“More and more PC owners are discovering software lurking on their computers that they had no idea was there – software that can snoop, destroy or simply reproduce itself in droves,” report Katie Hafner with Michael Falcone. “The SoBig and Blaster worms that have been invading computer systems worldwide for several weeks are slowing down. But the two intruders left behind software that could linger undetected for months.”
“‘Both SoBig and Blaster have components that are actively trying to communicate or reach out to master servers without the knowledge of the user,’ said Vincent Weafer, a senior director at Symantec Security Response, part of the software company that makes Norton AntiVirus,” Hafner and Falcone report.
“The alien programs extend well beyond viruses and worms – so named because of the way they spread, as the most familiar carriers of malicious code – to new categories known as spyware and adware. Indeed, the number of home PC’s that are infested with alien software that comes in over the Internet and installs itself without the knowledge or consent of the PC user is increasing at an alarming rate,” Hafner and Falcone report. “Richard M. Smith, a computer security expert in Brookline, Mass., estimates that one in every two Windows computers has unsolicited software lurking within.”
“Vulnerabilities in Microsoft software have only made matters worse. People who use the Macintosh or Linux operating systems are safer, as are those who use Netscape Communicator. Some spyware exploits security holes in Internet Explorer, both because it has more flaws, said Mr. Smith, the computer security expert, and because it is the most widely used browser on the market,” Hafner and Falcone report.
“Microsoft officials say it is not the holes in its software but the people who write spyware and viruses that are the problem. The end user, they say, is ultimately responsible for what gets downloaded onto a hard drive,” Hafner and Falcone report.
“…people feel overwhelmed by the abundance of software they have not asked for, especially when it comes to monitoring, managing and safeguarding against it. [PC user Stephanie Kibler] said that it was hard to keep up with all the new threats, and that computer companies did not make it simple enough for the average user to deal with problems like the ones that afflicted her family’s machine. ‘When you give someone the car keys, you also teach them how to drive,’ she said. ‘How could you expect regular everyday users to be able to figure this out? The expectation is not reasonable,'” Hafner and Falcone report.
Full article “Heart of Darkness, on a Desktop” here.
And those “homeland security” fools just made a deal with Microsoft for how much??
It boggles the mind, the utter stupidity.
Uh they were hasty with 90 million, I believe. Hasty with a dollar or ten dollars is okay. But, hasty with 90 million of my taxpayer money???? I have a problem with that.
“Microsoft officials say it is not the holes in its software but the people who write spyware and viruses that are the problem. The end user, they say, is ultimately responsible for what gets downloaded onto a hard drive.” – MS blames the hacker AND the user; finger pointing to everyone but themselves.
How is it the user’s fault? If I buy a car and the locks don’t work, who’s to blame. Yea, the criminal shouldn’t be stealing cars, but the manufacturer sold me a product that they claim is “safe and secure”, but it turns out to be a lie, even after the latest upgrades. How is that the user’s fault? Did we park it in a “bad” neighborhood? There were no signs saying it was a bad place to park, it looked so friendly.
How can the end user be responsible when the system FAILS TO INFORM the user what is being installed?!! …or worse, never ASKS the user’s permission to install it?!
Now the accessories have holes; Internet Explorer, Office, etc. “We knew the trunk (boot) wasn’t too secure, and we knew you could get from the trunk to the driver’s seat (a “convenience feature”), but we didn’t know that it could be a security problem. Regardless, it’s NOT our fault.”
Users are obviously opening email from their friends, browsing the internet, attached to a network, and not updating their system daily (hourly?). They told you that none of these are safe but you do it anyway. I guess it IS the user’s fault. Microsoft security is 100% effective as long as you have NO communication with ANY other computer or use ANY of your friend’s disks, and you only play Solitaire for 30 minutes with the lights off on Sunday nights after 11pm.
Even if you could check your hard drive minute-to-minute for anything that was downloaded (it’s not as if the cryptically titled MS files indicate what is good and bad), it would be too late – you’re infected!
About that $90 million to MS:
Ridge doesn’t just hand over the money. He agreed to work with MS in principle, but the money has yet to be allocated and the spending of it must be approved. We just heard from MDN of another wing of the G telling the DoHS that this was a bad idea. It is still possible for them to pull back from the deal and go another route. Remember, nothing happens quickly in the government.
Obviously, the solution is to hold users responsible for any worms and viruses on their own systems!
Patriot II should criminalize all Windows users, thereby enabling the Fatherland – sorry, Homeland Security – to release patriotic spyware & PC Anywhere remote control so Ashcroft and Cheney can take care of us, since the average computer user isn’t savvy enough to take care of him- or herself.
Looks like the old mantra “PC runs more software” is biting back.
Never like these days it is a factual truth: PCs even run software their rightful owners have no idea about!
It is not *more* software rather *too much* software !!
LOL
In my mind, the homeland security deal is much less about the money they spent and more about where and what they spend it on. I really hope that all of these latest viruses and found security flaws serve as a wake up call to the Gov’s around the world to stay away from MS.
“”Microsoft officials say it is not the holes in its software but the people who write spyware and viruses that are the problem. The end user, they say, is ultimately responsible for what gets downloaded onto a hard drive,” Hafner and Falcone report.”
Wouldn’t it be nice if the people who sold Wintel PC’s pointed this out BEFORE you made a purchase?
John Ashcroft said in an interview that he uses a Mac at home and “really likes it”.
BG3 manufactures chainlink fence with a nine inch spread, and claims its the dogs fault that he got in and pooped on your porch.
Uh huh.
A secure Windows computer is an un-plugged Windows computer!
John Ashcroft plugging for anything is NOT a good thing. That would be a negative for Apple if John is promoting Macs.
What the F#%& does “John Ashcroft plugging for anything is NOT a good thing. That would be a negative for Apple if John is promoting Macs. mean? Is this a logical statement? Just another irrational rabid liberal.
Geeeeez, just go away.
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