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PATH: BS | Technology | Computers | Software

Major Vulnerability Found in Symantec Norton Antivirus Posted by Pile (10164 views) [E-Mail link]
Yesterday, it was publicly disclosed that users running versions of Symantec Norton Antivirus have a serious remote-code-execution vulnerability condition. No user intervention is even required. Peoples' PCs can be taken over without any action on their part. Good one Symantec! Reason #78,454,320 to not use Norton's Antivirus.
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Real Life Super Mario Bros Posted by Pile (10605 views) [E-Mail link]	[Humor]
Some students at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts put together a really creative and entertaining skit for their talent show. A live reinactment of Nintendo's Super Mario Bros game. My only question is, I don't remember Ninjas being in the game, do you?
READ MORE \| 2 comments since 2006-04-27 16:32:35 \| Comment on this Article

New "Hearse" Worm May Be Worst Yet Posted by Pile (9401 views) [E-Mail link]
As a data security specialist, Jeremy Pickett sees all kinds of digital tricks. So on Mar. 20, when he was tracing the origins of a computer worm that had been blocked the night before from entering a client's computer network, Pickett wasn't too surprised that it tried to connect with four sleazy Web sites, most of them, he believes, in Russia. Or that it then tried to load victims' PCs with as many as 30 new pieces of "malware," ranging from spam programs to those that automatically dial in to expensive phone-sex services. But the real shock came when Pickett decided to test another bug by infecting his own PC with it. Out slithered a program that promptly installed itself deep inside his computer. There it became virtually immune to detection from the basic antivirus software that scans for dangerous code. The bug -- known as a "Trojan," which in turn was hidden inside a "rootkit" -- was designed to activate whenever a Web surfer typed in a user name or password for bank accounts or Web sites for dating, social networking, or e-mail. Pickett went to a bank site and entered fictitious log-in information. Right before his eyes, those data were sent streaming back to Russia, joining the IDs of thousands of real victims. His reaction: "absolute horror."
READ MORE \| 1 comment since 2008-08-17 18:25:33 \| Comment on this Article

