Aug. 25th, 2011

necturus: 2016-12-30 (Default)
One of my clients gave me a laptop to work on; it couldn't see the local wireless network. Well, it couldn't see the wireless network because some piece of malware messed with the Windows registry. The malware deleted a field called ImagePath from a key controlling something called the CNG Key Isolation service, without which the wireless network service won't run.

The malware also deleted ImagePath fields affecting a dozen other services, including the Software Protection service (sppsvc). No, this isn't an antivirus program; it's what Microsoft uses to tell "genuine" copies of Windows from pirated copies. Without it, the machine can't get Windows updates, including the ones that protect it (and, therefore, the greater Internet, including you and me) from malware infections.

I spent five hours of my life pursuing this turkey.

Let me say it again, loudly and distinctly: Windows sucks. It's the reason the Internet is as dangerous as it is; it's why 75% of all email is spam; and it's sucking billions of dollars out of the economy in the form of lost productivity, cybercrime, and time wasted on fool's errands such as my adventure of today.

Windows is a worldwide disaster. It ought to be illegal.

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necturus: 2016-12-30 (Default)
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