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Microsoft Warns of 5 New Software Security Flaws

 
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igotthisguitar



Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Location: South Korea (Permanent Vacation)

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 4:43 pm    Post subject: Microsoft Warns of 5 New Software Security Flaws Reply with quote

Microsoft Warns of 5 New Software Security Flaws
Tue Apr 12, 3:35 PM ET Technology - Reuters

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. warned on Tuesday of 5 new "critical" rated security flaws in its Windows Internet Explorer, Word and Messenger software programs that could allow attackers to take control of a personal computer.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=569&e=18&u=/nm/tech_microsoft_security_dc

One more reason NOT to have a home based connexion.
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Demophobe



Joined: 17 May 2004

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 4:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think you missed the point of the announcement.

I see it as one more reason not to have a pirated version of your OS, learn a bit about security, update windows regularly and realize that maintaining any investment at all takes a bit of effort.

Now let's compare all of the joys of a pc room compared to sitting in your own living room.

5 security flaws can't convince to change anything.
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igotthisguitar



Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Location: South Korea (Permanent Vacation)

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Demophobe wrote:
Now let's compare all of the joys of a pc room compared to sitting in your own living room.

Why i decline to have a home based internet connexion.

1) When i'm being spied on by bots (or otherwise), with personal info. being collected & databased (every time i click my mouse, enter a URL, log into my email or elsewhere *ahem*), i prefer PC Bangs over my home.

I like to think of this as privacy Wink

2) Viruses, hacking & general security concerns.

3) I had a home based connexion for a number of years & realized i was wasting WAY TOO MUCH TIME with my lazy ass glued to my computer chair; eyes glazed over, drool running out my mouth.

These days i'm trying to make the most of my time at home reading, playing guitar, studying etc.

This i like to call leisure time priorities or otherwise general lifestyle decisions.
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Demophobe



Joined: 17 May 2004

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 6:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I read on the computer, play guitar into my computer, study via the computer....

I guess its what you make it. No doubt some discipline is necessary with the PC.

As I mentioned in my "vs." post, even a basic amont of knowledge can spare a system from internet baddies. Who buys something without knowing anything about it's maintenance? The myth that computers and computing are so complex perpetuates itself...

As for people spying on you...well...that's just paranoid. Depending on what you do, of course. If you don't even want to be a statistic...a faceless, nameless IP address on a digital log somewhere, then cool. However, remeber that no matter how hard you try, you will always be part of some stat somewhere.

Here's a comforting thought as well...

I can go to any PC room and install all kinds of software....a keystroke logger for example. I could be into your e-mail account right after you leave. You privacy is well-served in one sense perhaps, but seriously compromised on the other. The way in which its served is almost meaningless, but the way it may be compromised is really heavy.


I guess its about who you fear/trust. I don't know why one would put more faith in a PC room owner (and anyone who uses that PC!) than a website owner, seeing as the website can only gather very limited info about you; nothing from a well-implemented home connection. A PC room can get anything you typed, all pages you visited, your e-mail passwords (any passwords) and any information you submitted to those sites when you applied for an e-mail account.

Its scary man....and very real.

A home system, with a firewall (free) and an AV program (free), Java turned off, running a proxy with an anonymous cookie program (free) is about as tight a ship as can be sailed in the internet ocean. Takes about 30 minutes to learn about these simple steps and 10 minutes to install/implement these programs/procedures.

An after-surfing program like CCleaner (free) eradicates any traces of your surf and for the truly paranoid, Directoy Snoop (a forensic tool for hard drives) will even wipe the remaining references to deleted files that remain. This prog isn't free though....if you are that freaked-out, I'm sure you won't mind paying for it.


Last edited by Demophobe on Wed Apr 13, 2005 3:00 am; edited 1 time in total
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DirtySanchez



Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Location: Neither here nor there

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Could you point me in the right direction concerning how to set up a proxy?

About the microsoft updates: do you think they're really updates? i mean, how many security issues can this program have? I say microsoft is doing the personal info snatching. I bet every time you run their "security updates", they're gathering all the info they can about your computer.
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Demophobe



Joined: 17 May 2004

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah, they are updates. You have no idea how many talented hackers are working against them around the clock. These dudes are good too....it's their living.

There are as many consumer watchdog groups monitoring MS at every step. I am quite sure that they don't do much gathering.

A proxy....in IE? Go to "tools", "internet options", "connection", "LAN" and enter your proxy there. I go to http://www.stayinvisible.com

In Firefox, it's in the options menu at the bottom. I think it's called "connections" in that menu.

After entering a proxy and port number, be sure to do a proxy check...for anonymity and speed.
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redbird



Joined: 07 Mar 2005

PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 5:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

And some of these PC issues can be solved by buying a Mac. It's not that Macs are intrinsively more secure; it's that there are fewer hackers out there targetting Macs.
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Demophobe



Joined: 17 May 2004

PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 12:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

redbird...I don't know a lot about macs and the net. Would surfing on a mac leave any more unique digital footprint that being on an IBM? I mean, as this thread has spoken of security, is mac any more or less anonymous?
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redbird



Joined: 07 Mar 2005

PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 12:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nah, Dem, as far as I know, surfing with a Mac will not sweep the tracks of your digital footprint. Websites know my IP address, for instance, when I use my Mac at work. You'd still want to go thru a proxy if that's your worry.

