Windows XP PCs breed rootkit infections

[chowur]

Some interesting reading;http://www.computerworld.com/s/artic...mputerworld%29

[Deadeye81]

Thanks for the heads up, chowur. Good information...yet another reason to get away from XP.

[SpiritWind]

The article clearly states that XP has more than its "fair share" of rootkit infections because of many counterfeit/pirated copies of the OS .

[CLiNT]

Yes, it's definately the most pirated os in history. But that does'nt fully explain it, user ignorance is the major cause.

[satrow]

Yes, it's definately the most pirated os in history. But that does'nt fully explain it, user ignorance is the major cause.

Based on what evidence?

As there is little real data given, I'd say that age of Windows installation could also be a factor here; if the results were filtered to those machines with rootkits installed since the release of W7, it might be more balanced and easier to draw conclusions from.

[CLiNT]

Lack of will on many's part in doing a clean install would also be a heavy contributer.

[DrWho]

The article clearly states that XP has more than its "fair share" of rootkit infections because of many counterfeit/pirated copies of the OS .

In Serbia, their favorite saying is "we don buy no stinkin software". I sympathize!

I've done more than my share to make brother Bill a billionaire.

But how can a nice clean counterfeit contribute to Rootkits? That's positively ridiculous.

The whole supposition of this thread is ridiculous. Counterfeits may be illegal, but certainly not contagious.

Cheers maties!

[satrow]

Lack of will? - or a lack of a real XP CD supplied by the makers of the PC they paid good money for?

[CLiNT]

Ignorance, lack of will, and laziness for the most part. But ignorance is the biggest factor.
It does not matter what type of os disk came with your computer. Computers in part, are discounted based on this
mass OEM licensing crap, it doesn't mean one has to except it.

The simple fact that there are so many rootkit infections speeks volumes about the sort of users out there.
No excuses whatsoever.

[satrow]

The point I was trying to make was that many PC's don't come with a disc - try doing a fixmbr without one.

[ruirib]

But how can a nice clean counterfeit contribute to Rootkits? That's positively ridiculous.

The whole supposition of this thread is ridiculous. Counterfeits may be illegal, but certainly not contagious.

I am sorry and I don't want to sound rude, but this is not a well informed statement. Many counterfeits, obtained from warez sites and such, have been reported to be infected.
Some people search for free, regardless of the consequences. They just download what they want, no matter the place where they are hosted and end up with infected payloads, right from the start. That adds to the problem addressed by the article.

I will add too that Microsoft has publicly stated that users of pirated versions of Windows resort to patching much less than the users of legitimate versions, for fear that Microsoft will somehow disable their computers. In order to fight the malware infections, I think Microsoft even reversed an earlier decision not to allow patching to non legitimate Windows versions, to try to stop the spreading of such malware.

[Roderunner]

If, as is claimed, XP is easily infected, and one top method of spreading is through Email, DO you know the OS used by the sender ?

[pcunite]

You know what bothers me? The total lack of blog writers who don't understand LUA+SRP. Here I'll help them ...

• Install XP fresh, install Service Pack 3, etc
• Delete all user accounts but the Administrator
• Setup Software restriction policies, takes 120 seconds!!!!
• Create your personal login as a limited account.
• NO problems for seven years ...

[Deadeye81]

You know what bothers me? The total lack of blog writers who don't understand LUA+SRP. Here I'll help them ...

• Install XP fresh, install Service Pack 3, etc
• Delete all user accounts but the Administrator
• Setup Software restriction policies, takes 120 seconds!!!!
• Create your personal login as a limited account.
• NO problems for seven years ...

Good points. The problem with it is that the average XP user will never implement any of these steps.

[Medico]

MS, and most app developers, try to make their S/W easily usable by the masses, and as Gerald states, the masses will not do any of these things. The few of us using these forums do take the precautions to keep our systems secure, but the masses probably will not.