“Symantec Corp.’s leading antivirus software, which protects some of the world’s largest corporations and U.S. government agencies, suffers from a flaw that lets hackers seize control of computers to steal sensitive data, delete files or implant malicious programs, researchers said Thursday,” Ted Bridis reports for The Associated Press.
“Symantec said it was investigating the issue but could not immediately corroborate the vulnerability. If confirmed, the threat to computer users would be severe because the security software is so widely used, and because no action is required by victims using the latest versions of Norton Antivirus to suffer a crippling attack over the Internet,” Bridis reports. “Symantec has boasted its antivirus products are installed on more than 200 million computers.”
“Researchers from eEye Digital Security Inc. of Aliso Viejo, Calif., discovered the vulnerability and provided evidence to Symantec engineers this week, said eEye’s chief hacking officer, Marc Maiffret. He demonstrated the attack for The Associated Press,” Bridis reports.
Full article here.
eEye Digital Security describes the Symantec flaw: “A remotely exploitable vulnerability exists within the Symantec Antivirus program. This flaw does not require any end user interaction for exploitation and can compromise affected systems, allowing for the execution of malicious code with SYSTEM level access. Severity: High.”
eEye Digital Security Advisory: http://www.eeye.com/html/research/upcoming/20060524.html
MacDailyNews Take: Some of the world’s largest corporations and U.S. government agencies wouldn’t be suffering today if they had picked the superior platform in the first place. They wanted cheap; they got it. As always, Mac users should not purchase Symantec (or McAfee) products. Do not patronize scare-mongering leeches that are in panic mode because Mafiasoft has decided to muscle in on their action.
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“Symantec Antivirus software flaw allows hackers to seize control of PCs without user interaction”
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
Your move, Alberto Gonzales.
“Researchers from eEye Digital Security Inc. of Aliso Viejo, Calif., discovered the vulnerability . . .”
This is very bad news, stock market is going to crash.
And another reason why we DONT run there junk…
From previous MDN headlines:
Symantec CEO: We think more people ought to buy Apple Macs
Can anybody else smell “conspiracy”? I’m wondering if Symantic is sabotaging its own software to retaliate… Is that a crazy idea?
Wow. That’s all I can say.
Cubert: I think I found a
” rel=”nofollow”>picture of you from your childhood.
Symantec IS a virus.
Rhapsody is also a virus. just like real player.
“Symantec IS a virus.”
I suspected that as well. So, I searched for a layout of their headquarters and I stumbled across a site map of their facilities.
Ampar: And now he looks like this
LOL! – Nice, rasterbator!
Turns out that Barney is secretly planning Symantec’s every move.
Transcripts from a private investigator hired to track Symantec’s new wonder boy:
Barney: Hello, my name is Barney Gumble, and I’m an alcoholic.
Lisa: Mr Gumble, this is a girl scouts meeting.
Barney: Is it, or is it you girls can’t admit that you have a problem?
Barney: Hey, Homer, I’m worried about the beer supply. After this case, and the other case, there’s only one case left.
Barney: 40 dollars!? This better be the best damn beer ever.. [drinks beer] You got lucky.
Barney: Aaah! Natural light! Get it off me! Get it off me!
Barney: Hey, can I throw up in your bathroom? I’ll buy something.
Barney: Whoa, someone smells stinky! Oh, its me.
In other news:
Fire alarms set fire to homes … and gov. offices … and computers …
Un-F-ing believable. And people still pay for that PC crap..
Mac users should not purchase Symantec (or McAfee) products
I totally agree, but I just came from a Apple Store and there is Symantec Norton AV widely displayed next to Mac’s!!!
Totally unneeded and stupid of Apple to set software like that next to Mac’s much less even sell the garbage.
Shouldn’t Throw Stones.
Remember that the next time they start spreading FUD about OS X.
Ampar
You’re on a roll dude; keep it up!
Thanks, MikeR! Next up, the cast of the Surreal World will fight for commercial spots touting Symantec’s superior software. It’s gonna get fugly.
Looks like some disgruntled former employee in Symantec’s virus production and development department (come on, of course they have one) left them a little surprise.
Somebody please call Symantec’s CEO. I want to here him lecture me about my Mac’s vuneralbilities. I think I wil laugh much harder ths time.
“Somebody please call Symantec’s CEO.”
That was weird. His line was busy. I thought he had Call Waiting.
Isn’t irony delicious?
I’ll stick with Intego Anti-Virus…made by Mac users for Mac users, and you don’t need a non-existent browser to buy it…
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MW=points; I sent MDN a CNN link — don’t I get a few points for that? 😀
justme2: You get 35 points. Redeemable for a free cocktail olive at any venue in Branson, Missouri.
Microsoft CEO Says Windows Vista on Track – funniest headline currently on Google news.
. . . deserves everything it gets.
Let’s throw a schadenfreude party!
Another Windows vuln? Yawn. Do you know ANYBODY who was affected? I didn’t think so. Maybe they will be, maybe not.
Just run anti-virus software and a PC is as safe as your overpriced $600+ Macs.
I alway thought Mac users should not install anti-virus software. They only increase the number of potential risk.
Wow. Just Wow.
So if you use Windows, do you run without AV and open yourself up to malware, or install Norton AV and open yourself up to malware?