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Computer Viruses Cripple Colorado DMV
Mr. Christmas Lights writes "The Denver Post has written the last three days (Tue, Wed, Thu) about how computer viruses have crippled the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicle's computers since last Friday. This has prevented them from issuing new/renewed licenses, so they are providing 30-day extension stickers. The 'dozen experts' have decided that 'fresh software' is the best way to remedy it - probably means re-installing Windows, but have they considered Linux? Colorado seems to be having its share of problems - today's article mentions the Zinc Whiskers issue several months ago that knocked the the Colorado secretary of state offline for a couple of weeks. And it could only get worse as the JPEG exploit starts showing up in the wild."
I'm sure the "fresh software" will be provided free of charge to the state...
Just great. Now I'll have to wait like, 4 hours to get a new picture!
have they considered Linux?
I should hope not! Don't you realize that Norton Anti-virus doesn't run on Linux? How would they protect themselves from these destructive viruses without every machine devoting a few hours each day to scanning for and eliminating viruses?
I suppose it's understandable that you overlooked this problem, though, I hadn't ever thought of it either until some security brainiacs at a client's headquarters refused to allow me to connect my laptop to their network unless I could demonstrate that a reputable virus scanner was checking my machine at least daily. I pointed out that my laptop runs Linux, and that there are no Linux viruses in the wild, but they made it clear that that doesn't matter -- any machine without a virus scanner is a risk to their uber-secure network.
I sure am glad they explained that to me...
Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
The 'dozen experts' have decided that 'fresh software' is the best way to remedy it - probably means re-installing Windows, but have they considered Linux?
Oh, brilliant idea. Why, they could have their entire statewide system gutted, upgraded to Linux, re-designed, re-written, tested, debugged, deployed, up and running in the time it takes Gentoo to boot!
Obliteracy: Words with explosions
Pr0n in governemnt?
The prince of Bel-Air installs it?
The pack Dentine in with the restore disks?
*rimshot*
Always going forward, 'cause we can't find reverse.
How many people bet the headline should have been that?
Alternate joke: Things have ground to a halt at the DMV? You mean it's been more than 5 minutes since the doors opened?
Blaze a trail to the New World
Who to root for, the viruses or the DMV? A conundrum if there ever was one...
They don't need budget/time/employees/skill. All they have to do is put up a Sourceforge page, give it about a week, and their perfect bug-free open source DMV software will magically appear.
Would anyone actually notice the slowdown? This is the DMV after all.
"Somedays we don't let the lines move at all. We call those days weekdays."
He said something to the effect of ' ... my parents said give us a good reason why we need a computer ...' . Almost instantly, 3 people in the room said 'Where else would you install anti-virus software' .
Microsoft has a serious image problem right now, and it does not look like its going to get better any time soon.
All you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be
Format ...
Install from original CD
Install updates from CD, not web
Plug in network cable
God dammit
Format
Literalism isn't a form of humor, it's you being irritating.