAC; HACKING; INTERNETEXPLOITER; LOOKOUTEXPRESS; LOWQUALITYCRAP; MICROSOFT; MSFT; PATCH; SECURITYFLAW; TROJAN; VIRUS; VIRUSES; WINDOWS; WORM; WORMS
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-50, 51-59 next last
OK everyone... Let's all sing along: Happy, happy, joy, joy, Happy, happy, joy, joy, Happy, happy,
joy, joy, joy, joy, joy
Happy, happy, joy, joy
Happy, happy, joy, joy
Happy, happy, joy, joy, joy, joy, joy
1 posted on 10/12/2004 2:45:09 PM PDT by Redcloak
To: Redcloak
Just think of this as the Systems Administrators' Job Security Agreement: Buy Microsoft and you'll always
have a job!
2 posted on 10/12/2004 2:47:09 PM PDT by bcoffey (Bush/Cheney: Real men taking charge, talking straight, telling the truth.)
To: Redcloak
Wow, wish I could figure out how to become a gazillionaire by producing a product that hasn't worked for 7 or 8 years.
Everytime MS fixes one security issue another two pop up....but the bucks keep rolling in....what a great business!!!
To: Redcloak
I just downloaded and installed service pack II the other day. Damn thing messed up my mp3's (the one's I actually PAID
FOR) to where they won't play on winamp or their stupid player.
This crap is getting old.
4 posted on 10/12/2004 2:48:14 PM PDT by FlJoePa (Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good.)
To: FlJoePa; Americanwolf
My suggestion to you (not trying to sound elitest) is try an Apple. I've had 2 years of no problem computing since moving
to Apple.
5 posted on 10/12/2004 2:50:58 PM PDT by Americanwolfsbrother (Democrat: Noun; meaning: silly gullible person (The new Freep Dictionary)
To: FlJoePa
A friend of ours had to uninstall SP2 because her bank's online services wouldn't work with it. The uninstall then left
a mess on her computer; including turning the messenger service back on so she, and her children, could enjoy all of that
wonderful, pornographic messenger spam they'd been missing.
6 posted on 10/12/2004 2:52:25 PM PDT by Redcloak (Vikings plundered my last tag line.)
To: Redcloak
I patched my machines. It took under a minute. No problem.
Thanks, Microsoft!
7 posted on 10/12/2004 2:53:35 PM PDT by Poser (Joining Belly Girl in the Pajamahadin)
To: Redcloak
Which is why I have not loaded SP2. Mostly quit on IE. Firefox from mozilla works great - loads a bit faster that IE. Got
me firewall at whatnot
8 posted on 10/12/2004 2:54:31 PM PDT by don-o (Stop Freeploading. Do the right thing and become a Monthly Donor.)
To: Redcloak
If builders built buildings the way that Microsoft wrote programs, the first wood pecker that came along would
destroy civilization.
I HATE windows. Unix is far superior.
9 posted on 10/12/2004 2:55:16 PM PDT by appalachian_dweller (Threat Level: HIGH -- For a basic list of survival gear go to my FR Homepage.)
To: FlJoePa
Who needs hackers with Microsoft providing the same service?
I was also victimized by the sevice pack II. It
took a week of running in safe mode and an XP reinstallation but I think I have it straightened out. I ended up uninstalling
the service pack. I'll trust my own virus protection and firewall till microsoft gets thier crap fixed.
10 posted on 10/12/2004 2:55:41 PM PDT by cripplecreek (The economy won't matter if you're dead.)
To: Redcloak
There are plenty of non-Microsoft products listed here.
Funny that announcements of their security vulnerabilities aren't celebrated...
11 posted on 10/12/2004 2:57:44 PM PDT by Chemist_Geek ("Drill, R&D, and conserve" should be our watchwords! Energy independence for America!)
To: Poser
Same here. I've updated at least 10 separate machines with SP2 and all of the fixes since then, along with all my relatives
updating theirs, and I've not seen one problem.
It doesn't matter who makes it all software requires updates.
12 posted on 10/12/2004 2:59:00 PM PDT by mle_ii
To: Redcloak
Oh good grief. I'm so tired of all these bleepin' patches. Why oh why doesn't MS create a decent product? And please, don't
start with the "Mac" etc. stuff. I have to use MS because of software I use, which only runs on MS.
13 posted on 10/12/2004 3:05:47 PM PDT by MizSterious (First, the journalists, THEN the lawyers. :: Kerry promises, but Bush delivers!)
To: Chemist_Geek
There are plenty of non-Microsoft products listed here.
Funny that announcements of their security vulnerabilities aren't celebrated...
Not really. Once you get a reputation for having buggy, non-secure software, it takes a long time to overcome that.
Microsoft's reputation is well deserved. They will have to write very good software for years to overcome it.
14 posted on 10/12/2004 3:12:24 PM PDT by ProudGOP
To: Redcloak
Someone remind me what year Safe Computing is supposed to be here. I know it's supposed to happen sometime, because Bill
Gates himself told us about it. I can hardly wait.
To: cripplecreek
Nearly every machine I have seen with a problem with SP2 turned out to be infested with adware/spyware from people surfing
where they don't belong. Here is the patch MS created to get you past TVMedia which is a very annoying adware/spyware program.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?amp;displaylang=en.&familyid=65875203-CF1B-4D32-8F32-E00D004659F6&displaylang=en
After SP2 upgrades, I have seen that users machines are remaining clean of these adware programs and are not being
overrun by adware/spyware/popups/trojans anymore.
I have tried Firefox for about a year now and it eventually locks
up to where i have to kill it two or three times a day.
Tried Linux but there are no spreadsheet programs that will
do the complex accounting I need and won't work with our ERP software.
Have a few Apples scattered about but the users
usually wind up using Remote Desktop Client to connect to out Terminal Services Server to use Outlook for our office calendaring,
scheduling, and shared contacts.
What works well for one may not meet the demands of your employer. Most people I
help are not competent to use any PC regardless of OS.
16 posted on 10/12/2004 3:17:26 PM PDT by UseYourHead (This November, remember who the terrorists are voting for.)
To: MizSterious
"Why oh why doesn't MS create a decent product?"
Microsoft makes great products. Even with every hacker in the
world trying to destroy them, they continue to excell.
I've been running Microsoft products on hundreds of computers
for 22 years. The combination of features, price, software and security is far better than anything else on the market.
I
make automatic backups of my sytems daily, but have never needed to restore anything because of security or software failures.
There is one thing I do that I find useful. I set my updates to manual. I have Windows notify me but I do the downloading
and installation. It seems to work better than automatic updates. I'm not sure why, but I seem to have no problems when others
complain.
17 posted on 10/12/2004 3:20:05 PM PDT by Poser (Joining Belly Girl in the Pajamahadin)
To: rdb3
18 posted on 10/12/2004 3:20:17 PM PDT by sionnsar (Cbs: Tune in. Turn on. Ignore doubt | Iran Azadi | Traditional Anglicans: trad-anglican.faithweb.com)
To: Americanwolfsbrother
One flaw, in Microsoft Excel, even affects Apple Computer's Mac OS X.
19 posted on 10/12/2004 3:21:24 PM PDT by sionnsar (Cbs: Tune in. Turn on. Ignore doubt | Iran Azadi | Traditional Anglicans: trad-anglican.faithweb.com)
To: ProudGOP
Not really. Once you get a reputation for having buggy, non-secure software, it takes a long time to overcome
that.
Common sense tells you that MS products are attacked more than others because they are the dominant applications. The more
dominant, the more hackers are interested in breaking it.
If Mack's were as dominant we would be talking about them.
I refuse to use a Betamax when VCR's are the norm. The same goes with operating systems and anything else.
MS will never be spared attacks as long as they are on top. It goes with the territory, and it is everyones responsibility
to prevent them, not just MS.
20 posted on 10/12/2004 3:21:48 PM PDT by Cold Heat (http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/staticpages/index.php?page=20040531140357545)
To: Poser
I have one currently unsolvable problem with my laptop ans SP-2.
I have an AMD processor, (apparently 64bit) that will not run SP-2. The computer refuses to boot.
I fully updated SP-1 and installed ZA for a firewall. It seems to be doing the job.
21 posted on 10/12/2004 3:26:37 PM PDT by Cold Heat (http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/staticpages/index.php?page=20040531140357545)
To: Cold Heat
22 posted on 10/12/2004 3:41:49 PM PDT by Truth666
To: Cold Heat
Common sense tells you that MS products are attacked more than others because they are the dominant applications.
That's partially true. The other piece to that is that hackers will attack systems that give them a good chance to defeat.
For example, last I knew, the majority of Web Servers on the Internet run Linux and Apache. However, most of the attacks
we hear about are on systems running Micrsoft IIS. Common sense will tell you that the reason for that is because IIS
is easier to circumvent.
I work as a developer. It is important for my software company to gain the trust of the users of our product. If we have
a buggy release, this negatively impacts the trust in our software the users have. Once this happens, even if we fix all of
the bugs, users will tend to believe there is a problem with our software whenever they encounter a result they didn't expect.
It takes a long time before they start believing in the software again.
It is no different for Microsoft. They have the reputation of being buggy and not secure. They will have to work very hard
to overcome this image.
23 posted on 10/12/2004 3:47:40 PM PDT by ProudGOP
To: Cold Heat
Common sense tells you that MS products are attacked more than others because they are the dominant applications.
Actually, common sense tells you that the more buggy the software the more bugs will be found. Anything else is wishful
thinking.
While the theory that the more popular a piece of software is the more it will be exploited is often put forward but has
been regularly and thoroughly debunked.
Apache is the most popular web server, yet it is exploited less than Microsoft's Internet Information Server.
Sendmail is the most popular mail server, yet it is exploited less than Microsoft's Exchange Server.
Microsoft software is exploited more because it has more bugs.
To: Redcloak
I installed SP-2 on 4 machines; no problems. Sounds like you had *prior internal* problems, R.
25 posted on 10/12/2004 3:51:04 PM PDT by 7.62 x 51mm (• veni • vidi • vino • visa • "I came, I saw, I drank wine, I shopped")
To: Redcloak
One flaw, in Microsoft Excel, even affects Apple Computer's Mac OS X.
Umm... NO. The flaw affects Microsoft Excel for Mac OS X.
26 posted on 10/12/2004 4:19:10 PM PDT by newzjunkey (Why are we in Iraq? Just point the whiners here: http://www.massgraves.info)
To: Poser
With an attitude like that we might as well welcome our new Democrat masters and accept the Mark of the Beast
right now.
Always the imitator and charlatan, Microsoft, like rabid abortion-proponent Gates, is allied with evil and produces shoddy
products, refuses to compete fairly, is nearly as skilled at propaganda as the Democrat Party.
They're morally and ethically barren from how they treat customers, to how they treat partners and innovators, to how they
treat employees.
While their evil acts may have had seemingly positive incidental effects it does not justify the manner in which they've
conducted business. The ends--yes, even all that pretty capital investors have stuffed their pockets with--cannot justify
the means.
The unchallengeable ascension of Microsoft has harmed the industry immeasurably and stunted true innovation.
27 posted on 10/12/2004 4:31:59 PM PDT by newzjunkey (Why are we in Iraq? Just point the whiners here: http://www.massgraves.info)
To: Poser
I've been running Microsoft products on hundreds of computers for 22 years. The combination of features,
price, software and security is far better than anything else on the market.
Yeah - in Haiti.
28 posted on 10/12/2004 5:24:24 PM PDT by HAL9000
To: Redcloak
Most corporations -- mine included -- will not allow installation of WinXP's Service Pack 2; it causes more problems than
it fixes. All of the others are OK.
29 posted on 10/12/2004 5:26:47 PM PDT by brityank (The more I learn about the Constitution, the more I realise this Government is UNconstitutional.)
To: Knitebane
Fortunately,I do not have a clue about servers, nor do I need to.
My comment dealt with the home PC.
Everything done by hackers is to data manipulate or take over home PCs. Networks are usually well protected by excellent
firewalls, but the PC hooked to it is the weakness. Get into it and plant a bot to allow access to the network and all is
lost. It does not matter what kind of server you might have if the door is open.
They are then used to attack servers.(as in a DOS)
As I see it, it is the PC they are after, and MS owns that market in operating systems, applications and the like world
wide. Why the hell bother attacking Macs.
BTW, most of the error messages that I get are Apache generated. That is the only reason I even know the name.
30 posted on 10/12/2004 6:29:59 PM PDT by Cold Heat (http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/staticpages/index.php?page=20040531140357545)
To: Cold Heat
I have an AMD processor, (apparently 64bit) that will not run SP-2. The computer refuses to boot.
Really? You running with Win32 or Win64? Can't imagine it would even attempt to install on Win64.
To: VeniVidiVici
It will load, and run in safemode, but it will not full boot.
I suspect it has something to do with SP-2s new security that identifies certain script operations.
The 64bit AMD uses these to process or something.
I have tried some workarounds to turn that portion of SP-2 off, but I have had no success.
They apparently know about it, but there are no solid fixes that I can use effectively.
I have quit trying, as I believe I can handle security in other ways without SP-2. The repeated restore sys. and deletions
screw up the drive and the op system.
32 posted on 10/12/2004 6:54:13 PM PDT by Cold Heat (http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/staticpages/index.php?page=20040531140357545)
To: Cold Heat
Hmm. I have a couple AMD64s at work. I'll have to give this a shot tomorrow and see what they do. I know at least one is
running Win32, but I may have W2K3 on there instead of XP.
To: VeniVidiVici
TheI missed part of your question:
I have the standard 32 program,(XP home)but the AMD processor has to run it in 64 so it does something with code to run
it.
The SP-2 sees this as malicious code and refuses so the system fails with about 6 different codes on the beginning of bootup.
I would guess they won't share their code with MS or vice versa and all the suggested workarounds seem to fail to load.
The Sys Ini file won't accept the language.
DUH! That is why I gave up. The whole thing rots my brain.
34 posted on 10/12/2004 7:04:51 PM PDT by Cold Heat (http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/staticpages/index.php?page=20040531140357545)
To: Redcloak
Real simple security fix. Use two computers. On that goes on line and one that does not (or rarely does if you need to
do banking online).
Browse away on the first computer and then just format the hard drive every month.
The
second computer, well, it is not on line so you don't need to worry about it.
At a company, no computer at an employee
desks should have access to the internet through the company intranet. Instead, set up internet work stations where employees
go to get what they need on the net.
That keeps them focused on getting what they need and getting of the net and
back to work and it keeps the company system secure from the outside. If you have salespeople that need to access the company
data base, simply upload and update to a system not connected to the intranet.
35 posted on 10/12/2004 7:09:17 PM PDT by BJungNan (Stop Spam - Do NOT buy from junk email.)
To: Cold Heat
To: BJungNan
37 posted on 10/12/2004 7:47:42 PM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
To: Redcloak
Here's my question. I'm still running Win2k SP2 (I'll install my Windows updates when *I* want, Mr. Gates, thank you very
much), and it says that none of these only affect Win2K SP3 and SP4. Does this mean that they're ignoring SP2 or that SP2
is immune?
To: Windcatcher
...rather that they're listed as *only* affecting SP3/4...bah, can't type tonight...
To: VeniVidiVici
Yes, that is the problem I am having, but I do not have the Hollywood drivers. I will dump my other media players
except for Real and Windows media and see if it has any effect.
I had not thought about video drivers for secondary progs.
It faults at the boot initiation, and that is where the vid drivers are likely to be.
The workarounds suggested in the article are the ones I tried to no avail.
It is possible that my monitor or vidcard is doing it. If it is I'm screwed on SP-2. That would be the laptop motherboard.
I will start by disabling the various programs then delete them. If it is the DVD drivers, then Averatec needs to know. They
also factory installed the DVD prgs.
I sent them a list of the error codes and have not heard from them yet.
40 posted on 10/12/2004 7:53:28 PM PDT by Cold Heat (http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/staticpages/index.php?page=20040531140357545)
To: VeniVidiVici
Just an update:
I did a total sys.search and could not find the driver "mpegport" anywhere in the system.
Next I read plenty of Tech material on this and what I discovered,is that it is likely a kernal level problem. It affects
different machines in similar ways, but is not the same cause. Some pentium machines are also affected. I even found one guy
who had the sameprocessor as I do anddid not have a proplem, but the machine config is different. Also, laptops with AMD stepping
processors were most definately hurt by SP-2.
I think I will sit on it for now. There are so many versions of this same problem it is impossible to know the cause of
mine. It may need a flash reprogram of the bios and new drivers for the chips for all I know.
here is a blog link on this situation. Long read!
http://blogs.zdnet.com/index.php?p=406
41 posted on 10/12/2004 9:06:39 PM PDT by Cold Heat (http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/staticpages/index.php?page=20040531140357545)
To: Cold Heat
42 posted on 10/13/2004 9:10:44 AM PDT by UseYourHead (This November, remember who the terrorists are voting for.)
To: UseYourHead
Appreciate the info, but I tried this fix even though my system is acting slightly differently.
I do not use Norton. I hate it with a passion. It is a virus sieve, not a filter, but I digress.
This problem illustrated here is but one of dozens. My system is locking up at the initiation of the boot sequence.It never
even gets close to the login page. It is failing as soon as the processor finishes loading the Bios.
The problem seems to be that the processor drivers need to write something to memory and the SP-2 security is stopping
the process at it's infancy.
It will boot in safe mode with all drivers turned off, and I have not been able to write or erase anything in the sys.ini
or bootlog txt files as some of the fixes suggest. The machine does not recognise the commands. These fixes seem to be concerned
with a driver that I do not have anyway.
It seems the mfgr is clueless as well.
I have already wiped the drive once as a result attempted repairs and I basically lost faith that this can be fixed without
changing the processor drivers.
I posted a link above to a blog on this subject. There are many different problems exibited, with some being fixed and
others not addressed yet.
I think I am in the latter category.
