Worm Authors Caught
Discussion
Yesterday, authorities caught the worm authors of Phatbot and Sasser in two different operations in Lower Saxony and Baden Wuerttemberg.
see
www.theinquirer.net/?article=15782
and
www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/47209 (the Pharbot author isn't on the English news yet)
IMHO it's good that investigations on virus/worm damages are successful, but one thing makes me curious:
The culprits that cracked the security of the world's most used operating system aren't scientists from the MIT, nor professional coders, but a schoolboy and an unemployed!!
WTF?? If these people can crack the security of Microsoft Windows, anybody can, and the conviction against them won't change anything because crackers are easily replaceable.
see
www.theinquirer.net/?article=15782
and
www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/47209 (the Pharbot author isn't on the English news yet)
IMHO it's good that investigations on virus/worm damages are successful, but one thing makes me curious:
The culprits that cracked the security of the world's most used operating system aren't scientists from the MIT, nor professional coders, but a schoolboy and an unemployed!!
WTF?? If these people can crack the security of Microsoft Windows, anybody can, and the conviction against them won't change anything because crackers are easily replaceable.
I'm sure it's quite easy to do (just thinking about it) due to the increase in online help systems that MS constantly use. If they have something that can check your system and suggest options for fixes and also apply fixes then the hackers can just use the same ways to get in and do damage.
It's all due I think to the electronic automation of support issues. Doesn't anyone talk on a telephone anymore?
It's all due I think to the electronic automation of support issues. Doesn't anyone talk on a telephone anymore?
What twats these hackers really are, and what a bunch of idiots the people at MS are too. They've got so much cash yet they can't even make reliable software - a schoolkid can hack it!
But nonetheless the twat who caused so much inconvenience should be put in jail. There should be laws against this.
But nonetheless the twat who caused so much inconvenience should be put in jail. There should be laws against this.
z064life said:
What twats these hackers really are, and what a bunch of idiots the people at MS are too. They've got so much cash yet they can't even make reliable software - a schoolkid can hack it!
That's a generalisation even the Daily Mail would be proud of. There are tens or even hundreds of thousands of people trying to hack Microsoft operating systems worldwide. It's not surprising that a loophole is found regularly. In fact if anything it's surprising that it doesn't happen more often. If the same resources were aimed at any other operating system bar none, the results would be the same. This idea that it is somehow possible to produce perfect software and therefore anything less is negligent is frankly ridiculous, given the huge amount of code.
Apple steve-p said:
What twats these hackers really are, and what a bunch of idiots the people at MS are too. They've got so much cash yet they can't even make reliable software - a schoolkid can hack it!
That's a generalisation even the Daily Mail would be proud of. There are tens or even hundreds of thousands of people trying to hack Microsoft operating systems worldwide. It's not surprising that a loophole is found regularly. In fact if anything it's surprising that it doesn't happen more often. If the same resources were aimed at any other operating system bar none, the results would be the same. This idea that it is somehow possible to produce perfect software and therefore anything less is negligent is frankly ridiculous, given the huge amount of code.
Sorry yeah you are right. I did generalise too much there.
These crackers are a pain in the arse but it's the same initiative which had driven technology on at the pace it has. MS has only itself to blame in some respects as it has until recently paid lip service to developing secure computing. This is not helped by computers and OS being in the main so generic. OS and Apps have to have so many features they are far bulkier and more unwieldy than they necessarily would be if developed to carry out specific tasks, however it is this flexibility which gives us fantastically sophisticated pieces of kit at relatively affordable prices (though it still gets on my nerves when you see salesmen telling people they need a £2k machine for browsing the internet and writing letters).
The internet gives many people the opportunity to become the persona they would like to be in the real world if they had the social skills or guts to do so.
As long as people can exploit people and technology to meet their ends, this sort of thing will happen. Hopefully next time it won't be as harmless as Sasser.
The internet gives many people the opportunity to become the persona they would like to be in the real world if they had the social skills or guts to do so.
As long as people can exploit people and technology to meet their ends, this sort of thing will happen. Hopefully next time it won't be as harmless as Sasser.
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