Trojan virus steals bank info

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7701227.stm

Quotes from the link: "The details of about 500,000 online bank accounts and credit and debit cards have been stolen by a virus described as "one of the most advanced pieces of crimeware ever created. The RSA's Fraud Action Research Lab said it first detected the Windows Sinowal trojan in Feb 2006."
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Yep, you got it, another "windows" trojan virus. One that is affecting bank and credit cards in most of the western world. When will Microsoft fix its terrible lack of security in Windows operating systems? It seems Microsoft is not concerned, and has done nothing to enhance security, or fix it, in Windows Seven.

Do yourself a favor, if you use your computer online, use a far safer Operating System than Windows, use Linux, BSD, Solarius, or Mac OS X. Windows is the Typhoid Mary of Operating Systems.

がんばってください。

But all smart phones need to connect up back to the PC to exploit their richness. I don't think every user plans on downloading a all their songs on an iPhone or use the crappy camera to take pictures, manage files, write documents. The Windows PC makes the iPhone more valuable when its synced up through iTunes or a Windows Mobile phone through Windows Mobile Device Center. The iPhone is just an extension to the PC. Even Apple realizes that.

I currently have a Motorola E398 I plan on changing out soon, but I torn between iPhone, Windows Mobile Black Jack or Black berry Storm. Two of my friends have Windows Mobile based phones and I like how they sync up with Vista, but at the same time, I like web on the iPhone when I'm on the go.

I just recently purchased an iPhone and I find it far superior to a Nokia phone with Windows mobile I had before. Windows Mobile is so clunky compared to the iPhone.

I will say I only use WinXP for work. At home I use OSX and Linux (Ubuntu)

Windows 7: The 'Dog Food' Tastes Bad

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/153023/windows_7_the_dog_food_tastes_bad.html

Quotes from the link: "My first compatibility roadblock involved Daemon Tools. One of the most widely used ISO-mounting utilities, Daemon Tools is a core part of my day-to-day compute stack. It's how I install software into any new system (physical CDs and DVDs are so yesterday), and as such, one of the first things I add to a new installation.
And it broke. Not in any minor, cosmetic way, either. It broke big time. The core "SPD" driver -- kernel-mode component used to simulate a physical CD/DVD drive -- refused to install. This came after I had forced the installer to continue by enabling the "Windows Vista RTM" option in the compatibility tab for its disk file (otherwise, Daemon would refuse to even attempt an install).
What was a show-stopper was VMware Workstation 6.5. As a software developer and reviewer, I live and die by my ability to create and deploy virtual machines. It's how I review most software packages and also how I test my own code before moving it to a physical machine. So when VMware got all flaky under Windows 7 M3, I started reaching for my portable USB drive -- the one with the Windows Image Backup folder on it.

You see, VMware didn't just get quirky under Windows 7. It became unusable. First, it wouldn't start any of my existing VMs, ostensibly because its privilege requirements or security model was incompatible with the new "neutered" UAC (fewer prompts but more confusion as to what's actually going on behind the scenes). But what really got me steamed was the inability to use the bridged networking option. Though the bridging protocol was present and installed on the desired target adapter, VMware Workstation couldn't see the adapter -- there was no entry for it in the Virtual Network Editor screen, leaving me with NAT and Host Only as my only network options.

In the end, this was the straw that broke the camel's back. I can tolerate a lot of things, but breaking VMware isn't one of them. And since each new version of Windows seems to do exactly that -- break VMware's networking stack -- I'm starting to wonder if there isn't something malicious going on here, sort of like how Microsoft would deliberately break QEMM with each new version of DOS-based Windows."
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Oh my, could it be, even more incompatibility in Seven than in Vi$ta???

Chips, its called Pre-Beta for a reason. The code is not even frozen yet. Also, Microsoft is giving 3rd party ISVs and IHVs a lot of time to get their applications working before Windows 7 RTM. In the case of Daemon Tools, thats an example of an application that was never programmed properly in the first place. Its quite similar to Antivirus applications that have to have low level access to the system, that means interact with the kernel. Its possible either kernel hardening changes in Windows 7 or improvements to ASRL is preventing from working. But anyone assuming things from a pre-beta is so stupid, they need to stop writing software previews. Its not even suppose to be a review, its suppose to be a preview.

VMWare I am not surprised either, and I am sure VMWare will provide free updates for their customers that enable compatibility. The fact that Daemon tools is free, I am sure by the time the OS is ready, Daemon Tools will also be ready. I remember as far back as post beta 2 Vista builds, they had a compatible version of the software.

