Microsoft: Pirated Win 7 Causes Malware Outbreak

[Arkangel]

I find this very hard to believe considering anyone which is whiling to pirate an operating system is doing so under the pursuit of completion therefore will endeavor to have it all, in most cases a pirate will be privileged enough to try and find the most suitable software and weed out the terrible ones unlike those that are complete novices which seem to take the word of just about any smuck that makes a suggestions even complete strangers can fool them with a simple popup using trickery that most pirate will most likely laugh at such as antivirus2009 and various other software that are designed to do the complete opposite.

Automatic updates were designed to create a simplistic approach to system maintenance and squarely aimed at novices that simply were to lazy or less tech orientated to maintain a computer system, this would be at their own admittance that the target audience is aimed at what people refer to as noobs or computer illiterate.

I have a friend at work that admitted to me that he pirates everything he installs on his and he seems to be doing fine on his own where as I have another that whilst is aware of piracy seems to need the assistance of said friend on a weekly basis for computer related issues and security.

I admit that this isn't always the case but I totally disagree with the assertion that pirates are more so at risk than average Joe land lover has a better grasp on security than a software stealing pirate.

[(Spork)]

they said the same thing with the VISTA released

[bogas04]

They have to say this :p

[Eric Veteran]

LOL, pirated Windows 7 is the problem here? It was only just released, surely it is the most secure out of the box than any previous version of Windows.

Pirated versions don't come "out of the box." And it's known that there was malware on pirated pre-release copies that were floating around. Really, if you can't afford an OS and don't want a free one, you probably shouldn't be spending what little money you have on computer equipment.

[iamwhoiam]

Pirated copies of windows XP can't even get past the validation check and apply critical updates - unless you apply certain bypasses.

Pirated copies of Windows still get the critical updates without using any bypasses. It's the optional components from WU and other goodies from Microsoft that need the bypasses to install.

[Growled Member]

"Outbreak" is the latest newsmedia meme. Is there really a recent malware outbreak linked to Windows 7? I believe MS has fibbed.

I believe they have too. I haven't heard of any outbreak.

[jonhapimp]

Yeah, but the thing is people who pirate Windows will most likely pirate other software as well. And Windows Update doesn't protect you from browsing crack sites, looking for key generators or downloading software preloaded with viruses. I don't blame Microsoft for this one, it's mostly bad user habits that put the system to risk, so I think it's fair from Microsoft to warn people.

any pirate in the right of mind won't get a virus that way

[ToneKnee]

I remember when all the leaks were going around that some "releases" had malware etc installed. If you pirate any software, you are playing with fire.

[hjf288]

Lol. Nubs who don't know how to use redistrobutible packages are hilarious.

Either way, it's not an issue if you use decent protecton softwares and take the effort to get the updates applied (regardless of how legitimately you got them).

I find you hilarious, first you claim to know about a sound card you dont even own..

Now your laughing at "nubs" with your "superiority".

Dont use pirate software and you wont need to use "Protection" software

Pretty simple...

[PurePhoenix]

Not really. Virus and malware infected crap doesn't get seeded or hosted on IRC bots or etc.

Saying you run a risk when pirating software is just a scare tactic.

[Rudy]

Not really. Virus and malware infected crap doesn't get seeded or hosted on IRC bots or etc.

Saying you run a risk when pirating software is just a scare tactic.

+1

[PurePhoenix]

I find you hilarious, first you claim to know about a sound card you dont even own..

Now your laughing at "nubs" with your "superiority".

Dont use pirate software and you wont need to use "Protection" software

Pretty simple...

Sorry to double post, but this is jsut classic.

Do you even know how retarded this post makes you look?

over 3/4 of virii exploit current windows vulnerabilities. E.g you don't get them through pirating software, you get them just because you're running windows and it's susceptible to them.

That's why there is over 140 security updates for windows XP over the last 2 years when there's only been around 300 new virii.

It doesn't matter WHAT you do with your browsing habits or downloads or etc;

As long as you have an internet connection, you need protection. Period.

[Arkangel]

I would also like to add that the genuine hash code was common knowledge to many pirates prior to the official release and as such each download was scanned to conform with that hash code... hell there was even an application that certified your download as genuine from what I seen therefore the argument of malware infected versions is weak at best furthermore some releases may have been flagged by Microsoft based on the fact that a release may have not matched the official hash code regardless of if it was actually malware or not but just that it had been tampered with.

[PurePhoenix]

I knew of it, i didn't know about it in detail. Good to hear it wasn't the physical devices' serial number and just a partition volume hash.

The tool is harmless either way if you don't install it to begin with.

[The Rev]

What good does it do to talk about this? I mean, does MS think they're ever going to "scare" pirates into going legal?

Honestly, I think it's best for MS to "support" pirated copies of windows, simply because even tho they are illegal, people will always pirate, which means there will always be a segment of the windows population that's unpatched, causing malware infections to them and any computers they interact with. In other words, pirates are making us all vulnerable.... So unless MS wants to constantly deal with the "blaster worm-like" scenario, they're better off biting the bullet and just looking the other way. MS- they beat you.... Get over it and move on. Don't put the rest of us at risk to spite the pirates. Sure, you can still go after the people that distribute illegal copies, but don't go after the (willing and unwilling) end users for the problem started by the "producers" of pirated software.

[PurePhoenix]

That's it. That's the core of the issue.

It doesn't matter wether you're a legit or illegitimate windows user, in a security sense.

Script kiddies and coders who think they've been done wrong will just take control of the insecure PC's and DoS targets at will if MS doesn't provide security against it.

