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McAfee Blames Open Source for Botnets

v3xt0r writes "It seems that 'the Open Source Development Model' is to be blamed for the recent increase in botnet development. 'We're not taking aim at the open-source movement; we're talking about the full-disclosure model and how that effectively serves malware development,' the spokesman for McAfee says. Why not just blame the IRC Protocol? Or simply admit that Proprietary vendors cannot keep pace with the Open Source Model?"

20 of 223 comments (clear)

  1. Load of BS by Wieland · · Score: 5, Funny
    From TFA:
    The current generation of bot software has grown to the point where open-source software development tools make a natural fit. With hundreds of source files now being managed, developers of the Agobot family of malware, for example, are using the open-source CVS (Concurrent Versions System) software to manage their project.
    If that's the best example they can come up with... Geezz, malware writers probably eat cereal, too. Why not blame Kellogg's?
    1. Re:Load of BS by TheOtherChimeraTwin · · Score: 5, Funny

      No, he really has a point here. Pass a law forcing Botnet developers to use SourceSafe and you'll see Botnet development slow to a crawl.

    2. Re:Load of BS by cspring007 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Wait, i thought SourceSafe was malware.

    3. Re:Load of BS by Kesch · · Score: 4, Funny

      ScriptK1dd13 has joined irc channel #botnet
      M$BlowsMyBalls: ...and then I totally DDoSed the mofo!
      CS_Ownerrer: LOL!
      ScriptK1dd13: There's a bug in the bots. Some of them are spelling Vi4gra and C14lis correctly.
      CS_Ownerrer: Fixed in CVS
      M$BlowsMyBalls: RTFM, noob!
      ScriptK1dd13: There is no manual...
      M$BlowsMyBalls: ...
      ScriptK1dd13 has been kicked.
      M$BlowsMyBalls: Damn noobs.

      --
      If this signature is witty enough, maybe somebody will like me.
    4. Re:Load of BS by KevinIsOwn · · Score: 2, Funny

      Is that a bad thing?

    5. Re:Load of BS by TheOtherChimeraTwin · · Score: 4, Funny

      Indeed, one can only speculate how much subversive activity would result from outlawing CVS.

  2. They're missing the real culprit. by Rob+T+Firefly · · Score: 4, Funny

    The actual blame rests on Charles Babbage, and that "computer" idea of his. But to be fair, he might never have done that if it hadn't been for those damned ancient Greeks with their abacus...

  3. Meh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I blame Eminem, violent video games, and/or the Republicans. whatever's trendier.

  4. Obviously by eclectro · · Score: 1, Funny


    It's the "Brotherhood of Linux" that prevents malware being written for Linux computers and why there are no Linux zombie botnets.

    --
    Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
  5. LOL by truthsearch · · Score: 1, Funny

    We're not taking aim at the open-source movement, but we hate the fact you like to be open and honest. How dare you tell people what's really going on! We're the only ones with the authority to do that!

    Idiots.

  6. Then Surely....... by mormop · · Score: 2, Funny

    Car theft is the fault of metal-workers. After all, if powered centre-punches weren't available due to metal workers using them to mark drilling spots on metal then car thieves wouldn't use them to break car windows.

    Forget the fact that a powered centre punch is just an inanimate tool and that it's purely the malicious intent of car thieves that means they're used for illegal reasons, someone must be to blame. So let's lynch metal-workers for causing car theft!!

    --
    Hmmmmmm..... Deep fried and look like Squirrel.
  7. Re:It's the opposite, in my opinion by Proteus · · Score: 2, Funny

    Dude, they aren't even talking about bugs in OSS. They're saying that OSS development tools (like CVS, Eclipse, etc.) exist, and that that very existence means that OSS shares blame for all the malware that's out. Because, you know, if it weren't for OSS these coders couldn't get development tools.

    Pardon, that last sentence was too sarcastic -- I have to go puke now.

    --
    We may not imagine how our lives could be more frustrating and complex—but Congress can. – Cullen Hightower
  8. Re:fud alert by ultima · · Score: 2, Funny

    All code SHOULD be signed, with l33t ASCII art!

  9. Same class as McAfee by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 2, Funny
    "We think [open-source antivirus products] are fine. They've never been something that was really in the same class as ours, but we've always been big supporters of open-source antivirus," he said.

    "Same class?" Meaning as slow to start, buggy, and bloated as McAfee products? Open-source developers should by thanking that guy for the compliment.

    -b,

  10. People shouldn't blame McAfee..... by Dcnjoe60 · · Score: 4, Funny

    People shouldn't blame McAfee. They're just really stressed out. You'd be too, if you had to make Windows a secure OS.

  11. In related news by rs79 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I blame open source for the development of the interent.

    --
    Need Mercedes parts ?
    1. Re:In related news by docbob · · Score: 2, Funny

      Do not blame the opensource movement for the Internet, it was all Al Gore's fault. Doc

  12. Ah, well, it's McAffee by Moraelin · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ah, well, it's McAfee, so being "better" than that doesn't really say much. I'm sure there are some good OSS AV programs out there, but comparing them to McAfee really doesn't say much. It's sorta like saying that they're better than a kick in the crotch.

    Honestly, the last time I used that crap "security" suite of theirs, it was far worse than your average virus.

    Among _many_ samples that proved massive cluelessness was the fact that as soon as it "updated" itself, it actually couldn't cope with being installed in a different directory than what the installer proposed, and proceeded to install the update as a second copy in the default directory. Both copies running at the same time. The combined effect was slowing my computer worse than some spyware cocktails I've seen on other people's computers. Uninstalling it actually uninstalled one copy, and left the other one running. I had to edit the registry and delete files manually to get rid of it.

    Yes, you've read it right. If you thought manually editing the registry applied only to getting rid of viruses and spyware, now you can add McAfee's crap to that.

    Other stuff included a sort of a "privacy guard" that, effectively, ruined access to any site that used cookies. Using most forums became impossible. File Planet thought simultaneously that I'm logged in and _not_ logged in. And so on.

    And, as I was saying, many many other such annoyances.

    But you know what takes the cake? This: on March 10, McAfee deletes system and Office files, thinking they're a virus

    I mean, frankly, at that point their solution is worse than most viruses and trojans. A lot of viruses just sit there and silently send spam or redirect popups or whatnot. Having to reinstall half your apps used to be the mark of the nastiest and most anti-social malware. Now McAfee lets you experience that without the trouble of actually getting virused.

    So, frankly, comparing anything to McAfee is going to look good. A turd on the side of the road seems better when you compare it to McAfee.

    --
    A polar bear is a cartesian bear after a coordinate transform.
  13. Time to roll up your sleeves by slightcrazed · · Score: 2, Funny

    Someone needs to tell Macafee that it is time to put on their white shirts, roll up their sleeves, cross their arms and scowl.

  14. CVS by Kelson · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hackers use CVS? Seriously, who cares where they get their drugs, anyway?