Windows worm numbers 'skyrocket'

This article points directly at the real problem... Microsoft Windows. Naturally it fails to mention the real Solution.

> Naturally it fails to mention the real Solution.

If they did it would be to use a Mac. :(

I said the real solution

Quoting:This article points directly at the real problem... Microsoft Windows. Naturally it fails to mention the real Solution.

OTOH, somewhat ironic that the Microsoft Windows-centric _BBC_ is the agent actually reporting this story here. As Schroder wrote less than three months ago, within her Linux Today Blog 'Ubuntu Brings the BBC to Linux'

Quoting:You might the recall the ongoing uproar over the BBC's dissing of its non-Windows-using viewers, its defective math on how many Linux users were among their viewers, the nasty DRM-encumbered iPlayer, and their general bad attitude about being willing to buy into DRM-restricted streaming media, even though they are a publicly-funded broadcaster.

The saga is still unfolding, and DRM technologies are still stuck on being invasive, intrusive, shoddy, and ineffective. Who designs these things? Are the bright developers being foiled by PHBs? Or are the smart developers all busy doing other things, and the only ones left are the janitors? Who are plenty intelligent, but not hip to coding. Or maybe they are hip to coding and making DRM sucky on purpose. At any rate it is lame that in this glorious year 2008 of the 21st century, we are still hearing the same stupid excuses about why non-Windows users don't matter.

(source: http://blog.linuxtoday.com/blog/2008/10/bbbc-totem-ubun.html)

Indeed, even the almighty BBC may lose its reliance upon Microsoft's various "solutions" at some point in the very near future.

The real solution is to put Windows back to role is was built for....

to sit on the desktop and NOT to be connected to another computer, let alone the internet.

If you are going to connect to the internet don't use Windows!

Given that a good proportion of those worms are propagated via USB devices, it might be a good idea to not connect anything to the Windows computers, not even the power.

I tend to agree..

If only the rest of the world would.

IIRC, Windows NT 4 Server was POSIX certified, as long as the network cable wasn't plugged in.

@qci

Then why use Windows at all? The only good reason to do so anymore is that you need to interact with others. All you get with Windows is fees, licensing restrictions, and much higher hardware requirements if the computer is isolated from the rest of the world.

@ bigg

Some hardware ( scanners, printers, and other specialized hardware ) do not have the equivalent driver and program support in Linux. I use what works the best for me. For accessing the internet only Linux machines are used!

> IIRC, Windows NT 4 Server was POSIX certified, as long as the network cable wasn't plugged in.

Windows NT 4 predated USB devices. :(

Quoting:The French navy is the third major military organisation to be hit by Conficker following the RAF, which earlier in January saw computer networks at 24 bases infected, and the Royal Navy, which saw systems on 75% of its fleet turn wormy.

Waiting for the other boot to drop One security software company, Panda Security, estimates Conficker has now infected 1 in 16 PCs world wide, labelling the worm a new “digital plague”.

Yet so far, the infection has only been nuisance value – albeit major nuisance value – for infected organisations worldwide (including our own Ministry of Health).

http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/french-navy-surrenders-conficke...

Quoting:On Thursday, Microsoft offered a $250,000 reward for information leading to the "arrest and conviction of those responsible for illegally launching the Conficker malicious code on the Internet."

Microsoft urges individuals with information on the worm to contact international law enforcement agencies.

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/161847...

Tracyanne urges Individuals and Organisations to dump Windows and upgrade to Linux.

I am gus3, and I approve of this message.

Quoting:One security software company, Panda Security, estimates Conficker has now infected 1 in 16 PCs world wide, labelling the worm a new “digital plague”.

That's 1 in 16 Windows computers, just in case anyone is confused.

In other news, normal, rational people advised the Royal Navy to quit acting like they all had brainectomies, and that dumping the malware-friendly Windows would instantly cure their virus problems.

@tracyanne:

Maybe that really is 1 in 16 PC's. Including the Linux and *BSD systems would drive that ratio down.

OK OK, 2 in 31

*grin*

Everybody Panik!

Quoting:responsible for illegally launching the Conficker malicious code

Illegally? They didn't get a license from Microsoft to launch this "malicious code"?

Quoting:Microsoft urges individuals with information on the worm to contact international law enforcement agencies.

Here's all the information you need to know: if you are running Linux, you won't get hit. I'll be calling INTERPOL shortly.

Quoting:On Thursday, Microsoft offered a $250,000 reward for information leading to the "arrest and conviction

Oh no, Microsoft starts to go after its own developers!