43 posted on 10/13/2004 10:02:05 AM PDT by Cold Heat (http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/staticpages/index.php?page=20040531140357545)
To: Redcloak
current gaggle of goofs BUMP
44 posted on 10/13/2004 11:07:17 AM PDT by LTCJ (CBS, all your Boyd Cycles are belong to us.)
To: Cold Heat
I just built an AMD 64 machine and put SP2 on it with no problems at all.
45 posted on 10/13/2004 11:13:00 AM PDT by js1138 (Speedy architect of perfect labyrinths.)
To: Redcloak
Linux is fun. Try it. You'll like it.
46 posted on 10/13/2004 11:15:35 AM PDT by ezoeni
To: Cold Heat
Fortunately,I do not have a clue about servers,...
Ok
nor do I need to.
Wrong. There is very little difference between Microsoft Windows 2000 Server and Windows XP at the layer where most exploits
occur.
Everything done by hackers is to data manipulate or take over home PCs.
Wrong again. Banks, government agencies and high-visibility businesses are the usual target of attackers. They have the
huge bandwidth and data of interest.
Networks are usually well protected by excellent firewalls, but the PC hooked to it is the weakness.
And more wrongness. Most firewalls are barely adequate, and most firewall rulesets have huge holes. Besides, a firewall
doesn't protect a machine that you allowed access to.
As I see it, it is the PC they are after, and MS owns that market in operating systems, applications and the like world
wide.
And you see it wrong. It's money, fame or private business data they are after. No one cares about your Microsoft Money
data.
BTW, most of the error messages that I get are Apache generated. That is the only reason I even know the name.
BTW, most error messages handed out by web servers are telling you that you did something wrong.
Exploiters attack systems they know they can exploit. Why the hell bother attacking OpenBSD? It's a waste of time.
But attacking a Microsoft machine is likely to get somewhere, so that's where they hit.
Not because it is popular, but because it is possible.
To: newzjunkey
They remind me a lot of the Galactic Empire from the Foundation series...except for that there isn't a Foundation around
to pick up the pieces.
lol, I'm a nerd.
To: js1138
aren't AMD 64's teh pwnz0r?!
I can run Unreal Tournament 2004 on my AMD 64 laptop with EVERYTHING maxed out at
800x600 with no perceptable slowdown, and I only have a 64 bit accelerator card! :)
When you turn everything up, it
goes "Holy S***!" I about fell outta my chair. :)
To: Redcloak
50 posted on 10/13/2004 11:29:53 AM PDT by Fiddlstix (This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))
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Skip to comments.
Microsoft warns of 22 new security flaws
CNET via ZDNet.com ^ | October 12, 2004, 12:28 PM PT | Robert Lemos
Posted on 10/12/2004 2:45:09 PM PDT by Redcloak
click here to read article
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To: js1138
I have a AMD opteron 12 stepper in a laptop.
It is the code for the processor that is causing the system to crash, I believe.I took the liberty of deleting all extraneous
progs and it still crashed.
51 posted on 10/13/2004 1:00:16 PM PDT by Cold Heat (http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/staticpages/index.php?page=20040531140357545)
To: Cold Heat
Could be motherboard drivers.
52 posted on 10/13/2004 1:05:16 PM PDT by js1138 (Speedy architect of perfect labyrinths.)
To: js1138
Possibly.............
Right now, the consensus seems to be that folks with my situation to stay away from SP-2.
Many of the other glitches are being addressed and repaired. The maker of this laptop, "Averatec" and AMD appear to be
clueless right now, because "opteron" servers are also being affected.
I am still waiting for word from the technical people at Averatec, but I am not holding my breath after reading some of
the commentary on this.
If they need to re-write the drivers to accommodate SP-2, I understand why they are not amused.
53 posted on 10/13/2004 1:15:11 PM PDT by Cold Heat (http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/staticpages/index.php?page=20040531140357545)
To: Cold Heat
My daughter has an Averatec laptop. It certainly doesn't have an Operton, and I don't think she's put SP2 on yet.
54 posted on 10/13/2004 1:21:20 PM PDT by js1138 (Speedy architect of perfect labyrinths.)
To: js1138
My Dell blew up during the first debate.
It had been dropped few days earlier, the dog knocked it off the table, and the power connection was damaged but still
functioning.
It erupted in multicolored flames while on my lap! LOL
Anyway, I went to walmart for a emergency replacement, and this was the only thing they had with 5oo+ Megs of memory and
a wireless network card.
Not bad for under a thousand bucks, as the dream Dell I wanted was nearly 2600 bucks.
55 posted on 10/13/2004 2:01:30 PM PDT by Cold Heat (http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/staticpages/index.php?page=20040531140357545)
To: newzjunkey
"With an attitude like that we might as well welcome our new Democrat masters and accept the Mark of the Beast right now."
I'm sorry, but that's so silly that I can't even come up with a sarcastic response.
56 posted on 10/15/2004 7:21:13 PM PDT by Poser (Joining Belly Girl in the Pajamahadin)
To: HAL9000
"Yeah - in Haiti."
Wow, that was a snappy comeback.
If another software maker met the needs of consumers
better than Microsoft, they would own the market. I used to use Visicalc, CP/M, Supercalc, Profile, Word Perfect, DbaseII,
DbaseIII, DbaseIV, Clipper, Foxpro, Calcstar, Wordstar, DRDOS, QDOS, and lots of other programs and operating systems. I've
tried Apple. I gave Linux a 2-year effort.
Microsoft is the best for me (and most others). It has the best mix of
what I need for desktop computing and business software.
This irrational hatred of Microsoft reeks of Democrat-like
hatred of big business. If you don't like Windows, there is nothing stopping you from providing a better operating system.
There are lots and lots of good programmers out there and so far, they have failed to provide that product. When they do,
I will buy it. Until that time, I will correctly note that Microsoft provides the best product mix for me (and most others).
57 posted on 10/15/2004 7:33:14 PM PDT by Poser (Joining Belly Girl in the Pajamahadin)
To: Redcloak
58 posted on 10/15/2004 7:34:04 PM PDT by jmstein7 (A Judge not bound by the original meaning of the Constitution interprets nothing but his own mind.)
To: don-o
No doubt, I refuse to touch SP2. I won't do it until my work computer gets it and works well for a few months. There's
just too many problems.
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FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2003 Robinson-DeFehr
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TomServo
Since Mar 3, 1998
HAL9000
Since Sep 1, 1998
More low-quality crap on the way from Microsoft.
1 posted on 08/06/2004 3:04:19 PM PDT by HAL9000
Skip to comments.
Microsoft Pushes Windows XP SP2 Out The Door
TechWeb News ^ | August 6, 2004 | Gregg Keizer
Posted on 08/06/2004 3:04:17 PM PDT by HAL9000
Microsoft released the long-anticipated Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) to manufacturing mid-day
Friday, just two days after unknown delays temporarily stumped its wrap.
Although Microsoft's signed off on SP2 -- a major update to Windows XP that devotes considerable effort
toward tightening up the operating system against security threats -- it's not yet offering the upgrade to end users.
SP2 will post for downloading next week, said Microsoft, but it's urging users to not flood the Windows
Update servers by retrieving the approximately 80MB file on their own. Instead, the Redmond, Wash.-based developer is trying
to convince users to let the patch come to them.
Thursday, Microsoft amended its Windows XP Web site to include instructions on enabling Windows' Automatic
Update feature, which will then download the new version when capacity's available.
“The timing for customers to receive the Service Pack 2 download through Automatic Updates depends
on a number of factors,” said Microsoft in a statement. “[That includes] the customer's Internet usage, location,
language, and the level of Internet demand for Service Pack 2.”
For those without big bandwidth, Microsoft will also make SP2 available on CD, free of charge. The
company will even pick up the shipping tab.
New machines featuring Windows XP SP2 won't appear until the September-October time frame, said Microsoft,
which added that it is working with major manufacturers such as Dell, HP, and IBM to get the new edition on systems as soon
as possible.
SP2's most discussed changes include a more rigorous approach to security, including stronger default
settings and the new Security Center, an end-user console for monitoring bundled and third-party firewall and anti-virus defenses.
“We encourage Windows XP users to spend five minutes today to turn on Automatic Updates, thus
ensuring they'll receive Service Pack 2 as it becomes available,” said Will Poole, who leads Windows client development,
in a statement.
TOPICS: News/Current Events; TechnicalKEYWORDS: BUGS; LOWQUALITYCRAP; MICROSOFT; PATCHES; SERVICEPACK2; SP2; SPYWARE; VIRUSES; WINDOWS; WORMS
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More low-quality crap on the way from Microsoft.
1 posted on 08/06/2004 3:04:19 PM PDT by HAL9000
To: HAL9000
More low-quality crap on the way from Microsoft.
I take it you've already installed it and are having problems?
2 posted on 08/06/2004 3:07:20 PM PDT by TomServo ("Meanwhile, the Midvale police visit his locker and find out why they call him 'Buzz'...")
To: HAL9000
SP2's most discussed changes include a more rigorous approach to security, including
stronger default settings...
Wow, a stronger default setting. I bet that took all of two of three lines of code.
To: HAL9000
For those without big bandwidth, Microsoft will also make SP2 available on CD, free of
charge. The company will even pick up the shipping tab.
Don't put yourself out, Bill.
4 posted on 08/06/2004 3:11:01 PM PDT by South40 (Amnesty for ILLEGALS is a slap in the face to the USBP!)
To: HAL9000
Yes but it is our crappy, poorly written help, no support, weekly updated, over priced,
and memory hog Microsoft products.
5 posted on 08/06/2004 3:11:02 PM PDT by bmwcyle (<a href="http://www.johnkerry.com/" target="_blank">miserable failure)
To: HAL9000
By the time they get Windows XPletive into any kind of shape, I'll have taught myself how to use Linux.
To: HAL9000
I look forward to this update. Windows XP is already an excellent operating system that has served
me very well for going on 3 years now.
7 posted on 08/06/2004 3:17:35 PM PDT by ryanjb2
To: HAL9000
Reading some comments in another forum....the concensus seems to be that SP2 (beta version) slows down
the computer too much. Several out of a dozen or so comments said they installed it and the uninstalled it for that reason.
8 posted on 08/06/2004 3:23:14 PM PDT by TomGuy (After 20 years in the Senate, all Kerry has to run on is 4 months of service in Viet Nam.)
To: TomServo
Hmm I must be one of the lucky ones. I've had Windows XP on our 2 home computers for almost 3 yrs and
in all that time, only ONE crash a few months ago *knock on computer desk* And that was on the HP machine so its recovery
console saved pretty much everything, just had to reinstall a few programs. The kids computer has yet to crash...go figure...
9 posted on 08/06/2004 3:23:19 PM PDT by Severa (I can't take this stress anymore...quick, get me a marker to sniff....)
To: Severa
Hmm I must be one of the lucky ones.
I haven't had my box crash since Win '98. And the last (and only virus) was then, also. I wonder what
I'm doing so wrong so many others are doing so right? (/chortle)
10 posted on 08/06/2004 3:25:02 PM PDT by TomServo ("Meanwhile, the Midvale police visit his locker and find out why they call him 'Buzz'...")
To: ryanjb2
Windows XP is already an excellent operating system that has served me very well for
going on 3 years now.
Just got off the phone with someone who had their XP computer destroyed by spyware this morning.
11 posted on 08/06/2004 3:26:21 PM PDT by HAL9000
To: HAL9000
XP runs very well for me. So well, in fact, that there's no way in hell I'm going anywhere near this
service pack after what I've heard about it.
XP SP1 works just fine, thanks.
}:-)4
12 posted on 08/06/2004 3:27:06 PM PDT by Moose4 (Remember, change your tagline every 3 months or 3,000 posts, whichever comes first.)
To: Moose4
The service pack works fine for me.
13 posted on 08/06/2004 3:28:30 PM PDT by TomServo ("Meanwhile, the Midvale police visit his locker and find out why they call him 'Buzz'...")
To: Severa
If XP were the success some seem to think it is this long-awaited and massive security fix
wouldn't be necessary.
If you've had little or no problems you were indeed lucky.
14 posted on 08/06/2004 3:29:56 PM PDT by South40 (Amnesty for ILLEGALS is a slap in the face to the USBP!)
To: TomServo
"I haven't had my box crash since Win '98. And the last (and only virus) was then, also."
I've had corrupted files once in a great while, but I Ghost my system partitions frequently. An SCSI
HD was going bad once, but I have 2. And I don't install a bunch of stupid apps like a little girl. 2 firewalls. And I clean
out the thing and make sure all the fans work.
15 posted on 08/06/2004 3:35:28 PM PDT by BobS
To: BobS
And I don't install a bunch of stupid apps like a little girl. 2 firewalls.
That'll cure a boatload of the problems with most of these folks. Ghosting is great, isn't it?
16 posted on 08/06/2004 3:39:41 PM PDT by TomServo ("Meanwhile, the Midvale police visit his locker and find out why they call him 'Buzz'...")
To: HAL9000
More low-quality crap on the way from Microsoft.
And yet more FUD from a
guy who doesn't even use the software on his desktop...
17 posted on 08/06/2004 3:41:52 PM PDT by Bush2000
To: TomServo
"Ghosting is great, isn't it?
Yep! No sitting or crawling around all night. And I have backup floppies for Ghost too! Images both
on my 2nd HD and CDs.
Ready for war!:)
18 posted on 08/06/2004 3:45:46 PM PDT by BobS
To: TomServo
Actually YES!
SP2 will break several imporant applications and most of the 35,000 desktops
at our corp. We will have to disable most of the security features in order to deploy it. (it does not like SMS2003.
this
is the same crap they have pulled with server 2003. It works great. Untill you ask them how to securely run the server in
a corporate environment. their answer... "Test it out and see".
19 posted on 08/06/2004 3:47:45 PM PDT by jbstrick (War is not fought for peace. War is fought for victory.)
To: ryanjb2
I look forward to this update as well. I have been running Windows XP also for three years
and now have it on five boxes at home. It is the best operating sytem I have ever used and I have had nearly zero problems
with it.
Virtually all my computer software is Microsoft and if it were possible, I would have a 100% Microsoft
computer. It is an excellent company and I even own stock in it (looking forward to my first dividend check).
I regret that Microsoft has not gotten into other industries. For example, I'd like a Microsoft motor
vehicle or a Microsoft refrigerator. But they don't make those things yet. So for now, I must suffer with what I have.
20 posted on 08/06/2004 3:48:48 PM PDT by SamAdams76 (High tide has passed and is running out for John Kerry)
To: BobS
It's very cool. I re-image once a week. I like a clean box (so to speak). I just
keep my images on my server on a separate drive, of course.
21 posted on 08/06/2004 3:49:30 PM PDT by TomServo ("Meanwhile, the Midvale police visit his locker and find out why they call him 'Buzz'...")
To: ryanjb2
Ditto. XP is great.
I guess admitting that doesn't get others' ya-ya's off as much as joining
the crowd, ragging MS.
Dan
22 posted on 08/06/2004 3:50:02 PM PDT by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
To: jbstrick
Actually YES!
Then I wouldn't deploy it.
23 posted on 08/06/2004 3:50:42 PM PDT by TomServo ("Meanwhile, the Midvale police visit his locker and find out why they call him 'Buzz'...")
To: SamAdams76
Six boxes at our house, all great.
Dan
24 posted on 08/06/2004 3:53:37 PM PDT by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
To: HAL9000
What spyware can destroy XP?
We remove adware and spyware all the time, I have never seen it
destroy XP.
25 posted on 08/06/2004 3:54:10 PM PDT by CyberCowboy777 (Veritas vos liberabit)
To: TomServo; BobS
Most of the spyware and adware issues I have seen can all be traced to "free" software downloaded
and purposely installed.
26 posted on 08/06/2004 3:56:26 PM PDT by CyberCowboy777 (Veritas vos liberabit)
To: ryanjb2
"..I look forward to this update. Windows XP is already an excellent operating system that has served
me very well for going on 3 years now."
Ditto, from a former Mac fan. Since Win NT, I threw in the towel as a Mac
man, and haven't looked back since.
-- Joe
To: CyberCowboy777
Most of the spyware and adware issues I have seen can all be traced to "free" software
downloaded and purposely installed.
Exactly. I have an Aunt who can't help but click on every damned link (i.e. 'Click Here - You've Won
[insert crap here]) on the I'net. She has to call tech support every other damned day.
She won't listen to me, though.
28 posted on 08/06/2004 3:59:07 PM PDT by TomServo ("Meanwhile, the Midvale police visit his locker and find out why they call him 'Buzz'...")
To: HAL9000
He's not doing his homework. The simpliest way to avoid spyware is:
a) Install Spybot scan,
repair and immunize then select advanced menus and go to IE tweaks to turn off the ability to change home page or access the
options box. That'll thwart 99.99% of the spyware hacks.
b) Never ever download 3rd party shareware CODECS. These
are being used as trojans for loading spyware.
c) Use Norton Firewall.
That should do it.
29 posted on 08/06/2004 4:04:29 PM PDT by kinghorse (http://www.demsextrememakeover.com/)
To: CyberCowboy777
"Most of the spyware and adware issues I have seen can all be traced to "free" software
downloaded and purposely installed."
AND clicking on one of those stupid emails that look interesting. My browser was hijacked 2 months
ago. I researched and found the 2 files and deleted them. Only buy stuff from well-established places.
30 posted on 08/06/2004 4:07:53 PM PDT by BobS
To: CyberCowboy777
We remove adware and spyware all the time, I have never seen it destroy XP.
Destroy it? No. But Cool Web Search is one of the nastiest. Spybot, Ad-Aware, CWS and many other spyware removal software cannot remove its
latest variant.
31 posted on 08/06/2004 4:14:17 PM PDT by South40 (Amnesty for ILLEGALS is a slap in the face to the USBP!)
To: TomServo
Not going to. Since it would adversely affect your gasoline prices. =)
32 posted on 08/06/2004 4:14:29 PM PDT by jbstrick (War is not fought for peace. War is fought for victory.)
