Posted on 12/23/2001 6:55:43 AM PST by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
The FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center said that, in addition to installing a free software fix offered by Microsoft on the company's Web site, consumers and corporations using Windows XP (news - web sites) should disable the product's ``universal plug and play'' features affected by the glitches.
The FBI did not provide detailed instructions how to do this. Microsoft considers disabling the ``plug and play'' features unnecessary.
The company acknowledged this week that Windows XP suffers from serious problems that allow hackers to steal or destroy a victim's data files across the Internet or implant rogue computer software. The glitches were unusually serious because they allow hackers to seize control of all Windows XP operating system software without requiring a computer user to do anything except connect to the Internet.
Outside experts cautioned that disabling the affected Windows XP features threatens to render unusable an entire category of high-tech devices about to go on the market, such as a new class of computer printers that are easier to set up. But they also acknowledged that disabling it could afford some protection against similar flaws discovered in the future.
The FBI, in a bulletin released at 8 p.m. at the start of a long holiday weekend, also warned professional computer administrators to actively monitor for specific types of Internet traffic that might indicate an attack was in progress.
A top Microsoft security official, Steve Lipner, sought to reassure consumers and companies that installing the free fix was the best course of action to protect their systems.
Friday's warning from the FBI's cyber-protection unit came after FBI and Defense Department officials and some top industry experts sought reassurance from Microsoft that the free software fix it offered effectively stops hackers from attacking the Windows XP flaws.
The government's rare interest in the problems with Windows XP software, which is expected to be widely adopted by consumers, illustrates U.S. concerns about risks to the Internet. Friday's discussions came during a private conference call organized by the National Infrastructure Protection Center.
During the call, Microsoft's experts acknowledged the threats posed by the Windows XP problems, but they assured federal officials and industry experts that its fix - if installed by consumers - resolves the issues.
Microsoft declined to tell U.S. officials how many consumers downloaded and installed its fix during the first 24 hours it was available. Experts from Internet providers, including AT&T Corp., argued that information was vital to determine the scope of the threat.
Microsoft also indicated it would not send e-mail reminders to Windows XP customers to remind them of the importance of installing the patch.
Microsoft explained that a new feature of Windows XP can automatically download the free fix, which takes several minutes, and prompt consumers to install it.
``The patch is effective,'' said Lipner, Microsoft's director of security assurance, in an interview with The Associated Press.
Officials expressed fears to Microsoft about possible electronic attacks targeting Web sites and federal agencies during next week's Christmas holidays from computers running still-vulnerable versions of Windows, participants said.
Several experts said they had already managed to duplicate within their research labs so-called ``denial of service'' attacks made possible by the Windows XP flaws. Such attacks can overwhelm Web sites and prevent their use by legitimate visitors.
Another risk, that hackers can implant rogue software on vulnerable computers, was considered more remote because of the technical sophistication needed.
The FBI's cyber-security unit has been concerned about the threat and warned again Thursday that the potential of ``denial of service'' attacks is high. The agency said people unhappy with U.S. policy have indicated they plan to target the Defense Department's Web sites, as well as other organizations that support the nation's most important networks.
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Which is legal, altho it's unethical.
But once MS knows about a flaw, they are legally required to inform new customers of the flaw.
There you go with the libelous lies again, sonny. Something I said must have really set you off today. I pity your wife.
To accomplish this there are certain trade offs in security. MS knew these risks. They elected not to make UPnP a default feature of their busness O/S (W2k) or their first generation fix (ME) for the W98/W98SE debacle because these risks were not acceptable to the large and small business community.
The 'Linux Taliban', the 'Java Taliban', the 'Apple Taliban'.
Another accepted rule of FR -- when one side in a debate compares you to the Nazis or the Taliban, you've won the debate.
Where are your cohorts?
Is Bush2000 on vacation or something?
And before 5 weeks ago, they can claim they didn't know about this exploit, unless there is some evidence to the contrary.
But since then, it's proven that MS has been knowingly continuing to sell a defective product.
There's a lot of bad things you could say about me, but "MS Shill" wouldn't be one of them!
I agree, the buffer overrun prob continuing to appear is pathetic.
Thanks, I shall.
Good advice!!
Not only is the OS better, but Mac's are the most beautiful computers around.
Maybe there's something wrong with the laptop configuration. Back in October I bought a 1.6 gHz Dell 4300 with 512 megs of RAM running XP Pro.
I gotta tell you, from a user's perspective, XP COOKS! This is by far the fastest and most stable computer I have ever seen -- bar none. (And yes, I have used Macs, though never Linux).
I can't speak about the security issues, since I am not a techie. But as a very demanding user, I can tell you that XP is terrific and I am recommending it to all my friends.
It is fast as hell, stable as hell, boots up quickly, and has a lot of neat features on it.
Definite thumbs up here!
All O/S' are subject to malicious hacking.
Mac O/S is better than others on this particular issue because Mac took much tighter control of their periferals early on.
The trade off is that there are less periferals avaliable for their systems than say MS.
XP was designed anticipating cheap, high speed processors being avaliable to consumers in the next 24 months.
The standard complaint about XP when installed on machines with last generation processors is that it's a processor and memory hog (ie. slow as molasses).
Is it a fair complaint? Maybe.
Advise your co-worker to switch to 2000 instead. Its much much better than 98.
Basic consumer protection laws.
Do us all a favor and just state the law. That would clear up any and all doubt.
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