Deadly Virus on the Prowl…

March 31, 2009 — theultimaterenaissance

Computer users beware, security experts have warned that the deadly Internet worm Conficker C is all set to strike back on April 1. According to Graham Cluley of security firm Sophos, Conficker C is programmed “to hunt for new instructions on April 1″. On January 1, the virus had infected more than nine million computers worldwide and was spreading at a rate of one million machines daily. Here’s all about this virus: what it does, how it spreads, symptoms that you have been hit and also how to escape it.


Although the origin of the name “conficker” is not known with certainty, Internet specialists and others have speculated that it is a German portmanteau fusing the term “configure” with “ficken”, the German equivalent of “fuck“. Microsoft analyst Joshua Phillips describes “conficker” as a rearrangement of portions of the domain name ‘trafficconverter.biz’.


How does it spread?

According to security experts, Conficker’s most intriguing aspect is its multipronged attack strategy: It can spread in three different ways.


One is a vulnerability in Windows that Microsoft patched almost six months ago. The bug, which is in a file-sharing service that’s included in all versions of the operating system, can be exploited remotely just by sending a malformed data packet to an unpatched PC.

Two, the worm can spread by password attacks. And third, by copying itself to any removable USB-based devices such as flash drives and cameras.


Symptoms

Microsoft’s advisory about Conficker lists several symptoms of infection, including these:

· Account lockout policies are being tripped.

· Automatic Updates, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Windows Defender, and Error Reporting Services are disabled.

· Domain controllers respond slowly to client requests.

· The network is congested.

· Various security-related Web sites cannot be accessed.

In case your PC is showing any of these symptoms Microsoft recommends that you immediately use the MSRT to clean the machine.

Users can download MSRT from Microsoft’s site, or follow the instructions posted at its support site.



Danger


Once in a computer it digs deep, setting up defenses that make it hard to extract. The worm leaves the computer vulnerable to further exploitation by hackers and spammers, who are able to remotely download more malicious programs onto the computer, or even use the worm to help install software that will enable them to track and steal security information, such as banking logins or credit card information. Malware could also be triggered to turn control of infected computers over to hackers amassing “zombie” machines into “botnet” armies. “Here we are with a big, big outbreak and they keep revamping their methodology to increase the size of it,” Perry said. “They could be growing this huge botnet to slice it up and sell it on the criminal market.”

A troubling aspect of Conficker is that it harnesses computing power of a botnet to crack passwords.


Most vulnerable machines


According to Microsoft, unpatched Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 machines are at the greatest risk. There are also reports from security companies, which highlight the danger to PCs running Windows XP Service Pack 2 and XP Service Pack 3.

Incidentally, these versions account for the bulk of Windows’ market share. Unpatched Windows Vista and Server 2008 systems are less likely to fall victim to these attack, since hackers need to authenticate access to the computer, in other words know the log-in username and password.


How to escape


Microsoft advises people to stay current on anti-virus tools and Windows updates, and to protect computers and files with strong passwords.


Microsoft issued a new series of security patches to try and help computer users defend their machines against the worm. Security experts urge people to harden passwords by mixing in numbers, punctuation marks, and upper-case letters. Doing so makes it millions of times harder for passwords to be deduced.



Solution


As antivirus companies worldwide scramble to erect defences against the Conficker C worm, an Indian company has successfully found a way to beat the computer worm. MicroWorld Technologies’ security solution claims to not only detect, but also eliminate Conficker C and block any further attempts by the worm to reinstall itself on the system. Govind Rammurthy, CEO & MD, MicroWorld Technologies said, “A three-pronged strategy is needed to tackle Conficker C an updated antivirus software, firewall protection on each and every computer in the network and the latest Microsoft patches.” MicroWorld’s recently launched eScan version 10 software also incorporates daily updates against the Conficker virus, which the company built after buyers of previous versions complained of Conficker attacks. Because the Conficker worm downloads fresh versions of itself on an hourly basis, eScan 10 is updated 8-9 times daily.

e-Scan screen

It also provides each computer with its own firewall, thus screening every software that seeks access to the computer and automatically downloads key patches released by Microsoft. So, let’s install this software or any other by ESET, Kaspersky, or BitDefender, and run on-demand scans for about 3-4 times a day, and assure ourselves to have a clean PC till the end of 1st week of April 2009. Good Luck, and Godspeed!!!

