Comments on: Windows worms knocking out computers

Network worms are shutting down computers running Windows 2000, security experts warned.

[Mendz]

How sad...

It's no reason to be happy with Windows nor is it any reason to be happy with Linux or Mac. The point is, there are people who intends for this things to happen. I don't think Windows is the focus here. I agree with the article that the focus is statistics. Damage can be done and it so it is being done. Too bad, Windows is the easy target and the result can be great numbers.

[Had_to_be_said]

Does anybody else detect a distinctly-recognizable scent..?

Microsoft seems to be walking a tight-rope between having enough security-problems to convince people to accept the Draconian-measures inherent in "Trusted Computing", ...and trying to avoid a level of anger, and distrust, that would finally convince general-consumers just how unqualified Microsoft is to be allowed to "...lead the industry".

Thats why I find this particular "Win2k security-incident" to be so amazing.

First, it only affected a "retired" OS.

Oh, ...if only Microsoft had been able to force people and companies, to upgrade to new Microsoft-products when Microsoft wanted them to.

And, a "patch" had just been released, but not installed by many.

Oh, ...if only Microsoft could "update", and "reconfigure" consumers-computers, whether they wanted it, or not.

Also, Microsoft had just "publicly released" information of the "security-flaws" existences.

Oh, ...if only Microsoft could keep "Product-Flaws" secret from the "...public".

And finally, because of this highly-publicized incident, ...there are now so many "pundits" who are "spontaneously" calling for, exactly those elements of "Trusted Computing" and "public-policy" that Microsoft most wants to implement (and BTW are slated to be installed in "Vista", ...formerly "Longhorn").

Oh, ...if only, virtually the entire computer-industrys consumer-base would just stop fighting Microsofts clearly self-interested control, and "lock-in" regimes, ...Microsoft could finally roll-out the core of "Trusted Computing" and make computers "safe".


Of course, some ARE pointing out that, basically, Microsoft had created this situation in the first place by creating yet another UNSTABLE, UNSAFE product and selling it to millions of unsuspecting-consumers.

But, I will admit that all of this is probably just another "conspiracy theory". After all, Microsoft HAS NEVER actually been caught employing "...less than ethical tactics". And Microsoft HAS NEVER stooped to "...media", and "...public, manipulation". And, Microsoft has certainly NEVER catalyzed or intentionally-manufactured news-events, favorable to Microsoft alone, solely to confuse "public-opinion", ...to move it towards a Microsoft-goal.

Besides, I REALLY DO believe that Microsoft REALLY IS THIS INCOMPETENT. And I REALLY DO also believe that, Microsoft-products REALLY ARE THAT BADLY-DESIGNED.

So, maybe, ...it really IS just an amazing series of coincidences.

[Tui Pohutukawa]

Well this is the big question,

isn't it: Is it all just MS incompetence at work, or are the security
flaws on purpose.

Makes me wonder: What actually drives the MS apologists? Do
so many people really enjoy being abused, in that they are
forced to carry the entire burden of securing their OS, and
letting MS off the hook? Is it a case of group-sadomasochism?
MS = SM.

What A SHAME

Looks like they can't even figure out most of this is comming out of the USA not other places. Maybe they should concentrate more on the United States rather than trying to blame someone else. These people aren't from different countries - They ARE from here.. Wonder how I know that??? Well MIRC would tell you they are not as broken english as we think :P LMFAO LMFAO MS and the Government need to wake up and realize this stuff is happening from here and they are remotely exploiting european PC's to make it LOOK like it's comming from -- u guessed it.. Doesn't take a moron to realize this.

Ignorance is Bliss?

The ignorance exhibited by the CNN news team while 'breaking' the story made me ill. I cannot express more disrespect and illregard for CNN after this series of 'reporting'.
It started with one of their fools telling us to shut down our PC's and telling us to 'just let this pass'. Then the reporting turned into what one would coincide with a human virus outbreak. In my humble opinion anyone who doesn't upgrade and keep tabs on their infrastructure deserves the downtime. Organizations must realize the need for skilled in house technical specialists. It is most obvious that CNN, even as the conglomerate they are were unprepared. To me this shows a lack of resources or skill in the IT department. I suspect this is going to be a problem for many small business's and organizations as well.
It's ashame CNN didn't advise companies to ensure that there IT departments are doing their jobs!

PEBCAK?

I run update on both servers and workstations, running win2k, win2k3 and winxp pro (My Dads and Sisters machines seem to be fine and they run home).

Just to be sure yesterday I ran a patch audit on each of my machines at home (we already do it here at work) and I came up with completely updated machines. (Custom app based on MS qchain system) Much like our machines here at work do. Now all of my machines here at work get updated via internal systems (Mostly MOM) as we are on a 150K+ machine network, but I have machines in the lab that use auto-update. Both systems seem to work fine.

However I will admit that a certain amount of machines don't get updated when we do pushes for a large number of reasons (They are off, crashed, in use, laptops, etc) but we know which machines they are and easily run the updates on them at a latter date. They run great.

Now that I know you are talking about push system instead of using auto-update (Wise for a large corperate network) I wonder what you are using and if maybe you just have the wrong solution for the job at hand. Regardless, if you can't get your updates to your machines on your own network where you control the PCs, servers, routers and switches and the application you us, I don't think it would matter what OS you where using, it's PEBCAK.