Software Recommendation: Startup Delayer 2.5.138 (Free)

There are times during the Windows start-up that issues or slowness can occur is multiple programs are trying to start at the same time. r2 Studios (LINK: http://www.r2.com.au/software.php?page=2&show=startdelay (http://www NULL.r2 NULL.com NULL.au/software NULL.php?page=2&show=startdelay)) based in Brisbane, Australia has a nice little (and Free) utility allowing to control how long each program waits before startup.

From the r2 Studios site -

The power to speed up your computer’s startup process! If each program (Scheduled to run at startup) tries to load at the same time, you will notice the slow down that occurs during boot up, due to your CPU trying to help all the programs to load, and your hard disk accessing multiple files

Startup Delayer allows you to setup how many seconds after Windows has started, to load each program.
For Example:
If you have your mail program and a special clock starting up, then you can make your mail start say 10 seconds after Windows has loaded, and then the special clock start 20 seconds after Windows Starts.
Compatible with Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista

http://www.r2.com.au/software.php?page=2&show=startdelay (http://www NULL.r2 NULL.com NULL.au/software NULL.php?page=2&show=startdelay) (Software Author Website)

ALERT: Fake Antivirus software really adware meant to take your money $$$

Story (and pictures) from the Panda Labs website (LINK: http://www.pandasecurity.com/emailhtml/oxygen/022809_ENG_in.htm (http://www NULL.pandasecurity NULL.com/emailhtml/oxygen/022809_ENG_in NULL.htm))

Anti-Virus-1: A new fake antivirus

Anti-Virus-1 is adware, specifically a "fake antivirus". As with all such adware, it is designed to simulate a scan of the computer, supposedly detecting thousands of strains of (non-existent) malware. The end aim is to sell users a pay version of the fake antivirus in order to eliminate the threats.

When run, this adware warns the user that the computer is not protected. The main screen displayed (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/panda_security/3313653378/) is a spoof of the Window Security Center

It then pretends to scan the system for malware (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/panda_security/3313653384/). If users do not immediately take the bait and buy the pay version of the fake antivirus, the malicious code will sporadically display a message reminding the user that the computer is infected (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/panda_security/3313653386/)

In warning messages, and after the fake scan, a link is provided from which users can download the fake antivirus. Anyone clicking on the link will be redirected to a page like this (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/panda_security/3313653390/).

Additionally, when infected users visit certain Web pages with comparative reviews of antivirus products, there will be redirected to a spoof page showing a review of an ‘antivirus’, called Antivirus2010, with functions and characteristics similar to Anti-Virus-1.

"By doing this, cyber-crooks hope that users will download this adware on their own initiative. This makes it far less likely that users will suspect that they have been infected and consequently more likely that they will buy the fake antivirus", explains Luis Corrons, Technical Director of Panda Labs.

Software Recommendation – Network Mapping Tool Add-On for Visio 2007 (Add-on is Free)

A great tool allowing you to easily document your network and what is installed on it is LANsurveyor. It will create a network diagram in Visio format in just a matter of minutes, after going out and scanning the network for connected items (PC’s, Laptops, Routers, Printer, etc). For a limited time, solarwinds is offering this add-on free (a $499 value as they claim), by just filling out their registration form. *NOTE: As they themselves claim – Visio 2007 is required*

**From their Website**

LANsurveyor Express for Microsoft® Visio® is a powerful Visio 2007 plug-in that makes it easy to get comprehensive network maps in just minutes! Accessible via the Visio toolbar, LANsurveyor Express automatically discovers your network and produces topology maps in Visio format. Plus, LANsurveyor Express uses Visio SmartShapes® to represent your network devices and populates each node’s custom properties with the node’s IP address, network name, and fully-qualified domain name

http://www.solarwinds.com/register/registrationform.aspx?program=583&c=70150000000E50d (http://www NULL.solarwinds NULL.com/register/registrationform NULL.aspx?program=583&c=70150000000E50d) (Registration Location you need to register to be able get your FREE License Key which is a $499 value)

http://www.solarwinds.com/register/MoreSoftware.aspx?External=false&Program=583 (http://www NULL.solarwinds NULL.com/register/MoreSoftware NULL.aspx?External=false&Program=583) (Download Location)

**Disclosure – I have no affiliation, employment, or payments from anyone connected to this product (Even though if they would like to pay me I wouldn’t mind), I’m simply recommending this product as an end user who has benefitted from the product.**

ALERT: Gmail Users Gets Phished

After the widespread Gmail outage yesterday users were hit by a phishing attack over the Gtalk chat client. "The malicious message spread via the Google Talk instant messaging chat system (http://www NULL.sophos NULL.com/blogs/gc/g/2009/02/25/gmail-users-hit-viddyho), urging users to a video by clicking on a link connected via the TinyURL service.

