Posts Tagged ‘virus’

The moral to this story is don’t click a link just because you can. The Guardian warns:

If you get a posting on your Facebook wall telling you “this is without doubt the sexiest video ever! ” which seems to be accompanied by a video titled “Candid Camera Prank [HQ]” then don’t click on the video: it’s a lead-in to malware.

It installs adware called “HotBar,” a “toolbar” that inflicts ads on you depending on your surfing habits. It may also do other bad stuff in the background, according to this Microsoft document linked by the Guardian.

There is nothing new about HotBar; what’s new is transmission via Facebook.

The weakest link in computer security has always been the nut behind the keyboard. This thing seems to work like one of those old Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express trojans, such as LoveBug, that installed itself on your system, then grabbed your address book and emailed itself to everyone.

But someone had to click on them to make them work.

1999 – Microsoft’s newest programming language at the time – C# (pronounced “C-Sharp”) was hacked on this day. The perpetrator was a seventeen year old female hacker from Belgium, calling herself “Gigabyte”.

2002 – Gigabyte posts the source code to the virus on her website. Kim Vanvaeck would be arrested in 2004 for writing the malicious code. The reason why she did it?

I want to let people (and especially guys) know there ARE girls out there who like computers and for more than games. I think that’s quite important … for all girls out there who know something about computers but are surrounded by guys who think they’re all stupid..

Sponsor:  Try GoToAssist free for 30 days – GoToAssist.com/techpodcasts.

Please add to your favorite aggregator. RSS Feed – iTunes – Stitcher – TechPodcasts

Other Historical Events in Technology

• IBM releases Object REXX
• Macbook Pro with Multitouch trackpad

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 7:04 — 3.2MB)

I have two topics in this post because I find both interesting, but don’t think I have enough to say about either to warrant two posts.

In the Guardian, Cory Doctorow expresses his skepticism about cloud computing. I’m not going to try to excerpt it, just recommend it as food for thought.

This other one, also from the Guardian, has no great significance except for the Ealing Council, London, UK, but it’s one of those odd stories that struck me as telling: The Guardian reports that a virus got loose at a city government site in London and wiped out records of uncollected parking and library fines.

The virus was on an employee’s USB stick. Description of the damage below the fold.

Read the rest of this entry »

Bruce Schneier, writing in the Guardian, attempts to use the Conficker scare to illustrate larger lessons in human psychology. In particular, he wonders why Conficker led to global cyber-panic, at least among Windows users, whereas other, equally or more dangerous malware passes almost unnoticed almost every day.

Frankly, I think his reasoning is a bit over the top, but it’s still an interesting read. The full column is here.

An excerpt below the fold:

Read the rest of this entry »

Well, not exactly. But it has morphed. According to the New York Times, a new, improved, better version of the Windows Trojan that we don’t yet know what it is supposed to do is in the wild.

Read the full story here.

If you run Windows, make sure the operating system and anti-virus are updated and the firewall is on and properly configured.

Read the rest of this entry »

According to the Register, Microsoft has issued a substantial reward for the author of the Conflicker (or Downadup) worm. Story here. More about Conflicker here.

Full Disclosure: I’ve found that stories in The Register need to be read critically, not because The Register makes stuff up, but, in a choice between snark and accuracy, it leans towards snark. Given that, it’s still one of my favorite websites.

This weeks’ show had some issues as I had some issues with the recording unit. Had to switch to a SM57 mic for the recording, then used a lot of VST effects to clean it up.

Nonetheless, here is your week in tech history. We highlight:

Apple goes Intel

Microsoft Antitrust

Maxis – shocking

CIH Computer Virus

First Spacewalk

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (9.8MB)

Podcast (quickcast): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:26 — 9.8MB)

Items Discussed:

The Mouse was created
DNA Double Helix was discussed
IBM PC was introduced
Hubble was launched
The First Trojan Horse

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (3.4MB)

Podcast (quickcast): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 7:22 — 3.4MB)

WordPress 2.5 Presentation – Live Show Monday 7PM EST – Donate – Podcast setup – Bitstrips

On this day: Atari Opens Doors: 1982 – Ruputer: 1998 – Apple sells 100 million iPods: 2007

Try GoToMeeting free for 30 days at GoToMeeting.com/techpodcasts. No credit card needed.
Proud Member of techpodcasts. Visit http://www.techpodcasts.com/.

Call the Hotline – 608-205-4378
geekazine (at) gmail.com 

Download the show- Subscribe via Zune – Subscribe via iTunes

Read the rest of this entry »

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (22.9MB)

T-Mobile has turned the tables in Germany by unlocking iPhones so the users can choose which service to use. This was to counter a restraining order by rival Vodaphone. But was that the best idea and more importantly, will that happen anywhere else?

Let’s answer the second part first. Don’t expect this to happen anywhere else. And also don’t expect to get a German iPhone shipped to you - unless you are willing to head to Germany and pay $1500 for it. Read the rest of this entry »