"But all smart phones need to connect up back to the PC to exploit their richness."

Except any phone running Andriod...

"I don't think every user plans on downloading a all their songs on an iPhone or use the crappy camera to take pictures, manage files, write documents."

Yes they do, I know quite a few people that use their phone to take pictures, most people do not want to write documents on a phone, they want to write to their friends and family.

"The Windows PC makes the iPhone more valuable when its synced up through iTunes or a Windows Mobile phone through Windows Mobile Device Center. The iPhone is just an extension to the PC. Even Apple realizes that."

Well for me, the OSX PC makes the iPhone useful, I am eagerly waiting for 2.2 which will allow you to update podcasts over the air. Once I get this, I will only need to sync to update the firmware or to perform a backup. The PC will become almost useless. Anyone without a PC can normally find a friend who has one to do firmware updates etc.

I know someone who bought an iPhone recently and he does not have a PC at all (he is also over 70), he loves it (its a bit scary really).

Andre, you and Microsoft need to get with the times, the world is moving away from the desktop. Maybe the Windows Mobile is useless without a Windows PC, but not Android phones, and to a lesser extent iPhones. Some would argue Windows Mobile is useless even with a PC...

Lets all thank Andre for the (ms official?) response, and why applications are now broken in Seven that worked in Vista, even with the same kernel. Is that an official response by you from Microsoft, Andre? We can safely count on stuff to just work then when Seven comes out then? Whoops, guess I did not read Andre's post far enough, we better hope Daemon and VMware release updates for Seven, according to Andre. Ok, thanks anyway, I think for the official, but unofficial shill response, even though it was unasked.

And here is something more from that link, its seems Skype is also having problems with Seven. Isn't that just rich folks?

Windows 7: The 'Dog Food' Tastes Bad

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/153023/windows_7_the_dog_food_tastes_bad.html

Quote from the link: "So when Skype 3.8 started freaking out (randomly crashing a few minutes after initial program load) I knew I was in trouble. The solution here was to download the Skype 4.0 beta. But since like most people I hate what Skype has done with version 4.0 (we're all praying it changes course away from that awful new UI), this was far from an ideal solution. Still, not a show-stopper."
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Now the Skype issue was not so bad, beta software for beta software, I guess. But to say like Andre does,that the author of this link should not review Seven because its beta software, is just not right. No, if we wait till it becomes finial and then rate it, MS will just leave all the bugs in it, and users will not have an informed opinion on if they really want to spend more money on Vi$ta R2, whoops, I mean $even.

Joe asks the question: "Will Your Next PC Be a Smartphone?"

no it will still be a PC. Its hard to type a lot on a phone.

Rumor: Asus to Ship a $200 Eee PC in 2009?
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/rumor_asus_ship_a_200_eee_pc_2009

Now a $200 netbook, is an interesting idea. How much of that cost is Asus willing to give Micro$oft, or will they wisely put Linux on it? Think of it this way, at $200, there cannot be a lot of money for a MS OS to be spent on. Which either means, MS gives them XP, and makes nothing, or Asus installs Linux. Either way MS loses. And giving away you windows software sets a very bad example to those who sell a slightly more expensive computers. Where will it stop?

Chips, why are you defending Daemon Tools so much? Its a very despised application that is known to install malware and spyware on users PC's without their consent. If its broken in Windows 7, its probably for a good reason.

Even if a lot people move their computing to the web, everything will still have to take place through the PC. A lot of rich, engaging experiences take place first locally on the PC and are then uploaded to web to share. Windows Vista, 7 and Windows Live will be the key facilitators for this new evolution in the way we interact with these three specific categories, Windows, PC and the Web.

Quote Andre "Its a very despised application that is known to install malware and spyware on users PC's without their consent."
Youve got guts posting that one! Havent you just perfectly described Windows? Theres a "rich"statement,an MS Windowsboy claiming that another package installs malware.

Andrew LA la de Coa$ter (M$ MVP wannabee) says:
"chips, If its broken in Windows 7, its probably for a good reason."..................
Or it could be just "broken" or broken on purpose. But at least we know that Seven will be compatable with the vast majority of all windows software made for it, as in this link:
Number of viruses to top 1 million by 2009
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/040408-number-of-viruses-to-top.html?fsrc=rss-security

with no meaningful increases of security in Windows Seven, what is the point of running it? Modern Operating Systems do not have all these malware problems. Get linux or Mac, and stop the pain of windows malware.

@Goblin :
Quote Andre "Its a very despised application that is known to install malware and spyware on users PC's without their consent."..........

