[Cialug] ot flashplayer

[Don Cady]

On Sat, Apr 17, 2010 at 8:16 AM, Dan Hockey <icepuck3k at yahoo.com> wrote:

> heres a link to someone thinking flashplayer may be acting like a virus.
> just wondering if any else here has herd of such a possibility.
> -dan
> http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=15&m=445545
>
>
Quick answer:
Is Flash a possible attack vector? Yes. Keep your flash player updated to
close vulnerabilities found.
Is the Flash Player itself a virus that does what he is claiming? No.

Long answer:
This reads like one of those scare-tactic chain-letter emails. Lots of
verbal hand-waving (or little-kid yelling "Pay attention to me!") with no
proof.
Allegations include;
Flash Player is "dangerous all-searching invasive spyware"
Flash Player has been accessing his hard drives and cameras. It has been
sending 'all accessible' data to Google.
All his connections to the internet have "snapped off", and all his Windows
machines have been "wiped out".
It "Exploded" his second video card.
Caused a 'power control system' (he probably means a power supply)  to
overheat.
'jumps' to cell phones and Toyotas (scare topic), where it then interferes
with all other microwave wireless devices
It can read I/O ports connected to machine controllers, and "access the
motors" (implying Flash can "take over"; a scare tactic for this particular
forum)
Implies the fly-by-wire system in a toyota and an airplane is the same, runs
"on the same frequency bands", then further implies taking a cell phone
'infected' with Flash on a plane would lead to crashes.
Flash "'has actually (allegedly and potentially) caused FIRES".
Since 'Shockwave' is in the name, there is some sinister meaning and/or
people behind all this.
Implies any change to the Internet not run by him is a "secret change in a
data format".
This is "the end of the online world as I know it".

At best, this is a person who thinks they have more skill than they do, but
is jumping to the wrong conclusions. "OMG! A Nautilus message tells me it's
write-protected, I'm in deep!"
At worst, this is a rabble rouser trying to set the town library on fire,
sitting back in delight at what he can get the adults to scramble over.
A possible variation is this is an older, less educated adult struggling
with the rapid change of the world around him. He thinks if he can scare
people from using the tech, he can slow the rate of that change and have
some perception of control on his life.
Most likely, he's just cuckoo for cocopuffs. The first response in that
thread was the most best; "Sounds like you're suffering from an unintended
bit toggle in your wetware."

Please do not put any stock into the words of dodobirds.

Thanks,
Don
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