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WebTV/MSNTV Virus Dials 911
Semji Rkim writes: "Though not the first virus to direct modems at 911, ABC News is reporting a bug in WebTV (Now branded as MSNTV) units which causes the infected unit to hang-up and dial 911. The virus spreads via email and Microsoft officials are looking into how it is able to replicate and also control the modem. Affected users are advised to delete the email and call Microsoft at 1-800-469-3288."
Microsoft actually has a support phone number? I wonder how much that costs per incident.
This can't be true. Microsoft just spent a whole month focusing on security. There must be some mistake.
C8H10N4O2 | Developer > Code
"911, what's your emergency?" "I've got a Microsoft product in my living room!" "What?" "I've got a Microsoft product in my living room! AIIIIGH!"
This tagline is umop apisdn.
It's not a virus!
It's just the poor MSN infected boxes crying out for help!!
I stole this Sig
When 911 operator answers, the virus plays a wav file, in the voice of Stephen Hawking's voice thing:
"Help Me. I have Web TV. Help Me"
"Would it kill you to put down the toilet seat?" -- Maya Angelou
that a virii could hack a MSN/WebTV unit *and* propagate itself to other MSN/WebTV users.
Microsoft advises affected customers to delete the email and call 1-800-469-3288.
Suggestion for next iteration of virus: dial this number instead.
I guess they never said trustworthy phone dialing.
"That's the sort of blinkered, philistine pig ignorance I've come to expect from you non-creative garbage."-Monty Python
WebTV users would be well advised to be very careful with their email until this problem is resolved.
I'd one up you on that, and advise WebTV users to take their WebTV out to the back yard with a baseball bat. You know like on Office space.
Then, call the MS 1800 number and say that you found a fix.
Well, if Microsoft presses charges, then it'll probably be 1 count for every computer they have whether it can run Windows or not.
"Derp de derp."
Why can't the fucking virus writers understand that they need to be portable across platforms? It seems most virus writers these days are targetting Microsoft products without so much as a thought about portability. What about users running MacOS, Linux, Solaris, *BSD or any other operating system? What about users who don't even have a modem? And what about users in other countries where the emergency number is different from that in the US? This virus is buggy as hell, I wouldn't want it if my life depended on it! (pun intended).
Uh huh. You think you're a "knowledgable hacker" because you used some precanned utility to send people ICMP packets with modem commands in them? Fucking loser. And nice attempt at gaining a bit of product with your "home page" link up there too, jackass.
Just asking for a "friend", right? :)
-no broken link
I prefer Karma Escort, thank you very much.
C8H10N4O2 | Developer > Code
You're liable for purchasing MS software, thus promoting them, and giving them money to produce said hole in their software. Your parents are liable for giving birth to you, but it wasn't their fault because the condom broke. Therefore, it is Trojan's fault, but it isn't their fault because it is Margaret Sanger's fault for promoting birth control. I can keep going if you like.
What?
With that big wad of cash, Microsoft has purchased the numbers 911. The side effect is that people trying to call for help get Buddy, the Microsoft help desk attendant instead of thier local police.
It's great that the virus dials 911. I mean, my local Stonecutter lodgemaster told me only suckers dial 911.
The real emergency number is 912.
*grin*
I wish I had a kryptonite cross, because then you could keep Dracula and Superman away.
But, if there's a fire at the office, you're supposed to call 911...
FBI: "The kid says your computer called 911. What the hell is going on, Bill? I woke up the president and told him we were under attack by the Russians. Do you have any idea what kind of an idiot that makes me look like?"
Bill: "David, machines don't call people."
Gotta be at least one story like this.
"God fights on the side with the best artillery." - Napoleon, Marshal of France - speaking truth to power
Umm... If in building a building, it is built such that a couple of kicks will make it fall down, it's not the kicker who should get his ass kicked.
-- The act of censorship is always worse than whatever is being censored. Always.