Shot this while driving home from work today. Not sure why, in hindsight. Talking about how some web hosting companies are false and weak. Not TR00 and KVLT!
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Microsoft continues to do potentially shady/questionable things, and the world continues to allow it.
From windowssecrets.com:
Microsoft has begun patching files on Windows XP and Vista without users’ knowledge, even when the users have turned off auto-updates.
ugh.
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From Engadget:
While we’re unsure if tricksters have figured out a way to siphon unthinkable quantities of cash from this particular ATM, the owners should be ashamed of themselves for running a (presumably pirated) unactivated copy of Windows on the public banking machine. Of course, there’s quite a few workarounds for this problem if you take the time to look, but seriously, who skimps on a product activation code when running a multi-million (billion?) dollar banking operating?
AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Product activation RULES!
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Another reason to not use Symantec/Norton Antivirus products. I (again) recommend AVG for Windows PCs.
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As reported by Will Sturgeon on Silicon.com, people (in general) just don’t seem to care about the security of their workplace’s computer network. An experiment was conducted on Valentine’s Day where people who were commuting to work were handed CD-roms for free, while being told the discs contained a special Valentine’s Day offer on them. An overwhelming number of people actually ran the disc on their work computer, even ignoring the warnings provided about installing unauthorized software. The discs actually only contained code that reported back to the study-maker’s HQ how many people actually ran the CDs. No other information was transmitted. But that’s because it was just a study.
Imagine if it were really spyware or virus-laden discs being handed out. Imagine the potential destruction of a company’s network security and data… It’s pretty scary.
I’m not suprised this happened, but it’s pretty scary at the same time.
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It appears a new nasty work called Nyxem.E is infecting more and more computers each day… time for you Windows users to double-check your Anti-Virus software for updates and scan DAILY.
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As I mentioned the other day, iTunes was under some scrutiny in regards to it’s new “Mini Store” feature. Well, Apple has responded, and responded in the right way. Here’s a screenshot of what you’ll see now (click on the thumbnail, dude). ’nuff said.
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As reported this week, after Apple released iTunes 6.0.2 on Tuesday, people have had growing concerns over what many are deeming as “spyware” - the biggest new feature of the software, the iTunes “MiniStore“.
The MiniStore is a little bar at the bottom of the iTunes window that displays things such as information about the artist currently playing/displayed, as well as a “Listeners Also Bought…” section, that changes whenever you click on a song in your library.
The issue that is getting people all riled up is the fact that this MiniStore is on by default in this new version of iTunes, and it does in fact transmit a little data on what you’ve clicked on to Apple (by way of a third party). Apple claims to discard this data, and says they are not using it for any other reason than to disply relevant information in the MiniStore.
I think the main issue is that this feature is on by default (there is an option to turn it off, which stops the data from being transmitted), and they didn’t really mention this feature would be included in the update’s informational changelog. I would not go so far as to classify this as spyware, but it is somewhat concerning that it was implemented in this manner. My hope is they release another update soon that explains the MiniStore in more detail, and turns the feature off by default. It should be interesting to see what comes of this. In the meantime, people are really getting their panties in a wad over this. I think that’s a little bit of an over-reaction, personally…
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OK, Microsoft, why does it take you so long to patch major holes in your operating systems? I know no software is without bugs, but you’d think a company like Microsoft would be able to fix a widespread vulnerability such as this WMF thing (which was first reported December 27, 2005), before it mutates and screws-up even more people’s and businesses’ computers. And for God’s sake, man, you’d think they would be able to fix it before third parties start making “unofficial” fixes, which are just that - UNOFFICIAL. Microsoft is now reporting they won’t have a patch available until January 10, which is when they were planning on putting out their monthly Windows updates anyway. Way to sense the urgency, Microsoft. UPDATE: On January 5, Microsoft (to their credit) released a patch for Windows Update, available here.
Meanwhile, I’ll continue to watch this disaster from a safe distance, upon my goodship Mac Mini. Ah… these seas are calm…. I bet you anything if such a vulnerabilty were to arise in Mac OS X, Apple would patch that sucker within days, not WEEKS.
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Chris Pirillo (LockerGnome) has written about a true tale of potential identity theft that will leave your jaw on the floor. From the story:
She recited not only her bank account number, not only her Social Securty number, but the password to access this account. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. THIS REALLY HAPPENED THIS AFTERNOON! Had I, or anybody else around me, been nefarious, this would have been a dream come true.
Wow…it’s amazing how careless some people can be with their information. I know it sounds so obvious, but people, NEVER EVER give your Social Security number, your bank information, or your passwords to ANYONE that you know doesn’t need it. If you know for a fact someone needs it, for God’s sake don’t transfer this information publically. Geesh. I’ve actually had customers I talk to at work willing to give me the SSN #. I always have to stop them and warn them that is never a good idea. They just seem oblivious to it. Wow.
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