Desktop Search Tools Will Help Virus Writers

An anonymous reader writes "With desktop search tools all the rage, ZDNet is reporting that virus writers could take advantage of the technology to produce more efficient malware. "Any software that can index and capture data on a users PC will be subject to virus and Trojan exploits. It is just a matter of time," said an analyst at Frost & Sullivan. "

Comments

Sensationalism alert! dir/s aids malware writers!

[garcia]

"It sounds like great technology but don't deploy it without considering the security implications. With any new product area there is a need to consider security," said Campbell.

How about we not worry about userland programs being "insecure" when the real issue is that the malware was installed on the machine in the first place. Just because the desktop search features can index a large amount of personal data does not mean it's a security issue... The security issue is something entirely different and needs to be treated as such.

Are we supposed to just suffer through computer-use because Microsoft and its users are lax about security so that life is easier?

Dimension Data's Campbell said that if companies do choose to deploy desktop search tools, they should take extra care to ensure viruses do not get a chance to execute on the desktop.

Companies like who? Microsoft right? Oh wait, we are supposed to just live with how shitty Windows is at userlevel security right?

This article was a bunch of trash and really was speculation more than anything else. Move along, there's nothing to see here...

efficient viruses?

[k4_pacific]

"more efficient malware"

Do virus writers really care that much about efficiency? It's not their PC that's gonna run the thing. They could just as easily make the thing continually grep for documents containing 16 digit Luhn-validated numbers and send them off someplace when they're found.

Re:efficient viruses?

[miltimj]

Do virus writers really care that much about efficiency? It's not their PC that's gonna run the thing

Except when the user's machine is cranking away at 100% CPU and/or hammering the hdd, they're going to wonder what's up, investigate, and terminate the process.

(Yes, I know the average user won't, but they're more likely to inquire and report it to someone more knowledgeable).

Re:efficient viruses?

[jellomizer]

The old viruses were very efficient they could be on your system for weeks without you noticing. Until that one program just seems to run a little slower then it should or you hear your floppy disk start processing when it shouldn't The more efficient a virus is the longer it will be there before someone realizes that something is wrong. Most virus out there dont want to distroy the computer just use it for its own goals.

Re:efficient viruses?

[drew]

actually, they will most likely decide that their computer is old and out of date and buy a new one.

Taking Advantage

[Nom du Keyboard]

virus writers could take advantage of the technology

So tell me, is there any technology that virus writers can't take advantage of?

And don't say Fire Walls. It wasn't so long ago that a well-known fire wall itself proved to be the vulnerable chink in the system.

This just in!

[guido1]

Technology can be applied for either good or evil.

Who'd have thunk?

Tools used for good and evil

[TheEnigma]

Let me know when they invent the knife you can't cut a person with.

Imagine having a job where you're paid big money to state the obvious. The dream of all useless people is to become an analyst.

Undoubtedly someone will point out that one tool is more useful for nefarious deeds than another, but then how many people get killed by staplers? This is not news!