Thats one hell of a virus.

I suggest all Windows users go to http://www.knoppix.net/ [knoppix.net] and burn the CD.

of those machines seem to ahve sent it to me :(

That's kind of funny, although it seems that this virus requires user interaction in order to spread, so we can't really blame M$ for this one :P

That's one good looking worm. Great UI and user friendly, too! There goes the whole 'Linux advocates create these worms to embarass MS' arguments.

/troll

The fake update has made it to Windows Update itself. Here is the name: "Recommended Update for Windows Rights Management client 1.0."

Do not download, it's only there to own your system.

I was happy to get this e-mail from Microsoft so I could apply a cumulative patch. I'm usually so bad about patching my system in time, but this time they took the trouble to remind me personally!

No more worries for me!

That's kind of funny, although it seems that this virus requires user interaction in order to spread, so we can't really blame M$ for this one :P

Why not? Why make an email system that allows an unskilled user to run an untrusted executable? Seems bizarre to me.

I was waiting for a slashdot story to tell my why I found 500 'patch' emails in my inbox over the weekend.

Social Engineering + Professionalism + Virus = One Fun Monday Morning

So you're saying you WANT trusted computing from microsoft?? ;)

But they claim that it is really a virus. So how can you differentiate between the two?

Gee, since I've never been infected by a virus or worm, and I've been using Windows since forever...

So what you're saying is that you've never connected a Windows machine to the Internet.

Thank got I have no friends. I knew it would finally pay off!

No, it's not just you. Same here. Me too!!! I open every e-mail and run every attached executable, even if I don't know who it is from. And I've never had my computer affected with any virus or worm or trojan or whatever. Sure it crashes now and then, but all computers do, and sometimes I can't find my files... I probably didn't save them right in the first place or forgot where I put them. When it all gets really bad, the kid next door comes and fiddles with it, re-installs my system.. or something like that.. but that's just normal too.. windows has always been like this for me. And it's the best OS around, so thank god I don't have something worse.. like one of those hobby play operating systems!

Someone at Microsoft has a sense of humor. The correct title (as lasted on windowsupdate.microsoft.com) is "Rights Management Services" (RMS).

Greetings. You have been infected with GNU/Swen, a worm brought to you by members of the linux community. In order to get this worm to infect your system properly, you will need to use wget to download gnuswen-config-2.4.6 from one of the usual mirrors. Be careful; this version of the worm is not compatible with versions of gnuswen-config prior to 2.4.4. After you have downloaded the config tools and issued the usual incantations (./config, make, make install), you can configure the worm from any directory simply by typing sudo gnuswen-config -ort [your login id] [full path to your email client]. If you have any questions, be sure to RTFM, the docs are installed at /usr/share/info/gnuswen and all your config files are stored at ~/.gnuswen.

??

In case you turned stupid and ran a fake patch that was emailed to you?

The other day I got a Linux email virus. It was this perfectly innocent looking message, with the subject line reading "Important!". So I opened it, and inside I found the following:

"This is an email virus for Linux users. It works on the honor system. Upon receipt of this message, you should manually forward it to everyone in your address book, then login as root and randomly delete a bunch of files. Thank you!"

Three security updates since _JUNE_!?!? Red Hat up2date pestered me until I installed 3 (sets) of updates on the machines this WEEK.

That's one thing that has me thinking about the "dominate OS" argument. Even if one accepts it, and I think that is very arguable, how about the maxim that "The pioneer gets the arrows"? Linux can work out its security issues in greater obscurity.

Thanks, Microsoft, for being the 800 lb. target!

You forgot to add Tiffany's pricing : )

its professional looking email advertisement that pretends to be a fake Microsoft patch

Actually, I rather thought it pretended to be a REAL Microsoft patch.

I think you are being too easy. The virus would come as as a shar file, require you to install kde-libs (and all dependencies), recompile your kernel (don't forget to apply the latest patches from kernel.org!), and reboot. Luckily, FreeBSD users can cvsup their ports and do a sudo make install -f /usr/ports/virii/swen, gentoo users can do emerge virii/swen and debian users can do apt-get swen, whereas the Hurd user (yes, singular) must fire up emacs, type in 1500 lines of code, and compile.

Yes the email looks perfect, but even if I believed it Norton comes to the rescue:

"Norton AntiVirus removed the attachment: Qz.exe.
The attachment was infected with the Worm.Automat.AHB virus."

Ho hum.

> What kind of moron is running a version of Outlook without this patch?

Tell me 'bout it. Ever since I started using the patch I haven't even had a single craving to use OE. Yep, just stopped. Just put the patch on in the mornin and.....

oh wait, you mean a security patch....... right.....

Look on the bright side. At least people know how to pluralize "worm."

you are very cynical. Next you will tell me that penis enlargement pills do not work... ...Ahh I have no time for you! I hear the postman coming up out street and I'm expecting a cheque from that nice Nigerian gentleman.