For a minute I had to think, as I was thinking he was talking about the MS EULA. (windows end user license agreement for you Coaster)

@Andre Da Co$ta
Quote Andre "A lot of rich, engaging experiences take place first locally on the PC and are then uploaded to web to share. "

Are you referring to this article?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7701227.stm

Stay tuned tomorrow folks, when our star, Andrew the La la Da Coa$ter, space cadet MS MVP wannabe, fights off the evil hordes of Open Source and Mac zombies, armed only with nothing but brilliant logic (and copy and paste from just the fact websites). All the time while swimming in a sea of Microsoft malware without any defrag. Like time slipping thru an hourglass, Microsoft Watch.

Fantastic. I will look forward to it! Hes one of the reasons why I look forward to coming to this site.

Oh and of course, who can forget Jay, he's a little cracker as well.

You would think the MS-shillers would learn that the best defense is just to keep quiet, half of the bad press here wouldnt have been posted if it wasnt for the silly ms-shillers.

Goblin says:
"Fantastic. I will look forward to it! Hes one of the reasons why I look forward to coming to this site."
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I seldom answer Andre, not because he is not smart enough, but because of his agenda. He is a student of propaganda and debating points. I too have studied those, and history, but prefer an intelligent logical debate, that would generate thought. You cannot get that with Shills bought and paid for from Micro$oft.

So my answer is, it doesn't matter to me if Andre is gone forever tomorrow, cause I will stay until Joe says no. The other one from Australia left a long time ago, and still I stayed. Its not the MS Shills as to why I stay and comment, its the bad that Microsoft is doing that needs to be exposed.
Its the fact that Windows has been plaqued by internet malware since 95 and Microsoft has done a little about it as it can get by with. Its the fact that Microsoft has released the worst engined product with a 33 to 50% failure rate, call the XBox360. Those are a few things that keep me her e writting comments. Andre, is only comic relief.

This place is starting to look more and more like slashdot.

anonymous says :
"This place is starting to look more and more like slashdot.".......

And your point is???? Personally I think that would be a major improvement unless you owned a whole lot of microsoft stock. Which in that case, you be a fool anyway.

250 million Windows Vista productive users and growing.
1 billion Windows engaging users world.

1% hobbyist Linux user base

Can't you people see where this is going? Windows Vista providing millions of customers rich, engaging experiences to realize a world of devices, software and the Internet.

Goblin, Chips and The Hand, no matter what you say, I believe that there is definitely a problem. You are those types of individuals who don't like to see large powerful Company's like Microsoft prosper. You hate seeing success, you believe in undermining, in destroying and just don't believe in progress. Sorry, that's just the three of you, oh and Gerado. You guys must feel really lonely on this planet.

You can change that by embracing the rich experiences that await you in Windows Vista, Microsoft Products and services. Envision the opportunities and how much more productive your life will be when you move away from the unpredictable, no where going Open Source Linux platform. All the Ubuntu's and other open source software won't let you realize your true potential. Its about bringing people together, its about delivering on a promise. Microsoft software connects, even in this indirect way my friends. Everyday I see people joining this community and I believe you should too or maybe already have and feel ashamed that you did not join the Windows experience long ago. Don't be, use it, take advantage of all it has to offer, connect to all the rich services like Windows Live Spaces, Messenger, Photo Gallery. Make movies, share them with friends and family, experience the seamless integration.

Learn new ways of computing and collaborating, Windows Meeting Space, Inking capabilities. Record TV shows, watch DVDs, share music in the home with Media Center. Take your computing power to the next level, features like 64 bit computing allow you to address more than 4 GBs of RAM, experience even more reliability and performance. Its waiting for you Chips, Goblin, The Hand and Gerado. Just do a search on your favorite search engine or go to the following urls to learn more:

microsoft.com/vista
windows.com
microsoft.com

There is so much I want you see and realize, there is a better place and its called Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office. Its easy to install, manage, configure and customize. I am here to help you realize those benefits. You can request to add me to Messenger and I can show you some cool tricks in Windows Vista and Microsoft Office and introduce to some great websites. Ok?

We love you, you're PC and I'm A PC :) hehe

Linux on the desktop in the Enterprise? That will be the day when the devil locks up shop because the forecast says 'hell is gonna be freezing over'.

@The Hand:
I know you love Windows too, remember to check out my quick FAQs on my blog, great tips for new Vista users just like you. :) Even if you are running Windows XP no problem, you are a part of the Windows ecosystem. You are in a way better position than you would be with Linux. You get access to Windows Live, strong software support and device driver compatibility. No problem at all, no siree.

