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Here's the lowdown on it, with a demo that can format your A: drive.
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...hia.net&rnum=1
The simplest fix for this is probably just to rename your format executable until a Windows update comes out.
I've taken the liberty of creating my own versions of it for testing purposes, and here's a harmless one that just displays the current time in a command prompt:
http://www.boomspeed.com/cptmarginal/time.html
Note: This exploit only works on Windows XP.
Wasnt there something a lot like this not too long ago too?
Damn...XP is nothing but a security problem.
I think the fix is already out. I updated Windows XP earlier today, and followed that link on the Google page, and nothing ever happened to my floppy drive.
Like Ive said many times on this board, Windows XP is garbage, its as much a piece of garbage as any other version of Windows. Its just prettier and has a nicer interface and doesn't poop out as often. There is absolutely NO reason for an exploit like this to exist. Its not even a matter of properly testing the OS; the OS and its components should have been designed in such a manner as to make exploits like this impossible or near-impossible.
Microsoft decided to integrate their buggy, bloated IE code into the core of Windows and that lets viruses run wild in the system (just look at Outlook Express). They did this just to make sure that nobody could tell them to leave IE out of a shipping version of Windows. Now we get garbage like this.
Fucking ridiculous... I wonder when andyrose is gonna point out that Windows XP is "the best OS he's ever used", as he has done every single time I brought up just how big a piece of shit XP is.
Just updated Windows, seems like they fixed it already. I recommend that everybody with XP run Windows Update.
Haha. 98 forever.
Beat me to it :evil:Quote:
Originally posted by cka
Haha. 98 forever.
Hrm, I've had nothing but a good experience with XP. Maybe I'm lucky, but I've have far fewer problems using it compared to when I was running 98se.
Just as long as you know your way around the OS, and smash it on the head with a stick every now and then, I think it's nice.
<-- Another 98 user (at least 'til I go to Linux full-time that is)
ah yes microsoft XP and one of its many problems. but seems they have fixed already. only microsoft could have this many problems. but hey no one is perfect. wait linux and OSX are pretty close though.
Ahem....Quote:
Originally posted by cka
Haha. 98 forever.
:lol: you have made my dayQuote:
I think the fix is in Service Pack One if it's the problem I think it is.
As for Linux and OS X being near perfect, do some research. There are security problems and stuff with these too, and it will likely get worse as the userbase for these grows. Window's is just the focus now because of it's huge userbase.
Win98? I can never go back to it... everytime a program crashed my desktop wallpaper would magically disappear and everytime I wanted to shut off my computer I had to pray it wouldn't lock up.
XP patch did the trick alright...
Good point, all OSes are flawed because humans are. However, Linux and OSX are far better operating systems; theyre a lot more well designed and, as a result, have less security problems because good design will solve many problems.Quote:
Originally posted by Brotherman
I think the fix is in Service Pack One if it's the problem I think it is.
As for Linux and OS X being near perfect, do some research. There are security problems and stuff with these too, and it will likely get worse as the userbase for these grows. Window's is just the focus now because of it's huge userbase.
Windows, on the other hand, has been shoddily, hastily written for years, compromising security for features becase features sell. Do it for long enough, and youre left with this shoddily written software thats flawed at the very core because nobody decided to sit down and say "hey, before we do this, lets make sure its secure".
Even Microsoft admitted this.
I mean, just look at Outlook Express for proof of it - it lets you run cute little macros and scripts to "enhance your email", but they also allow malicious programmers to whip up nasty viruses in VB in a day or two. Microsoft hastily integrated the IE code into the core of Windows (and OE), which makes security lapses on the browser side that much worse.
Yes, if Linux and OS X had a larger market share, more holes would be found (and, indeed, more holes HAVE been found in Linux as the market has been growing), but it would never approach Windows-like numbers, because both of those OSes are well-designed.
It's a great sound for errors!Quote:
Originally posted by innova
:lol: you have made my day
Though I would like to not that OS X and Linux are pretty much add-ons to an OS that's much older than Windows, you bring up good points. Microsoft spent most of their time focusing on ease of use rather than security. If I'm correct, even the popularity of the internet caught them off guard. OS X would probably be able to compete with Windows if it didn't have to be on proprietary hardware, and Linux needs to work on balancing security with user friendliness to break into the market. Though I still have some issues about how open-source OS's could potentially affect security in the long run, I agree though, they are good OS's (I dualboot between Linux and Windows on my PC.).Quote:
Originally posted by diffusionx
Good point, all OSes are flawed because humans are. However, Linux and OSX are far better operating systems; theyre a lot more well designed and, as a result, have less security problems because good design will solve many problems.
Windows, on the other hand, has been shoddily, hastily written for years, compromising security for features becase features sell. Do it for long enough, and youre left with this shoddily written software thats flawed at the very core because nobody decided to sit down and say "hey, before we do this, lets make sure its secure".
Even Microsoft admitted this.
I mean, just look at Outlook Express for proof of it - it lets you run cute little macros and scripts to "enhance your email", but they also allow malicious programmers to whip up nasty viruses in VB in a day or two. Microsoft hastily integrated the IE code into the core of Windows (and OE), which makes security lapses on the browser side that much worse.
Yes, if Linux and OS X had a larger market share, more holes would be found (and, indeed, more holes HAVE been found in Linux as the market has been growing), but it would never approach Windows-like numbers, because both of those OSes are well-designed.
I know linux and OSX have their problems but not on a scale that windows has, reformatting the HD that could be a big problem if you run a corporation. and easy of use mac wins hands down in my opinion.
well put diffusionx.