Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Liberator on September 09, 2002, 09:50:10 pm

Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Liberator on September 09, 2002, 09:50:10 pm
This is not a joke post.

TechTV has released information about a massive security vulnerability in ALL verisons of Windows XP(Home, Professional, even Enterprise).

If you are running Windows XP you must DL the Service Pack to fix the problem.

Let's just say that it's bad enough to possibly induce a recall of all currently unsold copies of Windows XP.

This is from GRC.com...

This vulnerability allows the files contained in any specified directory on your system to be deleted if you click on a specially formed URL. This URL could appear anywhere: sent in malicious eMail, in a chat room, in a newsgroup posting, on a malicious web page, or even executed when your computer merely visits a malicious web page. It is likely to be widely exploited soon.

This vulnerability is so dangerous that it would be irresponsible for me to say more. Microsoft has known of this problem for months and has, inexplicably, done nothing before now. Although XP's Service Pack 1 is not small (approx 30 MB for express installation or 140 MB for the network install), and even though a much quicker and easier solution to this problem exists, the only thing I can safely recommend (without revealing too much) is to urge all XP users to somehow obtain and install Service Pack 1 immediately. (If you have a slow Internet connection, perhaps a friend can download the executable Service Pack file and burn it onto a CD for you?)

This problem does not affect any systems other than Windows XP. If you have any friends or co-workers running Windows XP, please urge them to update their systems' too. Once the details of this vulnerability have leaked through other channels I will provide additional information.

To visit Microsoft's Windows XP Service Pack 1 download page:
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/pro/downloads/servicepacks/sp1/default.asp
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: demon442 on September 09, 2002, 10:05:24 pm
DL Service Pack 1?!?! **** that.

1: Open search
2: Put "uplddrvinfo.htm" (without quotes)as your search word
3: Put "C:\windows\pchealth" (without quotes)as your directory to search.
4: When it finds the file, delete it or rename it to anything.

There, a simple solution for a complicated problem.

NOTE: Microsoft's suits will be knocking on my door tomarrow...:nervous: :nervous: :shaking: :nervous: :nervous:
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Liberator on September 10, 2002, 12:02:29 am
I said that DLing Service Pack 1 is the easy way, for anyone who is not comfortable editing or removing files from the OS folder(s).
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Vertigo1 on September 10, 2002, 12:13:23 am
Fixed, but I planned to nab SP1 anyways.
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Fineus on September 10, 2002, 01:35:26 am
I'm aprehensive of the SP, I've heard it gives MS more control over your system than is good for you. It also makes "trial running" their software damn difficult, which is the only sensible way to see if XP is any good or not.
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: vyper on September 10, 2002, 05:28:41 am
Man M$ should get thier asses sued off for this this. Its just damned silly!
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Gortef on September 10, 2002, 05:52:56 am
Quote
Originally posted by demon442
DL Service Pack 1?!?! **** that.

1: Open search
2: Put "uplddrvinfo.htm" (without quotes)as your search word
3: Put "C:\windows\pchealth" (without quotes)as your directory to search.
4: When it finds the file, delete it or rename it to anything.

There, a simple solution for a complicated problem.

NOTE: Microsoft's suits will be knocking on my door tomarrow...:nervous: :nervous: :shaking: :nervous: :nervous:


And that really solves the security issue?
Does it affect anything else... or does it cause any problems?
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: delta_7890 on September 10, 2002, 05:59:27 am
Quote
Originally posted by Gortef


And that really solves the security issue?
Does it affect anything else... or does it cause any problems?


I hope not, because I already did it.  Oo;;  Methinks I should let others serve as guinea pigs next time...
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: saturn114 on September 10, 2002, 07:45:34 am
heh im glad idont have xp
mircosoft just  plain sucks dont ya think?
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Styxx on September 10, 2002, 09:04:51 am
1. Microsoft makes new OS
2. Microsoft knows that people will crack all anti-piracy systems in it
3. Microsoft knows that people will find ways to remove all spyware inside
4. Microsoft don't want people to do that
5. Microsoft leaves blatant security problem, that forces people to update
6. Microsoft releases bugfix, which "fixes" the "cracks" that people made up to now
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Sandwich on September 10, 2002, 10:09:16 am
Quote
Originally posted by Styxx
1. Microsoft makes new OS
2. Microsoft knows that people will crack all anti-piracy systems in it
3. Microsoft knows that people will find ways to remove all spyware inside
4. Microsoft don't want people to do that
5. Microsoft leaves blatant security problem, that forces people to update
6. Microsoft releases bugfix, which "fixes" the "cracks" that people made up to now


You forgot:

7. i++
8. if (i < 5) { GOTO LINE 5 } else continue
9. GOTO LINE 1
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Stealth on September 10, 2002, 10:26:24 am
yeah, if you have an "illegal" version then you can't update

lol, when i saw "houston" i was like "what!?" lol (my city) :D
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Styxx on September 10, 2002, 11:55:41 am
Quote
Originally posted by Sandwich
You forgot:

7. i++
8. if (i < 5) { GOTO LINE 5 } else continue
9. GOTO LINE 1


Ah, yes. There's that too. :p
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: aldo_14 on September 10, 2002, 03:59:38 pm
Or the secret lines of code which crash Hotmail if you use a netscape browser...............
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: deep_eyes on September 10, 2002, 04:10:22 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Stealth
yeah, if you have an "illegal" version then you can't update

lol



aww great! i screwed!

or i can delete that lil file thingy...... :devil:
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: vyper on September 10, 2002, 05:13:42 pm
Quote
Originally posted by aldo_14
Or the secret lines of code which crash Hotmail if you use a netscape browser...............


