Friday, April 20, 2007
Remove Spylocked
Removal instructions for Spylocked malware can be found here:
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/SpyLocked_Removal_Instructions_How_to_remove_SpyLocked-t152895.html
Removal instructions for Spylocked malware can be found here:
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/SpyLocked_Removal_Instructions_How_to_remove_SpyLocked-t152895.html
Thursday, October 19, 2006
How to Remove AntiVermis:
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/How_to_Remove_AntiVermis-t135033.html
Removal instructions for removing the latest SmitRem variant.
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/How_to_Remove_AntiVermis-t135033.html
Removal instructions for removing the latest SmitRem variant.
Thursday, April 29, 2004
Geeks to Go - News Archives - Microsoft feels pressure of anti-virus issue: "With viruses proliferating and many personal computers going unprotected, Microsoft Corp. feels greater pressure to include anti-virus software with Windows -- but it's also wary of the potential antitrust implications, the company's top lawyer said Friday.
'It is something we hear increasingly about,' said Brad Smith, Microsoft general counsel. 'I have to say, it is a real cause of concern for us that 70 percent of consumer PCs do not have current anti-virus protection.'
But Smith acknowledged the potential impact that such a move could have on companies that market their own anti-virus software. Major players in the anti-virus field include Symantec Corp., which markets Norton products, and Network Associates Inc., the company behind the McAfee brand.
He said the company has not, 'to date,' made any decision to include anti-virus software with future Windows versions."
'It is something we hear increasingly about,' said Brad Smith, Microsoft general counsel. 'I have to say, it is a real cause of concern for us that 70 percent of consumer PCs do not have current anti-virus protection.'
But Smith acknowledged the potential impact that such a move could have on companies that market their own anti-virus software. Major players in the anti-virus field include Symantec Corp., which markets Norton products, and Network Associates Inc., the company behind the McAfee brand.
He said the company has not, 'to date,' made any decision to include anti-virus software with future Windows versions."
Geeks to Go - Free, friendly, online computer help & tech support forums: "People tend to develop strong ties to a specific computer, even if it means waiting to use their favourite machine, say researchers.
A team at Pennsylvania State University in the US found that people were drawn to a PC because of their tendency to assign human attributes to machines. It also reflected people's love of consistency, they said. The researchers say their findings could have profound implications for computer manufacturers and advertisers.
The Penn State team set out to find discover just how far people were prepared to go to maintain a relationship with their favourite PC. For the study, they analysed the behaviour of university students using 800 computer terminals. They found that students tended to show loyalty to one or two computers, even when others were free.
People given the option of a range of PCs tended to have favourites, with some even prepared to wait in line to use a particular machine. 'It is well documented how we treat computers as if they have feelings, despite the fact that we know deep down that they have been pre-programmed by humans,' said Professor Shyam Sundar, co-director of the Media Effects Research Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University.
News source: BBC News "
A team at Pennsylvania State University in the US found that people were drawn to a PC because of their tendency to assign human attributes to machines. It also reflected people's love of consistency, they said. The researchers say their findings could have profound implications for computer manufacturers and advertisers.
The Penn State team set out to find discover just how far people were prepared to go to maintain a relationship with their favourite PC. For the study, they analysed the behaviour of university students using 800 computer terminals. They found that students tended to show loyalty to one or two computers, even when others were free.
People given the option of a range of PCs tended to have favourites, with some even prepared to wait in line to use a particular machine. 'It is well documented how we treat computers as if they have feelings, despite the fact that we know deep down that they have been pre-programmed by humans,' said Professor Shyam Sundar, co-director of the Media Effects Research Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University.
News source: BBC News "
Geeks to Go - Free, friendly, online computer help & tech support forums: "Microsoft has delayed the planned release date of its next update to Windows XP by about a month, CNET News.com has learned.
The software maker had originally said Windows XP Service Pack 2 would be released in its final form in the first half of this year, but a representative told CNET News.com on Wednesday that the release is now likely to come later in the summer. Windows XP Service Pack 2 is largely intended to bolster the security of Windows XP, but also will add features such as a pop-up ad blocker to Internet Explorer.