To: TomServo
*L* Exactly.
We got a nice setup here. Cable modem through a router. Got Zonealarm Pro ($30), AVG Antivirus (free),
Spybot and Adaware (free), and Google toolbar (free) for the pop up blocker.
Cheap yet effective...
33 posted on 08/06/2004 4:17:14 PM PDT by Severa (I can't take this stress anymore...quick, get me a marker to sniff....)
To: TomServo
"I just keep my images on my server on a separate drive, of course."
Do you build you own? I do. Maybe I should upgrade from my 1 GHz CUSL2 MB, but the SCSI320 card handles
everything but the memory. Can this handle Doom 3? My ATI video card records TV well in any format.
34 posted on 08/06/2004 4:20:47 PM PDT by BobS
To: BobS
Yeah - build my own. And I think you're gonna need some more horsepower to drive D3.
Minimum: P4 1.5Ghz CPU (or equivalent).
384MB of RAM.
64MB graphics card (see below for chip
details).
2GB of free hard drive space.
Lowest supported GPU is a Geforce 4 MX (worse than Geforce 3).
Supported cards:
GF 4 MX.
GF
3.
GF 4.
GF FX (and higher).
Radeon 8500s, 9000s and higher.
35 posted on 08/06/2004 4:24:52 PM PDT by TomServo ("Meanwhile, the Midvale police visit his locker and find out why they call him 'Buzz'...")
To: HAL9000
36 posted on 08/06/2004 4:33:59 PM PDT by Cacique
To: TomServo
I re-image once a week.
So that's why you haven't had a crash since '98!
Don't let that registry even think about fragmenting. ;-)
37 posted on 08/06/2004 4:48:00 PM PDT by TechJunkYard (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
To: TechJunkYard
LOL - well, actually I only started imaging about 2 years ago.
38 posted on 08/06/2004 4:50:32 PM PDT by TomServo ("Meanwhile, the Midvale police visit his locker and find out why they call him 'Buzz'...")
To: TomServo
My All-in-Wonder has the 8500 chip and works well. I guess I'll break down and get a 3GHz MB. I NEED
6 slots with full control per bios like my current ASUS. I have a client computer that needs a new MB anyway. I drilled through
it a few years ago putting wheels on the case and repaired the traces, LOL. I have a long umbilical cord attached to it so
it can roll around when I do "experiments". I download large files into it (like CDs and proggies) and test them there.
39 posted on 08/06/2004 4:53:44 PM PDT by BobS
To: TomServo
I have an Aunt who can't help but click on every damned link (i.e. 'Click Here - You've
Won [insert crap here]) on the I'net.
I can think of at least two ways to fix that right off the top of my head.
40 posted on 08/06/2004 5:01:43 PM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
To: TomServo
Heck, at 3GHz and the RF sidelobes I'll need another case too? Because of RF leakage? I like my tower.
Should I get some copper mesh from work or anechoic absorber? My friend built one with a 1.4GHz and can't listen to the radio
while online. The radio is jammed. I am a microwave engineer.
41 posted on 08/06/2004 5:01:44 PM PDT by BobS
To: ShadowAce
I can think of at least two ways to fix that right off the top of my head.
Me too:
1). Shoot her (not an option) or
2). Shoot her computer.
42 posted on 08/06/2004 5:04:03 PM PDT by TomServo ("Meanwhile, the Midvale police visit his locker and find out why they call him 'Buzz'...")
To: BobS
Should I get some copper mesh from work...
Ahhh - the memories...
When I was stationed in Alaska (artic circle..) my room was about 300 feet from the radar. I used to
have to do this exact thing to shield my Timex Sinclair...
43 posted on 08/06/2004 5:06:04 PM PDT by TomServo ("Meanwhile, the Midvale police visit his locker and find out why they call him 'Buzz'...")
To: kinghorse
44 posted on 08/06/2004 5:06:27 PM PDT by Wacka
To: TomServo
LOL!! OK, now I have three. I hadn't thought of shooting her.
45 posted on 08/06/2004 5:06:30 PM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
Windows XP = Quality
Linux = freeware crap
To: ShadowAce
...and no - getting linux isn't an option, either. She'd stroke out as soon the damn
thing booted.
47 posted on 08/06/2004 5:09:48 PM PDT by TomServo ("Meanwhile, the Midvale police visit his locker and find out why they call him 'Buzz'...")
To: TomServo
Actually, that wasn't gonna be my suggestion.
I would suggest Firefox with AdBlock installed. Sit there for a half hour or so, surfing the net (instead
of her). Block all those sites that host the images (doubleclick, etc). If she doesn't see them, she won't click on them.
48 posted on 08/06/2004 5:12:17 PM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
To: ShadowAce
I would suggest Firefox with AdBlock installed.
That's cool - but I'm talking about the *links*. Not necessarily ads.
I don't know where she's surfin'. But she's takin' her Cadillac to Compton and gettin' stomped. Oh
well - it's my cousin's problem. ;-)
49 posted on 08/06/2004 5:16:41 PM PDT by TomServo ("Meanwhile, the Midvale police visit his locker and find out why they call him 'Buzz'...")
To: TomServo
A lot of those links are tied to the ads. AdBlock will block the whole thing. If the pic
isn't there (and the screen will reformat itself to cover the space), then the link isn't there, either.
Works wonders for me.
50 posted on 08/06/2004 5:20:58 PM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright
2000-2003 Robinson-DeFehr Consulting, LLC.
Skip to comments.
Microsoft Pushes Windows XP SP2 Out The Door
TechWeb News ^ | August 6, 2004 | Gregg Keizer
Posted on 08/06/2004 3:04:17 PM PDT by HAL9000
click here to read article
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To: ShadowAce
Next time I see her (she lives about 800 miles away), I'll ask her what she's runnin'.
Like she'd understand what I was asking her. (/Snicker)
51 posted on 08/06/2004 5:23:31 PM PDT by TomServo ("Meanwhile, the Midvale police visit his locker and find out why they call him 'Buzz'...")
To: TomServo
I exceed all those requirements and still have stuttering, choppy video on Doom3. It is unplayable. Am in the process of
getting the latest Radeon 9200 driver to see if that will help. Going to small screen and low quality video doesn't improve
anything. Their ultra high resolution setting drove my box to the desktop. LOL That must take some cruncher.
52 posted on 08/07/2004 2:27:43 PM PDT by gcruse (http://gcruse.typepad.com/)
To: gcruse
Choppy on my box as well:
Athlon XP 2200
Radeon 9200 128MB
512MB RAM
All the latest drivers
Carmack says you'll need a 512MB graphics card to handle full resolution, and those don't even exist yet. It'll be a cool
game when hardware catches up next year. Kind of sad because I get up to 300 frames per second on Quake 3 at full resolution.
I have to admit that the graphics and effects look pretty realistic though.
53 posted on 08/08/2004 11:55:05 PM PDT by sixmil
To: sixmil
Athlon XP 2200
Radeon 9200 128MB
512MB RAM
All the latest drivers
I just installed the
Catalyst 8.03 upgraded drivers from ATI -- the choppiness is gone and the game play is smooth.
Medium resolution, recommended
system options
Pentium 4 2.6GHZ
Radeon 9200 128MB
512MB RAM
54 posted on 08/09/2004 1:33:35 PM PDT by gcruse (http://gcruse.typepad.com/)
To: ryanjb2; SamAdams76; BibChr; Joe Republc; All
55 posted on 08/09/2004 7:19:29 PM PDT by COEXERJ145 (I Annoy Buchananites)
To: gcruse
Thnaks for the tip. I got the new driver and my choppiness is gone too.
56 posted on 08/09/2004 7:20:29 PM PDT by sixmil
To: COEXERJ145
Though that states it's NOT for single computer installations.
Regardless, I think I'll wait until it's been around
at least a little while.
Dan
57 posted on 08/09/2004 7:21:30 PM PDT by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
To: BibChr
Actually you can download it for single computers. They just don't want people sucking up the bandwidth. It
hasn't blown up my computer yet.
58 posted on 08/09/2004 7:22:44 PM PDT by COEXERJ145 (I Annoy Buchananites)
To: Big Giant Head
59 posted on 08/09/2004 7:28:43 PM PDT by Marie Antoinette (The same thing we do every day, Pinky. We're going to TAKE OVER THE WORLD!)
To: HAL9000
Ah, the soothing sounds of OS holy wars here on FR.
60 posted on 08/09/2004 7:29:53 PM PDT by asgardshill (Jury Duty REJECT - Perfect 0 and 11 record stands.)
To: sixmil
61 posted on 08/09/2004 7:33:01 PM PDT by gcruse (http://gcruse.typepad.com/)
To: HAL9000
No way am I installing SP2 for a least a year and Microsoft gets the bugs out or until they stop servicing SP1 with critical
updates. I don't need their popup blocker or their firewall, the ones currently installed work fine. And my browser is configured
exactly the way I want it. No sense fixing something that isn't broken.
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the_Watchman
Since Aug 6, 1998
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Internet Attack Exploits Microsoft Software Flaws ( Internet Explorer vulnerable )
Reuters ^ | Fri Jun 25, 2004 08:25 PM ET | Duncan Martell
Posted on 06/25/2004 10:41:28 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
 |
 |
|
Internet Attack Exploits Microsoft Software Flaws
Fri Jun 25, 2004 08:25 PM ET
By Duncan Martell
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A potentially dangerous attack on personal computers by a virus designed to steal financial data
and passwords from Web users rippled across the Internet on Friday, computer security experts said.
The attack, which surfaced earlier this week and is known as the "Scob" outbreak, exploits a vulnerability in servers using
Microsoft Corp.'s IIS software and has been called more dangerous than the recent "Sasser" and "Blaster" infections.
The infected servers in turn exploit another vulnerability in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser to install a Trojan
Horse virus on the PCs of Web surfers who visit the infected Web sites, said Alfred Huger, senior director of engineering
at Internet security company Symantec Corp.
"All of this takes place while it looks like you're viewing the same Web page," Huger said. "You don't even know that parts
of your browser have been redirected to another Web site."
The U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness team warned on its Web site that "any Web site, even those that may be trusted by
the user, may be affected by this activity and thus contain potentially malicious code."
The Trojan Horse places a keystroke logger on users' PCs and is designed to capture credit card numbers and passwords and
send them back to a server in Russia, said Michael Murray, director of vulnerability and exposure at computer security firm
nCircle Network Security.
By late Friday, however, the threat to users' personal data has been diminished, at least for now.
"The server appears to have been shut down in the last eight hours," Murray said. "We don't know if it was shut down by
authorities or whether it was accidental."
The attack is more alarming than most because there are no patches available yet from Microsoft to fix the vulnerability
in Internet Explorer that lets the hackers take control of computers, security researchers said.
On its Web site, Microsoft said users could search for the files "Kk32.dll" or "Surf.dat" to see if their PCs were infected.
The company also suggested users set their browser security level to "high."
Experts also urged computer users to update their anti-virus software protection software
Most anti-virus software has been updated so that it can prevent the Trojan Horse from being installed, but because there
is no patch yet available, there's no way to prevent future attacks to install the virus, Huger said.
"The truly alarming part is there is no patch available for that vulnerability," Huger said.
|
TOPICS: Extended News; Front Page News; News/Current Events; TechnicalKEYWORDS: GETAMAC; IEPROBLEMS; INTERNETATTACKS; INTERNETEXPLOITER; LOOKOUTEXPRESS; LOWQUALITYCRAP; SECURITYFLAW; TECHINDEX; TROJAN; VIRUSES; WHOOPS; WINDOWS
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
2 posted on 06/25/2004 10:54:26 PM PDT by Boundless
To: Boundless
Well, let me amend that.
The other thread isn't a duplicate
of the report, but of the story.
Perhaps the
key thing here is:
"The truly alarming part is there is no patch
available for that vulnerability,"
Even if
you have an AV and a FireWall app (and
I do), because this exploit targetted "trusted"
sites, you may have let configured
scripting
guard for reduced security for those sites, and
got hit - if you use MSIE.
Update your AV definitions
tonite and run a
full scan.
It would appear that the only solution is to
use another browser, until MS releases
more
secure code (or becomes a smaller target for
malware coders).
3 posted on 06/25/2004 11:01:13 PM PDT by Boundless
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Norton picks it up as "download.ject" and stops it from scripting, thereby rendering it harmless. I got hit with it twice
in the last three days. It attacks only those web servers which have not applied a certain patch to IIS software. If you visit
a website hosted on a server without the patch, and Scob has found that server, you're vulnerable to "download.ject" if your
anti-virus software has not been updated to stop it from scripting.
4 posted on 06/25/2004 11:01:31 PM PDT by beckett
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
"Agin'...dang!"
5 posted on 06/25/2004 11:05:51 PM PDT by hummingbird ("If it wasn't for the insomnia, I could have gotten some sleep!")
To: Boundless; ShadowAce; shadowman99
The other thread got moved to the blogger section which isn't as visible.
This is a sourced story so should ( I
think ) stay in the news section which is currently seen by many more folks.
Thanks for putting the Link to that thread
since there was a pretty decent discussion on browsers and in particular on Firefox, which I am using at the moment.
Seems
to work OK, still need to do more customization of the options.
6 posted on 06/25/2004 11:06:40 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Attacks like this are the reason you should be using an active firewall. I use a NAT firewall in my router which blocks
all normal incoming "probe" type attacks. However, firewalls will typically do nothing to prevent a trojan implant from a
site which YOU visit.
A second line of attack is a firewall like ZoneAlarm [It is effective and it is FREE!]. The
advantage of ZoneAlarm is that it will block messages being sent FROM your computer by untrusted software. You are forced
to authenticate each application on your computer which sends messages.
If a trojan is installed, and if it collects
private data, then it should still be blocked when it attempts to send the data back to the collection server.
*****
I
keep my machines fairly up to date and my Norton virus protection very up to date. However, I visited a site supposedly selling
equipment for the visually impaired. It looked legitimate. However, Norton did sound an alarm that a trojan was detected.
Norton did NOT inform me that it had not prevented the infection. I didn't find out about the infection until the next scan
two days later.
At the time of the scan, Norton was unable to delete the virus, which was running at the time. I could
examine the virus enough to determine that it had been constructed in Russia at a firm started in 1991/2 to "monitor Russian
legislation". [sure!]
I hand cleaned up the mess and found two collection files with email addresses that the virus
had secreted away on my machine for later mailing.
The files installed, BTW, had randomized names so that searches
on the executables did not produce any hits. Norton could not identify the trojan, it simply detected that an unidentified
trojan was in operation on my machine.
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
8 posted on 06/25/2004 11:09:18 PM PDT by Fiddlstix (This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))
To: beckett
I switched from Norton to VCOM's System Suite and they use Trend's (I think it is )antivirus system.
I am also
using the Firefox browser for awhile and see if I like it.
9 posted on 06/25/2004 11:12:26 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: hummingbird; HAL9000
Check out the link at #2.
10 posted on 06/25/2004 11:13:32 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: the_Watchman
I am running VCOM's system Suite 5 which has a firewall that detects in and Out.
Seems pretty good.
11 posted on 06/25/2004 11:17:49 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: Boundless
I wonder why it didn't bother me?
Oh ya, I'm using Firefox.
12 posted on 06/25/2004 11:26:19 PM PDT by philetus (Keep doing what you always do and you'll keep getting what you always get)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Thanks...I'm a techno-dork so I saved it to my expanding "Computers and IT" favorites; tomorrow, I'll start
the coffee and explore. You might get some FREEPMAIL as I wade through all of this! LOL...thanks, again!
13 posted on 06/25/2004 11:27:00 PM PDT by hummingbird ("If it wasn't for the insomnia, I could have gotten some sleep!")
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
How long has explorer been out? Seems like the software engineers at Microsoft are complete idiots if they can't put together
a program without flaws within 15 years.
14 posted on 06/25/2004 11:29:28 PM PDT by Rudder
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I switched from Norton to VCOM's System Suite and they use Trend's (I think it is )antivirus system.
I use VCOM System Suite 5 as well, I think it's great. Yes, VCOM System Suite uses Trend-Micro's virus engine.
15 posted on 06/25/2004 11:52:48 PM PDT by BigSkyFreeper (John Kerry: An old creep, with gray hair, trying to look like he's 30 years old.)
To: BigSkyFreeper
I having been using Powerdesk forever and decided to try the whole suite.
16 posted on 06/25/2004 11:59:54 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Cool! I actually prefer Powerdesk to Windows Explorer. I had only wished I had stumbled upon Powerdesk ages ago.
17 posted on 06/26/2004 12:02:25 AM PDT by BigSkyFreeper (John Kerry: An old creep, with gray hair, trying to look like he's 30 years old.)
To: hummingbird
Shadowace is guy to ask if you have questions on Firefox or mozilla.
There is also a user forum at the websites
for mozilla and Firefox.
18 posted on 06/26/2004 12:02:41 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: BigSkyFreeper
What browser are you running?
19 posted on 06/26/2004 12:04:02 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I had bought VCOM's System Suite because I was getting sick and tired of Norton's products, particularly having
to subscribe to anti-virus updates. I really liked the SystemWorks product years ago, but System Suite had everything I wanted,
without the need for subscription just to keep the antivirus up-to-date.
I can't find one thing that I don't like about System Suite. It's very powerful, and runs on both my 98 and XP machines.
20 posted on 06/26/2004 12:05:37 AM PDT by BigSkyFreeper (John Kerry: An old creep, with gray hair, trying to look like he's 30 years old.)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
What browser are you running?Firefox on both the desktop (98 machine) and the laptop (XP machine).
21 posted on 06/26/2004 12:06:14 AM PDT by BigSkyFreeper (John Kerry: An old creep, with gray hair, trying to look like he's 30 years old.)
To: BigSkyFreeper
22 posted on 06/26/2004 12:15:55 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Same complaints about Norton, plus it was always taking over the whole machine it seemed like.
