Post by: ilw-00 on August 20, 2003, 06:43:00 PM
I got two messages like the one below yesterday which suggest that
messages are being sent from my post account which may contain a virus.
Someone at Yale also forwarded me a message which appeared that I had
sent him an attachment of some sort.
Action: failed
> Status: 5.0.0
> Remote-MTA: DNS; air-xn01.mail.aol.com
> Diagnostic-Code: SMTP; 554 TRANSACTION FAILED - Unrepairable Virus
> Detected. Your mail has not been sent.
> Last-Attempt-Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2003 18:15:54 -0400 (EDT)
Thank you ilw-00
Post by: kelly on August 20, 2003, 08:34:34 PM
What has most likely happened is that a PC user with your Address does.
Check out the sobig for example.
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data...sobig.f@mm.html
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/
Post by: ilw-00 on August 20, 2003, 08:46:59 PM
Thank you for your help as usual. ilw-00
Post by: Bill on August 20, 2003, 09:29:13 PM
QUOTE
"The other reason everyone may want to move to Mac is that the platform is largely immune to the viruses that plague the Windows world, including Blaster, aka LoveSan, the latest dastardly scheme of virus writers to drive us all crazy,"
~~~ later on ~~~
However, we should not be too smug. If Apple had 80 per cent of the total world computer market, maybe our Macs would be enduring this kind of maliciousness,"
~~~ later on ~~~
However, we should not be too smug. If Apple had 80 per cent of the total world computer market, maybe our Macs would be enduring this kind of maliciousness,"
Post by: kbeartx on August 20, 2003, 09:51:01 PM
Kevin Mitnick: [laughs] Don't use Microsoft products. They are way too buggy!
>From "Special Report with Maria Bartiromo" - CNBC
Post by: kbeartx on August 20, 2003, 10:36:52 PM
QUOTE
If Apple had 80 per cent of the total world computer market, maybe our Macs would be enduring this kind of maliciousness.
M$'s dominance is only part of the equation; the other (and IMO, more significant) factor is that M$ has systematically focused on adding features to their products rather than making them stable and secure because exciting 'bells and whistles' are easier to sell than boring things like robustness and resistance to attack.
I clearly recall reading opinion pieces way back in the eighties, when Windoze 3.0 was beginning to gain wide market acceptance, warning IT professionals about the platform's inherent instability and security weaknesses and exhorting M$ to improve its OS to make it a 'true' enterprise-worthy system.
Since then, similar criticism has continued while M$'s pursuit of glitzy features (while ignoring security concerns) has made the platform even more vulnerable to creative and malicious cyber-vandals.
Perhaps the marketplace will eventually realize that stability and security are more desirable than flash and 'excitement'?
- kbeartx
Post by: krissel on August 21, 2003, 12:43:07 AM
QUOTE(ilw-00 @ Aug 20 2003, 7:43 PM)
Hi, What virus protection do people suggest for the mac?
An alcohol dampened cloth wiped lightly over the keyboard and mouse now and then will take care of most problems.
Post by: kelly on August 21, 2003, 08:55:46 AM
But really. There's about a one in a million chance for problems.
At least for now. That may change someday.
Post by: ilw-00 on August 21, 2003, 06:38:26 PM
Post by: kelly on August 22, 2003, 08:14:31 PM
Encourage them to keep their Anti-Virus up to date and apply Patches.
For all our sakes.
Post by: jepinto on August 22, 2003, 08:21:15 PM
Kelly and I are working at the same time and it appears we both deleted Peter's message.I'm sorry.
Post by: RHPConsult on August 22, 2003, 08:30:30 PM
I simply wrote a note to the unknowing "offender"- - CEO of a consulting firm - - describing my receipt of a "fake message" from his computer, enclosing an account of the worm, then extant.
He then, and quickly:
1) cleaned his own address book - who else could have?
2) sent a note everyone in that address book describing the problem, apologizing, and urging WIN operators to chek their own ADs to slow down its spread.
