Boy, do I feel sorry for them.
Microsoft has admitted that speech recognition features in Vista could be hijacked so that a PC tells itself to delete files or folders.
Vista can respond to vocal commands and concern has been raised about malicious audio on websites or sent via e-mail.
In one scenario outlined by users an MP3 file of voice instructions was used to tell the PC to delete documents.
Microsoft said the exploit was “technically possible” but there was no need to worry.
The firm has pointed out that in order for the flaw to be exploited the speech recognition feature would need to be activated and configured and both microphone and speakers would have to be switched on.
“The exploit scenario would involve the speech recognition feature picking up commands through the microphone such as ‘copy’, ‘delete’, ‘shutdown’, etc. and acting on them,” a Microsoft security researcher wrote on the team’s official blog.
Some Vista users have already tested the exploit and were able to delete files and empty the trash can so that the documents were not retrievable.
Ahhh, Microsoft. It’s just one bug after another, but for some strange reason, Bill Gates prefers to refer to them as features.
Folks, get a Mac. It’s the OS Gates ripped off as the “inspiration” for WinDoze. And OS X doesn’t crash, which is more than you can say for Microfluff’s crap. WinDoze is just one big bug. Er, sorry–feature.
