Number of computers hit by Windows worm has skyrocketed to well over 8 million!

sk3

News link.

FTA wrote:

Microsoft said that the worm searches for a Windows file called “services.exe”, and then embeds itself as part of that code. From there, it is able to burrow deep into the operating system, even changing the System Registry, which stores settings and options for Windows, to trick the machine into running the infected program...Anti-virus experts at F-Secure said the level of infections by the worm was “skyrocketing” and the situation was “getting worse”.

Microsoft windows users are strongly advised to up date their operating system, antivirus programs and firewalls and to apply the relevant security patches.

Linux users, as usual, need not be concerned at all.

DatabaseError

a vulnerability fixed by a patch released October 23, 2008, no reason why anyone (with automatic updates turned on) should worry

devizes18193

Ok here is a question .I have instaled umbuthu 8.10 using wubi . would it be less secure then if i had installed it normally

DatabaseError

^ As thread hijacking goes, that's a great one

[Deleted User]

DatabaseError wrote: »

a vulnerability fixed by a patch released October 23, 2008, no reason why anyone (with automatic updates turned on) should worry

Regardless of what operating system you use, you should always have the latest updates installed. That's one of the base principals of computer security, and not just only applicable to Windows.

sk3

DatabaseError wrote: »

a vulnerability fixed by a patch released October 23, 2008, no reason why anyone (with automatic updates turned on) should worry

Tell that to the people who own those 8 million and rising infected computers.

isofa

anewhope wrote: »

Regardless of what operating system you use, you should always have the latest updates installed. That's one of the base principals of computer security, and not just only applicable to Windows.

Absolutely agree. It's complacent users, which presumably the Telegraph article is referring to, those who don't keep systems up-to-date.

isofa

sk3 wrote: »

Tell that to the people who own those 8 million and rising infected computers.

That's exactly what I would tell them. I'd tell them they should have kept their systems up-to-date, and their anti-virus fully up-to-date and followed the basic rules, don't open attachments, don't use dodgy websites etc

sk3

isofa wrote: »

That's exactly what I would tell them. I'd tell them they should have kept their systems up-to-date, and their anti-virus fully up-to-date and followed the basic rules, don't open attachments, don't use dodgy websites etc

Hey now, I was referring to the rather dismissive attitude about this serious issue affecting millions of Windows users.

DatabaseError

sk3 wrote: »

Tell that to the people who own those 8 million and rising infected computers.

If I spoke Russian, or Chinese, I could explain that having updates turned off (in order to prevent microsoft targeting their illegal copies of the OS) is a bad thing...then again, working on the assumption that piracy really is the reason for having updates turned off, they deserve what they get.
Obviously, lack of net access is another possibility, but in the 2 countries with the biggest reputation for piracy....

[Deleted User]

sk3 wrote: »

Hey now, I was referring to your rather dismissive attitude about this serious issue affecting millions of Windows users.

All that has to be done is to install the update and the situation no longer becomes a concern.