Secure Yourself Against Conficker Worm

Windows OS users across the globe have been worried sick about the Conficker worm striking back on April 1,09.

Anti-virus and security solutions providing companies like Symantec, F-Secure, Avast! and others are however singing a relieved tune. That’s because they say they’re prepared to tackle it.

What’s this Conficker worm anyway?
The ‘C’ variant of Conficker worm, aka Downadup or Kido, infects Windows machines (XP and Vista) and disables them to get security updates or patches from Microsoft and from other vendors. According to Symantec, the creators of the worm will also start using a communications system that is more difficult for security researchers to interrupt.

(Image source: Wikimedia)

How will Conficker harm users?
While nobody knows what exactly Conficker will actually do, most likely, the worm will be used to create a botnet that will be rented out to criminals who want to send SPAM, steal IDs and direct users to online scams and phishing sites.

What can be done to protect a computer from this worm?
First of all, update your anti-virus software. Especially on April 1, make sure that it’s actually running when you start your computer. Secondly, make sure that you have the latest Windows security updates.

You should know:
1. Changing the date of your system will not help avoid this worm.
2. Keeping your computer shut on April 1 will also not help either.
3. The only way to get past this worm is by updating Windows and your anti-virus software.

Conficker History
The ‘B’ variant of the Conficker worm had created ruckus around January this year. By February, it had affected over 9 million Windows users worldwide. Perturbed by the virus, Microsoft had even announced to pay reward of $250,000 to any individual who’ll find out the culprits behind Conficker.

Last words
Before this April 1 — Don’t be a fool, download the security tool.

Some resources are listed here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/962007
http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_153464.htm
http://www.411-spyware.com/conficker-worm-removal
http://community.mcafee.com/showthread.php?t=225901

‘123456’ most used Internet Password

‘123456’ is the most common password used by people on the internet. Obscenities, names of fast cars and even ncc1701 — the ship number for Star Trek’s Starship Enterprise, have made it to the list of top 500 worst passwords of all time. Compiled by Whatsmypass.com, the list features passwords most commonly used by internet users. And topping the list of the most common password is 123456, followed by “password” in second place. Another popular password choice was first names.

Read the full article here: The Top 500 Worst Passwords of All Time

Website: Whatsmypass.com

DocShots: New tool for presenting multiple docs via your blog

Docstoc now introduces DocShots, the best way for you to publish multiple documents via your blog. Installation is fast and easy and the service is FREE. Simply cut and paste a snippet of code into the background of your blog and DocShots will convert any posted documents (.doc, .pdf, .ppt, .xls) into hover-able links. Your readers can then scroll over these links to instantly preview files in our feature-rich viewer. No longer will they have to download files to preview them, meaning they stay engaged at your site and no longer face disruptive wait times or potential computer freezes.

DocShots is a free service for website and blog owners. Simply add your custom DocShots code just one time into the background of your site and all your posted documents (.doc, .pdf, .ppt, .xls) will be converted to DocShots links.

DocShots provides publishers with a new option for presenting documents online while providing readers a better way to preview and download these documents. This free, turnkey service converts any posted document on your website or blog into a hover-able link that enables instant online document preview. With DocShots, there are no heavy downloads or disruptive wait times. For example, hover or click on this document to instantly preview it.

Features:
# Enable instant preview & interaction with any doc
# Enter one snippet of code and ALL your work is done
# Turns doc links into shareable, viral content
# Automatically convert all doc links on your website
# Eliminate the need to download a doc to preview it; eliminate download wait times and system crashes
# Provides real-time tracking statistics on each doc

Sign-in or Create an account on Docstoc, to generate your own custom DocShots code. The code is a few lines of javascript that you cut & paste into the bottom of your site’s HTML pages. All the documents you post on your website or blog will be accessible through your Docstoc profile. This way you can easily follow their usage statistics.

