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Microsoft Says Russia-Linked Hackers Are Exploiting Newly Discovered Flaw In Windows OS (reuters.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: Microsoft Corp said on Tuesday that a hacking group previously linked to the Russian government and U.S. political hacks is behind recent cyber attacks that exploit a newly discovered flaw in its Windows operating system. Microsoft said that a patch to defend Windows users against this sort of attack will be released on Nov. 8. The software maker said in an advisory on its website there had been a small number of attacks using "spear phishing" emails from a hacking group known Strontium, which is more widely known as "Fancy Bear" or APT 28. A U.S. intelligence expert on Russian cyber activity said that Fancy Bear primarily works for or on behalf of the GRU, Russia's military intelligence agency, which U.S. intelligence officials have concluded were responsible for hacks of Democratic Party databases and emails. Microsoft said the attacks exploited a vulnerability in Adobe Systems Inc's Flash software and one in the Windows operating system. Adobe released a patch for that vulnerability on Monday as security researchers with Google went public with details on the attack.

111 comments

  1. Release it sooner? by mcolgin · · Score: 1

    I know that's a crazy idea, but why wait? Get that shit fixed!

    --
    I made this: http://www.bpftpserver.com
    1. Re:Release it sooner? by darkain · · Score: 2

      Welcome to "Patch Tuesday" syndrome, horribly amplified by the fact they're now doing a unified single update per month of everything all rolled up into one. You get an all-or-nothing patching system, regardless of how much it fucks up your computer in the process!

    2. Re:Release it sooner? by guruevi · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      It must not be all that important if it can wait another week. According the Clinton campaign, Microsoft is aiding the Russians and they are to blame for Hillary putting classified e-mails on servers, Exchange should've known that a C in subject lines are for Classified information.

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    3. Re:Release it sooner? by techno-vampire · · Score: 2

      If we didn't know it already, here's proof that to Microsoft, sticking to a monthly patch schedule is more important than keeping their customer's computers safe. And, when it comes down to it, why should they do it differently, when we all know that there are millions of people out there shelling out good money for the Latest and Greatest version of every Microsoft product, even when they know that bugs and vulnerabilities won't be patched in a prompt and timely manner. Say what you want about Linux not being bug proof, but at least the various distros release patches as soon as they're available, rather than holding them back until the next monthly patch-fest.

      --
      Good, inexpensive web hosting
    4. Re:Release it sooner? by zlives · · Score: 1

      Nov. 8th: because only after all efforts to manipulate elections have been completed.

    5. Re:Release it sooner? by Atzanteol · · Score: 1

      Some people like to test their fixes a bit before releasing them to production systems.

      --
      "Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge"

      - Charles Darwin
    6. Re:Release it sooner? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because it's not as easy as you think. There's testing involved stupid.

    7. Re:Release it sooner? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I know that's a crazy idea, but why wait? Get that shit fixed!

      Maybe to test the fucking patch to make sure it does fix the problem, and does not break something else?

      Windows is a little more complex than the crap you work with, so the idea may be foreign to you....

    8. Re: Release it sooner? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      On Election Day. Did they just brick some voting machines? Oopsie....,

    9. Re:Release it sooner? by crimson+tsunami · · Score: 1

      But do any of those people work for Microsoft?

    10. Re:Release it sooner? by crimson+tsunami · · Score: 1

      Such a coincidence that the patch will be ready and fully tested on a certain date.
      Windows complexity is perfectly balanced around some magic Tuesday.

    11. Re:Release it sooner? by epyT-R · · Score: 1

      Why are these hosts even on the public network in the first place?

    12. Re: Release it sooner? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To: hillary@democrats.gov
      Subject: C U N T! That's what we all think of you!

      Classification: Classified.

    13. Re: Release it sooner? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Where we all = men who have problems with strong women

    14. Re:Release it sooner? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I know that's a crazy idea, but why wait? Get that shit fixed!

      The election is on November 8th.

      It will be henceforth known as "the Trump Patch" that fixes everything and saves the US from the Russians. (As opposed to selling our uranium to them and trying to start a war to hide corruption at home with them.)

    15. Re: Release it sooner? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Right, couldn't be all the scandals. Back to tumblr with you.

    16. Re:Release it sooner? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oracle is no different in it's handling of CVE-2016-6662.

