Fizzer Worm

[gkedrovs]

Hey, all. I'm pretty stinkin grumpy today and crap like this just doesn't help. Check it out...

Fizzer Worm (article) (http://www.msnbc.com/news/912447.asp?0cv=CB10&cp1=1#BODY)

What gets my panties all in a bunch is the ASSUMPTION that everyone and their stinkin dog out there uses the SAME operating system ("platform"). They don't state a stinkin thing about if this worm even affects Unix-based systems. A little quip about "mulitiple platforms" is all that's included.

Sorry for the vent... but it just seems like the whole world is trying to gear itself toward "Joe SixPack." Not everyone is dirt-dumb. Learning, education and CONTINUED education is a GOOD thing, for Pete's sake...

Well, enjoy the article. Google if you want more info on the worm. And, someone please get me more coffee...

-Greg

[YorkshireYank]

Here's where you can get more information about the worm... http://securityresponse1.symantec.com/sarc/sarc.nsf/html/w32.hllw.fizzer@mm.html

and to quote the page "Systems Not Affected: Macintosh, OS/2, UNIX, Linux" so you're safe

[nouse66]

Originally posted by gkedrovs
Hey, all. I'm pretty stinkin grumpy today and crap like this just doesn't help. Check it out...

Fizzer Worm (article) (http://www.msnbc.com/news/912447.asp?0cv=CB10&cp1=1#BODY)

What gets my panties all in a bunch is the ASSUMPTION that everyone and their stinkin dog out there uses the SAME operating system ("platform"). They don't state a stinkin thing about if this worm even affects Unix-based systems. A little quip about "mulitiple platforms" is all that's included.

Sorry for the vent... but it just seems like the whole world is trying to gear itself toward "Joe SixPack." Not everyone is dirt-dumb. Learning, education and CONTINUED education is a GOOD thing, for Pete's sake...

Well, enjoy the article. Google if you want more info on the worm. And, someone please get me more coffee...

-Greg

so email the author of the article and tell him what you think. thats what i did :cool:

[plattypus1]

Speaking of worms, this one is actually pretty annoying. Our school grabbed a bit of it just today. Not hard to get rid of, once we disabled KaZaA, and since IRC is blocked it didn't hurt anything, but it's still annoying.

[Icarus]

“This threat is very complex. It looks like it was well tested, on multiple platforms,”

So it sounds like it was well tested on Windows95, Windows98, WindowsNT, WindowsME, Windows2000 and WindowsXP...:D

We need another Slapper virus to make people aware of "multiple Platforms" :p

[nouse66]

Originally posted by mahdi
“This threat is very complex. It looks like it was well tested, on multiple platforms,”

So it sounds like it was well tested on Windows95, Windows98, WindowsNT, WindowsME, Windows2000 and WindowsXP...:D

We need another Slapper virus to make people aware of "multiple Platforms" :p

something's actually compatible with windows xp??? amazing :)

[scott_R]

Once again, we have the usual conversation:

Friend that thinks linux is pointless because windows does everything he needs (at only the added cost of buying every peice of software he can't scam from work): "Did you hear about that new virus?"

Me: "Yeah."

Friend: "Well, let me tell you, it sucks. It screwed up my entire system, and a couple at work, and I had to reinstall windows and everything. Did it get you?"

Me: "No, it doesn't affect linux."

Friend: "Yes it does. It affects every OS. Besides, what are you still using linux for?" (Does this in a tone that implies I still use a typewriter.)

Me: "No. Only MS OS's. Linux and the rest are fine. That's why I use Linux."

Friend: "No, I read somewhere that it affects every OS."

Me: "How many times have you had a virus and other problems with windows since I started using linux?"

Friend, on the defensive: "Only a couple times, but windows plays more games."

Me: "And I've had none once I got past the basics. As for games, I have a PS2."

And, so on and so on, each time my friend's argument is that windows is better than linux because "it just is." The funny thing is that the arguments are getting weaker and weaker each day. The sad part is that he's a sysadmin at a fairly large company.

[plattypus1]

I've got better than a PS2 for games, I've got the KDE and GNOME games packs (sure as hell beats solitaire), multiple Linux games from Happypenguin.org, and Wine if I'm really desperate.

[jsundquist]

on the topic of worms and viruses. Is there an antivirus software pack for linux? Something that goes a long with the same terms that most linux things goes, FREE.

Yeah thats right, Im a cheap college student with no money. :(

[Icarus]

Originally posted by jsundquist
on the topic of worms and viruses. Is there an antivirus software pack for linux? Something that goes a long with the same terms that most linux things goes, FREE.

Yeah thats right, Im a cheap college student with no money. :( Most people will tell you that you don't need this because Linux doesn't have viruses...which is bull. They are just not as common.

Heres a few I found from a quick search
BitDefender (http://www.bitdefender.com/index.php) has a free evaluation
Oh heck...here's a huge list of them on Linux Online (http://www.linux.org/apps/all/System/Anti-Virus.html)

Let us know what you like the most, some are GPL, some are free for private use and some are commercial

[DMR]

Originally posted by nouse66
something's actually compatible with windows xp??? amazing :) Har! :D

Seriously though, the slant of the article isn't very surprising considering that it from MSNBC, but nouse66 is right: if you take issue with the bias, omissions, and inaccuracies in the article, email the author (I just did).

Describing a virus which attacks the Windows OS or it's components with the general term "computer virus" (is there really such a beast?) is just inaccurate and misleading. People who report on/write about these virus infections need to learn to tell it like it is: if you aren't running Windows (or Outlook, or <insert name of MS product here>), you aren't in danger of infection. By not being specific about this, writers do non-MS computer users a disservice by unneccessarily raising their concerns. I don't know about the rest of you, but today I've already had to explain to two friends why they had nothing to worry about: they both use Macs.

[Alex Cavnar, aka alc6379]

Here's one I found funny today:

Thai politician trapped by Windows (http://www.msnbc.com/news/912445.asp?cp1=1)

Turns out he had a high-end BMW, and it had the i-Drive system, which is powered by Windows CE. The thing crashed, and it locked all of the doors and closed all of the windows!!!

But, notice that since it's on MSNBC, they seem to overlook that small point about it?

[Parcival]

I'm just waiting for the day when a virus screws up that toilet thingy MS develops... :D

[DMR]

Originally posted by Parcival
I'm just waiting for the day when a virus screws up that toilet thingy MS develops eeeewww!!! Talk about your viruses and worms...

:eek: :eek:

[sharth]

Originally posted by Parcival
I'm just waiting for the day when a virus screws up that toilet thingy MS develops... :D That was a hoax. slashdot has it i think.