This is a security alert to users of Windows 2000 and some early versions of Microsoft XP (I suppose Windows XP without SP1 & SP2 installed). A new worm has been found on Tuesday, August 16, 2005, infected computer systems using Microsoft operating systems (OS). The worm shut down computers in the United States, Germany and Asia, even big companies like CNN, ABC and The New York Times were affected.

Quoted:
Lysa Myers, a virus researcher for the computer security firm McAfee, Inc., said the worm exploits a vulnerability in Microsoft’s plug-and-play service. “How it’s spreading is it’s looking for machines that are unpatched and running itself,” she said.

Symptoms of infection of this nasty worm include the repeated shutdown and rebooting of a computer, similar to the well known Blaster‘s.
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New Worm Shuts Down PC

Internet Explorer (IE) 7.0, the long await version of the next web browser for Microsoft Windows OS, will have its brand new logo. The new logo has a more stylish look with some shadowing. Furthermore, it has a gold ring like an orbit surrounding the letter “e“.

Quoted:
This icon and text treatment will be used on the versions of IE 7 for Windows XPSP2, Server 2003 SP1, and x64 versions. We’ll have a slightly different look for the Windows Vista™ version, one that’s more consistent with the icons there. We’re not quite ready with that one yet, but we’ll share it here once we do.

I really hope this new logo would bring a new hope to IE, as Mozilla Firefox, IE closest rival, has surpassed another milestone, 80 million downloads.

Last week, Yahoo has launched its latest version of Instant Messenger (IM), Yahoo Messenger 7. So to stay in competition, Microsoft is planning a worldwide public BETA for MSN Messenger 7.5 with MSN Messenger Technical Preview and mainly focused on the Vodafone integration.

Quoted:
“MSN Messenger Technical Preview is a pre-release version of the MSN Messenger client that will be offered in the near future. We are giving our customers the chance to take a sneak peek at the new and exciting functionality of being able to have Messenger conversations with users on Vodafone mobiles. Please note, you are using the MSN Messenger Technical preview at your own risk.”

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MSN Messenger 7.5 BETA

The latest version of WordPress 1.5.2 is already released. According to the roadmap, there are a total of 10 bugfixes and enhanced features since 1.5.1.3. Bugfixes including one of the critical flaws, if PHP Directive of register_globals is turned ON.

Steps for fresh installation or upgrade from old version can be found in the WordPress Codex.

Enjoy using WordPress. :)

Yahoo has just launched its latest version of Instant Messenger (IM), Yahoo Messenger 7.

New features that it has including Voice over IP (VoIP), which enables you to make PC-to-PC calls around the world. What you need is only a microphone and speaker/headphone. With this feature, you are able to receive voicemail when you are offline or away. You can record call history for each and every call too. Besides, you are able to select your desired ringing tone as well.

It’s time to get a pair of headphone and microphone, if you still don’t have one. I suppose this new feature inevitably poses threat to another free VoIP service provider, Skype. Meanwhile, MSN Messenger will need to catch up again. :p
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Yahoo Messenger 7 Launched

Thanks to FeiCiPet for reminding me the first virus for Windows Vista is not actually the first. :p

Why do I say so? It’s actually the new command shell, codenamed Monad, which got exploited by the virus writer will not be part of the next Windows Vista release, Microsoft announced it last Friday, Aug 5, 2005.

Quoted:
“Monad will not be included in the final version of Windows Vista. So these potential viruses do not affect Windows Vista.” Said Stephen Toulouse, a program manager in Microsoft’s security group.

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Not Really The First Virus For Windows Vista