    17. Re: Release it sooner? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you gonna cry when orange hitler gets wiped out?

    18. Re:Release it sooner? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Microsoft fired their entire testing staff months ago. Hotfixes are tested in the wild and they put out the fires when things crash and burn.

    19. Re: Release it sooner? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except for the fact that microshit fired most if it all of their testers. So no that's not why.

  2. Zee Germans! by geek · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Is it just me or is everything linked to fucking Russians these days? Reminds of of the old chant "Zee Germans are coming!"

    1. Re:Zee Germans! by Mass+Overkiller · · Score: 2

      People are getting bored with ISIS this and that so now back to the 60's with Zee Commies!

    2. Re:Zee Germans! by amiga3D · · Score: 1

      It's always someone. It seems we've always been at war with East Asia.

    3. Re:Zee Germans! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Democrats need a bogeyman to make you afraid so you'll vote for them. Grew up during the Cold War and this tactic was used all the time.

      Republicans have the immigrants and muslims, so Democrats needed something too. It's all a ruse. Believe nothing coming from any politician with a D or R after their name. They are all liars.

    4. Re:Zee Germans! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Possibly in part because Russia threatens (And regularly delivers) to expose the widespread computer illiteracy of American officials.

    5. Re:Zee Germans! by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      Democrats need a bogeyman to make you afraid so you'll vote for them. Grew up during the Cold War and this tactic was used all the time.

      I was about to assert that it was the Republicans who used this tactic in the old days, but now that I think of it, this was made by a democratic candidate.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    6. Re:Zee Germans! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Russians making Microshaft cry.

    7. Re:Zee Germans! by rholtzjr · · Score: 1

      ZOMG, dang ruskies!!!

      Seriously, while it may be them, doesn't it seem that ALL flaws recently point to them exploiting. Heck, I would not be surprised if someone in China OR the NSA is saying "Watch this, we can make them think the Russians did it".

    8. Re:Zee Germans! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My guess is that demonizing Russians is safer than Muslims and the like since they are white occidentals.

    9. Re:Zee Germans! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      What do you mean "everything"? It's always the same damn thing. Do you mean you hear the word "Russia" a lot? Blame dumbass Trump.

    10. Re:Zee Germans! by unixisc · · Score: 1

      Actually, you can extend that to cover Slavs - any Slavs that the Western political establishment doesn't like. Like it's okay to dump on the Russians, Serbs, Romanians, Bulgarians, Belarussians and any Slavic group perceived to be anti-Muslim.

    11. Re: Zee Germans! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      America (particularly the gov't and TPTB) always needs a bad guy.

    12. Re:Zee Germans! by Maltheus · · Score: 1

      It's called propaganda. The people are becoming too uppity on both sides of the aisle. Time to remind America why they need Washington.

    13. Re: Zee Germans! by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      We've always been at war with Microsoft.

    14. Re:Zee Germans! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If only everyone would learn that they are not either Republicans or Democrats, perhaps than we could get rid of this 2 party virus killing America.

      Take the World's Smallest Political Quiz and find out what you truly are....

      • In America, ONLY
        9% are Conservative (Hard core Republicans and Tea Party thanks to the Koch's $1 Billion per election per year.)
        19% are Liberal (Hard core Democrats.)
        70%+ ~ The rest of us are in the middle.

      The quiz is not perfect, far from it, but probably an eye-opener for most. It needs to go into more detail in some of the areas. Some of us who have lived longer have seen so much abuse from both parties, we look at those questions with knowing eyes and knowledge on how the two parties have abused specific areas. Because of this, I use to be a Centrist, but now discover I lean more liberal, the horror of it all.

      Just tired of the social welfare program for the 1% that is our two party system today. The stuff that Reagan got away with economically is not feasible today because between both parties the middle class was devastated. This is the real reason for the ongoing recession we have been in for almost a decade today.

      Suggestion: Imagine you have $250,000.00 dollars to invest in the stock market. Use whatever tools are at your disposal, invest, pay fees, track your portfolio, what I have discovered over the last two years, through Shorts and other market actions that I believe should NOT be legal but our, I have watched a decent (not great) portfolio slowly diminish over time. Too many are sucking the wealth out of the market, all the while boosting the S&P, Nasdaq and Dow one after the other to newer highs. It has been a fascinating watch.

