Microsoft warns of 3 "critical" flaws

Reuters ^ | 04/12/2004 | Reuters

[N3WBI3]

Microsoft warns of 3 "critical" flaws Tue 13 April, 2004 21:36

By Reed Stevenson

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft has warned that three "critical"-rated flaws in the Windows operating system and other programs could allow hackers to sneak into personal computers and snoop on sensitive data.

The security warning was announced with another software vulnerability rated "important" as part of Microsoft's monthly security bulletin.

The warning was issued with a software patch that fixes the problem on Windows operating systems dating back to Windows 98, as well as software that is part of Internet Explorer and the Outlook express e-mail program.

"People should continue to understand that they should update (their software) as soon as possible," said Vincent Gullotto, vice president of the anti-virus emergency response team at Network Associates Inc.

Microsoft is urging customers to use its Windows Update service to have the security patches downloaded and installed automatically, while Gullotto said that large companies with extensive Windows systems should adopt the patches as soon as possible.

[N3WBI3]

N3WB,

For those of you who dont like to reboot systems, stop using windows ;) j/k These may not require a reboot but I very much doubt thats the case..

[N3WBI3]

Also note this includes the great windows 2003....

[sigSEGV]

They do require a reboot once you install the patch. That is... if you can get through to windows update.

[chainsaw]

Are theses security flaws still vulnerable if you are using Zone alarm and Norton Anti-virus?

[joonbug]

"3 flaws"

Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows XP

[sigSEGV]

I wouldn't put my trust in either of those. Zone alarm is only going to stop network based attacks, and AV products are strictly reactive -- they only work against things that are known and widely being used.

[Xenalyte]

Microsoft has warned that three "critical"-rated flaws in the Windows operating system and other programs could allow hackers to sneak into personal computers and snoop on sensitive data.

In other news, I can't help but notice that the sun rose in the east this morning.

Microsoft, you aren't doing yourself any favors with the loyalist crowd like me, promulgating the same damn press release every two weeks about another security hole.

At the very least, you should get a better copywriter and stop recycling old releases.

[Xenalyte]

Microsoft is urging customers to use its Windows Update service to have the security patches downloaded and installed automatically, while Gullotto said that large companies with extensive Windows systems should adopt the patches as soon as possible.

Oh, yeah. Now that my PC is utterly pooched and I can't visit secure sites thanks to a Windows Update, that's JUST what I'm gonna do.

[sigSEGV]

More info from the Vulnwatch mailing list.

http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/vulnwatch/2004-q1/0080.html

[N3WBI3]

I always tell people to have an external firewall. Buy a linksys or netgear (if you have a cable/dsl) keep their firmware up to date and they will work ten times better than ZA.

[B Knotts]

The penguin beckons you. :-)

[ezo4]

http://meph.eu.org

I've been smacking this pengiun at work today - fun

[theFIRMbss]

>For those of you who dont like to reboot systems, stop using windows ;)

I've had one of these for about three years. Only managed to crash once . . .

[B Knotts]

That *is* a blast! :-)

[Naspino]

566.9!

[Siegfried]

Here's my three flaws of MS Windows:

Flaw #1: MS Windows is based on DOS, which was an unsecured, single user operating system. Every iteration of Windows since then has been attempting to convert DOS into something it was never intended to be, and never can be.

Flaw #2: Bill Gates has dreams of worldwide computer domination, starting with charging a monthly fee for every computer user. To this end he has directed developers to create "phone home" routines and other spyware demons to run in the background of MS releases. So long as MS is able to take advantage of these software backdoors, hackers will also be able to do so.

Flaw #3: Bill Gates is pathologically incapable of envisioning a computer world where the aim is to intermingle hardware and software advances from whatever clever sources to benefit the public. He intends to make it his way or no way. To this end Gates is creating documents (not software mind you) that can only be read and edited on official MS authorized (and paid for software) His browser, mail reader, media player are also going down a road to exclusivity. If you thought Mac's were a cul-de-sac a few years ago, just wait to see what the MS world is like in a few more years.

[EdReform]

BTTT

[Revel]

There update site is so slow right now that it took 5 minutes to go through and then there were no updates available. They must not have them posted yet.

[general_re]

They're up now, and I didn't notice any slowdowns.

[ezo4]

no way I only got 499 - you #&*$#$. Ill get back on it. Im going to whack that sucker :o)