Microsoft kills Net address to foil worm [WindowsUpdate.com is dead for good]

CNet News ^ | August 15, 2003

[HAL9000]

This is called the "poison pill" option - Microsoft suicides the WindowsUpdate site rather than suffer the embarassment of having the site pulverized by a massive trojan worm attack.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Does this mean I'll stop getting those stupid little popup reminders?

[jbstrick]

OK...

The next worm will attack windowsupdate.microsoft.com

[dead]

It sounds like a surrender.

I've always thought Gates looked a little French.

(Not as French as Vietnam Veteran John Kerry, who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, but French none-the-less.)

[Timesink]

Does this mean I'll stop getting those stupid little popup reminders?

No. But we can tell you how to turn that bug "feature" off if you'd like.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Please do.

[Timesink]

This is called the "poison pill" option - Microsoft suicides the WindowsUpdate site rather than suffer the embarassment of having the site pulverized by a massive trojan worm attack.

It will be interesting to see their response when the next trojan worm goes after microsoft.com.

[IGOTMINE]

And ping me when you reveal that technique. (I have considered a hammer.)

[Baseballguy]

Wow, and to think I was mad when I had to fix thier software I paid for. They must be worse off to change the IP. Its like walking away from a great baseball game in the 8th inning.

[Baseballguy]

You can turn them off if your are talking about windows update . If its the worm you might want to clear your registry.

[oceanview]

why don't they just run the windowsupdate.com site on Solaris.

[Timesink]

Go here, scroll down to "'net send' Messenger Service," and follow the instructions.

Fair warning: If you're in an office environment, your IT department may have a legitimate use for Windows Messenger, and you should ask one of your in-house geeks for assistance. Also, certain antivirus programs use the Messenger service to alert you to possible attacks, so make sure your antivirus program isn't one that relies on Windows Messenger.

(Also note that Windows Messenger is not the same thing as the MSN Instant Messenger that people use to chat with each other online. Windows Messenger is only for sending out "alerts" that cause those pop-up boxes in the middle of your screen when you least expect it.)

[big'ol_freeper]

No worries mate!

[gov_bean_ counter]

Many thanks. I really should read my Kim Komando updates, eh? LOL.

[HAL9000]

I've always thought Gates looked a little French.

Gates, a modern-day Napoleon?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Title in brackets is wrong. The article says PART of windows update, not all of it. Simply go to http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp and you'll see. Or read the article. But that would be too easy.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

It's not a bug; it is a program that is enabled in Control Panel. User error, if someone doesn't know how to disable it.

[Eaker]

(Not as French as Vietnam Veteran John Kerry, who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, but French none-the-less.)

You left out:
Hero
Medals
Ribbons

[Lunatic Fringe]

Hey, didn't Kerry serve in Vietnam?

That swiss-cheese eating surrender monkey!

[Lunatic Fringe]

I think he was referring to the popups that Windows Update shows.