Conficker worm - little bugger

I was attempting to fix a clients computer on Monday. It was running very slow, took ages to boot up. So attempted all the usual software - AVG, CCleaner, SpyBot, Auslogics Defrag.

But the thing wouldn't download any updates... strange... Nor was I able to go to the websites... even stranger...

Although I could log onto other websites such as Google, Facebook, eBay etc..

So tried installing MalwareBytes... wouldn't let me do it.

Booted up in safe mode (F8) to install MalWarebytes, it found a couple spyware thingies but nothing special...

Booted up in normal mode, Malwarebytes wouldn't work... grrr...

Thinking it was a network problem (I kept getting "this website does not exist" messages) I played with all the firewall settings, proxy settings, internet options... still no joy. I had my laptop with me which worked fine, so it wasn't the router.

At this point I was getting very frustrated.

So did a Google to see if anyone else was having trouble not being able to see windows update, avg, or any anti-virus website and it came up with worm.conficker.... nasty little bugger
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conficker

I finally got malwarebytes to work - but at this point I'd had too many coffees and had been staring at the screen for 4 hours so I'm not quite sure how it managed to get it to work... A HUGE thumbs up for MalWareBytes for removing the thing though...

Anyway, just wanted to pass it on. If you can browse the internet but can't go to windowsupdate.microsoft.com then you might have the conficker.worm

According to Wikipedia it infected the French Navy intranet and grounded all the planes. Good job they weren't being invaded that day....

Yet another reason for switching to Ubuntu... ahem...

Cool site for creating images with words - a bit like MoonPig but they are downloadable.

Cool site for creating images with words - a bit like MoonPig but they are downloadable.


Photo calendar, personalised name calendar, photo poster and e-card with image personalization - Let
www.letterjames.com
Personalize your own custom-made photo calendars, name calendars and photo posters, or send a free e-card: With image personalization of LetterJames!

Use the 3G on your smart mobile phone as a wifi hotspot for your laptop - useful when no wifi hotspots around and you really need to get online

Use the 3G on your smart mobile phone as a wifi hotspot for your laptop - useful when no wifi hotspots around and you really need to get online


Joiku - JoikuSpot Light
www.joiku.com
1. The Voice Denmark Touch Edition(May 10, 2010) 2. The Voice Denmark(May 10, 2010) 3. Nova FM Touch Edition(May 10, 2010) 4. Nova FM(May 10, 2010) 5. The Voice Norway Touch Edition(Apr 30, 2010) View all Newest

Using Ubuntu? Get Google Gadgets on your desktop with Screenlets

Using Ubuntu? Get Google Gadgets on your desktop with Screenlets


Google Gadgets and Web Widgets on Your Desktop with Screenlets | Tombuntu
tombuntu.com
content

As of 21st April, there is a new privacy setting that allows non-Facebook pages to share your information - to switch it off go to Account -> Privacy Settings -> Applications and Websites -> Instant Personalisation and uncheck "allow" - you might also want to review the settings for "What your friends can share about you"

As of 21st April, there is a new privacy setting
that allows non-Facebook pages to share your information - to
switch it off go to Account -> Privacy Settings ->
Applications and Websites -> Instant Personalisation and uncheck
"allow" - you might also want to review the settings for "What your
friends can share about you"


HOW TO: Disable Facebook's
mashable.com
If you're uncomfortable with Facebook's new features for privacy reasons, you can opt of the them by adjusting your privacy settings.

I've created a public calendar of local networking events (South West Midlands / North Worcestershire) - I haven't attended them all but will try to keep the calendar up to date. Click the button at the bottom of the page to add to your Google calendar http://tinyurl.com/localnetworking

I've created a public calendar of local networking events (South West Midlands / North Worcestershire) - I haven't attended them all but will try to keep the calendar up to date. Click the button at the bottom of the page to add to your Google calendar http://tinyurl.com/localnetworking

Advertising on another website? Want to know how many clickthrus you are receiving? Try the Google analytics url builder.

Advertising on another website? Want to know how many clickthrus you are receiving? Try the Google analytics url builder.


www.google.com
www.google.com
Fill in the form information and click the Generate URL button below. If you're new to tagging links or this is your first time using this tool, read How do I tag my links?If your Google Analytics account ...

