[InterceptPoint]

So if Norton and Symantec have identified it, then it’s a non - issue, just have either company roll out a script online that anyone can download for free to remove it, problem solved.

Maybe. Maybe not.

I would presume this is some sort of root kit based trojan. They are notoriously hard to get rid of. I doubt if a simple utility of any sort would do the job.

And I continue to wonder why Microsoft cannot protect their operating system from this sort of thing. Windows has been around for nearly 20 years and we are still fighting off virus, worm, malware and trojan attacks.

[Secret Agent Man]

It’s the nature of their OS. It was never made to be a security minded OS (multi-user with different privileges) in the first place. Security stuff was put in place later piecemeal but core OS designs prevented unix-level security being able to be implemented. Not saying unix systems are perfect, but they are far more robust and able to be secured better.

[IamCenny]

Maybe so, but if the top anti-malware companies can identify this threat, it is certainly within their grasp to remove. If it’s such a big threat as portrayed in this article then the best of the best damn well better be working around the clock for a solution.

[rlmorel]

Interesting. Check out this link: http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/00001393.html

This has been simmering since around since 2008, but seems to be exactly this type of thing. Very sophisticated, yet simple. Encrypted so it doesn’t have a footprint, residing in sectors on your drive that your OS doesn’t recognize, etc.

This link: http://www.ted.com/talks/mikko_hypponen_fighting_viruses_defending_the_net.html

is also interesting...I really detest the TED people, they are as liberal as the day is long, but this guy, Mikko Hypponen relates some very interesting stuff on viruses, malware and Internet crime.

Very interesting...I highly recommend it, even with the socialist bent at the end where he suggests getting jobs for programmers who haven’t gone criminal yet...(haha, what a laugher THAT idea is)

[c-five]

I worked in the Microsoft operating system development team for several years. Part of the fun was working with smart foreign nationals from all kinds of interesting places. Sometimes when you got to know them well enough to ask what they did before they came to the US, you could get quite a shock. For example, an ICBM launch officer from USSR. I’ve often wondered how you could ever vet these people adequately.