Microsoft to Use Worm-Type Distribution Methods for Windows Update; Users Revolt

[zekrahminator]

Microsoft had a rather clever idea. Why not use the worm virus for a useful purpose, such as updating Windows? Microsoft, for a while, was researching a way to make the worm code more efficient, and was going to put it to good use. That way, important security updates could spread just as quickly as viruses, if not quicker, considering that Microsoft's best were in the study. However, this idea was received about as well as the Giants victory in Super Bowl XLII. Some people cheered, but most people cried foul. Using a worm to spread things like Windows Updates would be a massive invasion of privacy, does not allow a user to say no to an update and would totally bungle up any attempt to uninstall or interrupt installation. What's worse is what would happen if a bad guy got their hands on the enhanced worm code.

Microsoft, upon hearing what users thought of a worm-based security patch, decided against using it. If the new worm they've developed will have any benevolent use, we certainly haven't heard of it yet.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[panchoman]

not gonna work...

99.9% uptime running happily on windows server
worm gets in.. installs a shitty beta update
*BSOD*
-company had to refund hosting prices to the users for breaking the 99.9% guarantee.

or how about hospital computers or other critical computers & servers.

im willing to bet you that people will sue microsuck's ass for this if they carry it out.. and i will compeletely switch to mac os x & linux.. windows can kiss my ass

 

[pentastar111]

These guy's go to college and get paid big bucks to come up with these ideas???:shadedshu WTF!!?? Sounds like the only thing they want is a legal "back-door" entry into our PC's.. Sounds pretty sneaky and sounds like a big mistake in the making and the ones who would ultimately pay the prices for this idiotic scheme WOULD BE US!!! What a bunch of overpaid doofusses!

 

[panchoman]

gotta agree with ya pentastar

 

[AsRock]

wait till they do it and some one else infects there file and that mofo spreads around.

 

[panchoman]

wait till they do it and some one else infects there file and that mofo spreads around.

oh of course.. ms built a virus thats meant to infect windows computers and the antivirus guys will of course put the virus on the whitelist.. peeps just mod the virus and they've git the ultimate windows hack

 

[pentastar111]

oh of course.. ms built a virus thats meant to infect windows computers and the antivirus guys will of course put the virus on the whitelist.. peeps just mod the virus and they've git the ultimate windows hack

Scary times indeed...to many people trying to think "out-of-the-box", If it isn't broke quit trying to fix it...this idea is absolutley insane...I understand whats trying to be done...BUT using "keyloggers" and other minor threats to help make "trainers" or cheats for games is one thing, Force feeding or even thinking about feeding millions of folks a "worm" for OS applications is quite another.

 

[panchoman]

once again, downfall of ms..

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showpost.php?p=667721&postcount=2

 

[imperialreign]

Microsoft had a rather clever idea. Why not use the worm virus for a useful purpose, such as updating Windows? Microsoft, for a while, was researching a way to make the worm code more efficient, and was going to put it to good use. That way, important security updates could spread just as quickly as viruses, if not quicker, considering that Microsoft's best were in the study. However, this idea was received about as well as the Giants victory in Super Bowl XLII. Some people cheered, but most people cried foul. Using a worm to spread things like Windows Updates would be a massive invasion of privacy, does not allow a user to say no to an update and would totally bungle up any attempt to uninstall or interrupt installation. What's worse is what would happen if a bad guy got their hands on the enhanced worm code.

Microsoft, upon hearing what users thought of a worm-based security patch, decided against using it. If the new worm they've developed will have any benevolent use, we certainly haven't heard of it yet.

Source: PC World

COOL! MS will do all the legwork for the malware writer's! I'm sure they've been in need of a decent beer/pizze break as it is, what with all the malware currently floating the i-net.

Y'know . . . they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions . . .

Thankfully, MS cleared up that brain-fart they had and decided against it.

Still deserving of the , though.

 

[pentastar111]

COOL! MS will do all the legwork for the malware writer's! I'm sure they've been in need of a decent beer/pizze break as it is, what with all the malware currently floating the i-net.

Y'know . . . they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions . . .

Thankfully, MS cleared up that brain-fart they had and decided against it.

Still deserving of the , though.

Hopefully the research that has already been developed will remain locked up and hidden, preferrably destroyed.

 

[Kreij]

I think it would be a great idea, if the user could control the worm. I would love to throw and update on my system and have it work it's way through the network computers.
The key would have to be that the administrator could give parameters to the worm update so that it had to follow strict "rules of engagement" (ie. IP address range, OS version limitations, etc.).
Once all the parameter rules were completed, the worm would self-destruct.

But the key would have to be that the user launches the worm to the intended targets, not Microsoft.

