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1 In 3 Windows PCs Still Vulnerable To Worm Attack

Posted by kdawson on from the so-patch-already dept.

CWmike writes "The worm that has infected several million Windows PCs, Downadup or 'Conficker,' is having a field day because nearly a third of all systems remain unpatched 80 days after Microsoft rolled out an emergency fix, security firm Qualys said. Downadup surged dramatically this week and has infected an estimated 3.5 million PCs so far, according to Finnish security company F-Secure Corp. The worm exploits a bug in the Windows Server service used in Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Server 2003, and Server 2008. Qualys' CTO said, 'These slow [corporate] patch cycles are simply not acceptable. They lead directly to these high infection rates.'" This is indicative of why some are calling for Microsoft to rethink Patch Tuesday, as reader buzzardsbay pointed out.

13 of 242 comments (clear)

  1. Get any work done? by drewzhrodague · · Score: 3, Funny

    Jeez, with virus scanners, several types of automatic updates, and other gadgety things polluting the standard corporate desktop, it is a wonder that people can get any work done on their PCs anyway. Six Inches of Air.

    --
    Zhrodague.net - I do projects and stuff too.
  2. Not that bad considering it's Windows by jerep · · Score: 5, Funny

    If my years of tech support taught me anything it's that 9 out of 10 Windows users are more damaging to computers than anything else.

    --
    Do you D?
    1. Re:Not that bad considering it's Windows by ColdWetDog · · Score: 5, Funny
      Worse than that... It's OPEN SOURCE's fault:

      "By using the exploit from the Metasploit module as the code base, a virus/worm programmer only needs to implement functions for automatic downloading and spreading," said Xiao Chen, a McAfee security researcher, in an entry to the company's blog. "We believe that this can be accomplished by an average programmer who understands the basics of exploitation and has decent programming skills.

      "It's obvious that worm writers are abusing open-source tools to their advantage to make their work easier," Chen added.

      You all ought to be ashamed of yourselves...

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  3. blackhat thoughts by Kartoffel · · Score: 4, Funny

    With all this talk of Microsoft losing money, maybe they should get into the botnet business for themselves. Vertical integration!

    1. Re:blackhat thoughts by sgt+scrub · · Score: 3, Funny

      I can hear it now.

      worm developers!
      worm developers!
      worm developers!

      --
      Having to work for a living is the root of all evil.
    2. Re:blackhat thoughts by ArhcAngel · · Score: 2, Funny

      I don't think McAfee or Symantec would like Microsoft worming in on their territory.

      --
      "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
  4. That's nothing by ZeroExistenZ · · Score: 1, Funny

    My PC is vulnurable to butterflies. I estimate 90% of all windowsmachines could be as well.

    --
    I think we can keep recursing like this until someone returns 1
  5. Immune by Alsee · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm immune to the worm. I'm still running Windows98 and it doesn't have "Windows Server service" and all that other wormbait crap.

    Oh, hold on.... I'll be right back. I've been online 40 minutes and I need to reboot.

    -

    --
    - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    1. Re:Immune by oahazmatt · · Score: 3, Funny

      And here I thought you didn't attract worms because you walk without rhythm.

      --
      Those who believe the Internet is private,
      find their privates are on the Internet.
  6. Re:router by corsec67 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The very nature of a router is to use NAT.

    No, the very nature of a router is to... route.
    Or do the core internet routers also NAT?
    Is China behind a large NAT? (This will probably be true in 2015, so hello people from then)

    --
    If I have nothing to hide, don't search me
  7. Re:router by jrumney · · Score: 5, Funny

    My ISP has a router installed on my internet connection, so I must be safe right?

  8. Re:Genuine Advantage Validation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Thank you Captain Widely-Spanning Representative Sample!

  9. Re:Not an easy calculation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Ubuntu