      In spite of this, I believe you must be in the market, just make sure you do NOT depend on it for your day to day, week to week, month to month, year to year cash flow...if you do that you are sunk. Just one more source of income. You should have 3 or more sources of income when you retire...the market should only be one of those...

      Funny, Reagan could not get the Republican nomination today. And has not been the party of Lincoln for some time. General Eisenhower warned us to beware the military industrial complex. I plan to take a strong look at the economy from the time of Clinton through to today. It will probably be more insightful that monitoring my make believe portfolio over the last two years. My Hypothesis when you consider cost of goods and services (ie. buying a car, gas, groceries, rent, mortgage, car insurance, health insurance, etc...) the recession we are in will be highlighted and there will be quantifiable data showing we are not financially better off than our parents...even if the minimum wage was $15.00 per hour or at poverty levels.

      Keep in mind that when hedge funds bought pharmaceutical companies so they could be like cable companies and arbitrarily increase monthly fees to their customers forever, that they are not stopping there.

      Rumor has it they are purchasing other middle-companies that support various industries, such as robotics, which can only drive up manufacturing prices greater than health care or the minimum wage ever could.

      Remember, unfettered Capitalism is Fascism.

      If you like to use the word 'socialism' when talking about liberals, look really hard at all the social welfare programs loosely disguised as so called capitalism aimed at the 1% in the World.

      I consider myself a capitalist, I strongly believe to hire and retain good workers, they must have health care, they must have a roof over their head, they must have nutrition and they must have a means to get to/from work. And to retain the good labor, I must pay accordingly. In fact I must be willing to train American workers to do the job.

      Now you workers need to help, show up on time, be ready to work, want to work and don't make excuses for other behavior that affe

    15. Re:Zee Germans! by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 1

      Romanians aren't Slavs. And both Romania and Bulgaria are EU members. Serbia's a candidate member.

      --
      Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
    16. Re:Zee Germans! by bongey · · Score: 1

      No just BeauHD shilling for Hillary on ./. His twitter feed, "Trump is a saggy sack of shit. If any one of you is even remotely considering voting for him this November, please unfollow me. "
      Fucks sakes he posted a Trump bashing tech article the other day from SLATE, WTF?

    17. Re:Zee Germans! by bongey · · Score: 1

      More from Hillary Shill BeauHD "That sack of shit next to Hillary is attracting flies! #debate"
      "Clinton wiped the floor with Trump tonight. Say hello to your next president, America!"
      " It's only a story because it has the 'Trump' buzzword. Stupid media is stupid."
      "I bet Trump hired the climber for publicity."

    18. Re:Zee Germans! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Really its all about the Russians. Yet as a security researcher I haven't seen any evidence to support this execpt many the attack as coming from Russian IP address and they have yet to list the address. Anyone that knows anything about hacking knows how to pivot from another machine. Hell I can run a hack from Russia sitting here in my chair in the US.

      All the real evidence I have seen shows the DNC hack was INTERNAL and the person that the evidence points to is now DEAD. Killed in a robbery where nothing was taken.

      If they are going to make statements like this SHOW ME SOME EVIDENCE!

      I grow very very tired of being lied to by my government, corps, and the media. Can't anyone speak the truth any more?

    19. Re:Zee Germans! by syntotic · · Score: 1

      You can bring in more Africans and Indians if you so wish, though it looks like Orientals are no longer so willing to come to the USA. I wonder why? Maybe something Made in China reason? Or scared of finding people angry because the abandoned the Nintendo DS platform at the height of its capabilities? Who knows.

    20. Re:Zee Germans! by Agripa · · Score: 1

      We have always been at war with Eastasia.

  3. I don't know who to blame. by freeze128 · · Score: 2

    Should I be angry at Adobe for having a crappy flash API, or should I be angry at Microsoft for providing Adobe Flash BY DEFAULT in Windows 10?

    1. Re:I don't know who to blame. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You should be angry at Microsoft for providing WIndows 10 BY DEFAULT

    2. Re:I don't know who to blame. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Time for MS to follow firefoxs lead. Click to view flash.

    3. Re:I don't know who to blame. by ItsJustAPseudonym · · Score: 1

      Yes.

