Microsoft's "Fix"

[socalgal]

Ok, this is a good one. Don't fix the security holes... just ban the attachments!

Good one, MS (NOT!). Is MS beginning to sound like a government entity here? Protect the user from his/her own ignorance - i.e., him/herself, instead of addressing the real problem? lol, too much.


MS Virus Antidote: Ban Attachments (http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-5529034.html?tag=prntfr)

[Steve R Jones]

Too wild. This is taking "protect the user from themselves" a little too far.

[krusty the klown]

Yeah, I read that the other day.... Nothing like curing the disease, rather than the symptoms, eh? Err... mebbe I got that the wrong way round.... Hmmm... nope, just checked: I'm not Microsoft http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Well, I can offer a fix to all known and as yet unknown bugs and crashes. It's called FDISK. No operating system, no crashes!

[randy48]

And ol Bill wonders why more and more people are going to Linux! What's the score? About 100K+ viruses for MS...2 for Linux!

[wyvrn]

The bigger MS gets, the more controlling they become with their products. Look at Whistler's copyright scheme. Someone needs to take over MS and kill the juggernaut. Software should be intended to accentuate productivity, not limit it. Once a software company starts legislating the needs of its users, it has worn out is usefulness.

[This message has been edited by wyvrn (edited 04-12-2001).]

[linux_guru]

I love Linux more & more, each day !

[Cops_yj1989]

That's why I stick with my Eudora/Yahoo combo......

[zskillz]

I read most of the article.. and here's what I think...

The reason that these viri are so devastating is because a good majority of the users (corporate workers) don't know how to protect themselves from them (it's really simple... don't open it if you don't know who it's from)

since this is the case, it doesn't seem like a bad idea for outlook to have as A DEFAULT SETTING banning these files...
if the user is savvy enough to change the setting (shouldn't be tough) they are probabaly smart enough to know what to open and what not to!

at least that's my take!
-Z

[club_med]

As i always say: any expectations one lays on microflop are a waste of time.

cm.

[socalgal]

I think this is only with Outlook 2002, not Outlook Express (at least not yet). Please correct me if I'm mistaken.

Yes, alternatives to anything MS is beginning to look more appealing http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[seeker205]

Well, I'm sure if they do put that in to Outlook 2002 then I'm sure (well they better!) they will have a option to turn it off for advanced users. I hope. and if they don't i'm switching mail programs!

[captpete]

The more popular Linux, Eudora, or whatever, become, the more vunerable they also will be as attackers change their focus to them. The only reasons they have for being less susceptible to viruses, trojan horses, etc. is their simplicity (translate less funtionaliity). I hear a lot of complaining about MS curtailing this functionality in favor of passive security, but I do not hear anyone making a positive suggestion as to how to cure this plague.

[S.D.Willie]

if thats true about blocking certain files from email through outlook in the future....well ****......id be installing my copy of eudora 4.0 once again....i dig express and outlook 2000 but i dont want to be an idiot robot not in control of my own mail program....na ah, no way jose. they can bite me.

SD

[socalgal]

Cadd, make sure you install ZA Pro and check the "email attachment" option for those guys. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

Captpete, I agree.. as other platforms become more popular we will see more plaques on these as well.

How to cure the plague? Cadd's on the right track: Educate yourselves, your employees. Subscribe to security / AV newsletters, read, share the information.

Some ppl just don't care though, or have no willpower, vis-a-vis "I just couldn't resist opening 'mynudepics.exe' or 'mycutebaby'", or "It was sent by Jane at corporate, it must be ok", or whatever. It exists at all levels; an executive at a former place of employment did open the 'iloveyou' attachment because 1. He didn't know, and 2. it *was* from corporate hq. Obviously, someone at corporate hq was ignorant, as well.

Incredibly, I have a friend who has cable and doesn't think he's vulnerable to hackers. I've talked til I was blue in the face trying to get him to install even just ZA; presented him websites, evidence, etc.etc... He just doesn't think it could happen or will happen to him! (I know someday I'll be getting a phone call... "Something weird is going on...").

