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Microsoft takes flak on "Code Red"
by Arie Slob
Hello Windows users,
You might have heard about the so-called "Code Red" worm in the (main stream) press this week, and about the dire predictions of the Internet's collapse due to the worm. Well, nothing serious materialized so far, but security experts warn that some systems are still at risk.
First let me tell you that this is not a worm that attacks your desktop computer. It is a worm build to infect Web servers who are running Microsoft's Internet Information Server (IIS) on Windows NT & 2000, taking advantage of a security hole in the server software.
The worm sends probes across the Internet, looking for computers to break into. When it finds a computer with the security hole, it sneaks in, sets itself up, and starts the search process over again. The worm does little damage to the computers it infects. Instead the danger of the worm lies in the pressure it puts on Internet infrastructure.
Code Red is programmed to actively spread between the 1st and 19th day of each month. On the 20th day of each month, all of the infected computers launch an attack on the server hosting the White House Web site to try to crash it with a flood of data and traffic. The White House has since moved its Web site, so it will not be affected, but the attack will continue and may affect the overall performance of the Internet.
Microsoft came in for a lot of criticism, since it isn't the first time that one of their products is at the basis of a fast spreading virus or worm. Many are blaming Microsoft and it's focus on "gee whiz" features like cool JavaScript applets over security and reliability.
Microsoft posted a Security Bulletin, which contains a patch for the vulnerability exploited by Code Red, but this was around 3-4 weeks after the hole in IIS was reported to them by eEye Digital Security.
And no, our Web server isn't running on Microsoft software!
Rose City Software
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"WOW! This is like Microsoft's Tweak UI on steroids! Everybody should have Tweaking Toolbox for Windows! And compared to some other multi-megabytes programs out there, this one is tightly programmed - just a few hundred kilobytes - and it even includes a help file, explaining all its functions. Try it!"
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Recommended Web sites
Each month we will feature a few Web sites here, ones which sent us the most visitors to our Web site in the previous month. We would encourage you to visit these popular Web sites yourself!
Here are some sites in the Top 15 for July:
The Top 15 sites are listed on our Web site.
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Web Site Updates
These pages were added/updated in the past week. Information on previously updated/added pages is available on the What's New? page for 1 month.
InfiniSource.com
Added: Problems Accessing Windows Update
Added: New MEU Chip Is Very Tiny, Durable, And Wireless!
Added: Waiting For A Rebate? Hope It Isn't From CyberRebate.com!
Added: Hidden Cameras, Clandestine Surveillance
RoseCitySoftware.com
Added: New Keep our Kids out program released
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Highlights
New MEU Chip is Very Tiny, Durable, and Wireless!
The optimistic will welcome the new Meu-chip's tracking and identification capabilities, but will its potential to invade your privacy make it an unwelcome technological advancement?
Read Full Article
Waiting For A Rebate? Hope It Isn't From CyberRebate.com!
Did you make that your purchase with your credit card? Think that you're exempt from loss? Think again!
Read Full Article
Hidden Cameras, Clandestine Surveillance
Think that you're under surveillance? Want to know a method to detect surveillance cameras that may be hidden, watching you now?
Read Full Article
Problems Accessing Windows Update
I moved this document from the Windows 98 Tips & Tricks section of our Web site over to the TechFiles section, and added more error messages, related to Windows 95 & Me to the document.
Read TechFile
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04 Aug. 2001, Vol 4 No. 31
