VIRUS AND OTHER STINKY STUFF:
HTML Web Forms are a Risk - JS_WEBLOG.A (Low Risk) JS_WEBLOG.A is a JavaScript Trojan that retrieves all data entered in HTML Web forms on Internet Explorer. It then sends the retrieved data to a particular Web site or to a particular system on the same network. It affects systems running Internet Explorer on Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, and XP. This JavaScript Trojan retrieves data entered in HTML forms on Internet Explorer and sends the data to a particular Web site or to a particular system on the same network. It does not have its own means of propagation and does not install itself. It is either installed manually or is dropped and installed by another malware. This Trojan has two components. The first component retrieves any data entered in HTML forms that are accessed using the particular browser. It saves this gathered data in text files, which it generates under temporary names in the folder %Windows%\Tasks\Data The text files contain the following information: * Site/URL where the data is sent * Date when the data is sent * Values gathered from the HTML form/s This malware's second component sends all of the data logged by the first component, to a particular Web site or system. It sends data in a continuous loop and reads all files in the directory where the log files are generated. It uses HTTP to send the logged data to a particular Web site. If this fails, it drops a text file containing the logged data to a particular network share. To send the stolen data using HTTP, it formats the data in XML and then sends it to a specific URL. To connect to the share, it uses a specific account and then drops a text file containing the logged data into the share.
READ THIS ONE, MAYBE YOU WILL CHANGE YOUR OPINION.
Will boycotting gasoline from Shell, Chevron, Texaco, Exxon, and Mobil cut off funding for terrorists?
I'm sure a chain letter that said something to that effect has probably graced your inbox over the last week or two (we've seen it several hundred times). If not, you can see it at the Urban Legends Reference Pages.
Although I'm all for anything that would cut off funding to terrorists, this e-mail is a hoax and its information falls apart at the slightest hint of digital scrutiny.
According to the good folks at the Urban Legends Reference Pages: "many people come away from reading it with the mistaken impression that most of the USA's crude oil is imported from the Middle East... according to the most recent figures regarding crude oil imports, only 31% of the USA's imports came from Arab OPEC countries." Go to Snopes page about this email: http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/outrage/nogas.htm
In addition, they also point out that many of the companies who are listed as not using OPEC oil do import it from time to time. Just when you thought it was safe to fill up your tank, huh?
Which (finally :-) brings me to my point. Just because something comes in your e-mail doesn't automatically make it true (well, unless it's from me :-). Before you forward it to everyone in your address book, check it out first.
Also, just FYI, Disney and Bill gates aren't giving away free vacations, there are no little girls dying of cancer who get a dollar for everyone you forward their message to, and, no, you aren't going to have a terrible accident if you stop forwarding chain letters. (Just so you know, it's impossible to track forwarded e-mail, so when you see something that claims to do it, it's automatically a hoax.)
And please don't forward them "Just in case it's true". Sending stuff like this around is the equivalent of having an internet "kick me" sign hanging off your mouse.
IF YOU SUSPECT THAT YOU HAVE A VIRUS OR IF YOU HAVE NOT SUCCESSFULLY SCANNED YOUR DRIVES FOR VIRUSES LATELY... THEN THE NEXT SUGGESTION IS FOR YOU. Free Virus scan. Trend Micro, more commonly referred to as Housecall, offers free virus scans and in most cases can fix damage down by a virus or worm that your computer may have contacted. The program works well. The first time one uses the free program it is necessary to download a small program. Trend Micro walks you through the process. Then the virus scans are quite simple for each return. You should disable any anti virus program that you have running. If you do not have a virus program I recommend that you use this program first and then download one of the free programs listed above of install any anti virus program you have purchased. Go to http://housecall.antivirus.com/ then choose the link "Scan without registering". Follow the directions.
