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AOL IM Security Hole Discovered

A flaw that lets hackers crash AIM highlights risks of using IM at work, experts say.

By Tech Live staff October 5, 2001

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A newly discovered security hole in America Online's popular instant messaging program lets hackers crash the program by simply sending a message, experts say.

Though the hole itself is not serious, experts say it highlights the need to pay closer attention to security issues relating to instant messaging, which is becoming a more common corporate application.

Since late September, the vulnerability of AOL Instant Messenger has been the topic of discussion on BugTraq, a popular security mailing list run by SecurityFocus.com. AOL Time Warner was notified of the problem this week and is reportedly working on a fix.

A proof-of-concept program called "AIMrape" can exploit the security bug and crash the AIM system when a user receives a message.

However, security experts say this potential exploit in and of itself poses no real risk. The exploit does not grant access to files on an AIM user's machine or execute any other programs.

The real danger, experts said, is that instant messaging is quickly becoming a common tool in the workplace. According to International Data Corp., around 18.3 million workers use instant messaging for job-related purposes. By 2005, IDC estimates that more than 229 million workers will use instant messaging on the job.

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But despite this growing corporate presence, IM has not received the same security scrutiny as other applications, experts said. The current AIM exploit suggests how instant messaging might prove a key security weakness down the road.

Hackers, experts said, could potentially use IM systems to sneak behind corporate firewalls and wreak havoc by erasing data, damaging systems, or launching a distributed denial-of-service attack.

Related Articles · Instant Messaging Goes Corporate

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2001

Answers

Processor Temperatures

By Yoshi DeHerrera October 4, 2001

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Video Highlight Cool Down Your CPU

You think your new CPU is "hot." Well, you might want to make sure it isn't too hot -- literally. One of the fastest ways to accelerate the wear of your computer is too much heat.

If you can keep your processor and other parts nice and cool, you will help them handle heavy loads and last longer. There's a reason the big servers that run our precious Internet sites or power our business databases sit in nice, chilly, air-conditioned rooms. Colder is better.

Most people don't need to worry about heat. However, if you want to monitor your temperature, try Hmonitor, a shareware program that will monitor your processor and motherboard temperature. (If you need a utility to identify your processor, try Wcpuid V3.)

ADVERTISEMENT Some motherboards don't offer the onboard sensors to monitor temperature, so consult your motherboard manufacturer or computer builder's website for technical specs.

If you want specific information or quick specs, Intel's processor support area and AMD's processor support area are good starting points to find the info on your CPU.

For a quick look at basic processor specs, The Heatsink Guide is a good reference.

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2001


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