^_^ Windows is so much fun to discuss. I will giving some tips in my next responses. :)

Andre Da Costa (also known as Coa$ter) says again:

250 million Windows Vista productive users and growing.
1 billion Windows engaging users world.

1% hobbyist Linux user base
..................

But people really, how can this guy be believed, honestly? Just a few days ago, in this post towards to the bottom of the page he says:
microsoft-watch.com/content/vista/windows_vista_no_longer_matters.html

"Windows Vista - 180 million licenses installed and growing.

Mac OS X - 25 million and stagnant

Linux - 1% and going no where except that hobbyist basement."...................

Ok, come on. Who will believe that even microsoft sole 250-180= 70million licenses in just less than a week. No facts, no links, no prove. And no MVP award for this Micro$oft wannabe MVP reject. What a embarrassment this Andrew guy has to be for the folks at Micro$oft. They got to do better, and get better help.

Andrew, stop with the rum down there, and get the simple facts correct.

70 million is all that Andre is off by, I beg to differ. A whole lot of those before Andre's bogus new math claim was XP by downgrade rights. Not to mention netbooks, corporate imaging, and reformated to something else like linux. Went you get done maybe, just maybe half the number that Andre gave, or more.

Andre, you have no credibility here, people have found you out for what you are. Go back and collect your pay at Microsoft.

Linux is really hard to count.

Issue with Linux is 1 disk is valid to use on a few 100 machines. There are a lot of places were numbers of Linux cannot be counted. It is like trying to count how many pirate copies are out there for harddrive installs.

Now issue you have Linux is going somewhere. Embedded in motherboard. That can be counted. There have already been over 10 million of the embedded class and growing. Predicted that the embedded will be out shipping Windows by the end of 2009.

Little bit hard to say its not going somewhere. If every motherboard is shipped with Linux embedded equal great hardware compatibility.

Dear Andre da Coa$ta,

You've changed a little havent you?

Quote you "^_^ Windows is so much fun to discuss. I will giving some tips in my next responses. :)"

At least you were telling the truth there. Windows is fun to discuss because there is so much to laugh at and find fault with.

Youre probably best off posting your tips here. I see the only time people comment on your blog is with problems, and all your articles can be found in a more advanced form on microsoft.com.

I think the best Windows tip would be not to install it in the first place.

What do you think?

@sameul l bronowitzh :
"70 million is all that Andre is off by".............

A mere 70 million, its wonders we found that out. Most likely our young Andrew himself, sold all those, by himself, singlehandly, and they just have not been reported at Ballmer Central as of yet. Or could it be, just another outrageous claim by another employee representing MSFT?

Joe, your match is wrong. Did you include the 3 year contracts that mobile phones companies make you sign?Did you add the montly payments which partly subsidise the phone purchase? I can easily argue that the total cost of ownership of a PC over a 3-5 year period is less than an iphone.

Andre Da Coa$ta says:
@The Hand:
"I know you love Windows too, remember to check out my quick FAQs on my blog, great tips for new Vista users just like you. :) Even if you are running Windows XP no problem, you are a part of the Windows ecosystem. You are in a way better position than you would be with Linux."............

Well Andrew you right only about one thing, I did check your blog out a little, and I was impressed with your Microsoft up to the date news type feed. Sadly, I not impressed, at all with your blogging, and the lack of true factual evidence you fabricate. And as far as running Vista or XP, I use User Agent Switcher, since you seem to be collecting data on the folks that stumble into your web. So you wrong again.

@Andrew Da LA la the Coa$ta :
You don't think I would actually visit a web site as toxic as yours (well, microsoft's) without some protection, do you?.............

And I advise others not to just visit that site too, it collects data on visitors.

@ The Hand:

Thanks for visiting. Windows Vista is going to make the things you do on the PC so much better, connecting devices, engaging in rich Windows Live services, using great productivity applications like Office 2007 that make working with and viewing your information so much more seamless. Protecting your data is very amazing in Vista, the new Backup and Complete PC Backup gives you control and lets you choose what you want to back up when you want. Features like Previous Versions makes maintaining file fidelity a cinch. Gadgets makes getting common data right on the desktop only click away.

Here's a tip, if you have your windows open, you don't need to minimize them to view your Gadgets. Just click the Sidebar Gadgets icon in the Notification Area and you instantly see them. You can download more Gadgets too from the Windows Live Gadgets Gallery giving you a world of access to a great community of creative, innovative developers who help make this platform great. My brother loves Gadgets so much, its one of his many great features in Vista.

