Internet threats

[JBL Dog]

It has been recommended that you disconnect your computer(s) from the internet by midnight tonight and don't connect again until midnight April 2. I'm not talking just logging on. Unplug your modem, disconnect eathernet cable, etc.

Read on:

http://news.aol.com/article/conficke...ril-1%2F402022

[boputnam]

Make sure your Windows updates are all current.
Run any Ad-Ware software you may have.
Make sure your Malware software is current.
And, same for your antivirus software.

Updates for these programs are issued hourly, in some cases, so make sure you are current.

[hjames]

Make sure your Windows updates are all current.
Run any Ad-Ware software you may have.
Make sure your Malware software is current.
And, same for your antivirus software.

Updates for these programs are issued hourly, in some cases, so make sure you are current.

Apparently, conficker blocks you from getting to the Symantec or MacAfee websites - it doesn't want you to fix an infected machine - so if you try these link and can't get there, you may have a problem!

http://www.mcafeesecure.com/

http://www.symantec.com/

Or get a freakin' MAC already!

[MikeBrewster77]

Or get a freakin' MAC already!

Go ahead, please, keep advertising for them! Eventually, they'll get popular enough that hackers will start targeting them, and give us PC users a well-deserved break

[hjames]

Go ahead, please, keep advertising for them! Eventually, they'll get popular enough that hackers will start targeting them, and give us PC users a well-deserved break

Nah, the general PC user is a dumbo and a fool - They buy cheap computers
and don't maintain their software or their setups (present company excluded of course).

Microsoft patched this vulnerability but did the general user set their PC for auto-updates or check in to manual update it over the last 4 months - nahh ...

These kinds of worms will never go away until the cable companies actually do something and block the cable modem for customers whose with trojan infected computers that are acting as Spam distribution networks and clogging the nets ...

[MikeBrewster77]

... and don't maintain their software or their setups (present company excluded of course)

Software has to be updated? Oh, and thanks for the caveat around present company.

This is an important announcement, and I don't mean to detract from the criticality of ensuring everyone is protected from the threat, but I couldn't resist this:

[MikeBrewster77]

Thanks for the update Dog and the great advice Bo. Just as one added piece, ensure your firewall is operating properly.

Make sure your Windows updates are all current.
Run any Ad-Ware software you may have.
Make sure your Malware software is current.
And, same for your antivirus software.

Updates for these programs are issued hourly, in some cases, so make sure you are current.

[Ian Mackenzie]

Just a warning that there is a significant increase in internet threats given the global credit crisis.

As a result of a recent event I have disabled my own ISP (in the Tardis) and will now only access public domain internet via a remote server.

Be particularly with internet Banking (fake web pages) and web sites offering services like job searches where you might be asked to provide certain information or downloads of any kind.

Be also careful about what hard copy information you throw out in the rubbish. Shred everything.

Bank Eftpos/credit card skimming has also increased significantly with major losses being reported.

Do not let your credit card out of your sight and be cautious about using ATM machines you are not familiar with.

[MikeBrewster77]

so we can begin beating it to death all over again :

Substantial conficker activity noted yesterday:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-102...?tag=mncol;txt

For a more comprehensive overview, or if you're just really bored and want to whip yourself into a state of paranoia , visit here:
http://blogs.technet.com/mmpc/archiv...cker-worm.aspx

All the other advice previously offered remains valid in terms of protection and testing for infection (this is starting to sound like a public saftey announcement for safe ... well, nevermind.)

Best,
- Mike

[Titanium Dome]

(this is starting to sound like a public saftey announcement for safe ... well, nevermind.)

Sex? Well, you can never have too much safe sex, and you can never have too little unsafe sex.

Unless of course the former approaches infinity

and the latter is absolute zero.

[MikeBrewster77]

Sex??? I was talking about safe computing of course ... how dare you insinuate that such vile thoughts cross my pristine mind?

That being said, I'm a very strong proponent of safe sex:

Sex? Well, you can never have too much safe sex, and you can never have too little unsafe sex.

Unless of course the former approaches infinity

and the latter is absolute zero.

[Hoerninger]

The new iBotnet
http://www.virusbtn.com/index

Mario Ballano Barcena and Alfredo Pesoli take a detailed look at what appears to be the first real attempt to create a Mac botnet.

Blog:
http://notahat.com/posts/28/
____________
Peter

[4313B]

so we can begin beating it to death all over again :

Ok!

I thought this was pretty funny.

[hjames]

We can beat this horse all you like.

Last night I downloaded the Windows 7 release Client 1 32 bit (Demo) of the next version of windows, a legal file from Microsoft. This morning I burned the ISO file DVD to make a working, bootable install disc. Tonight I fired up VMWare Fusion, told it I wanted to create a new virtual Windows machine, gave it the Username, the password I wanted, and the Product Key coded that Microsoft had furnished me.

I had it start the install process, went downstairs to catch up on some TIVOed TV, and came back 2 hours later to find a complete, fresh install running in a "window" ready for me to login ... Looks interesting, it seems ready to do whatever I want Windows to do, yet I can suspend it and shut it down without restarting my Mac.

Its like Windows defanged ... darned, what's so wrong with that?

Oh yeah, I already have a virtual Win2000 install on the machine, probably ought to get a copy of VISTA and create a virtual machine of that, but - no urgency ...


The basic platform is just a new-in-march macMini Intel 2 gig core duo, 4 gig ram - like $700 for the system ... included OS and upgrades.
vMware was another $80 ... Whatever copy of Windows you want to run is the usual price ...

[BMWCCA]

http://www.popularmechanics.com/tech...s/4258725.html
This comparison is a year old but, for all I know, probably impartial. It was just a quick Google result. I don't really care. I've been a Mac user since the third one showed up in my town over twenty-years ago. Nothing's really gonna change my mind.

But, just for the record, this is more like a Mac; it does nearly everything well. :

After spending countless miles on the new K1300S, I must say, I do like the machine far better than the 1200. I like it cruising along at 140mph through fast sweepers while covering great distances in a short amount of time. No doubt this is a good motorcycle. The question is: How well does it fit in the United States market? Some serious personal restraint will be needed - if you want to keep you driver’s license, that is.