Geek Software of the Week: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware!

Malwarebytes Anti-SpywareSpeaking of bad downloads (as in the previous post on Google Chrome) what do you do if you think that you may have been infected with Malware? Find a good scanner! Here’s a good one that comes in a free version, or you can purchase a license and unlock even more features!

Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware

“Have you ever considered what makes an anti-malware application effective? We at Malwarebytes have created an easy-to-use, simple, and effective anti-malware application. Whether you know it or not your computer is always at risk of becoming infected with viruses, worms, trojans, rootkits, dialers, spyware, and malware that are constantly evolving and becoming harder to detect and remove. Only the most sophisticated anti-malware techniques can detect and remove these malicious programs from your computer.

Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware is considered to be the next step in the detection and removal of malware. In our product we have compiled a number of new technologies that are designed to quickly detect, destroy, and prevent malware. Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware can detect and remove malware that even the most well known anti-virus and anti-malware applications fail to detect. Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware monitors every process and stops malicious processes before they even start. The realtime protection module uses our advanced heuristic scanning technology which monitors your system to keep it safe and secure. In addition, we have implemented a threats center which will allow you to keep up to date with the latest malware threats.”

Features:

  • Support for Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and 7 (32-bit and 64-bit).
  • Light speed quick scanning.
  • Ability to perform full scans for all drives.
  • Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware protection module. (requires registration)
  • Database updates released daily.
  • Quarantine to hold threats and restore them at your convenience.
  • Ignore list for both the scanner and Protection Module.
  • Settings to enhance your Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware performance.
  • A small list of extra utilities to help remove malware manually.
  • Multi-lingual support.
  • Works together with other anti-malware utilities.
  • Command line support for quick scanning.
  • Context menu integration to scan files on demand.

New Google Chrome Browser Feature Will Help Warn You of Bad Downloads

Now, if only people will pay attention! You will be able to override the warning and do something stupid anyway, but it will hopefully help!

Google Chrome Security Feature Targets Drive-by Downloads

“Google’s Chrome is getting a feature to help prevent people from accepting malware via downloads offered on Websites. The tool borrows from Google’s Safe Browsing API.

Google’s security team has launched a new feature for the Chrome Web browser that protects users from Websites that exist to shuttle malware to users’ computers.

If users try to download what Chrome suspects is a malicious Microsoft Windows executable file, they will see a warning notifying them that the file appears to be malicious and asking them if they want to complete the download.

Google, which shows the warning graphic here, calls these malware payloads ‘drive-by downloads.’

The move comes just days after email marketing power Epsilon said that attackers had stolen customer data belonging to several of its clients, including Target. Epsilon said thieves might use the information to launch a phishing campaign to trick users out of more sensitive personal data.

For now, Google is test-driving its anti-drive-by download feature for a subset of users who subscribe to the Chrome development release channel.

The goal is to make this feature available to all users in the next stable release of Google Chrome, which would be Version 11. This browser version is still in the developer channel.”

We all need to be aware of download hazards, and pay closer attention to warnings that we already get. Don’t just click “OK” and approve of downloads! Don’t hit the stupid animated monkey! Don’t open email attachments! Don’t forward the email that says, “Forward this or it will be bad luck!” OK, short and to the point, don’t be stupid! (OK, nothing personal, I am just frustrated by all the PCs I have had to rebuild for friends that were “tech-aware-impaired!”)

Now You Can Get a “Modern” Commodore 64!

Commodore-64Who would’ve thunk it!? A “Commodore 64” that is really a modern Ubuntu-based PC! And, coming soon, the VIC-20! Flashback to the past!

Commodore 64 Goes on Sale. Amiga, VIC-20 Coming Soon

“Just before Christmas, Commodore teased us with an Intel Atom based Commodore 64 — a regular all-in-one Ubuntu PC in the shape of the classic C64 home computer, which could also boot into a game-playing C64 emulation mode. Now, finally, you can buy one, and you’ll soon be able to get the C64’s little brother, the VIC-20, in the shape of the VIC Pro and VIC Slim.

The C64x can be had in five confusing configurations. The Barebones model is nothing more than the case and keyboard with a card-reader and costs $250. The cheapest working version is the C64x Basic at almost $600, and to get luxuries such as Wi-Fi and a DVD drive you’ll need to cough up $700. If you’re in for that much, then you may as well jump all the way and spend $900 on the Ultimate edition, which puts in a 1TB hard drive, a Blu-ray drive and 4GB RAM.

If you think that’s expensive, you’re dead right. Add on the price of an expensive dinner for two and you could buy a MacBook Air.

It’s a cute gimmick, to be sure, and one that would surely sell well if it didn’t cost so much. As it is, there must be a very limited set of customers willing to drop big money on a novelty Ubuntu box.”

“Replacement Eyes?”

Are we on the path to having “replacement eyes?” It would seem so! Wow!

Scientists grow ’embryonic eye’ in test tube

“Researchers were amazed when stem cells in a test tube spontaneously organised themselves into a complex structure that resembles the developing embryonic eye.

The surprising development could lead eventually to whole retinas being cultured and then transplanted, restoring sight in the blind and visually impaired.

The team from the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research in Japan, first cultivated embryonic stem cells in a test tube and then added proteins to trigger them into developing.

They hoped that they would form a recognisable organ but were still stunned when over 10 days they clustered together and began to grow the “optical cup” of a retina. Tests showed that the cells were functioning normally and were capable of communicating with each other.”