So, This makes it step ahead of the pack in what aspect? I can list off a dozen or so Viruses/Worms/Trojans I've got that fuck my shit up.

 

Pinfi32 virus comes to mind. Hard one to get rid of as well.

The worste virus I had was one called "Netsky" (or spelled "Netskie", something like that). It didn't only stay in the harddrive, but also in anything that could access memory. I was told some Germans created it to rob banks and screw up the bank computers.

 

The worst virus I had was the flu. I'll be here all week. Try the veal.

I thought that Macs were good for editing, and video and audio production. As a matter of fact, the Audio and Video production professors at my college told me that they would give me hundreds of dollars worth of those programs if I would buy an iMac. So, the thought has crossed my mind I guess. I certainly don't want to join any Macintosh culture.

 

This is a worm right? Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't these things more dangerous than your average run of the mill zombie rabbit virus? Don't they instead have specific instructions on what to do other than simply replicating?
Eg: Waiting a certain amount of time and then taking apart your systems security measures leaving you vulnerable to hackers?

(yes I've read Dan Brown =P)

 

True but frankly, at this point of computer security only the ignorant or stupid people will download it.

However, if they REALLY wanted to get into your system they WILL get in.

 

Wrong on both counts. First with this worm people do not download it. Though there has been problems with getting infected by sharing removable media.

Second windows by default is vulnerable to it, so that unless either by user configuration/customization that disables or secures that service they will be open to remote infection. Though a good hardware firewall should help, a software firewall (other than the default windows firewall) is more likely to prevent infection.

Of course people could also be ignorant and or stupid as you said and use a webrowser insecurely in combination to visiting the wrong website/page.

Even installing the patch from microsoft it does not make the os immune from the worm only prevents that service from being directly infected by internet sources. Webrowser and removable media sources could still infect the 'patched' system.

Part of why this worm is so effective against corporate targets is due to management, they dictate IT policy instead of leaving it to their tech people to handle. Of course some management of said people is needed but too much can be counterproductive creating problems. More often than not, corporations are slow to update or have poor firewall settings.