I also think that MS should have implemented a more feasible way to disable or workaround this 'feature'. According to the article, it's tough to disengage. But likely someone will and will post it somewhere.. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 04-13-2001).]

[Reddog]

A new reason to get an encryption program and/or to change that last three characters (########.*** w/* being last three). Hehe. MS will still have viruses, although we still want MS to be popular. We don't want every single user switching to Linux and having viruses programmed for Linux instead of Winsuck XX. Hehe. =) <*.*< >*.*> <*.*<

Somewhere, a little pengiun is simlling...

And a goliath is trying to comit suicide with a bunch of sligshots...

A lot of slingshots...

[hamer299]

here's a solution learn to program and make your own OS! just kidding....i think MS needs a good swift kick in the ***. come on, you buy this **** to use your pc and find out that half of it doesn't work then they have the balls to try and charge you for support when you call them about it. ME and 2000 and the beta of ie6 are as far as i am going with MS. my pc is my pc not MS's pc. they have no need to know what i buy and install in MY PC! it took me weeks to find all the little screw ups in me and fix them so it wouldn't crash anymore, but why would any one buy xp so they can gie MS an open window into there pc's. think about it if your on the web and you have registered your os, they can pretty much shut it down if they "think you might be id default of the agreement", then where are you? all xp is is a new face lift with a new twist on control. all the same codecs and so forth are there. what is so special that i need to run out and buy a copy of it? i say let them keep there new os for themselves and see if it help billy boy out the door. the man is not money hungry guys, he's power hungry! meaning he wants windows to be the only os.

[Reddog]

You said it. The only reason I don't burn my copy of Win98SE is because of Homeworld, Mech4 (what? It's the only thing microsoft has sold (games, not this perticular one) that works (almost) flawlessly), and Black and White. Other than that, I'd buy linux in a heartbeat. Hey, do they work properly with:
Ifeelman mice (optical)
Radeon 32 VE
Graphlink for ti
.zip and Winamp?

[DCWATLFL]

Personally I think MS might as well put a gun to its giant head. I won't buy the new products if they come out with the "features" (gives new meaning to the word huh?) that they are talking about. Pleeeeeeaase give me a break. Lets see whats the point of having a computer running MS if you can't recieve attatchments and they can watch every move you make.....A mac is sounding better every day! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Reddog]

(In Sarcastic Voice)
Hey Thanx ( %~ ) to the following:
Bill ( :p )
Janet R (explained below)
Intel (haha)
FASA (for selling out,you bums)
lawyers (no offense, except to microsoft lawyers)
AOL (ohh noo! they got TW! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!)
Steve Jobs and Xerox (you guys took the GUI mainstream, you idiots! Now bill's turned it into a crashatholon (no AMD, not you))
And finally, Microsoft (hey, why not thank the guys who brought you the talking Barney, the freakiestly closest thing to Chuckie on crack this side of the galaxy)

Ok, sarcasm mode off

Thanx to Janet Reno, Microsoft could have controlled our lives. They would betwo companies, one making software, the other making operating systems. Then the company making OSes would only focous on OSes (and run by bill) would have nothing holding them back, namely games that rock and periphrials that are pretty d$^n good (remember the intellieye?). So microsoft would have every single penny going into advertising (bnot making) the crappiest Oses since those running the macs in school computer labs (can't be made by apple, right?). Hehe, this industry has now been screwed over by microsoft. Thanx MS, we will never froget the wonderful hours rebooting the computers and tweaking Windows so that it won't crash when looked at funny when we switch to linux 10. O, and happy Easter.

[captpete]

Hopefully this was the proverbial experimental inflated ligter than air object, and the ensuing curtain of flack will discourage them.

[club_med]

Socalgal:

Could you please give me links to some anti-virus and security newsletters ?, i think it would be good to stay informed http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif.

Thanks!,
cm.