    4. Re:I don't know who to blame. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are like the guy trying to decide which whore to blame for giving him the clap. Maybe it is not the whores fault.

    5. Re:I don't know who to blame. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Perhaps you should be angry at the OEMs who add Adobe Flash to Windows? I can assure you Microsoft doesn't compile Adobe software when it builds Windows. Better yet, stop being angry at things outside your control. So many people praised Linux when you could finally get one-click installation of Flash and now you're bashing Windows for the same feature.

      How about you get angry at the hackers? Maybe the people who designed C++ for such an insecure language?

    6. Re:I don't know who to blame. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seriously? No one, ever, said C* was safe and secure in the hands of a fool.

    7. Re:I don't know who to blame. by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      Time for MS to follow firefoxs lead. Click to view flash.

      But the problem is that no one is going to click to view a flash ad. Or click to view a flash tracking cookie.

    8. Re:I don't know who to blame. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You should be angry at yourself for thinking that Flash is installed by default in Windows 10. Just checked my clean Win10 VM. No flash.

    9. Re:I don't know who to blame. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you should be angry at yourself for not using something besides microsoft's shitty browsers.

    10. Re:I don't know who to blame. by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

      And that's a problem for whom??

    11. Re:I don't know who to blame. by Nehmo · · Score: 1

      You should be angry at Microsoft for providing WIndows 10 BY DEFAULT

      But I gotta run Windows. That's the OS my cracked programs run on.

      --
      (||) Nehmo (||)
    12. Re:I don't know who to blame. by Trailer+Trash · · Score: 1

      You should blame Donald Trump for hiring the Russians to do that using his secret server that connects directly to the Russian bank that something or other.

    13. Re:I don't know who to blame. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Simple solution, run your cracked programs in a cracked windows on a virtual machine

    14. Re:I don't know who to blame. by freeze128 · · Score: 2

      Where were you looking? Open Control Panel and you find a Flashplayer applet icon.

      This page says that Flash player is integrated in IE in Windows 10.

    15. Re:I don't know who to blame. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A simple solution that won't fix shit.

    16. Re:I don't know who to blame. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, we could educate the guy! No reason to scold.
      Hey OP here is an abbreviated version of your next steps:
      - download another browser.
      - upon first running it will ask you if you want this to be the default browser, click yes.
      - your problems are now over. Unless you downloaded Chrome.

    17. Re:I don't know who to blame. by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      And that's a problem for whom??

      For most of the major moneyed stakeholders.

      Also, for the advertisers who keep these sites running.

    18. Re: I don't know who to blame. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Flash Player is integrated with Internet Explorer in Windows 10.
      You do not need to install Flash Player.

      Wronggggggg. Citation needed????? On flashs own fucking website.

      So either you are an idiot who thinks he knows what he's doing, or you are an idiot who knows what he's doing and is just trolling us.

  4. hey ms... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    ...how 'bout "FIX YOUR SHIT" instead doing press and/or blaming the russians for everything from hairloss to sunspots?!

  5. Another bonus for Linux... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No waiting for a security (or any other) patch. Updates are right away.

  6. Russia linked? by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

    Like librussia.so?

    --
    "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
    1. Re:Russia linked? by hey! · · Score: 1

      Like librussia.dll?

      There. Fixed that for you.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    2. Re:Russia linked? by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

      Windows DLLs don't usually have the lib prefix. Just saying.

      --
      "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
  7. This proves the hackers are Russian by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nobody with the potential skillset in the US or Western Europe has the patience to study Windows in sufficient detail to develop an exploit.

  8. Flash and Windows by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The two biggest security holes ever created working together to tear apart the fabric of the U.S..

  9. Anonymous Intelligence by Dunbal · · Score: 1

    Russia's military intelligence agency, which U.S. intelligence officials have concluded were responsible for hacks of Democratic Party databases and emails.

    Which intelligence agencies would those be? Because the FBI has specifically denied this. Of course you could just be shilling for Hillary the liar.

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    1. Re:Anonymous Intelligence by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 1

      I've heard it wasn't Russians at all, but US Intel agencies that leaked it, because they (the low level agents) hated the idea of Clinton Presidency, especially once they saw the writing on the wall about the Comey investigation not going after Clinton.

