3 New Windows Security Problems Found

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3 New Windows Security Problems Found

Posted by timothy on Saturday December 25, 2004 @04:58AM from the now-wait-for-the-baffling-no-problems-in-years-claimants dept.

DotNM writes "USA Today is running a story that outlines three security issues in Microsoft Corporation's popular Windows desktop operating system product. It describes the issues and urges users not to download .hlp files from email attachments. Apparently there are issues, even for a Windows XP system patched with Service Pack Two."

21 of 190 comments (clear)

In other Words by Prince+Vegeta+SSJ4 · 2004-12-25 05:00 · Score: 4, Funny

Merry X-Mas from your friends in Redmond! Geez do they even search for flaws on their own?
1. Re:In other Words by DanielJosphXhan · 2004-12-25 05:12 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Wow, I've gotten everything I wanted for Christmas now, except maybe a home invasion, or rape or something.
  
  --
  [ think ]
2. Re:In other Words by upsidedown_duck · 2004-12-25 06:17 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Geez do they even search for flaws on their own?
  
  I'm sure Microsoft has an internal issue tracking system. Actually, I'd bet that's what motivated them for putting 64-bit support in Windows!
  
  --
  -- "Makes Little Debbie look like a pile of puke!" - Moe Szyslak
Breaking news from the Sahara desert! by Ligur · 2004-12-25 05:01 · Score: 5, Funny

Millions of grains of sand found!

--
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
Blah blah blah. by jamesgray · 2004-12-25 05:01 · Score: 4, Funny

"Microsoft Corporation's popular Windows desktop operating system product."
What? Is there a minimum number of characters for a /. headline?
Ha.
1. Re:Blah blah blah. by mattdm · 2004-12-25 05:18 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  "Microsoft Corporation's popular Windows desktop operating system product."
  What? Is there a minimum number of characters for a /. headline?
  
  Look, not everybody instantly recognizes the names of every random computer program in existence. There's millions of 'em out there, and, especially for this one with its generic and not-very-descriptive name, it's good to provide some context. Sure, you might be a Microsoft Windows expert, but not everyone here is, y'know? How would you like it if there were a story about something called "Linux" without explaining what that was?
Re:OMG, an OS with security issues... by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · 2004-12-25 05:07 · Score: 2, Funny

Can someone show me the way to an OS with no security issues, please?

Do FORMAT C: /S /Y then reboot. Voilà! No more virus or worm.

--
"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
3 New Windows Security Problems Found... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-12-25 05:08 · Score: 5, Funny

...two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree!
Re:OMG, an OS with security issues... by JustinXB · 2004-12-25 05:12 · Score: 2, Funny

Human 1.0 has no known security issues. Isn't always too stable, however. And, like always, it can depend on the administrator.
Surprise, Surprise... by NotTheEgg · 2004-12-25 05:13 · Score: 3, Funny

Apparently there are issues, even for a Windows XP system patched with Service Pack Two.

*Gasp* Oh my god! Not SERVICE PACK 2, the horror ...
to HTML, or not to HTML? by Gaima · 2004-12-25 05:16 · Score: 5, Funny

Users are urged to ... and strongly encouraged to read e-mail in plain-text format to keep malicious images from utilizing LoadImage.
....

Sign up to receive our free Tech e-newsletter and get the latest tech news, Hot Sites & more in your inbox.

E-mail:

Select one: HTML [x] Text [ ]

err....?
Re:OMG, an OS with security issues... by GigsVT · 2004-12-25 05:30 · Score: 5, Funny

Human 1.0 is a buggy piece of crap. Apparently there's a hard coded uptime limit of somewhere around 16-48 hours, and rebooting takes up to 12 hours, but usually 8.

There are hundreds of DDoS attacks, including something as trivial as a potassium injection attack.

All in all, I can't recommend Human 1.0 for production use yet.

