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Microsoft Says, Don't Press the F1 Key In XP

Posted by kdawson on from the any-key-but-that-one dept.

Ian Lamont writes "Microsoft has issued a security advisory warning users not to press the F1 key in Windows XP, owing to an unpatched bug in VBScript discovered by Polish researcher Maurycy Prodeus. The security advisory says that the vulnerability relates to the way VBScript interacts with Windows Help files when using Internet Explorer, and could be triggered by a user pressing the F1 key after visiting a malicious Web site using a specially crafted dialog box."

29 of 324 comments (clear)

  1. Well, at least the important keys still work. by dmgxmichael · · Score: 5, Funny

    As long as CTRL-ALT-DELETE still works we're golden.

    1. Re:Well, at least the important keys still work. by Froboz23 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Tech Support: See this button? Don't touch it! It's the history eraser button, you fool!

      User: So what'll happen?

      Tech Support: That's just it. We don't know. Maybe something bad. Maybe something good. I guess we'll never know, 'cause you're going to guard it. You won't touch it, will you?

      --
      Take off every Sig. For great justice.
    2. Re:Well, at least the important keys still work. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Best to change it to:

      Shutdown -s -f -t 00

      Will make windows much more efficient :)

    3. Re:Well, at least the important keys still work. by ravenshrike · · Score: 3, Funny

      Or you could use FF/Opera/Chrome. Really the title should be, Don't use IE in XP.

    4. Re:Well, at least the important keys still work. by RadioElectric · · Score: 5, Funny

      BEST DECISION I EVER MADE.

    5. Re:Well, at least the important keys still work. by Niten · · Score: 5, Funny

      More importantly, is there a way to disable F1 in Windows?

      Possibly. Press F1 and look it up in Windows Help.

    6. Re:Well, at least the important keys still work. by ZosX · · Score: 2, Funny

      woosh

      --
      zosxavius photography
    7. Re:Well, at least the important keys still work. by Abstrackt · · Score: 4, Funny

      BEST DECISION I EVER MADE.

      Everyone knows caps lock is cruise control for cool.

      --
      They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance. - Terry Pratchett
    8. Re:Well, at least the important keys still work. by SEWilco · · Score: 3, Funny

      Oh, good, I need to remap the Any key because I never can find it.

    9. Re:Well, at least the important keys still work. by Ihmhi · · Score: 4, Funny

      Welp, a long time ago I disabled the very annoying Insert Key on my computer with a simple hardware fix.

      1) Get a flathead screwdriver.

      2) Place screwdriver underneath problem key.

      3) Place left hand approximately 1 foot (~0.3 meters) above problem key.

      4) Use leverage to pop key out of keyboard.

      5) Your left hand will block the deadly flying plastic. Be careful not to stab yourself with the screwdriver! Better to have to search around for a plastic key than dig a flathead screwdriver out of your hand.

      --
      Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
  2. F1rst by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    F1rst

    1. Re:F1rst by sexconker · · Score: 2, Funny

      Fa1l.

  3. F1! by fm6 · · Score: 5, Funny

    F1!
    I need somebody!
    F1!
    Not just anybody!
    F1!
    You know I need someone!
    F1!

  4. How about... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    How about, don't hit F8 for "I Agree" to the XP EULA?
    Does that protect me?

  5. Or as Buzz Out Loud says... by Rammed+Earth · · Score: 2, Funny

    F1 is now FU! (originally from BOL chatroom)

  6. Redundant advice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    F1 in Windows, Office or MSIE has never caused any useful information to be displayed, so why would anyone ever press it in the first place?

  7. Not such a bad advice by Alien1024 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Given the quality of the F1-contents these days, especially in MS apps, that's not such a bad advice - google instead.

  8. A temporary fix by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    One way to avoid security problems is to also avoid the "ON" button.

  9. I thought it said 'don't press the 'F' key'... by TeethWhitener · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is ucking ridiculous. I'm a ullerene chemist, or uck's sake!

    1. Re:I thought it said 'don't press the 'F' key'... by courseofhumanevents · · Score: 4, Funny

      +1, unny

  10. To read the rest of this article... by edelbrp · · Score: 5, Funny

    press F1 to continue.

  11. Opens new doors... by mgichoga · · Score: 3, Funny

    We're sunk! What happens someone finally figures out the space bar hack?

  12. Re:Yes, AutoHotkey. Change any key to anything els by zapakh · · Score: 5, Funny

    Can I change another key to be the any key? I can never find that darn thing.

  13. Re:Yet another reason by Froboz23 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't see what the big deal is. Windows is a perfectly secure operating system as long as you don't access any external media or connect to the internet.

    (Coming from someone who just spent 10 hours removing the Internet Security 2010 trojan malware from his wife's computer.)

    --
    Take off every Sig. For great justice.
  14. don't worry! by swigabyte · · Score: 4, Funny

    I never hit F1. I've found windows help to be absolutely useless.

  15. Re:MS was concerned about how this was exposed? by roystgnr · · Score: 2, Funny

    should you cry fowl when there are negative consequences?

    Certainly not. That would be ducking responsibility.

  16. What about on my Xbox? by Rouverius · · Score: 2, Funny

    Man, And I was just about to play F1... Good save. ;)

  17. Re:Windows Help F1 by blackraven14250 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ever heard of people who know just enough to be dangerous?

  18. Re:Yes, AutoHotkey. Change any key to anything els by ae1294 · · Score: 1, Funny

    But I run windows??? I never need to press a key to get a kernel panic...