getsonic.com » security http://www.getsonic.com Internet News and the Online World Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:04:06 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 Windows 7 Black Screen of Death Feature. I Invented Windows http://www.getsonic.com/windows-7-black-screen-of-death-feature-i-invented-windows-53 http://www.getsonic.com/windows-7-black-screen-of-death-feature-i-invented-windows-53#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:31:29 +0000 Josh http://www.getsonic.com/?p=53 Many Windows 7 users are finding that the latest security updates are causing problems with the functionality of the operating system. After logging on there is no desktop, task bar, system tray or sidebar. Instead you are left with a totally black screen and a single My Computer Explorer window. This has resulted in many users calling the issue the Black Screen of Death, a reference to the ‘Blue screen of Death’ which appeared when other editions of windows crashed.
The update also affects Windows Vista and XP. Millions of people may have been affected by the problems. Some have resorted to reinstalling their windows software. Software firm Prevx, has identified at least ten different scenarios that will cause the problem.
Microsoft have said that users that have encountered the problem should contact their customer service line.

]]> http://www.getsonic.com/windows-7-black-screen-of-death-feature-i-invented-windows-53/feed 0 Second Worm Targets the iPhone http://www.getsonic.com/second-worm-targets-the-iphone-43 http://www.getsonic.com/second-worm-targets-the-iphone-43#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:57:42 +0000 Josh http://www.getsonic.com/?p=43 F-Secure, the anti virus company has discovered a new malicious worm running on iPhones in the Netherlands. To become infected requires several factors, however you must be:

  • using an iphone that has been jailbroken so that it can run unapproved applications.
  • using the SSH (secure shell)  application
  • using the default password in SSH
  • living in the Netherlands, although there is always the possiblity that the virus can spread.

The new virus also allows the phone to be controlled remotely allowing hackers to create a botnet or organised network of phones which may be used for a number of criminal activities including sending spam emails, dennial of service attacks and many other nefirious activities.
Only a few days earlier a proof of concept virus, called ‘ikee’ was released to make people aware of the security issues of running SSH software with the default password. The virus was harmless replacing the phone’s wallpaper with a picture of Rick Astley. It was only a matter of time before the virus was modified by criminals.

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