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Black Hat Talk Demonstrates New Document Exploits

Posted by timothy on from the send-you-this-file-in-order-to-have-your-advice dept.

darthcamaro writes "Remember the days of the viruses embedded in email attachments? They're coming back, according to a pair of researcher talking at Black Hat this week: '"If you have installed all Microsoft Office patches and there are no 0 day vulnerabilities, will it be safe to open a Word or Excel document?" TT asked the audience. "The answer is no."'"

3 of 60 comments (clear)

  1. Well duh... by Oxford_Comma_Lover · · Score: 3, Funny

    Of course it's not safe to open the document. It could be a "Starbuck should be a dude" rant.

    --
    -- IANAL, this isn't legal advice, and definitely isn't legal advice for you. Also, Squee!
    1. Re:Well duh... by girlintraining · · Score: 3, Funny

      "Starbuck should be a dude"

      Sir, we're going to have to ask you to leave. Turn in your man card at the front office. You can pick it up on monday at the Men's Rules Enforcement Department off 7th street. You'll need to explain to them why you, as a heterosexual male, asked to replace a hot female actress with a pudgy male one. Depending on your answer, there may be a fine.

      Thank You,

      The Internetz

      --
      #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
    2. Re:Well duh... by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 1, Funny

      Of course it's not safe to open a document when running Windows. My Ubuntu desktop Linux operating system never gets viruses no matter what I open, because it uses a robust security model with actual file permissions. For example, instead of simply clicking "yes" to everything, I also have to enter my password so I know I give things a second thought before executing them.

      Of course, even if Linux just had a Yes/No dialog, I could click "yes" until I'm blue in the face and my system would never get a single virus because it's Linux and Linux doesn't get viruses. UNIX doesn't get viruses either. Even Mac's get viruses because they're based on a phone operating system(I/OS) and phone operating systems are made easy to exploit because AT&T have to spy on people for the government.

      Be safe. Be sensible. Be Linux.