Internally, Microsoft is now targeting a July release as opposed to the June release originally intended, according to a source familiar with the company's plans. Microsoft has already released one near-final 'release candidate' version of the software but is planning on another one before it puts its stamp of approval on the software.
News source: C|Net News.com "
The software maker had originally said Windows XP Service Pack 2 would be released in its final form in the first half of this year, but a representative told CNET News.com on Wednesday that the release is now likely to come later in the summer. Windows XP Service Pack 2 is largely intended to bolster the security of Windows XP, but also will add features such as a pop-up ad blocker to Internet Explorer.
Internally, Microsoft is now targeting a July release as opposed to the June release originally intended, according to a source familiar with the company's plans. Microsoft has already released one near-final 'release candidate' version of the software but is planning on another one before it puts its stamp of approval on the software.
News source: C|Net News.com "
Tuesday, October 07, 2003
Geeks to Go - Free computer help & tech support - AMD New Support Forums: "Thank you for visiting our Support Forums. This site is here to provide a place where AMD customers and enthusiasts from around the world can gather and share their knowledge and experiences with AMD products. Whether you just want to talk about technology or have specific questions about AMD products, you can do that here."
Geeks to Go - Free computer help & tech support - Vivendi's 'Half Life II' code stolen: "Firm delays video game's release after hacker breaks into e-mail, steals a third of source code.
The theft of part of its source code has delayed until April 2004 the launch of 'Half Life II,' the hotly anticipated alien-hunting game of Vivendi Universal Games, a company official said.
'A third of the source code was stolen,' VU Games president of international operations Christophe Ramboz told daily Les Echos in its Tuesday edition. 'It's serious because it forces us to delay the launch of the game by at least four months, that is to April 2004. Just the time to rewrite parts of the game.'"
The theft of part of its source code has delayed until April 2004 the launch of 'Half Life II,' the hotly anticipated alien-hunting game of Vivendi Universal Games, a company official said.
'A third of the source code was stolen,' VU Games president of international operations Christophe Ramboz told daily Les Echos in its Tuesday edition. 'It's serious because it forces us to delay the launch of the game by at least four months, that is to April 2004. Just the time to rewrite parts of the game.'"
Geeks to Go - Free computer help & tech support - We Want Our Windows Update CD!: "In a recent column, I suggested that Microsoft issue CDs periodically to update Windows systems. And I was overwhelmed by the response. This topic struck a chord with people on dial-up and broadband connections alike.
To recount the idea, Microsoft has made the update process very easy and automatic for broadband users, but the sheer size of the updates involved makes the use of Windows Update on a dial-up connection unbearable. As a result, large numbers of dial-up users make do with out-of-date versions, and their unpatched systems undoubtedly are attacked without mercy.
Microsoft called me to say that Windows Update and Automatic Updates do what they can to make things easier for dial-up users. For example, Automatic Updates, when set to automatically download available updates, will use only unused bandwidth; in other words, if any other process needs to use the Internet connection, Automatic Updates gets out of the way. Furthermore, if you are in the middle of one of these automatic update downloads and are disconnected for whatever reason, upon reconnection, it will continue the downloading from the disconnected point. It doesn't have to start over again from the beginning."
To recount the idea, Microsoft has made the update process very easy and automatic for broadband users, but the sheer size of the updates involved makes the use of Windows Update on a dial-up connection unbearable. As a result, large numbers of dial-up users make do with out-of-date versions, and their unpatched systems undoubtedly are attacked without mercy.
Microsoft called me to say that Windows Update and Automatic Updates do what they can to make things easier for dial-up users. For example, Automatic Updates, when set to automatically download available updates, will use only unused bandwidth; in other words, if any other process needs to use the Internet connection, Automatic Updates gets out of the way. Furthermore, if you are in the middle of one of these automatic update downloads and are disconnected for whatever reason, upon reconnection, it will continue the downloading from the disconnected point. It doesn't have to start over again from the beginning."
Geeks to Go - Free computer help & tech support - Everything you need to know about MP3s: "Digital music wants to be your friend. Really. Everything you need to know about how we listen now.
