Looking to crash your anti-virus software? It’s easy. Just whip up a huge .ZIP file and send it.

When the av program unzips the file to check it for fleas, it uses all available CPU and file space. And down it goes. So far, AERAsec has failed Linux versions of Kaspersky AntiVirus, Trend Micro InterScan VirusWall, and McAfee Virus Scan. Says others may be equally vulnerable.

Undoubtedly, this hole will be filled. But it points to larger questions of proper network management. Software bugs… incompatibilities… Denial of Service attacks. Wipe out just one program. You kill the whole box, destroying any other benefits it provided. Not good. The alternative?

Best network management practice keeps it simple. One box, one job. Simplifies maintenance and troubleshooting, too.

See for yourself at AERASec.