Don't know what else could have been done.
ilw-00
Some time ago, a major Mac guru wrote that, roughly speaking, the recorded history of WIN vs. Mac viri approximates the following: WIN N= 38-39,000; Mac N = 8
That, perhaps, is reassuring.
Post by: krissel on August 22, 2003, 09:28:52 PM
QUOTE(RHPConsult @ Aug 22 2003, 9:30 PM)
Some time ago, a major Mac guru wrote that, roughly speaking, the recorded history of WIN vs. Mac viri approximates the following: WIN N= 38-39,000; Mac N = 8
That, perhaps, is reassuring.
That, perhaps, is reassuring.
The latest score quoted by most articles these days is:
Win viri-- 70,000
Mac viri-- 50
Post by: RHPConsult on August 23, 2003, 12:15:41 AM
Post by: krissel on August 23, 2003, 12:55:32 AM
Post by: kelly on August 23, 2003, 12:24:20 PM
Peter said he used tricks with his address to prevent spreading a virus.
Wanted to know how to get others to stop using his address.
Said they gave back/away that PC. Was causing troubles somehow.
Post by: Epaminondas on August 23, 2003, 12:54:19 PM
<< Goodtimes will re-write your hard drive. Not only that, but it will scramble any disks that are even close to your computer. It will recalibrate your refrigerator's coolness setting so all your ice cream goes melty. It will demagnetize the strips on all your credit cards, screw up the tracking on your television and use subspace field harmonics to scratch any CD's you try to play. It will give your ex-girlfriend your new phone number. It will mix Kool-aid into your fishtank. It will drink all your beer and leave its socks out on the coffee table when there's company coming over. It will put a dead kitten in the back pocket of your good suit pants and hide your car keys when you are late for work. Goodtimes will make you fall in love with a penguin. It will give you nightmares about circus midgets. It will pour sugar in your gas tank and shave off both your eyebrows while dating your girlfriend behind your back and billing the dinner and hotel room to your Discover card. It will seduce your grandmother. It does not matter if she is dead, such is the power of Goodtimes, it reaches out beyond the grave to sully those things we hold most dear. It moves your car randomly around parking lots so you can't find it. It will kick your dog. It will leave libidinous messages on your boss's voice mail in your voice! It is insidious and subtle. It is dangerous and terrifying to behold. It is also a rather interesting shade of mauve. Goodtimes will give you Dutch Elm disease. It will leave the toilet seat up. It will make a batch of Methanphedime in your bathtub and then leave bacon cooking on the stove while it goes out to chase gradeschoolers with your new snowblower. Listen to me. Goodtimes does not exist. It cannot do anything to you. But I can. I am sending this message to everyone in the world. Tell your friends, tell your family. If anyone else sends me another E-mail about this fake Goodtimes Virus, I will turn hating them into a religion. I will do things to them that would make a horsehead in your bed look like Easter Sunday brunch. So there, take that Good Times. >>
Post by: Gregg on August 24, 2003, 05:44:17 AM
Post by: krissel on August 24, 2003, 08:25:43 PM
The anchor, Steve Dunlop, was interviewing a virus "expert" who discussed the SoBig worm and other problems then posted a list of how someone could avoid being a victim.
After going through all the usual precautions like downloading patches, getting virus protection software, not opening unknown emails, etc. the expert concluded with a selfsatisfied look on his face.
Then Steve Dunlop broke the mood by asking "May I add one more to your list? As a longtime avid user, how about getting a Mac?"
To which the somewhat surprised expert said, " Oh, well, uh, yes, or even Linux".
Post by: kelly on September 02, 2003, 11:42:27 AM
Windows 71,000
mac. Excluding Word Macros. 26.
Mac Viruses By The Numbers - Word Macro: 553, Classic Mac: 26, OS X: Zero
http://www.macobserver.com/editorial/2003/...3/08/29.1.shtml