New Trojan Steals World of Warcraft Passwords

New Trojan Steals World of Warcraft Passwords: "

Antivirus company Sophos warns that a new trojan is on the loose, packed in an email that promises photos of sexy girls (don’t they all).

The malicious campaign is widely spread out, mainly through emails with the subject line “Do you like to find a girlfriend like me?” with an attachment called “my photos.rar”. Of course, the attachment actually contains a trojan horse called Troj/Agent-LVF which tries to steal login info for popular MMORPG World of Warcraft.

The email in question contains the following text, written in inexplicably bad English:

“Wish to have a boyfriend

Be able to protect me, take care of me

Intolerable lonely night and would like to have your care.

do you Willing?

This is my photos.”

If you receive this email, delete it. If you think your computer is infected with the trojan, you can find more information about it over at Sophos.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, Talaj

---

"

We Serve Vegetarians / Shirley on vi.sualize.us

We Serve Vegetarians / Shirley on vi.sualize.us: ""

November 27, 2009

November 27, 2009: "

"

Deviant Linux? Normal Microsoft computer?

Deviant Linux? Normal Microsoft computer?: "
This was on a mailing list and thought I should publish it here for posterity.

(Tech Support | California, USA)

Caller: 'I need to report a very serious computer crime! The local university
is running an illegal computer system!'

Me: 'Could you please repeat that'

Caller: 'The local university is running an illegal computer system! They've
hacked it!'

Me: 'How could you tell they'd hacked it'

Caller: 'Well, when it booted, it didn???t say Windows or Microsoft or
anything! It said something about Deviant Linux, I think, and the main
screen looked nothing like my good, legal Windows screen at home!
I think they hacked that, too!'

Me: 'Do you mean Debian Linux'

Caller: 'Yes, that! Is it some sort of computer mafia or something'

Me: 'Uh, no, it's just a different operating system. Nothing to worry about.'

Caller: 'But it's illegal! It's not Microsoft, not even Windows! They're on a
normal Microsoft computer, so they're breaking the law! I think they stole
my identity when I came in the building! I'm calling the FBI!' *hangs up*

"

How to Fix Your Relatives' Terrible Computer [Tech Support]

How to Fix Your Relatives' Terrible Computer [Tech Support]: "

Drop your bags, grab a drink, and grab the XP CD—it's time for the holiday ritual of fixing up your relatives' computer. Here are some tips and downloads to keep handy while you're cursing all the auto-starting crapware.

Photo by Justin Marty.

For this guide, we're going to do a bit of assuming. We're assuming the relative with the busted computer is running a Windows system, and has an internet connection that works when the computer does. We're assuming all the physical pieces of the computer work—hard drive, memory, disc drives, and anything else that's crucial. We'll also assume the computer's in one of two states: Failing to boot and needing an OS re-installation, laden with unnecessary system tray/startup applications and/or spy/mal/ad-ware, or just needing a little optimization.

Computer won't boot, needs a re-install

The problem: Turning on the computer results in a message that states Windows can't boot because something is missing (a boot loader, an important file, etc.) or something is wrong. There are many variations on this message, but they all say basically the same thing: You will not be getting into Windows.

Quick-fix triage: Load the original XP, Vista, or Windows 7 (Really? Broken already?) CD or DVD in the system and boot the system from there, which might require hitting a key to bring up "boot options" or pressing a key when asked to "Press any key to boot from CD." Wait for the CD to load—it may seem like it's installing, but it's just loading a mini-system for installation and, in this case, repair. Follow the prompts to repair an existing installation, or, in the case of Vista or 7, ask it to repair the startup process.

What you'll need:

• XP, Vista, or Windows 7 installation CD/DVD: It may be from a computer manufacturer and not look like a Microsoft-obtained, holograph-packed disc, so look around a bit. If it's a 'System Restoration' disc, be sure that you can boot from it and install a full copy of Windows from it.
• USB thumb drive: At least 1GB in size.
• External USB drive or blank DVDs: For backing up important files.
• Ubuntu Live CD or Knoppix Live CD: Both are Linux distributions, but we're just using them because they run on most kinds of hardware without installing, and can transfer the files you need to your backup media. Ubuntu should work; if it doesn't, give Knoppix a go. You can use the free tool UNetBootin to transfer the ISO you downloaded to a thumb drive, which is necessary if you're backing up to DVDs, and recommended in any case to speed things up.
  