MP3 ISN'T EVERYTHING, BUT IT'S CLOSE: MP3 isn't the only compressed audio file format in town. Microsoft promotes its WMA format, Apple uses AAC for iTunes Music Store downloads, RealNetworks has RealAudio files. All three claim their format is best, and each one contains Digital Rights Management technology that can limit where, when or how you might use the files. Both MP3 and the open-source favorite Ogg Vorbis are unrestricted, meaning you can copy, play, and manipulate the files any way you choose. When in doubt go with MP3 -- it's supported by just about any playback device you'll own now or in the future."
MP3 ISN'T EVERYTHING, BUT IT'S CLOSE: MP3 isn't the only compressed audio file format in town. Microsoft promotes its WMA format, Apple uses AAC for iTunes Music Store downloads, RealNetworks has RealAudio files. All three claim their format is best, and each one contains Digital Rights Management technology that can limit where, when or how you might use the files. Both MP3 and the open-source favorite Ogg Vorbis are unrestricted, meaning you can copy, play, and manipulate the files any way you choose. When in doubt go with MP3 -- it's supported by just about any playback device you'll own now or in the future."
Geeks to Go - Free computer help & tech support - VeriSign shuts down Website finder: "Web address provider VeriSign Inc. said on Friday it would suspend a controversial new service that steers mistaken Web searches to its own page after the organization that oversees Internet policies demanded it do so.
Earlier on Friday, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers issued a statement insisting that VeriSign halt its SiteFinder service and restore the '.com' and '.net' Web domains to the way they were before Sept. 15, when VeriSign began the service.
ICANN gave VeriSign until 6 p.m. PDT to comply with the request or face sanctions for violating its contract with ICANN.
'We will accede to the request while we explore all of our options,' VeriSign spokesman Tom Galvin told Reuters."
Earlier on Friday, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers issued a statement insisting that VeriSign halt its SiteFinder service and restore the '.com' and '.net' Web domains to the way they were before Sept. 15, when VeriSign began the service.
ICANN gave VeriSign until 6 p.m. PDT to comply with the request or face sanctions for violating its contract with ICANN.
'We will accede to the request while we explore all of our options,' VeriSign spokesman Tom Galvin told Reuters."
Geeks to Go - Free computer help & tech support - Organised crime targets ALL IT staff: "Employees persuaded to infiltrate IT systems, warns High Tech Crime Unit.
Organised syndicates are targeting IT staff to carry out online crimes, according to the National High Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU). While companies have been aware of the need to protect key management staff such as board members and IT directors, there has been less progress in protecting and monitoring IT and administrative staff. And now these lower level staff are increasingly vulnerable to being subverted.
And now these lower level staff are increasingly vulnerable to being subverted.
'Business has become host to organised crime parasites,' said Detective Chief Superintendent Len Hynds, head of the NHTCU. 'There is infiltration. We haven't found a single case of this being through intimidation or other means; it's about making money.'
Staff are typically targeted over a period of months in a social rather than work setting. Once recruited, IT staff are selling corporate secrets or allowing access to corporate systems for illegal use. "
Organised syndicates are targeting IT staff to carry out online crimes, according to the National High Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU). While companies have been aware of the need to protect key management staff such as board members and IT directors, there has been less progress in protecting and monitoring IT and administrative staff. And now these lower level staff are increasingly vulnerable to being subverted.
And now these lower level staff are increasingly vulnerable to being subverted.
'Business has become host to organised crime parasites,' said Detective Chief Superintendent Len Hynds, head of the NHTCU. 'There is infiltration. We haven't found a single case of this being through intimidation or other means; it's about making money.'
Staff are typically targeted over a period of months in a social rather than work setting. Once recruited, IT staff are selling corporate secrets or allowing access to corporate systems for illegal use. "
Geeks to Go - Free computer help & tech support - Frequent Search Engine Users, Google Is Watching and Counting: "Think of it as an odometer for a search engine.
The Web search service Google has quietly started placing a counter on its home page for a small number of its most frequent users.
Most Google users do not have it, but a select few now have a no-frills counter that with each search clicks higher, noting 'You have done 479 searches,' or whatever the actual number.