DocShots provide you controls to:
– Modify the default width and height of the document preview
– Set documents to display as public on docstoc or store privately in your own account
– Include or exclude our Related Docs and Other Docs features in the DocShots display

DocShots works on various websites and blogging platforms, though still can’t work with WordPress.com blogs.

Check out DocShots in action here

To learn more about DocShots, watch the DocShots Video. Ready to start using DocShots?

Look.fo – Simplify Linking To Google Searches

Everybody hates having to copy and paste a link to a Google search? The URLs are often so long, that you can’t cut and paste the whole thing. If you’re having that problem, you should see the simple solution provided by Look.fo. With this site, you’ll be able to create simple links to Google search results, which are much easier to share through any IM client or Twitter. Now, when you want to share a Google search, you can tell your friends to just look.fo/(search keywords). I’ve been trying it out for sometime and it makes sharing Google searches a lot simpler.

This is one of those sites that seem so simple yet they’re very useful. You’ll be quickly drawn in to the site’s simplicity and high usefulness factor. When in doubt, just “Look Fo It”.

Features:
* Get short links for Google search results.
* Create as many short links as you like.
* No sign-up needed.

I tried Look.fo out with something easy like “TheTechTalker” and the site performed well.  It quickly formed the URL (http://look.fo/thetechtalker) and the Google search results it returned were accurate enough for me to justify sending that to someone who wants to know more about TheTechTalker.com.

Similarly use http://look.fo/microsoft for search results of ‘Microsoft’. Also, for specific Youtube, Wikipedia and Dictionary Definitions searches:

* For Youtube searches, http://look.fo/youtube-queen
* For Wikipedia entries, http://look.fo/wiki-blogging
* For Dictionary definitions, http://look.fo/define-freaky

Checkout Look.fo for easy sharing of Google Search result URLs. Something different or one should say – a twist in usual URL snipping service!

Popular Internet Lingo

Numeric
1337 (written in ASCII) – From the word Leet, derived from the word elite
2 – too, or to
4 – For

A
AFAICR/S/T – As far as I can recall / remember / see / tel
AFAIK – As far as I know
AFK – Away from keyboard
ANFSCD – And Now For Something Completely Different. Used to change the subject of conversation.
ASAP – As soon as possible
ASL – Age / sex / location
ATEOTD – At The End of the Day
ATM – At the moment
AWOL – Absent Without (Official) Leave
AYBABTU (also abbreviated as AYB) – All your base are belong to us (from the video game Zero Wing)

B
B2B – Business to Business
B& and/or B7- Banned
BBIAB – Be back in a bit
BBL/S – Be back later / shortly / soon
BCNU – Be seein’ you
Blog – Also known as web log or an online journal
BOFH – ~censored~ operator from hell
Bot – Any type of automated software in chat rooms and web-cataloging software
BRB – Be right back
BSOD – Blue Screen of Death
BTDT – Been there done that
BTW – By the way
Bump – Increment (For example, C’s ++ operator.)or a acronym for “Bring Up My Post”

C
Crawl – To retrieve a web page along with the hyperlinks that reference it
Crapplet – A poorly written computer application
CU – See you (later)
CYA – See ya OR Cover Your Ass
Cyber (prefix) – A term used to connect the subsequent word loosely to the world of computers or the Internet or sex over a computer

D
DFTT – Don’t feed the trolls
DGAF – Don’t Give A F***
DIAF – Die in a fire
DILLIGAF/D/S – Does it look like I give a flip / F*** / damn / ~love~
DND – Do not disturb
DOA – Dead on arrival. Refers to hardware that is broken on delivery.