Local Networking Events

I've created a public Google calendar of local networking events, I'll try to keep it up to date. You can display it on your existing Google calendar by clicking the button at the bottom of the page

https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?title=Local+Networking+Events&mode=AGENDA&wkst=1&src=e3l4gh83mcd1kpvp0mcr516qs4%40group.calendar.google.com&;ctz=Europe%2FLondon

 

QR Codes? They're big in Japan...

They were first created as an alternative to barcodes for tracking vehicle parts during production. The main advantages are they can be read at any angle by a camera rather than a scanner and can store any information rather than fixed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_Code

But they can also be read by smartphones with the information being automatically stored in the phone - great for marketing your business, product or event. So they are displayed on business cards, posters, websites, magazines, etc.
 
To generate your own QR code, the easiest place to go is http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/ This uses the Google Chart program at http://code.google.com/apis/chart/docs/gallery/qr_codes.html

Create a code for your phone number, website or event. There is a full contact card but not all phones support it yet.

If your phone can't read the image, then try downloading one of these applications to your mobile phone.
http://www.mobile-barcodes.com/qr-code-software/


and just for reference,  qr code for my full contact details:

 Or just my website:

psssttt.... Wanna free website? Google Sites is a free and easy way of quickly creating a website for yourself, business or organisation. No technical expertise required, collaborative editing, domain mapping, as well as links for Google Analytics and Google Adsense

psssttt.... Wanna free website? Google Sites is a free and easy way of quickly creating a website for yourself, business or organisation. No technical expertise required, collaborative editing, domain mapping, as well as links for Google Analytics and Google Adsense


Google Sites - Free websites and wikis
sites.google.com

Do you moo? I've got a couple of discount codes, not sure which one is current though - I think 2RB2CK is current for 15% off first order, or YRY7H6 for 20% off a pack of minicards

Do you moo? I've got a couple of discount codes, not sure which one is current though - I think 2RB2CK is current for 15% off first order, or YRY7H6 for 20% off a pack of minicards


MOO | Custom Business Cards, MiniCards, Postcards and Stickers | moo.com
uk.moo.com
Create and customise premium Business Cards, MiniCards, Postcards and Stickers with MOO's unique variable print technology – Printfinity. Designed online. Printed in London, UK. Shipped Globally.

Superb.... Ping.fm... Update all of your social networks from one place. But the best bit is that it allows importing a single RSS feed. So I've got it set up to read my Facebook updates, simplez...

Superb.... Ping.fm... Update all of your social networks from one place. But the best bit is that it allows importing a single RSS feed. So I've got it set up to read my Facebook updates, simplez...


Ping.fm / Login
ping.fm
Ping.fm is a simple and FREE service that makes updating your social networks a snap!

Love Ubuntu - but why did they change the windows buttons in 10.4 from top right to top left? Here is how to change it back

Love Ubuntu - but why did they change the windows buttons in 10.4 from top right to top left? Here is how to change it back


Ubuntu 10.4: How to place the window close button on the right again » Codigo Manso
www.codigomanso.com
Programación, informática y tecnología

Last.Fm + Xbox = Very Impressed!!

Last.Fm + Xbox = Very Impressed!!


Last.fm on Xbox Live – Last.fm
www.last.fm
The world's largest online music catalogue, powered by your scrobbles. Free internet radio, videos, photos, stats, charts, biographies and concerts.

Finally... Synchronise your Nokia Symbian phone with Google contacts, calendar and email - First download "Mail for Exhange" from Ovi (link below) then follow the setup instructions at : http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=147951

Finally... Synchronise your Nokia Symbian phone with Google contacts, calendar and email - First download "Mail for Exhange" from Ovi (link below) then follow the setup instructions at : http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=147951


www.nokia.co.uk
www.nokia.co.uk

Rain Drum Umbrella

Rain Drum, a recent work from a South Korea-based designer Dong Min Park, has been very popular on the Internet, and deemed as “an interesting amusement for boring rainy days”. The shade of the umbrella is made up of five different wax cloths, to imitate the different frequency of the hi-hat, crash, tom-tom, bass and snare. So next time you’re in the rain with such an umbrella, you’ll surely experience something new and enjoyable.


Designer: Dong Min Park

Technically not a gadget - but I would highly recommend a Belkin Cushtop - costs around £11, saves burning your leg and prevents your laptop from overheating.

Technically not a gadget - but I would highly recommend a Belkin Cushtop - costs around £11, saves burning your leg and prevents your laptop from overheating.