But, again as far as I know, the Windows security issues that the OP was complaining about, where your computer can be taken control of-- those are Windows-only issues. Ditto practically all the malware out there.

I'm not saying Macs are always the right choice. Obviously, if gaming is your thing, you're not going to get first crack at the new games and there will be a lot of software you won't be able to use. But for someone who mostly uses the computer to surf, download music, and work with pics, Macs might provide a lot of peace of mind. There's a lot less maintenance needed for Macs on the wire. Of course, you'd want to make sure you'll have an ISP available.
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Demophobe



Joined: 17 May 2004

PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 8:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cool...thanks for that. No doubt macs are safer overall than a WinXX machine. If only the software range was there....then again, if it were, more people would use them making them a more enticing target for the bad guys.

I guess mac users should want to keep it niche, for safety's sake. A rock and a hard place for sure....niche and fewer software titles, but safe, popular, a whack of software, but unsafe.

However, as many holes as there are in Windows, I have never been hacked or had a virus, trojan or worm. Windows simply needs more education and maintenance. This all being done, it's as tight as anything.

There are some really simple rules to all of this too. Run a good AV, firewall, keep Windows updated, watch where you download from, scan everything with your AV prior to opening (if from an unknown site), never open e-mail attatchments that are *.exe files and that's it.

If every Windows user did even this much, there would be very, very few problems at all, as far a s security.

System problems are a whole other story.

However, MS is floating almost an entire software industry with Windows. That says a lot.
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redbird



Joined: 07 Mar 2005

PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 5:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Demophobe wrote:

However, as many holes as there are in Windows, I have never been hacked or had a virus, trojan or worm. Windows simply needs more education and maintenance. This all being done, it's as tight as anything.

There are some really simple rules to all of this too. Run a good AV, firewall, keep Windows updated, watch where you download from, scan everything with your AV prior to opening (if from an unknown site), never open e-mail attatchments that are *.exe files and that's it.

If every Windows user did even this much, there would be very, very few problems at all, as far a s security. .


Well, Dem, in another thread, you're saying that it's too much trouble to safely remove a flash memory stick and here you're expecting users to observe all these rules. You're a very conscientious Windows user, but most people just want their computers to work without a lot of trouble.

I've seen Windows users suffer hackings even when all those things were done and some of the virus e-mails are pretty tricky. In my line of work, I only see the problems, of course.
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Demophobe



Joined: 17 May 2004

PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 11:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I still don't think that the process of "safely removing hardware" is a necessary one. Then again, I never bothered to find out if it's "unsafe" to just disconnect the device.

Had I known, I might have bought a Mac. Razz
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redbird



Joined: 07 Mar 2005

PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 12:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Heh, heh.

You're the perfect Windows user. You're used to the system and you're willing to do some reasonable maintenance. And, you have years of experience with PCs. And I see a lot of people just yank those flash sticks out, so maybe the later models have fewer problems. I don't know. I'm not going to, though, until someone proves to me that I'm just being superstitious.

And just so it's clear, you still have to disconnect these devices on Macs. Of course, it's a little easier. You just drag the device's icon to the trash can and it disconnects. Takes 5 seconds.
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Demophobe



Joined: 17 May 2004

PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 12:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You are up late my friend. Wink

Really, on every PC I have owned, 3 of them currently, as well as all of my friends PCs, I have never seen this step followed, never given that advice and have seen no negative results. From external drives, to flash memory sticks, card readers, cameras, MP3s...have all of them and none get the golden throne.

I don't think I am just blissful in ignorance....I really don't think it's necessary.

We need Sir Links-a-lot to give some proof.....

Have a good day redbird!
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jazblanc77



Joined: 22 Feb 2004

PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 3:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

igotthisguitar wrote:
Demophobe wrote:
Now let's compare all of the joys of a pc room compared to sitting in your own living room.

Why i decline to have a home based internet connexion.

1) When i'm being spied on by bots (or otherwise), with personal info. being collected & databased (every time i click my mouse, enter a URL, log into my email or elsewhere *ahem*), i prefer PC Bangs over my home.

I like to think of this as privacy Wink

2) Viruses, hacking & general security concerns.




Shocked Shocked Shocked Shocked
Do you have any idea how many trojans, viruses, spyware/adware/malware programs, dialers and keyloggers are routinely left on pc bang computers (Korean sites are cesspools for script junkies and hackers who trick click-happy Koreans into compromising the security of their computer), or intentionally put there? I have known people personally who had their personal info. stolen because they were using pc bang computers and their only activity was email and messenging.

The bottom line is that if you maintain a minimal set of security routines on you computer, ie. running AV, firewal, spyware & adware, and cookie/activeX/browser hijack blocking software as well as locking your host file, cleaning your tracks, and avoiding Microcrap Internet Explorer and MS Outlook, you will NEVER have a problem. This also work well with a little bit of brain power, in other words, scan your files before openning them, don't accept certificates, cookies, or activeX installations from strange sites, and know which processes should be running in your tasklist and which should not.
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