  If that doesn't work, and you really feel this system can boot again except for some silly error, try creating an Ultimate Recovery CD, as detailed at the How-To Geek's home away from Lifehacker.

  If that worked, hooray! If not, soldier on to the next step.

  Back up the files: Have your USB hard drive or blank DVDs handy, and remove the Windows CD/DVD from the computer if you tried to use that for a fix. Stick your thumb drive with the Ubuntu (or Knoppix) image into a USB slot, then boot up the computer. You may have to hit F12 or another key to boot from USB, or change a setting in the BIOS (which you can access by hitting a key—written in that fast-disappearing text—at boot-up). You'll be asked to choose a language, then hit the option to "Try Ubuntu without any changes." After some loading, you'll arrive at an Ubuntu desktop.

  Move your cursor to the "Places" menu, and check to see that your USB drive (MyBook, in my case) or blank DVD is showing up. You should also see the hard drive Windows is running from. On an XP or Vista system, there's usually just one, but on Windows 7, there are two—a "System Reserved" (fairly small) and a larger, main drive. Check to see that you can open and access those files as well.

  Ask your relatives which files and documents are important to them. When doing my own tech support work, I usually back up the entire 'My Documents' folder (with 'My Music' and 'My Pictures' included), their Outlook or (yes, sometimes) Outlook Express email data (explained here), and their Firefox profile or, more likely, their 'Favorites' folder for Internet Explorer (C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Favorites in XP, or C:\Users\Username\Favorites in Vista or 7). In any case, always ask, and make sure there isn't any software they can't locate a license for.

  When you're ready to back up, simply open your USB drive from the Places menu, then open your main Windows drive, and drag files to copy from your Windows system onto the backup medium.
  

  If you're burning to DVD, head to the Applications menu in your temporary Ubuntu system, mouse over the Accessories sub-menu, and select 'CD/DVD Creator' when it pops up. You'll get a folder you can drag files you want to burn into, then hit 'Write to Disc' to burn them.
  

  When you're all done backing up files, head to the menu with the power icon next to it (labeled "Live user," most likely) and select "Shut Down." You'll eventually be prompted to remove your live CD or USB stick—do so, and swap in the Windows installation CD or DVD. Turn off the system, then turn it back on. Follow the instructions to install Windows on the system, erasing whatever partitions or data exist on there at the moment (assuming you're sure the important stuff is backed up).

  Clogged with crapware

  The problem: The computer boots up ... eventually. Programs open very slowly, the hard drive seems to click and whir endlessly, and messages, reminders, and pop-up windows jump onto the screen every few minutes.

  Quick-fix triage: If you don't suspect there's anything actually malicious and infectious on the system—that is, you're fairly sure they've been running and updating an anti-virus and anti-malware client—grab a copy of Revo Uninstaller Portable (direct ZIP file link), and run it off the USB stick you brought with you.

  Click the "Tools" button, choose the Autorun menu on the left, and look through the items on the right. Uncheck the stuff that's really unnecessary—most of it, really, unless they constantly use a printer/scanner or run an antivirus app—and remind your host to un-check the toolbars and "helper" apps offered when installing things.

  If things are much better now, and you don't imagine that malware is an issue, you're all done. Otherwise ...

  What you'll need: Mostly a small batch of software, recommended by this author and the How-To Geek. You can run these once and remove them, or run them off a thumb drive, in some cases. The last download is one you'll keep installed on the system.

