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"Even though Solaris will always hold the inside track when it comes to supporting features on the Sparc chip architecture, Sun Microsystems knows that it has to take an extremely open approach to its hardware and software if it wants to become a true volume player in the server racket. And that is why the company is enthusiastic about getting Linux ported to its new "Niagara" Sparc T1 processors.
But, as you might expect, Sun is not as interested in helping rival operating system platform providers Red Hat and Novell make money with their Linuxes as it is in convincing other Linux providers to support their distros on the T1s, thereby taking a whack at the X64 server vendors and the two main Linux platform providers and the Windows platform from Microsoft all at the same time. Think of it as hitting a triple play, since any sale of a non-X64, non-Windows platform does, in some way, weaken Microsoft. This might be the reason why Jonathan Schwartz, Sun's new chief executive officer, has been talking up the Ubuntu variant of the Debian line of Linux in recent weeks. Canonical, which releases Ubuntu 6.06 Long Term Support Server Edition on June 1, is also interested in getting some press around its efforts to move from Debian desktops to data centers and departmental servers. "
Experts at FaceTime Security Labs discovered the worm two weeks ago using a "honeypot" trap set up to monitor the activity of viruses, Trojans, and other malicious software.
The worm, dubbed Yh032.explr, marks the first time that researchers have encountered malicious software that installs its own Web browser on a PC without the user's permission.
"This is one of [the] oddest and more insidious pieces of malware we have encountered in years," said Tyler Wells, senior director of research at FaceTime. "This is the first instance of a complete Web browser hijack without the user's awareness. Rogue browsers seem to be the hot new thing among hackers."
sources : Read the rest of the story
A worm running through Yahoo's instant messaging network is installing a browser of its own -- a first for IM malware -- that leads users to adware and spyware sites, several security firms said Monday.
The worm, dubbed "Yhoo32.explr" by IM security vendor FaceTime Communications on Friday and "Browaf" by Symantec on Monday, is installed when Yahoo users click on a malicious link embedded within an instant message.
Yhoo32.explr downloads and installed the so-called "Safety Browser," which adds an IE-like icon to the desktop, and when used, takes the unsuspecting to sites where their PCs are infected with adware and spyware. The worm also changes the home page of IE to point to Safety Browser's site.
To complicate things, Safety Browser doesn't post an Uninstall option in Windows' Add or Remove Programs Control Panel applet.
"This is one of oddest and more insidious pieces of malware we have encountered in years," said Tyler Wells, senior director of research at FaceTime, in a statement.
"This is the first instance of a complete web browser hijack without the user's awareness. Similar 'rogue' browsers, such as 'Yapbrowser', have demonstrated the potential for serious damage by directing end-users to potentially illegal or illicit material. 'Rogue' browsers seem to be the hot new thing among hackers."
Along with the bogus browser, the worm makes the PC blare out screeching music thick with bad guitar licks and drum solos. The headache-inducing noise plays every time the computer boots or Safety Browser launches.
Anti-virus vendors, such as Symantec, are working on signatures to detect the new Yahoo IM worm; FaceTime said that has already it updated its customers' software.