Play.com (UK) : Belkin CushTop / Chocolate With Tourmaline : Computing - Free Delivery
www.play.com
Play.com - Buy Belkin CushTop / Chocolate With Tourmaline, with free delivery to UK and Europe. Play.com is the top site for dvds, cds and games in the UK. We stock all major movies on DVD.

TeamViewer - cracking piece of software for remote support - for non-nerds it basically means I can log into your computer via the internet and remotely manage your computer. I just finished managing a Windows 7 computer in Menorca from my Ubuntu computer in Bewdley

TeamViewer - cracking piece of software for remote support - for non-nerds it basically means I can log into your computer via the internet and remotely manage your computer. I just finished managing a Windows 7 computer in Menorca from my Ubuntu computer in Bewdley


TeamViewer - Free Remote Access and Remote Desktop Sharing over the Internet
teamviewer.com
Access any remote computer via Internet just like sitting in front of it - even through firewalls.

fbCal is a nice little feature that displays Facebook birthdays and events in Google Calendar

fbCal is a nice little feature that displays Facebook birthdays and events in Google Calendar


apps.facebook.com
apps.facebook.com

And of course I would highly recommend using Google Calendar - loads of features as you would expect from Google but the best for me are free SMS reminders, quick add, multiple calendars, public calendars and calendar sharing

And of course I would highly recommend using Google Calendar - loads of features as you would expect from Google but the best for me are free SMS reminders, quick add, multiple calendars, public calendars and calendar sharing


Google Calendar
www.google.com

Looking for a bit of extra online work? They are mostly IT but they are also looking for customer service, translation, etc.

Looking for a bit of extra online work? They are mostly IT but they are also looking for customer service, translation, etc.


Outsource to Freelancers, IT Companies, Programmers, Web Designers from India, Russia, USA, and more
www.odesk.com
oDesk is a global service marketplace for small and medium sized business to hire, manage, and pay remote freelancers or teams. Submit a free job posting and hire from over 25,000 top professionals.

Centre for Alternative Technology

Europes leading eco-centre, well worth a visit for adults and kids, its near Machynlleth in Wales.


Centre for Alternative Technology Home Page
www.cat.org.uk
CAT aims to 'inspire, inform, and enable' people to live more sustainably. A solutions driven organisation, offering practical solutions to environmental problems, our key areas of work are renewable energy, environmental building, energy efficiency, organic growing and alternative sewage systems. W...

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality?!? Point your latest GPS camera smartphone at a building or
landmark or inside a museum and it overlays text and images telling you everything about what you are looking at... I can't keep up... Layar is for Google Android phones, there are apps for the iphone and Nokia Symbian too


Augmented Reality Browser: Layar
layar.eu
It’s official and we’re so proud of it. JK Shin, president and head of Samsung Electronics’ Mobile Communication Business just introduced the Galaxy S and Layar is on it. The Samsung Galaxy S will be available in Europe, North America, Latin America, Australia, and Asia soon.Read more…

Happy Pills :)

Happy Pills... ;)


itsy bitsy pills - p2 by *nocturnalMoTH on deviantART
nocturnalmoth.deviantart.com
Art - community of artists and those devoted to art. Digital art, skin art, themes, wallpaper art, traditional art, photography, poetry / prose. Art prints.

Snail Mail

Great idea if you haven't got a printer or need to send lots of letters


viapost - ViaPost: Save money on post by sending physical post direct from your computer
www.viapost.com
ViaPost allows you to send physical post direct from your PC using a free, downloadable printer driver. We print at our regional print hubs, where we barcode and sort the mail automatically, ready for the Royal Mail to deliver the final few miles.

Yahoo Pipes

Really cool software for data scraping


Pipes: Rewire the web
pipes.yahoo.com

Online photo editing

Photo editor online pixlr free edit image direct in your browser
www.pixlr.com

Hubble

Amazing photos from the Hubble telescope


HubbleSite - Picture Album: Star-Birth Clouds in M16: Stellar "Eggs" Emerge from Molecular Cloud
hubblesite.org

Simons Cat

If you like cats, you'll love this


The Official Simon's Cat Website | Films
www.simonscat.com
The latest films from Simon's Cat.

Great Online Accounting Software

Great ONLINE accounting software for small businesses - so good, they turned down a £million from Sage


Small Business Accounting Software - Mac and Windows
www.kashflow.co.uk
Bookeeping is easy with KashFlow, the accounting software of choice for small business. Accountancy made simple for Mac & Windows. 2 Month FREE TRIAL available now

Google Adplanner

If you've got a website and offer advertising, then you can let people know with Google adplanner


DoubleClick Ad Planner | Google
www.google.com
Define your audience with multiple criteria, including keywords they're likely to search for and sites they're likely to visit.

