Follow Slashdot stories on Twitter

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×
Security

'Friendly' Worms Could Spread Software Fixes 306

Posted by Zonk from the perfect-way-to-make-a-rogue-ai dept.
An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft researchers are working out the perfect strategies for worms to spread through networks. Their goal is to distribute software patches and other friendly information via virus, reducing load on servers. This raises the prospect of worm races — deploying a whitehat worm to spread a fix faster than a new attacking worm can reach vulnerable machines."
The Almighty Buck

Scammers Continue to Wreak Havoc in MMO's 330

Posted by CmdrTaco from the but-i-need-my-virtual-gold dept.
eldavojohn writes "We're all well aware of the scams that sometimes happen in online games like Eve Online. But despite this looking primarily like a problem with Eve Online, the MIT Technology Review brings us stories from Second Life and the very real $700,000 (USD) in Linden Dollars that has recently disappeared in what is appearing to be a classic ponzi scheme by a company named Ginko Banking. Unbelievably high interest rates coupled with some shady withdrawal limits leads to classic epic losses to investors. Eve Online was merely virtual currency but Second Life has a real monetary value associated with Linden Dollars & therefore is certain to see more and more scams pop up like this. How can Linden Labs set up a safety net to catch things like this?"
Space

Submission + - Atlantis Shuttle flight scrubbed (nasa.gov)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: During tanking, two of four LH2 Engine Cutoff (ECO) sensors failed to respond appropriately. The launch was scrubbed and the next attempt will be tomorrow, at 4:09 p.m.
Programming

Submission + - Granny Hackers make History (go.com)

Submitted by
Catbus
Catbus writes: "During World War II the Army ran out of male mathematicians and turned to six women to program the world's first computer — ENIAC. Historian Kathy Kleiman has recorded oral histories of these women — now in their 80s — in her upcoming documentary film, "Invisible Computers.""
Windows

Lenovo Announces ThinkPads Preloaded With XP 192

Posted by kdawson from the give-'em-what-they-want dept.
BBCWatcher writes "Lenovo just announced new ThinkPad T61 models preloaded with Microsoft Windows XP. Ironically they're called ThinkPad T61 'TopSeller' models. Lenovo says they're aimed at small and medium-sized businesses. The XP TopSellers are available immediately, and the part numbers are 6465-03U, 7658-04U, and 7664-06U (PDF links). "Lenovo recommends Windows Vista Business"? Not so much."
Microsoft

Submission + - Users, Web developers vent over IE7

Submitted by
Spinlock_1977
Spinlock_1977 writes: "ComputerWorld is running a story about developers frustration with IE 7, and Microsoft's upcoming plans (or lack thereof) for it. From the article:

But the most pointed comment came from someone labeled only as dk. "You all continue to underestimate the dramatic spillover effect this poor developer experience has had and will continue to have on your other products and services. Let me drive this point home. I am a front-end programmer and a co-founder of a start-up. I can tell you categorically that my team won't download and play with Silverlight ... won't build a Live widget ... won't consider any Microsoft search or ad products in the future."
Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer Drops WGA Requirement 220

Posted by CowboyNeal from the while-the-getting-is-good dept.
Kelson writes "The Internet Explorer team has updated the installer for IE7. Mostly they've adjusted a few defaults and updated their tutorials, but one change stands out: The installer no longer requires Windows Genuine Advantage validation. Almost a year after its release, IE7 has yet to overtake its predecessor. Was WGA holding back a tide of potential upgrades, or did it just send people over to alternative browsers?"
Windows

Microsoft Extends XP's Life By 6 Months 278

Posted by kdawson from the slow-on-the-uptake dept.
A reader writes "Despite Microsoft releasing Windows Vista more than nine months ago the adoption rate has not been as Microsoft hoped. Bowing further to pressure from OEMs and consumers, Microsoft has extended the life of Windows XP, which was due to end sale by OEMs on January 1 next year, to a new date of June 30. Asked if this was an indication of a strong demand for XP, a Microsoft representative sought to downplay the extension, stating 'We wouldn't term it strong, we would describe this as accommodating a certain element who needs more time.'"
Microsoft

Trouble With MS Genuine Office Validation 234

Posted by kdawson from the no-add-ons-for-you dept.
Julie188 writes "Here's another little gotcha with Microsoft license validation, discovered by security and PowerShell expert Tyson Kopczynski. The Microsoft Office 2007 add-on site refuses to download legitimate add-ons for Office 2007 when a legitimate — but not yet activated — additional Microsoft product is installed on the computer. In Kopczynski's case, the product was Visio. He writes: 'Let's back this license train up and look at why this picture is wrong: 1. I have a valid copy of Office 2007. 2. The Visio installation only failed the validation because I haven't activated it. 3. Microsoft has presented me with a page to buy Office, which I have a valid copy of... Dear Microsoft, When used incorrectly and in direct conflict of something that you are promoting, DRM sucks! By making the usage of your software a hassle, you risk further pushing more users of your applications to other solutions."
Windows

Submission + - WGA servers down to cause all problems(XP & Vi (microsoft.com)

Submitted by
Ant
Ant writes: "Boing Boing and Digg report that Microsoft (MS) Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) servers (which every Windows XP and Vista install phones home to) all failed sometime earlier today. The result? Every single Windows XP and Vista installation — except possibly those with volume license keys — is being marked as counterfeit when it tries to check in. Installations which are flagged as counterfeit switch to a "reduced functionality mode" which results in features being disabled... MS acknowledge the problem in its forum thread."
Quickies

Submission + - Digging Dinosaurs Made Underground Dens

Submitted by anthemaniac
anthemaniac writes: Scientists have long puzzled over how some dinosaurs and other creatures survived the asteroid impact that supposedly caused the KT mass extinction 65 million years ago and wiped out all the big dinos. One idea has been that smaller animals, including mammals, could have endured the fallout, the big chill, the subsequent volcanoes, and whatever else by burrowing. Now scientists have come up with the first evidence of burrowing dinosaurs. They speculate that underground dens might explain how some dinosaurs got through long, dark winters at high latitudes, too.

Slashdot Top Deals

Life is a healthy respect for mother nature laced with greed.

Close