      Granted, that is speculation and unnamed sources. But that seems to be all that is needed these days.

      --
      Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
    2. Re:Anonymous Intelligence by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      Granted, that is speculation and unnamed sources. But that seems to be all that is needed these days.

      You mean your comment? Yes, that would make sense. But the fact that Russians love Trump for some weird reason is well known.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    3. Re: Anonymous Intelligence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They love Trump because he's the only candidate who isn't itching to start a war.

      Imagine what we could accomplish as a species if we didn't spend our spare time bombing the shit out of one another :|

    4. Re: Anonymous Intelligence by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      Yes, the Russians, who want to start a war, love him for that. But you can't be serious to claim that Sanders et al. were "itching to start a war". Besides, why did you guys elect Bush if this is suddenly a no-no for you?

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    5. Re:Anonymous Intelligence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That denial is about direct links between the Russians and Trump's campaign, which is a completely different allegation. It very specifically does not deny that it was Russians, and almost-certainly-state-sponsored Russians at that, who hacked the Democratic Party.

      But you knew that, didn't you?

    6. Re:Anonymous Intelligence by Nehmo · · Score: 2

      I've heard it wasn't Russians at all, but US Intel agencies that leaked it, because they (the low level agents) hated the idea of Clinton Presidency, especially once they saw the writing on the wall about the Comey investigation not going after Clinton.

      Granted, that is speculation and unnamed sources. But that seems to be all that is needed these days.

      I don't know who it was that revealed those emails to the American public. It could have been DNC's Director of Voter Expansion Data, Seth Rich http://www.newsweek.com/seth-r... . Whoever-it-was did us a service. And whoever-it-was doesn't really matter. What matters is the content.

      --
      (||) Nehmo (||)
    7. Re: Anonymous Intelligence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He's so fucking touchy that I find that hard to believe.

    8. Re:Anonymous Intelligence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why are you continuing to spout that worn out lie?

      No credible evidence of this claim has ever surfaced. If anything, it was people within their own org that grabbed data from the DNC. Or, just a plain old Huma-surprise of a different sort of incompetence as the root cause.

      Your old whore is done cooked and over. Go on to other things, dumbass. Checks are going to stop in a day or two anyway. Why not get a jump on the local shill job opportunities?

    9. Re: Anonymous Intelligence by Maritz · · Score: 1

      They love Trump because he's the only candidate who isn't itching to start a war.

      They love Trump because he would effectively be decapitation strike on the US and NATO. He would leave the west rudderless. He is a complete fucking mong who understands fuck all about anything.

      --
      I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
    10. Re: Anonymous Intelligence by Maritz · · Score: 1

      why did you guys elect Bush if this is suddenly a no-no for you?

      They knew Bush would never pick a fight with anyone capable of fighting back.

      It's easy to be a hawk when you're only looking at little chickens.

      --
      I do not want your cheap brainburning drugs. They are useless for work. And I am a working man today.
  10. Flavor of the month!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Blame every intrusion into your network on Russia, is that the flavor of the month/season?

    This Russia as the bogeyman is starting to get really boring to see.

    1. Re:Flavor of the month!! by unixisc · · Score: 1

      Precisely! Why would they bother w/ Windows when they can just as easily engineer ReactOS to match Windows 7 to the dot, and then release it?

    2. Re:Flavor of the month!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Precisely! Why would they bother w/ Windows when they can just as easily engineer ReactOS to match Windows 7 to the dot, and then release it?

      I would jump right over to ReactOS if they could do this.

  11. 2016 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    2016 cant be over if russians arent also blamed for global warming and erectile disfunction

    1. Re:2016 by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

      They're picking on Hillary.

      Make them stop it!

  12. "Fixed" is not the subject. Defects make money. by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 2

    Microsoft makes more money if defects are found in Windows. The defects make people and organizations feel it is necessary to buy a newer version.

    Microsoft management apparently thinks, "Why release good software when defects make money?"

    There should be government regulations preventing abuse of computer software customers. We shouldn't be forced to install all fixes offered, for example.

    We need an open-source operating system that can run all Windows software. (Using Linux requires re-training every user.)

    1. Re:"Fixed" is not the subject. Defects make money. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We need an open-source operating system that can run all Windows software.