Free Virus programs to download Quite a few KCnet members use these programs and like them. Be careful if you download a virus program and you already have one installed on your computer. You need to at least disable the program already installed. http://www.grisoft.com/html/us_index.cfm Another good free program to take a look at is: http://www.free-av.com/
10 Most Prevalent Viruses Surveyed by Trend Micro US (week of: February 24, 2003 to March 02, 2003) 1. WORM_BUGBEAR.A 2. JS_EXCEPTION.GEN 3. WORM_KLEZ.H 4. JS_NOCLOSE.E 5. TROJ_SMALL.M 6. JOKE_GESCHENK.A 7. WORM_YAHA.K 8. WORM_SOBIG.A 9. WORM_LOVGATE.C 10. WORM_SIRCAM.A
Here are a few sites of many that can help you determine if an email is a hoax or real. http://www.urbanlegends.com/ulz/ http://vil.nai.com/VIL/hoaxes.asp http://kumite.com/myths/ http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html http://www.scambusters.org/VirusHoaxes.html http://www.snopes.com/
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING: Maintain Security with Windows XP Windows XP comes with improved security features that help you protect your computer and your information. However, you must maintain your computers by regularly installing the latest security updates from Microsoft. Microsoft Security Update for Home Users and Small Businesses Subscribe to be Notified by E-Mail When Security Updates Are Released March 4, 2003 Microsoft is committed to helping you protect your computer against security issues. As part of this effort, we periodically release software updates to our products. To help inform consumers about security updates, the Microsoft Security and Privacy Web site publishes nontechnical versions of the bulletins that accompany security update releases. Now Microsoft is offering the Microsoft Security Update, a free e-mail alert service that makes it easier for home users and small businesses to stay apprised of the latest security updates. Each time an update is released, subscribers receive an e-mail message that explains in nontechnical terms why we are issuing the update, lists which products are affected, and provides a link to the full announcement on the Security and Privacy Web site. Ensure that you never miss a security update announcement by signing up today. http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/decision.asp
Scientists: Internet speed record smashed By Jeordan Legon CNN Story Offering a glimpse of a faster digital future, researchers announced they have set a new Internet speed record. Scientists at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center used fiber-optic cables to transfer 6.7 gigabytes of data -- the equivalent of two DVD movies -- across 6,800 miles in less than a minute. Pushing the tech envelope The team was able to transfer uncompressed data at 923 megabits per second for 58 seconds from Sunnyvale, California, to Amsterdam, Netherlands. That's about 3,500 times faster than a typical Internet broadband connection. "By exploring the edges of Internet technologies' performance envelope, we are improving our ... ability to implement new networking technologies," said Les Cottrell, assistant director of the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, a national laboratory operated by Stanford University for the U.S. Department of Energy. The experiment could "bring high-speed data transfer to practical everyday applications, such as doctors at multiple sites sharing and discussing a patient's [heart test results] to diagnose and plan treatment," he added. On average, the amount of information that can be transferred over the Internet has doubled every year since 1984, scientists said. That trend is expected to continue.
Hard Disk Support Since one never knows when a hard disk drive might become ill, it's always best to know where to turn for support. Also, there are times when you might need a new driver, or some diagnostic tools for your hard disk. Here are a couple of support sites for some of the more common brands of disk drive. Access Western Digital http://support.wdc.com/ Access Maxtor http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/products/ Access IBM http://www.hgst.com/support/index.html Access Quantum http://www.quantum.com/AM/support/default.htm
AOL Messaging By Sue Whitehouse from Emazing. Most of us know a lot of people that use AOL and set up buddy lists, etc. for online messaging. However, you may not know that you don't have to sign up for AOL to use the messaging service. The AOL Instant Messenger allows you to chat with family and friends on the web, and to transfer files, photos or music. If you are a Netscape user AIM is included with you installation. Just access the little yellow guy and register or if you opted not to install AIM or if you use a different browser access the following to register: http://www.aim.com/index.adp
Microsoft Gives A Little Extra Life To Win98 This one from Langalist and very interesting. It has valuable information from Microsoft pertaining to their scheduled life of any Windows Operating System up to and including the most recent Windows release, XP. (MLF) Late last year, Microsoft pulled the plug on a group of older products, including all versions of DOS, Windows 3.xx, NT 3.5x, and the seminal Windows 95--- arguably the most important commercial operating system ever released. (See "It's Curtains For Windows 95" http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20021211S0008 ) This cessation of support wasn't a surprise: Microsoft had announced its comprehensive "Product Lifecycle Guidelines" back in 2001. The guidelines called for older products to be phased out fairly rapidly; and for newer products gradually to ramp down through diminishing levels of support as time went on: The older a product was, the fewer support options would be available for it until it reached what Microsoft called "end of life," when all official support would stop. Microsoft originally had Windows 98 set for a fairly aggressive march towards "end of life" in June of this year (2003) but got a lot of negative feedback: After all, Win98 remains the world's most popular operating system, and pulling the plug on it is no trivial matter. As a result, late last year Microsoft relaxed the schedule a tiny bit: in effect, granting Win98 a very limited stay of execution: It still will become MOSTLY unsupported in June of this year, but some paid support options will remain available (for those who want to pony up the money) for six more months. Microsoft quietly juggled the support options for several products late last year; changing the dates and rates at which its software would drop through the four levels of support that Microsoft has set up: from full or "mainstream" support (with free and paid live support; support for warranty claims; online self-help support information; and freely-downloadable hotfixes, patches and updates) through "end of life" (no further support of any kind, period). The schedules aren't always easy to figure out because Microsoft's own pages on the subject are confusing and internally contradictory in some places. I waded in, tried to make sense of the information available, and put it all in the current InformationWeek column, available (free) now at http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20030307S0018 In it, we'll walk through the currently scheduled "life cycles" of Windows 98/98SE, Windows ME, Windows NT 4.x, Windows 2000 and XP Home and Pro. NOTE: Believe it or not XP Home and Pro have *DIFFERENT* support lifecycles, with Home's support expiring TWO YEARS sooner than Pro's! I'll also give you direct links to the five different Microsoft resources I found on product lifecycles, so you can try reading the tea leaves yourself, if you so desire. This is important information for anyone using any version of Windows; and for anyone planning to move to XP. Please click on over to http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20030307S0018 and check it out!
