Windows PCs face 'huge' virus threat

[Jon8503]

Jan. 3, 2006 -- Wanted you guys to be aware of this anyway.

Computer security experts were grappling with the threat of a new weakness in Microsoft's Windows operating system that could put hundreds of millions of PCs at risk of infection by spyware or viruses.

The news marks the latest security setback for Microsoft, the world's biggest software company, whose Windows operating system is a favourite target for hackers.

"The potential is huge," said Mikko Hyppönen, chief research officer at F-Secure, an antivirus company. "It's probably bigger than for any other vulnerability we've seen. Any version of Windows is vulnerable right now."

The flaw, which allows hackers to infect computers using programs maliciously inserted into seemingly innocuous image files, was first discovered last week. But the potential for damaging attacks increased dramatically at the weekend after a group of computer hackers published the source code they used to exploit it. Unlike most attacks, which require victims to download or execute a suspect file, the new vulnerability makes it possible for users to infect their computers with spyware or a virus simply by viewing a web page, e-mail or instant message that contains a contaminated image.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10684853/

[woodsprite]

1. Spyware - Just said to hubby

"Wonder if this is Microsoft working with NSA to spy on the general populace?" Things that make you go "Hmmmmmmmm!"

[Rainscents]

3. You know, you maybe right!

[this_side_up]

2. for us computer illiterates, which brand of Linux

is the easiest to install and configure?

Which is the easiest to use?

[carnie_sf]

5. Probably Mandrake nt

[Rainscents]

6. Here is link to info you might like to read.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=34818&mesg_id=34818

[Lowell]

7. SuSE 9.3 is simple to install

and very stable. I've been using Linux for years and seen many improvements. The security is superior to Windoze.

[longship]

10. List of distributions

I have been using Linux exclusively for over a decade and have significant experience in many of the distributions from Slackware to Gentoo and just about everything in between.

I would *not* recommend any distribution based on Red Hat or on Red Hat's package manager (the software which installs programs on your computer). Red Hat's package manager is good, and far better than anything that Windows has, but there is a much better package manager in the Debian-based distributions. I would select one of those.

In particular, Ubuntu may be your best choice. It is Debian-based. It is an easy install. It has both a full install and a bootable CD (the latter so you can try it on your machine without installation). For the Linux neophyte I can't think of a better distribution.

There are other distributions which are easily installed, but Ubuntu is the one I typically recommend these days.

A full list of distributions is available at DistroWatch.

Once configured, all Linux distributions are fairly easy to use. For the newbie, I would recommend you configure the distribution with the KDE desktop.

[CountAllVotes]

4. I'll say it again

this program called CounterSpy = it saved my ass (saw someone here on the DU refer to it and I decided to give it a try as I was having serious computer problems).

You can d/l it for free at download.com

Good for 2 weeks. Make sure to delete the program before it expires if you don't decide to purchase it.

I had two nasty trojans on both laptops that the AVG didn't find, nor Ad-aware, Spybot, etc. It takes a long time but it goes through every single file you have (over an hour to run this).

Worth seriously thinking about, esp. considering this!

[Rainscents]

8. I know, I recommended to few people here... I heard it from Thom Hartmann!

They now have new version just came out with and I really love it, Xofspy!

[CountAllVotes]

9. maybe it was you?

I don't remember, I just saw it mentioned. It saved my ASS, no DOUBT!

:kick:

[this_side_up]

11. Thank You All for the recommendations. Next ? is

how do I completely erase Windows, Dos from
the computer? >:O