Link: PC World
With
the new version of Windows finally out, early users say they're
bedeviled by hardware and software problems--but some love the OS
anyway.
Dan Tynan, PC World
Monday, March 12, 2007 01:00 AM PDT
Last
February, Bryce Parkhurst brought home a new Toshiba Satellite notebook
with Vista Home Basic installed. The 33-year-old Easton, Pennsylvania,
circuit designer bought the PC to enjoy music, but it soon hit sour
notes. Everything seemed to run a little slower under the new operating
system. His Alesis Photon X25 MIDI controller hardware no longer
worked. When he tried to run his favorite DJ software, it didn't work
properly; when he tried to quit the program, Vista rebooted him into
Safe Mode. Any system change instigated a seemingly endless series of
"Accept or Cancel" messages from Vista's User Account Control feature.
After
five days, Parkhurst had had enough. He removed Vista and installed
Windows XP. Since then, his new notebook has been trouble-free.
Photograph: Dan Callis
In
contrast, Bernard Mongeon is quite pleased with Vista Ultimate...
Continue reading "Living With Vista: First 30 Days" »
Link:
PC Magazine By
Neil J. Rubenking ARTICLE DATE:
10.30.06
Traditional signature-based antivirus and antispyware programs identify nasty
attackers by looking for identifying signatures. These signatures are akin to malware fingerprints; they're the signs that traditional antimalware looks for to recognize malware. But if you've ever watched CSI, you know that fingerprints are really most useful when they're connected to a known offender in a database somewhere—someone who's never been caught before might not be.
Similarly, the problem with the traditional signature-based approach is that it leaves you vulnerable between the time a brand-new threat appears and the time the security
vendors develop a signature for it. Sometimes that window of vulnerability is just a few hours, but all too often it may be days before your security software is capable of recognizing a brand-new threat.
Continue reading "Nonsignature Antimalware" »
Or do they?
It looks like they just supply a remote 'Best Buy - Geek Squad' supplied by PlumChoice.
Link: Yahoo! News.
By Antone Gonsalves
InternetWeek
Mon Dec 12, 3:39 PM ET
Circuit City Stores Inc. on Monday started offering tech support
through PlumChoice's remote computer services for the home office and
small businesses.
The Richmond, Va., consumer electronics retailer is offering PlumChoice Online PC Services through its Web site and in select stores. PlumChoice, based in Bedford, Mass., offers remote computer support through secure desktop-sharing technology.
Certified technicians access a customer's computer over a high-speed Internet connection to view, configure, demonstrate and repair computers and some software products.
"The addition of PlumChoice to Circuit City's current PC Services
offering allows us to offer consumers a complete service package - from
in-store to in-home support," Marc Sieger, senior vice president and
general merchandise manager for Circuit City, said in a statement.
Continue reading "Circuit City Offers Remote PC Support" »
Link: Threat Alert: Instant Messaging Attacks - Yahoo! News.
IM worms hijack IM clients by first reading a user's buddy list of contacts. Then the worm sends a message along the lines of "hehe :) i found this funny movie" to the people on that list, with a link that downloads the worm. Or the message might be "hey, check out this picture" and have the worm attached.
Some hybrid worms split the attack by going after instant messaging and peer-to-peer networks at the same time. One version of the Bropia worm sends out instant messages and drops itself into the shared directory of popular P-to-P apps.
Another worm, Win32.VB, can also spread itself via IM and P-to-P, but adds a new twist. It forces its host to open up to the Internet and help spread the worm; when the worm sends out an instant message with a link, the link goes to the computer hosting the worm.
Although some IM attacks are becoming more innovative, most worms of this type are "kind of crude to date," Costello says, "but crude is working very effectively. Unfortunately, the one thing I've learned in this business is that [virus writers] will innovate."
Protect Yourself
Enable real-time virus protection: Antivirus programs include protections against any IM worm attachments that sneak by you.
Be wary of any message: Take special care if it comes by itself with a link or an attachment, even if it looks to be from someone on your buddy list. Before clicking, ask your friend if they sent it. No response, no click.
Filter IM traffic: Companies should consider updating their networks to separate their internal IM traffic from Internet-based IM traffic, or preventing all Internet-bound messaging.
Continue reading "Threat Alert: Instant Messaging Attacks - Yahoo! News" »
Link: Tech News on ZDNet
By Ingrid Marson, ZDNet (UK) Published on ZDNet News: August 8, 2005, 12:06 PM PT
A major identity theft ring has been discovered that affects up to 50 banks, according to Sunbelt Software, the security company that says it uncovered the operation. The operation, which is being investigated by the FBI, is gathering personal data from "thousands of machines" using keystroke-logging software, Sunbelt said Monday. The data collected includes credit card details, Social Security numbers, usernames, passwords, instant-messaging chat sessions and search terms. Some of that data is then saved in a file hosted on a U.S.-based server that has an offshore-registered domain, according to Sunbelt. In the two days that Sunbelt has been monitoring the file, the company has seen confidential financial details of customers of up to 50 international banks, said Eric Sites, vice president of research and development at the Clearwater, Fla.-based security software maker.
Continue reading "ID theft ring hits 50 banks, security firm says | Tech News on ZDNet" »
Link: ZDNet UK News
Ingrid Marson
ZDNet UK
August 08, 2005, 12:40 BST
The FBI is reportedly investigating a criminal operation that involves the theft of confidential data from thousands of machines infected with spyware
A security firm claims to have uncovered a huge identity-theft ring that appears to be using a spyware program to steal confidential information from computers.
Sunbelt Software said the operation, which is being investigated by the FBI and Secret Service, is gathering personal data from "thousands of machines" using keylogging software. The data collected includes credit card details, social security numbers, usernames, passwords, IM chat sessions and search terms. Some of the data gathered is then saved in a file hosted on a US-based server that has an offshore-registered domain, said Sunbelt president Alex Eckelberry.
Continue reading "'Massive' identity theft ring uncovered - ZDNet UK News" »
Link: CNN.com
If Microsoft Corp. doesn't do more to stem Internet attacks, the company risks further alienating customers unhappy with the multitude of threats already facing its ubiquitous software. Sell its own security products, on the other hand, and Microsoft faces a potential backlash from some of its allies -- the companies that now provide an extra layer of security for its Windows operating system, Internet Explorer browser and other products.
Continue reading "Security products put Microsoft in quandary" »
Link: Yahoo! Details and Download
New Yahoo! Desktop Search
Immediately locate any email, attachment or contact from Outlook or Outlook Express.
Quickly retrieve any file on your computer, regardless of where it is located.
Search for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, text, HTML, ZIP and over 200 other file types.
Built on X1 Search Technology but unlike the pricey X1, it's free.
Continue reading "Yahoo! Desktop Search" »