      Enjoy: ReactOS Don't forget to donate money or your time. You shouldn't expect others to do things for you for free.

      I take it you've never managed multiple versions of software before. What tax would you like to propose so software companies can manage thousands of different versions of their software. And don't forget you blindly accept all website patches... At least Microsoft tells you when there's a change.

  13. Re: "Fixed" is not the subject. Defects make money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Never let a crisis go to waste"

  14. November 8th by PPH · · Score: 1

    Patch Tuesday. In more ways that one.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  15. Its just not safe to browse the web on windows by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Get a mac, android tablet or Linux if you're not a fan of security breeches. I feel bad for the technically illiterate who don't know how to reinstall windows and drivers when a virus does happen.

  16. Link to Microsoft blog post about this by shthed · · Score: 1
  17. NOV 8 to late for the windows based voteing system by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    NOV 8 to late for the windows based voteing systems.

  18. A vast right^H^H^H^H^H left wing conspiracy by knorthern+knight · · Score: 1

    Poor Hillary... everybody's out to get her.

    --

    I'm not repeating myself
    I'm an X window user; I'm an ex-Windows user
  19. Microsoft fix your OS by AHuxley · · Score: 1

    Hire some really great staff again and fix your OS.
    Its not that hard, a few US universities still turn out the best graduates every year. The very best in the world.
    They have the skills to make Microsoft products secure again.
    What are we seeing in this report?
    "A U.S. intelligence expert on Russian cyber activity " seems to have easy and constant press access.
    The "tell' is the lack of internal security on the part of the "U.S. intelligence expert" and been allowed to rush to tell the media.
    If this was real code, nobody would know and it would all be a secret and under a real investigation and mitigation.
    The US is using the media to link very old "Bear" code that has been talked about for a while and is well understood by contractors globally for years to sell other stories to the waiting media.
    The link back to "U.S. intelligence officials have concluded were responsible for hacks of Democratic Party databases and emails." should be understood in the context of what was said.
    "Julian Assange: 'A lot more material' coming on US elections"
    http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07...
    ""Perhaps one day the source or sources will step forward and that might be an interesting moment some people may have egg on their faces. But to exclude certain actors is to make it easier to find out who our sources are," Assange told CNN."
    The leak was a walk out like the Pentagon papers or US gov insider help given to the Watergate reporters.

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  20. Troll by s.petry · · Score: 1

    Simple statement to recognize a troll: "Remember, unfettered Capitalism is Fascism." which simply means you do not know what Capitalism is. No point reading after that piece of ignorance.

    --

    -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.

  21. Orthodox Christians by Latent+Heat · · Score: 1

    Actually before the recent resurgence of "political Islam", before Arab states opposed Israel (which defacto allied Arab Muslims and Christians, unlike what is happening now), well before the madness of WW-II, Jews experienced persecution at the hands of Orthodox Christians in Russia. It's the Fiddler-on-the-Roof thing; the Russian-refugee experience is the family history of many persons of Jewish heritage here in America.

    It is a point of divergence between Israel, which if not having friendlier relations with Russia, quickly sought and obtained accommodation of its security interests without interfering with what Russia is doing in Syria, and with the United States, where Russia is once again being demonized.

    To the extent that Jewish persons seek to influence policy in a way informed by life experience and family history, along with everyone else, Jews in America may have a somewhat different perspective on Russia and other Orthodox Christian countries than Israelis.

    There are also two sides to many ancient enmities. To the extent that Jews in America with "neo-Conservative" political label appear to be unreasonable in distrusting Russia and other Slavic countries with Orthodox Christians, there as that conclave of American Middle Eastern Christians and recent descendants, many of them Orthodox Christians, that Candidate Ted Cruz famously attended. Middle East Christians have fared poorly under Muslim Brotherhood, Al Qaeda, ISIS, and so on, and whereas Israel is certainly no friend of those groups, there is this tendency to lump all Arabs, Christian or Muslim, moderate or extremist, religious or secularist, into the same category as not being friends of Israel.

    Some shade was thrown on Israel at that meeting that caught the Senator by surprise, and he did an about face and started speaking in a way that was perceived as insulting to his hosts and signaling to other constituent groups of his "courage in standing up to anti-Semitism." That may have been aimed more at pro-Israel Evangelical Christians in the US than at pro-Israel Jews, it may say a lot more about the Senator than it does about Christians of whatever geographic origin or Jews, but it may offer some insight into the dynamic than to simplistically assert "it's okay to dump on the Russians."