  • Revo Uninstaller Portable: Completely, utterly removes the programs, toolbars, and other junk apps that aren't needed.
  • SuperAntiSpyware: For cleaning (you guessed it) spyware.
  • Malwarebytes (or its portable version): For the clingy cookies, add-ons, and apps that try and do unauthorized stuff.
  • CCleaner Portable: For freeing up hard drive space and clearing out temp/cache files that bog down the system index.
  • Microsoft Security Essentials or Panda Cloud Antivirus: The former for a system that's got enough horsepower to be adequate, the latter for a system that's light on resources.

  The fixing process? It's nothing special, actually—just run the quick-fix triage in any case, removing the auto-run apps that bog down system resources, and then run these secondary apps, generally in the order they're listed. Keep Security Essentials or Panda Cloud Antivirus installed (not both!), and, while you're being helpful, back up this computer's pictures, music, and important documents.

  Tuning up and bomb-proofing

  Maybe everything technically 'works,' but watching your relatives open emails in Outlook Express and browse on Internet Explorer 6 is just, well, painful. Here are the steps we recommend to get things moving:

  • Run the basics of the 'clogged with crapware' section: The one involving Revo Uninstaller and startup programs, under the 'quick-fix triage' sub-section, and installing either Microsoft Security Essentials or Panda Cloud Antivirus.
  • Install Firefox and make it the default: Be sure to use the bookmark and setting import from Internet Explorer. You could even go with Google Chrome for even tighter security and speed, if your relatives wouldn't mind the abrupt shift in look and feel.
  • Set up their email in Gmail: Gmail has made it much easier to import email accounts, whether they're AOL, cable company, or other defaults that just stuck around. You can make a simple switch in the settings to keep your relatives receiving and sending email from their same address (or multiple addresses). Save their Gmail password in Firefox, but make sure they know it, and they'll even get some new-fangled email portability.
  • Physically clean the beast: Stop by the local office store, grab a can of compressed air, and clean out the 'dust bunnies', especially if you can hear the exhaust fans over the mid-day football.
  • Replace cruddy programs with superior alternatives: Gina's 2008 recommendations still hold up, but we updated them a bit, and made them super-easy to install in one shot, with our Lifehacker Pack 2009. Or use Ninite for a similar one-click awesomeware package.

  ---

  That is, at least, how one Lifehacker editor is fixing at least one relative's computer this long holiday weekend. What's your own 1-2-3 process for being the holiday software savior? Share your success stories in the comments.

  Unless you're writing 'Buy them a Mac.' In which case, take your truly helpful comments elsewhere, and prepare to get banned.

"

Pandora

Pandora: ""

Improve 'apt-get install' And 'upgrade' Speed [How-to]

Improve 'apt-get install' And 'upgrade' Speed [How-to]: "

Axel is a command line application which accelerates HTTP/FTP downloads by using multiple sources for one file. For example, some FTP sites limit the speed of each connection, therefore opening more than one connection at a time multiplies the allowable bandwidth.

What if we could use a bash script to use 'apt-get' with Axel so the 'apt-get' download speed would increase dramatically? Well, you can, thanks to Matt Parnell who has created a bash script which does just that. The script works with any Linux distribution which uses 'apt-get' (Debian, Ubuntu, etc.).

Before using the script, you must install Axel:

sudo apt-get install axel

Then create an empty file called apt-fast and paste this:

#!/bin/sh
#apt-fast by Matt Parnell http://www.mattparnell.com , this thing is FOSS
#please feel free to suggest improvements to admin@mattparnell.com
# Use this just like apt-get for faster package downloading. Make sure to have axel installed

#If the first user entered variable string contains apt-get, and the second string entered is either install or dist-upgrade
if echo '$1' | grep -q '[upgrade]' || echo '$2' | grep -q '[install]' || echo '$2' | grep -q '[dist-upgrade]'; then
echo 'Working...';

#Go into the directory apt-get normally puts downloaded packages
cd /var/cache/apt/archives/;

#Have apt-get print the information, including the URI's to the packages
apt-get -y --print-uris $1 $2 $3 $4 > debs.list;

#Strip out the URI's, and download the packages with Axel for speediness
egrep -o -e '(ht|f)tp://[^\']+' debs.list | xargs -l1 axel -a;

