Posted on 07/14/2004 7:51:23 AM PDT by Valin
Microsoft Corp. released a tool on Tuesday for removing a particularly pesky computer virus - but was not yet able to offer a software patch to prevent the infection from spreading.
Stephen Toulouse, a security program manager with Microsoft, could not say when the patch to thwart the virus, called "download.ject," might be completed.
The virus was discovered in late June and exploits a vulnerability in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser.
Microsoft previously released a security update that changed settings in its Windows operating system to thwart infection from the malicious code, which is designed to steal passwords and other valuable information.
But that update did not entirely fix the flaw that enabled the spread of the virus, which converts popular Web sites into virus transmitters.
On Tuesday, Microsoft also released more tools that alter Windows settings to prevent "download.ject" from getting to desktops. Security experts have warned that the virus might mutate or seek other routes of attack.
The vulnerabilities prompted some security experts to recommend that people switch from Microsoft's vastly dominant IE browser to rivals such as Mozilla or Opera. Those calls were strongest while Microsoft left the recent vulnerability unfixed and open to exploit.
Toulouse said the attack did not appear to be widespread, since the company had not seen a big spike in customer calls about it.
Microsoft also released two other patches Tuesday that were deemed "critical," Microsoft's highest level of security warning. The patches fix vulnerabilities in Windows that could allow an attacker to take any action on a user's desktop, simply by convincing the user to click on a Web link
I like my Macs.
bump
Thanks
Cumulative Security Update for Outlook Express 6 SP1 (KB823353)
Download size: 1.9 MB, < 1 minute
Security Update for Windows 2000 (KB840315)
Download size: 310 KB, < 1 minute
Security Update for Windows 2000 (KB842526)
Download size: 310 KB, < 1 minute
Security Update for Windows 2000 (KB841873)
Download size: 311 KB, < 1 minute
Security Update for Windows 2000 (KB841872)
Download size: 346 KB, < 1 minute
Security Update for Windows 2000 (KB839645)
Download size: 310 KB, < 1 minute
"But I was thinking of a plan
To dye my whiskers green,
And then to use so large a fan
That they could not be seen....
Is that you, Bill?
Read later.
I'm finding the Mozilla Firefox browser to be very nice to use.
bump for later
Crosslinking:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1168134/posts
Hijacked! New Browser Exploits Plague Web
It deletes the Windows operating system (but it asks you if you're sure first).
They have had it for years. FDISK
Jack
As noted in #5, the MS Update site posted six critical updates for WinXP and IE6 yesterday.
It's generally a good idea to install these security updates promptly. A lot of unnecessary virus problems are caused by people and enterprises who delay installing them.
I am REALLY getting tired of all of the patches needed to "fix" the new "latest problem" with what I recall was supposed to be the SAFEST, most RELIABLE, most SECURE operating system---Windows XP---along with its browser---Internet Expolited---oops, I mean Internet Explorer.
Nothing could be FURTHER from the truth!!! Windows XP and Internet Explorer are like sieves trying to hold water!!!
I have heard of Mozilla, but I don't know much about it or what it does. Is it just a browser or is it a whole operating system? I would like to start using some other operating system and/or internet browser. Would my current programs, e.g. Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and many other programs run on a different operating system?
Incidentally, I am really a Mac person, but because of ONE program I needed which they did not support for a Mac, I was forced to get a PC laptop. Other than that ONE program, I'll take a Mac ANY day of the week!!!!!
Lots of nice features and extensions to allow you to "tweak" it to suit you.
You can run MS Office apps under Linux using Crossover Office, plus there is a Linux-native office suite called OpenOffice.org that will read and write most MS Office documents--Word, Excel, etc.
So am I. It's very well done, I must say, and zero adware/spyware/malware since I made the switch, versus dozens of those buggers that would reinfect me after having been cleaned out, until I dumped IE.
One must manage one's expectations when it comes to file filters for Office. Even Microsoft struggles maintaining compatibility between Mac & PC and between versions of Office. The more complicated the formatting, the more likely the filters will not be 100% reliable in re-rendering the original.
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