Is Windows 7 a security timebomb?
By Davey Winder in Editorial
Posted in Windows, Microsoft on
We already know a lot about Windows 7, mainly because details of the new Microsoft OS have been leaking like crazy for the past four months. We know it will scale to 256 processors and could well feature some kind of instant on functionality. We know that it is unlikely to be the death of XP although Vista is a different proposition.
We know that some people have already got a legit free copy and that a beta is due real soon now. We also know that a pirate version of Windows 7 is doing the rounds as a Torrent from the likes of Pirate Bay.
We know that many people will be tempted into downloading this to take a sneak peek at the new OS, and we also know that this is a very bad idea. Funnily enough, we are not alone in reaching this conclusion, and Rob Rachwald of Fortify Software has pretty much the same reasoning us we do.
Look, forget for a moment the whole software theft, copyright issues, breaking the law stuff. What worries Rachwald, and us, is the fact that you could be opening yourself up to a whole slew of security risks by installing something as low level as an OS when that OS is not even an official Beta but rather a dodgy copy downloaded from a pirate site.
“Reports suggest that pirate versions of an early build of Windows 7, which is under alpha test with developers, is available for file-sharing on the Internet. Given the low level at which this operating system installs on a PC, we recommend users give the version a very wide berth because of the associated security risks” Rachwald says.
But it seems the message is not getting through, and there are unconfirmed reports that many tens of thousands of people have downloaded and installed Build 7000 of Windows 7 from Torrent sites, all with no idea if the build has been tampered with by hackers in some way.
What we do not know is just what malware might be hiding in the close on 2.5 Gb of download.
Not to mention the small matter that, as Rachwald warns “It’s highly unlikely that any IT security application will protect the new operating system from internally-coded malware, so the fall-out from trying an unofficial version of the new operating system could be quite severe.”
Rated: 100% (2 votes)
Loading ...Comment by Tyler Rosolowski - January 5, 2009 on 12:23 pm
Downloaded the beta, running it on three machines, no unusual internet activity, or spyware noticed.
Funny enough, since so many people are downloading, and playing with this copy of Win7, people would find out if it had spyware embedded deep inside itself.
Comment by dugz - January 5, 2009 on 2:07 pm
Is this funny or ironic
Run it in free Microsoft Virtual PC
Should keep U safe
Comment by Fredrik Olsson - January 5, 2009 on 9:53 pm
Why can not Microsoft simply make Windows 7 secure out of the box, without the need of third party solutions?
You know, like all other operating systems out there?
Most probably a buggy incomplete version of Windows is more secure for the end user; as it could be incompatioble with the malware out there, with some luck.
Comment by Same 'ol, same ol - January 6, 2009 on 3:17 pm
zzzz… change the record. People have been saying this for years. Scaremongers.
Comment by tombstoner - January 8, 2009 on 2:18 pm
Just the same old Microsoft overpriced junk.
Comment by - October 16, 2009 on 8:09 am
It was a very nice idea! Just wanna say thank you for the information you have shared. Just continue writing this kind of post. I will be your loyal reader. Thanks again.
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