This just in from the Lite Side's Washington bureau:
WASHINGTON - The FBI's cybercrime unit warned consumers today to
take additional steps beyond those recommended by Microsoft to protect
against hackers who might try to exploit flaws discovered in the newest
version of Windows software, Windows XP.
In addition to installing a free software fix offered by Microsoft,
users were also told to disable the product's "universal plug and play"
features. Other security fixes suggested to secure XP include:
- Users have little to worry about if the computer is not
connected to the Internet, say experts. "It would be a good idea to not
even have a phone or cable TV in the same room as your Windows
computer," said Nelson Bloodstone, with the National Windows Flaw
Management Unit of the FBI. "As a matter of fact, if you had your own
independent power supply not connected to the national power grid, that
wouldn't hurt either - if you get my meaning. "
- A computer which is not operable cannot be hacked. "Next time you
get the blue screen of death, just leave it there," said Bloodstone.
"What's the worst thing that could happen? Some hacker might come along
and fix your computer."
- Never, ever plug anything into your computer. "Embedded chips
inside of digital cameras surreptitiously send signals to hackers,"
according to WarEz RooolZ, a hacker we talked to last night on an AOL
chat board. "As soon as you plug it in, it starts sending us pictures
of your house. And if you leave your wallet within ten feet of your
scanner, you're screwed."
Other tips on the list include:
- A recently formatted hard drive is a more secure hard drive.
- OS/2 Warp is so secure that we can't find a copy to test for
security flaws.
- Terrorists posing as computer programmers are probably the source
of most of the flaws of Windows software. FBI agents plan to interview
everyone in Redmond who talks like a programmer but can't actually
program. This screening is expected to take several years.
- A Windows computer could be considered reasonably secure if there
was not any actual software on it.
- Just because your computer's keyboard doesn't work doesn't mean the
computer cannot be hacked.
- Wipe the hard drive and reinstall from the CD every day. You'll
need to be in close contact with Microsoft because of the multiple
install restrictions on Windows.
- Don't use Linux, because it's a "foreign operating system (FOS)."
The FBI can't protect you if it can't hack into your computer.
- Consumers are reminded (yet again) that just because there aren't
many viruses and worms and Trojan horses for the Mac, that might not be
the case in the future. There isn't anything inherent to the Mac OS
that prevents hackers from doing the same thing they do to Windows
every day. "The possibility of a future threat is just as dangerous as
an already hacked computer," said Twindell Llarrssenn, manager of the
FBI's Possibly UnAmerican OS Warning Group. "Macs might start being
hacked any second now. Any second like . . . now. Or now. Or
even . . . now. You never know."
Microsoft responded to these tips by reminding everyone to download
and install the latest security patch for Windows. In fact, Windows XP
is so advanced, it automatically connects to the Internet and
reinstalls itself without telling you, just for your convenience. These
reinstalls occur once a week whether or not an upgrade is posted, "just
in case we find another flaw," according to an unnamed Microsoft
spokesman who works in cubicle 42128 in Building G at the sprawling
Redmond campus.
Of course, after three such installs, the system stops working
altogether, providing the "ultimate in security from Microsoft."
Jeff Adkins is a
science teacher who isn't afraid to state his preferences in computing
platforms. In his classroom he has everything from a Quadra 700 to a 500 MHz CD/R-CD/RW iMac,
and they all work together nicely. He also writes Mac Lab Report for Low
End Mac. and maintains a site for astronomy teachers at www.AstronomyTeacher.com.
