Experts at SophosLabsâ„¢, Sophos’s global network of virus, spyware and spam analysis centers, have announced the discovery of the first virus for the Apple Mac OS X platform. The virus, named OSX/Leap-A (also known as OSX/Oompa-A) spreads via instant messaging systems.

The OSX/Leap-A worm spreads via the iChat instant messaging system, forwarding itself as a file called latestpics.tgz to contacts on the infected users’ buddy list. When the latestpics.tgz archive file is opened on a computer it disguises its contents with a JPEG graphic icon in an attempt to fool people into thinking it is harmless.

The worm uses the text “oompa” as an infection marker in the resource forks of infected programs to prevent it from reinfecting the same files. “Some owners of Mac computers have held the belief that Mac OS X is incapable of harboring computer viruses, but Leap-A will leave them shellshocked, as it shows that the malware threat on Mac OS X is real,” said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. “Mac users shouldn’t think it’s okay to lie back and not worry about viruses.”

So what does this mean? Do I need to run out and get antivirus software for Mac OSX? No, you don’t. Instead, just make sure you set a password to your OSX account. Requiring you to enter a password everytime you want to install/update/etc anything on your system. So if you ever catch this virus, then happen to open it and so on, just make sure NOT to enter your admin password when asked for it to install it.

Details: OSX/Leap-A
Source: Sophos

So it seems people now a days just don’t care anymore about others or they say they do but they really do not mean it or ever show it. Don’t you hate it when people ask you for things, something, help, or whatever but do not even have time to say hi to you or how was your day? how are you doing? and so on? Not even just before they ask you for whatever but the occasionally hi, how are you doing? type of thing would be even better then just saying that before you ask someone for something. For example, every few days them coming up to you (and actually meaning it) and just having a little chat and then after a few days, when say they need something, they come up to you and ask, it wouldn’t be so bad. I can’t stand people not doing that anymore.

How about when people ask you how you are doing but really do not want to hear what you have to say or hope you do not come out and say something (which you can most the time tell, so you say “fine”, “ok”, or anything else). How about talking about something and getting interrupted by them without any apologizies and them going on and then still afterwards not even caring for a word you have to say not that they ask you to continue anyways.

Feels good to get that out… though I have so much more to that for another time.

So I am building yet another system to add to my collection and this one will be added to my corner desk (which already is a home for 2 laptops and 2 computers and now 2 laptops and 3 computers.

Yesterday I received the case in the mail and put in the motherboard, then the power supply, then processor and lastly the memory. I went ahead and ordered the dvd burner and hard drive. I was planning on waiting still for the XFX 7800GTX 512MB video card to come in stock but it now looks like it won’t be in stock till 3/30/06. That is way too long for me to wait (I have absolutely no patience) so I went ahead and ordered one off ebay, it costs me basically $150 more then what I could of saved from newegg ($750 at newegg) but I really wanted it now and not a month and half (maybe even longer) later and I was not going to settle down for a cheaper video card either or even think of getting dual 7800GTX 256MB’s either (SLI). I want to later add dual 7800GTX 512MB video cards (meaning buying 1 more) so I do not want to buy 2 more later at a cheaper price and then have a 7800GTX 256MB laying around here and probably would not be worth selling or would bother to then either).

So what’s this new system?

AMD Athlon x2 4400+ Processor, ASUS A8N-SLI Motherboard, Dual 2GB PC3200 Memory, nVidia XFX 7800GTX 512MB Video Card, 250GB SATA Hard Drive, NEC 3550A DVD Burner, Enermax 500W PSU and all in an Antec P180 Advanced Super Mid Tower Case. I can not wait to turn it on, do some video editing and gaming on this beast.

So here’s my first entry for my blog.

I play Call of Duty 2 on Xbox 360 (xbox live) and seriously, there are a few things that bug me. Like when people ask what game type is this? Okay, seriously, if you really had to ask that, you should pick what game type you want because you can! If you don’t care, then just keep clicking Quick Match and for those asking what game type this is, would you just click Custom Match and pick what you want to play. Which gets me to another thing, people that don’t ask that question above but instead rather leave because they do not like the game type. Okay, once again, just use Custom Match.

