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Exploit Found to Brick Most HP and Compaq Laptops
Ian Lamont writes "A security researcher calling himself porkythepig has published attack code that can supposedly brick most HP and Compaq laptops. The exploit uses an ActiveX control in HP's Software Update. It would 'let an attacker corrupt Windows' kernel files, making the laptop unbootable, or with a little more effort, allow hacks that would result in a PC hijack or malware infection.' The same researcher last week outlined a batch of additional vulnerabilities in HP and Compaq laptops, for which HP later issued patches."
there's a patch available, but it involves penguins ;-)
If it did, then Windows would be considered self-bricking.
Did anybody mention that they used "bricked" incorrectly?
It will l-l-l-let an attacker corrupt W-w-w-windows! T-t-t-that's all folks!
No, no, it does. It's, uh, you need a new one. So just, you interested in selling that one? You know... for parts?
"...a 'brick' is typically a rectangular piece of clay or similar material hardened in a furnace and used to construct buildings and other structures, and usually has no functionality beyond this"
Close. Don't forget that a half brick in a sock makes a very effective weapon to use against, oh, let's say Slashdot editors who don't know the meaning of "brick".
In that respect, a truly "bricked" laptop is probably even less useful than a real brick. Too big to fit in most socks...
All in all, it was just a brick in the wall.
Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
In that respect, a truly "bricked" laptop is probably even less useful than a real brick. Too big to fit in most socks...
I beg to differ. I've seen bricks used as paperweights, doorstops, melee weapons, missiles, jackstands, stepping stools, water-saving devices, exercise equipment, depth probes, counterweights, tourist attractions, ballast, keyless entry devices, cookware, heating elements, hammers...
I will not have you slandering the name of the noble and versatile brick!
I'm waiting for a "-1 somepeoplejustshouldn'tgetmodprivileges" meta-moderation.
You forgot your tag~
Don't trust anyone under thirty.
Get your own free personal location tracker
Why...
YES, it is 'bricked.' Totally and utterly useless, yes. You'll need to buy a brand new one. Seeing as I'm a nice guy, I'll buy this completely bricked, utterly useless laptop from you. Just for the case and spare parts, you see. Does $100 sound reasonable for a bricked, totally useless laptop that you can never use again? Hmmm?
Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
Slashdot has editors?!
You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
"Yep it's bricked alright. Nothin but a boat anchor now. It'll probably cost you 50 dollars to dispose of it, but I'll take it off your hands for 20 dollars. Uhh... thats cash only."
Why are you booting OS X?
Fixed.
It would 'let an attacker corrupt Windows' kernel files, making the laptop unbootable
Mine came that way from the factory. I always thought that was the default Windows configuration
In other news, it has been discovered that fire is hot
Block all Active-X controls,
No Javashitting in my browser,
Lame-ass spammers, lick my hole,
HEY! CRACKERS!, face the fire-wall!
> All in all, it was just a brick in the wall. (Guitar solo singing Fixed-it-for-you)
All in all, a pack-et, blocked by my fire-wall.
About twelve years ago I had a meeting with a guy who used "brick" for "image", as in imaging PCs.
"Will your company brick all our desktops?"
"WTF are you talking about?"
After it got straightened out, he insisted that this was mainframe speak. I've never heard the term used that way again, though.
"Nothing was broken, and it's been fixed." -- Jon Carroll
I don't get why its called bricking a device, another poster said it has the same functionality as a brick, well no it doesn't. A brick can be used to build houses and all sorts of useful things. A proper term would be paperweight imo.
Did anybody notice that they mention term bricked incorrectly?
It all started with the iPhone. Apple is so ahead of their time, first product to be "bricked" without actually being BRICKED. PCs are just now catching up.
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Which may explain the Vista designers' fondness for the "brick wall" metaphor when choosing icons that represent security features. They tend to use a shield for small icons that go in your system tray, and a brick wall for control panel applet icons.
Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
Don't forget about the trojan that would blow up your IBM CGA monitor by resetting the display frequency to an unsupported value. It definately let the smoke out, as you could smell the result.
Killing the Windows load on a laptop sounds like progress to me...
No. Desktop machines are too big become bricks. They are only potential cinder blocks.
Also, Tablet PCs with corrupt Windows installations will henceforth be referred to as "paving stones".
Do daemons dream of electric sleep()?