E
EOF – End Of File
EOM – End of Message
EOL – End of Life. Device or hardware, that is at the end of its life cycle.
EQ – Ever Quest
ETA – Estimated time of arrival

F
FAQ – Frequently Asked Question(s)
FFS – For F***’s sake
Flamer – Someone who makes inflammatory, abusive or directly offensive comments.
FMCDH – From My Cold Dead Hands
FOAD – F*** off and die
FOAF – Friend of a friend
FTL – For the loss
FTW – For the win
FU – F*** You
FUBAR – F***** up beyond all recognition / repair (from military slang; pronounced “foo-bar”)
FUD – Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt (the purposeful spread of misinformation)
FWIW – For what it’s worth
FYI – For your information

G
GBTW – Get back to work
GF – Great/good fight/girlfriend
GFU – Good for you
GFY – Go F*** yourself
GG – Good game, used at or near the conclusion of a gaming match
GJ – Good job, often used in online gaming when a teammate performs an act benefiting his team, such as killing an opponent or enabling that kill
GMTA – Great minds think alike
Godwin’s Law – Dictates that the longer a thread, the more likely someone will post a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler
Gratz – Congratulations
GTFO – Get the F*** out
GTG or G2G – ‘Got to go’ or ‘Good to go’
GR -Good Race
GR8 – Great

H
HAND – Have A Nice Day
Handle – Name used in online chat, (AKA nick(name), alias, screen/user name)
HF – Have fun
Haxor or H4×0r (1337) – Hacker
Hit – A request made to the web server, (noun) the results of an internet search, (verb) loading a Web page. Hits are not equivalent to visitors of a webpage.
Homepage – The website’s introduction page, starting point, and guide. The technical term is “index”
Hot list – A collection of publicly available URLs (World Wide Web site addresses), sometimes available as text files.
HTH – Hope this / that helps
H8 – Hate

I
IANAL – I am not a lawyer
IBTL – In before the lock
IDC – I don’t care
IDK – I don’t know
IIRC – If I recall / remember correctly
IIUC – If I understand correctly
IMO/IMHO/IMNSHO/IMAO – In my (humble / honest / not so humble / arrogant) opinion
Information superhighway – The Internet (AKA: I-way, Infobahn)
IONO – I don’t know
IOW – In other words
IRC – Internet Relay Chat
IRL – In real life
ITYM – I Think You Mean
IWSN – I want sex now
IYKWIM – If you know what I mean

J
Jaggy – Aliased computer graphics
JK or j/k – Just kidding, or joke
JFGI – Just F******/Freaking Google It

K
k or kk – OK
KISS – Keep it simple stupid.
KS(ing) – Kill-Steal(ing)
KOS – Kill on sight
KTHX – OK, thanks
KTHXBAI or KTHXBYE – OK, thanks, goodbye, used either to cut short a conversation or to express displeasure with being cut short

L
L2P – Learn to play; an admonishment to MMORPG players who are incompetent and/or whine
L8R – Later, L8R also sometimes abbreviated as L8ER is commonly used in chat rooms and other text based communications as a way of saying good bye.
Lag – Slang term for slow Internet speeds or high Internet latency; Lag is sometimes due to a server problem, but more frequently due to the connection between client and server. A slow or intermittent connection may often be referred to as laggy
Lamer – A know-nothing, one who is lame.
Leet – Often spelled as l33t or 1337 in ASCII form. It originally meant elite
LFG – Looking for group
LFM – Looking for more
LM(F)AO – Laughing my (frigging) ass off
LMIRL – Let’s meet in real life.
LMK – Let me know
LOL – Laughing out loud, laugh out loud
LTNS – Long time no see
Lurker – Someone who frequents a Usenet group without participating in discussions

M
MMORPG, MMO – Massive Multi-player Online Role Playing Game
MMOFPS – Massive Multi-player Online First Person Shooter
MOTD – Message of the day
MS – Maple Story, an MMORPG
MTFBWY – May The Force be with you
MUD – Multi-User Dungeon
MUSH – Multi-User Shared Hallucination
MYOB – Mind your own business
M8 – Mate

