Re: Did Microsoft create Opaserv worm to improve Win2k sales?

From: Karl Levinson [x y] mvp (jamescagney90210@excite.com)
Date: 01/05/03 

From: "Karl Levinson [x y] mvp" <jamescagney90210@excite.com>
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2003 09:53:48 -0500

You didn't ask for any help, but it sure sounds like you need some. First
of all, free removal instructions for at least one version of Opaserv is
available at http://www.sarc.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.opaserv.k.worm.html
As far as I could tell, this virus shouldn't destroy any of your data. It
should all still be there. You might need to reinstall your current version
of Windows.

You must be the last person on the planet who hasn't heard about the need to
run antivirus software and have a backup solution for your important data.
Unfortunately, if you don't run antivirus software and you get a virus and
you have no backups, the blame lies on you. You've just been lucky so far
that it didn't happen to you years ago. www.grisoft.com is free antivirus,
so if you still aren't running antivirus, I can't understand why not.

If your hard drive had crashed, you would have been in the same situation of
data loss, and that's true whether you're running Windows or Linux or Mac or
whatever.

There are plenty of viruses that affect Windows 2000 and XP. The reason why
you were hit by a virus that affects your version of Windows is because
you're running that version of Windows. Also, you hadn't installed the free
Microsoft security patch from TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO from
www.windowsupdate.com that makes your version of Windows less vulnerable to
this virus.

Why are you calling Microsoft for help with viruses? That's not where I
would call first... however, you probably called them because they offer
free help with viruses to anyone for absolutely free. That's awfully nice
of them, isn't it? None of the antivirus vendors that I know of do that.

No, Judge Jackson isn't taking complaints, certainly not from you or me.
The Bush administration pretty much dismissed prosecution against Microsoft.
Depending on where you live and how you voted in 2000, you might have
yourself to blame for that.

I wish I knew what exactly Microsoft suggested you do, and what "buy all the
software pieces" meant.

Microsoft suggesting that you might want to upgrade to an operating system
that was written at least in the last 4 years is just good advice. If you
don't want to be vulnerable to data loss, you want to eliminate security
bugs from your system software.

"murthy" <murthy64@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:010301c2b438$622b7a60$d6f82ecf@TK2MSFTNGXA13...
> I was recently hit by the Opaserv worm. I am posting the
> information given by www.bsa.org in the Pop-up at their
> site. Apparently the virus attacks primitive windows OS's
> like Win95, Win98 but not the Win2k, Win XP. What an
> irony? I have lost everything on my PC including the
> windows operating system. I called Microsoft for help.
> Their answer to me was to go and buy all the software
> pieces. This is the most arrogant and scroogy behavior
> I've ever seen by a major company. The people who work for
> Microsoft not only don't care about worms/viruses, they
> also thrive because of them. What a shameful American
> legacy. Is Judge Jackson still taking complaints?
> ==============================
> URGENT MESSAGE
> The Business Software Alliance (BSA) is not responsible
> for the Opaserv worm.
>
> This is a malicious act that tricks victims into believing
> that the Business Software Alliance has shut down their
> computer due to licensing issues.
>
> BSA is disappointed that anyone would send a virus intent
> on inflicting damage and condemns such actions.
>
> If this virus has affected you, please call the technical
> support hotlines or visit the web sites listed below for
> more information.
>
> Symantec Technical Support Hotline: 1-800-441-7234
>
> Network Associates Technical Support Hotline: 972-308-9960
>
> Symantec explanation and instructions regarding the
> Opaserv worm
>
> Network Associates description of the Opaserv L worm
>
> 

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.435 / Virus Database: 244 - Release Date: 12/30/2002

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