Comments on: Multiple power plant workstations slammed by malware

By: nobody

nobody — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 03:13:00 +0000

No one writes viruses for Macs because they are owned by such a small percentage. Plus who would want to steal a Mac owners info… probably just a bunch of pictures of cats.

By: Better informed

Better informed — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:10:00 +0000

You’re insulting and misinformed. I was a unix admin for 15 years. Windows has a deeper security system. Matrices privileges, etc. a joke if you thing chmod is security. Linux is just not as large a target because so much fewer platforms run it. Except embedded. That’s why there are more Linux viruses and worms now.

By: Luudee

Luudee — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 12:57:00 +0000

If they would have been running Secure Linux, with proper configuration, it would have been incredibly difficult to install and spread a Trojan. There are many techniques that can be employed to make important computers save. The trick is not to publicize every single aspect of the security options that have been installed. Using of-the-shelf OSs with of-the-shelf security allows potential hackers to explorer vulnerabilities much easier …

By: Bo3b Johnson

Bo3b Johnson — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 10:10:00 +0000

http://it.slashdot.org/story/04/12/15/2113202/djb-announces-44-security-holes-in-nix-software

It’s hard for me to understand the blind faith in Unix.

By: nobody

nobody — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 09:55:00 +0000

How is a mac safer than a PC? Really? Did you REALLY ask that question? Mac OS is BSD a unix variant. One of the most secure OS in the world. What you are referring to wasn’t OS-X at all. It was Apple allowing Java on their web browser. At any case, there is no security unless the PC *is* secured – something which can be done simply by using the unix permission system properly – not hard just smart. On the other hand Windows security is based on patches “after the fact” that plug holes. It is not possible to prevent damage on an operating system that allows anything to execute by anyone. Windows was not designed to be secure. Microsoft continues to prioritize gimmick functionality over security.

There is NO comparison between Windows and *nix operating systems with regards to security.

By: Brandon Williams

Brandon Williams — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 09:46:00 +0000

Keep hiring foreign workers and outsourcing. This is what you get.

By: nobody

nobody — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 09:45:00 +0000

That’s the kind of ignorant b.s. that keeps Windows alive. “Seriously”, yes the permission system in Linux and more importantly, the ability to use that permission system to “lock down” critical hardware is something that just can’t be done with Windows toy OS.

40 years of Unix and Windows “users” think they have a clue. You just made a fool of yourself.

By: Mack

Mack — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 08:56:00 +0000

How do you know they were running windows? how is a mac safer than a PC? oh, thats right… it isnt. There is malware for every OS out there.

By: 3illy

3illy — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 08:48:00 +0000

The infection vector was a flash drive, as stated in the article. I seriously doubt the production environment is connected to the internets.

By: Chum Bucket

Chum Bucket — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 08:32:00 +0000

Yeah once everyone goes to your suggested platforms nobody would ever bother to write a virus for it…..Seriously…?

By: Not that crazy

Not that crazy — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 08:23:00 +0000

Better not have been the Iranians. Unfortunately for the mullahs and the Supreme Nacho, Hillary or Christie won’t accept this kind of crap and will drop the hammer if it continues into 2017… and if it was not the IRG, then I half-apologize.

By: vaporland .

vaporland . — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 07:58:00 +0000

remember how STUXNET was spread – they threw a handful of infected USB drives into the parking lot of the Iranian nuclear facility, so of course the employees picked them up and plugged them in when they had the 1st opportunity – when they sat down at work…

all software is vulnerable. watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3zUOZcewtA

it details the built-in vulnerability of the most widely used IP phones in the world. i don’t claim to understand everything the hacker discussed, but it was obvious to me that when one way in didnt work, they kept trying until they rooted the phones.

now using the same vulnerability, you can hack your phone at your office and listen to your boss’s conversations undetected…

By: Steve Redmond

Steve Redmond — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 07:52:00 +0000

Vendoring out sure has a downside and some of these IT consultants are dopes. Putting a USB drive on a secure system is like throwing gasoline on a fire and hoing to put it out.

By: Jalek

Jalek — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 07:29:00 +0000

Imagine how much less malware would matter if the production network didn’t have to be open to the internet for federal monitoring.

Smart Power, like many things in recent years, is not something that absolutely must happen just because some government employee said it would be nice to have and offered some convenient scenarios.

By: Matt in KY

Matt in KY — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 07:15:00 +0000

Sounds like this ICS-CERT crew is on top of it. Glad to know they are hiding out in the shadows. Wonder if this dude performing the installs is a problem….or just blowing it?

By: Rob Arce

Rob Arce — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 06:42:00 +0000

They should of had Mac pc’s or PC running Linux they get the job done forget windows onces infected takes up a lot of time