For the curious, an explanatory page linked to the counter reveals that this is a test, or limited-sample experiment of a new search counting feature."
The Web search service Google has quietly started placing a counter on its home page for a small number of its most frequent users.
Most Google users do not have it, but a select few now have a no-frills counter that with each search clicks higher, noting 'You have done 479 searches,' or whatever the actual number.
For the curious, an explanatory page linked to the counter reveals that this is a test, or limited-sample experiment of a new search counting feature."
Geeks to Go - Free computer help & tech support - Hacker spoils game for software firm: "A Bellevue, Wash., company that spent five years developing the sequel to its acclaimed computer game 'Half Life' was victimized this week by an enemy more fearsome than the alien thugs that populate its make-believe world -- a hacker who apparently penetrated its computer network, stole the game's source code and posted it on the Internet.
'EVER HAVE ONE of those weeks?' Valve Software founder Gabe Newell wrote on a gaming Web site Thursday announcing the theft of the 'Half Life 2' source code and asking the gaming community for help in tracking down the villain. '... This sucks.'"
'EVER HAVE ONE of those weeks?' Valve Software founder Gabe Newell wrote on a gaming Web site Thursday announcing the theft of the 'Half Life 2' source code and asking the gaming community for help in tracking down the villain. '... This sucks.'"
Friday, October 03, 2003
Geeks to Go - Free, friendly, web-based computer help & tech support: "Welcome! New Users, please click here!
This is the front page of Geeks to Go. Here you'll find recent tech news gathered by our editors, and updated often. You can also submit news articles for publication here, or add your comments to any news story by clicking on the 'COMMENTS' button.
If you came here looking for free tech support please visit our Tech Support Forums. Our Forums are an area where novices to seasoned experts can collaborate and share knowledge, information and assistance.
Thank you for visiting, come again, and bring a friend!
Your Geeks to Go! admin team"
This is the front page of Geeks to Go. Here you'll find recent tech news gathered by our editors, and updated often. You can also submit news articles for publication here, or add your comments to any news story by clicking on the 'COMMENTS' button.
If you came here looking for free tech support please visit our Tech Support Forums. Our Forums are an area where novices to seasoned experts can collaborate and share knowledge, information and assistance.
Thank you for visiting, come again, and bring a friend!
Your Geeks to Go! admin team"
Geeks to Go! Forum - free, friendly computer help and technical support: "Welcome! To the Geeks to Go Tech Support Forums:
Here you'll find help and support for your computing problems, provided by other members. As a registered member you'll have access to post in the Tech Support Forums any computing questions or problems you have. Alternatively, if you would like to share your computing knowledge by helping fellow members, then you're more than welcome. Best of all - Registration is FREE !! If you're new here, please read the Forum Guidelines and Terms of Use
Once you've completed registration, simply click the appropriate category below, click on the 'new topic' button, and post your question!"
Here you'll find help and support for your computing problems, provided by other members. As a registered member you'll have access to post in the Tech Support Forums any computing questions or problems you have. Alternatively, if you would like to share your computing knowledge by helping fellow members, then you're more than welcome. Best of all - Registration is FREE !! If you're new here, please read the Forum Guidelines and Terms of Use
Once you've completed registration, simply click the appropriate category below, click on the 'new topic' button, and post your question!"
Geeks to Go - Free computer help & tech support - Florida Dorms Lock Out P2P Users: "The University of Florida has developed a tool to help extricate the school from the morass of peer-to-peer file trading, and early results show that it's succeeding.
Integrated Computer Application for Recognizing User Services, commonly called Icarus, debuted over the summer on the network that links all the residence halls on the UF campus.
The open-source program was developed by campus programmers to cut off the file sharing going on among students. Housing officials say the application educates students as it restricts them from peer-to-peer services.
Last spring, the university received about 40 notices of copyright violations per month. At peak file-trading periods, 90 percent of the traffic on the housing network was peer-to-peer. In an average 24-hour period, 3,500 of the 7,500 students in the residence halls would use P2P services like Kazaa.
