Re: new RPC virus & Windows 98

From: Maggie (magsnospam_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 08/12/03 

Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2003 10:30:54 -0400

Sandi:

Referenced on the link which you dropped in response is MS03-026, which
after listing NT 4.0, NT 4.0 Terminal Services Edition, Win2000, WinXP, &
Win Server 2003 as affected products (and WinME as not affected), states,
"Previous versions are no longer supported, and may or may not be affected
by this vulnerability."

So the better short answer would be, "MS hasn't tested Win98 or earlier
versions. NT 4.0, NT 4.0 Terminal Services Edition, Win2000, WinXP, & Win
Server 2003 ARE affected products; WinME apparently IS NOT affected. See
MS03-026"

Musings:

1. If WinME is really not affected, then the odds seem reasonably good that
Win 98 or Win98se are also not affected.
2. MS seems all over the map re: Security Updates for Win98 since its entry
into the grey "unsupported" zone. I have been informed of & downloaded and
installed at least one such update in the past month.
3. I can perhaps understand MS choosing to pick a time when it no longer
provides "Upgrades" or "enhancements" to a product. I find it hard to
believe, however, that any set of corporate ethics could excuse dropping the
testing of a product for security vulnerabilties. No analogy is perfect but
it seems to me akin to a situation in which GM becomes aware that sudden
fire can result as a result of some newly discovered design flaw in a
component that has been in use in different configurations for 20 years &
yet chooses to only test and ultimately recall cars with components used
since 1998. How much would MS's profits be reduced if it were to test
earlier versions of Windows with respect to possible security
vulnerabilities and to issue patches when found? 0.0002%? Less?

"Sandi - Microsoft MVP" <sandi_hardmeier@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:%232mj4vMYDHA.652@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp
>
> --
> Hyperlinks are used to ensure answers remain current.
> ________________________________________
> Sandi Hardmeier - Microsoft MVP since 1999
> http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer
>
> "L Davis" <lhdavis@mindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:0d6e01c360c7$1f649630$a301280a@phx.gbl...
> > Can this virus infect Windows98?
> > If so, is there a patch? Where can I get it?
>

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