McAffee Antivirus Goes Amok, Shuts Down Legitimate Apps Posted by Pile (9131 views) [E-Mail link]
Anti-virus vendor McAfee is scrambling to contain the damage from a faulty definition update that incorrectly flagged hundreds of legitimate software programs as W95/CTX, a low-risk Windows 95 virus that was first detected in 2004. The erroneous .DAT file (4715) was shipped late on March 10 with definitions for a wide range of new malware threats, but when the update was installed, it quarantined or deleted several widely deployed applications, including Microsoft Excel, Macromedia Flash Player, Adobe Update Manager and the Google Toolbar Installer.
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Malfunctioning BMW Becomes 120mph Death Trap Posted by Pile (10095 views) [E-Mail link]	[Faulty Products]
A motorist was trapped in his car driving at almost 130mph for 60 miles after the accelerator jammed. Boy those fancy computer-controlled cars now sure are cool!
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Symantec Security Software Makes PCs Insecure Posted by Pile (9552 views) [E-Mail link]
A serious security flaw was announced today, discovered by an independent analyst which even Symantec acknowledges as "high risk". The flaw exists in a vast array of their security and anti-virus products across all major platforms, and could compromise PCs with no activity required of the user. Mac users are especially up in arms over this because the Mac version of Symantec's software makes their otherwise rock-solid OSX extremely vulnerable. At present, there is no patch for the vulnerability. Thanks Symantec!
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Microsoft Bug Up For Auction on EBay Posted by Pile (9682 views) [E-Mail link]
In an amusing jab at Microsoft and their lackluster ability to promptly identify and fix vulnerabilities in their software, an IT guy has placed up for auction on eBay "One 0-day Microsoft Excel Vulnerability". Interestingly enough, eBay had the auction pulled, meanwhile they let several other auctions run where people misled others by selling an empty XBox360 carton.
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Microsoft Enlists Outside Aid for New IE7 Browser Posted by Pile (9824 views) [E-Mail link]
Microsoft has enlisted some outside help for one of the most anticipated new features of its updated web browser: the ability to alert people that they may be about to enter a fraudulent website. It was announced today that Microsoft has retained the services of anti-fraud expert, LARRY ODOGWU of the Nigerian National Petroleum and Computer Security Corporation.
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AMD Suing Intel Over Claim Their Compiler Sabotages AMD Software Posted by Pile (10231 views) [E-Mail link]
AMD has filed suit against Intel claiming the company is employing monopolist-like powers in sabotaging AMDs efforts to be competitive. Among the many claims is that Intel's compiler which prepares software to run on both Intel and AMD machines, checks to see which CPU is being used and intentionally generates less-efficient and slower code for machines running a non-Intel/AMD CPU. IMO, considering how much faster and more-efficient AMD CPUs are over Intel, we may be looking at even more performance gains when using AMD CPUs if this claim is proven true and Intel has to correct their AMD-sabotaging code.
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Online Gamer Murdered Over Theft of Virtual Sword Posted by Pile (9244 views) [E-Mail link]	[Mean People]
You know you're taking gaming too seriously when you go out and stab someone because they snatched a sword from your fictional role-playing-game character, but that's exactly what happened in China. Qiu Chengwei stabbed Zhu Caoyuan in the chest when he found out he had sold his virtual sword for 7,200 Yuan (~ $700). The sword, which Mr Qiu had lent to Mr Zhu, was won in the popular online game Legend of Mir 3. Qiu was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in China. I guess Zhu didn't have time to buff before the melee started.
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BSA Publishes Fantasy Figures on Software Piracy Posted by Pile (9432 views) [E-Mail link]	[Dubious Research]
The Business Software Alliance, a group dedicated towards controlling software piracy, has come under fire for releasing a report claiming that 35% of software installed on computers is pirated and costs companies more than $33 Billion a year in lost revenue. The Economist and others have blown the lid off the BSA's research methodology, which is apparently based on the illogical premise that any program someone would pirate, they would otherwise pay for.
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Anti-Virus Update Wipes Out Hundreds Of Thousands of Computers Posted by Pile (9004 views) [E-Mail link]
A faulty update to anti-virus software released over the weekend by Tokyo-based Trend Micro has caused PCs to slow down or stop working around the world.
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Java Flaw Exposes Firefox Users to IE Vulnerabilities Posted by Pile (9103 views) [E-Mail link]
In an ironic technological twist, users who have switched from IE to Firefox for their browser may find they can still be infected by rogue Java programs that can spawn an instance of Internet Explorer to download a malicious program. However, the user will still need to approve via a dialogue box, the execution of the Java applet. In this day and age, I still don't understand why anybody would want to use Java. Most users should be highly suspicious of any Java application which needs any special permissions on your system to run.
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Blow Yourself Up Posted by Pile (11028 views) [E-Mail link]	[The "Buzz"]
Are you feeling a little small? Maybe you want to blow yourself up? Maybe you and some friends or your favorite subject?
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Symantec's Antivirus Products Become Prey For Viruses Posted by Pile (8488 views) [E-Mail link]
Symantec, makers of annoying mafia-ware anti-virus software was dealt a further blow when independent teams published a security advisory showing Symantec's products to have vulnerabilities that would allow viruses to compromise PCs.
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SCO's Days Are Numbered Posted by Pile (8770 views) [E-Mail link]
SCO, the company suing IBM claiming that Linux infringes on their intellectual property, narrowly escaped a summary judgement in what most call a grossly bogus case brought by the ailing software company that is desperate to litigate itself back into solvency. "Despite the vast disparity between SCO's public accusations and its actual evidence - or complete lack thereof - and the resulting temptation to grant IBM's motion, the court has determined that it would be premature to grant summary judgment," Judge Kimball wrote. However, any time now, SCO's song-and-dance will end.
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Musical Degrees of Separation Posted by ttt (9617 views) [E-Mail link]	[Music]
Some French people have come up with a very clever and creative web site which shows graphical representations of music artists, their influences and other bands they've been in. A very ingenious and creative use of technology.
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Use Windows' media files: get infected Posted by Pile (7998 views) [E-Mail link]
Think you're downloading a new song or video? Watch out--that file may be stuffed with pop-ups and adware. Unscrupulous organizations, some of whom have been helping the RIAA and MPAA fight online piracy are now exploiting holes in gasp Windows media file formats to hide malicious programs and spyware. It should be noted that while this is yet another scare tactic designed to stagnate all forms of media trading, including legitimate, licensed music, MP3 files are immune to these issues. Like anyone needed additional reasons to avoid .WMA, and other Windows-specific file formats.
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Merry Christmas from Bill Gates: 4 new Windows flaws! Posted by RantMaster (9477 views) [E-Mail link]
A Chinese security group has released sample code to exploit two new unpatched flaws in Microsoft Windows. The advisory comes in the week before Christmas, a time when many companies and home users are least prepared to deal with the problems. Security firm Symantec warned its clients of the vulnerabilities on Thursday, after the Chinese company that found the flaws published them to the Internet.
READ MORE \| 1 comment since 2004-12-30 12:13:16 \| Comment on this Article

Exploit launched for most popular web messageboard app Posted by Pile (7893 views) [E-Mail link]
CERT has sent out a security bulletin outlining what appears to be a major flaw in phpBB, the Internet's most popular messageboard software. There appears to be automated scripts seeking out vulnerable messageboards on the Internet, whereupon they are compromised or defaced. Mediocre webmasters all over the world will end up having some holiday headaches if they don't update their systems.
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