Malware in the name of Kim Jong-il death : BEWARE!!!

1.   A "malicious spam mail" in the name of the dead North Korean leader Kim Jong is doing the rounds of the webosphsere and biting anyone whoever clicks it.The malicious spam carries a fake name as "brief_introduction_of_kim_jong_Ill_pdf.pdf". The subject file exploits vulnerabilities in Adobe reader and leads to remote code execution in the victim PC.

2.   The emails contain a simple line of text announcing the death, likely copied and pasted from the CNN website, and carries an attachment named brief_introduction_of_kim-jong-il.pdf.pdf.Once downloaded and executed, the malicious file opens a non-malicious PDF file containing a picture and information about the deceased man in order to hide its true activity on the victims' computer.In other variants of the same theme, the attached file is named Kim_Jong_il_s_death_affects_N._Korea_s_nuclear_programs.doc and, once opened, it drops backdoor-opening malware into the system, which then connects to a remote Command & Control server for further instructions.After this much code execution...its JAI HIND.....

3.  So don't open this one from ur PC if u have read this much.....

4.  Thanks http://www.net-security.org

WELCOME 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012..................WELCOME............

HAPPY NEW YEAR WISHES 2012

WISHING EVERY ONE READING ACROSS "MELIORATE" A VERY VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012......

HIDEMYASS saves its own!!!

1.  The month of September 2011 went so full of embarassment for HMA(Hidemyass) that it would probably like October  to  follow  August  ( September  may just  vanish in the smoke....) All  its  claims  of  telling  being anonymous  and safe, maintaining privacy,being completely hidden etc etc hit a serious setback....the story goes like this...

 2.   The case pertains to Lulz Security aka LulzSec,a computer hacker group that claims responsibility for several high profile attacks including SONY,CIA etc.So in the month of September this year an alleged Lulzsec member who had carried out attacks on various organizations including Sony and the UK’s Serious Organised Crime Agency, had used this ‘anonymous’ VPN service supplied by HideMyAss.But his plan failed in the biggest way imaginable. HideMyAss (HMA) keeps all yourlogs and as a UK company when given a court order to cough up information, they did so. After matching timestamps to IP addresses, in the blink of an eye Luzlsec member ‘Recursion’ became 23-year-old Cody Kretsinger from Phoenix. The FBI got their man.....so whats the use.....!!!!

3.   But I feel that anything to do with some serious crime should always be contained....like this way...but what about you and me....our surfing habits will always be known....our info will always be under cloud....:-(

4.   This is what HMA had to say :

“Our VPN service and VPN services in general are not designed to be used to commit illegal activity,” said Hide My Ass. “It is very naive to think that by paying a subscription fee to a VPN service you are free to break the law without any consequences.”

5.  Thanks vpn-reviews.net and  Torrentfreak

PROXY SERVER : ARE THEY LEGAL TO BE USED IN INDIA?

1.   Few days back I was surfing  few sites via proxy server at HIDEMYASS. Just like a that,a thought came to mind that if the Indian Government on one hand is trying all ways out to monitor nefarious activities on net...and in the name of this monitoring they are monitoring u and me as well....what would they be able to do for those actual ones who use proxy servers?.....

2.   Though it is understood that not all proxy server sites are as safe as they claim...most of them have actually a life of not more then 4-5 days...they actually are born to steal and vanish...we call that 9 2 11....But sites like those have been existing for more than 4-5 years like hidemyass,proxy.org etc are actually doing the work they are supposed to do ie PRIVACY!!!

3.   If any of the readers have some idea or can guide to some link w.r.t legality issues of using proxy servers in India...i would be grateful....and lastly if anyone has some disagreements on the comment earlier that INDIAN GOVERMENT IS MONITORING YOU...just check the ANONYMITY CHECKER at https://xerobank.com/.

CAN WE EVER BE SAFE ONLINE?

1.    It is indeed difficult to surf anonymously if u r a normal user....u put on a monkey cap "DISCONNECT" or wear a long coat or do anything u cant remain hidden....the spy ,if he is after you, will come to know who u r?where r u from?....what r u doing ?etc etc....

