[CS-FSLUG] OT: Security Watch: Beware of ungracious hosts (hosts files, that is).

[Bob Brown]

I cleaned up a problem like this on a friends computer a while back.
A program had altered his hosts file to send all major search engine
queries to their own site.

It is very deceptive and I woulld consider it potentially very effective.

For geeks with hosting knowledge the hosts file is good for practical
jokes, but very dangerous.


Bob Brown

On Apr 11, 2005 4:04 PM, Fred A. Miller <fmiller at lightlink.com> wrote:
> "A few weeks ago, I wrote about a new trend among identity thieves called
> pharming, where whole domains are hijacked, and users unwillingly find
> themselves on familiar-looking yet fraudulent Web sites. Pharming exploits a
> weakness in how the current Internet is structured, namely the Domain Name
> System (DNS), which translates easy-to-remember URLs into the IP addresses
> that networks use to route data packets across the Internet. Since that
> column, I've been thinking about other ways to accomplish a similar feat. For
> example, rather than poison or change the data on a remote DNS server, why
> not use a common file on your computer to redirect your desktop computer
> somewhere else instead?"
> 
> http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3513_7-6159759-1.html?tag=nl.e501
> 
> --
> The only bug free software from MickySoft is still shrink-wrapped
> in their warehouse..."
> 
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