Now, I know not always they disconnect because they do not like the game type. It could be because they just get disconnected because it happens sometimes in COD2 Xbox Live but also they could not like the map or then again some type of other reason (realized they had to go do something, no time, etc etc stuff). But for those that just disconnect because of the game type, you suck because you end up ruining the match. I like playing 4 on 4, wish it was higher though but maybe when we can get dedicated servers it could be.

Note to COD2 Xbox Live Players: Do NOT HOST a game if you are either UNSURE of your connection or if you know you have a crappy one. No one likes a laggy game. Of course their are other “lag” issues in the game play and such but laggy servers/bad pings result most of the time because of the host. Who is the host? The first person in the list. To regular players, a good thing to ask the host is if he/she has a good connecton before you go and play the match.

Apple has released an update for OSX Tiger, 10.4.5The 10.4.5 Update is recommended for all users and includes general operating system fixes, as well as specific fixes for the following applications and technologies:

The 10.4.5 Update is recommended for all users and includes general operating system fixes, as well as specific fixes for the following applications and technologies:- iChat video conferencing
– Safari rendering of web pages
– usability of Dashboard and widgets
– viewing of QuickTime streaming media behind a firewall
– printing to some Epson printer models
– iDisk and Portable Home Directory syncing
– time zone and daylight savings for 2006 and 2007
– VPN connections to Cisco servers when using NAT
– compatibility with third party applications and devices
– previous standalone security updates

For detailed information on this Update, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n303179

For detailed information on Security Updates, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n61798

Windows XP has released their monthly security updates:

MS06-004: Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (910620)
MS06-005: Vulnerability in Windows Media Player Could Allow Remote Code Execution (911565)
MS06-006: Vulnerability in Windows Media Player Plug-in with Non-Microsoft Internet Browsers Could Allow Remote Code Execution (911564)
MS06-007: Vulnerability in TCP/IP Could Allow Denial of Service (913446)
MS06-008: Vulnerability in Web Client Service Could Allow Remote Code Execution (911927)
MS06-009: Vulnerability in the Korean Input Method Editor Could Allow Elevation of Privilege (901190)

Many people are having issues with the MS06-007 patch when installing it from Microsoft Update. Users have claimed that having a patched tcpip.sys file is one cause of the error, while the vast majority simply have it fail on install. Downloading the patch and installing it manually seems to work without any reported problems.

There were a few smaller releases from Microsoft today including updates for Outlook, PowerPoint 2000, and a new Malicious Software Removal Tool. Windows Media Player 10 was also updated to build 3990 after the application of both related patches this month.

Many issues have been fixed in this new release but still more work to be done with Triton. You can click “read more” above to view all of the fixes for this release.

AIM Triton Beta Home | Download

Formerly known as Microsoft AntiSpyware is now called Windows Defender Beta 2 has been released.

What’s new?
* A redesigned and simplified user interface ? Incorporating feedback from our customers, the Windows Defender UI has been redesigned to make common tasks easier to accomplish with a warning system that adapts alert levels according to the severity of a threat so that it is less intrusive overall, but still ensures the user does not miss the most urgent alerts.
* Improved detection and removal ? Based on a new engine, Windows Defender is able to detect and remove more threats posed by spyware and other potentially unwanted software. Real Time Protection has also been enhanced to better monitor key points in the operating system for changes.
* Protection for all users ? Windows Defender can be run by all users on a computer with or without administrative privileges. This ensures that all users on a computer are protected by Windows Defender.
* Support for 64-bit platforms, accessibility and localization – Windows Defender Beta 2 also adds support for accessibility and 64-bit platforms. Microsoft also plans to release German and Japanese localized versions of Windows Defender Beta 2 soon after the availability of the English versions. Use WindowsDefenderX64.msi for 64-bit platforms.

Screenshots: 1 | 2 | 3
Download: Windows Defender Beta 2
More Information: Windows Defender Home
Paul Thurrott’s Windows Defender Beta 2 Review

Apple has launched a countdown for 1 Billion iTunes Music Songs purchased.

For every 100,000th download, the lucky user will receive a 4GB Black iPod Nano with a $100 iTunes voucher. The grand prize winner that is lucky enough to download song number one billion will bag a 20″ iMac, 10 60GB Video iPods (5 white, 5 black) and $10,000 worth of iTunes downloads (suitable for music and video). Also, Apple will create a full-ride scholarship in the winner’s name to a world-renowned music school.

How cool is that? iTunes Billion Songs Countdown – As of this post it was at 965,856,800.