--
I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
Re:OMG, an OS with security issues... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-12-25 05:38 · Score: 3, Funny

Actually, models of the human 1.0 that recieved the "Y" chromosome are vulnerable because they will readily accept forbidden fruit packets without verifying the original senders identity. Transmitting such packets via a model of the Human 1.0 bearing only "X" chromosomes ensures 100% deliverability of any packets. This flaw exists because the "Y" model of the Human 1.0 only uses waist-level firmware when interactiong with the "X-only" model.
Give it a Rest, Please! by dingletec · 2004-12-25 05:42 · Score: 5, Funny

Even with the daily list of vulnerabilities, viruses, BSOD's, lock-ups, Windows Protection Errors, Ooga-Booga dances to keep the machine running, Windows XP is still the best OS out there! Linux may be stable, virus-free, more secure by design, have tons of free software available, frequent updates, and no restrictions on how many times you install it or where, but it is definitely not ready for the desktop. I mean, it may have more features than Windows, easily connect to just about any type of network service, but really, who can say that it's ready for people to use? So what if it takes under 20 minutes to install a full system with more software than I would ever want to use. Five hours of installation, patching, inserting software cds, installing and updating virus protection, installing effective firewall software, finding device drivers, entering license numbers for an equivalent system in Windows is a small thing compared to what you get with Windows, whatever that means... So what if there are Linux desktops that have not needed rebooting in nearly 2 years, and the only work performed on them was to type "apt-get upgrade dist"? That's just too boring and predictable! What fun is there in that? So what if you can install or upgrade all currently installed software over the internet with one command or by selecting it and clicking install? I'm sorry, but Linux is not ready for the primetime, not "Enterprise" ready. I'm not sure what that means, and frankly I'm not sure anyone else who says that does either, but they are absolutely correct! I can vouch for it.

--
--dingletec--
1. Re:Give it a Rest, Please! by FuzzyBad-Mofo · 2004-12-25 08:51 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  While I know it works great for Debian, I thought I'd try a little experiment upgrading FC2 to FC3 using apt-get. It almost worked..
  
  In other news, I just finished installing FC3 from scratch. Doh!
Oh c'mon. by Deal-a-Neil · 2004-12-25 05:50 · Score: 4, Funny

This is old news. If we're going to have articles about security issues with Windows, we might as well just have a static link to Microsoft.com on Slashdot's front page.

Here's one of the permanent security bulletins to put on that static link description: Do NOT open any attachments in Outlook, at all. I mean, this is becoming one of the basic rules like, "Don't touch the stove, little Jimmy.. HOT! Very hot."

Happy Christmas, Harry! Happy Christmas, Ron.
Windows Security Issues by handy_vandal · 2004-12-25 06:14 · Score: 2, Funny

USA Today is running a story that outlines three security issues in Microsoft Corporation's popular Windows desktop operating system product.

Accurate, but not accurate enough for my taste.

The post should actually read:
... a story that outlines three Security Issues (TM) in Microsoft Corporation's popular Windows ...
-kgj

--
-kgj
Battered spouse comparison by Tengoo · 2004-12-25 06:54 · Score: 5, Funny

You know how on that show Cops, you'll occasionally see some redneck guy being stuffed into a police car? Then, in the background, you can hear his bloodied and bruised other half screaming (usually in a southern accent) 'I love him, don't you take him away!'

This runs through my mind each time another friend of mine replaces his dead Windows box with another. I believe Windows users like to be hit.
Re:OMG, an OS with security issues... by upsidedown_duck · 2004-12-25 07:10 · Score: 2, Funny

There are hundreds of DDoS attacks, including something as trivial as a potassium injection attack.

I prefer the DDoS: hot female co-workers wearing low-cut V-neck sweaters.

--
-- "Makes Little Debbie look like a pile of puke!" - Moe Szyslak
Look at the URL... by NFNNMIDATA · 2004-12-25 07:21 · Score: 2, Funny

I just wanted to point out that somebody at usatoday.com has a sense of humor:

2004-12-24-we-three-winholes_x.htm
Which day of Christmas is this? by AndroidCat · 2004-12-25 07:30 · Score: 2, Funny

Four Windows exploits,
Three Windows exploits,
...
Man, I'm getting tired of that song!

--
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.