Virus Poses as a Leaked MSN Messenger Beta!

Don’t download and install a BOGUS MSN Messenger Beta! (Actually, I wouldn’t install MSN Messenger in any case!!) But THIS one is a virus!

MSN Messenger Beta really a Virus

If you must IM, IM with a really good client, like Trillian! And, if you use IM, be sure to use Avast! Anti-virus, which works with IM clients!

“Unsuspecting Windows users who install the phony MSN Messenger Version 8 ‘beta’ actually install an IM worm that spreads to their IM contacts, and connects their computer to a remote control ‘bot’ network run by malicious hackers, according to F-Secure Corp., an antivirus firm based in Helsinki.”

The Sad Irony of SCO

SCO is very EVIL! More so than even Microsoft! SCO (the Santa Cruz Operation) is the company that decided that instead of innovating, instead of developing great, new products, they would try and make money by litagating. I.E., they took anyone and everyone to court that was using Linux in a major way, with the bare faced lie that “Linux” had stolen their (some say with good reason that they don’t even own it) UNIX source code. How a huge, Open Source project with no one company behind it can “steal” is, of course, a bit of a problem too. It would be like saying another movement like, oh, let’s say the “right to life” movement, stole source code. As a movement, it has adherents all over the world, from every walk of life. How does a movement “steal?” Well, anyway, SCO is evil… and they are paying for it. Their market share has plummeted. They are losing money hand-over-fist. But it COULD have been different!

The Sad Irony That is SCO!

It is hard to feel sorry for them, though. They made their bed. Now they are lying in it… and a nasty bed it is.

The Christmas Edition of the Dr. Bill Podcast! #16

Merry Christmas!!! The Dr. Bill – The Computer Curmudgeon Podcast is ready for you!
Dr. Bill Podcast – 16 – (12/24/05)
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Google antes up 1 BILLION for AOL, a small victory for Mozilla and Firefox… the RSS icon!, No IE for Macs!, What to buy as a Christmas present for the Geek in your life, PC virii… we may not be as safe as we think, Geek Software of the Week: PopTray!, Microsoft releases a new Lornhorn Beta, the first update is out for OpenOffice 2.0!, Seagate Buys Maxtor for ~$2 Billion!, Is StarTrek.com dying?, Symantec Norton Anti-Virus flaw, Spyware infection leads to EVEN MORE Spyware infections, “Santa IM Worm…” installs Rootkit payload, the Dell Firefox installation rumor confirmed!, Who’s Afraid of the Ten Commandments?, Fun Things to Do With a USB Thumbdrive!, NetBSD Version 3.0 is Out… and it supports the Zen multi-OS software!

NetBSD Version 3.0 is Out!

It is out and get this… “New in NetBSD 3: native support for the Xen virtual machine monitor! With native Xen support on Intel platforms, NetBSD provides seamless support for execution of multiple guest operating systems with unprecedented levels of performance and resource isolation.” Cool!

NetBSD Version 3.0

I am a Linux kinda guy myself… but NetBSD has come a LONG way, and I may have to check this one out!

Who’s Afraid of the Ten Commandments?

Apparently not the folks in Kentucky. They had a simple, small display of a wall in the Courthouse, along with other historical documents that represent the history of law in the United States. Well, of course, the ACLU would have none of that! After all, I’m sure they thought, the Ten Commandments might warp the mind of some poor, unsuspecting youth that might wander in and read these heinous statements, “Thou shalt not kill?!!” Why, how could one play a video game in peace!?! But, it seems the Federal Appeals Court didn’t buy it!

Court Calls ACLU Arguments Against Ten Commandments Display “Tiresome”

“Judge Richard Suhrheinrich’s ruling said the ACLU brought ‘tiresome’ arguments about the ‘wall of separation’ between church and state, and it said the organization does not represent a ‘reasonable person.’ The decision was issued by a three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Cincinnati. It upheld a lower-court decision that allowed Mercer County to continue displaying the Ten Commandments along with the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the words to ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ and other documents. All of the items were posted at the same time in 2001.”

It is interesting how a country founded on “Freedom OF Religion,” has become known as a country that has elements trying to achieve “Free FROM Religion.” There IS a small difference, ya know.

“Santa Worm” Installs Rootkit Payload

An Instant Messaging (IM) worm is attacking AOL, MSN, Windows Messenger, ICQ and Yahoo instant messaging networks. The worm installs a rootkit as it’s “payload.”

Santa Worm Installs Rootkit

“The worm, identified as IM.GiftCom.All, was discovered by researchers at IMLogic Inc.’s Threat Center spreading via IM and attempting to trick users into clicking on a malicious URL.

The link lures the target into visiting a harmless Santa Claus Web site, but actually installs a rootkit payload to the victim’s machine, IMLogic said in an advisory.

‘The rootkit payload is often named gift.com and when executed hides itself on the user’s system, attempts to shutdown desktop anti-virus software and starts collecting the infected user’s information for broadcast over the Internet,’ the company explained.”

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