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Computers

from the real-smooth-guys dept

Wed, Jan 11th 2006 5:39pm — Carlo Longino
One rather frightening aspect of the Sony BMG rootkit fiasco was an admission from a computer security firm that the way the anti-virus companies work prevents them from catching -- and subsequently protecting people from -- that type of problem. The explanation was that the companies basically respond reactively to complaints and known threats, rather than proactively preventing them. Maybe that wasn't all of the story, and some super-secret Fifth Amendment that prevents anti-virus programs incriminating themselves figured in, as Norton Anti-Virus maker Symantec says one of its products uses a rootkit that could mask malicious attacks. So the AV software is supposed to protect people from this type of thing, but who protects people from their AV software?
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23 Comments

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  • identicon
    Andrew Strasser, 11 Jan 2006 @ 6:13pm

    isn't that like saying who's the next Einstein...

    I mean how could they possibly know every loophole ahead of time....

    I consider every computer application in Beta and get along just fine hehe...

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      ctrl_freak, 11 Jan 2006 @ 10:45pm

      Re: isn't that like saying who's the next Einstein

      True, and where would the AV Companies get most of their revenue from if all virus attacks were non-existent and they were putting in policies and programmes to prevent future outbreaks?<br><br>Face it, no virus' = no AV Co.'s

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Jan 2006 @ 6:20pm

    Cell Phone Beryllium Poisoning

    Although the notion that cell phone microwaves cause tumors is false, cell phone electronics do contain beryllium alloys, which is linked to Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD). It sensitizes the immune system's MHC-II antibodies, leading to a type IV allergic reaction, causing the formation of granulomas.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      stan, 11 Jan 2006 @ 7:18pm

      Re: Cell Phone Beryllium Poisoning

      eh..
      wha...?
      i kinda understand what you said after useing a dictonary... but eh.. hows that have any thing with Anti-Virus software???...
      ----------------------------------------------------
      erm yea... i dont buy any thing labled Sony any more becuze of Rootkiting....
      well i do buy games for the PS2 and PS1 and maybe Ps3 sune.. but... nothen for the computer...

      not even music cd's.. by sony..

      oh erm wha about this windows westa?
      is it true it can diable the ablitty to play a DVD
      if Microsoft wants to.. and or music and or software? WinXP all ready has some thing that dose that... some software on a Winxp well not run if you have Achole.... oh and umm isnt it illegal to rootkit? o.O and bad news? to xp home edtion users... it well not be supported by microsoft when vesta comes out.. or what i heard... soo lets call that a "rumor"

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Jason, 11 Jan 2006 @ 8:17pm

        Re: Cell Phone Beryllium Poisoning

        Please oh please learn to type english.

        kkthnx.

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Whoopn, 11 Jan 2006 @ 7:24pm

      Re: Cell Phone Beryllium Poisoning

      Uhh no...these alloys that you speak of do not exist in a region of the phone that could do anything to the person. I'm thinking you are joking though, cuz this sounds really phony anyway

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Rikko, 11 Jan 2006 @ 7:56pm

        Re: Cell Phone Beryllium Poisoning

        Good lesson to learn, kids. Don't eat the cel phones.

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    J-man, 11 Jan 2006 @ 9:30pm

    Solution

    LLLIIIIIINNNNNNUUUUXXXXXX! Or BSD

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    fredfrumppy, 11 Jan 2006 @ 11:00pm

    lesson...

    what can we learn from the whole sony rootkit ordeal and countless other "bugs" like it? DONT TRUST ANYONE!!! your puny free AV wont protect you from every crack on the face of the planet. there are plenty of attacks that exploit loopholes in your antivirus, and even some that use AV root privileges to run attack code. just because your windows security center says your protected doesn't mean your invincible.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Terry, 12 Jan 2006 @ 6:24am

      Re: lesson...

      that is the #1 thing that i always say to myself..never trust anyone...words to live by on-line.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    dorpus, 11 Jan 2006 @ 11:05pm