#Perform the user's reqested action via apt-get
apt-get -y $1 $2 $3 $4;

echo 'Done! Make sure and check to see that the packages all were installed properly. If a package is erred, run sudo apt-get autoclean and try installing it again without the use of this script.';

elif echo '$1' | grep -q '[*]'; then
apt-get $1;
else
echo 'Sorry, but you appear to be entering invalid options. You must use apt-get and one of apt-get's options in order to use this script.';
fi

Then use the terminal to navigate to where you created the script and run this command:

chmod +x apt-fast

For easier usage, you can move it to the /usr/bin folder.

Now, instead of using: sudo apt-get install PACKAGE_NAME, use sudo apt-fast install PACKAGE_NAME or upgrade or dist-upgrade - it also works with those operations.

I must say I have obviously tested the script and indeed, it works really fast. I don't know if it's 26x faster as the author claims, but the speed improvement, well, let's just say you won't need to measure it to notice the difference!

Special thanks to Mahdi for suggesting this script!

---

© www.webupd8.org 2009. | What's New on the World Wide Web

"

Using eBox As Windows Primary Domain Controller

Using eBox As Windows Primary Domain Controller: "

Using eBox As Windows Primary Domain Controller

eBox Platform is an open source small business server that allows you to manage
all your services like firewall, DHCP, DNS, VPN, proxy, IDS, mail, file and printer
sharing, VoIP, IM and much more. These functionalities are tightly integrated,
automating most tasks, avoiding mistakes and saving time for system administrators. This tutorial shows you step by step how to use eBox as Windows Primary Domain Controller.
At the end of it you will be using eBox Platform 1.2 for users and shared resources
management on your Windows domain.

"

Harald Sitter (apachelogger): Ubuntu One KDE Tech Preview

Harald Sitter (apachelogger): Ubuntu One KDE Tech Preview: "As all my dear groupies probably have noticed, I started working on getting Ubuntu One a KDE frontend.

First results are now available as a tech preview.

The Ubuntu One KDE client is a small application that lives in your system tray (the thing next to your clock). It notifies you when a new transfers from or to the Ubuntu One server have been started and when they are finished.
Additionally it will show up whenever there is a problem with the connection.

You can get an impression of what it does from the two prototype sceencasts

• http://aplg.kollide.net/screencasts/ubuntuone-kde1.ogv
• http://aplg.kollide.net/screencasts/ubuntuone-kde2.ogv

What can you expect from this preview?

Crashes, startup failures and missing functionallity, as to be expected from a tech preview.

Please note that this preview is directly based of a prototype, so the internals are most likely to change a lot.

Still here?

Ok.

You can get the client from a special PPA. Just add the source lines and install ubuntuone-client-kde. Before you do anything you need to run the GNOME client (ubuntuone-client-applet) at least once to obtain authentication from the Ubuntu One server, then you can just quit the GNOME client and start the KDE one (you need to start it with --nofork or it will not work).

I have also create a screencast showing all that.

Once authentication is implemented an the client works properly I'll take a look into implementing Dolphin integration (most likely via a kio slave, due to lack of other options). Meanwhile the Desktop CouchDB Akonadi resources get finsihed. So we will hopefully have meaningful integration into the KDE Platform by the time Kubuntu 10.04 LTS gets released.

Interesting times lie ahead!

"

Start another X session in a window

Start another X session in a window: "$ startx -- /usr/bin/Xephyr :2

You might have Xnest (older) rather than Xephyr.

