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Mostly true.
Your point on being able to send and receive TCP/IP traffic with out escalating privlidges is a good one. No need to root the box to do what is being talked about in the article.

Also, your point about no OS being immune to social engineering attacks is true as well. However, I do think there are some important distinctions to make. MS has worked very hard to create the conditions which make botnets as easy to gather as they are today. Social engineering exploits are a lot of work compared to the drive by exploits that IE and especially activeX have made all too easy, and I would say outlook/express have also made email viruses far too easy as well.

However, social engineering is made much easier given the frame of mind MS has actively cultivated with Windows. Open the email it and the attachment runs, put the disc in and it runs, etc are based on the idea that the more software you run, the better. This frame of mind is probably the biggest challenge to anyone wanting to switch from Windows to Linux, etc. Yes, there is a huge wealth of software available to install with a few clicks and a root PW, but the really easy stuff is still limited to that which has been vetted. I think of my sister who really loves the fact that with windows her kids (grade school and kindergarten) can bring her "any cd" and she just pops it in and installs the software for them to use. Windows is the OS equivalant of the "Free Love" movement, and nothing short of a sea change in how MS and users think about this very subject will stop the rampant spread of disease.
Posted by: enduser_z   Posted on: 10/19/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Message has been deleted.  nightman45 | 10/19/06
Title should read Windows Zombies  Chad_z | 10/19/06
I say yes it would be attacked more  voska | 10/19/06
Linux HAS the marketshare...  Spikey_Mike | 10/19/06
Got proof?  voska | 10/19/06
Arguing the same side?  TripleII | 10/19/06
Until the hacker's software knows what OS the site is using....  Xwindowsjunkie | 10/22/06
*nix share is already there  JDThompson | 10/23/06
Your Linux box is different than mine  NonZealot | 10/19/06
Mostly true.  enduser_z | 10/19/06
Root the box, no...  handydan918 | 10/19/06
I Guess You Missed Yesterday's News...  Scoid | 10/19/06
Guess you also missed the part where the  Linux User 147560 | 10/20/06
Until the next round  crayolakidd | 10/23/06
even extend the Linux logic  crayolakidd | 10/23/06
driver exploit  JDThompson | 10/23/06
Give it up!  crayolakidd | 10/23/06
Internet Bully's and Hackers  mighetto | 10/19/06
Hummm, Need to get the botnets to run Folding@home  dlauer@... | 10/19/06
Should read, All of problem  Boot_Agnostic | 10/19/06
for a consultant, this is a good thing  nix_hed | 10/19/06
This problem is prolonged by the participants..  Scoid | 10/19/06
Technology VS Process  Redhell | 10/24/06
Punishments need to fit the crime  crayolakidd | 10/23/06
If they were smart  jpump@... | 10/23/06
Is silence golden?  sylerner | 10/23/06

What do you think?

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