'We needed something to stem the flow. We were spending too much time tracking people down,' said Robert Bird, supervisor of network services for the UF department of housing. 'There were too many of them and too few of us.'
Enter Icarus. 'Icarus has detected about 300 people using P2P this fall,' Bird said. 'That's an over 90 percent drop in people using P2P. That's a dramatic reduction in user behavior.' "
Integrated Computer Application for Recognizing User Services, commonly called Icarus, debuted over the summer on the network that links all the residence halls on the UF campus.
The open-source program was developed by campus programmers to cut off the file sharing going on among students. Housing officials say the application educates students as it restricts them from peer-to-peer services.
Last spring, the university received about 40 notices of copyright violations per month. At peak file-trading periods, 90 percent of the traffic on the housing network was peer-to-peer. In an average 24-hour period, 3,500 of the 7,500 students in the residence halls would use P2P services like Kazaa.
'We needed something to stem the flow. We were spending too much time tracking people down,' said Robert Bird, supervisor of network services for the UF department of housing. 'There were too many of them and too few of us.'
Enter Icarus. 'Icarus has detected about 300 people using P2P this fall,' Bird said. 'That's an over 90 percent drop in people using P2P. That's a dramatic reduction in user behavior.' "
Geeks to Go - Free computer help & tech support - Comcast Ups Broadband Speeds: "Customers in these areas will have access to a new 3 Mbps service at no additional cost. Previously, downstream speeds were close to 1.5 Mbps. Upstream speeds will remain at 256 Kbps. The upgrade debuts today in: Atlanta; Detroit, Dallas, Ga., Hattiesburg, Miss., Independence, Mo., Knoxville, Tenn., Lake County, Fla., Meridian, Miss., Mobile, Ala., Muncie, Ind., Panama City, Fla., Pittsburgh, Savannah, Ga., and Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Comcast will deploy faster downstream speeds in the majority of its other markets by the end of the year. No downloads software or upgraded connections are necessary. Comcast's faster speeds are part of the battle between cable modem and DSL providers trying to offer customers both service upgrades and cheaper prices.
Comcast's faster speed rollout comes as there is evidence it is trailing several of its cable rivals in delivering high-speed service to customers.
BroadbandReports.com recently compiled test results of the major broadband cable providers and found that Comcast lagged Cablevision Systems , Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable (among others) in data rates. The survey put Comcast in 48th place, clocking speeds of just 1.5 Mbps downstream and 222 Kbps upstream."
Comcast will deploy faster downstream speeds in the majority of its other markets by the end of the year. No downloads software or upgraded connections are necessary. Comcast's faster speeds are part of the battle between cable modem and DSL providers trying to offer customers both service upgrades and cheaper prices.
Comcast's faster speed rollout comes as there is evidence it is trailing several of its cable rivals in delivering high-speed service to customers.
BroadbandReports.com recently compiled test results of the major broadband cable providers and found that Comcast lagged Cablevision Systems , Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable (among others) in data rates. The survey put Comcast in 48th place, clocking speeds of just 1.5 Mbps downstream and 222 Kbps upstream."
Geeks to Go - Free computer help & tech support - Habla Espanol, AOL?: "America Online division is courting Latino Americans with the release of AOL Latino, a new Spanish language version of its online service. For a company trying to boost its lagging subscriber numbers, going after the country's largest minority group with a targeted approach is a good idea.
AOL Latino isn't just a Spanish translation of the usual America Online account and service. It will offer lots of specific content for Latino Americans from providers like Univision, La Opinion, BBC Mundo, and El Diario-La Prensa. America Online Latin America, AOL's joint venture to provide Internet service in South and Latin America, will also provide some original content for the service. In addition, users will have access to all of AOL's English content."
AOL Latino isn't just a Spanish translation of the usual America Online account and service. It will offer lots of specific content for Latino Americans from providers like Univision, La Opinion, BBC Mundo, and El Diario-La Prensa. America Online Latin America, AOL's joint venture to provide Internet service in South and Latin America, will also provide some original content for the service. In addition, users will have access to all of AOL's English content."
