Goodbye Lou and hello Sobig Virus
Tuesday saw Lou, Lourdes, "paso de vosotros" leave for her home, Madrid. We will all miss her a lot, but let's hope that we can meet up again soon.
Whilst some of us are now leaving, we also have a few arrivals, namely the families of Alberto and Jordi are visiting for a few days before returning to Valencia with their sons later on.
After the chaos caused by the "msblast" virus, you would assume people would be protected from another outbreak. Oh no, now the "Sobig" virus has been doing it's rounds and in the space of a week has become the most virulent virus ever. So protect yourselves now (download latest virus definitions from your AV vendor).
Nothing else very urgent at the moment...
Thursday, August 21, 2003
Saturday, August 16, 2003
Quickie
The attack on the microsoft update servers, due to start today, did not go quite as planned. The website targeted (an old address) was taken down beforehand. However, the increased network activity effects were seen, as I can verify at 00:45 this morning the Uni Mainz/Hechtsheim connection to the internet no longer worked (which is why I had to finish updating my site this morning). Of course, when America finally wakes up it will probably get worse...
Talking about updating, the useful sites and friend's sites pages have been updated, so give them a look.
Hey-ho and off to work I go...
The attack on the microsoft update servers, due to start today, did not go quite as planned. The website targeted (an old address) was taken down beforehand. However, the increased network activity effects were seen, as I can verify at 00:45 this morning the Uni Mainz/Hechtsheim connection to the internet no longer worked (which is why I had to finish updating my site this morning). Of course, when America finally wakes up it will probably get worse...
Talking about updating, the useful sites and friend's sites pages have been updated, so give them a look.
Hey-ho and off to work I go...
Friday, August 15, 2003
Doing Nothing, Best Buys and Virus Alert
A new craze has hit Europe after making it's way through America, called "flash mobbing". This is when groups, organised through the internet receive an email telling them to do a particularly pointless thing at a certain time soon afterwards. This information is then disseminated by mobiles and text messages so that, for example, groups of about 200 people went to a bookstore in Rome asking about "Pinnochio 2 - The Vendetta" (doesn't exist) and to Macy's in New York asking for a "love rug" for a "suburban commune". Check out the following websites for more info: cheesebikini, flashmob.com, and an article by the telegraph.
Ever wanted to be mister handyman? Well, with the help of the German supermarket chain Plus and their special offers for screwdriver sets, you can :)
Now time for an important virus warning. The msblast virus seems to be affecting a large amount of home, as well as business users, and since it isn't distributed by email, rather anonomously though the computers network ports, it is a lot more difficult to stop. So here's what you have to do to prevent/get rid of it (for a full explanation, read this page at symantec.com) :
1) Firstly, you should install the latest microsoft patch (Windows 2000, or Windows XP, if your windows is not the english version, remember to select the correct language, or the update won't work) which prevents this virus from entering your system any more.
2) Reboot the computer.
3) Download the symantec fixblast tool (to desktop is a good place).
4) Close all running programs (like messenger clients, Word etc.).
5) If you have Windows XP, right-click on the "My Computer" desktop icon, and select "properties". Now click on the tab labelled "System Restore". Tick the box that says "Turn off System Restore" and then on the "Apply" button. When asked if that is really what you want to do, say "Yes".
6) Run the Fixblast.exe program (double click on the desktop icon if that's where you downloaded it to) and select "Start" for it to start checking your computer.
7) When this has finished, restart the computer.
8) Run Fixblast again (as in step 6) to check that the virus is fully removed.
9) If you have WinXP, turn on System Restore, following the same method as in Step 5.
After completing all this, update your virus signatures and install a firewall to help prevent other viruses of this nature entering again.
Remember to practice Safe Surfing.
A new craze has hit Europe after making it's way through America, called "flash mobbing". This is when groups, organised through the internet receive an email telling them to do a particularly pointless thing at a certain time soon afterwards. This information is then disseminated by mobiles and text messages so that, for example, groups of about 200 people went to a bookstore in Rome asking about "Pinnochio 2 - The Vendetta" (doesn't exist) and to Macy's in New York asking for a "love rug" for a "suburban commune". Check out the following websites for more info: cheesebikini, flashmob.com, and an article by the telegraph.
Ever wanted to be mister handyman? Well, with the help of the German supermarket chain Plus and their special offers for screwdriver sets, you can :)
Now time for an important virus warning. The msblast virus seems to be affecting a large amount of home, as well as business users, and since it isn't distributed by email, rather anonomously though the computers network ports, it is a lot more difficult to stop. So here's what you have to do to prevent/get rid of it (for a full explanation, read this page at symantec.com) :
1) Firstly, you should install the latest microsoft patch (Windows 2000, or Windows XP, if your windows is not the english version, remember to select the correct language, or the update won't work) which prevents this virus from entering your system any more.
2) Reboot the computer.
3) Download the symantec fixblast tool (to desktop is a good place).
4) Close all running programs (like messenger clients, Word etc.).
5) If you have Windows XP, right-click on the "My Computer" desktop icon, and select "properties". Now click on the tab labelled "System Restore". Tick the box that says "Turn off System Restore" and then on the "Apply" button. When asked if that is really what you want to do, say "Yes".
