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

From: Lanwench [MVP - Exchange] (lanwench@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmail.atyahoo.com)
Date: 01/05/03 

From: "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" <lanwench@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmail.atyahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2003 12:29:08 -0500

Welcome to the killfile.

m wrote:
>> From: "Karl Levinson [x y] mvp" <jamescagney90210@excite.com>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> 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.h
> tml
>> 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.
>
> I could tell that you're not a Virus/Worm expert. So why
> are you butting in with lies? When I called Semantec, they
> wanted to charge me $$ (even Microsoft charges for
> answering phones at 425-635-7222, more later). Another
> company, Network Associates Technical Support Hotline: 972-
> 308-9960 offered free help. Their suggestion to me was to
> format the hard-drive because there are no utilities out
> there that can disinfect the disk cleanly at a *reasonable
> price*.
>
>> 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.
>
> Get real and stick your neck outside USA even if that
> means disagreeing with bubba. There was McAfee AV when the
> worm infected my PC.
>
>> 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.
>
> More lies and crap from an MVP.
>
>> 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.
>
> This was not hard-drive crash. Besides, stores like
> BestBusy provide warranty for hardware. PLEASE STOP YOUR
> LIES.
>
>> 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.
>
> Really? Microsoft charges for all calls except for the
> very first call after purchasing their product. I
> possessed a win98 upgrade and used that to talk to MS
> stooges. Going by your lies, you are certainly one of them.
>
>
>> 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.
>
> Blame the software ignoramuses in USA like yourself
> because of whom we need hi-tech immigrants on H1B from
> countries like India and China.
>
>> I wish I knew what exactly Microsoft suggested you do,
> and what "buy all the
>> software pieces" meant.
>
> Set your lang attribute to american english. And reboot.
>
>> 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.
>
> I bought Win98 upgrade CD in '99. Why was MS selling Win98
> upgrade in 1999? Go figure.
>
> --M
>>
>> "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
>>
>>
>> .