A week ago, Microsoft officials said they were removing one of the company’s Windows patches from the Windows Update pipeline because of reports of blue-screening by some XP users after applying that patch.

On February 17, via the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) blog, the Softies shared the fruits of their investigations of this issue. My ZDNet blogging colleague Ed Bott had predicted, the blue screening was a result of malware already on users’ XP machines. And that seems to be the case, Microsoft officials said — specifically the   Alureon rootkit.

According to the new blog post by MSRC Director Mike Reavey, Microsoft is “working on a simpler solution to detect and remove Alureon from affected systems which should be released in a few weeks.” (Other third-party security firms are doing the same, Reavey said.)

There’s no update in the new post as to when Microsoft will recommence distributing MS10-015 via automatic update (I’d think if and when that happens, it will be after Microsoft releases the Alureon rootkit-detection fix.)

Microsoft pulled MS10-015 (KB977165) from WIndows Update in early February after reports by users, including some XP users claiming blue-screen-of-death (BSOD) issues seemingly resulting from application of the that patch.

Users still having issues they believe may be the result of MS10-015 can obtain free support from Microsoft by going to https://consumersecuritysupport.microsoft.com or by calling 1-866-PCSafety (1-866-727-2338). International customers can find local support contact numbers here: http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx.

The software vendor has released an unscheduled update to fix vulnerabilities in all previous versions of Reader, including a code injection vulnerability more »

Opera Software has released version 10.61 of the Opera web browser to fix a high severity hole. The issue was a heap overflow in the HTML5 canvas when performing some painting operations, which could in some cases be used to execute code. Read the full article

This week in our regular free music slot, we showcase the electro band, The Slips, who are offering up a series of free mixtapes to celebrate their new forthcoming single. Read more

A recent chat with an individual who was almost tricked into helping organized criminals launder thousands of dollars stolen through e-banking fraud displayed one of the more clever and convincing money mule recruitment Web sites encountered. Read the full article

An Internet Security Suite is a sound investment for your Windows PC, but it can be pricey. Finding the best Internet Security Suite that offers the most protection for your hard earned money is important. To save you time, money, and heartache, we've poured over the results of AV-Test.org's extensive testing of Internet Security Suites and provided our top picks for the best Internet Security Suites for 2011. To qualify, each Internet Security Suite had to score 4 or higher (out of a possible 6) for its combined effectiveness in detecting and removing malware.

Read Review
 

Netflix is now letting U.S. users dial down the quality of streaming videos to avoid hitting bandwidth caps.

Users can choose from three quality settings by visiting the “Your Account” page on Netflix’s website and looking for the “Manage Video Quality” link. “Good quality” consumes up to 0.3 GB per hour, “Better quality” burns up to 0.7 GB per hour, and “Best quality” consumes up to 1 GB per hour for standard definition or 2.3 GB per hour for HD. The settings apparently apply to computers and televisions.

Netflix isn’t hiding its reason for offering the quality options: “We know that some of you have Internet data caps and we want to make it easier for you to manage how much data you use,” the quality management web page says. Most recently, AT&T instituted a 150 GB cap for DSL subscribers and a 250 GB cap for U-Verse subscribers.

What’s somewhat surprising to me is that Netflix isn’t publicizing the feature. As DSL Reports’ Karl Bode points out, Netflix added the quality management tool quietly, burying it on an account management page with no announcement. Netflix isn’t above shaming Internet service providers — the company publishes a chart of who streams the service fastest— so the fact that Netflix was driven to this point would seem like another way to paint itself as the consumers’ champion.

But Rich Karpinski at Connected Planet has a different take: Netflix “gets and keeps subscribers by delivering a high quality streaming video service,” he writes. “Limiting bandwidth limits its service.” So Netflix doesn’t want to let on that its streaming is anything less than high quality. If your service provider is putting a limit on usage, however, lower quality is a reality you might have to face.

Automate powering down your machine. "ShutDown After is simple program by use of which you can set timer or assign hotkeys for windows shutdown, restart, log off, hibernate, stand by. This can prove very helpful in situations, when you want your computer to get shutdown, restart, log off, hibernate, stand by after completion of some task or you want to perform shutdown operations by just key press

Download

Livescribe's 500,000 customers have something new to talk about a second digital pen, the Echo, released in late July. Read more

Researchers are advising Facebook users to avoid offers to download an “official dislike button”, which the firm claims has spread virally across the service. There are  two different versions of the ruse thus far, both with tiny URL links to rogue applications. Read the full article. [

Over the past several months, I've been restoring an 81 GMC Sierra Grande, LWB.  While online doing my research, I stumbled across a great website that is just starting up.  Loads of help and information about your 73-87 pickup models.  Just an all around great bunch of people.  Take a look.  www.squarebody.com

More than a year after the pop icon's death, Michael Jackson has a new video game on the way, one that teaches players to moonwalk, spin and slide like the King of Pop once did.

Michael Jackson The Experience, due in November for Wii, Xbox, PS3, PSP and DS (rated E10+ for ages 10 and up), lets players try to match some of his classic moves.

