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.
Make a comment
Tag cloud
Archives
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
Most commented posts
- 80 percent of viruses love Windows 7
165 comments
- Has Microsoft gone mental?
- Has the US Army declared war on Windows 7?
- Cuil frozen out: market share drops to next to nothing
- Xbox 360 FAIL
- The 24GB RAM Desktop is born
- Use old version of Windows instead of Linux, says teacher
- Microsoft reveals time-based licensing model
- How Marblecake Hacked Time
- Nexus Two - The Next Generation
Highest Rated Blog Posts
- Why ecommerce fails (100%)
- Google Chrome stands alone at PWN2OWN (100%)
- Betting on Hubdub technology (100%)
- Has Google gone insane as GMail goes back to beta? (100%)
- Chinese whispers as government implicated in UK hack attacks (100%)
- Crimeware toolkit targets 10,000 trusted sites (100%)
- Black Hat risk to migrating VMs (100%)
- Tough on cyber crime, tough on the causes of cyber crime (100%)
- Firefox 3, Beta 4, Enhancements 900, Tested 5 (100%)
- Has the US Army declared war on Windows 7? (100%)