6) Run the Fixblast.exe program (double click on the desktop icon if that's where you downloaded it to) and select "Start" for it to start checking your computer.
7) When this has finished, restart the computer.
8) Run Fixblast again (as in step 6) to check that the virus is fully removed.
9) If you have WinXP, turn on System Restore, following the same method as in Step 5.
After completing all this, update your virus signatures and install a firewall to help prevent other viruses of this nature entering again.
Remember to practice Safe Surfing.
Tuesday, August 12, 2003
News, news and more news
First up, safety in airports. You would think that we are now over-cautious with the safety controls that are in place, but as this article from the BBC shows, knives are still able to be smuggled through airport security. Makes you feel really safe, doesn't it.
France, always one for flouting the rules when it feels like it, has decided to allow excess water from it's nuclear plants to leak into the rivers at higher temperatures, ignoring any possible impacts it may have on the environment. Of course, they could have done like the swiss and just cut output during this hard time, but they had to do it their way. Ok, it's not fair always picking on the french, I know, so I would also like to point out that Germany too has taken to using the same method.
For those of you that like to stay up late (or those that can't get to sleep because of this ridiculous heatwave we're having) tonight at about 2-3am you should be able to see the meteor shower of Perseids.
Amongst the latest lot to leave for their home countries, are Pau, Nuria, Giulia, Carmen, David, and Juanfran. Best wishes go out for whatever they go on to do with their lives.
That's it for now
First up, safety in airports. You would think that we are now over-cautious with the safety controls that are in place, but as this article from the BBC shows, knives are still able to be smuggled through airport security. Makes you feel really safe, doesn't it.
France, always one for flouting the rules when it feels like it, has decided to allow excess water from it's nuclear plants to leak into the rivers at higher temperatures, ignoring any possible impacts it may have on the environment. Of course, they could have done like the swiss and just cut output during this hard time, but they had to do it their way. Ok, it's not fair always picking on the french, I know, so I would also like to point out that Germany too has taken to using the same method.
For those of you that like to stay up late (or those that can't get to sleep because of this ridiculous heatwave we're having) tonight at about 2-3am you should be able to see the meteor shower of Perseids.
Amongst the latest lot to leave for their home countries, are Pau, Nuria, Giulia, Carmen, David, and Juanfran. Best wishes go out for whatever they go on to do with their lives.
That's it for now
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
Heatwave, Monkeys and Virus Warning
As most of Europe suffers under the effects of the sun, the UK seems to be looking more like the med. It's not all good news, however, apart from Germany sweating without the help of air conditioning, the UK has used the hot weather as an excuse for slowing down the trains. We can never win.
Next up in the news, is a virus warning, although it doesn't seem to be so advanced, it hasn't stopped people from contracting it (not literally people, their computers...) As ever, the advice is to keep your virus program up to date, and to patch this critical vulnerability in Windows.
As more and more firms are moving abroad in order to reduce costs of labour, an Iowian firm has found a different method. They hire monkeys. Yes (this goes out especially to Griff) whilst we have all thought that the guy at the other end of the helpline was some form of primate, now we have the proof. This shows us two things; labour is very cheap indeed hiring chimps instead of humans, and that Visual Basic is in fact just a language written for apes.
bysie bye
As most of Europe suffers under the effects of the sun, the UK seems to be looking more like the med. It's not all good news, however, apart from Germany sweating without the help of air conditioning, the UK has used the hot weather as an excuse for slowing down the trains. We can never win.
Next up in the news, is a virus warning, although it doesn't seem to be so advanced, it hasn't stopped people from contracting it (not literally people, their computers...) As ever, the advice is to keep your virus program up to date, and to patch this critical vulnerability in Windows.
As more and more firms are moving abroad in order to reduce costs of labour, an Iowian firm has found a different method. They hire monkeys. Yes (this goes out especially to Griff) whilst we have all thought that the guy at the other end of the helpline was some form of primate, now we have the proof. This shows us two things; labour is very cheap indeed hiring chimps instead of humans, and that Visual Basic is in fact just a language written for apes.
bysie bye
Monday, August 04, 2003
BBQs, leaving, and photos
Well, the semester has ended, the temperatures have reached record levels and most of the Erasmus students are slowly making their ways home. Which means there ar elaving parties nearly every night, and what better way to celebrate than to have a barbie :) Unfortunately, it does become a bit repetitive after a while, up to the point where I can't see another sausage nor burger for a month !!!
Finally found time to put up the photos from Argentina that Fernand and Joan sent a while back, which can be found under Photos->Others->Fernando and Joan. Also, Alberto's photos from the meal at Olga's are now available to see, Photos->Meals->Olga Cena.
Well, that's it for now, more news later on.
Well, the semester has ended, the temperatures have reached record levels and most of the Erasmus students are slowly making their ways home. Which means there ar elaving parties nearly every night, and what better way to celebrate than to have a barbie :) Unfortunately, it does become a bit repetitive after a while, up to the point where I can't see another sausage nor burger for a month !!!
Finally found time to put up the photos from Argentina that Fernand and Joan sent a while back, which can be found under Photos->Others->Fernando and Joan. Also, Alberto's photos from the meal at Olga's are now available to see, Photos->Meals->Olga Cena.
Well, that's it for now, more news later on.
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