Microsoft Windows Defender Offline beta

Microsoft has released an offline beta version of Windows Defender. Windows Defender searches for malware and other unwanted software. Once the program is downloaded from Microsoft’s Website by choosing the 32 bit of 64 bit, it then gives the option of installing it onto a CD/DVD or USB drive. To find if your Windows system is 32 or 64, just click “Start” and right click either “Computer” or “My Computer” and it will pop up a windows showing “System” and it will say either 32 bit or 64 bit.

After unsuccessfully using 3 different USB flash drives ranging from 2 GB to 8 GB on two different Windows 7 32 bit boxes, it gave the  error code 0007-80004005 for failing to format the drive. In the FAQ, it states to try a different USB drive, check the USB is plugged in, or in my case trying a different computer. Some people would say you have to run it as administrator but I’ve tried that as well and it still gave me the error. While this software still is beta, they should have at least fixed it so you can actually run it from a flash drive.

I would have tried it on CD to test it out but I really don’t even trust the software enough to do that. So I would like to give a good review but as of today I just can’t tell you how good it is.

I will give another review when Microsoft fixes the problem.

CNET

HP sued over security flaw

Davie Goldblatt of New York is suing HP over the security flaw discovered by the computer science department at Colombia University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science in late November. Goldblatt’s point is that if he has known about the vulnerability he would not have purchased a printer from HP.

The specific vulnerability has a feature called “remote Firmware Update” which allows the printer to check for software updates when a new printing job starts. If a hacker were able to create their own firmware and install it on the printer, he would have almost complete control.

In one demonstration, “a researcher printed a tax return on an infected printer, which then sent the document to a second computer that tweeted the Social Security number on a Twitter feed. In a second demonstration, researchers fed instructions to a compromised HP printer to cause the printer’s fuser–a component that dries the ink once it is applied–to heat up and cause the paper to smoke and turn brown, according to the lawsuit.”

Only a few HP LaserJet printers are vulnerable to exploit.

CNET

Hackers Rig Save Mart Terminals California

The supermarket chain Save Mart learned that dozens of its self-checkout terminals were fitted with card readers. About 80 reports of employees and customers had their credit and debit card’s stolen resulting in unauthorized transactions.

Save Mart gave a statement “We strongly recommend our customers who used a self-checkout lane in the affected stores contact their financial institutions to close existing accounta nd seek further advice,”.

http://www.scmagazineus.com/vandals-hack-checkout-terminals-at-california-supermarkets/article/218511/

Manual Removal Win 7 Anti-Virus 2012

http://www.automotiveaddicts.com/25489/security-failure-win7antivirus2012-how-to-remove

Win 7 Anti-Virus 2012 files (and folders) to remove:

• %AllUsersProfile%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]
• %AppData%\Local\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]
• %AppData%\Local\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe
• %AppData%\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]
• %Temp%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]

Win 7 Anti-Virus 2012 registry entries to remove:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe “(Default)” = ‘exefile’
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe “Content Type” = ‘application/x-msdownload’
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\DefaultIcon “(Default)” = ‘%1? = ‘”%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe” /START “%1? %*’
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\open\command “IsolatedCommand” = ‘”%1? %*’
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\runas\command “(Default)” = ‘”%1? %*’
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\runas\command “IsolatedCommand” = ‘”%1? %*’
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile “(Default)” = ‘Application’
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile “Content Type” = ‘application/x-msdownload’
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile\DefaultIcon “(Default)” = ‘%1?
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile\shell\open\command “(Default)” = ‘”%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe” /START “%1? %*’
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile\shell\open\command “IsolatedCommand” = ‘”%1? %*’
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile\shell\runas\command “(Default)” = ‘”%1? %*’
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile\shell\runas\command “IsolatedCommand” – ‘”%1? %*’
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\open\command “(Default)” = ‘”%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe” /START “%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe”‘
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\safemode\command “(Default)” = ‘”%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe” /START “%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe” -safe-mode’
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\IEXPLORE.EXE\shell\open\command “(Default)” = ‘”%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe” /START “%Program Files%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe”‘
• HKEY..\..\..\..{RegistryKeys}
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\open\command “(Default)” = ‘”%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe” /START “%1? %*’
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command “(Default)” = ‘”%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe” /START “%1? %*’

Will USPS affect Netflix?

With the announcement by USPS that they must cut costs due to overwhelming debt by closing half of their suppliers, will have an affect not only on mail but Netflix’s business as well. By next spring when cuts happen, first class mail will no longer only take one day but two days instead. Many Netflix DVD subscribers are able to receive their DVDs in one day but now having to wait two days for their DVDs, how many people will want to stick with Netflix?