    Recent Avian Influenza Outbreaks

    Recent Avian Influenza Outbreaks in Asia and Europe
    http://www.cdc.gov
    During August to October 2004, sporadic human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) were reported in Vietnam and Thailand. Since December 2004, a resurgence of poultry outbreaks and human cases has been reported in Vietnam. On February 2, 2005, the first of four human cases of H5N1 infection from Cambodia was reported. On July 21, 2005, the first human case of H5N1 in Indonesia was reported. Indonesia continued to report human cases in August, September, October, November, and December 2005. Thailand reported new human cases of H5N1 in October, November, and December 2005, and Vietnam reported new human cases in November 2005. China reported the country’s first confirmed human cases in November 2005 and has continued to report human cases in December 2005 and January 2006. Turkey reported the country’s first confirmed human cases on January 5, 2006 and reported two additional confirmed human cases on January 7.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Humble Person From Switzerland, 12 Jan 2006 @ 12:15am

      Re: Recent Avian Influenza Outbreaks

      What the hell is this post about? Feck off and keep this board for on-topic message.
      BTW about the Einstein comment, agreed. If people could predict security problems, we wouldn't allow them to happen in the first place.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Chris H, 12 Jan 2006 @ 6:22am

    No Subject Given

    Anyone who has done any kind of Windows programming knows that it is impossible to forsee every type of possible virus threat and use as little of the system's resources as possible. A lot of them (virus scan engines) are using heuristics to try and predict that a virus is trying to do damage but it's not an exact science. There are a LOT of binine processes which access critical areas of the registry, system files, install drivers, etc. A virus scanner would have to analyze each of these transactions and take a best guess at whether it is malicious.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 12 Jan 2006 @ 9:34am

    Enough already...

    For cripes sake, can't there be ONE post where every zealot fanboy doesn't post the obligatory "Use *NIX" bullshit? Windows is here to stay, at least for a very long time. Deal with it. WE all know that it's not all that secure. Readers of this site are generally a little more tech-savvy and don't need to have *nix crammed down their throat. That being said, I'd be willing to wager that the majority of users on even THIS site are running some flavor of Windows.

    Personally, Windows is not my favorite, either, but I have to know it to do my job. How can I run a support firm when my only answer to customer problems is "Use LINUX, and all your problems will go away."? I use Windows every day. I also use Suse, Red Hat, OSX, and FreeBSD every day. You think Windows is the only OS that people have problems with? I've got a stack of AR invoices on my desk that demonstrate otherwise... So knock off the fanboy shit. You're a technology elitist. You're better/smarter than everybody else - I get it. Reminding me of the fact that you can arrogantly ignore the majority of the world's PC users only makes me respect your opinion less, and makes me less willing to convert anybody else to non-Wondows OS for fear that they will become another YOU.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Terry, 12 Jan 2006 @ 10:29am

      Re: Enough already...

      I use windows & have no problem with it. i got my system just a yr. ago. & knew nothing about comp.,so i only know what i read on sites like this,am self taught,try this, try that, how is a person to know what to use.from what i gather, it's a personal choice, to each his own. use whatever u want..or give helpful advice.i really have no idea which o.s. is better.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Brandon Zylstra, 13 Jan 2006 @ 9:06am

    This posting blatantly lies

    This posting claims that Symantec says it uses a rootkit. The fact is that Symantec denies using a rootkit.
    I'm losing faith in Techdirt... if they can't find enough dirt, they make some up? Is that the way it is? Better to report the facts, and let readers decide if it is fair to call it a rootkit.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike (profile), 13 Jan 2006 @ 9:17am

      Re: This posting blatantly lies

      This posting claims that Symantec says it uses a rootkit. The fact is that Symantec denies using a rootkit.
      I'm losing faith in Techdirt... if they can't find enough dirt, they make some up?

      Read the article. The article made it clear that Symantec admitted they were using a rootkit. It was only a day later that the company changed its story (which we also posted about).

      And, because we're nice, we leave these comments open so folks like you can discuss the items and add information as it becomes clearer.

      Nowhere did we "make up" anything.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Jan 2006 @ 3:34pm

      Re: This posting blatantly lies

      Smells like an industry AstroTurf troll just entered the room.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    lemar, 30 Mar 2006 @ 11:10am

    iam lemar

    how are you

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Craig, 22 Dec 2009 @ 7:45am

    Does it really matter what they admit, if we know for a fact that they were disseminating rootkits? I mean, they almost single-handedly created a new category of antivirus protection, which the companies probably like because it gives them another bullet point for their packaging and marketing materials...

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]


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