Archive for the ‘tech’ Category

A prudent move

Posted: April 28, 2009 by datechguy in tech
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The president gets one right in the field of cyberwar:

With increasing attempts by computer hackers in China, Russia and elsewhere to break into and sabotage federal and private computer systems, Obama is set to propose a far larger cyberwarfare program than the $17 billion, five-year effort approved by Congress last year, unnamed military and intelligence officials told Tuesday’s New York Times.

Some interesting details…

Among the computer warfare innovations reportedly being considered by the Pentagon is one that would allow a U.S. programmer to secretly enter a server in a foreign country and destroy a “botnet” before it could be deployed in the United States. Botnets are malicious programs that let users commandeer PCs and use them to spread code to other machines, creating vast networks of zombie computers that can be controlled remotely.

In a country where information technology rules this is where part of the fight has to take place, logistics are very important and can make or brake things in warfare and infrastructure. I’m glad to see these guys on it.

Mac Zombie? Count me among the unsurprised

Posted: April 19, 2009 by datechguy in tech
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I really shouldn’t be smiling but I’ve been waiting for something like this:

Malware hunters at Symantec have discovered a direct link between a malicious file embedded in pirated copies of Apple’s iWork 09 software and what appears to be the first Mac OS X botnet launching denial-of-service attacks.

Writing in the current issue of Virus Bulletin (subscription required), researchers Mario Ballano Barcena and Alfredo Pesoli found two malware variants — OSX.Iservice and OSX.Iservice.B — using different techniques to obtain the user’s password and take control of the infected Mac machine.

Quite a few of the commentators are actually full of glee rather than my knowing smile but one commentator makes the same point that PC users should know as well:

While it’s notable to discover a zombie Mac infection, keep in mind that this wasn’t an OS exlpoit. It was an install virus like the ones you used to see back in 1990. People who download and install pirate software should expect their computers to be compromised by a virus.

The commentator is exactly right. Risky behavior is the root of a lot of trouble that people have with PC’s and those who go to a Mac and think they will be safe forever will have another think coming.

Via Glenn.

I am likely one of the only net guys…

Posted: April 19, 2009 by datechguy in opinion/news, tech
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…who have absolutely no sympathy for the Pirate Bay guys.

What they were doing was clearly illegal. They knew it was clearly illegal and decided to do it anyway.

It isn’t a question of if the law is right, wrong or stupid. That is a question for another day.

The question is should anyone be shocked or angry that a group of people who knowing the law choose to willingly violate it for years are punished for it.

I say nope.

It’s like the limewire business. I’ve been warning people for years about the dangers of P2P but the thought of paying .99 cents for a song is just too much to bear. So their systems get infected and if they are lucky enough not to get identity and information stolen they still end up paying $100+ dollars to clean it up.

I’m happy to clean these systems but people you are doing this to yourself.

It would be nice to be able to have everything we want for free. It would also be nice to be able to walk down the toughest street in town at 2 a.m. with a full wallet and a beautiful lady on your arm and not have to worry about being robbed or mugged however it is just as realistic.

The kid’s Ipod is up

Posted: April 17, 2009 by datechguy in tech
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Synced it to a different library and then was able to re-sync with his account. Had to update this machine to itunes 8 to do it but that’s life.

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