Used to be: If u install Internet Explorer on top of Netscape, IE would kill Netscape.
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Stryke 9 on September 10, 2002, 05:35:27 pm
Really? With mine it just corrupted both quite badly.
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Knight Templar on September 10, 2002, 06:13:49 pm
**** i updated a bit ago and as soon as i restarted my comp, i got "Critical System Failures" everywhere and My Virus check went off like crazy.....

M is still "performing an inventory" of my files and data and i think i can guess on what's goin on there...
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: demon442 on September 10, 2002, 07:31:14 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Gortef


And that really solves the security issue?
Does it affect anything else... or does it cause any problems?


As far as I (or The ScreenSavers) can tell nothing is messed up by deleting the file.  But its only been a day since i've done it, so i'd suggest make a backup in a seperate directory and deleting the original.

EDIT: Of course it solves the security issue.  Do you think i'd put destructive info on the [sucking up] Greatest BB On the Net [/sucking up]
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Kamikaze on September 10, 2002, 10:22:59 pm
I think this is a very good time to upgrade to linux people

www.debian.org
www.gentoo.org
www.linux.org

yes, you want to :D
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: JC Denton on September 10, 2002, 11:05:23 pm
or do a dastardly triple boot with 98se, 2k, and Linux (what I'm planning on doing sometime next week).

Except there's no support for 98se anymore...oh, well...maybe use ME with a good memory manager...
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Kamikaze on September 10, 2002, 11:09:47 pm
Quote
Originally posted by JC Denton
or do a dastardly triple boot with 98se, 2k, and Linux (what I'm planning on doing sometime next week).

Except there's no support for 98se anymore...oh, well...maybe use ME with a good memory manager...


I do exactly that, I have 98, 2k and debian. I might quad with something else sometime.. :D
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: JC Denton on September 10, 2002, 11:29:54 pm
heh, 40 gb isn't hardly enough for 4 OSes...guess I'd better spring for an extra 80gb.

BTW, I'm going to use Mandrake Linux 9 beta 3 (because I already have burned on CD).  Unless someone has a better suggestion?
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Kamikaze on September 10, 2002, 11:40:58 pm
I definitely recommend debian, gentoo or sorcerer than any other linux version... (well maybe not all...)

The reason being the update style. For things like redhat, mandrake, slackware etc. you have to go through update hell each time a new kernel is released or a major change is implemented...

With debian you just click "update" and go get a coffee and check it occasionally. It's that simple.

So actually I recommend debian of those three 'cause it's probably the most widely supported.

(by the way I have 3 OSs on this 8 gig drive :p)

Edit: Read this: http://www.distrowatch.com/article-rpm.php
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: JC Denton on September 10, 2002, 11:55:12 pm
Is there somewhere I can get the full CD without ordering it?  The Debian site only has the minimalist downloadable ISO.
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Kamikaze on September 10, 2002, 11:58:28 pm
I haven't seen debian being sold in stores but I live in a relatively small city so. You'd probably have to order or downlaod though.
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Gortef on September 11, 2002, 03:56:27 am
Quote
Originally posted by demon442


As far as I (or The ScreenSavers) can tell nothing is messed up by deleting the file.  But its only been a day since i've done it, so i'd suggest make a backup in a seperate directory and deleting the original.

EDIT: Of course it solves the security issue.  Do you think i'd put destructive info on the [sucking up] Greatest BB On the Net [/sucking up]


Thanks for the info

and sorry I didn't mean to question you reliability
I just wanted to be sure that's all... :p
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Nico on September 11, 2002, 04:42:39 am
ok, let say I install linux. and then? I throw 3dsmax, renegade, photoshop, fs2, etc, etc etc, away?
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Sandwich on September 11, 2002, 04:59:10 am
Quote
Originally posted by Kamikaze


I do exactly that, I have 98, 2k and debian. I might quad with something else sometime.. :D


Heh - exactly the setup I'm gonna have once I get the time to install Linux. :)
Title: Houston. We have a problem...
Post by: Kamikaze on September 11, 2002, 09:27:32 am
Quote
Originally posted by venom2506
ok, let say I install linux. and then? I throw 3dsmax, renegade, photoshop, fs2, etc, etc etc, away?


let's pick this list apart....

3ds - use an emulator
renegade - use an emulator
photoshope - switch to gimp :p
fs2 - emulator (and it's being converted...)
and so on.

OR
you could use lindoes instead, or you could even run linux on top of winxp.