More security warnings from Blizzard
by Elizabeth Harper 
Mar 31st 2007 at 8:55AM
Blizzard seems to be getting more serious about security awareness. It wasn't that long ago that Nethaera was warning us about a specific keylogger threat, but this Friday Eyonix has alerted us to a new security risk that could land keyloggers on your computer. The issue? This time it's not a specific threat or even a vulnerability specifically aimed at Warcraft players. Instead, Eyonix directs us to information on this Microsoft vulnerability which, if exploited, could allow malicious code (like a keylogger) to execute on your computer by simply clicking a web link. As there is not presently a patch available to fix this issue, users are advised to take caution in clicking on links in web pages and e-mails. What do we mean by cautious? Well, just be careful not to click on links from sources you don't trust or that link to sites you aren't familiar with.
And while some forum posters point out the irony in Eyonix's warning about clicking on links followed by a link to Microsoft's web site, I have to say that I don't think Blizzard would joke about security issues -- this is serious stuff!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nemdok Mar 31st 2007 10:48AM
Apple computer, to the rescue!
Matt Mar 31st 2007 11:13AM
@1 Apple isn't any more or less secure than Wintel inherently, it's just that Apple PCs make up such a small market share that writing viruses for Appples isn't worth the trouble.
Noname Mar 31st 2007 12:22PM
That is BS Matt. Apple has been taunting virus writers for five years since OS X has been launched and there has yet to be any serious security threat. There are proud hackers out there who are trying everyday to write a OS X virus and have yet to succeed.
Terry Mar 31st 2007 1:52PM
@3 Actually your comment is BS. Matt is right. The larger a technolodgy product is in the market the bigger the target. Real criminals dont bother with attempting to hack a 4% share of the market when they could focus their efforts on the other 96%. If Apple were just as big, they would face just as many problems.
Jeff Mar 31st 2007 3:48PM
curious what keyboard has the @ symbol by the enter key, cant say ive ever seen that.
Mirathis Mar 31st 2007 8:06PM
@ 2&4
While there is something to the whole hackers don't go after the minority, there is something to be said about the inherent security to a unix based system, which is exactly what OSX is.
One of the first things that makes OSX more secure than windows right off the bat, is OSX doesn't require most programs to drop all it's configuration settings in a central repository, along side all the system configuration. This central setting dumping ground is accessible by any ol' program that wants it. It poses one of the biggest security risks on a windows machine, and it's called the Registry.
Most programs that don't need system access (which encompasses a vast majority of them) run right out of their archives, kinda like all those cool programs that will run right off a USB thumb drive.
Anything that does need system access, requires you to enter a password.
Things like adware, spyware, keyloggers, and general malware are just plain impossible to write for a mac based solely on the way the system handles things. And between viruses and malware, a vast majority of the "script kiddies" out there that make that stuff, lean towards the malware variety. Then there are the unscrupulous folkes that write this crap for companies that some how or another figure adware and spyware will make them more money. Rootkits, Malware and viruses in general don't generally resides on any *nix based system, OSX included.
It's widely known that there are nowhere near as many security vulnerabilities for OSX as there are for Windows. It's not that people don't take the time to discover them, it's that that they aren't there in the vast numbers.
Now I will admit there is an aspect to the *nix world and black hats in the fact of "don't s**t where you eat" but thats only a mild deterrent.
Kevin Mar 31st 2007 11:19PM
When someone gets their account hacked, presumed by a keylogger, how do you get rid of it?
irishstu Apr 2nd 2007 8:56AM
Guildportal.com got hacked with a keylogger program last week - 2 of our guild members got their accounts hacked because of it. IMHO they did a terrible job of warning people.
Ethena Apr 2nd 2007 9:00AM
And then if they can hack a trusted site -- you are never really safe. Not a question of if you get hacked but when it happens. The internet is a scary place :(
Hal Apr 3rd 2007 1:40AM
also of note in this situation... i read today that microsoft has known of this issue since december. and now that it's become wide spread and well known... they're scrambling for a fix.
i so wish wow worked better with linux. le sigh.