Category: system

Microsoft reveals “Microsoft Azure”

Paul

Windows Azure is part of a set of new and existing technologies behind the Azure Services Platform, a development and execution platform that runs end-user and corporate software on Microsoft’s own servers, accessible over the web. It joins Google’s App Engine and Amazon’s EC2 in an increasingly competitive market.

[Via ZDnet]

[ad]

Although,  There isn’t much more they have said I am quite curious how they will interegrate this into the cloud computing.  According to Microsoft, it won’t run on the company server but  Microsoft Datacenter.  Now this I can see is a big security problem.   Because most companies use what they call an Intranet and not the internet.  So that leaves questions on if companies are going to use this system or not.   Are you ready to let your information float somewhere over the inernet tht is SENSITIVE and CONFIDENTIAL?   These are the questions that Microsoft will have to Answer, before any company will use this on there systems.

Help stop those slow boot up!!

Paul

I was searching for a program to help boot up my system a lot quicker.   I came across this little program call Startup Delayer.  In a nutshell, it allows you to pick which programs to start up first and then lets you decide how many minutes between each program that is asking to load.

[ad]

[ad]

In the best way possible you can download this program and use it for yourself.   Although they seem to be having a little server problem right now.   Go download Startup Delayer, and decide for yourself.

Windows XP/ME/Vista and 2000 compatible

Microsoft Windows Server Service Vulnerability (MS08-067)

Paul

A vulnerability has been identified in Microsoft Windows, which could be exploited by attackers to take complete control of an affected system. This issue is caused by an error in the Server service that does not properly handle specially crafted RPC requests, which could be exploited by attackers to crash an affected system or execute arbitrary code via a specially crafted request.

On Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, the vulnerability is only exploitable by authenticated users.

Note: This vulnerability is being exploited in targeted attacks.

[via FrSirt]

[ad]

This was just discovered and needs to let people know. I will do more research on it and maybe come up with a way to fix the problem. According to my sources there is a patch that will fix the problem!!

*UPDATE*
According to Microsoft:

This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in the Server service. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if an affected system received a specially crafted RPC request. On Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 systems, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability without authentication to run arbitrary code. It is possible that this vulnerability could be used in the crafting of a wormable exploit. Firewall best practices and standard default firewall configurations can help protect network resources from attacks that originate outside the enterprise perimeter.
[Via Microsoft Security Bulletin]

AVG detected trojan ; Generic11.BEOG

Paul

I had a Friend tell me his system detected  this Trojan GENERIC11.BEOG.  I did my research and right now.  It looking like Adobe added something to there recent updates *see updates below*.   I’ll  Have to check with some other sources but it looking like AVG over did it again and found something that might just be an AVG issue.  (correction)

[ad]

I usually wait before updating something like adobe.  It is sure to be some minor change to adobe but if your are worried here’s the link to watch and see what people are asking or talking about this false positive:

Malwarebytes Security Forums

It seems that AVG is calling this possible virus but yet it looks like it is a false positive.  So don’t you worry.  If it was a true virus you’d probably would never know!! 😉

[ad]

*UPDATE*

I installed Adobe 9.0 and updated the virus scan database for AVG.  It hasn’t found any thing yet but I am still scanning my system.  I’ll let you know if it finds this false positive on my Vista machine!!  I’m doing this to test it out!!!  Come back later to find out the results of the test.  (if you like this website by all means google this website so it too can be on google trends.   I want to see it be up on google trends for a day or two.)

*UPDATE #2*

Just did a whole system scan.  It did not find anything.  So I will be doing a reboot and scanning again.   It might be something that is attached to a PDF, if you went to a malicious website.   So I will do another scan.

*Update #3*

I just rebooted and almost finished scanning with AVG.  I still haven’t found anything wrong.   I have did some more digging into what might cause it.   I just did a look registry look up on {AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A90000000001} and I found out something really interesting.   It’s a PDFFile_8.ico File.  This is tells me this is an Icon for the desktop.   I’m using one of the examples from Malwarebytes Security Forums to try to figure out what might be infected.

Here’s what AVG said after it finished scanning my system:

So I must assume that it is neither Adobe or AVG who have anything to do with this.  I will have to say that it must be a real infection as to not having any viruses after an install of Adobe.  How do you get this type of virus.  Check out my article on : Some Important programs to prevent yourself from having viruses and Malware!!

There you will find some useful tips on how not to get infected and other useful tools to help restore you system to it’s glory days.

So I will tell my friend to do a full virus scan and double check the results.  I can’t replicate the so called virus but I am sure there is something going on with the HASH files of the AVG Database and something might be coming back from the adobe install that has the same HASH files.  That also might be making AVG flag it as an Virus or Trojan.  I might never know though.

Taking back Program Controls : For the Beginners!

Paul1 Reply

Graph of typical Operating System placement on...
Image via Wikipedia

So, let’s face it, this is one of the most annoying problems there are with programs.   Programs that you think are shut down but are actually still active in the Taskmanager.  So I figured I’d talk about some of the most common fixes for these problems.    Now as you know there can be any number of programs or glitches as they say, causing the problems.  So let’s talk about the why, shall we.

Most of the time programs don’t quit because they are waiting for some kind of response from the system or the System is waiting for the program to close by itself.  It could also be a problem with a Virus or Root kit?  How do you fix it?

Fixing the problem is somewhat just trial and Error.  It isn’t always the hardest thing to do but sometimes people overlook the easiest solutions.   So here are some easy ones:

  • Check to see if one of the Microsoft updates are causing the problem —  Sometimes you might not realize it, but having installed an update can cause problems like KB951748.  That one caused a major Headache for Zonealarm.  So it is wise to check each months updates when you start seeing problems, sometimes it could of been happening for a while but it can sometimes cause troubles.

  • Do a Hijackthis scan — Just in case it is virus this will tell you what programs might be the virus.  You will need to go Analyze the logs so go HijackThis Log Analysis Site 1 and HijackThis Log Analysis Site 2. Check the logs to see what viruses might be on your system.   Just Remember that if you delete something important to your system you will have to install the Operating System.

  • Boot into Safe Mode and Clean out your Prefetch Directory — Yes that is right, if you boot into Safe Mode and clean the cache you sometimes help fix problems.  You see most programs loaded in cache sometimes get corrupt and might cause problems.

  • Uninstall any programs that you think might problem —  This one is easily overlook because most people don’t realize that a program is loading up with your knowledge and might cause a variety of problems.  You can also check the Msconfig for that programs that might not need to be loaded up when you start windows.

These are just a few ways to fix the problem and I think if you do this most of your problems will go away.  There are of course other solutions depending on your system configuration.   As with any changes to your system, please talk to your computer care specialist if you have any questions.

Related articles