Sunday, December 31, 2006

89.240.207.15 - Unidentified IP?

Interesting, the information for this IP address is mysteriously not found in the IP databases.

89.240.207.15

DNS Stuff reports that it resolves to the UK. The information should be found in RIPE (ripe.net) however it is not there, either.

Toshiba Power Saver - Hack or Problem?

Is there any reason why the Toshiba Satellite laptop power saver needs to dial out to the Internet? This particular piece of code has been the source of major problems on my last two computers and just had an error with a new one I bought only a couple of months ago.

Bascially the first error I saw on this computer is when it was connected to a wireless network and I shut down the connection. Then the Toshiba power saver gave me an unexpected error message.

So why is this power saver getting errors when I shut off internet access unless it is somehow dialed out to the Internet, pray tell?

Very curious as this is the same component that continually crashes even after re-building my last Toshiba about three times. Each time I start having problems with the power saver. I thought it had something to do with my third party power cord that also flaked out but on this new computer I have only used the power adaptor that came with the machine.

So either there is a hack in this software that is somehow allowing access it should not - or there is some really bad programming and error checking in the software.

I hope someone out there is reading and will do some additional testing on this besides just hackers.

Friday, December 22, 2006

For those who throw up their hands at hackers...

Hackers sell zero day exploits to Microsoft products at $50,000 a crack.

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2073611,00.asp

Hacking is profitable. Just as is selling drugs. More so.

The internet is the new wild, wild west. Lawlessness abounds. Fend for yourself.

By the time the Marshall arrives it will be too late, and what good is one guy against a gang of thugs anyway.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Students, University Networks and Criminals

You'll probably never believe this but had it in my head for a while to write about the huge amount of traffic I see coming from universities that is obviously hacker traffic. I was going to suggest that maybe someone was paying students to do dirty work or possibly download "cool new stuff" which is unknowling running worms, viruses or malware. Something has to be going on at Universities because I cannot believe they are all just hacked to such a high extreme.

Lo and behold I found this article today:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2070706,00.asp