Virus Shuts Down Australian Ambulance Dispatch Service 222
angry tapir writes "Computers which co-ordinate ambulances in NSW, Australia, are back online in three of the state's regions after a major virus forced staff to shut them down for more than 24 hours. The virus crept into the Ambulance Service of NSW's dispatch system, prompting staff to co-ordinate paramedics by telephone and handwritten notes. The cause and source of the virus are not yet known."
I know what caused it (Score:3, Insightful)
"The cause and source of the virus are not yet known."
I'm gonna take a guess at the cause: somebody decided to use a Microsoft product to control a critical system on which people's lives depend.
If a bank used an armored car made of cardboard to transport money, would you blame the inevitable robbers, or the bank?
Re:I know what caused it (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm gonna take a guess at the cause:
letting mission-critical systems be used by employees to surf facebook and download cute fonts and wallpaper.
Windows (Score:3, Insightful)
I'll probably get modded to hell for this, but this isn't Microsoft's fault. Their IT staff is either incompetent, or their management is. Stopping Wdinwso from getting a virus isn't a diffucult proposition.
Install decent AV in it, keep the subscription up to date, done.
You can of course go much further and lock down the OS so it doesn't let removable devices connect etc, but unless this was more than a virus, simple AV would have solved it.
If only it was that easy.... (Score:2, Insightful)
....because it's not. Check an infected file on www.virustotal.com, and you'll see for yourself that at least a third won't detect the virus -- of course this always varies from virus to virus, rendering the 'one AV fits all' argument invalid... sadly.
Re:I know what caused it (Score:0, Insightful)
That just means they are not liable. You can still use Windows for it and it will work quite well, provided you don't do stupid things. Loading a virus on there is a stupid thing to do.
Windows is not the greatest problem to system security. Users are.
Re:Fools. (Score:4, Insightful)
Well, this is NSW. With Keneally at the helm you know that you are going down one way or another.
Funny thing, I'm not seeing the Liberal Party in NSW pushing the "Replace MS Windows with Linux" as a point on their electoral agenda. Can you please provide a link?
Re:Windows (Score:2, Insightful)
Hah, hah! While I won't argue with the proposition that it is possible to make Windows secure, the idea that installing AV is sufficient is laughable.
Show me the AV tool that catches 100% of viruses, including new viruses that have just been seen in the wild.
Re:I know what caused it (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:If only it was that easy.... (Score:4, Insightful)
Where does it say Windows? (Score:3, Insightful)