@Andrew Da LA la the Coa$ta :
While I was impressed with your Microsoft up to the date news type feed, I was astounded at how bad and misleading the feed data was, most likely it was piped directly into your site somehow, by a MSN Live search engine. Not something a "normal windows fanboy" which you claim to be, would have, is it? Even your style of a "just the facts" type of Fanboy web site, is far beyond what any Windows fanboy would have. Why not come clean, and admit who you really are? My guess, is you really live somewhere near Burbank, CA.
The data or hits of Andrew's feed does point out just how bad the Microsoft search engine is these days, and why he just can't seem to get things right.
My friend, do not do the devil's work, there is still time to repent, and be forgiving.

Now could it be that Young Andrew, who aspires to be a MS MVP, is also a closet Mac user? Sort of like Joe Willcox, but at least Joe does not hide the fact and is honest about it.

Check out the begging in the comments, from out Friend Andre, asking for MS Office 2008 for Mac. Yes, that means you need to be running Mac OS X to use it and have an Apple computer. LOL

http://blogs.msdn.com/macmojo/archive/2007/03/14/2007-global-mvp-summit.aspx

The Hand:
Mac Office is a Microsoft product. In fact the history of the Microsoft Office platform started on the Mac and I was particularly interested in the suites direction and what unique value it would offer customers on OS X being a cross platform product. :)

I like your deep interest in me, if you want to learn more, don't be afraid to email me. I don't bite. I want to be friends with everyone here, Chips, Gerado, Goblin, you and Joe. If its one thing, Microsoft-Watch brings us together. ;)

@Andre
"I want to be friends with everyone here, Chips, Gerado, Goblin, you and Joe"

Ahh isnt that nice. Although IMO Id compare being friends with you like "sticking your wedding tackle into a lions mouth and flicking its love spuds with a wet towel" - Source: Red Dwarf.

Dont worry Andre, we forgive you. You may have sold your soul for a $ to MS, but I dont hold anything against you, I actually pity the fantasy character that you are. (and the reason for the interest in you, is that we want to know who you really are, not the fictional character you post as.)

I would like to correct you in one part of your post. Its not a deep interest in you that we have. Its a more of an amusement. Difference between us, its your job to be here, I just do it for fun, and you are alot of fun Andre.

At least you think of me as a lot of friends. I really want to be friends with you guys honestly. I believe all have an honest opinion. Lets just focus on promoting the richness of Windows Vista by focusing on what makes this operating system the best.

Andre, why do you make your lies so transparent. In the other thread you were claiming that open source supporters really use MS software, yet here you say "I believe all have an honest opinion."

Do you really believe your posts do the MS cause any good?

Keep it up, Im working from home (using Open Office 3.0 btw) so technically I am getting paid to challenge you.

I'm buying myself a new HP PC for Christmas, as a primary computer.

If I wanted a seconday computer, I would buy a netbook rather than a smartphone.

Come on, a smartphone is no replacement for a PC. You can't browse and work properly on a phone. It's for fast non-structural access, not for permanent use.

If PC sales are going to drop it'll be cos of cheap laptops. Or other combined devices like the Home Theather PC.
Not something with the screensize of a mobile phone.

Joe;

Are you absolutely stoned? Smartphone cannot replace a PC/MAC. It should only be treated as it is, a mobile device, an extension on a PC at best.

Oh by the way, Joe it shocks me that you didn't get your Free MS Loner laptop -- I did.

@W08kServerMan

I hope you enjoy your "loan" and only write nice things about MS!

On a related note, I presume you were at the PDC? What were your opinions of Windows 7?

Regards.

The Windows Mobile interface is awful. They tried to cram Windows into a mobile device, which doesn't work. The more I use it the more I hate it.

iPhone interace is brilliant and easy to use.

I can't wait to see the Google Android. I can't be worst than Windows Mobile. I just hope that the support for it will be good. Knowing Google, it should be good, since it will be and open platform.

But as someone already stated, it could replace the PC for some of us, but most will need a PC to sync back info, and do some other tasks that can't be done otherwise

Windows. Life Without Walls......Correct me if i am wrong but it has been my experience whenever you see a WINDOW you also see a WALL!

I think it's just crazy that windows hasn't come out with a mobile OS that would scale to a full size monitor when you video out?!?! Really.. Add a blue tooth keyboard and you have the world's most portable computer. Hell, go a step further and have the phone act as the mouse... Oh wait isn't Apple half way there already??