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Top 10 BMWs of the millennium

March 28, 2009 — theultimaterenaissance

Scroll through the gallery below to see all ten of these great cars, and if you think I missed one, be sure to debate it out in the comments section.

 

10. M1

 

The M1 was exactly what you might have expected out of a partnership between BMW and Lamborghini.

 

9. Z3 M Coupe

 

The original M Coupe’s love-it-or-hate-it design won big praise within the automotive press, though some enthusiasts were a bit skeptical about the hatchback’s overall appearance.

 

8. E24 M6

 

After the huge success of the M1, BMW decided to take a modified version of the 3.5-liter six and put it into a true Grand Touring car. Not only was the M6 sleek and stylish, Motor Trend magazine featured the M6 as one of the ten fastest cars in America — understandable, what with the car’s suggested 0-60 time of just 6.1 seconds.

 

7. E30 M3

 

Legends have to start somewhere, and the E30 M3 set the bar high for future performance oriented 3-Series cars. Power came from a heavily reworked 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, cranking out just under 200 horsepower. Not only was this BMW’s first serious everyday sports car, but tuning companies like Prodrive and AC Schnitzer even called upon the E30 M3 to compete in rally, touring car, and DTM racing competitions. Near the end of its life, the E30’s engine was boosted to 2.5 liters and could make up to 340 horsepower in full race trim.

 

6. Z4 M Roadster

 

There was a lot to love about the original Z3 and Z3 M roadsters, but the second-generation droptop M really stole our hearts. It’s attractive, powerful, and a true example of what fun, sporting convertibles should be. While there aren’t any definite plans to bring on an M version of the new-for-2010 Z4, the last-generation M Roadster will always have a special place in our hearts.

 

5. 2002 Tii

 

This is the car that started it all for BMW in America. The 2002 was such a success that it really confirmed BMW’s place in the world as a premium sports car brand, and the 2002 tii started a huge trend of small, sport sedans. After all, this car is the ancestral grandfather to the original 3-Series, and in modern times, the new 1-Series.

 

4. E39 M5

 

The last-generation 5-Series was an iconic, elegant design, and the M5’s 395-horsepower V-8 engine made it a great choice for people who didn’t want to compromise performance for luxury. Available with only a six-speed manual transmission, the M5’s tuned suspension, brakes, and steering ratio made it a worthy track car while still being a smooth and powerful cruiser for the highway.

 

3. E36 M3

 

America didn’t get to taste the E36 M3 until the 1995 model year, but it was well worth the wait. Power came from a 3.0-liter inline-six capable of around 240 horsepower, and this M3 was eventually sold in coupe, sedan, and convertible configurations.

 

2. Alpina B7

 

Near the end of the last-generation 7-Series’ life-cycle, BMW brought out the Alpina B7 packing a 500-horsepower supercharged engine, a sporty body kit, and some nice interior upgrades. And while a lot of people took issue with the 7’s Bangle design, the Alpina’s mix of luxury and power was sure to win people over. In fact, some tests say that the B7 was quicker in the quarter mile than a 911 Carrera S.

 

1. 135i

 


When BMW launched the new 1-Series in the U.S., they were hoping that it would be sort of a modern-day 2002. While that may not be the case, there are a raft of reasons why the 1 is one of our favorite BMWs available today. The 135’s twin-turbo six and superb driving dynamics make it an attractive choice for enthusiasts, though the price point can get to eyebrow-raising levels when fully optioned out.

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BMW M5 vs. Jaguar XFR

March 25, 2009 — theultimaterenaissance

BMW’s supersedan may be the most involving and rewarding of its kind, forging a link between car and driver like no other; but we must recognize that there’s a time and a place. Fat tires, big curb weights, and broad bodywork don’t encourage a press-on driving style on narrow, roller-coaster raods glistening damp in the dark, the temperature barely above freezing point. This is a night for using the cosseting, easy-going side of a supersedan’s nature. It should have been another time and place but twice already this rendezvous of M5 and XFR had been cancelled because of snowfalls. This is my last chance. So, while others get to drive the XFR in Spain, I get to measure it against M5 in arctic Warwickshire. And yet, this is set to be an enlightening encounter.


