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WebTV/MSNTV Virus Dials 911

Posted by timothy on from the well-it's-only-a-minor-emergency dept.

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."

2 of 515 comments (clear)

  1. How much longer until 1-900? by magicsquid · · Score: 5, Interesting

    How much longer will it be before unscrupulous 900 number operators enlist people to alter this virus to make it dial their numbers? Given that it takes a month to get a phone bill, the culprits can close up shop and move on long before anyone even realizes there is a probem...

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    "Chances of RHIC-induced Armageddon are exceedingly rare, but... you never know." - MIT Physicist Bob Jaffe
  2. Re:This is serious by murphj · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Quoted from parent's link:
    The patent was a "submarine" patent -- that is, one that issues long after others in the industry have begun using the same technique or technology ... The patent involved the timing of the escape sequence: The characters "+++" followed by a 1-second pause. To get around the patent, some modem vendors simply eliminated the pause, so that the sequence +++AT would bring the modem back to command mode in all cases.
    It's interesting that the only reason this works is that Hayes pulled the same trick Forgent is trying with JPEG.

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    SONY. Because caucasians are just too damn tall.