The link points to a website called ViddyHo, which invited users to submit their Gmail usernames and passwords."

When users entered their credentials the information would be logged and the email account would be compromised. If you think you may have been subjected to this attack it is advised you change your password immediately. The attack was not immediately picked up by Google either because it did not use conventional means. By using the Gtalk client it bypassed the Gmail filters completely.

(*Story information and pictures from http://www.sophos.com/blogs/gc/g/2009/02/25/gmail-users-hit-viddyho (http://www NULL.sophos NULL.com/blogs/gc/g/2009/02/25/gmail-users-hit-viddyho))

Sprint – Phone Replacement Pt3

I finally have a replacement phone (That isn’t reported lost/stolen) and I have been able to get everything set up on the new phone. I have returned both the original phone and the 1st replacement phone (The “lost/stolen” one), let see if they process them properly or if i get a notice saying I haven’t returned them. I’m not holding my breath.

WEB: Worlds Most Expensive Football Game

A Sling box and a wireless data plan are like oil and water because many carriers put a cap on data limits for your wireless data access. When overages like this occur it’s generally an uneducated user blowing his cap out of the water.
An AT&T subscriber (http://www NULL.neowin NULL.net/news/man-receives-2806737-data-overage-charge-from-att) uses his data card with a sling box to stream cable broadcasts to his laptop. While sitting in the port of Miami about to set sail for a Caribbean cruise he wanted to watch the Chicago Bears play before he left for a relaxing vacation. After watching about two hours of the game the boat was leaving port and he didn’t want to be charged roaming fee’s so he turned off his laptop.
After returning home he received a bill from AT&T for $28,067.31. The user was perplexed and called AT&T to report the mishap but found out the charge was legitimate. Somehow, while sitting in the port of Miami, he was picking up a rogue signal on his AT&T data card that was charging him international rates while still in the US.
The best part of the entire story was AT&T’s initial defense was that “they sent a text message about the high use and roaming; however, they sent the message to the wireless card phone number, which cannot be called or texted to.”
Many calls to AT&T got his bill down to $6,000, but it wasn’t until he went to the media, the Chicago Sun (http://www NULL.neowin NULL.net/news/man-receives-2806737-data-overage-charge-from-att), that AT&T finally admitted their mistake and took off the roaming charges.

(*Story Info – Via Neowin.Net http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/02/24/man-receives-2806737-data-overage-charge-from-att (http://www NULL.neowin NULL.net/news/main/09/02/24/man-receives-2806737-data-overage-charge-from-att))

ALERT: Fake IRS email Phishing Scam

From MSNBC : http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29266355/?GT1=43001 (http://www NULL.msnbc NULL.msn NULL.com/id/29266355/?GT1=43001)

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news (http://www NULL.msnbc NULL.msn NULL.com), world news (http://www NULL.msnbc NULL.msn NULL.com/id/3032507), and news about the economy (http://www NULL.msnbc NULL.msn NULL.com/id/3032072)

Cyber-thieves are clever crooks. They know an e-mail that looks like it’s from the IRS will get your attention. So they send out fake e-mail that says you are about to be audited or are due a big refund. Who could ignore a message like that?

Facebook- Terms of Service being changed back.

Well it looks like for now, Facebook is going back to its old TOS (Terms of Service). I guess they figured no one ever reads those things. Seems like Facebook didn’t expect people to be paying attention.

Sprint – Phone Replacement PT.2

Ok this is getting ridicules. So far since i requested a replacement for my Mogul that wasn’t working. I have received a phone, been told that the phone that SPRINT SENT ME was listed as lost or stolen and now after 4 hours 11 min (yes I’ve been keeping track) and 15 different reps and I can’t even tell you how many departments, the solution is that Sprint will send me another phone today and that when that one arrives i will send back not only my bad phone but the “HOT” phone as well. At least the last tech gave me a $30 credit on my next phone bill (and yes i do plan to ask for more from them once we get this mess fixed!).

Stay Tuned!

Sprint – Adventure in getting phone replaced

I have a Sprint Mogul phone, which I actually like. As a tech and road warrior my phone has been in a lot of battles (and that’s why i get the insurance on the phone), and I finally needed to get my phone replaced via my insurance replacement. Well today I received my replacement Mogul……and wouldn’t you know it, even though i have a box from sprint with sprint paperwork…when i called in to get the new phone activated I was informed by the sprint tech that my phone is showing as lost or stolen in their computer system. So in other words sprint sent me a HOT phone (it appears). So far it has taken an hour on the phone with sprint to now be told that “a ticket is being created to have someone review it and try (that word scares me) to get the new phone out of jail (Hey I didn’t think I had ordered an iPhone – Jailbreak?). So the adventure continues tomorrow and lets see how much longer before my phone is replaced…..

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