center – Paul's Tech Talk

A fan wants to Release Windows 7 Now : My Security Concerns

PaulJanuary 29, 2009

After reading about this from PcWorld, I’ve went to check this site out. I went to his twitter accoun(Kelly Poe) to find out the site he put up and I am quite impressed. Here are few things that I am concerned about starting with the website.

[ad#ad2-right]I love the idea and all but I am quite concerned with the privacy of my email account. I don’t know if you have to submit your email account but I would caution people not enter one until the site says what it will do with your email address.

Now that being said that’s the only thing I can think of when it comes to security for your email address, you don’t want to someone to give out your email address to spammers. That would just make it even worse for your email account. You could however use a 10 min Email account to use but that might make it harder for Microsoft to contact you if they want to verify these accounts!!

Now my main concern is Windows 7 right now and Security. You know the Conflicker/Conflickr/Downadup Worm is currently loose on the internet. It uses the the Ms 08-067 Exploit and currently Windows 7 does not protect against this Worm in fact Microsoft has released information that you would need to install the updates manually to fix this problem.

Some vendors are yet to develop for Windows 7 beta due to it being a beta. Some others like Security Vendors are offering protection for Windows 7 Beta. This is mainly the Anti-virus software group, I would like to see more people embrace windows 7 as much as the security groups. Although this is the first step it would need to be more open response from Manufacturers and dealers alike they would need to get it to work making sure their drivers and such will work good with Windows 7. This is where it takes time, that is why I am glad it is a beta, it allows vendors and Companies a like a chance to test out their software and Hardware and even their drivers before the release.

Before I support this, I would like to see more happen to Windows 7 in some areas. For instance I’d like to see more compatability and more drivers and software that works for Windows 7. I’d also like to see Microsoft to take Windows 7 Beta Serious and Keep the Security up on it and not let it lapse. I’d want Microsoft to send out patches for Vulnerabilities just like Vista and keep people’s system updated so you don’t have to update them manually. I just hope Microsoft takes Apple’s example to heart and release Windows 7 without having to have several versions of the same Operating System.

Twitter Spam bots are hot to trot: http://gentai.com/revenge1

PaulDecember 29, 2008

Ok so I was curious why I all of the sudden got people joining my list. each one I look at just to see who these people are have only one twitter message saying this from two different accounts:

and this one also

and once you click that link it takes you to this website and see what they want you to do:

These people are trying to get you to click on there links and [ad#ad2-left-1]get you give them email accounts. This has been socially engineered to look like it is real. I gave them a 10 min email account to see what they sent me. It was a link to there porn site. Wanting me to give them my credit card or checking account information and to join there site. I don’t think so, not this old dog. Anyways if you get this spam from a user you might just want to block these people. Some of these people have followers. Hmm I don’t know about these people. I guess they want you to send an email to other people to spam them also. How nice of them to social engineer this scheme so you can make your friends and family mad at you and probably not even talk to you. So that is why it is good not to auto-follow people when they subscribe to your twitter account. Some people have that set. Some people just don’t learn. I am sure some people will like this site for other reasons but please don’t spam people with this little site. Please don’t put people on that list.

Microsoft to Release KB961051 on the Dec 17, 2008

PaulDecember 17, 2008

According to McAfee and I will quote:

December 16, 2008: Microsoft has announced an out-of-cycle patch release for a critical, remote-code-execution, vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer (CVE-2008-4844). The patch, to be released on December 17, will address the vulnerability across multiple versions on Internet Explorer running on supported Windows platforms.

[via McAfee Threat Center]

[ad#ad2-right]From what I am understanding it will be KB961051 and will be a critical update on all Windows platforms. Microsoft issued a security advisory for this on there Technet support website. This will probably be put online sometime tomorrow and will be available to download after 10am PST although this is just a rumor because when I go to that article they talk about the work around and how to fix it temporary until they release the patch. This is releated to the IE Vulnerability that is in the wild and has been causing havok on the internet.

Office Depot Closed 126 Stores

PaulDecember 10, 2008

This just came from USA Today, According to them and I’ll quote:

Office Depot plans to close 112 underperforming retail stores in North America over the next three months. In addition, 14 stores will be closed in 2009 as their leases expire or other lease arrangements are completed, it said.

The retailer will also close six of its 33 distribution centers in North America, and says it plans to open about 20 stores in 2009, down from an earlier estimate of 40.

[Via USAToday]

[ad#ad2-right]

Although this isn’t talking about layoffs but this will greatly impact people who will be jobless due to the closings. SO I wanted to talk about how many per store, I estimate it will be like 20 people per store on average. So that will be around 2,500 people will be jobless in the stores and I don’t know how many people will be jobless from the distribution center. If you want to check out my other posts just click here. If you search my site you will find even more tips and tricks to better help you be ready for the job market.

Viacom and ATT layoff some people. (12,850 People)

PaulDecember 4, 2008

Today, we are announcing a company-wide restructuring plan that includes staffing reductions in all divisions. This will result in a reduction of our worldwide workforce of approximately 7 percent, or about 850 positions. We are also suspending salary increases for the Company’s senior level management in 2009. In addition, after a comprehensive review of our operations, we will write down certain programming and other assets. These three actions will bring us significant cost savings and other efficiencies.

[via Gawker]

[ad#ad2-left]This is a Sad day for the telecommunications industry both AT&T and Viacom are laying off people. According to reports Viacom will lay off around 850 people. ATT will layoff 12,000 Jobs. Here’s the quote from Associated Press:

AT&T Inc. joined the recession’s parade of layoffs Thursday by announcing plans to cut 12,000 jobs, about 4 percent of its work force.

[Via Associated Press]

So in all today total that is 12,850 people who are going to be laid off. This is another set of layoffs but isn’t the last to see the whole list of of Layoffs in the Tech industry that I’ve talked about please click this link. You may find some usefull tidbits if you search my blog enough, I’ve got some great tips on getting hired and what you should do to be prepared.