Windows 7 PCs Account For 98 Percent Of All WannaCry Infections (tr)

Hot Hardware ^ | May 21, 2017 | Paul Lilly

[dayglored]

[Dayglored puts on his tin-foil hat.]

So ... if you were Microsoft, and you were in cahoots with the NSA, and you wanted to scare the bejesus out of customers who were still using Windows 7 so that they would switch in fear to Windows 10, what might you do?

[Dayglored takes his tin-foil hat back off.]

The real reason Windows 7 was hit hardest was that Windows 10 FORCES THE UPDATES ON YOU. And in this case, it was demonstrably a Good Thing.

So, Windows 7 users, have you (we) learned your (our) lesson? : DO YOUR D@MN UPDATES!!

(Or switch to Windows 10 where Microsoft does them for you...)

(Or switch to Linux or Mac, where you ALSO have updates...)

[dayglored]

WannaCry Update ... PING!

You can find all the Windows Ping list threads with FR search: just search on keyword "windowspinglist".

[rockinqsranch]

I have been hit multiple times on my W-7 PC with such obvious phishing attempts I had to laugh. I just don’t open anything that even looks the least bit out of the ordinary. If I screw up I’m better off having deleted than otherwise opened up the door to suffering the consequences.

[rockinqsranch]

Further to previous post: Mostly they have been phony messages using FEDEX, Google, and Microsoft in subject lines that I believe to be obvious phishing expeditions trying to get me to click on them.

[qam1]

So, Windows 7 users, have you (we) learned your (our) lesson? : DO YOUR D@MN UPDATES!!

If Windows 7 updates were real updates instead of your boss forcing tray icons & pop ups to update to Windows 10, we wouldn't have to turn automatic updates off.

[MUDDOG]

And wonder why they don’t get in my door.

[TomGuy]

from Microsoft TechNet:

Customer Guidance for WannaCrypt attacks

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/msrc/2017/05/12/customer-guidance-for-wannacrypt-attacks/

and

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS17-010 - Critical

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/ms17-010.aspx

[The 2nd link above links to all of the Windows updates for various versions, including Windows 7.]

==

I ran the Win7-64bit version a few days ago. It did mess up my Sandboxie sandbox, so I had to upgrade the Sandboxie to the latest version. So far, I have not noticed any other problems.

[RayChuang88]

That's why you need to run the Patch Tuesday updates as soon as possible. In fact, the March 2017 security updates for Windows 7/8.x/10 corrected this specific vulnerability.

[dayglored]

Precisely!

[Fred Hayek]

My e-mail provide shunts those into a bulk mail folder.

[soycd]

At the very least, turn off the microShaft SMB crap if you do nothing else...

sc.exe config lanmanworkstation depend= bowser/mrxsmb20/nsi
sc.exe config mrxsmb10 start= disabled
sc.exe config lanmanworkstation depend= bowser/mrxsmb10/nsi
sc.exe config mrxsmb20 start= disabled

And if you feel lucky, use their update ...

kb4012212.msu

[doorgunner69]

Just got a phony Amazon notice that I had cancelled an order. Dunno, but my spam filter caught it.

Easy to see it was a fraud from the goofy sender ID.

[Boomer]

Just switch to one of the many versions of Linux and be done with it.

[Still Thinking]

Actually, I fear that Microshaft will put something in an update that proactively breaks W7 to coerce you onto 10. It’s not that far removed from what they already did.

[minnesota_bound]

I did the updates a week or so ago. It said I did not run updates since November 2016. Since then the first batch was near 700mb and a 2nd batch done yesterday was about 150mb more. Windows 7 must be swiss cheese to hackers.

[867V309]

Really tired of your MS BS.

[BestPresidentEver]

Win 7 is better than the current versions. So naturally that one gets hit.

[arthurus]

Maybe MSFT is the origin, pushing folks to go to W10.Just a thought.

[Bob434]

nuttin like a good old macrium reflect backup of windows to ensure your computer is up and running quickly- ransomeware? Pfffft- whatever- reinstall your backup in about 20 minutes and good to go-

I also love a program called RollBackRX which is even quicker than restorign from a full raw backup- it will restore your computer even if it won’t start- the boot menu includes the RollBackRX menu which allows you to choose a restore point to before the infection- Very cool- for htose using windows, epsecially older versions, i would highly recommend RollBackRX OR macrium Reflect- but prefer RollBackRX-

cost is around $60 usually, but can be got for around $30 during sales- WELL worth hte money- saved my computer many times- don’t even have to worry about experimenting with programs anymore- if they hose something- just do a rollback- takes about 10 minutes or so- and just a few clicks- very easy to use-

[OldMissileer]

Actually, I fear that Microshaft will put something in an update that proactively breaks W7 to coerce you onto 10. It’s not that far removed from what they already did.

From what I read quite some time ago they rolled up their updates and included all the key logging and spyware from Win10 into the update packages for Win7. I have basically stopped my updates and just tread lightly surfing the Internet.