OpenOffice worm Badbunny hops across operating systems

TalkBack 11 of 105:

Next »

« Previous

• Thread View
• Flat View

vague, indeed ...

The key phrase in this report is "...behaves in several different ways, depending on the user's operating system."

That is, only on Windows can this critter actually REPLACE existing files or execute its own scripts to spread itself around. On Mac and Linux systems, it "drops files" into locations which, at best, would affect only a single application. Uninstall it. Reinstall it. Carry on.

That's a very significant difference. Indeed, it appears this critter on Mac and Linux systems cannot be properly defined a worm, since it doesn't appear it can do much more than create a couple of files. If executed, what can they actually do? Indeed, it doesn't appear the files themselves have any "behavior" whatever on *nix systems. Or at least none has been cited. There is a huge difference between merely creating a file, on the one hand, and having it execute malevolently, on the other.

Since program, configuration, and data are physically isolated from each other on competently designed operating systems, one wonders just what kind of "threat" these files might present. This "report" doesn't say. Of course.

We are once again faced with what appears to be the perpetual yellow-press hooting up of alleged threats claimed to generally affect "operating systems" or "computers", only to discover they appear to have no specific or important consequence except to Windows systems. Do advertising revenues induce this myopia?

Indeed, reported failures by cross-platform applications most often appear to inadequately protect Windows systems against themselves, typically having no disabling effect on *nix systems. One would think that might offer a strong hint the fundamental failure lies with the O/S, not the application.

It remains a mystery how the wealthiest software company on earth retains such blind and loyal trust, in spite of having repeatedly failed to overcome even the most modest technological challenges -- like producing a browser that correctly reproduces transparent PNG images, for example.

Posted by: code_flogger   Posted on: 06/11/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

• The True Costs of Virtual Server Solutions VMware In an economic environment that is repeatedly heralding the message "do ... Download Now
• Server Consolidation and Containment With Virtual Infrastructure VMware To meet the constant demand to deploy, maintain and grow a broad array of ... Download Now
• Three Steps You Need to Know to Stop Data Loss Varonis Sensitive data exposed to misuse or loss... it is the stuff of nightmares ... Download Now