Some Things Are Black And White
Usually, I am not the type to say I told you so. But…
Sphere: Related ContentSoftware giant Microsoft is in talks to acquire Yahoo’s online search business for $20 billion (£13 billion).
The proposal forms the centrepiece of a complex transaction that would see Microsoft support a new management team to take control of Yahoo. But there is no intention of Microsoft tabling another takeover bid for the web giant, after its aborted $47.5 billion offer this summer.
You Better Move Quickly
Have you updated your Windows PC lately?
A worm dubbed Win32/Conficker.A is making the rounds on Windows machines, exploiting a security hole that Microsoft released a patch for in October, Microsoft said on Wednesday.
The number of attacks have increased over the past couple of days, exploiting a critical vulnerability that was addressed by security update MS08-067.
If you haven’t been patching your Windows, you better get on those Windows Updates like real quick. Fixes for Windows are coming and going faster than diet supplements at the health food store.
Sphere: Related ContentThat Didn’t Take Long
Earlier this month, the Srizbi bot net lost ground when the McColo servers which hosted the domains running the bot net were closed down.
A couple days ago, the spam network started up again using an Estonian ISP. Well, it didn’t last long because the Estonians are on the ball.
An Estonian ISP that temporarily hosted the command-and-control servers for the Srizbi botnet, responsible for a large portion of the world’s spam, has cut off those servers, according to computer security analysts. It’s like the staff was just sitting around on bar stools waiting for the bot net to start back up, and then BAM! Great job guys!
That was quick. Why were they allowed to operate on the McColo servers for so long, yet the Estonians were able to disable them again within 72 hours? Interesting.
Sphere: Related ContentGMail’s Filter Vulnerability
I bet, by the time I post this, that Google already has a “fix” in the works, but I thought I might share it anyway.
A Gmail security vulnerability may allow an attacker to set up filters on users’ e-mail accounts without their knowledge, according to a proof of concept posted Sunday at the blog Geek Condition.
In a post, Geek Condition’s “Brandon” writes that the vulnerability has caused some people to lose their domain names registered through GoDaddy.com.
Vulnerabilities suck. I can’t imagine that the powers-that-be at Google would want this being around very long. Let’s see how long it takes…
Sphere: Related ContentHow Low Can It Go?
Is Microsoft really done with Yahoo?
Microsoft Corp. is no longer interested in buying all of Yahoo Inc., CEO Steve Ballmer said Wednesday, though he told shareholders that the company would still be “very open” to a collaboration on Internet search. His comments sent Yahoo shares diving by 14 percent.
“Let me be clear,” Ballmer said at Microsoft’s annual shareholder meeting. “We are done with all acquisition discussions with Yahoo.”
Maybe it’s just a ploy to get the price even lower so they can come in and gobble them up.
When Microsoft made their original offer, they were willing to pay $33 per share for the company. Now, it’s not even worth $10. Yahoo shareholders would have received a better deal if they had checked out term life insurance rates and bought some. Great move on their part rejecting all rumors that they may still be interested. They might be able to get it for $7. What do you think?
Sphere: Related ContentRemote Controlled Pizza
How sad is it that people cannot even get up from the couch and move over to the phone (or the computer) to place their order for pizza?
TiVo subscribers with a hankering for pizza can now order a pie from Domino’s directly from their TVs.
As of Monday, people who use one of TiVo’s broadband-connected digital video recorders can order a pizza by using their remote controls to click “I want it” on the Domino’s ad on their programming guide. TiVo subscribers can order the pie for deliver or pickup and track delivery timing. The pizza should arrive in about 30 minutes, according to Domino’s.
Just imagine the possibilities with the TiVo! They can start putting everything for sale right there on your TiVo menu and you won’t ever have to leave the house. That sure would make shopping on Black Friday fairly easy wouldn’t it? Well, you might have to leave the house to work, if you want to be able to pay that TiVo bill in the first place.
Sphere: Related ContentGetting Closer To The Line
Today it’s the flu, tomorrow it’s much more than that. While I agree that this “service” sounds beneficial and it will definitely help health officials stay ahead of the curve where flu treatment is concerned, I am also worried about the eagerness by Google to hand over search information to the government.
As I type this, I’m coughing and wheezing from my first real cold of the season. This will continue, on and off, for the next four months or so. And then I’ll get well, and then allergy season will be here.
Google recently launched an interesting microsite that lets interested parties track flu outbreaks from week to week and state to state. Google Flu Trends shows overall prevalence of flu compared to past years, and also offers a helpful map of the U.S. that breaks down outbreaks geographically. If I just moved one state over to Nevada, maybe I wouldn’t be coughing up a lung.
Exactly how much does the government need to know? It’s only a matter of time before they justify handing over more information on a variety of topics, all in the name of making the world a better place.
I’m still not sure how reliable this will be either, you might have better luck taking your money to vegas than trusting the information people search for.
The question is, once we allow the government to cross that line, can we ever make them cross back?
Sphere: Related ContentFalse Positives Can Really Hurt
If your anti-virus software presents you with this mis-information, you may want to double check before deleting the file.
More proof that anti-malware software isn’t perfect: A virus definitions update for the popular AVG antivirus system has been tagging a file called user32.dll as a threat and recommends it be deleted.
The catch: user32.dll is a rather essential part of Windows. Delete it and you won’t be able to boot your PC.
I hope, by the time you read this, that AVG has already corrected the problem and you won’t find yourself in the position of having to repair your computer. Choosing the right anti-virus software is like picking the right diet pills, but once you pick the right one, you know you’re on your way to a better life. AVG is the best anti-virus software for Windows.
You could solve the whole problem by purchasing a Mac too.
Sphere: Related ContentClimbing Into Bed With Microsoft
Wow, that didn’t take long. Yahoo gets jilted by Google and they immediately call Microsoft. Classy.
After nearly a year spent seeking alternatives to Microsoft Corp’s buyout offer, Yahoo Inc’s Chief Executive Jerry Yang said he believes a deal between the two is still the best option for the beleaguered Internet company.
Speaking at the Web 2.0 Summit hours after archrival Google Inc ditched its search advertising partnership with Yahoo, Yang said he remains open to selling the Internet company to Microsoft, but at the right price.
It won’t be long now. The problem for Yang is, the price they were offered months ago, was the right price at that time, but not now. Why pay for an old sofa when they could get a modern sofa a lot cheaper? Microsoft would be stupid to pay that price now.
Sphere: Related ContentYou Know You Suck, When…
I don’t know about you, but I saw this coming. Months ago. Is there any doubt that Yahoo screwed up big time when they rejected Microsoft’s original takeover bid?
Google Inc. has scrapped its Internet advertising partnership with struggling rival Yahoo Inc., abandoning attempts to overcome the objections of antitrust regulators and customers who believed the alliance would give Google too much power over online commerce.
The retreat announced Wednesday represented another setback for Yahoo, which had been counting on the Google deal to boost its annual revenue by $800 million and placate shareholders still incensed by management’s decision to reject a $47.5 billion takeover bid from Microsoft Corp. six months ago.
When Google thinks it’s too much trouble to bother with promotional pens and walks away from your company, you know you suck.
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