New Rootkit Bypasses Windows Code-Signing Security

Trailrunner7 writes "In recent versions of Windows, specifically Vista and Windows 7, Microsoft has introduced a number of new security features designed to prevent malicious code from running. But attackers are continually finding new ways around those protections, and the latest example is a rootkit that can bypass the Windows driver-signing protection."

Comments

Infecting the MBR requires admin rights

[gad_zuki!]

or physical access. At that point anything goes. Why bother with screwing with code signing tricks when you can just run whatever code you like.

Re:Not for -your- security

[clodney]

In recent versions of Windows, specifically Vista and Windows 7, Microsoft has introduced a number of new security features designed to prevent malicious code from running.

Of course, but the primary role of that lock down was to protect their DRM'd subsystems, which can be accessed by drivers running in kernel space, not to protect end-users from malicious driver code.

Question for you - what benefit does Microsoft gain from enforcing DRM? They are not the copyright holders of music and movies, so they have no direct loss if pirating of content leads to reduced sales of music and movies.

Seems to me that if MS own self interest is considered they would put their effort into preventing piracy of their own software, and not worry about the DRM systems.

Windows Vista and 7 do indeed include DRM subsystems, but since I can't see how MS self interest is invovled in maintaining them, I think it is likely that these are things that the content holders demanded from them before they would grant MS the necessary licenses to produce players, or enter into partnerships to promote such content.

Either way, seems to me that MS is at most a reluctant partner in such schemes, and don't really care if DRM gets hacked. But driver signing and anti-malware do generate negative customer feedback, so I believe they take those things more seriously.

Re:Acceptable and Proper Slashdot Vocabulary

[hairyfeet]

I don't know, that is kinda like arguing you are the tallest midget as BOTH are major levels of stupid.

As for TFA, as long as Windows is the #1 desktop deployed it will always be a target, but frankly as a PC repairman I can say there is so much low hanging fruit with home users most won't even need this trick. All they have to do is pop up on a website "ZOMG DUDE, You got teh Viruz!! Turn off yur broken AV and run this ZOMG quick!!!" and you'd be surprised how many will do JUST that. I have literally sat beside a user and said "Do NOT open a password protected zip file it IS a virus!" and had them go "My BFF Kim sent this! stop being paranoid!" and watched dumbfounded as they proceeded to do EXACTLY what the instructions said and pwned themselves.

While I'm sure the malware kits will all add this to make guys like me have to work harder to get rid of it (in actuality it is pretty much nuke and reinstall anymore) to actually infect many home users all you have to do is the above or the ever easy "You need this codec to watch our FREE Lesbian pron!". I swear guys fall for THAT one damned near every time. I actually had to hunt down a decent virus free porn site just to send my "must click teh prons!" users to just to keep them from constantly reinfecting their machines.

So Linux guys be DAMNED GLAD you don't have those home users and there will hopefully NEVER be a "year of the Linux desktop" because a week later the net will be flooded with "Porn_Codec.sh" and "Happy_Puppy.scr.sh"with helpful instructions on how to run them that the users WILL follow. Stupid is as Stupid Does.