The M5 has been a favorite big sedan for a few years now, just hanging on to its top spot against a range of talented, big-horsepower rivals including the Mercedes CLS63 AMG and Maserati Quattroporte. Ask for big dollops of supercharged torque from the 400-hp SV8 engine of the XFR on cold, slick roads like these, and the stability control light semaphores “N-O W-A-Y” as the system gets busy backing off and reinstating power and dabbing individual brakes. The M5 doesn’t have this problem. It’s naturally aspirated 5l V10 delivers its big power high up the rev-range and it gains extra drive, thanks to its adaptive, limited-slip “M diff.”


And yet, sat what feels quite high in the M5’s plump and supporting driver’s seat, enjoying the direct link the SMG box provides between the throttle pedal and the rear wheels, you’ve still got to feel pretty darned confident to get the revs up and coax attitude from the M5.


It feels just like it looks – big and hefty. Smooth riding, and with a hint of agility – a hint of dynamic alacrity about its demeanor too – but mostly big and hefty. It certainly looks chunky alongside the XFR, which has been brought along by Jaguar’s dynamics guru, Mike Cross. My first thought was that the XFR has less attractive wheels than the 5-spoke twenties on our SV8. But that, it transpires, will be the last unfavorable comparison with the outgoing model. “We bought an M5 at the start of the XFR project,” said Cross, “but towards the end, it was the SV8 we were using as the benchmark.” We’re heading for some less busy roads that Cross knows, and from the passenger seat, the XFR feels much like the SV8. The differences are subtle, like the slightly firmer edge to the ride, the firmer bolsters of the seat and the fruitier V8 croon from the tailpipes.


I was quite unprepared for the first full-throttle moment, partly because my mind had told me that our SV8 wouldn’t find the traction to use all of its 400hp on the damp, narrow straight picked out in the headlamps. Cross nails the XFR’s throttle, the gearbox drops two cogs in an instant and we’re slammed forward, the shove uninterrupted and relentless. What you can’t appreciate from the passenger’s seat is how swiftly the gearbox responds to the flooring throttle, but it’s as astonishing as the grip the rear tires find. It’s a harder work at the same pace in the M5, firstly because to keep the XFR in range, you’ve got to be in the right gear with the revs poised on the threshold of maximum torque. Surprisingly, the M5’s steering feels less clean and direct and how you’re more aware of the car’s weight, no matter what setting the electronic dampers are on.


I have driven many miles in the M5s including a few laps of the Nürburgring and I know that when you’re absolutely on it, there’s no other sedan that rewards and involves to the same degree. I’d say that still true. But for the other 99% of the time, I reckon the XFR has the measure of it. This remarkable Jaguar does long-distance comfort and effortless everyday usability, yet there, just below the surface, on demand, is a direct, non-nonsense, steely-edged supersedan.


 Comparison, at a glance:

Specification

2009 BMW M5

2010 Jaguar XFR

Engine

V-10, 5l, 40v

Supercharged V8, 5l, 32v

Output

500hp / 383lb-ft

503hp / 461lb-ft

0-60mph

4.7 sec. (approx.)

4.7 sec. (approx.)

Top Speed

155mph*

155mph*

Weight

4035lbs

4170lbs

Ex-Showroom Price

₤65,325

₤59,900

                                                                                                            *Electronically limited

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Pathbreaker for Mario Bros.

March 13, 2009 — theultimaterenaissance

Computer games are being developed at an ever more rapid pace, and the technical demands are rising, not least regarding graphics boards.  At Mälardalen University in Sweden, researchers have now found a solution to a problem that often arises when new computer games are constructed, namely how you can efficiently make sure that the animated figures don’t run right through each other. Researcher Thomas Larsson is presenting a new model that enables complex figures to collide with each other in a credible way – preferably with sound effects, deformations, and other consequences, just as in reality. In his dissertation he presents faster methods for discovering collisions in interactive simulations with computer graphics.


“Today regular computers can draw realistic images of complex 3D environments in the blink of an eye. This is thoroughly exploited in modern computer games, for example.  The images are therefore better and better in quality, so people even use terms like photographic realism. These images are generated by a powerful graphics board in the computer, which draws millions of tiny surfaces, usually triangles, in a few milliseconds.”


“But it’s not enough simply to draw the images. To animate or simulate objects that move or fly around on the screen, the objects need to be able to react to collisions. In many cases the collision calculations, just like the image generation itself, have to be done in a few milliseconds, otherwise the interactivity and the experience are ruined.” All this is self-evident in the real world where objects follow the rules of physics governing movement and collisions.  In some cases it is sufficient to have the objects change direction by bouncing off each other. In other cases they may need to be dented (deformed), break into pieces, or even explode.


