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Instant-Messaging Attacks On the Rise

Ant writes "CNET News.com and ZDNet News report that security attacks over instant-messaging (IM) networks became more prevalent in 2005, according to a new study. MSN experienced the largest number of IM security incidents in both 2004 and 2005, while year-on-year incident growth rates were largest on AIM."

16 of 151 comments (clear)

  1. Simple Fix by jimbolauski · · Score: 3, Funny

    FTA:
        "We recommend that customers do not click on attachments or links in IM without confirming their validity with the person who sent them"

    When is a patch going to come out for this problem, it seems to have been plaguing the net for quite some.

    --
    Knowledge = Power
    P= W/t
    t=Money
    Money = Work/Knowledge so the less you know the more you make
    1. Re:Simple Fix by meringuoid · · Score: 2, Funny
      "We recommend that customers do not click on attachments or links in IM without confirming their validity with the person who sent them"

      When is a patch going to come out for this problem, it seems to have been plaguing the net for quite some.

      Once AOL start requiring (for 'technical' or even 'security' reasons) a set-top box to place on top of the monitor. This will track the location of the user using an inbuilt digital camera. Every so often it will cause a popup message containing suitably spammy text and a linked executable. If the user clicks it, the box deploys its payload: a hollowpoint between the user's eyes.

      Think of it as evolution in action.

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
    2. Re:Simple Fix by Phisbut · · Score: 4, Funny
      When is a patch going to come out for this problem, it seems to have been plaguing the net for quite some.

      We've been trying to patch human beings for quite a while now, but they just don't seem to stand still. We'll get to it though.

      --
      After 3 days without programming, life becomes meaningless
      - The Tao of Programming
    3. Re:Simple Fix by towsonu2003 · · Score: 1, Funny
      When is a patch going to come out for this problem, it seems to have been plaguing the net for quite some.

      We've been trying to patch human beings for quite a while now, but they just don't seem to stand still. We'll get to it though.

      and to reboot them is very expensive and very risky...
  2. Funny IM Exploit Story by repruhsent · · Score: 1, Funny

    A friend of mine was bothering me the other day. He runs Linux and thinks he's impervious to most virus attacks. Anyway, I opened up the binary of a Linux program I wrote that simply displays "LOL" over and over again, copied and pasted it into an IM window to him. Lo and behold, his computer started sending me back "LOL" as an instant message, over and over again!

    So, the moral of this story is that even if you run Linux, you're still susceptible to IM worms and attacks. My friend certainly was.

    1. Re:Funny IM Exploit Story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      you lying sack of shit

    2. Re:Funny IM Exploit Story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I find this very offensive, Mr. Coward. I am going to contact CmdrTaco, get your IP and turn it in to the authorities - trolling is ILLEGAL in the United States now. Didn't you read this story?

  3. IRC, you say?... by meringuoid · · Score: 1, Funny
    Thank God for IRC

    Rly? ... cuz my m8 got 0wned by this hacker on AIM. Posted about it on his myspace account if u wanna read it. u think i should tell him 2 go 2 IRC? r ther no hackers there? I'll tell him i heard its saf3r, k? cuz I heard they can get ur IP number on AIM & not on IRC, that true 2?

    (egad, writing like that was a terrible strain, even if only for a few sentences... how do the aolam3rz manage it?)

    --
    Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
    1. Re:IRC, you say?... by ZiakII · · Score: 4, Funny

      Rly? ... cuz my m8 got 0wned by this hacker on AIM. Posted about it on his myspace account if u wanna read it. u think i should tell him 2 go 2 IRC? r ther no hackers there? I'll tell him i heard its saf3r, k? cuz I heard they can get ur IP number on AIM & not on IRC, that true 2?

      OMGZ I just pwned some guy yesterday mebe it was u?, haha what a n00b he told me his IP was 127.0.0.1 and I used some 1337 program to pwn his comp and now I have full permission to do it, I think I'll start deleteing his files. LOLZ!

    2. Re:IRC, you say?... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Hey thats my IP. Get out of my computer now or I call DHS/FBI/CIA/DoD/Kreml/KGB after j00!

  4. IM virus protection by 192939495969798999 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm not susceptible to IM viruses, ever since my friend X_Cindy_X_12345 IM'd me with this link to a special program I had to install. It prevents any kind of issue with the(##*@JN#IN#F____+++ NO CARRIER

    --
    stuff |
  5. Re:Just don't use their client by Ced_Ex · · Score: 3, Funny

    Does your work use straight MSN?

    No. My work uses the homosexual MSN.

    More lesbians that way.

    --
    Live forever, or die trying.
  6. Sweet by somethingprolific · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, this is an interesting article. Anyone who wants to discuss it hit me up on UIN 5050554. Oh wait... nevermind. I forgot that someone jacked my password and changed it last year! I had a low number you skank! Anyway, if you have my password, please place it on my desktop in a text file at 153.145.2.302 Thanks

  7. Re:Obvious by ozydingo · · Score: 3, Funny

    Didn't you see their new ad? The new and improved AOL blocks all spyware, foils all hackers, and does you up the butt all with a single mouse click!

  8. Re:Obvious by heavy+snowfall · · Score: 2, Funny

    - My grandma doesn't use AOL.
    - She uses linux, user account.
    - iptables, ids.

    I was talking about your average grannies in FL. (Their neigbours are probably the spammers exploiting their boxes..)

  9. Always Had Attacks by Archades54 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Instant messenging has always had great amounts of attacks..on the english language

    --
    If your neighbours roof is flying past your window, you know it's cyclone season.