 

[imperialreign]

I think it would be a great idea, if the user could control the worm. I would love to throw and update on my system and have it work it's way through the network computers.
The key would have to be that the administrator could give parameters to the worm update so that it had to follow strict "rules of engagement" (ie. IP address range, OS version limitations, etc.).
Once all the parameter rules were completed, the worm would self-destruct.

But the key would have to be that the user launches the worm to the intended targets, not Microsoft.

I could see with this kind of a program could reallt help out network technicians and all - but any release of the source code would still find their way into the bowels of the net

 

[Kreij]

I could see with this kind of a program could reallt help out network technicians and all - but any release of the source code would still find their way into the bowels of the net

It seems to me that MS was looking at using code that already came from the bowels of the net. Kind of like genetically modifying a (real) virus to put it to good use.

For instance, hospitals labs her in the US, have successfully used the rubella virus to target cancer cells. They genetically changed the virus' "tag DNA" so that it hunted down, attached to, and destroyed cancer cells instead of the normal human cells that it normally goes after.

I always thought that ther would come a time when people would be writing "good" software viruses that hunted down and destroyed the bad ones.

HAsn't happened yet, though

 

[tiys]

+1

 

[AsRock]

oh of course.. ms built a virus thats meant to infect windows computers and the antivirus guys will of course put the virus on the whitelist.. peeps just mod the virus and they've git the ultimate windows hack

Yep would not be surprised if it's all ready happening.

 

[eidairaman1]

sounds like I Am Legend, Use a Virus to Rapidly Kill Cancer and guess what it does, causes sever body damage (UV Sensitive Skin, no Consciousness, Rabid Behavior), sure the same will follow if MS attempts this, if they do they most users will End up switching to alternative OS to avoid such crap.

 

[pentastar111]

sounds like I Am Legend, Use a Virus to Rapidly Kill Cancer and guess what it does, causes sever body damage (UV Sensitive Skin, no Consciousness, Rabid Behavior), sure the same will follow if MS attempts this, if they do they most users will End up switching to alternative OS to avoid such crap.

I'm thinking about it...Linux here I come.

 

[zatblast]

sounds like I Am Legend, Use a Virus to Rapidly Kill Cancer and guess what it does, causes sever body damage (UV Sensitive Skin, no Consciousness, Rabid Behavior), sure the same will follow if MS attempts this, if they do they most users will End up switching to alternative OS to avoid such crap.

alternative... psht... that kinda sounds derogatory... *goes back to learning linux*


anyways... did m$ just say that they had already planned ways to purpsofully infect user machines before killing the project? or were they just going to use an update to make the hole to easily get the diseased program in? *kinda voting they were egotistic enough to build the hole in and never consider patching it*

 

[btarunr]

Why does it have to become Microsoft's moral responibility to spoon-feed users with updates? First they make a mucho donut with a gazillion pores and call it a tyre and later run after users with spoonfuls of Gorilla glue. :shadedshu

I sort of like the way Ubuntu keeps the system update. It just tells the user an update exists and could be installed, else there's just an orange tray icon which isn't a big deal really.

 

[candle_86]

they could do it leaglly, offer it as an update to download this worm lol

 

[AsRock]

Why does it have to become Microsoft's moral responibility to spoon-feed users with updates? First they make a mucho donut with a gazillion pores and call it a tyre and later run after users with spoonfuls of Gorilla glue. :shadedshu

I sort of like the way Ubuntu keeps the system update. It just tells the user an update exists and could be installed, else there's just an orange tray icon which isn't a big deal really.

Well they don't but if they got what they wanted you would not know if it was a good or bad virus. I have a feeling the government would love this to happen i bet.

I remember some time ago when there was talk about there being a hole in Norton AV now that talk is gone but i guess there would not have to be a hole in a AV program as MS be allowed to spread it how it wants.

 

[xfire]

Auto Patcher anyone?
They shouldnt have got it to shutdown:shadedshu

 

[Jess Stingray]

It seems to me that MS was looking at using code that already came from the bowels of the net. Kind of like genetically modifying a (real) virus to put it to good use.

For instance, hospitals labs her in the US, have successfully used the rubella virus to target cancer cells. They genetically changed the virus' "tag DNA" so that it hunted down, attached to, and destroyed cancer cells instead of the normal human cells that it normally goes after.

I always thought that ther would come a time when people would be writing "good" software viruses that hunted down and destroyed the bad ones.

HAsn't happened yet, though

Actually, I heard otherwise. Dunno where I read it, but I head some guys were writing a virus that acts as an antvirus. Infects a system, destroys all other malware, then removes itself, leaving a message of what it's done. Dunno where I read it, but it could be fake...