Ken's Computer Services Weblog

Mini-y2k today :>
Spring forward early! Move your clocks ahead so your computer doesn't know what time it really is! Problems? Ahh ... yea could be.
(And add another set when the computer automagicly moves it forward again when it thinks it should have)

The main thing to be worried about is bank's ATM's ... but your email may be a bit screwy for a while too.

WinFixer and variants are a real pain to get rid of.
These can work
http://www.atribune.org/ccount/click.php?id=4
http://noahdfear.geekstogo.com/smitRem.zip
ftp://ftp.drweb.com/pub/drweb/cureit/drweb-cureit.exe
http://www.ewido.net/en/
http://www.diamondcs.com.au/downloads/apt.zip
For other ideas try these pages
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic18610.html
http://www.bullguard.com/forum/5/Winfixer-Virus-infected-my-com_18101.html
http://www.spywaredb.com/remove-winfixer/

Here''s the whole topic for Idesk MFC
http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showtopic=6121

New nasty spyware out there identified as Idesk MFC by Zone Alarm after C:\WINDOWS\system32\idemlog.exe tries to access the internet.
It's a real pain to get rid of.

Have hijack this installed and run this http://downloads.subratam.org/Fixwareout.exe
You may want to check this topic for more detailed instructions and other options, but this one worked for me.

Spybot Search and Destroy has a new version out with lots of improvements!
Get it here!

Microsoft found more flaws in windows 2000 and NT.
It's time to run windows update again if you have an
operating system later than windows ME.

The new virus/worm in the news W32.Novarg.A@mm (symantic), W32/Mydoom@MM (mcafee), WORM_MIMAIL.R (trendmicro) is a threat if you haven't updated your virus definitions and open strange attachments. Funny it doesn't target .edu email addresses. (A college kid not wanting to slow his own network?)

My previous post got buried by an edit...
I strongly recommend running both adaware and spybot on a regular basis to keep your machine free of spyware/malware. You can get both for free at www.download.com

Some new spyware out there is disabling the ability to update spybot if it's a new install. It says the current definitions are the latest. Making spybot only check for around 6000 types of spyware instead of the current almost 12000 that it does check for when updated. I've found that running adaware will eliminate this and allow you to run an updated spybot. I now suggest running both on a regular basis. You can download both from http://www.download.com

Spyware is on the rise and causing more problems now that most people have virus protection.

This is not really a security threat, but could cause slowing of internet connections if too many geeks in your area start doing it.
mars.telascience.org lets you control a virtual mars lander like Spirit and send it around to do things using the same software that NASA is using to control Spirit :> Very Cool!