N
NE1 – “Anyone”
NFI – “No F****** Idea”
Newbie, noob, or n00b – An inexperienced user of a system or game, or an annoying person.
NIFOC – Naked In Front Of Computer
NM – (Sometimes written N/M) Not much, Never mind or no message, used on message boards or in e-mails to indicate that everything is already said in the subject line.
NP – No problem
NSFW – Not safe for work. Warning about content, may get the viewer in trouble with his employer or co-workers.
NVM, NVMD, or nm – Nevermind, not much

O
O RLY – Oh really?
OIC – Oh, I see
OFN – Old F****** news
OMG – Oh my god
OMFG – Oh my F****** god
OMW – On my way or Oh my word
OP – Original poster / Operator / Outpost
OS – Operating system
OT – Off topic
OTOH – On the other hand
OTP – On the phone or One true pairing

P
P2P – Peer to peer, or pay to play
PAW – Parents are watching
PEBKAC/PEBCAK – Problem exists between keyboard and chair
Ping – From the popular network monitoring tool, used as a greeting similar to “Are you there?”.
PITA – Pain in the arse / ass
PLMK – Please let me know
PMSL – Pissing myself laughing
POS – Piece of ~love~, or parent over shoulder.
POTS – Plain old telephone service
POV – Point of view
PPL – People
PTKFGS – Punch the Keys For God’s Sake
pr0n – Intentional misspelling of porn
PW – Persistent World (gaming)
pwned – Intentional misspelling of owned

Q
QFT – Quoted for truth. Used on internet message boards to show agreement from a previous message

R
Rehi (or merely re) – Hello again
RL – Real Life
RO(T)FL – Rolling on (the) floor laughing
RO(T)FLMAO – Rolling on (the) floor laughing my ass off
RO(T)FLOL – Rolling on (the) floor laughing out loud
RSN – Real soon now (used sarcastically)
RTFB – Read the F****** binary (or book)
RTFS – Read the F****** source
RTFM/RTM – Read the (F******) manual

S
SCNR – Sorry, could not resist
sk8/sk8r – skate/skater
Smiley – Another name for emoticons
SMH – Shaking my head
SNAFU – Situation normal: all (F*****/fouled) up
Snail mail – Normal paper mail service
SOHF – Sense of humor failure
Spider – The program behind a search engine
STFU – Shut the F*** up
STFW – Search the F****** web

T
TANSTAAFL – There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch
TBF – Time between failures
TBH – To be honest
TG – That’s great
TGIF – Thank god it’s Friday
TH(N)X, TNX or TX – Thanks
TIA – Thanks in advance
TINC – There Is No Cabal, a term discouraging conspiracy theories
TMI – Too much information
TOS – Terms of service
TTBOMK – To the best of my knowledge
TTFN – Ta ta for now
TTT – To the top, used in forums to bump a thread
TTYL – Talk to you later (also spelled TTUL, T2UL or T2YL)
TTYTT – To Tell You The Truth
TW – T-Warez.com
Tweedler – One who has deep love for all computer related technology and gadgets
TWIMC – To Whom It May Concern
TY – Thank you
TYT – Take your time
TYVM – Thank you very much

U
U – You
UTFSE – Use the F****** search engine

W
w00t, w00T or WOOT – First two express exuberance, the latter is a acronym for the term “We Own the Other Team”.
W/ or W/O – With or without
WB – Welcome back
W/E – Whatever
WRT – With respect / regard to
WTB – Want to buy
WTF – What the F***
WTG – Way to go
WTH – What the hell
WTS – Want to sell
WTT – Want to trade
WUG – What you got?
WoW – World of Warcraft (game)
WUBU2 – What (have) you been up to?
WUU2 – What (are) you up to?
WYSIWYG – What you see is what you get
W8 – Wait

Y
YARLY – Yeah Really
YHBT – You have been trolled
YKW – You know what?
YMMV – Your mileage may vary.
YTMND – You’re The Man Now, Dog
YW – You’re welcome.
YOYO- You’re On Your Own.

Source: virgintech.blogspot.com