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XP2 Spotted In The Wild

Posted by michael on from the watch-out-or-it'll-chew-you-up dept.

LostCluster writes "WinXP SP2 has just been released to the public via Automatic Update, but eWeek and PC Magazine are together reporting that Windows XP SP2's 'Windows Security Center' is just about as insecure as it could possibly be. According to them, any program (including ActiveX controls) can access and edit the Windows Management Instrumentation database, and therefore spoof the security status of an insecure box to report that it is properly secured."

11 of 634 comments (clear)

  1. Clippy.exe is eeevvviiilll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    any program can access and edit the Windows Management Instrumentation database

    That MF'ing Clippy.exe in MS Word better stop accessing my Instrumentation database or I'll punch that SOB into the middle of next week. Really any program can access and edit the Windows Management Instrumentation database; I knew solitrae and tetris and an altier motive.

  2. No problem here! by GroovBird · · Score: 5, Funny

    My box says it's insecure! So therefor, I can't possibly have some spoofing ActiveX control thingie, can I?

  3. SP2 - as secure as any linux distro... by BobRooney · · Score: 5, Funny

    if every user were root.

  4. Internet Meltdown Predicted for Today by Cocodude · · Score: 5, Funny

    So this is what the Internet Meltdown Predicted for Tomorrow article was referring to!

  5. That's ok by Bricklets · · Score: 5, Funny

    According to them, any program (including ActiveX controls) can access and edit the Windows Management Instrumentation database, and therefore spoof the security status of an insecure box to report that it is properly secured."

    That's ok. MS probably wants it to be easy to use so that everyone can use it. ;)

    --
    Little Bricklets
  6. Re:Leopard? by lucabrasi999 · · Score: 5, Funny
    Sounds like some sort of leopard in the jungle, if you ask me.

    Cue Marlin Perkins (of the old Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom shows):

    MP: "Today, we are going to find and capture the elusive XP2 Leopard. My associate, Jim, is armed with a toe-nail clipper and a badminton raquet. Jim, why don't you start marching down that trail over there? I'll be back at the truck with the cameraman and a bottle of scotch."

  7. Send in the Rovers by MikeMacK · · Score: 5, Funny
    Based on an anonymous tip, PC Magazine looked into the WMI and the Windows Security Center's use of it, and found that it may not only be a security hole, but a crater.

    Maybe MS could get NASA to send a few rovers in there to see what they can find out.

  8. Re:Scary stuff. by NtroP · · Score: 4, Funny
    Crap! One more site that doesn't work right in Safari or Firefox!

    I guess I'll have to switch back to IE.

    --
    "terrorism" and "pedophilia" are the root passwords to the Constitution
  9. Programs in the wild by paranode · · Score: 5, Funny


    We're out 'ere lookin for signs of the elusive XP2 that's been said to be lurkin' in the wild...

    Crikey, I've just spotted a wild paypah-clip in it's natural 'abitat! Look at those big ole eyes an'.. oh!.. there he goes trying to ask me if he can 'elp me!! You see, this creature is what's known as a parasite, 'ee leeches off o' your Windows Management Instrumentation databases. It's 'ard to satisfy one o' these buggers, they'll never leave ya alone until they've done your work for ya.

    </steve irwin>

  10. Re:Please help a Linux Newbie by Teun · · Score: 4, Funny
    They sound like they have the same (or very similar) problem

    What do you mean *They*?
    It's the same guy Anonymous Coward every time!

    --
    "The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
  11. Animated dog... by zxflash · · Score: 5, Funny

    If the animated dog says my machine is secure who am I to argue with it...

    --

    All the torrents you could want.