There's always a reason to patch the pirates, too.

[x-byte]

Not really. Virus and malware infected crap doesn't get seeded or hosted on IRC bots or etc.

Saying you run a risk when pirating software is just a scare tactic.

No it isn't. A lot of sources are infected with viruses, key-loggers, etc. So you are never 100% safe when downloading pirated versions.?

[splur]

No it isn't. A lot of sources are infected with viruses, key-loggers, etc. So you are never 100% safe when downloading pirated versions.?

You're never 100% safe... ever. I'd say the most dangerous thing to any computer user is to assume that you're 100% safe...

[hdood]

over 3/4 of virii exploit current windows vulnerabilities. E.g you don't get them through pirating software, you get them just because you're running windows and it's susceptible to them.

The plural of virus is viruses, and a virus is a subset of malware with the ability to self-replicate. Most viruses you get by voluntarily running them (because they've embedded themselves in another executable). If you can get it without doing anything, then it's a worm, and these are exceptionally rare. Most malware does not exploit any bugs at all, it only exploits the users. If you don't run random executables from the net, then there is little chance of being infected. That these infected files are usually found on warez sites is a fact. You can even find infected Mac warez there. That's how tens of thousands of Mac users got infected a while back after they pirated iWork.

I'm not aware of any current vulnerabilities (in other words, unpatched) that are being utilized by 3/4 of all viruses. In fact, I'm not aware of any at all. What do you base these numbers on?

[soldier1st]

ms stop talking fud and stop blaming the pirates for all your failures, WGA and OGA are just useless and can be bypassed easily and they can be malware free so what you say i don't buy it at all, if you keep ur system updated and keep an antimalware updated and be very careful you won't get malware, perhaps pirates are way smarter than ms ever is and pirates are not the cause of malware it's your WGA & OGA bs thats the problem, get rid of it then maybe i might believe what you say.

[hdood]

ms stop talking fud and stop blaming the pirates for all your failures, WGA and OGA are just useless and can be bypassed easily and they can be malware free so what you say i don't buy it at all, if you keep ur system updated and keep an antimalware updated and be very careful you won't get malware, perhaps pirates are way smarter than ms ever is and pirates are not the cause of malware it's your WGA & OGA bs thats the problem, get rid of it then maybe i might believe what you say.

They aren't saying that ALL warez is infected, only that a lot of it is. If you go to a site like The Pirate Bay and look at the comments, you will see that this is true. Same if you Google for random warez and click whatever it gives you. Or porn. It's a big problem. Most people who pirate don't have the knowledge and experience to tell what is safe and what isn't. They just download random things.

[PurePhoenix]

The plural of virus is viruses, and a virus is a subset of malware with the ability to self-replicate. Most viruses you get by voluntarily running them (because they've embedded themselves in another executable). If you can get it without doing anything, then it's a worm, and these are exceptionally rare. Most malware does not exploit any bugs at all, it only exploits the users.

You've challenged my information in over 5 threads now.

You've also been proven wrong and it's been proven your information is lacking severely.

Anyone would have thought you'd have learnt by now and quit trying to attack my credibility - you're just making yourself look stupid. Honestly. Quit it.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/virii <= you're wrong again.

If you don't run random executables from the net, then there is little chance of being infected. That these infected files are usually found on warez sites is a fact. You can even find infected Mac warez there. That's how tens of thousands of Mac users got infected a while back after they pirated iWork.

Warez sites, yes. Anyone stupid enough to use warez sites is a stark raving retard.

A majority of them offer 0 cracks, serials etc but are designed entirely to attack your PC and infect it.

Honestly after seeing the first say... 3 sites like this, you should have formed an opinion and know better than to try again.

www.<InsertWarezWebsiteURLHere>.com is a morons' resource.

I'm not aware of any current vulnerabilities (in other words, unpatched) that are being utilized by 3/4 of all viruses. In fact, I'm not aware of any at all. What do you base these numbers on?

They're not unpatched. I'm saying the vulnerabilities exist in windows programming and MS has to continually release critical security updates to protect their own software.

Do yourself a favour. VirtualBox up a fresh, vanilla XP SP2 install. Go to windows update. DO NOT install SP3. There is over 140 security updates for XP since SP2 was released in 2004. Include the new patches for SP3 & that covers over 3/4 of the known virii additions to symantecs' database since 2004 - that last figures an estimate btw, just letting you know.

[Lord Ba'al]

Not really. Virus and malware infected crap doesn't get seeded or hosted on IRC bots or etc.

Saying you run a risk when pirating software is just a scare tactic.

That's the point exactly.

Stuff like this won't keep people from pirating... and it's not really meant to either, since MS still prefers people pirate Windows rather than using free alternatives.

If all the people who pirated Windows, especially in countries with high piracy, would suddenly stop pirating Windows and use free alternatives instead, then the Windows market share would plummet quite a bit.

[PurePhoenix]

Exactly. Statistics tracking via base windows & browser capabilities result in a larger reported market share for MS.

Wether it's legitimately obtained user-share or not is largely irrelevant.

At least MS are getting a true indicator that we'd RATHER use windows.

[MyDooM.]

That's the point exactly.

Stuff like this won't keep people from pirating... and it's not really meant to either, since MS still prefers people pirate Windows rather than using free alternatives.

If all the people who pirated Windows, especially in countries with high piracy, would suddenly stop pirating Windows and use free alternatives instead, then the Windows market share would plummet quite a bit.

Hmm, i never thought of it that way.