I just read this on slashdot. I know it is totally OT, but it is so funny that *literally* fell out of my chair.
-Roberto (These were posted in the thread about the new [EMAIL PROTECTED] worm going around) SUBJECT: To be honest... I can't really see how it's microsofts fault. Reading about it, it comes in a zip file, the user has to get the zip, extract it and then execute the payload. Is it just me or is this more like social engineering than a real problem with the system? [This is the reply) SUBJECT: MOD PARENT UP + read my insightful comments ;-) As the parent poster said, a malicious person trying to do maximum damage would write for Windows. The Mac is the next best choice because, like Windows, you don't have big binary compatability problems. Linux is tougher to write this kind of thing for because it would require that the user perform so many steps. First the user would have to extract the tar file from the gzip file. Then he would have to expand the tar archive onto his hard drive, which would put the source there. Then the user would cd to the location where the source extracted. Then he would probably have to set various environment variables. Then he would have to run gmake. Then he would need to interpret the error messages to determine why the build didn't work. Then he would have to find and add various development tools and libraries to his system, adding any environment variables that they needed. Then he could try building again. When he finally got the build to work, he could then run the resulting executable, which would tell him to to type "man {trojan/worm name}. The man page would show various command line switches for specifying the e-mail client being used and various network options. Then the user would construct the proper command line to run the program and WHAM! Just like that, his system is infected. I may have left out a few steps or so, but you get the idea... ___________________________________________________ Yahoo! Messenger - Nueva versión GRATIS Super Webcam, voz, caritas animadas, y más... http://messenger.yahoo.es -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]