Exactly! When you uninstall it, it wouldn't uninstall everything properly and would give you a list of "cannot find *.exe
file" error screens at bootup.
I laughed one time when I was fixing these errors on a computer network at the local insurance agent, and installed Mcafee
and that installation package came up with an error box that said "we've detected stray files from Norton Anti-Virus exists
on your computer, would you like us to get rid of these files?" and I clicked yes, and McAfee cleaned up Norton and successfully
installed itself.
23 posted on 06/26/2004 12:23:29 AM PDT by BigSkyFreeper (John Kerry: An old creep, with gray hair, trying to look like he's 30 years old.)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Everyone should keep in mind that these vulnerabilities
are designed in, so that Gates and his Hollywood buddies
can
spy on you. Over time, these situations can
be exploited by others.
To: BigSkyFreeper
ROFL!
Symantec just picked up Powerquest so now I may need to look for a replacement for Partition Magic.
Although
disks have really gotten inexpensive so not such a big deal now.
25 posted on 06/26/2004 12:44:27 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Although disks have really gotten inexpensive so not such a big deal now.
True. I'm going to get a second hard drive and the one I have now will be used as a backup drive.
26 posted on 06/26/2004 12:46:39 AM PDT by BigSkyFreeper (John Kerry: An old creep, with gray hair, trying to look like he's 30 years old.)
To: greasepaint
Well this little virus thingie may just get me to move over to Linux, since the browser is the big issue and Firefox seems
to be working well for most of what I do, and it will run on Linux.
27 posted on 06/26/2004 12:47:21 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: BigSkyFreeper
I have a bunch of storage.
28 posted on 06/26/2004 12:49:03 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
"Okily, dokily, neighbor." (Ned Flanders voice off)
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!
29 posted on 06/26/2004 1:24:19 AM PDT by hummingbird ("If it wasn't for the insomnia, I could have gotten some sleep!")
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; TexasTransplant; ShadowAce; martin_fierro; Pit1; delapaz; dyed_in_the_wool; ...
On Friday SEVERAL security experts were recommending people abandon MS Internet Explorer, and
most recommended Mozilla/Firefox.
...security officials are still piecing together how Microsoft's Internet Information Services (IIS) servers -- widely
used to host popular Internet sites -- became infected, passing the virus-like code onto other Web sites and
Internet Explorer browsers.
"Fully patched Explorer users are attacked at will, silently," Dunham said,
adding that the effort appears to originate from a Russian group of "hackers for hire" who have a history of developing Trojans
or malicious code that can steal credit card data and similar information that would later be sold for profit.
Dunham
[with the Internet Storm Center, added] that "Internet Explorer users should consider an alternative browser,
at least temporarily.
Mysterious New Threat Secretly Plagues Internet Good advice from the experts...  And even if you are using Compuserve, AOL, or Earthlink etc, from some CD that was sent to you, it MIGHT actually
be Internet Explorer with a different 'face' added to it. I recommend users do NOT install OPERA as an
alternative to IE at this time, since that appears to be a SPINOFF from IE. Note a sampling of the HTTP headers from
Opera users all say they are compatible with various releases of MSIE (Internet Explorer), so they therefore are ALSO most
likely corruptible by these Russian worms/trojans.
(compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1) Opera 7.11
(compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1) Opera 7.23
(compatible;
MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0) Opera 7.50
(compatible; MSIE 5.0; Windows XP) Opera 6.05
(compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows
98) Opera 7.20
(compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98) Opera 7.22
...here's AOL 9.0. Note it IS Internet Explorer,
renamed and customized
(compatible; MSIE 6.0; AOL 9.0; Windows NT 5.1; .NET CLR 1.1.4322)"
...by comparison, spinoffs
from Netscape do NOT say "compatible; MSIE" in them...
(Windows; U; Win98; en-US; rv:1.0.2) Gecko/20021120 Netscape/7.01"
(Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.6) Gecko/20040206 Firefox/0.8"
(Windows; U; Windows NT 5.0; en-US;
rv:1.7b) Gecko/20040316" Most people using Compuserve, AOL, or Earthlink etc, or ANYTHING that came from your ISP can
still LOG-IN with THAT software, THEN MINIMIZE it, and then use Firefox. 30 posted on 06/26/2004 9:49:03 AM PDT by FL_engineer (FreedomLoving_Engineer)
To: TexasTransplant; martin_fierro
from another thread...
We need a list from the Tech types, which browser will I be able to keep the longest, before the next mass infection,
and while we are at it... email (simple please) I am changing both tomorrow, to what I don't know. Well its hard
to beat Firefox for features or security. I believe Microsoft refused to cooperate with the standards committee that developed
javascript, so MS came out instead, with its own lousy javascript version that had lots of extra hooks and bugs and vulnerabilaties.
For all of us home users who are stuck with the Redmond operating system, I'd recommend trying to get ALL other software
from SOMEWHERE ELSE for safety, NOT from microsoft.
I like the site nonags.com for very good open sourced software. These people for the most part ONLY recommend, test, and rank free software that does
NOT NAG you for money to upgrade to a 'better version'.
If you need anything more commercial than that, I'd say the non-MS versions of software will be as good or better, and
less virus-prone, than MS versions.
martin_fierro also had a good list of software for PC protection (except for the part about Opera).
Whichever email system you use.. BE SURE to turn OFF the reading of mail in HTML MODE. Read all messages in 'TEXT ONLY'
mode or else you can be infecting your system JUST by reading a message (even without opening attachments).
Another reason to not allow HTML mode in your email reader, is that built-in images in the message (sometimes they're even
invisible) will confirm to spammers that your email address is valid.
31 posted on 06/26/2004 9:52:09 AM PDT by FL_engineer (FreedomLoving_Engineer)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
32 posted on 06/26/2004 9:55:43 AM PDT by Brad's Gramma (God Bless America)
To: FL_engineer
Thanks, but I use Apple products only. Safari is my browser. Microsoft is a dirty word in this house.
33 posted on 06/26/2004 9:58:18 AM PDT by mass55th
To: beckett
Thanks, beckett...I am a computer dunce and don't know how to look for this invasion, but I do have Norton on auto update...Norton
has never found a virus when it scans my files.
34 posted on 06/26/2004 10:01:03 AM PDT by MEG33 (John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security)
To: FL_engineer
To: FL_engineer
Well I don't what was causing problems on my computer this week
But I did want to beat the heck out of it with
a baseball bat
36 posted on 06/26/2004 10:11:24 AM PDT by Mo1 (50 States baby .. I want all 50 States come November !)
To: Mitchell
37 posted on 06/26/2004 10:11:57 AM PDT by Allan
To: MEG33; Brad's Gramma
The move to Firefox is a very easy move, suggest you both look at it.
Shadowace had some good tips on the thread
he started , now in the blogger chat area.
Link to it above here somewhere.
I am doing this right now under
Firefox.
There are a few things to learn, but not many , use the right click on the mouse a bit more.
Firefox
doesn't have the mail capability so is much smaller than IE.
If you are a big user of mail, then Mozilla has that.
38 posted on 06/26/2004 10:13:55 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: MEG33; Brad's Gramma
39 posted on 06/26/2004 10:16:07 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: FL_engineer
Thanks. Is there any way to tell if my computer has the virus? I ran a virus scan yesterday and it appeared that there
was no problem(yet.)
To: COUNTrecount
You may not have a virus. You may have spyware installed on your box. Try running this. It's highly rated: SpybotHere's another great tool: Ad-Aware41 posted on 06/26/2004 10:22:39 AM PDT by Bush2000
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
42 posted on 06/26/2004 10:23:44 AM PDT by Bush2000
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
 Click the button to learn about email that's much safer than Outlook. Firefox's companion, Thunderbird. 43 posted on 06/26/2004 10:26:08 AM PDT by Eagle9
To: FL_engineer
I recommend users do NOT install OPERA as an alternative to IE at this time, since that appears to be a SPINOFF
from IE. Note a sampling of the HTTP headers from Opera users all say they are compatible with various releases of MSIE (Internet
Explorer), so they therefore are ALSO most likely corruptible by these Russian worms/trojans.
What do the headers have to do with anything? I see no reason to believe they mean that MS software exists behind them.
44 posted on 06/26/2004 10:35:18 AM PDT by supercat (Why is it that the more "gun safety" laws are passed, the less safe my guns seem?)
To: FL_engineer
Thanks for the information!
To: MEG33
Norton will flag you if it detects "download.ject." Otherwise you're OK.
After it was detected on my machine I checked at Symantec and found the names of the two registry keys that "download.ject"
writes and searched the registry for them. They were not there. I also searched my hard drives for Kk32.dll and Surf.dat.
Again, nada. So it seems Norton successfully slams the door on this thing.
46 posted on 06/26/2004 10:49:49 AM PDT by beckett
To: COUNTrecount; Bush2000; martin_fierro; Mo1; MEG33; Brad's Gramma; Ernest_at_the_Beach
I cannot verify who owns the website that Bush2000
recommended for getting Spybot (security.kolla.de)
One WHOIS
service shows NO REGISTRANT.
Another WHOIS service shows "INVALID"
Spybot Search and Destroy is a VERY good program
and I
highly recommend it for cleaning up a system...
The official site, registered by the author of SPYBOT is
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd
I don't know that Spybot will catch this bug yet.
So far, I've only heard that the Symantec tools can find it.
I also see post #46 has some more info
To: Bush2000, you keep trying to bash FIREFOX on all these threads. You seem to work for microsoft. Why don't
you tell us what you recommend, instead of just throwing out bombshells. However, thanks for pointing out that
the total list of known bugs in FIREFOX is MINOR, and does NOT include any that mention WORMS, TROJAN, or any VIRUS.
Its too bad your company tries to keep all its dirty laundry secret for as long as possible.
To: martin_fierro I can't verify who owns that australian site you are sending people to to get Spybot S&D
either. Something that important should only be obtained from a known reputable source, IMO I used DNSSTUFF.COM
to look these things up. FLE
47 posted on 06/26/2004 11:21:36 AM PDT by FL_engineer (FreedomLoving_Engineer)
To: supercat
>>I see no reason to believe they mean that MS software exists behind them.
You 'might' be right. I might
have been premature, because
I do not KNOW that Opera is a licensed repackaging of microsoft's IE.
However, their
headers indicate they are COMPATIBLE with
IE. Therefore if the security bug is systemic to one of
the javascript commands
that is unique to MS's definition
of javascript, then it COULD have the same problem.
I had not heard ANY security
experts recommending opera
yesterday, but did hear of some recommending Mozilla/Firefox.
And some specifically said
the bug does NOT affect
the later pair.
48 posted on 06/26/2004 11:28:51 AM PDT by FL_engineer (FreedomLoving_Engineer)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I've been using the Mozilla browser for over a year now, which came with e-mail, and html editor. I love it.
Yes, it had some bugs dealing with graphic files, but it's otherwise been stable and secure.
Before I switched from IE to mozilla, my weekly ad-aware and spybot scans would turn up an average of 50 spyware cookies.
Since the switch, the weekly scans might turn up 1 or 2 spyware cookies.
Regarding a switch to linux, I've been considering switching too, but still keeping windows as a partition for local work
only.
To: FL_engineer
> I recommend users do NOT install OPERA as an
> alternative to IE at this time, since that
> appears
to be a SPINOFF from IE.
Unless there is evidence of an actual Opera user
being compromised during the current
infection
cycle, I'd tend to dismiss the above as being
unsupported speculation.
> However, their headers
indicate they are
> COMPATIBLE with IE.
I'd be more inclined to think that the headers
are spoofed so that
Op users have less trouble
with bozo sites that claim to be MSIE-only, not
because they're hard-coded to some MS'ism,
but
just because that's all they tested against.
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Skip to comments.
Internet Attack Exploits Microsoft Software Flaws ( Internet Explorer vulnerable )
Reuters ^ | Fri Jun 25, 2004 08:25 PM ET | Duncan Martell
Posted on 06/25/2004 10:41:28 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
click here to read article
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To: FL_engineer
Might as well go all the way to freedom and security with Linux!
To: FL_engineer
Thanks. I use Opera, personally. Rather nice and you can block pop-ups, animations, whatever ticks you off.
52 posted on 06/26/2004 12:06:25 PM PDT by phenn (http://www.terrisfight.org)
To: Bush2000
Thank you. I ran Spybot yesterday and got rid of everything that was flagged.
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Well this little virus thingie may just get me to move over to Linux, since the browser is the big issue
and Firefox seems to be working well for most of what I do, and it will run on Linux.
Good idea! Depending on what other Windows software you typically use, you can usually either find an acceptable substitute
or run the actual Windows program under WINE.
I haven't used Windows in many years. The only thing I miss is MS Flight Simulator. There is a Linux/UNIX flight sim, but
it's not as good.
54 posted on 06/26/2004 12:14:28 PM PDT by B Knotts
To: FL_engineer
On Friday SEVERAL security experts were recommending people abandon MS Internet Explorer, and most recommended
Mozilla/Firefox.
Yesterday, I deleted dozens of trojans/malware, and consequently, I recommended Firefox to myself. The bad programs tired
me out.
"Fully patched Explorer users are attacked at will, silently,
I can testify to that. It took a few minutes to find what was spawning the bad programs and the 'parent process' always
pointed to Internet Explorer. I came to the obvious conclusion as these experts did, an IE security leak.
To: FL_engineer
Thanks for the link - sweating on the porch with a new laptop and have just read of the latest MicroSoft "bug".
From FireFox (with love),
Charlie
56 posted on 06/26/2004 12:41:22 PM PDT by Tunehead54 (Have a nice day or else!)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
BTTT!
Everyone needs to read this!
57 posted on 06/26/2004 1:18:19 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
To: FL_engineer
Thanks for the ping! I'll check out these links.
58 posted on 06/26/2004 2:04:10 PM PDT by NRA2BFree (Life is not about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.)
To: FL_engineer
Firefox and Thunderbird are now installed, everything went smooth except for maintaining my website (with Homestead), which
wanted me to Install Netscape Plugins, I sent off a message to tech support and will maintain the website w/ IE until I hear
back.
Painless, easy
Thank you
59 posted on 06/26/2004 3:45:30 PM PDT by TexasTransplant ("You know, I think the best possible social program is a job" Ronald W. Reagan)
To: FL_engineer
Thanks.
But I honestly don't know what to do next. My version of Norton Anti Virus isn't supported, my yearly subscription is almost
up, I have a trojan in quarrantine, and I was wondering if I can install new Norton disks. I'm sure I have adware on my computer,
maybe spyware (who knows?), and my search button has been hijacked by a different search engine - I had MSN - with no way
to switch it back. I've been invaded, but the computer's still working. And I don't like the look of the Firefox Browser (too
busy).
I know enough to know I don't know what to do! Yikes!
Time for a new CPU, I think.
60 posted on 06/26/2004 6:16:07 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: FL_engineer
Is this related to the blue apple that looked harmless?
61 posted on 06/26/2004 7:17:56 PM PDT by floriduh voter (http:// www.conservative-spirit.org (FV) http://www.jangovan.com/ to Defeat Greer)
To: Lauren BaRecall
Found a website that might help, haven't used it before though:
Newbie Help Forum
Found it using google and " trojan in quarrantine, " phrase.
62 posted on 06/26/2004 8:28:56 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: Lauren BaRecall
63 posted on 06/26/2004 8:38:48 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: Lauren BaRecall
And there is this:
_______________________________________________________________
Free Trojan Removal Info
Free guide on understanding common
computer virus symptoms and causes.
www.infobert.com
64 posted on 06/26/2004 8:40:29 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: All
Here is a discussion on a Forum regarding removing a specific trojan...:
AUMHA FORUMS
65 posted on 06/26/2004 8:48:10 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: All
66 posted on 06/26/2004 8:58:28 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: All; *tech_index
67 posted on 06/26/2004 9:13:02 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: FL_engineer
I'm so glad for this post about Firefox. I've now got it downloaded and enjoying it.
It really is faster than IE.
68 posted on 06/26/2004 9:22:13 PM PDT by Cedar
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I just spent time online last week with the tech guy at Spyware Info, getting rid of a trojan. Finally got it conquered
with his help --it's a great site for spyware help.
69 posted on 06/26/2004 9:27:00 PM PDT by Cedar
To: Cedar; Lauren BaRecall
Very good info... I just discovered it with Google in responding to Lauren BaRecall .
Seems to me that is the place
to start.
What about the hijack package...that is new to me.
I have Spybot, just ran it.
70 posted on 06/26/2004 10:11:58 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: B Knotts
Is the flight simulator to which you refer FlightGear?
To: dakine
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Thanks...I need to get an education for use of my computer!
73 posted on 06/27/2004 1:05:21 AM PDT by MEG33 (John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security)
To: Philip_the_evangelist
Yes. It's OK, I suppose, but isn't anywhere near as good as MS Flight Simulator.
74 posted on 06/27/2004 6:34:34 AM PDT by B Knotts
To: 2111USMC
76 posted on 06/27/2004 9:45:44 AM PDT by iowamomforfreedom (The right to die? or the right to be killed - http://www.life-or-death-decisions.org)
To: FL_engineer
What I use to read email is Mailwasher. It reads emails only by TEXT method. I purge about 95% of my emails, before Outlook
gets ahold of them.
And mailwasher has a FREE version of it!
Here is the link.
http://www.mailwasher.net/
77 posted on 06/27/2004 9:54:36 AM PDT by ktw (kakkate koi)
To: MEG33
Me too. Spybot and that website Spyware Info seem to be the way to go.
I still have some unexplained mysteries on my machine.
Getting geared up to try Linux.
78 posted on 06/27/2004 11:20:12 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Thanks a million!
I have to take a night to sit down and read and figure this out. In addition to your links, I picked up a couple a few
weeks ago. I just haven't had the time....
Here's one I found:
Spybot
A friend of mine told me that it doesn't catch everything, though. Have you ever tried it?