THE NEXT WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM CNET | NEWS.COM WEEK IN REVIEW Microsoft has had some trouble holding on to its software lately, with versions of popular programs finding their way on to the Internet before their intended release. An early test version of the next major release of Windows leaked onto the Net, offering a glimpse of the company"s plans for the new software. The leaked version of the upcoming desktop operating system, code-named Longhorn, hints of major changes under the Windows hood, including a new file system with enhanced storage capabilities. Known as Windows Future Storage, the new means for storing, accessing or indexing files will replace NTFS and FAT32, the predecessors used by Windows XP. Microsoft did not identify the source of the leak, which is still circulating on the Web and on Internet relay chat, but say the leaked version of Longhorn is authentic. The leak came two weeks after the software giant inadvertently posted the Office 2003 Beta 2 on its Microsoft Developer Network Web site. Microsoft pulled the software about six hours later, after an inquiry by CNET News.com. Microsoft plans to officially launch the software on Monday, a release that will include a public preview available to several hundred thousand beta testers and businesses. The software titan expects to ship Office 2003 during the summer but has not revealed an exact date or price. Microsoft also hasn't discussed how new Office products OneNote and InfoPath will be bundled with the productivity suite.
The next two come from Kim Komando STAY UP-TO-DATE ON THREATS TO THE NATION Are you losing track of the current terrorist-alarm status? If so, you can put the Homeland Security Threat Monitor on your desktop. It checks periodically with the Department of Homeland Security for the proper setting. When the threat level increases, the monitor blinks. But if you really need this program, you need to listen to the news more. Get it here: http://www.hewgill.com/threat/
IBM RECALLS MONITORS FOR FIRE HAZARD G51 and G51t monitors, manufactured between June and September 1997, are being recalled by IBM. The units have a component that can overheat and potentially cause a fire. Information on the model number and date of manufacture is on a label on the back of the monitors. The model numbers affected are 6541-02N, 6541-02E and 6541-02S. Learn more here: http://www.pc.ibm.com/g51recall/
INTERESTING SITES : DHS Organization (Department of Homeland Security) Building A Secure Homeland The creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the most significant transformation of the U.S. government since 1947, when Harry S. Truman merged the various branches of the U.S. Armed Forces into the Department of Defense to better coordinate the nation's defense against military threats. DHS represents a similar consolidation, both in style and substance. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks against America on September 11th, 2001, President George W. Bush decided 22 previously disparate domestic agencies needed to be coordinated into one department to protect the nation against threats to the homeland. The new department's first priority is to protect the nation against further terrorist attacks. Component agencies will analyze threats and intelligence, guard our borders and airports, protect our critical infrastructure, and coordinate the response of our nation for future emergencies. http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/
The next two are Kim Komando suggestions:
Model Railroaders and Railroad enthusiasts. It's a good site for kids too. http://www.trains.com/home.asp
IT'S NOT EASY BEING A CELEBRITY Sometimes the government spies on its own citizens. Look what information it has gathered on these celebrities. http://foia.fbi.gov/famous.htm
Sand Castle Central From Amanda at Worldstart. Maybe I should have held this one until warmer weather but it can't hurt to think hot sun, can it? (MLF) You guessed it this site is about sand castles, they boast at being you best “on-line source for all things sand sculpture, including free tips for beginners, information on the best sand carving tools, updated contest and master sculptor information, related links and lots of photos.” They have tips for both beginner builders and advanced sand sculptors. Learn basic sand stacking and check out how to build a better sand castle. Find out what tools you might need, and where you can find sand castle competitions. This one is definitely a great site, maybe it will chase the winter blues away with some summer fun. http://www.sandcastlecentral.com/
Recipe Goldmine By Nick Sundberg This is one of the nicest recipe sites I've stumbled onto. Try that outdoor Barbecue stuff right after you build the sandcastles from the site above. (MLF)
The Recipe Goldmine site is a great source for new dinner ideas. Everything from Apps (appetizers) to Wraps is represented here. You can use the search to access thousands of recipes. There are also useful pages ranging from kitchen tips to a culinary glossary. The Barbecue Guru feature contains tips and recipes for the outdoor cooking enthusiast. http://www.recipegoldmine.com/