Monday, March 14, 2005
"Just say no"
You're surfing along. A web site suddenly asks if you want to run a "signed Java applet". What do you do?
Well, were you expecting it? Legitimate sites sometimes need to install Java programs on your computer. Useful ones, like Hushmail, and fun ones, like the slide rule simulator, depend on software running on your side of the connection and they use Java to do it.
If you're not expecting it, say no. Someone with more time than ethics put together an adware installer that ties your machine in knots if you just click "Yes" to let it install.
The details are interesting but not important. This particular piece of poison infects Microsoft Internet Explorer even when Internet Explorer isn't running. Firefox doesn't protect you. Antispyware software may catch this one soon (UPDATE: F-Secure's antivirus program detects it now), but may not catch the next variation.
The important point here is not to let people install software on your computer unless you've got a good reason.
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Well, were you expecting it? Legitimate sites sometimes need to install Java programs on your computer. Useful ones, like Hushmail, and fun ones, like the slide rule simulator, depend on software running on your side of the connection and they use Java to do it.
If you're not expecting it, say no. Someone with more time than ethics put together an adware installer that ties your machine in knots if you just click "Yes" to let it install.
The details are interesting but not important. This particular piece of poison infects Microsoft Internet Explorer even when Internet Explorer isn't running. Firefox doesn't protect you. Antispyware software may catch this one soon (UPDATE: F-Secure's antivirus program detects it now), but may not catch the next variation.
The important point here is not to let people install software on your computer unless you've got a good reason.
# posted by Frederick @ 7:01 AM Email to a friend:
Haloscan: they provide trackback