79 posted on 06/27/2004 1:02:45 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Well, I could go back to school for this, or I can figure it out. Figuring it out is a whole lot more fun, though.
Aggravating fun - but that's the best kind! :oD
80 posted on 06/27/2004 1:05:53 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I have Spybot, just ran it.
Ah, just saw that.
81 posted on 06/27/2004 1:07:13 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: FL_engineer
I recommend users do NOT install OPERA as an alternative to IE at this time, since that appears to be a SPINOFF
from IE. Note a sampling of the HTTP headers from Opera users all say they are compatible with various releases of MSIE (Internet
Explorer), so they therefore are ALSO most likely corruptible by these Russian worms/trojans.
Actually, that's a strategy to fool web sites that try to block browsers that _aren't_ IE. Headers mean almost absolutely
nothing these days since the newer browsers let you fake your headers to avoid site lockouts.
To: Lauren BaRecall
See my post #78 to Meg33.
Looks like at the Spyinfo website they have a good methology to get someone started to
clean the machine without starting over totally or buying a new machine.....course if you have an old one and the money ....might
be smart to get a new fresh machine .... but it is almost a philosophy thing.
Said I was gonna start on Linux but
I thing my newest video card, an expensive ATI all in wonder 9600xt pro just went bad.
Hmm....
83 posted on 06/27/2004 3:03:41 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: FL_engineer
Opera is mozilla based, is it not?
Opera is excellent.
84 posted on 06/27/2004 3:37:01 PM PDT by TaxRelief (Keep your kids safe; keep W in the White House.)
To: bobwoodard; TaxRelief; supercat; Boundless; martin_fierro; phenn; Ernest_at_the_Beach; ...
Actually, that's a strategy to fool web sites that try to block browsers that _aren't_ IE.
 Thank you! That answer makes sense. I withdraw any implied criticism, or reservation I had of Opera.
While I don't find any evidence that Opera is Mozilla-based, it does seem that it is more in alignment with the Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox
folks than with Redmond Washington billionaires...
Mozilla Foundation and Opera Software Describe Joint Vision for Web Application Framework
Tuesday May 25th, 2004
The Mozilla Foundation and Opera Software have published a paper outlining their vision for Web applications. The paper,
submitted in preparation for next week's W3C Workshop on Web Applications and Compound Documents, describes a device-independent
Web application framework based on HTML and backwards-compatible with existing Web content. The two organisations are
keen to get parts of this framework in place soon to prevent a single-vendor solution (see Microsoft's
position paper) becoming dominant.
85 posted on 06/27/2004 4:19:16 PM PDT by FL_engineer (FreedomLoving_Engineer)
To: FL_engineer
I said
Firefox and Thunderbird are now installed, everything went smooth except for maintaining my website (with Homestead),
which wanted me to Install Netscape Plugins, I sent off a message to tech support and will maintain the website w/ IE until
I hear back.
Painless, easy
Thank you
What a difference a day makes, I am back to IE, (everything was working fine until my Firewall decided Firefox was
an issue, next thing I know all of my settings are changed, my IP rejected any attempt to log on, down hill from there)
I uninstalled my Firewall, tried to re-install Firefox and had the same problems.
I am still using Thunderbird (I like it too, and I still like Firefox) but until the new Firefox comes out I will continue
to use IE and patch and update for protection. For a day it was good, I was a happy camper and I hope the new edition
of Firefox can deal with the Firewall issue.
Thanks again
TT
86 posted on 06/27/2004 5:45:48 PM PDT by TexasTransplant ("You know, I think the best possible social program is a job" Ronald W. Reagan)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Spyware Info has a great tech forum. The guy had me download "HiJack This" plus do some other stuff with various files.
It was a great learning experience ( I had never dealt with a "trojan" before--it was stealing/hijacking my cursor).
He gave very clear instructions, and we finally got rid of it. And all of this help was free!
It's a great site if
you are having any problems with your PC, or even if you want to just learn about spyware, trojans, etc.
The program
"HiJack This" is a good thing to have (it's free too). But before you use it to delete anything, it's best to post your log
file of it to the forum board and let one of the tech guys tell you what to delete and what not to delete (unless you already
are a techie yourself and don't need them to tell you).
87 posted on 06/27/2004 7:51:37 PM PDT by Cedar
To: FL_engineer
88 posted on 06/28/2004 10:25:28 AM PDT by TaxRelief (Keep your kids safe; keep W in the White House.)
To: B Knotts
I haven't tried it so I wondered when you mentioned an unnamed open-source simulator. Of course, it's still at version
0.9.4 and has a lot of catching up. What specifically did you not like about it?
To: Lauren BaRecall
A friend of mine told me that [Spybot] doesn't catch everything, though. Have you ever tried it?
I have tried it. I'm trying to get rid of something that got into IE that causes pop-ups on sites where there are no pop-ups.
I've tried Ad-aware, spybot, CW-Shredder, and a full Norton scan. Whatever this adware thing is, it's still there. I only
use IE for testing my own web sites, so it's not that big a deal... but I don't know what else the #%%$@* thing might be doing,
so I want to get rid of it. So far no luck.
90 posted on 06/28/2004 5:38:31 PM PDT by Nick Danger (doo waddie diddy diddy dum diddy doo)
To: Philip_the_evangelist
It crashed/froze a lot, and, at least at the time, the scenery was not as good.
91 posted on 06/28/2004 6:28:28 PM PDT by B Knotts
To: Lauren BaRecall
" I picked up a couple a few weeks ago. I just haven't had the time...."
Should you change your dating habits? LOL- I can't resist:):):)
92 posted on 06/28/2004 6:54:47 PM PDT by BobS
To: B Knotts
OK, now you have me curious. Under what OS were you running it and what version of the simulator were you using? The website
says the entire scenery set occupies 11 CDs which sounds like either a LOT of low quality stuff or a decent amount high quality
stuff. The disk map shows practically all land areas covered as well as significant oceanic areas.
To: Lauren BaRecall
I'm no Windows expert, but try Lavasoft's AdAware. Be sure you go to http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ or http://www.lavasoft.de/. They have a free version you can download, which will find most of these pop up ads, spybots, and trojans. It is not an
anti-virus tool strictly speaking, and it really should be used in conjunction with something like Nortons or McAfee, but
it can be a big help in a pinch.
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Hey yall I have a question. I have been invaded by much of this spyware, trojans malware etc. One day my cd-rom opened
up by itself! I almost flipped out, no joke.
I had popups everywhere and my google searches were messed up. I have spybot
and ad-aware. When I first used them with the latest updates it didn't get rid of the google problem I was having.
Two
days ago I updated spybot and ad-aware fixed my search engine problem finally yay!
My question is I still have these weird
things on my desktop called o , bs5-nt15v , silent?
Do I have to wait for another update for ad-aware to get rid of these
things?
Also I disabled my internet explore active x, java so is this good enough or do I still need firefox?
I use
netscape is that better?
To: snowstorm12
Get Spyware Blaster. It prevents these things from being downloaded.
96 posted on 06/28/2004 7:34:54 PM PDT by js1138 (In a minute there is time, for decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse. J Forbes Kerry)
To: Nick Danger
I was speaking to the same friend today, and told him about this thread. In the course of conversation, he said that sometimes
the only way to get rid of something is to save to disk what you know you want to save, and uninstall *everything* else. Even
the OS. Then you take your original disks and reinstall the OS and all your programs, etc.
I told him that I'd never
even THINK of attempting that alone! LOL!
In the meantime, I bought Norton SystemWorks 2004 Professional. I decided
that will be my first step (but not tonight).
Anyway, you may have to clean off the whole disk, as my friend discussed.
97 posted on 06/28/2004 8:14:34 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: BobS
Yes! I should find men who know about computers! LOL!
98 posted on 06/28/2004 8:16:40 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Lauren BaRecall
I've had to do this. My wife and I cleaned off a friend's computer that had so many popups and things that it was unusable.
We had to put in a second hard drive, loaded Windows on it, and cleaned the original hard drive from there. After that we
were able to boot from the original hard drive and run nortons and stuff.
Sometimes you have no choice but to reload
from scratch, though.
To: Liberal Classic
Thanks very much for the links. :o) I bookmarked both of them. I'll do SystemWorks first. Then I want to look at all the
links I've collected, and then decide the order in which I want to try them.
Actually, I'm looking forward to tinkering
with all of this stuff. :o)
100 posted on 06/28/2004 8:31:13 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
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Internet Attack Exploits Microsoft Software Flaws ( Internet Explorer vulnerable )
Reuters ^ | Fri Jun 25, 2004 08:25 PM ET | Duncan Martell
Posted on 06/25/2004 10:41:28 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
click here to read article
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To: Liberal Classic
I've had to do this. My wife and I cleaned off a friend's computer that had so many popups and things that
it was unusable.
It's amazing that so much can amass on a computer, that it grinds to a halt. Recently, I was hit by such a swift succession
of popups, that I looked at "View - Source" and saw that it came from a timed popup program. When it happened again, the popups
came up faster than I could close them, and my computer froze. I had to reboot to get going again. I know I have a bunch of
garbage - I just don't have enough experience to find it.
That was good of you and your wife to help out that way. I find in general that computer people are very generous with
their help. Good thing for junior geeks like me. :oD
101 posted on 06/28/2004 8:42:42 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: beckett
I have my browser set to alert me to all attempted downloads and require permission. I've always wondered if
this was protection enough. Surprising how many sites try to download.
And if spyware is a risk, then by all means avoid Drudge's site. He drops anywhere from 3 to 7 spyware programs
into your computer per visit.
102 posted on 06/28/2004 8:45:30 PM PDT by BJungNan (Stop Spam - Start Charging for Email - You get 2000 a month for free, then you pay!)
To: Philip_the_evangelist
I just fired it up, and peeked at their web site, for the first time in a long time. Looks like the scenery has improved,
but for some reason, on this particular machine, it freezes up. I think it might be my ancient joystick.
To: Philip_the_evangelist
Incidentally, this is version 0.9.3 running on Debian sid (unstable) on a very old machine with a Matrox G400.
To: Lauren BaRecall
I bought Norton SystemWorks 2004 Professional.
Super. Now back your files, up. Reinstall Windows (i.e. Clean install), reinstall whatever files you want, install Systemworks
and Ghost your machine. But only if you have a CD burner (that's supported by Ghost) or a second HD installed.
I promise you - it'll be well worth it. BTW - read the instructions on Ghosting...:-)
105 posted on 06/28/2004 9:30:10 PM PDT by TomServo ("I'm so upset that I'll binge on a Saltine.")
To: TomServo
But only if you have a CD burner (that's supported by Ghost) or a second HD installed.
Ok, only one HD, yes to CD burner, but I haven't a clue if it's supported by Ghost.
Yikes! Are you advising me to do what my friend told me about? :oO
106 posted on 06/28/2004 10:06:20 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Lauren BaRecall
Actually, I'm looking forward to tinkering with all of this stuff. :o)
That's the spirit! :)
To: BJungNan
And if spyware is a risk, then by all means avoid Drudge's site. He drops anywhere from 3 to 7 spyware programs
into your computer per visit.
Very good to know! And he has the nerve to go on and on about the Patriot Act!
108 posted on 06/28/2004 10:10:22 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Liberal Classic
109 posted on 06/28/2004 10:11:17 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Lauren BaRecall
Don't let the computer get you too frustrated, and they can be. I've been working with them for a long time, and they still
get my goat sometimes. It helps to remember that ultimately, it's nothing but a really fast adding machine. Have fun!
To: Liberal Classic
I don't see it as frustrating as much as scary. I realize my knowledge is limited, and I don't want to wreck the darn thing.
If I bite off little chunks of tasks, and go slowly, then I can relax.
In the beginning, I was a little afraid to
even go near my computer, but then I realized that I had nothing to fear, as long as I didn't hit Delete any time I was unsure.
I guess the same philosophy still applies!
Much thanks for your encouragement.
111 posted on 06/28/2004 10:34:01 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Lauren BaRecall
Always have a backup! If you can burn CDs do that, if not get a USB or Firewire drive to copy your files there. It give
some peace of mind knowing that if the darn thing catches fire, you still have you budgets and tax forms and whatnot.
I'm
so paranoid though, I wouldn't keep sensitive information on the same machine I use for web browsing. A friend from my wife's
work was doing tax work for his accounting business on the same machine that his son used to download music. I couldn't help
but cringe at that. Banks are starting to offer online banking and businesses online bill paying and the like. These things
are great, but I don't think the average computer user puts much thought into security. With so many hostile programs floating
around out in the wild that record keystrokes or take over the machine, people need to be careful. Having been the victim
of identity theft and credit fraud (the old fashioned paper kind) it's a big issue with me.
Sorry to go off on a tangent.
:)
To: Lauren BaRecall
" Yes! I should find men who know about computers! LOL!
You found a date! Just bring your computer box alone to my house. I'll connect it to my server through my Belkin switch
and clean it up.
I built my own SCSI-320 server tower with cables running all around to things I also set up and has 9 fans. You can't buy
this stuff in a store. It comes by FED-EX and is $.
Some date huh? The last lady for whom I took the covers off got scared back to Santa Clarita:):):) LOL
Bob
113 posted on 06/29/2004 5:31:34 PM PDT by BobS
To: Lauren BaRecall
but I haven't a clue if it's supported by Ghost.
Doesn't matter now - you have both - give it a whirl and see what happens.
114 posted on 06/29/2004 5:33:17 PM PDT by TomServo ("I'm so upset that I'll binge on a Saltine.")
To: snowstorm12
"One day my cd-rom opened up by itself! I almost flipped out, no joke."
I had the same thing happen to me with
my cd player. Tried to find out through google search if ANYONE ever had this to happen and what to do about it. But never
could find a solution.
Finally couldn't take it anymore (it was opening and shutting by itself over and over), so
I just bought a new one and took out the old one. The new one is great -- no problems. What a relief!
115 posted on 06/29/2004 6:59:57 PM PDT by Cedar
To: Liberal Classic
Always have a backup! If you can burn CDs do that, if not get a USB or Firewire drive to copy your files
there.
Guess it's time to delete some of my old emails. I have about 46 hundred in there, none of them spam! :oD Guess it's also
time to try out the old defragmenter for the first time. BTW, what is disk cleanup? :oD The only maintenance I've ever done,
is keep up my subscription to Norton Anti Virus, and run regular scans. (I can hear all the lurkers groaning! LOL!)
I have a CD burner, and I thought of saving my valuable files, as a back up, and also in a clean up effort, but I'm a pretty
busy person. It looks like the time for this has arrived, however, and I'll have to figure out how to do it, in a methodical
"installment plan."
I'm so paranoid though, I wouldn't keep sensitive information on the same machine I use for web browsing.
A big reason why I won't abandon my dial up in favor of something speedy, is due to security concerns. I don't want to
be perpetually connected to the net. More bad stuff can happen that way.
Banks are starting to offer online banking and businesses online bill paying and the like.
I have made some net purchases, and tax e-filing, but rather do a clean up before I give it another go. I don't want to
do net banking and bill paying, because I've felt that doing those kinds of transactions are too risky for my tastes.
With so many hostile programs floating around out in the wild that record keystrokes or take over the machine, people
need to be careful. Having been the victim of identity theft and credit fraud (the old fashioned paper kind) it's a big issue
with me.
I don't even know if I have a keystroke recording program on my computer, although I have had a takeover of my search button.
It seems like this stuff has gotten very aggressive fairly recently. I think you have the right idea, and better to be safe
than sorry.
Well, now that I'm aware, and embarking on my first clean up project, I plan to keep myself alert. I'm sorry for your experience,
and grateful that identity theft never happened to me.
Sorry to go off on a tangent. :)
No, that's fine, and very much to the point of keeping a clean computer. And very good food for thought. :o)
116 posted on 06/29/2004 7:39:55 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: BobS
Just bring your computer box alone to my house.
Hmm. Does he mean to bring only the original shipping carton?
Let me ask you a question, please. A few months ago, I went to this very cool website:
skyandtelescope.com
From the homepage, you can get to the Interactive Sky Chart. I had two of these screens set up, one with my coordinates,
and one with the coordinates directly north of me, up in Canada. I was rapidly flipping between the two, making comparisons
(because the same constellations look lower in the sky, while in Canada), and all of a sudden I saw a flash. I thought I might
have killed the computer!
Well, I didn't, but from then on, I have a really crummy thing going on. My monitor screen looks lighter, and for every
line of print, there is a shadow that runs across the screen. The symptoms did not become worse, and I saw that the problem
did not involve the monitor, because the color test (that shows right before the monitor shuts off, which is right after the
CPU shuts off) looks great.
I figure that any man who has 9 fans could take a stab at this, and make it sound good! :oD
Some date huh?
Sure! Why not? After the computer is cleaned up, you just take the girl out for dinner and a movie. :o)
117 posted on 06/29/2004 8:10:23 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: TomServo
Oh, okay! Guess there's no going back now! LOL!
118 posted on 06/29/2004 8:13:02 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: BobS
Screen lighter = seems kind of washed out.
Thanks for considering my plight.
119 posted on 06/29/2004 8:16:05 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Lauren BaRecall
Oh, okay! Guess there's no going back now! LOL!
The absolute worst thing that can happen is you have a clean install.
Unless you forget to backup some files you meant to save...heh heh..
120 posted on 06/29/2004 8:47:31 PM PDT by TomServo ("I'm so upset that I'll binge on a Saltine.")
To: TomServo
Say if I want to do the whole thing, right down to the OS. Do I have to know DOS codes in order to reinstall the OS?
121 posted on 06/29/2004 8:50:51 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Lauren BaRecall
Do I have to know DOS codes in order to reinstall the OS?
Just set your computer to boot off the CD, slap the CD in, follow the instructions (and know what you're doing) and let
'er rip.
Remember - backup all files you want to keep and write down any settings you need to beforehand.(Internet/Email,etc)
Which OS you installing?