Woohoo!! Microsoft (and Yahoo) have finally allowed Google to access their hotmail accounts

Woohoo!! Microsoft (and Yahoo) have finally allowed Google to access their hotmail accounts


Michael on Tech: Check Hotmail in Gmail
www.michaelontech.com
A few people who have migrated from Gmail to hotmail have wondered if it was possible to have their old hotmail email's forwarded to their gmail account. Unfortunately hotmail can only forward email to ...

3d camera... I want one...

FinePix REAL 3D W1 | Fujifilm Global
www.fujifilm.com
Shooting 3D images with an unprecedented “real feel” is simple and automatic with the built-in 3D Auto function of the FinePix REAL 3D W1 digital camera.

Create your own stick man

Create your own stick man - Windows only :(


XPivot Animation Galaxy
pivotx.co.nr
XPivot is the regeneration of PivotX. Packed with more features than ever, you can expect less bugs, and quicker animation!Enter the galaxy!

Crasher Squirrel - Very Cute!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1206018/Crasher-Squirrel--How-cheeky-rodent-star-couples-photos.html

Ubuntu One

Ubuntu One - sychronised online storage 2gb free - a bit like MobileMe


Ubuntu One : Home
one.ubuntu.com
Ubuntu One is your personal cloud. You can use it to back up, store, sync and share your data with other Ubuntu One users.

Edit PDFs with OpenOffice

Sun PDF Import Extension | OpenOffice.org repository for Extensions
extensions.services.openoffice.org
The PDF Import Extension allows you to import and modify PDF documents. Best results with 100% layout accuracy can be achieved with the "PDF/ODF hybrid file" format, which this extension also enables. A hybrid PDF/ODF file is a PDF file that contains an embedded ODF source file. ...

Send Me Home

Very simple idea, get a unique code, stick it on your gadgets

www.sendmehome.com

Wireless SD card

Cool gadget - wireless SD card for digital cameras and camcorders - no more faffing with usb cables


Eye-Fi memory cards: wireless photo & video uploads straight from your camera to your computer & the
www.eye.fi
Eye-Fi Wireless SD Cards - make your camera wireless. Upload photos and videos wirelessly to your computer and to the web. Works in over 1,000 camera models.

Simple Sketch

Draw a simple sketch and this software creates a photo for you - coming soon

PhotoSketch

Face recognition in Picasa 3.5 is ace

(instructions for installing on Ubuntu http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2009/09/picasa-35-linux-install.html
)


Picasa 3: Free download from Google
picasa.google.com
Picasa is a software download from Google that helps you organize, edit, and share your photos. It's free, and easy to use.

Gigapan Epic

Gigapan Epic - A really simple gadget that uses your digital camera to take hundreds of photos, then stitches them with some software to produce HUGE panoramic photos


gigapan: search
www.gigapan.org
Government Plaza on April First Author: Tom Nelson (tnp651) Tags: urban, skyline, minneapolis, minnesota, april, fools Size: 0.84 gigapixels Added: April 1, 2010 Total Views: 6540 View in Google Earth 4.2+

Distance Selling Regulations

Interesting, if you buy something over the internet, due to the UK Distance Selling
regulations you are entitled to return the goods for a full refund within seven working days of receipt - for whatever reason, including if you just don't like the item


BBC News - Thousands of shopping websites 'could be breaking law'
news.bbc.co.uk
Which? is warning firms to obey the law, or risk being reported to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and face the threat of prosecution.

Solve any of these mathematical problems and win a $million

Millennium Prize Problems
www.claymath.org
Seven one million dollar prizes to recognize the eventual solution of seven classic mathematical problems that have resisted solution. Announced May 24, 2004

Don't pay anyone for getting a job, its usually a scam...

BBC News - Net scams profit from desperate jobseekers
news.bbc.co.uk
The methods to defraud people online have been evolving since e-mail became the 21st Century's preferred method of communication.

Fring! Essential piece of software for smart phones

Fring! Essential piece of software for smart phones


www.fring.com
www.fring.com
© 2006-2010 fringland Ltd. All rights reserved. fring, fringsters, fring a friend and the fring logo are trademarks of fringland Ltd. Other trademarks are the trademarks of their respective owners. This product uses the Skype™ API but is not endorsed or certified by Skype. ...