The marketing propaganda touting Microsoft’s new Vista operating system as “the most secure version of Windows yet” has done nothing to stop both white and black hat hackers from discovering Vista vulnerabilities. Unless you simply enjoy acting as an experimental Microsoft guinea pig, it’s best to wait before trying to run Windows Vista.
Quite disturbing were recent revelations that Microsoft’s own Live OneCare antivirus program, tailored specifically for Vista, is unable to block many well-known computer viruses. Another antivirus package from McAfee also fails to do the job. This fulfills predictions made in early 2006 by antivirus firm Symantec (maker of Norton AntiVirus) that, because of Microsoft’s failure to provide ways for antivirus programmers to fully integrate their products with Vista, many antivirus programs would have a hard time protecting Vista users. I guess that includes Microsoft, as well.
Russian hackers posted instructions to an underground forum describing how to implement “privilege escalation,” which could bypass some Vista security measures. This hack could escalate the “privileges” of a normal Vista user into that of a “superuser,” allowing him to change anything he desired on the system. This would be particularly dangerous in a corporate environment where normal computer users have limited privileges, in that they cannot install programs, visit certain Web sites, etc. This threat is considered so serious that Microsoft has scrambled its “Security Response Center,” which is ostensibly still trying to figure out what to do.
Microsoft also recently acknowledged that Vista’s built-in speech recognition software could be exploited by bad guys to delete files and even shut the computer down. This wacky (and quite clever) hack works something like this: A Vista user downloads and plays a malicious audio file, probably thinking that it’s the latest Toby Keith song. Instead, the audio file begins barking commands through the computer’s speakers, such as, “Delete all files in the ‘My Documents’ folder,” or, “System shut down.” These verbal commands are picked up by the computer’s microphone, processed by the built-in speech recognition software, and the computer obeys. Crazy, huh?
Research done by Tokyo-based security vendor Trend Micro, makers of the popular PC-cillin antivirus products, has uncovered the existence of ongoing eBay-style black hat hacker auctions where attack programs that can be used to compromise Vista computers are being bought and sold for as much as $50,000. Reports are that, in order to steal as much money as possible, computer criminals are biding their time and building their arsenals, waiting for Vista to be installed on more computers around the world before unleashing their most powerful Vista-busting weapons.
In the face of known Vista security holes, Microsoft spokesmen have been unapologetic. Stephen Toulouse, senior product manager at Microsoft’s “Trustworthy Computing Group,” told CNN, “We know from the outset that we won’t get the software code 100 percent right … but Windows Vista has multiple layers of defense.” Another Microsoft representative told ZDNet, “It’s important to remember that no software is 100 percent secure.”
Still, I wonder, “Why is it important for me to remember that no software is 100 percent secure? Oh, yeah, so I’ll remember to hold off on installing Windows Vista.”
Said one very irritated and frustrated Vista early adopter, “I should have bought a Mac.”
Dave Moore has been repairing computers in Norman since 1984, when he borrowed $1,200 to buy a Commodore 64 system. He can be reached at 919-9901 or www.davemoorecomputers.com.
Local Business
February 9, 2007
New Windows Vista hacked already
- Local Business
-
-
Review: Apple's iPad not just a bigger iPod Touch
SAN FRANCISCO -- After just an hour with an iPad, I came away with a preliminary verdict: Despite some flaws, this is one slick device.
Steve Jobs intrigued me in his slow, showman-like presentation Wednesday when he said the $499-and-up iPad is "so much more intimate than a laptop and so much more capable than a smart phone. -
People in business
Allyson Crank has been named employee of the month at First State Bank's Noble location.
Crank, loan operations assistant/loan teller since June 2008, joined the bank's staff in 2007. A Noble High School graduate, she studied mathematics while attending the University of Oklahoma. -
Norman lawyer goes to the doghouse with beef jerky
Norman lawyer and small business owner Dave Stockwell has been making private label beef jerky for years.
He started off in his garage, but his passion for smoking and curing round steak has led to the occupation of a commercial facility in the Oklahoma City metro area. - Moore passes $2M tax rebate for Target The City of Moore's Economic Development Authority voted unanimously Monday evening to approve a sales tax rebate to Target Corporation, who wants to build a 135,000-square-foot retail store on SW 19th Street west of Fritts Boulevard in Moore.
-
Me? An idiot? Finance titles to raise your IQ
Once you get past the hesitancy of buying a book written for dummies or idiots, you can get some very practical information out of the titles in these series.
Penguin Publishers, provider of The Complete Idiot's Guide series, has dozens of business and personal finance titles. - Claim your e-mail privacy Have you ever read a message on a postcard that was not addressed to you? It was right there, in the open, so, how could it have been avoided? Maybe, at least once in your life, you've held an envelope up to the light, hoping to read its contents.
-
County real estate
Real estate sales of $100,000 and above, as recorded by the office of Cleveland County Clerk, Tammy Howard.
Feb. 8-12
Lot 7, Block 5, Briarwood Creek, $165,000. Buyer, Jason and Lorie Wenger. Seller, Scott and Dawn Hubbard. - Chamber of Commerce, Norman NEXT to co-host candidate forum Feb. 24 The Norman Chamber of Commerce Get Out The Vote Committee and Norman NEXT, Norman's young professionals organization, have announced plans to co-host a candidate forum for the mayoral and city council candidates.
- People in business Michael Mohr, owner of Mohr Construction LLC, has completed the required EPA certified training class in the Renovation, Repair and Painting rules that go into effect April, 2010, dealing with lead base paint removal and handling in buildings built prior to 1978.
-
People in business
DeBee Gilchrist recently announced that Blaine M. Peterson, Norman, has been named a shareholder of the firm.
Peterson's practice encompasses a broad range of business matters, including tax planning and controversies, comprehensive estate planning and business valuation. - More Local Business Headlines
-
Review: Apple's iPad not just a bigger iPod Touch
SAN FRANCISCO -- After just an hour with an iPad, I came away with a preliminary verdict: Despite some flaws, this is one slick device.