122 posted on 06/29/2004 8:55:58 PM PDT by TomServo ("I'm so upset that I'll binge on a Saltine.")
To: B Knotts
I may give it a whirl. I've visited the project website a few times in the last year or so but never got around to trying
it out.
To: Lauren BaRecall
" I have a really crummy thing going on. My monitor screen looks lighter, and for every line of print, there
is a shadow that runs across the screen. The symptoms did not become worse, and I saw that the problem did not involve the
monitor"
It might be your video card. Check the connection between your monitor and video card first. Then turn your computer off
and open it up and take the video card out, clean the contacts with an eraser and re-seat it. Turn your computer on with the
case off and see if all your fans are working, especially if the fan on the video card is working.
You could get one of those cans of air and blow all the dust and cobwebs out at this time too:)
The 2nd to last thing to do is feel the temperature of the processor on the video card. Use your other hand to touch the
metal frame of the box to prevent static!!! If the processor is really hot, get a new card.
The last thing is to reload the video drivers. If that doesn't work, one of the rendering engines in the video processor
went bad and you need another card.
All you need is a phillips screwdriver, an adult beverage of your choice, a can of air, a pizza, and maybe a flashlight
to explore with:):)
I had a video card go bad once, that's why I buy my own $ parts:)
Some date huh? Sure! Why not? After the computer is cleaned up, you just take the girl out for dinner and a movie. :o)
If it doesn't get too late where we are:):):)
124 posted on 06/30/2004 4:47:07 PM PDT by BobS
To: Lauren BaRecall
Once everything plays well with each other, use the Norton Ghost corporate version to image the system partition(s) to
another partition on another drive; and burn it to sequential CDs also. I DON'T want to spend 3 days re-creating my monster:):)
125 posted on 06/30/2004 5:10:45 PM PDT by BobS
To: TomServo
Just set your computer to boot off the CD....
I need that in American English, please. :o)
...(and know what you're doing)....
Oh, okay!
...and let 'er rip.
Oh, I can do that part just fine! Don't know where I'll end up ripping to! LOL!
Which OS you installing?
I have the feeling that if I told you the truth, and said I would be reinstalling my Win98SE OS, you'd only say, "What!?
And not take advantage of the opportunity to install XP?!?"
126 posted on 06/30/2004 5:16:04 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Lauren BaRecall
I need that in American English, please. :o)
When the computer is first posting (booting), you need to get to the BIOS, usually by pressing the delete key while it's
booting. Then look for an option that may say 'Boot Sequence'. Select that and then choose to boot off your CD drive. And
yes - I'd get off 98SE, unless you don't have the horsepower to drive XP.
127 posted on 06/30/2004 5:19:58 PM PDT by TomServo ("I'm so upset that I'll binge on a Saltine.")
To: BobS
It might be your video card.
So, a part of a video card can be bad? The whole thing isn't bad, because a part of it is still operational? Or else I
wouldn't be able to read anything, etc.?
I wonder if I stressed it by flipping back and forth between the screens. Is that possible? Or was it something that could
have happened anyway?
Oh, my video card is soooooooo stressed! Maybe a little biofeedback would help?
Check the connection between your monitor and video card first.
1. I can find the video card by following the wires on the back of the monitor.
2. I have to find the fans.
Then turn your computer off and open it up and take the video card out, clean the contacts with an eraser and re-seat
it. Turn your computer on with the case off and see if all your fans are working, especially if the fan on the video card
is working.
What do I have to unplug, and plug back in, when I do this?
You could get one of those cans of air and blow all the dust and cobwebs out at this time too:)
Can of air. I know what that is - they sell them at Staples. You can probably tell that's something I never tried before!
LOL! And I have cats, too. Who love to go back there.
The 2nd to last thing to do is feel the temperature of the processor on the video card. Use your other hand to touch
the metal frame of the box to prevent static!!! If the processor is really hot, get a new card.
I'm trying to phrase my next question in such a way as NOT to bring up images of Bill Clinton. That having been said, I
can account for only one hand in this part of your instructions. :o)
Oh, the other hand is holding my drink! LOL!
I saw someone open up a CPU, quite a while ago. I remember that he had it on its side some of the time. I saw the big HD,
and the motherboard, and I watched him put in some kind of card.
The last thing is to reload the video drivers. If that doesn't work, one of the rendering engines in the video processor
went bad and you need another card.
If I have to buy a new video card, where can I get one? And do they come with a disk with the compatible drivers? If I
reload the video drivers, do I have to uninstall them first?
All you need is a phillips screwdriver, an adult beverage of your choice, a can of air, a pizza, and maybe a flashlight
to explore with:):)
A couple of ice-cold bottles of Bud, a can of air, Pizza - extra thin crust, extra sauce, mushrooms and sausage, a flashlight,
a screwdriver, and maybe one of those things on wheels that they use to fix underneath the car....
128 posted on 06/30/2004 6:20:56 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: BobS
Once everything plays well with each other, use the Norton Ghost corporate version to image the system
partition(s) to another partition on another drive; and burn it to sequential CDs also.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, the system partitions! Wow, you think of everything!
WHAT did he say?
I think I need a screwdriver, a pizza, a couple of Buds, and to find a guy who'll do this for me. :oD
129 posted on 06/30/2004 6:29:05 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: TomServo
When the computer is first posting (booting), you need to get to the BIOS, usually by pressing the delete
key while it's booting.
I haven't a clue as to what that looks like. I think I'd feel a whole lot more comfortable if I could see someone do it
first. What is a BIOS? And I take it that I don't need to know DOS code.
As far as speed goes, my computer is a little over 4 years old. I was cutting edge for about one week. :o) It's not even
1 Gig - about a 750, I think.
Whatever I end up doing, and when, you, and the other guys, are giving me a really good education. And I sincerely appreciate
it. :o)
130 posted on 06/30/2004 6:41:05 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Lauren BaRecall
Gee Lauren! I will entertain you here explaining how things work together with a break for beer and pizza and
a swim in the pool. I have spare parts if needed. A computer isn't a coffee maker:) It is a highly evolved species of things
you plug in a wall:)
The processor chip on the video card has many rendering processes inside which create the image on your monitor. It also
has memory chips near it, just like your motherboard.
Just be armed with a can of air. Pull the plug on the box and unscrew the cover. 4-6 screws. Mine has eight. Take the cover
off and blow all the dust out so you can peek around. Plug the power plug back in with the cover off. Turn the computer back
on and make sure all the little fans are working everywhere, and there isn't a bird's nest preventing air flow:):)
It get's better. Just freep mail me:):)
131 posted on 06/30/2004 7:01:28 PM PDT by BobS
To: Lauren BaRecall
I think I'd feel a whole lot more comfortable if I could see someone do it first.
Click here to get an idea. This may not match your BIOS Screen(s). It's simply an illustrative guide. Check that 4th screenshot
down. See where it says 'First Boot Device'? At this point you'd normally highlight that selection and press [ENTER]. You'd
then be shown a screen of bootable devices - one of which will be your CD drive. You'd select your CD drive, press [ENTER]
and press F10 to save the changes and exit. Forget DOS codes. And stick with 98SE (or buy a new machine and this whole discussion
is moot ;-)).
132 posted on 06/30/2004 7:02:28 PM PDT by TomServo ("I'm so upset that I'll binge on a Saltine.")
To: BobS
Just be armed with a can of air.
Heh heh - I take mine outside and use a leaf blower. Serious...:-)
133 posted on 06/30/2004 7:03:48 PM PDT by TomServo ("I'm so upset that I'll binge on a Saltine.")
To: Lauren BaRecall
" Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, the system partitions! Wow, you think of everything!"
I am dual-booting two different operating systems. And have a seperate image from both on a seperate HD and sets of CDs.
In simple terms, I am dating two different women. Their registries don't know about each other. If one woman gets defective,
the other will keep me going while I reconstruct another from stored DNA from the first one. If BOTH women find out about
each other and destroy my HD, I have a spare SCSI HD that can reproduce the DNA of both women:):)
You should try that with men:):):)
134 posted on 06/30/2004 7:30:35 PM PDT by BobS
To: TomServo
LOL! You ignore it that much?
135 posted on 06/30/2004 7:32:04 PM PDT by BobS
To: BobS
Oh no. It's just every now and then (usually 3-4 months) I take it out for a cleanin'. And when I do, I use a leaf blower.
:-) The cans of air are more expensive and less effective than the electricy it takes to run the leaf blower.
136 posted on 06/30/2004 7:41:22 PM PDT by TomServo ("I'm so upset that I'll binge on a Saltine.")
To: BobS
I am dating two different women.
Swine.
If I weren't married - I'd be jealous.
Oh - to hell with it.
I am jealous.
137 posted on 06/30/2004 7:42:44 PM PDT by TomServo ("I'm so upset that I'll binge on a Saltine.")
To: TomServo
I can't do that. I have a wiring job that is very delicate. I have a front panel with lights that tell me the health of
all the SCSI HDs, card, temp and soldered wires tie-wrapped neatly all around. SCSI-320. 15K RPM drives and very fast. My
sound system needs an upgrade, though. Video runs great!
138 posted on 06/30/2004 7:48:17 PM PDT by BobS
To: TomServo
" I am dating two different women."
I am NOT dating 2 different women. Re-read the description I gave to Lauren about dual-booting. It's as simple as I could
get!
139 posted on 06/30/2004 7:50:40 PM PDT by BobS
To: BobS
Jeez Bob - just yanking your chain a little. ;-)
140 posted on 06/30/2004 8:06:35 PM PDT by TomServo ("I'm so upset that I'll binge on a Saltine.")
To: TomServo
Well, I just sent a Freepmail to Lauren, just in case. She doesn't know these things, you know?
141 posted on 06/30/2004 8:12:02 PM PDT by BobS
To: BobS; TomServo
You guys are funny! LOL!
I'll have to read the tech stuff tomorrow, because I promised myself a few hours of sleep.
Bob, you're probably up in Juneau, and have 7 wives in 5 different states! Maybe you're even an ax murderer! But that's
ok - I'm safe from you, living not far from the heart of NYC (the Land of REAL Pizza).
Tom, you're a sweetheart, and
I bet you love your wife more than life itself. I don't think you're really jealous of Bob, considering what he has to shell
out for all that dental care for all his kids (in 5 states). :oD
142 posted on 06/30/2004 8:17:21 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Lauren BaRecall
I live in Chatsworth, CA. And also must get up at 4:30 AM. I know all about NYC. I was born near there. I won't go back,
because I don't need to buy many clothes here:):) I build things that keep the US safe and me in $. Read my mail!
143 posted on 06/30/2004 8:22:52 PM PDT by BobS
To: Lauren BaRecall; backhoe; ShadowAce
A couple of ice-cold bottles of Bud, a can of air, Pizza - extra thin crust, extra sauce, mushrooms and sausage,
a flashlight, a screwdriver, and maybe one of those things on wheels that they use to fix underneath the car....
ROFL!!!
You will need to go to the autoparts store for the thing on wheels that they use to fix underneath the car
Computer
shops will have difficulty understanding how you plan to use that!!!
I finally found this thread and wanted to point you to (best I have seen yet )an excellent tutorial on cleaning spyware
out of the machine...
Removing Spyware
To: BobS
What are you usin' to cool the machine. Fans or water cooled?
145 posted on 07/01/2004 2:43:32 PM PDT by TomServo ("I'm so upset that I'll binge on a Saltine.")
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
This link is cool! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I'm doing a big project for work, and I was hoping to wrap
it up this weekend, but I'm hoping to squeeze in some quality time with my computer.
BTW, the thing on wheels is to
get under the computer desk, and around to the other side. I have a huge monitor, and a big computer desk, so that baby ain't
movin' anywhere! I have to push aside the subwoofer, and crawl under the desk in order to get to the plugs in the back. I
know that it sounds complicated, but this is how I, a weak and puny woman, have it all worked out.
You guys take your
upper body strength for granted, I think. :oD
146 posted on 07/01/2004 6:16:42 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Lauren BaRecall
I, a weak and puny woman,????
Well we would have to see pictures before we could believe that....
Hey I am on the network and typing this message to you running on my AMD64 machine, running SUSE 9.1 professional and something
called Konquerer .
Seems to have a spell checker built in, boy I need that...
Now I have got to figure out how to download and install Firefox....I really like that Fox!
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Well we would have to see pictures before we could believe that....
Vut are you sayink? You tink maybe dat I am strong like ox?LOL!
Is trut to be told I got big strendt of brains, but am puny in physics.
Hey I am on the network and typing this message to you running on my AMD64 machine, running SUSE 9.1 professional and
something called Konquerer.
Dis vould be of great interest if only am I able to make sense of it!
Seems to have a spell checker built in, boy I need that...
HA! I have need of dis spell checkink, too!, vellcom to club!
Talk to me about safe mode I see on you link, ya?
148 posted on 07/01/2004 6:44:39 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Lauren BaRecall
AMD64 is the AMD Clawhammer 64 bit processor, the latest hotest thing, CRAY and many others are building supercomputer
clusters with the Big brother, opteron, used to be called the Hammer!!!
Mine is a puny 3000+ runs at 2 Gigahertz.
Now the SUSE 9.1 Professional is a Linux distro, (distro is an abbreviation of distribution .... a packaging of components
you see... )
And Konquerer. seems to be a combination browser and file Manager. It is very new to me so I know very little about
it.
To: Lauren BaRecall; ShadowAce; backhoe
Talk to me about safe mode I see on you link, ya?
Hmmm.... not sure about that....
Lets ping shadowace...and Backhoe!!!!
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Internet Attack Exploits Microsoft Software Flaws ( Internet Explorer vulnerable )
Reuters ^ | Fri Jun 25, 2004 08:25 PM ET | Duncan Martell
Posted on 06/25/2004 10:41:28 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
click here to read article
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
That's pretty much amazing!
BTW, I'm looking at your other thread - the one you pinged me to.
I'm getting
really pooped, but if I have enough energy, I'll post a horror story over there.
It all started when I opened my local
phone bill this morning....
151 posted on 07/01/2004 7:02:36 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Lauren BaRecall
It all started when I opened my local phone bill this morning....
Don't tell me you got one of those autodialer thingies onto your system?????
You can catch those on the porno sites you know... I don;t have that problem since my machine has been neutered... can't
dial anyone...but he is online whenever he powers on....
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Hmm.. I really don't use Konqueror except as a file manager. I've heard it's pretty decent at web browsing as
well--including tabbed browsing. It's part of the KDE package.
That's really all I know. Sorry.
153 posted on 07/01/2004 7:08:01 PM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I have never purposely gone into safe mode, but I've seen it come up a couple of times on its own, and I had to figure
out how to get out of it.
The webpage you linked said to download all the progams while in safe mode.
I'd
like to understand what safe mode is, and whether or not it's really better if I download in safe mode.
154 posted on 07/01/2004 7:09:02 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Don't tell me you got one of those autodialer thingies onto your system?????
Apparently, yes. How does it work?
Thank God it was only one call. To the Solomon Islands no less! The last time any of my family had anything to do with
the Solomon Islands, was when my father fought there during WWII!
There must be another way to pick up an auto dialer, because I don't go to porn sites. Really! :oD
155 posted on 07/01/2004 7:16:02 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
BTW, how could something like this happen when I'm already dialed to an ISP?
156 posted on 07/01/2004 7:19:32 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Lauren BaRecall
Yaaahhh Right.....
Damn, I just nuked a frozen snicker candy bar in my puny microwave in Defrost mode power level
3, and in 2 and half minutes the turntable was all gooyey... yikes something else to clean up, sink is already full of dirty
dishes..
To: Lauren BaRecall
Well, the dialer program could just break the connection with the ISP and get dial tone and dial the farout number...
But
why the Solomon Islands??
How do you know it was done from your computer????
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I've been thinking of the Chocolate Haagen Dasz that's innocently sitting in my freezer....
Ok, I confess! That
*might* have been a porn site. There was one time I wanted to see what The Donald's girlfriend looks like. (I was watching
The Apprentice, at the time.) I sure *did* see what she looks like! :oD
159 posted on 07/01/2004 7:46:04 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I called up my local phone company, and spoke with a girl who told me that from what she's seen, there have been different
parts of the country affected, but now the northeast is being inundated with this problem. She's seen a lot of calls to the
Solomon Islands, and one to Cook Island.
She told me that the phone numbers/lines were accessed through the phone
customers' computers. I thought she knew what she was talking about, and that she made a lot of sense.
160 posted on 07/01/2004 7:54:39 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I find that a paper plate is the solution to most problems. :o)
161 posted on 07/01/2004 7:56:59 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Lauren BaRecall
Yes, I use paper plates heavily!
And plastic cups.
Except for my coffee Latte in the morning.... That is
a ritual I must have...
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Until I bought my microwave, I'd eat Spaghettios right out of the can, with a plastic spoon.
Except for my coffee Latte in the morning.... That is a ritual I must have...
Ahhhhh, to have the luxury of a moment of civilization....
Ok, the ice cream calls...feed the cats, and then to sleep, perchance to dream of a clean computer....
Bon soir. :o)
163 posted on 07/01/2004 8:12:26 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Lauren BaRecall; Ernest_at_the_Beach
Talk to me about safe mode I see on you link, ya? Hmmm.... not sure about that.... Lets ping shadowace...and
Backhoe
You rang?
First of all, I believe you are supposed to run those malware checkers in safe mode, but it shouldn't be vital to
download them in safe mode.
When the PC boots, right after the BIOS screen clears, there is a brief moment to hit F8 and bring up the safe mode menu...
you may have to try several times. If you observe the screen closely, you should see a line saying something about "strike
F8 to enter safe mode or diagnostics." And usually by the time you have comprehended it, it has passed! Keep trying until
you get a line by line menu with several choices, safe mode, safe with networking, command prompt, etc.
Safe mode takes forever to load, and the graphics are abysmal, but you should be able to work from there... if you have
trouble accessing all the icons, remember the old dead mouse trick of moving through the icons with shift-tab and the arrow
keys, alt-F4 to close a window, etc.
