Malicious Facebook App

Someone sent me a direct Twitter message with a link to a Facebook App. I don’t have Facebook account. Apparently Facebook do not want a cat to open an account. Anyway, as a Tech-savvy cat I investigated the link and it tried to redirect to some site.

Phishing-FB

Fake-Facebook

 

meow-os-x:~ meatloaftcat$ whois factoryonlinegall.com

Whois Server Version 2.0

Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered
with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net
for detailed information.

Domain Name: FACTORYONLINEGALL.COM
Registrar: ENOM, INC.
Whois Server: whois.enom.com
Referral URL: http://www.enom.com
Name Server: NS1.2X4HOSTING.RU
Name Server: NS2.2X4HOSTING.RU
Status: clientTransferProhibited
Updated Date: 26-dec-2012
Creation Date: 26-dec-2012
Expiration Date: 26-dec-2013

>>> Last update of whois database: Fri, 28 Dec 2012 23:01:18 UTC <<<

NOTICE: The expiration date displayed in this record is the date the
registrar’s sponsorship of the domain name registration in the registry is
currently set to expire. This date does not necessarily reflect the expiration
date of the domain name registrant’s agreement with the sponsoring
registrar.  Users may consult the sponsoring registrar’s Whois database to
view the registrar’s reported date of expiration for this registration.

TERMS OF USE: You are not authorized to access or query our Whois
database through the use of electronic processes that are high-volume and
automated except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or
modify existing registrations; the Data in VeriSign Global Registry
Services’ (“VeriSign”) Whois database is provided by VeriSign for
information purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information
about or related to a domain name registration record. VeriSign does not
guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a Whois query, you agree to abide
by the following terms of use: You agree that you may use this Data only
for lawful purposes and that under no circumstances will you use this Data
to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass
unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via e-mail, telephone,
or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes
that apply to VeriSign (or its computer systems). The compilation,
repackaging, dissemination or other use of this Data is expressly
prohibited without the prior written consent of VeriSign. You agree not to
use electronic processes that are automated and high-volume to access or
query the Whois database except as reasonably necessary to register
domain names or modify existing registrations. VeriSign reserves the right
to restrict your access to the Whois database in its sole discretion to ensure
operational stability.  VeriSign may restrict or terminate your access to the
Whois database for failure to abide by these terms of use. VeriSign
reserves the right to modify these terms at any time.

The Registry database contains ONLY .COM, .NET, .EDU domains and
Registrars.
=-=-=-=

Registration Service Provided By: Namecheap.com
Contact: support@namecheap.com
Visit: http://namecheap.com

Domain name: factoryonlinegall.com

Registrant Contact:
WhoisGuard
WhoisGuard Protected ()

Fax:
11400 W. Olympic Blvd. Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90064
US

Administrative Contact:
WhoisGuard
WhoisGuard Protected (14172c57a5704e38b81372f4c155b466.protect@whoisguard.com)
+1.6613102107
Fax: +1.6613102107
11400 W. Olympic Blvd. Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90064
US

Technical Contact:
WhoisGuard
WhoisGuard Protected (14172c57a5704e38b81372f4c155b466.protect@whoisguard.com)
+1.6613102107
Fax: +1.6613102107
11400 W. Olympic Blvd. Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90064
US

Status: Locked

Name Servers:
ns1.2x4hosting.ru
ns2.2x4hosting.ru

Creation date: 27 Dec 2012 01:19:00
Expiration date: 26 Dec 2013 17:19:00

Year End Special: Bookkeeping and Malware

End of the year is one of the busiest time, especially for small businesses. It is such an inconvenient to find out the one computer used for accounting was infested with malware. Do whatever it takes to remove the malware, for it is a huge problem. Use all available resources to remove the malware. A lot of them are freely available.

One computer I am working on right now is infested with MyWebSearch and other malware. Not to mention numbers of toolbars on Internet Explorer and Firefox. Fortunately, all the tools mentioned above able to remove the malware.

PUP-MyWebSearch

Google Voice, Free calling within the US and Canada through 2013

The Gmail Team has confirmed that Google Voice will provide free calling within the US and Canada through 2013.

Many of you call phones from Gmail to easily connect with friends and family. If you’re in the US and Canada, you’ll continue to be able to make free domestic calls through 2013. Plus, in most countries, you can still call the rest of the world from Gmail at insanely low rates.

We here rely on Google Voice for our day to day operation and we are glas that Google is providing this service for free*. For that we thank Google.

* We are aware that Google is monetizing the free service in one way or another.

Phone-Call-within-Gmail

Google-Voice-Free-Calls-US-and-Canada

 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

X-Mas-AO

NOTE: We’re not even trying to be politically correct. In the United Sates people are saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”. Each of us celebrate Christmas in our own way, be it religious os tradition. The message is still the same: presents. We spend our money buying presents for other people whether they like it or not. Commercialism, that’s what makes Christmas fun.

Illustration by someone at Almost Obvious

Patchouli says Hi!

I’ve just gotten a meesage from none other than Patchouli. She is doing great with her new family.

Patchouli-December-2012

p.s. I now have my own WordPress account.

Kindle Paperwhite

There are still a lot of people who are looking to get e-reader in lieu of tablet computers. Amazon’s Kindle is still one of the most popular e-readers in the market. I’ve helped a few people for the last few weeks setting up and using their newly arrived Kindle Paperwhite. When asked why they get a Kindle (read: e-reader) instead of a tablet computer (read: iPad), then answers are synonymous: they want a single purpose device.

Kindle Paperwhite has touchscreen and back lighting. Users of previous Kindles with keyboard have to face a learning curve with the touch-enabled Kindles.

Overall, Kindle Paperwhite is excellent and does what it does best; being an e-reader.

Kindle-Paperwhite