The Microsoft Tax: New attack bypasses every Windows XP security product tested; Mac unaffected

“Security researchers at Matousec.com have come up with an ingenious attack that can bypass every Windows security product tested and allow malicious code to make its way to your system… While Vista and 7 users are safe, some 60% of PCs still use XP,” Adrian Kingsley-Hughes reports for ZDNet.

“Yes, you read that right – every Windows security product tested,” Kingsley-Hughes reports. “And the list is both huge and sobering.”

“The attack, called KHOBE (Kernel HOok Bypassing Engine), leverages a Windows module called the System Service Descriptor Table, or SSDT, which is hooked up to the Windows kernel,” Kingsley-Hughes reports. “Unfortunately, SSDT is utilized by antivirus software.”

Kingsley-Hughes reports, “Oh, and don’t think that just because you are running as a standard user that you’re safe, you’re not. This attack doesn’t need admin rights.”

Full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: Life’s too short. Stop wasting your time. Stop stressing out. Get a Mac.

[Updated: 1:04pm EDT: Added XP in headline and XP info in first quoted paragraph. Thanks “Islandgirl for the heads up]