Future versions of “Super Mario” will require superfast collision calculations in order to stimulate and visualize characters’ movements and interaction with their surroundings in a realistic manner.

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Bird Flu : A Research Paper

March 13, 2009 — theultimaterenaissance

H5N1 is an avian influenza virus subtype. The H5N1 flu is what is commonly meant when talking of “bird flu” or “avian influenza“. It is a viral disease that causes illness in many species including humans and is a pandemic threat. Due to the high lethality and virulence of HPAI A(H5N1), its endemic presence, its increasingly large host reservoir, and its significant ongoing mutations, the H5N1 virus is the world’s largest current pandemic threat, and billions of dollars are being spent researching H5N1 and preparing for a potential influenza pandemic. At least 12 companies and 17 governments are developing pre-pandemic influenza vaccines in 28 different clinical trials that, if successful, could turn a deadly pandemic infection into a non-deadly one.

The Avian Flu claimed at least 500 human lives in Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Romania, China, India, Turkey and Russia in the past 3 years. Epidemiologists are afraid that the next time such a virus mutates, it could pass from human to human. If this form of transmission occurs, another pandemic could result.

Full-scale production of a vaccine that could prevent any illness at all from the strain would require at least three months after the virus’s emergence to begin, but it is hoped that vaccine production could increase until one billion doses were produced by one year after the initial identification of the virus…

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2009 Infiniti FX35 AWD : A Review

March 8, 2009 — theultimaterenaissance

What is so great about the new Infiniti vehicle? What are its positives and negatives? Read on…


For most SUVs, the term “sport” typically means, “this boat can haul you and your buddies to go watch a sporting event…” But happily, Infiniti’s FX35 AWD is different; it puts the Sport in SUV in four important ways:

  • First, the FX35 comes with a powerful (303 horsepower) and responsive variant of Nissan’s classic V-6, with one added plus; it has a baritone exhaust note so fine it would have made Beethoven weep for joy.
  • Second, it’s got a slick, smooth shifting seven-speed automatic that has an uncanny knack for always being in the right gear (you can shift it manually if you want to, but we found the transmission typically made better and quicker choices than we did).
  • Third, and this is the part we didn’t see coming, the FX35 has a firm, beautifully damped suspension that makes it as well if not better suited for spirited motoring than many so-called sports sedans. Go figure.
  • Fourth, the Infiniti has well-weighted steering plus seats that split the difference between luxury car comfort and panache vs. sports car grip and support (but with lots of emphasis on support).

PROS

  • Vibrant V-6 and great seven-speed automatic
  • Firm, well dialed-in suspension
  • Inviting, exciting interior

CONS

  • Not nearly as space efficient as it could be
  • Suspension might be a little too stiff for confirmed luxophiles
  • Limited rear quarter visibility

2009 Infiniti FX35 AWD Dashboard

Luxury and technology touches abound, some of them gimmicky, but the majority of them clever and genuinely useful. The utility side of the FX35’s SUV equation is good, but not great (space utilization could be better). Styling is curvaceous and dramatic and for that reason, perhaps, an acquired taste (but judging by reactions in our offices, it’s a taste a whole lot of people have acquired).

Bottom line: This is an SUV for drivers — one that evokes strong (and usually positive) emotional responses, while winning over SUV skeptics.

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Are low gas prices here to stay?

March 4, 2009 — theultimaterenaissance

The Wall Street Journal reported that gas prices may have bottomed, though price increases may be weeks or months away. In recent weeks demand for gas has risen slightly, and crude oil prices have risen slightly – to just under $40 per barrel. The most significant event, though, seems to be that OPEC has reduced production by 2.2 million barrels of oil per day. Back in the fall of 2008, gasoline demand fell precipitously and OPEC couldn’t reduce supply fast enough to prevent the rapid downward spiral we’ve seen since then.


Energy Information Administration data shows that average retail gas prices were over $4.00 in June and July of 2008, but fell below $3.00 by October and below $2.00 in November. Because the economic recession plays such a big role in this softening of demand, analysts don’t expect significant price increases until an economic recovery is underway. That assessment is reinforced by soft consumer demand around the globe.
If there’s one bright spot in a bad economy, it’s that gasoline prices have fallen, and they’re expected to drop even further. As the global economy falters, demand for oil has dropped.


And since the price of oil makes up about half of the cost of a gallon of gas, analysts see more relief ahead at the pump.

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