Monthly Archives: February 2007

Spyware installer hides in Messenger ad banner

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The banner itself appears to advertise and link to a download called Free PC-Secure (which is unfamiliar to us) but the real problem is that its appearance automatically launches a Windows dialog box telling you that "Your system is not clean" and asking you if "you want to download System Doctor to improve it." You know, the typical hoax message that tries to download a malicious ActiveX control even though you click "Cancel" in a fruitless attempt to ignore it.

The conclusion here is that a nasty spyware ad seems to have infiltrated into Microsoft’s banner advertising network because one of their clients is making use of some html code trickery.

We advise everyone to pay strict attention when they receive such a message window out of the blue. Cancel any initiated downloads and close the pop-ups/browser instances it launches. The animated banner in the screenshot below (showing two random frames) is the cause of the unsolicited Windows prompt. The bottom image shows the deceitful message on the page that is automatically opened no matter your choice in the dialog window.

News source: Mess.be

Server electricity use skyrockets

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A new study from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, released today, reveals that the electricity used by server computers doubled between 2000 and 2005. The report, which appears to be the most definitive assessment of data center energy consumption yet produced, underscores the growing importance of energy efficiency in effective IT management. The report’s author, Jonathan Koomey, told Technology Review, "I was surprised by the doubling. I expected some growth, but not quite as large."
 
More on the story on the RoughType.com blog

British hacker fights extradition

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A Scot has launched a High Court fight against extradition to the US for allegedly carrying out the "biggest military computer hack of all time".
Glasgow-born Gary McKinnon, 41, is accused of gaining access to 97 US military and Nasa computers.
 
Home Secretary John Reid granted the US request to extradite him for trial.
 
At the High Court in London, his lawyers argued he had been subjected to "improper threats" and the move would breach his human rights.
 
Edmund Lawson QC, told two judges that, if extradited, Mr McKinnon would face the prospect of an unknown length of time in pre-trial detention, with no likelihood of bail.
 

Vanishing Point Trip-to-Space Winner Announced, Webcast Today at 2:30pm CST / 8:30pm GMT

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Today Windows Vista and AMD announced that William Temple of California, USA has won the Vanishing Point grand prize, which includes a trip to see the ultimate vista — the earth from space courtesy of Windows Vista, AMD and Rocketplane.  The team at Windows, AMD and Rocketplane are hosting a conference call and webcast at 2:30PM CST today to answer your questions on everything from Vanishing Point to space flight.  Click here to join and type in meeting id 9XK464.  Astronaut and Rocketplane Commander John Herrington will also be joining to answer any questions about space flight.

Will has won a great prize package including the trip to space, along with a Windows Vista-based, AMD-powered Dell desktop PC; a 24-inch widescreen monitor; a Zune™ digital media player; an Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system; three Games for Windows® game titles; a Microsoft® LifeCam VX-6000 webcam; Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007; and $50,000 cash.

Vanishing Point was a global puzzle game that played out online and in the real world to celebrate the launch of Windows Vista.  Clues were delivered via spectacular events, such as a custom light show in the fountains of the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, skywriting and gorgeous building projections around the world, and a fireworks finale in Seattle.  You can check out the conversation tracking it here.

Vanishing Point was one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a long time, and the Windows Team and I enjoyed meeting some of you at the finale in Seattle.  Be sure and check out the webcast, and congratulations to Will!

News Source: WindowsVistaBlog.com