Sasser Worm

[Spriggan]

Just a friendly reminder from TWG to check your PC for the Sasser Worm.  In case you haven't heard about it, the Sasser worm is the new virus going around that can infect your PC just by connecting to the internet.  It dosen't spread by opening e-mail, or downloading things.  You don't even have to load a webpage to get it, just by connecting you can get it.  And antiviruses can't protect against it.

MicroSoft has a page that will detect if you have the virus, then remove it for you.

http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/sasser.asp

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

Yay I love having a Mac

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

I can't say that response wasn't expected. How does it feel to be 100% predictable?

[Spriggan]

Ya, if you were going to write a virus to screw over the worlds economy why bother with writeing one for a OS that only about 1% of the world uses?  That would be some impact! Oh no you shut down france and stuck up artists!

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

its actually around 15 percent, they just have 5% market share annually, but they also have 3 times the lifespan as a PC. But your just bitter because I cant get it.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

pft. Let's not get into the relative tech virtues of macs v. PCs, Jeffe, esp since YOU talked about how you hated people bagging on platforms.

This DOES remind me of what my dad says about college football. As an alumnus of the University of Utah, his ward really gives it to him when BYU wins against their arch-rival. Not that he cares at all who wins a silly sports match. But he points out, "No one hates BYU. But BYU fans are really easy to dislike." Basically because they can't just shut up when something bad happens to the other side.

WHich is a LOT like Mac users.

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

I havent bagged on anyone, Im just happy I cant get the Sasser

I dont think Linux users can get it either....

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

OK, let me put it this way.  it's REALLY annoying when the only thing you can contribute to a conversation about a worm is that you can't get it. It's not helpful, and it sounds snide. I don't know if that's what you intended, but that's how it comes across, like when you say "you're just bitter because I can't get it." It's one of the things that annoys PC users about Mac users, esp. since the Mac "invulnerability" to such things has nothing to do with a more secure system, but that they are written for windows, not Mac.

I didn't say you were bagging on platforms, but you were getting really close, and I don't wnat it to happen.

In all fairness, neither Sprig nor I will make any more comments about how Macs are used by so few people.

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

K, Eric, whats you Email address at work - Email it to my home account.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

ehlerse at hunterlab dot com

[Spriggan]

I probaly don't need to say this but never the less if anyone else posts here anything relateing to Jeffe and SE's above conversation then I'll ask JP to lock this thread.  Please keep all further comments to any questions/comments related to Sasser problems.

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

Well this is interesting BBC new is repoting that "Microsoft played down reports that millions were being infected by Sasser.

It reported that almost four times as many PC owners were downloading patches for security problems now compared to Autumn in 2003.

A patch for the vulnerability Sasser exploits was first released on 13 April and then updated on 28 April.

Holidays in the UK, parts of Europe and Japan may also help to limit the spread of the worm.

Some security experts said that using Sasser removal tools may not end the trouble because many of those caught out by it have also been infected by other viruses.

Creators of other malicious programs are trying to cash in on the success of Sasser.

The latest version of the Netsky virus, the 29th variant, travels with a file that claims to be a cure for Sasser sent out by anti-virus firms.

Inside this version the creators of Nestky claim that they were responsible for making Sasser too. "



Sasser shut down the British Coast Guard....

Did some real damage to a few European banks..

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

Well, patch downloads are hardly a fair indication of who was actually affected. Smart pepole will patch in order to prevent infection.

However, I would expect Microsoft to play it down. That's what companies do. When something will negatively affect their revenue, they try to downplay how significant that negative influence is.

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

hmmm I would have played it up....
attributed the worm as the work of a Diabolical menace and then played up the tireless work of the Security Dept.

Microsoft is looking out for you!

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

patches and security fixes don't generate revenue. The less work they're required to do, the better the bottom line. WHo cares what they think of us, as long as they give us money.