    1. Re:Orthodox Christians by FilatovEV · · Score: 1

      [W]ell before the madness of WW-II, Jews experienced persecution at the hands of Orthodox Christians in Russia. It's the Fiddler-on-the-Roof thing; the Russian-refugee experience is the family history of many persons of Jewish heritage here in America.

      To the extent that Jewish persons seek to influence policy in a way informed by life experience and family history, along with everyone else, Jews in America may have a somewhat different perspective on Russia and other Orthodox Christian countries than Israelis.

      You do recognize that persecution of Jews in Russia happened before the October revolution of 1917, right? You do recognize that repressions against Jews were a major reason why many Jews sought to support and lead the October revolution, right? You do know those events had very dramatic effects.

      ...dude, I don't think you should let ancient life stories affect modern-day policies.

    2. Re:Orthodox Christians by unixisc · · Score: 1

      ...dude, I don't think you should let ancient life stories affect modern-day policies.

      Tell that to the Muslims - not just in the Mid East, but all over the world

    3. Re:Orthodox Christians by unixisc · · Score: 1

      Actually before the recent resurgence of "political Islam", before Arab states opposed Israel (which defacto allied Arab Muslims and Christians, unlike what is happening now), well before the madness of WW-II, Jews experienced persecution at the hands of Orthodox Christians in Russia. It's the Fiddler-on-the-Roof thing; the Russian-refugee experience is the family history of many persons of Jewish heritage here in America.

      Quite true. However, that persecution dates back to Tsarist Russia, but it's not true about Russia today. Also, while the Soviets blocked Jews from emigrating to Israel, Russia (since 1991) has had no issues w/ that.

      One quibble - 'Political Islam' is nothing but Islam itself: that religion is a geopolitical ideological cult masquerading as a religion. The Islamic calendar - the Hejira (sp?) starts w/ Mohammed becoming the ruler of Medina. The Qur'an is replete w/ hateful rhetoric against not just heathens (unjustified in its own right), but also against the 'people of the book' - Jews & Christians. The hadiths and tafseer elaborate on that in more detail

      It is a point of divergence between Israel, which if not having friendlier relations with Russia, quickly sought and obtained accommodation of its security interests without interfering with what Russia is doing in Syria, and with the United States, where Russia is once again being demonized.

      This is b'cos Israel recognizes that whatever faults the Russians may have, it's not in Israel's interests to pick any side in a civil war in Syria b/w 2 sets of Israel haters. Also, while Israel has its differences w/ the Assad regime - mainly the latter being a conduit b/w Iran and Hizbullah, they know that none of the rebel Syrian factions are anything like the late Anwar Sadat of Egypt or King Hussein of Jordan, who would recognize Israel's right to exist. So they made their deal w/ Russia whereby Israeli security in the Galilee or the Golan won't be jeopardized.

      To the extent that Jewish persons seek to influence policy in a way informed by life experience and family history, along with everyone else, Jews in America may have a somewhat different perspective on Russia and other Orthodox Christian countries than Israelis.

      There are also two sides to many ancient enmities. To the extent that Jews in America with "neo-Conservative" political label appear to be unreasonable in distrusting Russia and other Slavic countries with Orthodox Christians, there as that conclave of American Middle Eastern Christians and recent descendants, many of them Orthodox Christians, that Candidate Ted Cruz famously attended. Middle East Christians have fared poorly under Muslim Brotherhood, Al Qaeda, ISIS, and so on, and whereas Israel is certainly no friend of those groups, there is this tendency to lump all Arabs, Christian or Muslim, moderate or extremist, religious or secularist, into the same category as not being friends of Israel.

      One of the issues that Israel has is that Judeophobia is something that Arab Christians - particularly the Pali Christians as well as the Copts in Egypt - share w/ Muslims. While all the other Pali terror groups are Muslim Jihadi organizations - Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, et al, one of the Pali terror groups is the PFLP, which was led by the late George Habash, and which is a Marxist group, but populated by Pali Christians. Then there are Lebanese Christian factions allied w/ Hizbullah.

