There has been much talk that the new Xbox 360 is running an modified version of Windows 2000, and much more talk about the connectivity features of the new console, but it doesn’t seem that many have put the two together. Lets consider, a Windows 2000 based OS with Internet connectivity and millions of inexperienced kids…. How long till we start seeing Xboxes infected by worms and viruses? Virus writers are smart, they have managed to find ways onto computers by using flaws in Instant messaging, web browsers and dozens of other application types. When there are 40 odd million Xbox 360’s out there with broadband connections you can bet that it won’t be long before they start getting serious attention. In fact there is already a huge code base of worms and Viruses available for the Win32 platform of which Xbox and Xbox 360 are a part, many of them could be modified and ported to affect Microsoft’s gaming console. Give it time folks, it will happen. Maybe Microsoft will then extend their new OneCare subscription service to Xbox users so they can rake in a few more dollars. Consider that there have already been viruses written for PDA’s and mobile phones, then consider how much better a target a PC based device on a broadband connection is, consider also that the Xbox 360 is reported to be able to interface and share with Windows Media PC’s and the target is looking better and better. In fact it’s already starting with news that a denial of service flaw has been found in Microsoft’s popular Halo: Combat Evolved game and a cross-site scripting flaw in Microsofts Xbox360.com site which is part of Microsofts Xbox live subscription service.
