BitDefender is the first to offer a free tool which disinfects all versions of Downadup and is available for all infected users at: http://bdtools.net This domain is the first to serve a removal tool without being blocked by the e-threat. The worm itself is not new, it made its first appearance late November 2008, known under the names Conficker or Kido as well exploiting the vulnerability described in the Microsoft security bulletin MS08-067. After successful exploitation it used to install rogue security software on the infected machine.

BestThinking.com completes two years of development with a public launch on Albert Einstein’s birthday. Einstein’s passion for new thinking and collaboration is rekindled in BestThinking’s plan to bring together acclaimed experts and accomplished laypersons to address the challenges we face as individuals, communities and as a planet. BestThinking believes it can overcome the challenges of other open access websites through its dedication to transparency, and by applying the latest thinking on content rating systems and enhanced peer moderation. Transparency at BestThinking means all contributors must have their identities verified and all editing, moderation, discussion and rating are done openly and on the record.

France’s Gendarmerie Nationale, the country’s national police force, says it has saved millions of dollars by migrating its desktop software infrastructure away from Microsoft Windows and replacing it with the Ubuntu Linux distribution. The Gendarmerie began its transition to open source software in 2005 when it replaced Microsoft Office with OpenOffice.org across the entire organization.  Read more »

BBC Technology show Click demonstrates how a botnet is used to innundate our mailboxes with spam.

Spring is rapidly approaching and I recently discovered that an old schoolmate from down in Florida may be visiting the Philadelphia area while their daughters are on spring vacation. I recommended that she visit New Hope while she was here. These are photos from my visit there with Claire and Jenn last year.