      However, my point above was that there is something called a sense of proportion, and prioritizing the threats. Regardless of whether Orthodox Christians have reformed their view of Judaism/Jews the way Catholics and Protestants have, fact remains that (aside from the Arabs), none of those countries - Russia, Ukraine, Poland,... want to wipe Israel off the map. But that is the goal of Islamic groups all over the world - be it Sunni groups like the Muslim Brother

    4. Re:Orthodox Christians by unixisc · · Score: 1

      One more thing I should add - when the West recognized Kosovo's secession from Serbia, Israel declined to join the crowd. They know that the Islamic tendencies of Muslims would sooner or later lead to them backing their Muslim comrades in the Mid East against Israel. Similarly, Israel declined to support the US when they bombed Serbia in 1998, knowing what it entails

    5. Re:Orthodox Christians by FilatovEV · · Score: 1

      ...dude, I don't think you should let ancient life stories affect modern-day policies.

      Tell that to the Muslims - not just in the Mid East, but all over the world

      Haha, that's why I'm talking to you and not to them.

  22. Who wrote the code? by Zemran · · Score: 1

    Reading the story it does sound like M$ are blaming Russia for their shitty work. M$ did not do a good job and as a result the product is bad. Nothing new there. A hacking group exploited the bad code. Nothing new there. For no valid reason they are linked to Russia. This is just propaganda. Of course Russia uses hackers whereas the US has whole divisions of in house hackers. The US is still the number one cyber terrorist and Russia has much less interest in the US than the US imagines. The US wants to go out and hurt everyone but the rest of the world is far more interested in enjoying their own lives. Russia is far more interested in Russia and has very little interest in the scary clown or the witch.

    --
    I love stacking my barbecues in the shed at the end of summer - you can't beat a bit of grill on grill action.
  23. Trumps by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Buddies.

  24. Yet more cyber BS .. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Do you have to repeat this cyber BS on slashdot, the technology site?

  25. So? by Revek · · Score: 1

    Same shit different day.

  26. Lazy Chinks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Chinese hackers got lazy and now Russian hackers own their game.

    Lazy chinks, or lazy security "experts"?

  27. Of Course Lockheed Martin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Your Hillary is better for your $$$.

  28. common denominator by micahraleigh · · Score: 1

    Is this why Microsoft and Hillary are so flawed ?

    I always knew Donald Trump approved of making Windows worse, and now he is using Putin to do it !!

  29. Israel and Slavic Countries by Latent+Heat · · Score: 1

    It was a friend, an intellectual with knowledge of my heritage, whose own family heritage is that of the Jewish experience in Ukraine from Tsarist times, who made me aware of the situation with Israel, Serbia, and the Kosovo War.

    There are so few "Great Russians" in the US, or at least until very recently, that the only connection Americans have had with Russia is through families whose ancestors were refugees from the persecutions of Jews in pre-Revolutionary Russia.

    What you say about Israel and Russia corroborates what my friend told me. But to many Americans, Jews and non-Jews alike, "Russians" are those bad people who chased Tevya from "Fiddler on the Roof" out of his home. I offered such as explanation why many in the U.S. view Russia aiding Syria's Assad very differently from Israel. I am not saying it is right or wrong, I am just trying to "wrap my head around" why there is a brewing confrontation between the U.S. and Russia over Syria whereas the Israelis appear to have made accommodation with Russia over Syria.

  30. Russia-linked... is it the NSA? by zedaroca · · Score: 1

    The last dump from the shadow brokers contained the servers the NSA uses to hack others, it included compromised Russian servers (Mustafa Al-Bassam tweet).

  31. I don't know who to grease! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Should I be angry at Adobe for having a crappy flash API, or should I be angry at Microsoft for providing Adobe Flash BY DEFAULT in Windows 10?

    Google: Microsoft MOONLIGHT plugin

    HA, HA!

  32. Interesting question by allaunjsilverfox2 · · Score: 1

    If a major world power were to go to war with another, what is a multinationals responsibility? Especially if one of those nations demand access to their resources. In this instance, Microsoft was initially a American company. And they have been known to work with American agencies in the past. But they also market to Russia. Really, the question would apply to Wal-mart or any other company that has large databases.

    --
    Restore the madness of youth's lechery