The DVD price hike irritated hundreds of thousands of users already on the brink of cancelling but having to wait two extra days for DVDs and pay the same price, I don’t think it will fly. According to the article written by John P. Mello Jr, the slowdown of USPS won’t hurt Netflix’s profit. The good news though is that right now Netflix’s stock is up 3.82 to $71.96 whereas last week it was down to just $60.00 a share.

Free Android Tethering…perhaps

With the abundance of smartphone’s on the market including the monumental and overwhelming HTC varieties brings with them the ability to tether your cellphone to your computer. Tethering allows a person to share there cellphones internet with their computer. On T-Mobile many of their cellphones have the capability to tether and some of them offer it for free. Some of the older Android phones running 2.2 and lower usually don’t offer Tethering but many of the new cellphones do offer it. T-Mobile doesn’t allows in their servicing agreement for customers to tether their cellphones to any device and is only intended for “ Web browsing, messaging, and similar activities on your Device and not on any other equipment”. This means customers may have their service terminated if T-Mobile discovers users are tethering their devices. Unfortunately T-Mobile is requiring users to purchase a tethering plan which costs $14.99 on top of purchasing an unlimited premium data package of $30.00 per month and only up to 5 GB’s of data.

Verizon has taken a similar stance as they are now converting illegal tethering customers to a tethering plan. Verizon doesn’t want illegal tethering to affect it’s network but paying the extra $30.00 a month for their tethering plan will apparently not affect the other users on their network. They are only given 5GB’s a month for “unlimited data” which is pretty ridiculous. Customers with high end devices such as the Droid will be hit with a $350 termination fee if they want to cancel out of their contract if they still are on contract.

AT&T also does not approve of illegal tethering on its network which has been in their agreement for years now. AT&T charges $45 a month for 4GB’s with tethering.

With all that said, Android users are able to use tethering out of the bounds of their contract but may have their contracts terminated for doing so by their company. An app called PdaNet http://download.cnet.com/PdaNet/3000-10440_4-75059341.html allows users to use tethering on their Android device for free. The app can be installed through the Android market on the phone or on the computer and just plug in the phone and enable USB debugging mode. What’s the catch? The free version which expires in one month doesn’t allow access to HTTPS sites such as Gmail. Right now the full version can be purchased for $15.95 unlimited updates and use. Setup is very easy and the internet was pretty fast even though I only used 3G speeds.

 I don’t condone illegal tethering nor will I be held responsible for illegal tethering with your cell phone contract. 

Should tethering be free? It sure does with all these outrageous fees and inaccurate use of the word “unlimited”

 

Have you missed the update for froyo on T-Mobile?

If you’ve missed the update of froyo on your MyTouch 3G /3.5mm somehow or just recently purchased one of those phones for T-Mobile, I failed to find any documentation on just how to get an update after the OTA. Well if you call T-Mobile they will tell you to bring in your phone to a T-Mobile store and they will update it for you for free.

UK hiring code crackers

Britain’s electronic listing agency has created a page containing a crack the code challenge and whoever figures out the code must enter it and submit it. After submitting the correct code, users are taken to GCHQ’s website where they can enter their resume.

The GCHQ is looking for about 35 people who are interested in code breaking and ethical hacking. The salary starts at 25,000 pounds or $39,000. So far 50 people have cracked the code and 80 percent have submitted their application.

Think you can crack the code? Right now there is 9 days left to conquer the code.

Also note for anyone who applies, “Anyone applying who has hacked illegally will not be eligible to continue the recruitment process.”

http://www.canyoucrackit.co.uk/

study says majority go online for no reason

In a study by Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life, they found that 52 percent of 18 to 29 year-olds spend time online just to past the time when they’re bored or for fun.

The report ironically proves just how much time is wasted on the internet and why many companies have banned the internet from employees.

Thank the founders of the internet.

Yahoo

Apple will add fix for Abortion Clinics

A problem with Apple’s Siri, either intentionally or unintentionally has gotten people in an uproar. Pro Life and Pro choice people are upset that when asking Siri where are any abortion clinics, she responds that she can’t find any. Even the American Civil Liberties Union has filed a petition to have apple fix the glitch. As of last night, Apple stated in the following weeks a fix would be rolled out. Who knew something small would turn into something huge?

http://9to5mac.com/2011/11/30/apple-acknowledges-siri-abortion-clinic-concerns-says-fix-rolling-out-in-coming-weeks/