Check your anti virus software!

Google warning on fake anti-virus software

Fake anti-virus software that infect PCs with malicious code are a growing threat, according to a study by Google.

Its analysis of 240m web pages over 13 months showed that fake anti-virus programs accounted for 15% of all malicious software.

Scammers trick people into downloading programs by convincing them that their PC is infected with a virus.

Once installed, the software may steal data or force people to make a payment to register the fake product.

"Surprisingly, many users fall victim to these attacks and pay to register the fake [anti-virus software]," the study said.

"To add insult to injury, Fake anti-viruses often are bundled with other malware, which remains on a victim's computer regardless of whether a payment is made."

More here:Check your antivirus software

New Zealand is widely thought of as a 'clean green' country full of natural resources and good for living, camping, tramping and holidaying in. This has been my impression of it since childhood. Several of my family were born here and think of it as home.

One of the things we prize most are the natural resources (clean rivers, pristine bush walks, challenging climbs, thermal areas, snow capped mountains, moderate conditions and precious few restrictions when it comes to enjoying them). That is until recently.

Now we hsee reports like this one:

'Disgusting' freedom campers anger residents

The increasing problem of freedom campers and the mess they are leaving in some of New Zealand's most idyllic spots has prompted action from one community.

The mess has one community board so upset that they have blocked some Queenstown lakeside lay-bys with boulders to stop people camping there.

Rachel Brown from Hawea Community Trust told TVNZ's Close Up programme that it is a huge problem that is rapidly escalating.

She says people are squatting right by the lake leaving human waste. Read more here

Use of language on the blog

I noticed recently that a visitor to the blog posted a brief comment in Chinese characters. Since nobody I know speaks Chinese or could assist with translation, may I suggest that we please keep all new contributions in the English language (not even 'Jinglish)? This is unfortunately necessary as it is an english speaking forum for everyone involved.

Article:No More Black Holes?

by Phil Berardelli on June 21, 2007 12:00 AM
If new calculations are correct, the universe just got even stranger. Scientists at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, have constructed mathematical formulas that conclude black holes cannot exist. The findings--if correct--could revolutionize astrophysics and resolve a paradox that has perplexed physicists for 4 decades.

On the surface, a black hole seems like a simple concept. It's a point in space where gravity grows infinitely strong. At a particular distance from the center of the hole--called the event horizon--gravity is already so strong not even light can escape. So material falls in never to be seen again. Calculations support this theory, but they also support something stranger. In 1974, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking showed that thanks to quantum mechanics matter can escape black holes in a tricky way. By random chance, a particle-antiparticle pair can flit into existence straddling the event horizon. One partner falls into the hole, while the other just barely makes it free. Because of this effect, dubbed Hawking radiation, a black hole slowly evaporates, so that anything that enters is eventually released over billions or even trillions of years. But how can black holes be both airtight and leaky?
More here

News:Hewlett Packard outlines computer memory of the future

By Jonathan Fildes
Technology reporter, BBC News

The fundamental building blocks of all computing devices could be about to undergo a dramatic change that would allow faster, more efficient machines.

Researchers at computer firm Hewlett Packard (HP) have shown off working devices built using memristors - often described as electronics' missing link.

These tiny devices were proposed 40 years ago but only fabricated in 2008.

HP says it has now shown that they can be used to crunch data, meaning they could be used to build advanced chips.

That means they could begin to replace transistors - the tiny switches used to build today's chips.

And, crucially, the unique properties of memristors would allow future chips to both store and process data in the same device. More here

Feedback:Re: Computer maintenance on your site

John:
Thank you very much, in reply to your response as to where to find computer maintenance tasks. got it.
Thank YOU!
I really appreciate it. I sometimes wish there was a book I could read that would teach me what I need, but oh well, It would be either too simple too over my head.

Thanks again for the direction and reply.
Mike M

What was he talking about? Answers to user questions