BO2K (No VNC content, sorry)

[Stuart, Bill]

Matthew Lee Mandalek [ mandalek "at" inter-net.net
<mailto:mandalek "at" inter-net.net> ] Wrote: 


Thought this might be interesting reading.... 

>1. Back Off, Back Orifice 
http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?4978 <http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?4978>  

It doesn't matter if you buy cDc Communications argument that 
"Back Orifice 2000 is the most powerful network administration 
tool available for the Microsoft environment." The plain truth is 
that BO2K enables crackers to wreak havoc on net-connected 
Windows 95, Windows 98 and NT systems. Click here for the full 
story. 

 Matthew, 
 
SO DOES MICROSOFT'S SMS, COMPAQ'S CARBON COPY, AND ARTISOFT'S COSESSION
REMOTE!
 
Please don't buy into the hype that Microsoft and the anti-virus companies
have foisted upon the public.  It is the absolute truth that Back Orifice is
a powerful tool.  It was not created with malice for anyone or anything,
except for maybe the weak security model of Windows.  Remember, Bill Gates
and Network Associates are trying to sell you software!  The best way to
sell things has always been through fear.  "Back Orifice is Evil!" sells
lots of anti-virus software...  Fact is Microsoft's own products can be used
in much the same way (including hidden operation!).
 
Like any other powerful tool (like, say, nuclear energy), it can be used for
good or evil.  Einstein never intended his equation to be used to kill
millions.  Luckily we only killed hundreds of thousands, maybe saving
millions in the process!  Nuclear energy can be good (medicine, electric
power, safer food, ended a war, etc.), or it can be bad (Three Mile Island,
Chernobyl, Cold War, India, Pakistan, Iraq).   Back Orifice can also be good
(simple, cheap, secure,  total remote control with OPEN SOURCE CODE.) or it
can be bad (unknown malicious users penetrating insecure systems because
uninformed users are allowed to run executables received via email).   If a
cracker, using BO2K as his vehicle, penetrates a system, then blame should
be shared by Microsoft's weak security, a poor sys admin who would allow
users to be uniformed and to run executables unchecked, and of course mostly
the cracker (CASTRATE THE BASTARD if you catch him!).
 
BO2K is a tool.  How you use it determines the color of your hat...
 
PLEASE DON'T RESPOND BACK TO THIS MAILING LIST!
Respond to me directly if you wish to continue this discussion.  
 
Sorry for the non-VNC content, but I thought Matthew's statement deserved a
public response.  You'll not see any more non-VNC posts from me.  I am not a
cracker, or even much of a hacker, and I am not associated with any of these
companies or cDc in any way.
 
 - Bill
    stuart "at" tessco.com <mailto:stuart "at" tessco.com> 
 
My opinions belong to me, not my company... YMMV.

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