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Microsoft Says Recovery From Malware Becoming Impossible

An anonymous reader wrote to mention an eWeek Story about Microsoft's assertion that PCs may no longer be able to recover from the most aggressive Malware. From the article: "[Danseglio] cited a recent instance where an unnamed branch of the U.S. government struggled with malware infestations on more than 2,000 client machines. 'In that case, it was so severe that trying to recover was meaningless. They did not have an automated process to wipe and rebuild the systems, so it became a burden. They had to design a process real fast,'."

16 of 631 comments (clear)

  1. Unrecoverable? by ccady · · Score: 4, Funny

    Unrecoverable? What's wrong with FDISK?

    --
    J'aime mieux les méchants que les imbéciles, parce qu'ils se reposent. -- Alexandre Dumas
  2. The Process by gentlemen_loser · · Score: 1, Funny

    1) Insert CD
    2) "Welcome to ... Linux"
    3) ???
    4) Solved!

    1. Re:The Process by statemachine · · Score: 2, Funny

      1) Post bad "underpants gnome" style joke on /.
      2) Karma!

    2. Re:The Process by footissimo · · Score: 2, Funny

      Shirley you mean, 1) Post bad "underpants gnome" style joke on /. 2) ???? 3) Karma! ;)

  3. Ho Hum by Draegonis · · Score: 2, Funny

    The govt's "war" on "cyperspace" is sure going well!

  4. Heh by Moby+Cock · · Score: 2, Funny

    Finally! A real reason to upgrade to Vista.

  5. Re:It's time.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm a Mac user, and although I love OS X with all of my bits, I do think that if the same % population used it as currently uses windows, then there would be more serious problems with it.

    A Mac-user with common sense! This day will go down in Slashdot's annals* as the day that Mac-users are no longer a-priori considered completely gay. *wiping away tears of joy*

    * tee-hee, I said "annals"

  6. Didn't we already know this? by liliafan · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is this really news? seems to me it is a lot like saying, MS says the sky is blue.

    There is so much malware out there that bypasses antivirus and spyware checkers, case in point when I used to use windows (I moved to Gentoo/Solaris 10 about 3 months ago) I was running ClamAV, and Norton AV, additionally I had 2 spyware checkers, all these products updated every night.

    One morning I executed a crack program (I know but I was half asleep, oh and before people start complaining that I shouldn't use the crack, I purchased the software but it requires activation everytime you reinstall your machine and they won't supply a key after 10 reinstalls) my machine was infected right away with spyware and adware all through the system, my virus checkers didn't catch it, my spyware checkers didn't catch it, I was running all the anti-malware applications I could trying to clean the system nothing was working I was manually cleaning the registry. In the end I had to reinstall the system. I have a pretty secure network my PC had all the protection I could reasonably use but still I was heavily infected the only cure a complete reinstall.

    --
    GeekServ Unix Consulting Services (http://www.geekserv.com)
  7. Re:Translation by kfg · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Everyone needs to buy a copy of Windows Vista, which will solve the malware problem."

    Mostly, after Service Pack 2; and excepting signed malware (a software company has to make a living).

    KFG

  8. This is exactly why... by gwayne · · Score: 2, Funny

    personal computers don't belong in the business workplace. Whatever genius (M$) decided it was better to move away from the terminal-server model to individual PC workstations and its subsequent adoption in corporate America is ultimately responsible for high TCO, virus and malware outbreaks, disruption of business continuity, etc. The capabilities of modern personal computers are not necessary for most work and only serve as a distraction, resulting in even lower productivity.

    Oh, and death to all virus/malware writers!

  9. Re:Kernel hooks? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Or how about this. We make a single privileged account with the power to add stuff like kernel hooks and keep everyone elses hands out of it. We could even add a feature so that normal users can jump up to this special "privileged" mode by entering a special password. Of course this would be designed in such a fashion that the normal users can still perform day to day tasks like running programs, printing, adding removable storage, etc.

    Wow! I'm surprised no one thought of this before!

  10. A better headline by HotBBQ · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think a better headline would read World Says Recovery From Microsoft Becoming Impossible

  11. Vista with built-in self-destruct by KnightTristan · · Score: 2, Funny

    Exactly, MS's solution is to build in an auto self-destruct that's activated the moment malware is detected.

    "Hi there, this is Eddy your shipboard^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hdesktop computer, and I'm delighted to inform you that I'm going to self destruct in 5 seocnds. Sorry, you don't have time to close all applications to save your precious data. We have a real emergency situation here! It would be pointless to save anything anyway, because we're going to format your entire harddisk to make sure every tinsy bit of malware is destroyed. Share and Enjoy!"

  12. Re:What Do You Expect? by shotfeel · · Score: 4, Funny

    Please tell what such an "alternative operating system" is?

    Vista, of course. It has Trusted Computing, so I know I'll never have to worry about security again.

  13. Re:It's time.... by TubeSteak · · Score: 2, Funny
    A Mac-user with common sense!
    That's funny. The link for page 2 of TFA says this:
    Next Page: Human stupidity.
    --
    [Fuck Beta]
    o0t!
  14. Re:It's not common sense. It's wrong. by cptgrudge · · Score: 2, Funny
    Microsoft and Brazilian bikinis are about the only two products where you can get away with charging people hundreds of dollars for almost nothing -- Of course, I know which one I'd rather see my girlfriend use...

    Microsoft, I know. Furries get me going too.

    --
    Qualitas edurus commercium, nullus penitus net rimor, nullus deus beneficium