You can experiment with other desktops eg:

startx /usr/bin/start-kde -- /usr/bin/Xephyr :2

You can start X on a remote machine (although I'd recommend vnc for anything slower than a LAN):

startx /usr/bin/ssh -X gnome-session -- /usr/bin/Xephyr :2

Or just start another X session locally talking to the remote backend:

• View this command to comment, vote or add to favourites


• View all commands by bhepple

by David Winterbottom (codeinthehole.com)

"

This Is How Kiwis Trim The Top Of Their Hedges

This Is How Kiwis Trim The Top Of Their Hedges: "

New Zealanders do it with a crane people… with a crane. It makes perfect sense now. (more…)

"

Google Offers Named OpenIDs

Google Offers Named OpenIDs: "

I love Google — and I’m not just saying that because they deliver 90% of our traffic and more than half of our OpenID signups, I swear. But I am a little bitter that their OpenID support has two major flaws which cause us a great deal of ongoing pain:

1. Google’s OpenIDs are domain specific. The very same gmail account, if you sign up on 5 different OpenID enabled websites, will result in 5 different random hash OpenIDs being generated. While this is probably OK in the general case (though still an exceedingly rare behavior among OpenID providers), it’s incredibly aggravating for us because we like to let users map their Stack Overflow, Server Fault, Super User, Meta, and Careers accounts to each other. This is a huge PITA when there is no common per-user identifier between those 5 sites. We have a workaround in place but it is not pretty.
   
2. Google’s OpenIDs are random hashes to the server. This means I have no idea if you used crazyman45@gmail.com, hellaleet@gmail.com, or lovezwafflez1@gmail.com to sign up with us. It is literally impossible for me to help you figure out which one you need to use to log in. All I can tell you is, “you used a gmail account”. Which one, I have no idea. And neither do you, apparently.
   

While there is certainly an argument for privacy to be made here, it sure would be nice to have the choice between a random per-site hash OpenID like …

https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=aitoaxleeuzwdizb1g2_wvnob5pwvx

And a stable, readable OpenID like …

http://www.google.com/profiles/your.name.here

Well, the good news is, now you can! Google just gave us a fantastic Thanksgiving Day present in the form of Google Profiles supporting OpenID. And with a Google Profile, you get to pick a named URL of your choice!

So, if you’d like to add a named Google OpenID to your account, here’s how.

First, log in as yourself. Go to your user page and look for the “add openid” or “change openid” link. (Note that we support up to two openids per account and you can change them at any time.)

Since you’re already logged in you are adding a new openid. Enter your Google Profile URL in the area where it says “manually enter your OpenID URL”, and click Login.

You’ll get redirected to Google where you can OK the use of your OpenID by our website.

You’ll get redirected back to us, and we confirm that yes, indeed, you do want to add this OpenID to your account. (In case you’re wondering, this confirmation is required — otherwise clicking a single evil link could automatically and silently add a new, rogue OpenID to your account effectively owning you.)

Now you’re back on your user page — note the newly added OpenID on my account. And if I want to change it, I can just click “Change OpenID” any time I want.

The only thing that throws a monkey wrench into this process is when you have a single OpenID provider and that provider either changes their string format, or goes belly-up. Don’t worry, both cases are fixable, but it requires emailing us. Still, I highly recommend having two different OpenID providers associated with your account at any given time.

Kudos to Google for rolling out named OpenID support in the form of Google Profiles. While you can of course continue to use the existing Google OpenID support, if you plan to use multiple ’stack sites (or Stack Exchange sites) I assure you that your life will be much easier if you pick a stable, named Google OpenID rather than relying on the default random hashes.

"

Moving Decimal Bug Loses Money

Moving Decimal Bug Loses Money: "mario.m7 writes 'Poste Italiane, the Italian postal service, suffered yesterday from an abnormal computation in ATM and credit card operations, since the decimal comma was not taken into account. The whole sum was therefore multiplied by 100, resulting in a 115,00 Euro transaction being debited as 11.500 Euro! Thousands of accounts are deep in the red and locked (link pumped through translator), so that no more operations are possible. Poste Italiane is gradually recovering the problem, fixing the error and re-crediting the sum debited in excess. Consumer associations have offered support to clients in case this lasts longer and cause damage.'

CATS WHO STARE AT

CATS WHO STARE AT: "

CATS WHO STARE AT GOATS

coming soon to a theater near you

u iz mah kid.

Picture by: Jill! Caption by: rick9 via Poster Builder

» Recaption This!

» View All Captions

"