Hum... no. Formatting erases everything, including the boot record and windows You're talking about restoring or re-installing windows.
New Botnet Is "Practically Indestructible"
- Thread starter Earnest Cavalli
- Start date
Wait, so it's a virus that attacks other viruses to keep its own criminal nature hidden? It's the freaking Dexter Morgan of computer viruses 
could this be solved by re-installing your motherboard BIOS software/drivers at the same time you re-install windows after a format? I am just curious. If this is the case, my 'every few months' computer cleaning just earned a new step.
I'm really asking if someone has the answer, please respond.
I'm really asking if someone has the answer, please respond.
would I be "safer" with things like treatfire and avarst? they both got real time scanning and might not give a chance to install, my firewall(zone alarm)out going traffic security is on high and in going is on mid.
When my computer idle I have a minimal level of internet traffic but there is a reading never the less.
When my computer idle I have a minimal level of internet traffic but there is a reading never the less.
Ya I wound up reading that whole article before going to bed last night. Turns out that infecting the MBR is like .. the LEAST impressive thing about it. Aside from being a new varient of the notorious TDSS hijacker (ugh .. i hate them), it prevents other malware from operating on your system so that your system runs smoothly ..... until it hits you with outs own "lock-out" fake Anti-virus crap.Noelveiga said:
The most important thing however, if I'm understanding correctly, is it is capable of sending encrypted messages via P2P programs which basically allows anyone on BitTorrent with the know-how/client software to operate one of these things control over your computer. I may be wrong on that last part but I think thats what the article was saying, somebody correct me.
I think the most impressive thing about the virus is actually its "stealthiness" than "indestructiblility". The title should read "New Botnet that is practically invisible".
You know, whenever I hear the words "virtually indestructable", my first thought is "challenge accepted".The Gentleman said:
i love how mac owners believe that, it makes me smilePlatypus540 said:
you realize pc users get as few viruses as you do, right?
i've never had one on 6 pc's ive owned because i'm not stupid enough to click on anything that's obviously dodgy
would you like a list of some mac viruses?
enjoy:
http://www.iantivirus.com/threats/
but macs don't have viruses!! give me a break >.>
Macs are indeed capable of virii, and being hacked. That said:
1. There are no true 'in the wild' mac virii... yet [http://philiped.blogspot.com/2010/01/why-are-there-no-mac-viruses.html]. (That article is a bit old, but it illustrates the point well. If one has emerged, let me know!) There are trojans out, though.
2. This I'm not 100% on, but I don't think this bot-net can infect Mac. Yes, they have a MBR as well, but it's a different one. Again, happy to be told otherwise so I may commence panicking.
3. Macs are unlikely to ever have as many virii as PC. This isn't due to any innate superiority. It's due to market share: Why spend that time making a virus to hit a 10th of as many people as you could writing for Windows?
I own a mac. I like it. But I have anti-virus software running on it. It's not invulnerable.
1. There are no true 'in the wild' mac virii... yet [http://philiped.blogspot.com/2010/01/why-are-there-no-mac-viruses.html]. (That article is a bit old, but it illustrates the point well. If one has emerged, let me know!) There are trojans out, though.
2. This I'm not 100% on, but I don't think this bot-net can infect Mac. Yes, they have a MBR as well, but it's a different one. Again, happy to be told otherwise so I may commence panicking.
3. Macs are unlikely to ever have as many virii as PC. This isn't due to any innate superiority. It's due to market share: Why spend that time making a virus to hit a 10th of as many people as you could writing for Windows?
I own a mac. I like it. But I have anti-virus software running on it. It's not invulnerable.
I've used a mac for almost 10 years, and know them inside out...but there are TONNES of people who just buy them these days and think they're invincible! Not sure where this delusion came from...human error (downloading viruses, malware and letting them install) will fuck up your comp everytime, whether PC or MacThe Lugz said:i love how mac owners believe that, it makes me smilePlatypus540 said:
you realize pc users get as few viruses as you do, right?
i've never had one on 6 pc's ive owned because i'm not stupid enough to click on anything that's obviously dodgy
would you like a list of some mac viruses?
enjoy:
http://www.iantivirus.com/threats/
but macs don't have viruses!! give me a break >.>
No shit, anything is hackable. "Macs get malware too" wtf? Of course people make malicious software for mac. The advantage of having a mac is the difficulty of creating a virus for it. I love how you are still defending windows on the comments section of a news article about an indestructible botnet for windows.. sad sad sad... I would try to point out how much important information is stored on macs... But I have explained this so much it is not even funny, and I don't think people like you will be ever truly convinced.Ultratwinkie said:
On the one hand, If I've got this viruses will never fuck me up... on the other hand, the trade off is slightly slower internet. Ah, I'll live.
I have Linux, therefore I am fine. Even if it would infect, I change distros semi often so it wouldn't be doing bad deeds for long.
I heard an interesting report recently about a group that, instead of trying to follow the data, followed the money. They got hundreds of VISA numbers and such for purposes of research, and basically bought all the Viagra, antivirus software, etc that these things are trying to sell you. Then they traced the money.
What they found was that it all bottlenecks at these handful of banks in developing countries like India. They concluded a better approach to fighting this kind of shit would be to shut down the banks. It's easy to rewrite code, move to a new location, what have you. It's a lot more difficult to find a financial institution capable of handling these transactions (money wires, VISA, etc) and shady enough to launder your money for you.
What they found was that it all bottlenecks at these handful of banks in developing countries like India. They concluded a better approach to fighting this kind of shit would be to shut down the banks. It's easy to rewrite code, move to a new location, what have you. It's a lot more difficult to find a financial institution capable of handling these transactions (money wires, VISA, etc) and shady enough to launder your money for you.