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| Thread ID: 54676 | 2005-02-19 01:50:00 | Attack of the Impossible-To-Clean Malware | vinref (6194) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 326338 | 2005-02-19 01:50:00 | Microsoft themselves are warning of the impending doom of kernel rootkits for Windows (www.computerworld.com), which they say maybe impossible to clean without a format and reinstall. Some of you may find that current malware is impossible to clean off your system without a reinstall anyway. Kernel rootkits have been around for *nix systems for a very long time of course, but due to the rigorous permissions setup, are much harder to install. With Windows of course, you could be just connected to the net and every Russian gangster blackhat can walk into your box. Will it ever end for the poor Windows user? |
vinref (6194) | ||
| 326339 | 2005-02-19 19:58:00 | Thanks for the info, I really wish the Mac archive & install option was available on my windows box. Come on MS. 30 minutes can slide a complete new system under my untouched user accounts. |
Sue (33) | ||
| 326340 | 2005-02-19 20:18:00 | And I wish all of my apps would work under Mac OS, but we'll both have to do without ;) | Edward (31) | ||
| 326341 | 2005-02-19 20:51:00 | I imagine it won't be too long until rootkits are being used more by virus/malware writers. Even new tools to detect rootkits will need to be developed. I see that Microsoft have developed one program called Strider GhostBuster ( research.microsoft.com), but I guess for the general Windows users, such tools will not be available for some time or at least, not for free. And if a rootkit is discovered, then having to reformat and reinstall is a big issue for lots of people. This will be a very big headache for Microsoft to deal with. Wonder if they will eventually have to reconsider how the operating system is put together? It would be good if MS provided all the OS patches on a CD at regular intervals like they did a year ago with the Security Update CD, so that it is not such a biggie to update the running system after a reinstall each time. Or even change how updates are downloaded by default so that they can be backed up and put on a CD for safe keeping. Having a program which creates the CD and then installs the patches back onto the computer would be ideal for less than savvy users. |
Jen (38) | ||
| 326342 | 2005-02-19 21:11:00 | Jen says " would be ideal for less than savvy users.". But would this cover about 95% of Windows folk ?? Cheers Tony |
TonyF (246) | ||
| 326343 | 2005-02-19 21:21:00 | oh ***** ! ! ! ! its a bit like this spyware thing i'm trying to sort out at the mo. its files are hidden and only show up in safe mode. even after deleteing its still reinstalling itself back in. i haven't found the rest of it yet :( yet another reason to go to linux ;-) |
tweak'e (69) | ||
| 326344 | 2005-02-19 21:33:00 | But would this cover about 95% of Windows folk ??Possibly. But also expecting people to be able to backup their data, reformat and reinstall Windows, reinstall the motherboard, graphic, printers, scanner, modem drivers etc plus all their other software packages is also pushing it. Saying all that, unless detection tools are readily available and given to people (like MS is doing with their AntiSpyware Beta program), then most probably will be unaware that they have keyloggers, trojans and malware running amongst the kernel processes. I mean, how many people still don't use antivirus or firewalls and got who knows what running riot on their machines and infecting others? | Jen (38) | ||
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