Another Symantec worm

[unixronin]

A gaping security flaw in the latest versions of Symantec's anti-virus software suite could put millions of users at risk of a debilitating worm attack, Internet security experts warned May 25.

Researchers at eEye Digital Security, the company that discovered the flaw, said it could be exploited by remote hackers to take complete control of the target machine "without any user action."

"This is definitely wormable.  Once exploited, you get a command shell that gives you complete access to the machine.  You can remove, edit or destroy files at will," said eEye Digital Security spokesperson Mike Puterbaugh.

"We have confirmed that an attacker can execute code without the user clicking or opening anything," Puterbaugh said.

I've said it before, I'll say it again.  Not even three words, three letters:

AVG

And for individual personal use, it's even free.

Comments

[skellington.livejournal.com]

Although AVG's free edition doesn't have options on scheduling scans, etc. It always scans on startup (or you can disable it entirely).

But I'm going to be buying it for my boxes...

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

True. But really, how many Windows users leave their boxen on 24/7...?

[skellington.livejournal.com]

On my girlfriend's box, the scan at startup made it a complete dog until the scan was finished. Frequently she finished checking email, etc. before it finished. (I also don't see any options for making it a lower priority, etc.)

I prefer a once a week scan or something, scheduled for the first start after the deadline.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Actually, the current AVG7 Free Edition *does* allow scheduled tests. I forgot it, but it does. Mine is, in fact, scheduled to do a "basic" scan (i.e, key system files, registry and boot sector) every day at 0600.

[darthgeek.livejournal.com]

Let's see. Most IT people I know that are forced to work with it leave it on 24/7. I leave my work box on 24/7, and dandelion_diva leaves her PC on 24/7.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Notice what we're saying here: all fairly hardcore geeks. We're very much in the minority, I think.