|
Home::Personal Tech
Does Microsoft Show Hackers How To Attack?
Author : Jim Edwards
After another security hole recently surfaced in Microsoft's Windows operating system, the software giant released a patch this past Friday to plug the possibly devastating "back door" which allows hackers to potentially seize control of any pc running Windows. The latest threat, "Download.Ject," infiltrates computers after users surfing with Microsoft's "Internet Explorer" web browser visit websites infected with the virus. This newest security patch covers Windows XP, 2000, and Windows Server 2003. Several factors make this latest development more disturbing than past discoveries of security problems with Internet Explorer, currently the most dominant web browser on the market. First, it demonstrates very clearly that criminals discovered they can use the power of viruses to very profitably steal important bank, personal, and credit data from people on a large scale. Second, it took Microsoft what many would consider a very long time to come up with a patch for this problem. Before a fix appeared, Microsoft told everyone who uses Internet Explorer to stick their finger in the dyke by putting their web browser security settings on high, rendering it impossible to view or use features on many websites and web-based services. Third, expect this to happen again as new holes open in the future when Microsoft makes Windows more complicated, adds layers of code, and generally makes the operating system more complex. This may sound like business as usual, however, I think this story actually points to a much deeper problem, one for which I'm not sure a simple solution exists. Though free and reasonably reliable, many people do not automatically update their Windows operating system through the update service on Microsoft's website. (I won't even get into how many people don't operate up-to-date anti-virus protection.) Whenever Microsoft publishes a security update, especially for a highly publicized and obviously widespread security breach, thousands of people will not immediately download the update. In fact, tens-of-thousands of users will not download these security updates for days, weeks, even months (if ever). So let me ask what seems like a very elementary question: By publishing security updates that point out very obvious flaws in their system, doesn't Microsoft also point the way to exactly where the holes exist? Let me put it another way. Doesn't this rate the same as discovering that the local bank vault won't lock and then announcing the details on the front page of the paper along with the dates and times no bank guard will be on duty? After all, if tens-of-thousands of users won't immediately get the Microsoft Security Patch, don't those patches show hackers exactly which holes get plugged (and which, logically, must already be open without the patch)? It doesn't take a hacker with more than a basic set of skills to recognize where and what holes got fixed and then reverse-engineer how they can get into computers that don't get updated. Now, do I have a concrete, 100% bullet-proof answer to this problem? Unfortunately, I don't have more than a common- sense answer... At this point, your best defense rates staying current on the latest threats and how to defend against them. Keep your anti-virus software current, your firewall up, and your Windows software updated with the latest security patches. Though not a perfect solution, at least you'll have a fighting chance to prevent, or at least minimize, any possible threats. For more information from Microsoft's website, go here http://www.ebookfire.com/download-ject.html  http://ezinearticles.com/members/mem_pics/Jim-Edwards_5752.jpg" border="0" alt="EzineArticles Expert Author Jim Edwards"> About The Author Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the co-author of an amazing new ebook that will teach you how to use fr^e articles to quickly drive thousands of targeted visitors to your website or affiliate links... http://www.TurnWordsIntoTraffic.com © Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved http://www.thenetreporter.com Spam emails More free articles Related articles
|
More related feeds |
Does Microsoft Show Hackers How To Attack?
After all, if tens-of-thousands of users won’t immediately get the Microsoft Aegis Patch, don’t those patches show hackers absolutely which holes get acquainted (and which,logically, accept to already be accessible after the patch)? ...Does Microsoft Show Hackers How To Attack? (Jim Edwards)
After another security hole recently surfaced in Microsoft's Windows operating system, the software giant released a patch this past Friday to plug the possibly devastating "back door" which allows hackers to potentially seize control ... Does Microsoft Show Hackers How To Attack?
After all, if tens-of-thousands of users won't immediately get the Microsoft Security Patch, don't those patches show hackers exactly which holes get plugged (and which, logically, must already be open without the patch)? ... Does Microsoft Show Hackers How To Attack
After added section mess fresh surfaced in Microsoft's Windows operative system, the cipher colossus liberated a connector this instance weekday to block the mayhap disrespectful "back door" which allows hackers to potentially overwhelm ... Hackers get tricky with clipboard attack
for the attack to be effective. What makes it cunning is that the attack does not seem to exploit any known vulnerability, it's just leveraging common system functions in an effort to trick users.Read full story ... What Is System Administration?
This can be used to subvert security by many hackers, because cracking the encrypted password field is susceptible to a brute force attack with publicly available software. NIS has no mechanism for controlling who connects to the server ... FAQ's on articles of HACKING windows
Why does some of the hacking tools I download just close itself when I open them? - Lot's of hacking tools are DOS based and has to be run through CMD. If you double click on the program it will open a DOS box and automaticly close the ... Spliced feed for Security Bloggers Network
If you can, notice the computers that the secure@microsoft.com DJs are using. That's right they are Macs! Edge_os_3 2. A new low for booth babes – What would a Shimel review of a trade show be without a booth babe rant. ... YOUR LINUX TODAY NEWSLETTER FOR August 27, 2008
based Nominum, the DNS company singled out for praise by Dan Kaminsky in his DNS threat presentation to the Black Hat conference... has modified its Vantio DNS product to defeat the Kaminsky attack." CAN OPEN SOURCE REPLACE MICROSOFT ... Shows how a hacker attack on Microsoft?
Bring security patches, not to show these patches Hackers accurately connected to the hole (and the solicitation, Already a logical mind and open the door to update teuhaeyahapnidaeopyineun)? Hackers do not at least a basic set of ...
|
|