164 posted on 07/02/2004 9:19:28 AM PDT by backhoe
To: backhoe; Ernest_at_the_Beach
I am so exhausted! I got out of work early, went home, and installed Norton System Works, scans, rebooting galore, one
adware file I can't delete, and I'm downloading spybot, right now.
Too tired to even think about punctuation! LOL!
What a lot of work, and strange icons, and noises from my CPU.
165 posted on 07/02/2004 7:33:10 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: backhoe
Thanks , I didn't have a clue, but I didn't mess with PC's till windows was out,....
To: Lauren BaRecall; backhoe
noises from my CPU.
It's complaining!!
I am running LINUX and I have made no modifications or entered any line commands. Been posting on FreeRepublic all day.
The Konqueror browser has some limitations though. No "view partial source" which I have to have. Got to figure out how to
get Firefox installed.
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; Lauren BaRecall
I am running LINUX and I have made no modifications or entered any line commands. Been posting on FreeRepublic
all day. The Konqueror browser has some limitations though. No "view partial source" which I have to have. Got to figure out
how to get Firefox installed.
If you do get Firefox installed for Linux, let me know how you did it- that "view partial source" is vital to me.
Lauren BaRecall, sometimes those undeletable files can be gotten rid of in safe mode by using Windows Explorer... not Internet
Explorer, but the Explorer that nearly everyone forgets is bundled with the OS... I think it's in "accessories," and you have
to go in it and be sure to poke the tab that enables it to show ALL files.
Failing that, boot a DOS disc, locate the bleeding thing, and try deleting or renaming it and then try to delete it.
168 posted on 07/03/2004 1:04:43 AM PDT by backhoe
To: backhoe; Ernest_at_the_Beach
As far as that ever so brief instant when you can hit F8 goes, I saw that there was a time bar ("hit spacebar")
associated with Norton's Go Back. That's when you can take the option of disabling Go Back, or booting from another drive.
I
saw that I was using too much memory - I can't play Solitaire anymore - so I disabled Go Back to see what would happen. When
it was disabled, it automatically deleted the files it was continuously writing along with my every move. That's why my computer
made all those sounds! It took TWO HOURS for those files to be cleared out, and I had it going for only ONE DAY. Holy cow!
Anyway,
after all of that, I still don't have enough memory to play solitaire.
Tonight, I played with the cookie deleter, and
I really got a kick out of viewing all the cookie codes. I enjoyed the power of spying on the spies! LOL! Although it's in
code, there's still a lot to see, and some of the cookies are quite long, and record multiple pages in browsing sequence.
I
had to disable the cookie deleter, in order to delete the cookies, and that didn't give me sufficient memory in order to play
solitaire (which insists it's set for "drag mode"). There must be more things in System Works that uses memory. I never had
this problem before.
Any suggestions?
169 posted on 07/06/2004 7:20:29 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: backhoe
Lauren BaRecall, sometimes those undeletable files can be gotten rid of in safe mode by using Windows Explorer...
not Internet Explorer, but the Explorer that nearly everyone forgets is bundled with the OS... I think it's in "accessories,"
and you have to go in it and be sure to poke the tab that enables it to show ALL files.
Hmm. Windows Explorer. I have to take a look at this. I happened to stumble into C:\programs\accessories in an effort
to find an answer to my problem of resetting Solitaire to non drag mode (which I never set it to, by the way). I found a file
in there that had alternate dial up ISP providers. I'd love to delete the whole file, but I'm not sure if there's anything
I really do need.
By the way, I didn't find a folder for the games.
170 posted on 07/06/2004 7:30:32 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Lauren BaRecall
Norton is a big Hog....
How much memory have you got?
To: Lauren BaRecall
The games that come with Windows are found under the accessories icon that shows up when you click show Programs
( I think , I am doing this from memory as I don't have Windows up right now).)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I thought I had 128 RD RAM. Does that sound right? I better look. I also better brush up on my busses! LOL! I never had
any memory problem when I had just the Anti Virus program.
I'm glad you confirmed this fact about Norton. I suspected
this to be the case when I saw different little signs slide up from the bottom of my desktop. I guess I could disable more
stuff, and use on a "as needed" basis. But I'd have to figure out what and how many functions, in order to get back my Solitaire.
I always play a quick game right before I shut down the computer. :o)
173 posted on 07/06/2004 8:10:30 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I'll take a look at that, too. Thanks. :o)
FL_engineer pinged me to that Browser Safety thread, so I have even
more to read. I plan to hang around on these threads, because I now have this huge computer project!
Ok, more work
tomorrow, or thereabouts....
174 posted on 07/06/2004 8:14:40 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Just give the kid a pack of cigarettes - you know he's only gonna go out and smoke anyway!)
To: Lauren BaRecall
Repinging myself - working on cleaning my C drive now.
175 posted on 07/18/2004 7:33:18 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Whoopi Goldberg: to the FReepers belong the spoils!)
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Dog Gone
Since Mar 26, 1998
Skip to comments.
Plan would shut down spam-sending computers (maybe yours)
Reuters ^ | June 22, 2004
Posted on 06/22/2004 4:07:02 PM PDT by Dog Gone
WASHINGTON -- Consumers who allow their infected computers to send out millions of "spam" messages could be unplugged from
the Internet under a proposal released today by six large e-mail providers.
Internet users also could be limited on the amount of e-mail they send out each day to ensure they haven't become unwitting
spammers, under voluntary guidelines proposed to curb unwanted junk e-mail.
The proposal was developed by Time Warner Inc.'s America Online, Yahoo Inc., EarthLink Inc., Microsoft Corp., Comcast Corp.
and BT Group Plc.
Spam now accounts for up to 83 percent of all e-mail traffic, and large Internet providers say the problem costs them billions
of dollars each year in wasted bandwidth, legal bills and additional customer service.
Most of the recommendations issued by the group seek to plug holes used by spammers to cover their tracks.
Internet companies should make sure that their equipment has been properly secured so spammers can't route their messages
through them, the group said.
Security holes in Web-based e-mail forms and redirection services used to monitor online advertising should be plugged,
the group said.
But the group also suggested consumers be held accountable if their machines are exploited by spammers.
A spate of viruses and worms over the past year have allowed spammers to route their traffic through personal computers,
allowing come-ons for low mortgage rates and herbal Viagra to appear as if they're coming from a trusted friend.
Internet providers should take those machines offline until they can be cleaned up, the group said.
Providers should also limit the number of messages an individual machine can send to 100 per hour or 500 per day to prevent
spammers from routing millions of messages through customer machines, the group said.
TOPICS: News/Current EventsKEYWORDS: SPAM; VIRUSES; WORMS
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How would a consumer know if he or she became an unwitting spammer?
1 posted on 06/22/2004 4:07:07 PM PDT by Dog Gone
To: Dog Gone
When they unplug your computer from the net ;^)
2 posted on 06/22/2004 4:08:26 PM PDT by BullDog108 (Islamists Are Insane! http://bvml.org/webmaster/islam.html)
To: Dog Gone
3 posted on 06/22/2004 4:10:32 PM PDT by My2Cents (Well.....there you go again.)
To: Dog Gone
How would a consumer know if he or she became an unwitting spammer?
When this appears as your wallpaper.
4 posted on 06/22/2004 4:11:47 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (If you can read this, thank a teacher....and since it's in English, thank a soldier)
To: Dog Gone
5 posted on 06/22/2004 4:13:23 PM PDT by Jeff Gordon (LWS - Legislating While Stupid. Someone should make this illegal.)
To: ElkGroveDan
6 posted on 06/22/2004 4:13:57 PM PDT by Dog Gone
To: All
***Internet users also could be limited on the amount of e-mail they send out each day ***
Users will lose
and spammers will move on to new tactics.
To: Dog Gone
I received a nastygram from my provider a couple of weeks ago advising that they had gotten complaints from
people who said they had been spammed by address. It was a very helpful and informative letter once you got beyond the threat
to discontinue your service it the problem wasn't solved pronto. I went through the full page of info they sent and did everything
they suggested. I only found one virus and it wasn't the type that redirects email as far as I could tell. I do not use Outlook
as my mail client so I don't have some of the security problems Outlook users do. I have a ftp server on my home machine so
that I can access it from anywhere that I have access to the net. That can be a real source of security problems from what
they said, but I have a firewall as part of my router and I have a software firewall. I am supposed to contact them when I
have solved the problem. One problem was that they provided no specifics whatsoever about the spamming, nothing about the
date(s), the product, how many, etc. This is apparently quite a problem for isp's and I can see why they want to clamp down
as much as possible, but they could have been a bit more informative and it would have made my job easier. Lord knows I would
like to see something cut down on the amount of spam, I get hundreds of messages every day and maybe 10 of them are for real.
I have a pretty old email address and a lot of people have had years and years to add my address to their list.
8 posted on 06/22/2004 4:21:02 PM PDT by jwpjr
To: Dog Gone
The proposal was developed by Time Warner Inc.'s America Online, Yahoo Inc., EarthLink Inc., Microsoft Corp.,
Comcast Corp. and BT Group Plc.
I do hate spam and I'm definitely no expert, so this might sound like I'm pulling crap outta my hat, but . . . honest question
. . . I'm just wondering . . . I'm not making any charges . . . Exactly how much of the problem can be traced to security
holes in Windows and Outlook Express anyway, if any?
If none, somebody set me straight. It just seems to me like the big guy (Microsoft?), who may or may not deserve much of
the blame, is pointing the finger at, say, the poor little old lady who through no fault of her own isn't an IT professional
and doesn't know how to properly configure her system to keep spammers out.
To: jwpjr
I'm not convinced that spam sent from your email address means that your machine is infected and you're part
of the problem. Email addresses of senders get spoofed all the time.
Before the ISPs start punishing their customers, they had better make sure that the problem resides on that home PC, or
provide clear instructions to determine whether it's really true and how to fix it.
10 posted on 06/22/2004 4:28:56 PM PDT by Dog Gone
To: LibWhacker
Exactly how much of the problem can be traced to security holes in Windows and Outlook Express anyway, if
any?80% according to at least one study. Windows zombies are a spammers best friend nowoadays because they're
readily available, and it doesn't hurt the spammer when a few get shut down. See a recent Register article on this. Personally, I say good riddance to the suspended hosts. They'll either clean their machines and learn to run Windows
Update now and then, or they'll be banned from the Internet. It's not that hard to keep people off your computer, you just
have to give it a little thought now and then.
To: BullDog108
...The big boys don't like the competition from individual providers...
...And, they're scared...%^)))
...Let them sweat...
12 posted on 06/22/2004 4:30:09 PM PDT by gargoyle
Comment #13 Removed by Moderator
To: LibWhacker
I honestly don't know whether Microsoft is part of the problem or they're just the victim because they're the most obvious
target for those who want to prey on as many users as possible.
14 posted on 06/22/2004 4:32:07 PM PDT by Dog Gone
To: Dog Gone
So --- the six largest email spammers want congress to confiscate private property???
MY SHOTGUN IS LOADED! come
on!
15 posted on 06/22/2004 4:36:10 PM PDT by steplock (http://www.gohotsprings.com)
To: Dog Gone
I don't "send" spam but a spammer has used my address (and others) from his spam list to fake the "from" address.
This is why legislators who studied law and not technical sciences should do a lot of reading before writing laws on such
matters. 20 years ago computer scientists wanted to prohibit the selling of private information but the legislators got heavy
funding from advertising lobbyists.
Even in the 1990s legislators saw no harm in spam.
16 posted on 06/22/2004 4:36:29 PM PDT by weegee (Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them. ~~Ronald Reagan)
To: Dog Gone
I use bigvalley.net which is yahoo and they announced that if I have an infected computer, I get no access until it comes
up clean.
Makes it tougher to get rid of a virus or ad software.
What you should do is go *WINDOWS TASK MANAGER*
and *Process* and copy all your running programs that are going now when it is not infected. Save this somewhere.
Then
what you do is if infected, refer to this and go back to the same window and discontinue the bad program running before going
on the net. This lets you go on the net if you have a virus and it is blocked. It gives you then a chance to use the net as
an aid to clean your computer up.
17 posted on 06/22/2004 4:36:42 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
To: Dog Gone
Someone is using my url to send spam and I have no idea how to change it.
18 posted on 06/22/2004 4:39:00 PM PDT by mlmr (Tag-less - Tag-free, anti-tag, in-tag-able, without tag, under-tagged, tag-deprived...)
To: Dog Gone
BUMP!
I've also gotten a few automated notices from univesities that said I sent a virus but I have always tested clean.
That falsification of addresses should put the commercial companies into hot water for misrepresentation. But when do legislators
ever go after the bad guy?
19 posted on 06/22/2004 4:39:24 PM PDT by weegee (Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them. ~~Ronald Reagan)
To: A CA Guy
That sounds like a good tip.
20 posted on 06/22/2004 4:39:49 PM PDT by Dog Gone
To: Dog Gone
I'm all for this proposal, but it doesn't go far enough. As far as my firewall tells me, more bandwidth is consumed on
Qwest (my ISP) by port scanning than by email spam. I get about 150 port scans per hour, compared to about 10 spam emails
per day.
21 posted on 06/22/2004 4:40:38 PM PDT by lonevoice (Some things have to be believed to be seen)
To: Dog Gone
I've use that as a helpful tool to get rid of nasties at times.
22 posted on 06/22/2004 4:42:39 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
To: Dog Gone
This is utterly ridiculous: Punishing the victim!
23 posted on 06/22/2004 4:43:04 PM PDT by FairOpinion (If you are not voting for Bush, you are voting for the terrorists.)
To: Dog Gone
One more question, I receive enough spam and deleted virus messages (the messages from my ISP tells me that
viruses were intercepted and deleted) every couple of hours that I have thought about changing my dialup account name altogether.
Does anyone know if any ISPs are willing to rename an account or do I have to close it completely and then open up a brand
new account?
I figure if I no longer am "johndoe@thisismydialup.com" then I can't be blamed for sending viruses or spam as "johndoe@thisismydialup".
Some people change their credit card account number every year to block identity theft. Does it seem unreasonable to do
the same with your online identity?
24 posted on 06/22/2004 4:43:53 PM PDT by weegee (Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them. ~~Ronald Reagan)
To: Arthalion
That's what I was afraid of. Good article, thanks. I'd just hate to see my mom yanked off the internet for a problem that
existed long before she and zillions of other "zombies" got on the internet. She's old. She's frail. She doesn't see well.
And every time the computer hiccups, she's ready to chuck the whole thing out the window, lol. Took me and my brother forever
to convince her that email was a wonderful thing.
To: Dog Gone
How would a consumer know if he or she became an unwitting spammer?
In my case, McAfee software pops up any time I send 5 or more identical or near identical E-Mails and asks if I am aware
of them.
Roadrunner allows me to send unlimited E-mails, but if I wish to send over 100/day I must log on and notify them
first.
So9
26 posted on 06/22/2004 4:52:04 PM PDT by Servant of the 9 (Screwing the Inscrutable or is it Scruting the Inscrewable?)
To: Dog Gone
How would a consumer know if he or she became an unwitting spammer?
McAfee (and probably Norton and others) offers privacy software that will warn you if the same email is being sent too
often in a short period of time. It will prompt you to allow the email or reject the send and stop the email.
-PJ
To: Dog Gone
One does have to wonder how well Apple's OS would fair if it were the target of choice for hackers, crackers and spammers!
To: weegee
It probably depends on your ISP. It couldn't hurt to call them and ask.
I have three email accounts that all feed into my email inbox. 99% of the spam, and 100% of the infected emails are associated
with one of those addresses, an email address from an ISP that was bought out by my current ISP. I need to eliminate that
one, but I can't do it from my computer. The forwarding of that email occurs at the ISP level. I'm getting about four viruses
per day, but Norton is catching them.
29 posted on 06/22/2004 4:54:35 PM PDT by Dog Gone
To: Servant of the 9; Political Junkie Too
Do you recall the software title? As much as I hate spam, I'd certainly feel guilty if some trojan on my computer was contributing
to the problem.
30 posted on 06/22/2004 4:58:49 PM PDT by Dog Gone
To: jwpjr
I'd be plenty tweaked off if they pulled that on me. I keep my system clean and up-to-date with security patches. I sit
behind a hardware firewall, have Norton scanning outgoing email and don't use Look Out! Express. Still, I get the occasional
complaint from someone thinking that he's been spammed from my address.
How? From trojans and worms in OTHER PEOPLE'S
MACHINES. I run a fairly popular website and respond to email questions that people send in. My address goes into their address
books. If the aforementioned nitwit gets infected with a worm or trojan that harvests addresses from the user's address book,
I can suddenly appear to be peddling Viagra, cable descramblers, DVD-copying software and cut-rate mortgages. Can't tell you
how much that infuriates me!
But it's not as much as I was infuriated by a message that I got, supposedly from "Support"
at a domain that I happen to own. As the domain owner, I administer the email users, and I have never created a user named
"Support." The nerve of these bastards!
I have comprehensive filters in place to reduce the spam, and am amazed at
the tricks these jerks are coming up with to get around them. Most amazing is that they think I might possibly be interested
in buying something from them after they have managed to irritate me by using deception and trickery to get past my filters.
It's like having someone break into your house in the middle of the night, sleep on your couch, fill the house with burnt-toast
odor, put his bare feet on your kitchen table and greet you with "Hi -- wanna buy some alumimum siding?" as you crawl out
of bed in the morning.
I say give 'em a job as foreign communications workers and send 'em to Iraq...
To: LibWhacker
I'd just hate to see my mom yanked off the internet for a problem that existed long before she and zillions
of other "zombies" got on the internet
Having...trouble...breathing...ROFLOLOLOL.
I hope this was sarcasm, because it's one of the funniest things I've read in a while. ROFL. And if it's not sarcasm, you
won't understand why I think it's so funny. LOL.