John Branca and John McClain, co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate, say they had been looking for a video game to showcase his legacy. (His last game, Moonwalker, in the early '90s, had him dancing to defeat "Mr. Big" and save the children

Continue reading »

In the face of continued attacks targeting its hugely popular Gmail service, Google has put together a checklist to help Gmail users better secure their accounts by looking at the settings in their inboxes, their browsers and their PCs. The security guide doesn't automate any of these tasks for users, but instead gives them a guide comprising 18 steps to help lock down their Gmail inboxes.

Continue reading »

With stories abounding of identity theft aided by information lifted from discarded storage devices, you want devices you no longer plan to use to have no usable information when they head out the door. Here's how to wipe them clean

How to Completely Erase Your Hard Drives, SSDs and Thumb Drives

Though Pfizer apparently initiated a recall of its popular cholesterol fighting drug Lipitor (aka Atorvastatin) in August, it only came to the public attention this week. Regardless, a total of 191,000 90-pill bottles of the drug have been recalled from pharmacies in the U.S. and Canada.

In its listing on the FDA website, it describes the reason for the recall as "Chemical Contamination: complaints of an uncharacteristic odor identified as 2, 4, 6 tribromoanisole."

2, 4, 6-tribromoanisole was also one of the culprits in this summer's recall of Tylenol products. It is a chemical that is produced when fungi break down a commonly used fungicide called 2,4,6-tribromophenol. In the Tylenol situation, it is believed that the contamination happened after the fungicide was used to treat wooden warehouse pallets.

But a rep for Pfizer says in a statement to CNN that the company "has been working closely with the bottle supplier to determine the cause of the odor problem and to rapidly address it."

The company also says that its own "medical risk assessment based on all the information we have has determined that the odor issue is not likely to cause adverse health consequences for patients."

Pfizer recalled 191,000 bottles of Lipitor for odor [CNN]

Adobe Reader comes pre-installed on most computers. And even if you never use it, just its mere presence can leave your computer at risk. If you absolutely must keep Adobe Reader or Acrobat, here are the must-follow security tips you need to make Adobe Reader and/or Adobe Acrobat safer. 
 Continue reading »

Dell said human error was to blame for mistakes which led it to ship a number of replacement server motherboards to customers pre-loaded with spyware. The company declined to say whether it was running anti-virus software at its factory but said it had taken 16 steps to improve processes. Read the full article

Although Adobe doesn't have a patch ready yet for the newly disclosed vulnerability in the company's Reader application, Adobe and Microsoft security officials said that Microsoft's recently released Enhanced Mitigation Environment Toolkit 2.0 can protect users against the exploit that is currently circulating.

Continue reading »

In the wake of all of the stories about the Windows DLL hijacking bug, it appears that certain Linux distributions may be vulnerable to a similar problem related to the way that Linux handles a specific variable in some cases. The bug apparently was introduced via a Debian patch last year.Read More

Carol Bartz faces the task of showing that the tech giant can fend off powerful rivals such as Facebook. She spoke at the USA TODAY CEO Forum. Read more

I’ll be purposefully neglecting the Site over the next day or 2. Time For Family matters as we prepare to celebrate. Have a wonderful Easter, everyone! ::NB::

Hey, the folks at American Legacy Foundation are the real deal, set up by lots of states as part of a settlement deal with the tobacco companies.

They run the Truth campaign, trying to prevent addiction among the young.

Here's their new effort to help people out:

Social media can help create social change, but it can also help with PERSONAL
change -- like helping people quit smoking. There are now iPhone apps that can help,
Twitter feeds, even online communities, like this one at BecomeAnEX.org.

The EX plan offers lots of other tools, resources, information and exercises that
can help you prepare to quit smoking today. Probably the best part is that EX comes
with a built-in network of friends and support. You can access their social network
of other people trying to quit at BecomeAnEX.org

 

Add this to the list of reasons why you should think twice before moving to Yuma, Ariz., where the thermometer can hit 124 degrees: nearby Marine Corps radio signals can kill your garage door opener

Foothills resident has garage door problem

Apple patched a critical vulnerability in QuickTime that was reported to the company by a bug bounty program months ago. Read the full article

A Twitter user has demonstrated a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability on the microblogging platform that could allow an attacker to take over users' accounts or spread malware. Read the full article

The developers of the uTorrent file-sharing application have released an updated version that fixes a problem that could allow an attacker to load malicious code onto a user's computer. Read the full article

Windows 7 Starter edition is the lowest, basic Windows 7 edition available at a very cheap price. Such a price is justified by the fact that a lot of features and options available in other Windows 7 editions are completely missing in this version. In fact, for example, you can not change and customize the wallpaper,  you can only use the “Windows Basic”, you can not switch between users, you can not change window colors, or sound schemes etc. This little tutorial will teach you how to unlock certain features in Windows 7 Starter in order to customize it in any way you wish!

1. As a first step, download  and install Stardock MyColors.  This little tool will let you change the theme of your Windows 7.
2. Now, if you want to change the screensaver click Start and in the Search field, type change screen saver.
3. Click the Change Screen Saver option and change the screensaver!
4. If instead you want to change the system sound, click Start and in the Search field, type change system sounds.
5. Change the system sound scheme with the ones available

The guys over at LiveSide.net have once again stumbled upon new screenshots of Windows Live Wave 4.  The screenshots reveal a new look on the header themes for some of the Windows Live services, including Hotmail, live.com, and other sites. Microsoft accidentally gave some users a sneak peak when they released... Read More