Re: A Very Dangerous Worm in Windows Metafile Images (WMF)

On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 09:54:41 +0000, Joseph2k wrote:

> Rich Grise wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 01 Jan 2006 16:09:36 -0800, John Larkin wrote:
>>> On Sun, 01 Jan 2006 16:18:43 -0800, Mike Monett
>>> <gqtacfwfjfmx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>>>To All,
>>>>
>>>> Last night, a very dangerous computer worm was released on the
>>>> internet. It is carried on Windows Metafile images and automatically
>>>> executes with no user interaction. With Microsoft Explorer or
>>>> Outlook, you are automatically infected if you recieve infected
>>>> email or view a site with the worm. The problem is Windows WMF files
>>>> have the capability to execute external code. This is a virus
>>>> writer's dream. He can do anything he wants.
>>>>
>>>
>>> It took the genius of Bill Gates to design an os that allows worms to
>>> be resident in viewable images. As I recall, Windows had the same
>>> problem with true jpeg files once.
>>>
>>> "When in doubt, execute it."
>>
>> I seem to remember, when the internet was still a gleam in everyone's
>> eyes, a "dream" of all of the computers being able to execute anything,
>> and everyone sharing everything, and peace and harmony and parallel
>> processing and all sorts of grand dreams.
>>
>> Apparently, it turns out, some people with computers are Not Nice.
>>
>> So we get executable graphics and worms. And executable documents. Sigh.
>>
>> The solution is so simple apparently Uncle Billy is overlooking it -
>> somebody should explain to him that under the GNU GPL, he could download
>> a free Linux kernel, or even a whole distribution, and set his
>> codemonkeys the task of writing windows-grade installers and drivers
>> and eye candy, and sell "Microsoft Linux" for whatever the market will
>> bear.
>>
>> Totally legally.
>>
>> Cheers!
>> Rich
>>
> No, not for whatever the market will bear, but for a minimized distribution
> and packaging cost.

Nope. It's whatever you can get people to pay for it. There is no
restriction. If I wanted to buy a copy of Slackware from Slackware for
$40.00, and try to sell it to some sucker on the street for $1000.00, all
I have to do is say that the $960.00 is "distribution and packaging cost".

But I seriously doubt anybody on the street would by a used Slackware
CD set for $1000.00 when you can get brand-new, shrink-wrapped CDs for
$40.00, or download the whole thing for free.

> Moreover MS would be required to publish for free, all
> the source code for their contributions. I do not see M$ doing anything
> for free.

Nobody's _ever_ "required" to publish anything original for free, unless
you got it for free. i.e., what you've downloaded, you do have to make
available under the same license. You should read the GNU General Public
License: http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html

What it boils down to is, you can download GPL code for free, and modify
it at will, _but those modifications to someone else's work is covered by
the license_, i.e., your modifications must be clearly delineated and
released under the same license.

BUT! If you write your own stuff from scratch, you _are_ allowed to retain
the rights on the stuff that you wrote. You can even keep the source
propietary, if you can get customers to buy unknown binaries. And not only
that, but even if you do release your work on the GPL, the writer
continues to own the copyright.

Cheers!
Rich

.

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