2.   Recently came across this https://xerobank.com/......and just clicked to know more of what it had to offer....it gave me a sneak preview of what others may know...my IP ADDRESS...MY LOCATION(ok that normal)...but then also told me that "DATA INTERCEPTION DETECTED"....BY THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT...now this was only a sneak peak....to know more visit the site at https://xerobank.com/

STORE UPTO 50 GB FOR FREE : @ ADrive

1.   Last week at Tech Conclave Delhi meet,one guest speaker was speaking about cloud storage ...how it will slowly become a definite requirement in coming days soon...which we may not think it will as on date...he gave one fine example....BANK...100 years back could any one have thought of lending money for storage to some company....it was securely felt to be safe in self custody...see the state today....times have changed and so has the scenario....today companies like Microsoft,ADrive ETC are offering amazing storage space in cloud for free...that too for free...off course it may just act as a initial bait....some good links of these free storage offers are as follows :

http://www.adrive.com/

http://www.justcloud.com/

https://www.sugarsync.com

https://www.cx.com

http://www.4shared.com/

http://www.amazon.com/

2.   Off all these ADrive offers the largest free storage for free...thats a huge 50 GB....good to start with....so start burning your modem's midnite oil....i have already started........ADrive offers the following features which are as on date unbeatable :

•  FREE 50GB Online Storage
•  Cloud Storage
•  Upload & Store Files
•  Access Files Anywhere
•  Share Files
•  Edit Documents Online
•  File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
•  ADrive Desktop

TOOLS & SITES OFFERING EFFECTIVE PASSWORD CRACKING

Below is a list of sites that offer tools and ways to crack passwords.The idea behind posting all these sites at one place is not to attract and promote users to try password cracking.The idea is to always remember ways and means to create and promote stronger passwords which can not be cracked.All these sites do have limitations to crack the stronger passwords and related info...

http://defaultpassword.com/

http://md5.rednoize.com/

http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/

Ophcrack is a free Windows password cracker based on rainbow tables. It is a very efficient implementation of rainbow tables done by the inventors of the method. It comes with a Graphical User Interface and runs on multiple platforms.

http://www.routerpasswords.com/

http://www.openwall.com/john/

http://thc.org/thc-hydra/

http://www.aircrack-ng.org/

http://www.l0phtcrack.com/

http://www.aircrack-ng.org/doku.php

http://www.solarwinds.com/products/solarwinds_free_tools/

https://www.foofus.net/error/foo.html

http://project-rainbowcrack.com/

http://www.hoobie.net/brutus/

Brutus is one of the fastest, most flexible remote password crackers you can get your hands on - it's also free. It is available for Windows 9x, NT and 2000, there is no UN*X version available although it is a possibility at some point in the future. Brutus was first made publicly available in October 1998 and since that time there have been at least 70,000 downloads and over 175,000 visitors to this page. Development continues so new releases will be available in the near future. Brutus was written originally to help me check routers etc. for default and common passwords

http://www.whatsmypass.com/

http://www.password-crackers.com/

The source of independent information about cryptosystem weakness and password recovery.

http://www.oxid.it/cain.html

Debunking Myths about Computers

Friends here is one guest post by Sean, a Senior Op Ed Columnist for the readers

Computers are amazing machines. I think even those of us who are embittered against our PCs for freezing up a few days ago can agree on that. Something that is equally striking is the human capacity for gullibility. There are a lot of supposed "facts" that people accept about PCs and computers in general that are actually nothing more than hearsay or complete poppycock. If you don't believe us, check for yourself. You can get a deal with an HP Coupon, pick up a fresh new computer, and run some tests for your own satisfaction. Honest! We're not making this stuff up.  

Remember way back when you owned your first computer — maybe it was an IBM — and you were afraid to have it anywhere near anything magnetic? You went so far as to put it on the opposite side of the house from the refrigerator because you were afraid that the I <3 New York magnet would suck the life out of your PC? Yeah. You didn't need to do that. While it is true that old floppy discs were quite susceptible to magnetic damage, computers and modern storage devices like USB drives or SD cards are safe around magnets. 

There is also the ever-present debate about the health risks of high computer usage. Sure sitting in front of a screen all day munching Doritos is probably not a great way to train for the Olympics, but any health risks from that have little to do with computers and a lot to do with your personal diet. There is no evidence that computer screens emit enough harmful radiation to even be detected in a test, much less adversely affect human beings. Next time you read an online report about some inconclusive study, you can laugh to yourself and reach for another chip comfortably. 

CHROME OS

Recently downloaded CHROME OS and ran it on a Virtual Box.....few screen shots....for those who wish to see how it looks!!!!Double click on the image to view it bigger and clear