If you have been wondering why the intenet has been such a pain this week with so many sites being up and down its been due to a long known security flaw. A flaw that compromises the entire internet’s adressing system.
The DNS flaw has now been fixed and a multi vendor patch sent out to all internet users.
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As issued by PandaSecurity.com
‘World of Authentication
The creation of malicious code aimed at stealing passwords for online games is on the rise, especially those aimed at World of Warcraft and Lineage players. Most of these games offer certain functions, objects and even money can that can only be obtained as users advance through the different levels. As a result, some less skilled users are willing to pay for items they have been unable to obtain through playing the game.
Fully aware of this, cyber-crooks are creating malware strains to steal passwords for these games in order to sell avatars, objects, etc. to the highest bidder.
This situation has led video game companies to react. Last week, Blizzard Entertainment, the company behind such popular games as World of Warcraft, LineageWarcraft, Diablo and StarCraft announced the launch of an authenticator for World of Warcraft players at the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational.
“It’s good to see that video game companies have started to care about users’ security, as the situation is becoming really dangerous”, explains Luis Corrons, Technical Director of PandaLabs.
Play safe!
Zo Nicholas
Fed up with all the trash mail that comes in your mailbox? aren’t we all.
One man, Rob Clymo, has put his foot down, enough is enough. Read Rob’s article below:
The last few days of my humble existence have been dominated in equal measure by outstandingly tedious spam messages and infuriating websites. It started at home on Saturday when I got a random web-style newsletter from a squash ‘organisation’.
“Clymo,” it said, “You have received this email because you subscribed to it.” Erm, no I didn’t. And it’s Mr Clymo to you. Besides, I’ve never played a game in my life so they’re not likely to sell me a racket, balls or any other kind of squash paraphernalia anytime soon, thank you very much.
Infected websites
According to research by Sophos, the biggest threat for most computer users today comes from the web and email. Hardly a revelation, until you hear the scary statistics. “One new malware-infected webpage is discovered every five seconds,” reveals Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant with the anti-spam specialists.
“There are over 15,000 new infected web pages uncovered every day, and 79% of those are legitimate websites that have been hacked.”
“What that means to users is that if you visit a website, you may become infected by a piece of malware designed to steal your identity simply by browsing to the site. This doesn’t just happen if you visit a pornographic or gambling website – it can happen when you visit any kind of website. A recent example is the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) website which was found to be carrying infected web pages during the Wimbledon tournament.”
Sea of spam
The spam continues back at work on Monday, this time from a nightclub that keeps trying to get me to go to their bangin’ house nights. Not interested. I told them as much and got this shirty email saying ‘Well, go to the ‘Unsubscribe’ link and remove yourself’. Excuse me, I didn’t sign up in the first place.
If it’s not spam, it’s something else. On Tuesday I’m sent an automated email telling me a flight I’ve booked has been rescheduled. The good news is that I’m still going from Southampton to Aberdeen. The bad news is that it’s via Belfast, is about two hours earlier and the journey time has gone from around one hour to nearly six. My options? There aren’t any. No other flights on that day so I’m stuck with it and all for the bargain basement fare of £153.
By Wednesday I try to pay the electricity bill online. The website doesn’t recognise me, even though I’ve registered before. Three attempts to log in but no joy. I try the automated phone payment system and the digitised voice at the other end is obviously having an off day and refuses to understand me. After half an hour I give up.
Lost identity
On Thursday I have to carry out a chore on a government website, and I fear the worst. I go through six steps and then, out of the blue, it asks for an ID number. I try a couple from my original registration emails. They don’t work. I email them. They don’t reply. I phone them. “I can’t hear you caller,” says the distant voice at the other end. “If you can hear me, please replace the handset and try again.” I do and get cut off. I phone back and, after a lengthy wait, a guy says he can resend the ID I need via email.
“But they usually end up in the trash,” he tuts.
“You sound like you’ve said that before?” I add wearily.
Breaking up
On Friday the phone goes and it’s a salesman from my gas company. He gives me the spiel on this boiler scheme they have on offer. “One of your colleagues said all this to me last Friday,” I tell him. She kept on cutting out so I ended up putting the phone down.
This guy is even more persistent. “Well, we are your energy supplier. You must have put your number into our website (I didn’t). So do you have cover at the moment? Who is it with?” This time I pretend the line is breaking up and say “Hello” repeatedly into the handset until he hangs up. It’s the oldest trick in the book, mate.
Hefty fines
In between all this, my inbox continues to fill with all manner of spam. Laws on email marketing came into force back in December 2003, with fines for wrongdoing supposedly hefty. But this doesn’t seem to bother Moses H. Slingback and all the other madly monikered legions who keep trying to sell me Viagra from far-flung corners of the globe. And that’s a big part of the problem. As most of the spam we receive comes from outside of the UK, our slowly evolving laws can’t touch it.
“Spam is a worldwide problem which knows no national boundaries, and computer crime authorities are working hard at tracking down the worst offenders,” says Graham Cluley.
“However, legislation alone is not going to be the answer to the spam problem. The fundamental reason why spam exists is because it works – in a nutshell, it makes money for the spammers.
“11% of people admit to having bought goods advertised via spam. If you buy goods marketed via spam then you are simply encouraging the spammers to send more junk email. If no-one purchased the products, then the spammers would largely disappear.”
So what am I to do? Well, I’m going to try some new and improved software and let you know what it’s like in a couple of weeks or so. Watch this space…
Source: Rob Clymo: Columnist - Tech & Gadgets
Wednesday, 02 July 2008
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Zo Nicholas
Anyone who works on a computer day-in and day-out, for any extensive period of time, dreams of the day when a product will be developed that will end the tyranny of our endless tapping at the keyboard. Wouldn’t it be swell if we could simply speak and the computer recorded and typed what we said? Oh, yeah, it also has to be affordable for the average consumer.
That day, my friend, has come courtesy of Nuance and Dragon NaturallySpeaking® Preferred software. This unique software has won over 140 major awards worldwide for accuracy and ease of use. This accurate, affordable, and easy-to-use speech recognition program enables small/home office, business, and educational users to create and edit documents, reports, spreadsheets, and email all by voice.
With this software, you can accurately turn your voice into text. You can dictate continuously and naturally at up to 160 words per minute. The software is fully integrated with Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet Explorer and Corel WordPerfect. It can be used with virtually any Windows-based application.
Other product features include:
• A comprehensive vocabulary of over 250,000 standard and business terms, with the ability to add new words easily.
• The ability to insert text and graphics with a spoken word or phrase.
• The capacity to dictate into any L&H certified handheld recorded while you are on the road.
• Text-to-speech technology that allows your documents and emails to be read back to you in a human sounding voice.
• Searching the Web, accessing information, and navigating web pages by speaking URLS and links.
Dragon NaturallySpeaking® 9 boasts a speech to text conversion accuracy rating of 99%. The standard version is available for just under $100 while the preferred version retails for approximately $200. You’ll be faster, and have more fun, as you create letters, reports, and e-mails all by speaking. Just talk, and you can surf the web, open and close applications, even control your mouse and the entire desktop!
Harness the power of Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9, and improve the way we perform work on our computer.
Zo Nicholas
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