Geeks to Go - Free computer help & tech support - OpenOffice update finalized: "OpenOffice.org announced that the final release of version 1.1 of the software is available for free download--with versions for the Windows, Linux and Solaris operating systems.
OpenOffice is a collection of applications, such as a word processor and a spreadsheet program, based on Sun Microsystems' StarOffice. The software has been downloaded more than 20 million times since it was released early last year and has become a common companion to the open-source Linux operating system in packaged software and pre-installed on budget PCs.
The 1.1 update includes a number of improvements to address some of the most common complaints from early adopters, said Sam Hiser, co-leader of the marketing project for OpenOffice.org. Structural changes mean that documents load significantly faster than in the original version, and tweaks to the user interface make it easier to find the right tools."
OpenOffice is a collection of applications, such as a word processor and a spreadsheet program, based on Sun Microsystems' StarOffice. The software has been downloaded more than 20 million times since it was released early last year and has become a common companion to the open-source Linux operating system in packaged software and pre-installed on budget PCs.
The 1.1 update includes a number of improvements to address some of the most common complaints from early adopters, said Sam Hiser, co-leader of the marketing project for OpenOffice.org. Structural changes mean that documents load significantly faster than in the original version, and tweaks to the user interface make it easier to find the right tools."
Geeks to Go - Free computer help & tech support - ATI introduces RADEON 9800 XT and RADEON 9600 XT: "ATI Technologies Inc. today introduced the RADEON 9800 XT and the RADEON 9600 XT, delivering killer DirectX 9 performance in leading games like Half-Life 2, which will be bundled with the graphics cards. The RADEON 9800 XT, the most powerful visual processor available, takes the award-winning RADEON 9800 architecture, the first and only to feature eight full pixel pipes, and makes it even faster. Shipping immediately, the graphics cards will feature 256MB of graphics memory and a wide, 256-bit memory interface. In addition to the brute-force capabilities of the visual processor, the architecture is efficiently designed to process instructions in parallel, maximizing performance. The RADEON 9800 XT will be available in stores and online in October from ATI and its board partners. ATI's retail product will have a suggested retail price of $499.
The RADEON 9600 XT, the world's first visual processor developed using a low k dielectric process, features four pixel pipes and 128MB of graphics memory and delivers unbeatable performance for under $200. Recent reviews have shown the RADEON 9600 XT to outperform cards twice its price in today's shader-intensive DirectX 9 games. Gamers will enjoy the stunning visual quality that the RADEON 9600 XT delivers, which renders in full precision at all times. The card will also be available in stores and online in October from ATI and its board partners."
The RADEON 9600 XT, the world's first visual processor developed using a low k dielectric process, features four pixel pipes and 128MB of graphics memory and delivers unbeatable performance for under $200. Recent reviews have shown the RADEON 9600 XT to outperform cards twice its price in today's shader-intensive DirectX 9 games. Gamers will enjoy the stunning visual quality that the RADEON 9600 XT delivers, which renders in full precision at all times. The card will also be available in stores and online in October from ATI and its board partners."
Geeks to Go - Free computer help & tech support - Lawsuits Damp Down P2P Audience: "Lawsuits launched against individuals for illegal file-sharing appear to have tempered activity on the more popular peer-to-peer networks, new U.S. research released this week shows.
Nielsen//NetRatings, which tracks Internet usage, said on Tuesday it found a 41 percent drop over the last three months in the audience for Kazaa, the leading music file-sharing service.
On September 8, the Recording Industry Association of America, a group representing big labels like AOL Time Warner's Warner Music and Vivendi Universal's Universal Music Group, sued 261 people for illegal file-sharing.
'The RIAA is clearly sending a strong message to American Web users and the message appears to be working,' said Greg Bloom, an analyst with Nielsen//NetRatings"
Nielsen//NetRatings, which tracks Internet usage, said on Tuesday it found a 41 percent drop over the last three months in the audience for Kazaa, the leading music file-sharing service.
On September 8, the Recording Industry Association of America, a group representing big labels like AOL Time Warner's Warner Music and Vivendi Universal's Universal Music Group, sued 261 people for illegal file-sharing.
