Sobig Virus Spread is Fastest Ever; Nachi Worm Continues

Dow Jones Newswires | Riva Richmond

[HAL9000]

The good news is that a lot of FReepers are getting rid of Microsoft operating systems recently, judging from numerous messages on FR.

[Jalapeno]

I have definitely seen signs today that Sobig spread in a huge way, but the activity seems to be on the wane now, and by next week will be long forgotten.

[Chad Fairbanks]

And yet, once again, I still havn't gotten this virus/worm/trojan, or any other one... and I've used MS Products for years...

Maybe it's not the Operating System that is the problem?

[Jalapeno]

No its the mail program (outlook) and how you expose your email throuhout the Internet..

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, I use Outlook too.

What I'm waiting for is for Linux to take over as the Big Boy on the Block, and I am going to laugh my butt off when suddenly they become the target of choice for malicious script kiddies... as for the three Mac Users out there, well, they ain't gotta worry ;0)

[Sally'sConcerns]

There's a new patch that I was alerted to late this afternoon from Microsoft. I didn't check to see what it was since I've set my auto-notification to be for critical updates only.

Just thought I'd throw that out where people can check for the update.

[babaloo999]

Yup. I've never received any of these menaces, either.
Heck, I've never even received an email from Nigeria.
Where's the love?

[Cold Heat]

I agree with you. I got one once and bought Norton. I got another one and dumped norton for Avast a couple years ago and have never gotten another.

I upped my security some more by not accepting any mail unless the sender in in my address book.

That seems to solve all the problems.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I havn't gotten teh Nigerian Scam ones either. I feel so slighted.

[js1138]

And yet, once again, I still havn't gotten this virus/worm/trojan, or any other one... and I've used MS Products for years...

I've gotten a couple, but in each case it was due to deliberate neglect against my better judgement.

[js1138]

I upped my security some more by not accepting any mail unless the sender in in my address book.

Every virus I've ever seen at home or at work has come from a trusted source.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Regardless of what operating system I happen to be using at any given time, a simple hardware or software firewall and a little common sense seems to prevent most problems...

I am, right now in what little spare time I have, conceptualizing the Ultimate Virus (well, actually a Worm) that could, in theory, take down the Internet. Having Linux wouldn't help. bwaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahaaaa

[browardchad]

I am, right now in what little spare time I have, conceptualizing the Ultimate Virus (well, actually a Worm) that could, in theory, take down the Internet.

I don't think it would be that difficult -- I mean, if people are opening e-mails from strangers that say "Wicked Screensaver," or "I love you" they'll open anything.

[tubebender]

The good news is I think I figured out the Eudora Spam filter. The bad news is I'm not getting any eMail now...

[Chad Fairbanks]

LOL... actually, the concept wouldn't necessarily be an email-delivered exploit. Now, as I stated, this is only a concept, and I have no intention of ever doing it.

The concept is, simply, a software EMP against Internet Backbones...

THe questions are - can it be done? and if so, what can be done to defend against it...?

[rockfish59]

'Sobig'

Must originate from a gay porn site!

[mlbford2]

I had to deal with an onslaught of emails today from infected dimwits. Then you get emails from the rest of them asking why your emailing them. I stopped replying. If they can't figure it out then forget em.

[commish]

I have recieved 14 e-mails today with Sobig attached to them .. gotta love Norton Anti-virus

[Chad Fairbanks]

Even as recent as a few years ago, Eudora, Netscape Communicator, and yes, Outlook , had some exploitable functionality in it... Email has been a problem for well over a decade...

[HAL9000]

Maybe it's not the Operating System that is the problem?

It must be a mere coincidence that the only computers that ever get infected are running Windows. And thanks to the SoBig virus, millions of those miserable machines will be used as open relays for spam.

as for the three Mac Users out there, well, they ain't gotta worry ;0)

Mac OS X will be running on 10 million computers this year - virus-free.