Security analysts have detected a new piece of malware that appears to run as a Microsoft program used to detect unlicensed versions of its operating system.
The malware has been classified as a worm and spreads through AOL's Instant Messenger program, said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos PLC, a security vendor.
Sophos is calling it W32.Cuebot-K, a new variation in the Cuebot family of malware. The worm has a range of malicious functions. After it's installed, the worm immediately tries to connect to two Web sites, a sign it may try to download other bad programs on the machine.
A Nasty Payload
Cuebot-K can disable other software, shut off the Windows firewall, download new malicious programs, perform basic DDOS (distributed denial of service) attacks, scan local files and spawn a command prompt, Sophos said.
Worms that spread through instant messaging programs often appear as messages or links sent from friends, which trick a user into executing the program. Cuebot-K propagates by sending itself as a file named "wgavn.exe" to more people in the user's "Buddy List" but without a message, Cluley said.
Worm With an Ironic Twist
If installed on a computer, Cuebot-K is registered as a new system device driver service named "wgavn." When a list of services running on the computer is summoned, the worm appears as "Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Notification" Sophos said.
Cuebot-K's registry entry appears as
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wgavn\.
The worm's ironic ruse comes as Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage program is being criticized for functioning like spyware. WGA collects hardware and software data on a user's computer and compares it to a database of licensed operating systems.
If an improper copy is detected, Microsoft warns the user and cuts off some free downloads.
Culled from http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,126307;page,1;c,worms/article.html]]>Generalhttp://www.olaide.com/index.php?itemid=17Wed, 2 Aug 2006 04:58:23 -0400Pourquoi, Zizou? Pourquoi???
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]]>Generalhttp://www.olaide.com/index.php?itemid=16Sun, 9 Jul 2006 20:06:03 -0400Man, I'm old...
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He asks, "Bierhoff is still playing? He's old, man."
"He's not playing", I reply, "He's like their general manger or something. And he is not that old. He was only 27 at Euro '96."
It wasn't until he gave me this blank stare did I realize that 1996 was ten years ago. Ten years! Has it really been that long?
]]>Generalhttp://www.olaide.com/index.php?itemid=15Tue, 11 Apr 2006 16:00:00 -0400Power restored in Miami.
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Miami FCPedro Power
Miami FC have agreed a deal to bring Bolivian defensive midfielder Pedro Power to the Tropical Park Stadium, Miami.
New Beginning
Power will travel with Miami FC to Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he will attend a three week preseason traning session, playing against teams from the Campeonato Brasileiro in preparation for the April 23 season opener against the Montreal Impact. The 23-year-old played collegiate soccer at Slippery Rock University, Pennsylvania, where he held records for assists and led the team in scoring for three consecutive years. In 2005, he moved to La Paz, Boliva to play with league champions El Club Bolívar, but never signed for contractual reasons.
Playing to win
"I'm delighted to be playing in my hometown," said Power, originally from Cochabamba, Bolivia, but now lives in Miami. "I am enthusiastic and happy to be part of something new. I'm really looking forward to training with and learning from World Cup champions like Zinho and Taffarel."
]]>Generalhttp://www.olaide.com/index.php?itemid=13Mon, 20 Mar 2006 13:14:00 -0500Happy "Single-people-get-defensive" Day
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Generalhttp://www.olaide.com/index.php?itemid=12Tue, 14 Feb 2006 00:10:00 -0500Super Eagles win third place.
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Didier Drogba.
This game did mark the retirement of Agustine Azuka "Jay-Jay" Okocha from International Football. Okocha was/is a wizard with the ball and a member of the FIFA 100 (a list of the 125 greatest living footballers selected by Pelé). Watching a Super Eagles game will never be the same.
I found this tribute clip on Google Video. Jay-Jay is simply the best!
*Complied by Hameed Sascha
]]>Generalhttp://www.olaide.com/index.php?itemid=11Fri, 10 Feb 2006 23:49:26 -0500Playoff-bound Wanderers!
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not keeping). We are officially in the Quarter Finals, y'all!
Last Week's Scores
Wanderers (CoRec) 1:1 FC Frotteur
Wanderers (Men's) 1:3 FC 4 Skin
This Week's Scores
Wanderers (CoRec) 2:0 The Manipulators
Wanderers (Men's) 4:1 Visually Stimulated
Wanderers (CoRec) 4:0 Meconium Happens
Wanderers (Men's) 7:1 Beta Theta Pi
This week's goal difference; 17:2
Current Records
Wanderers (CoRec) 5 wins, 0 losses, 1 tie
Wanderers (Men's) 5 wins, 1 loss, 0 ties
Feb-14 (Tue) 8:00 PM Section 2 v. Wanderers (Men's)
Feb-15 (Wed) 10:00 PM Wanderers (CoRec) v. P.A.'s]]>Generalhttp://www.olaide.com/index.php?itemid=10Fri, 10 Feb 2006 23:11:52 -0500Rant on... Open Source
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Allow me to explain. Take Linux, for example. If I am a programmer who doesn’t quite like any of the many flavours of Linux out there, instead of helping to make the current versions better, because it is open source, I decide to create my own version. The problem is there are seven other people thinking the same thing. We end up with eight different versions of "the wheel" that all behave differently. And because we spent so much time writing the code, we have no time to write the documentation.
Use Firefox? Go to Mozilla's Add-on page. You will see no less than three reiterations of the same extension from different people (most with little or no documentation). Could each new person have helped make the original extension better? Sure. But there is this "pride" thing going on in the open source community that - were it the case with proprietary software, one would simply write in their suggestions - makes programmers want to create their on thing. Usually to the detriment of the end-user, who is most likely not technically inclined.]]>Generalhttp://www.olaide.com/index.php?itemid=9Fri, 3 Feb 2006 12:38:02 -0500Super Eagles through to quarter finals.
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Obafemi Martins helped Nigeria stay undefeated and secure a place in the playoff round.
Somehow, Senegal still managed to qualify by scoring only three goals in three games (winning only one game, I might add).
It is supposed to stream the games live on the web. You register, pay, and then watch.
$29.99 for all the games.
$14.99 for all of one country's games.
$5.99 for one game.
I will try to see how it works for the Nigeria - Tunisia game on Satuday.]]>Generalhttp://www.olaide.com/index.php?itemid=8Tue, 31 Jan 2006 17:27:15 -0500Happy Birthday Jibola!
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God Bless and many happy returns, J.]]>Generalhttp://www.olaide.com/index.php?itemid=7Tue, 31 Jan 2006 13:26:25 -0500