'The RIAA is clearly sending a strong message to American Web users and the message appears to be working,' said Greg Bloom, an analyst with Nielsen//NetRatings"
Geeks to Go - Free computer help & tech support - Microsoft moves beyond patches: "Conceding that its strategy of patching Windows holes as they emerge has not worked, Microsoft plans next week to outline a new security effort focused on what the company calls 'securing the perimeter,' a company executive told CNET News.com.
Although Microsoft will continue to devise ways to improve the means by which Windows users apply upgrades, or patches, to their software, the company had realized that too many customers don't upgrade quickly enough to thwart hackers.
'From our side, (it) has been a little naive to think that all of those customers are going to do patches,' said Orlando Ayala, Microsoft's former sales chief, who now heads its sales push to small and midsize businesses. 'It's just hard.' "
Although Microsoft will continue to devise ways to improve the means by which Windows users apply upgrades, or patches, to their software, the company had realized that too many customers don't upgrade quickly enough to thwart hackers.
'From our side, (it) has been a little naive to think that all of those customers are going to do patches,' said Orlando Ayala, Microsoft's former sales chief, who now heads its sales push to small and midsize businesses. 'It's just hard.' "
Geeks to Go - Free computer help & tech support - Not the Public's Domain: "Perhaps you've noticed something a little different lately if you accidentally typed in an incorrect '.com' or '.net' Web address.
If so, you're witness not just to what some are calling the Great Internet Hijacking of 2003 but also to a raging battle over how cyberspace should be governed.
Used to be, you probably got an error page if the address you typed in didn't belong to someone else. Now, you might get sent to www.sitefinder.com, a Web page full of links to vendors who have paid to be placed there to attract your attention and your business.
This page is brought to you by VeriSign Inc., the Silicon Valley company that has exclusive rights to manage the Internet code that routes your personal computer's Web browser to .com and .net addresses. "
If so, you're witness not just to what some are calling the Great Internet Hijacking of 2003 but also to a raging battle over how cyberspace should be governed.
Used to be, you probably got an error page if the address you typed in didn't belong to someone else. Now, you might get sent to www.sitefinder.com, a Web page full of links to vendors who have paid to be placed there to attract your attention and your business.
This page is brought to you by VeriSign Inc., the Silicon Valley company that has exclusive rights to manage the Internet code that routes your personal computer's Web browser to .com and .net addresses. "
Geeks to Go - Free computer help & tech support - Illegal e-cards to spy on your lover: "A company calling itself Lover Spy has begun offering a way for jealous lovers -- and anyone else -- to spy on the computer activity of their mates by sending an electronic greeting, the equivalent of a thinking-of-you card, that doubles as a bugging device.
Computer security experts said the Lover Spy service and software appeared to violate U.S. law, but also said the surveillance program pointed to an increasingly common way for hackers to seize control of computers.
Marketed as a way to 'catch a cheating lover,' the Lover Spy company offers to send an e-mail greeting card to lure the victim to a Web site that will download onto the victim's computer a trojan program to be used for spying. "
Computer security experts said the Lover Spy service and software appeared to violate U.S. law, but also said the surveillance program pointed to an increasingly common way for hackers to seize control of computers.
Marketed as a way to 'catch a cheating lover,' the Lover Spy company offers to send an e-mail greeting card to lure the victim to a Web site that will download onto the victim's computer a trojan program to be used for spying. "
Geeks to Go - Free computer help & tech support - How To Build A UV PC: "Let's face it, not all readers are as mechanically talented as others when it comes to modifying their computer cases. Every day we receive e-mails from readers asking for tips on creating a unique looking PC case without going through the difficultly involved with custom painting and cutting that is required for many case modifications. These readers are seeking a cool, customized and elegant looking case and system design that they will be proud to display at their next LAN party; but in many cases they have limited funds and not a lot of time to devote to their case mod solution.
There is hope for those readers who want to create a cool looking PC without a large investment of time and money. Many of the products and techniques that were developed by the most gifted of case modders are now available to the general public."
There is hope for those readers who want to create a cool looking PC without a large investment of time and money. Many of the products and techniques that were developed by the most gifted of case modders are now available to the general public."
