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IMPORTANT: This is a collection of files from an anonymous hacker including file formats such as docx that are known for carrying malware. Safe handling means o
by jimrandomh 11y ago
IMPORTANT: This is a collection of files from an anonymous hacker including file formats such as docx that are known for carrying malware. Safe handling means opening them only on a virtual machine with nothing of value inside it and no access to your internal network. You have been warned.
- ryanlol 11y agoOh come on, we might as well start posting this warning every time someone links to any files on HN. In fact, websites are known for carrying malware. Especially considering that at the point where you have the docs you have already opened the torrent, and torrent clients are known for being super secure
- exhilaration 11y agoI think it's worth reminding people that there's a huge difference between harmless text files and MS Office documents that can carry all kinds of malware.
- ryanlol 11y agoDo we need a bot that posts the warning every time someone links to a .doc/.pdf/.whatever? And in any case, I'd be significantly more worried about the .torrent file...
- brazzledazzle 11y agoI don't think there's any harm in a warning for binary files distributed by someone who presumably broke the law to get them.
- mindslight 11y agoNor any harm in a warning for binary files created by people willing to break the law to protect their conspiracies.
- ryanlol 11y agoDid I say there's any harm? I just think it's silly, especially considering that binary content is constantly posted here.
- brazzledazzle 11y agoContext matters.
- ryanlol 11y agoAnd what makes the files in this context stand out as particularly dangerous? I don't know what kind of attacks you work with but in my experience people usually try to be at least somewhat stealthy, this wouldn't be it. And anyway, how would you even get those files without downloading the torrent in the first place? Sounds like you might be placing a little unwarranted trust on your torrent client.
- pc86 11y agoI've got to agree with exhilaration here. There's nothing lost from a little extra security when reviewing these files.
- Kalium 11y agoAgreed. Especially because a significant number of people who read Hacker News are not up on security precautions.
- jimrandomh 11y agoI posted this because this particular source has factors that mark it as unusually high risk.