32 posted on 06/22/2004 5:03:17 PM PDT by Malsua
To: Dog Gone
It's part of the McAfee Internet Security 6.0 suite, which includes VirusScan 8.0, Privacy Service, and SpamKiller.
VirusScan will trap multiple emails being sent. Privacy Service will allow you to customize prompts for cookies, programs
launching other programs, programs accessing the internet, personal data being sent, etc, as well as restricting child access
to the internet (specific sites and time of day). SpamKiller will intercept spam before it gets into your Outlook or Outlook
Express inbox and allow you to purge it or accept it.
-PJ
To: Dog Gone
I have cleaned up 3 friends machines in the last month. The spy ware and viruses on their machines were appalling.
34 posted on 06/22/2004 5:15:43 PM PDT by SeeRushToldU_So (Democrats are enemies of the USA.)
To: Malsua
And if it's not sarcasm, you won't understand why I think it's so funny. LOL.
I think I may understand why . . . You think the problem didn't start until they first came aboard? Well, if so
. . . I was here before almost any of them came aboard and the net was already lousy with spammers when I arrived, almost
all of them academic rejects. No, I do not think we can blame the unwashed masses for this one.
To: weegee
I have Time-Warner's Road Runner and was a target of a Denial of Service attack. Security changed my IP address in half
an hour. No problem. I have the WinXP Pro SP-1 firewall and Blackice Defender running which warned me of these attacks.
36 posted on 06/22/2004 5:19:42 PM PDT by BobS
To: Political Junkie Too
I purchased and installed Spamkiller, but my computer hated it, and continually locked up. I couldn't even do
a simple uninstall to get rid of it.
In my computer's defense, I'm running that horrible Windows ME, which is the worst version of Windows ever released. I'm
going to have to take a long weekend to backup my data, find my installation disks, and install a new OS.
I'm pretty happy with my Norton virus protection, but it doesn't have that same feature as VirusScan. I may have to switch
to that after I complete the OS overhaul.
37 posted on 06/22/2004 5:25:19 PM PDT by Dog Gone
To: SeeRushToldU_So
That spyware and other crap hijacked my browser a few weeks ago. I ran AdAware and found a folder with a .dll and another
foreign file without a source/date stamp was located. Moved them somewhere else and rebooted. No more problem. I think I clicked
on an ad in some spam the day before. I will never do that again. I'll search out reputable businesses to deal with on my
own.
38 posted on 06/22/2004 5:29:45 PM PDT by BobS
To: Dog Gone
o you recall the software title? As much as I hate spam, I'd certainly feel guilty if some trojan on my computer
was contributing to the problem.
I think it's part of the firewall programs they offer.
Mcafee.com
39 posted on 06/22/2004 5:32:50 PM PDT by Servant of the 9 (Screwing the Inscrutable or is it Scruting the Inscrewable?)
To: Dog Gone
Ah just wait for the corporate version of XP Pro SP-2 to show up on the newsgroups in a few weeks:):)
40 posted on 06/22/2004 5:33:54 PM PDT by BobS
To: LibWhacker
You think the problem didn't start until they first came aboard? Well, if so . . . I was here before almost
any of them came aboard and the net was already lousy with spammers when I arrived, almost all of them academic rejects. No,
I do not think we can blame the unwashed masses for this one.
Heh, no. Nothing of the sort. I've been around on Usenet since about 1989 and on Fidonet back to about 84 or so. Spam wasn't
much of an issue until about 1994 or 95 when AOL started dragging in masses of people. But, that's not what's so funny.
Zombies are NOT old folks or the uninformed. The mental image of a bunch of geezers causing this problem is quite funny.
In reality, Zombies in this instance simply means trojaned computers controlled by hackers and spammers. It all started with
the Sub-Seven trojan or at least that was the first widely used one. The controller tricks people into installing the trojan
and the trojan contacts a private IRC chat room and awaits commands. Once enough trojan'd machines (zombies) are available,
the hacker can then do many things(spam, DOS attacks, smurfs, syns you name it). There are guys out there with networks of
hundreds or thousands of zombies that do his bidding. Virtual Zombie armies.
The fact that you thought that the article was calling the newbs, old folks and uninformed as Zombies cracked me up. LOL.
Why, mostly because I call several family members zombies, but for the reason you stated, not as to what the article was referring
to. Heh.
41 posted on 06/22/2004 5:38:20 PM PDT by Malsua
To: Dog Gone
While they're at it, how about getting a rebate for every time one logs on to their ISP and it is down, or you're booted
off in two minutes?
To: BobS; WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
This is a screen shot of the first pass with Ad Aware on the last computer I worked on.
After I ran Ad Aware with updates, I removed 57 more files.
43 posted on 06/22/2004 5:39:25 PM PDT by SeeRushToldU_So (Democrats are enemies of the USA.)
To: BobS
I've got an XP Professional OS disk which I'm planning to use. My concern is that when installing it, I'm subject
to all the security holes it has before I can download the numerous patches that have been issued since it was created.
Grrr, I hate internet terrorists and the attacks they make. Beheading is too kind to them.
44 posted on 06/22/2004 5:39:31 PM PDT by Dog Gone
To: SeeRushToldU_So
45 posted on 06/22/2004 5:41:40 PM PDT by Dog Gone
To: LibWhacker
Oh and if you click on my profile, I go into it in a bit more detail.
46 posted on 06/22/2004 5:43:02 PM PDT by Malsua
To: Dog Gone; WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
I also found two viruses, when I looked in his quaratine file, Norton had already isolated 75.
There is one little
file somewhere on his hard drive that I can't find that is still generating spyware. If I can't find it the next time I visit
him, I am going to fdisk him and start over.
I work cheap, a twelve pack will get several hours out of me....lol
47 posted on 06/22/2004 5:45:38 PM PDT by SeeRushToldU_So (Democrats are enemies of the USA.)
To: Dog Gone; WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
I have put all my security stuff on flash media or CD, and I install Zone Alarm and Ad-aware before going to get updates.
I also install Nortons before going online.
Tex you might want this info before you redo your computer.
48 posted on 06/22/2004 5:48:26 PM PDT by SeeRushToldU_So (Democrats are enemies of the USA.)
To: Dog Gone
It should have happened long ago. If you do not maintain your computer so spam and viruses are not spread, then
you should have it shut down.
The only way to stop this is to take serious action. Sad that it has to happen, but it
is very necessary.
To: Dog Gone
Anyone got any recommendations for a freeware email client to avoid all the Outlook Outlook Express flaws?
Ideally
one which can import old Eudora or Outlook files would be good.,...
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Skip to comments.
Plan would shut down spam-sending computers (maybe yours)
Reuters ^ | June 22, 2004
Posted on 06/22/2004 4:07:02 PM PDT by Dog Gone
click here to read article
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To: Dog Gone
"How would a consumer know if he or she became an unwitting spammer?"
Many tools are available
for virus/spam detection. All relays should be closed. Applying all patches to your MS system is a great, and easy way to
start.
To: SeeRushToldU_So
>> There is one little file somewhere on his hard drive that I can't find that is still generating spyware.<<
Turn on view hidden files, look in the system32 folder. I'll bet you find 6-8 files of recent date(I.e. likely the
most recent files in the list). It's the Peper trojan and it drags in other spyware. You have to clean it in safe made.
I
don't know how people get this one, but I'm seeing it regularly now from people who did nothing to get it. I think it's a
popup vector, but I'm unsure.
-Mal
52 posted on 06/22/2004 5:51:36 PM PDT by Malsua
To: SeeRushToldU_So
I only had 19 viruses quarantined in Norton a couple of minutes ago. But I last emptied it on Saturday.
Care to drive to Houston this weekend for some refreshments? ;-)
53 posted on 06/22/2004 5:52:31 PM PDT by Dog Gone
To: SeeRushToldU_So
I have put all my security stuff on flash media or CD, and I install Zone Alarm and Ad-aware before going
to get updates.
That sounds like good advice. I'm using Black Ice instead of Zone Alarm, but that probably should protect me during the
process. I hope.
54 posted on 06/22/2004 5:56:21 PM PDT by Dog Gone
To: Malsua
I just bookmarked your homepage. I feel pretty smart knowing I am doing about 85% of what you recommend. I have no formal
training with computers.
You are an excellent source of info.
Thanks!
55 posted on 06/22/2004 6:01:06 PM PDT by SeeRushToldU_So (Democrats are enemies of the USA.)
To: Malsua
I was able to delete one folder in Safe Mode that kept reappearing. He had to go to work and I will follow up with him
in the next week.
56 posted on 06/22/2004 6:02:43 PM PDT by SeeRushToldU_So (Democrats are enemies of the USA.)
To: Dog Gone
" I've got an XP Professional OS disk which I'm planning to use."
You have to shut down all the Services you don't need. There are a lot if you aren't on a home network. You don't need
netbios on an outside line, for one. There are websites that tell you what you don't need. Then turn on the firewall.
Why not free up a partition and dual-boot with ME? If one system goes bad, you have the other! All you get is a startup
screen for 25 seconds with a choice.
57 posted on 06/22/2004 6:08:56 PM PDT by BobS
To: Dog Gone
...way to go, Microsloth. The plan would disconnect most Windows computers from the Internet. Viruses set more MS Windows
computers up to relay spam than most users have any idea of. This is because most crackers/virus writers use Windows machines.
And that is because Windows GUIs for programmers allow such malicious programs to be written most easily (and with less education)
on those machines.
Now MS and its henchmen want to cut their own customers off of the Net. ...real swift.
58 posted on 06/22/2004 6:11:57 PM PDT by familyop (Essayons)
To: SeeRushToldU_So
" After I ran Ad Aware with updates, I removed 57 more files."
I think you should get your provider to change your IP address or change your email address or both. You have a nasty problem.
A switch is the only answer.
59 posted on 06/22/2004 6:12:44 PM PDT by BobS
To: BobS
Hmmm, I've never considered that. In fact, I've never heard of it being done. Would that automatically give me a choice
of OS, or would I have to change my BIOS settings after I encountered problems to boot from the other OS?
60 posted on 06/22/2004 6:15:39 PM PDT by Dog Gone
To: PetroniusMaximus
"***Internet users also could be limited on the amount of e-mail they send out each day ***"
Yes, that would limit
Internet media competition against MS and its friends (like AOL, et al). They would not shut conservative newsletters down
by evidence so much as shut them down by using their hordes of lawyers to do so.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
gave $8.8 million to the Planned Parenthood Federation.
http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/women/12/11/health.women.gates.reut/
"Microsoft offers source code to China"
http://itmatters.com.ph/news/news_03032003a.html
(removed from major news sites)
Gates: Buy stamps to send e-mail
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/internet/03/05/spam.charge.ap/
Bill Gates against repealing the inheritance tax
http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript_inheritance.html
"Soros, one of the wealthiest men in the world, promised $15.5
million to defeating President Bush. Also on this
list are
Bill Gates,..."
http://www.americasvoices.org/archives2003/CoxJ/CoxJ_112403.htm
The Left-Wing Billionaire Collectivist Pigs
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/9/25/191020.shtml
Billionaire Collectivist Pigs on a Roll
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/10/11/171315.shtml
"Gun-Control Group Changes Name, Keeps Agenda"
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=%5C%5CNation%5C%5Carchive%5C%5C200106%5C%5CNAT20010615a.html
(and Bill is a contributor)
"Is Bill Gates a closet liberal?"
http://archive.salon.com/21st/feature/1998/01/cov_29feature.html
(Bill Gates for gun control, pro-abortion, etc.)
http://vikingphoenix.com/news/madminute/1997/mm970040.htm
(Gates on gun control)
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/july-dec97/guns_11-4.html
(more money for gun control from Gates and his father)
"Bill Gates Is No Free Market Hero"
http://brian.carnell.com/articles/2000/12/000046.html
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/opinion/datelinedc/s_176864.html
Windows XP Shows the Direction Microsoft is Going
http://www.hevanet.com/peace/microsoft.htm
"the changing politics of Bill Gates" (national review, john j. miller)
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m1282/2_51/53662235/p1/article.jhtml
2002 Feb 2, In NYC protesters of the World Economic Forum turned
out in large numbers. Inside foreign economic
leaders criticized
the US for protectionist policies, and Bill Gates and U2 rock star
Bono pushed for increases in
foreign aid by rich countries to poor
countries."
http://timelines.ws/days/02_02.HTML
"Software, soft money, and Libertarians"
http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0039/news-anderson.shtml
[Bill gives money to both sides--whoever supports Microsoft and extreme social left policies. ...includes Barney Frank.]
Client testimonials, Bill Gates in China, Bill Clinton in China
http://www.beijinghighlights.com/testimonials/testimonials.htm
"State-owned Software Firm Ties up with Microsoft China"
http://fpeng.peopledaily.com.cn/200107/07/eng20010707_74398.html
61 posted on 06/22/2004 6:16:14 PM PDT by familyop (Essayons)
To: Dog Gone
About 6 months ago Cox cable bounced my daughter's family PC off line because it had become infected was being
used as a Trojan. They run the MS updates daily now.
I use a Mac with Netscape and Eudora mail and I am reluctant to
run a Spam filter because I am a daily buyer on eBay. I check my eMail on the Cox Cable mail server and delete the spam before
downloading...
62 posted on 06/22/2004 6:21:33 PM PDT by tubebender (If I had known I would live this long I would have taken better care of myself...)
To: Dog Gone
" I only had 19 viruses...a couple of minutes ago
You should change your dating habits:)
JUST KIDDING!!!!!!! (I couldn't resist, LOL!)
Bob
63 posted on 06/22/2004 6:24:19 PM PDT by BobS
To: BobS
My wife might object, but it sounds like a plan to me.
64 posted on 06/22/2004 6:27:33 PM PDT by Dog Gone
To: Dog Gone
That's the most unheard-of thing I've ever heard of. Nobody can take control of my computer - nobody. I tell
you, I'm a professional in this business and
DEAR SIR,
CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL
HAVING CONSULTED WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND BASED ON THE INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE NIGERIAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
AND INDUSTRY, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO REQUEST FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF $47,500,000.00 (FORTY SEVEN MILLION,
FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) INTO YOUR ACCOUNTS. THE ABOVE SUM RESULTED FROM AN OVER-INVOICED CONTRACT, EXECUTED
COMMISSIONED AND PAID FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS (5) AGO BY A FOREIGN CONTRACTOR. THIS ACTION WAS HOWEVER INTENTIONAL AND SINCE
THEN THE FUND HAS BEEN IN A SUSPENSE ACCOUNT AT THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA APEX BANK.
WE ARE NOW READY TO TRANSFER THE FUND OVERSEAS AND THAT IS WHERE YOU COME IN. IT IS IMPORTANT TO INFORM YOU
THAT AS CIVIL SERVANTS, WE ARE FORBIDDEN TO OPERATE A FOREIGN ACCOUNT; THAT IS WHY WE REQUIRE YOUR ASSISTANCE. THE TOTAL SUM
WILL BE SHARED AS FOLLOWS: 70% FOR US, 25% FOR YOU AND 5% FOR LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPENSES INCIDENT TO THE TRANSFER.
THE TRANSFER IS RISK FREE ON BOTH SIDES. I AM AN ACCOUNTANT WITH THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
(NNPC). IF YOU FIND THIS PROPOSAL ACCEPTABLE, WE SHALL REQUIRE THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS:
(A) YOUR BANKER'S NAME, TELEPHONE, ACCOUNT AND FAX NUMBERS.
(B) YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS -- FOR CONFIDENTIALITY AND EASY COMMUNICATION.
(C) YOUR LETTER-HEADED PAPER STAMPED AND SIGNED.
ALTERNATIVELY WE WILL FURNISH YOU WITH THE TEXT OF WHAT TO TYPE INTO YOUR LETTER-HEADED PAPER, ALONG WITH
A BREAKDOWN EXPLAINING, COMPREHENSIVELY WHAT WE REQUIRE OF YOU. THE BUSINESS WILL TAKE US THIRTY (30) WORKING DAYS TO ACCOMPLISH.
PLEASE REPLY URGENTLY.
BEST REGARDS
BILLTUTU DRILLABONGA
To: Malsua
Heck, I remember some news groups were already becoming overrun with spam as early as '88 or so, when I first
began checking them out. And it definitely wasn't the AOL crowd back then.
I'm glad "zombies" doesn't refer to clueless newbies. They get called enough bad names!
To: LibWhacker
I agree. I was referring to email spam. Usenet has been polluted with ponzi schemes and tons of other spam since I
started visiting. Back then, the number of folks on were well within the ability of a good admin to kill the articles.
It's
a big mess. Death to spammers :).
67 posted on 06/22/2004 6:42:26 PM PDT by Malsua
To: Billthedrill
I got the same fake email.
68 posted on 06/22/2004 6:44:25 PM PDT by BobS
To: Dog Gone
"My wife might object, but it sounds like a plan to me."
LOL! But maybe your wife clicks on those stupid emails? Fix that, and your dating habits don't need to change:):)
69 posted on 06/22/2004 6:48:19 PM PDT by BobS
To: BobS
This isn't my computer, that screenshot was from a computer I was repairing. I would cut my powercord if mine ever got
that bad...lol.
70 posted on 06/22/2004 6:57:26 PM PDT by SeeRushToldU_So (Democrats are enemies of the USA.)
To: Androcles
Mozilla Thunderbird (free) is a great e-mail program and the "Import" feature under "Tools" will import Addresses,
Settings, and mail.
Mozilla Thunderbird
71 posted on 06/22/2004 7:48:38 PM PDT by rw4site (Little men want Big Government! This little old man just wants a bigger computer!! ;-))
To: rw4site
Cheers for that. I'll give it a try.
To: rw4site
Cheers for that. I'll give it a try.
To: Malsua
Amazing coincidence that we were just discussing this. Check this out. Just posted to Drudge's website. I'm gonna write Microsoft and AOL and ask them to please quit pointing the finger at my
dear old mom, lol!
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