Microsoft Cutting Virus Combat Time 28/06/04

Discussion in 'other security issues & news' started by the mul, Jun 28, 2004.

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  1. the mul

    the mul Registered Member

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    Gates Says Microsoft Cutting Virus Combat Time
    Mon Jun 28, 2004 04:20 AM ET

    SYDNEY (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp is cutting the time it takes to blitz viruses but needs personal computer users to turn on their auto-updating features to help it combat potentially dangerous attacks, Bill Gates said on Monday.
    Computer security experts said a virus designed to steal financial data and passwords from Web users rippled across the Internet on Friday, exploiting a vulnerability in servers using Microsoft's IIS software.

    Known as the "Scob" outbreak, the attack has been termed more dangerous than the recent "Sasser" and "Blaster" infections.

    "We will guarantee that the average time to fix will continue to come down," said Gates, the software giant's chairman, who was in Australia for a charity launch.

    "The thing we have to do is not only get these patches done very quickly ... we also have to convince people to turn on auto-update."


    The Mul
     
  2. sig

    sig Registered Member

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    While that exploit used a vulnerability in IIS servers for which there apparently was a patch issued in April, it also exploited an IE vulnerability for which there still is no patch. (Reportedly disabling javascript provides protection.)

    Anyway, while keeping MS software up to date is certainly advisable, that alone won't help when known vulnerabilities exist and MS doesn't issue a patch in a timely fashion. Given that there are perhaps at least four known IE unpatched vulnerabilities for which exploits exist, it appears that MS' response time still needs some improvement.

    C'mon now, Billy, stir yer stumps! My autoupdate notifier is just waiting to take your call. ;)
    :D
     
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