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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."
Two points about the article's headline:
1) The linked article does not describe a successful bricking. You can pop in your recovery CD & away you go.
2) This is a software problem, not a hardware problem. I doubt this exploit is going to work on my (old & crappy) HP sempron laptop, seeing as its dual booting Debian & OS X.
A better headline would be "Exploit found in HP update software" - but I guess that's just not that ad-revenue generating.
There are shills on slashdot. Apparently, I'm one of them.
there's a patch available, but it involves penguins ;-)
Corrupting a Windows install does NOT BRICK A GOD DAMNED LAPTOP. You can reinstall Windows and it will work. Therefore it is not a brick, it is not bricked, it has no aspect of brickishness, not even a hint of brickening.
What the HELL is wrong with you morons??? Do you even read Slashdot discussions? This has been pointed out over and over and over again.
Bricking involves killing something dead in such a way that it becomes, in effect, an expensive paperweight or 'brick' if you will. As you are clearly retarded, let me explain that 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. Unlike the device in this story, reinstalling Windows on an actual brick will not lead to increased capabilities.
Read Pynchon.
Did anybody mention that they used "bricked" incorrectly?
For a fraction of the investment, support the development of POSIX portable apps, and dump the platforms which don't have POSIX calls and portable libraries.
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
...I must propose that Slashdot editors are involved in a conspiracy. To wit: In the past few months or so, we have had at least three submissions that have incorrectly used the term "brick" to describe a problem with typically simple solutions- distinctly not problems without solution. Anyone interested enough to submit an article to Slashdot would know the meaning of the term. Therefore, the only explanation is that the editors are cultivating the submissions in a way calculated to stimulate numerous off topic posts highlighting the improper use of the term, in turn increasing the traffic in order to generate add revenue. What's the definition of troll?
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?