Cyberwar: rogue computer code still lurks

[SpiralHawk]

From today's The New York Times:

Defying Experts, Rogue Computer Code Still Lurks

By JOHN MARKOFF - August 26, 2009

It is still out there. Cyberwar Zombie Networks

Like a ghost ship, a rogue software program that glided onto the Internet last November has confounded the efforts of top security experts to eradicate the program and trace its origins and purpose, exposing serious weaknesses in the world’s digital infrastructure.

The program, known as Conficker, uses flaws in Windows software to co-opt machines and link them into a virtual computer that can be commanded remotely by its authors. With more than five million of these zombies now under its control — government, business and home computers in more than 200 countries — this shadowy computer has power that dwarfs that of the world’s largest data centers.

(snip) http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/27/technology/27compute.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Computers, indispensable in peace, are becoming ever more important in political conflicts and open warfare. This article is the seventh in a series examining the growing use of computer power as a weapon.

[hobbit709]

1. That statement is misleading

"The program, known as Conficker, uses flaws in Windows software" ALL OS's have flaws that can be exploited-some more so than others. ANY computer that connects to the outside is vulnerable to one degree or another.
True, Windows has more security holes than Mac or Linux but none of them are 100% secure.
The problem lies in people thinking they are protected by inadequate or outdated security software and general laziness in not knowing how to check their systems.

The Conficker worm is easily detectable if you have the software to do so but how many people know anything beyond "point and click" in operating their computer.

[moggie]

2. Not misleading at all!

"The program, known as Conficker, uses flaws in Windows software"

Since Conficker runs only on Windows, it's completely appropriate for the article to point that out. If it were an article about a Mac OS worm, it'd say "... uses flaws in Apple's Mac OS software".