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Wikipedia Used To Spread Virus

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the ware-the-internets dept.

eldavojohn writes "The German Wikipedia has recently been used to launch a virus attack. Hackers posted a link to an all alleged fix for a new version of the blaster worm. Instead, it was a link to download malicious software. They then sent e-mails advising people to update their computers and directed them to the Wikipedia article. Since Wikipedia has been gaining more trust & credibility, I can see how this would work in some cases. The page has, of course, been fixed but this is nevertheless a valuable lesson for Wikipedia users."

6 of 116 comments (clear)

  1. in certain cases, this would be appropriate by krell · · Score: 2, Funny

    How better to teach about viruses than to have an actual virus found at the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virus entry?

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    Where were you when the voynix came?
    1. Re:in certain cases, this would be appropriate by The+Creator · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yes.

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      FRA: STFU GTFO
    2. Re:in certain cases, this would be appropriate by krell · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Why don't they publish Windows and Linux viruses side by side, for an objective comparison?"

      Did you know that there is an entire version of Wikipedia that contains an encyclopedia of Mac viruses? Unfortunately during a server move, someone downloaded it to a 2k memory segment on a flash drive. Someone sneezed and it got lost in the carpet and has not been recovered yet.

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      Where were you when the voynix came?
  2. Don't worry by anaesthetica · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wikipedia, of course, is self-healing. Within two minutes, the virus was replaced with a large picture of a scrotum.

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    The Rise and Fall of Online Community
  3. uh-oh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Better not follow this link then:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syphilis

  4. just like elephants by macadamia_harold · · Score: 4, Funny

    The page has, of course, been fixed but this is nevertheless a valuable lesson for Wikipedia users.

    According to wikipedia, the number of valuable lessons for Wikipedia users has TRIPLED in the last six months!

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    Push Button, Receive Bacon