Apple cracks down on MacDefender, prevents malware downloads with daily quarantine list

Preconceptions aside, Apple products do occasionally spread viruses, and not just the biological kind, which is why Cupertino saw fit to equip Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard with a quarantine function to safely set malware aside. This week, however, Apple's kicking those digital white blood cells into high gear, updating that quarantine list daily with a new background process. The company's primarily got its crosshairs on the recent MacDefender scare, of course, but on the off-chance malware starts coming out of the woodwork, it sounds like you won't have to wait for a formal security update to be forewarned of the dangers. If privacy's your primary concern, however, you can also opt-out -- take a gander at our source links to see how it's done.

[Thanks, Jake]

Apple cracks down on MacDefender, prevents malware downloads with daily quarantine list originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 08:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tags: antivirus, apple, daily, Mac, malware, os x, OsX, quarantine, security, Snow Leopard, SnowLeopard, update, updates, Virus, viruses

MIT’s genetically modified viruses boost solar-cell efficiency by herding nanotubes

The wizards of MIT have done it again. Having checked artificial leaves and Operabots off the to-do list, they've moved on to improving the efficiency of solar cells. Their technique combines a genetically modified version of the M13 virus with carbon nanotubes, which have already been shown to increase efficiency. Unfortunately, some nanotubes enhance solar cell performance, while others inhibit it - and both types tend to clump together, negating their benefits. The modified M13 virus, however, can separate the two types as well as prevent clumping; we've seen similar use of the Tobacco mosaic virus to build better electrodes. Adding virus-built structures to dye-sensitized solar cells increased power conversion efficiency by almost one-third and, with only one additional step in the manufacturing process required, the new approach could be rapidly taken up by existing production facilities. MIT: proving once again that viruses are good for more than just smiting your enemies.

MIT's genetically modified viruses boost solar-cell efficiency by herding nanotubes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Inhabitat | source

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Tags: energy, GreenTech, GreenTechnologies, GreenTechnology, m.i.t., massachusetts institute of technology, MassachusettsInstituteOfTechnology, mit, nanorod, NanoRods, nanotechnology, nanotube, nanotubes, nanowire, nanowires, solar, solar power, SolarPower, Virus, viruses

Visualized: preconceived notions about personal computer security

See that chart up there? That's a beautiful visualization of a dozen folk models surrounding the idea of home computer security, devised by Michigan State's own Rick Wash. To construct it (as well pen the textual explanations to back it), he interviewed a number of computer users with varying levels of sophistication, with the goal being to find out how normal Earthlings interpreted potential threats to their PC. His findings? A vast amount of home PCs are frequently insecure because "they are administered by untrained, unskilled users." He also found that PCs remain largely at risk despite a blossoming network of preventative software and advice, and almost certainly received an A for his efforts. Hit the source link for more, but only after you've spiffed up, thrown on a pair of spectacles and kicked one foot up on the coffee table that sits in front of you.

Visualized: preconceived notions about personal computer security originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boing Boing | source

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Tags: art, botnet, hack, hacker, hacking, malicious, malware, Michigan State, MichiganState, model, ModelS, security, spyware, trojan, university, Virus, visualized, worm

Creeper, the first computer virus, is 40 years young today

Forty years ago today is considered by many to be the birthday of the first computer virus. Of course, in the early 1970s they weren't called computer viruses, but that doesn't make Bob Thomas's handiwork any less special. Creeper (named after a character in the old Scooby Doo cartoons) spread from BBN Technologies' DEC PDP-10 through Arpanet, displaying the message: "I'm the creeper, catch me if you can!" and messing with people's printers. One notable difference between this and the majority of viruses was the fact that it it deleted old versions as it replicated itself. Incidentally, that would make 2011 the fortieth anniversary of the first antivirus software: called, appropriately enough, Reaper.

Creeper, the first computer virus, is 40 years young today originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tags: antivirus, arpa, arpanet, bbn, bbn technologies, BbnTechnologies, bob thomas, BobThomas, creeper, reaper, scooby doo, ScoobyDoo, security, trojan horse, TrojanHorse, Virus

Thanko’s USB kitty mask might get you noticed

You know why he's so happy? Because he's Japanese, and being Japanese is awesome. Trains run on time, robots do the work, and you get to wear kitty-faced masks with a USB- or battery-powered fan to circulate the atmosphere in front of your air holes... and nobody cares. ¥1,980 (about $24) or ¥2,190 gift wrapped to show you care.

Thanko's USB kitty mask might get you noticed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 04:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Akihabara News | source

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Tags: cat mask, fan, Japan, mask, usb mask, Virus