Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Computer Viruses Cripple Colorado DMV

Posted by michael on from the browse-defensively dept.

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."

4 of 394 comments (clear)

  1. Linux is a virus risk! by swillden · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.
    1. Re:Linux is a virus risk! by DrCode · · Score: 5, Funny

      Write your own:

      #!/bin/bash
      echo Scanning...
      sleep 3s
      echo Scanning...
      sleep 3s
      echo System clean!

  2. ...what, exactly, would that do? by American+AC+in+Paris · · Score: 5, Funny
    Crippling the DMV? That's on par with outsmarting a bar stool.

    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

  3. Hm... by StevenHenderson · · Score: 5, Funny

    Who to root for, the viruses or the DMV? A conundrum if there ever was one...