PeewitSolutions

My thanks to Tonyso for this

Educate your users and friends/family...Microsoft never sends patches (updates) in an e-mail. According to Techweb today, a couple of Trojans are posing as Microsoft patches/updates.

The first line of the spoofed e-mail "Microsoft Cooporation" [sic] -- is a dead give-away that the message is not genuine, the article states.

If users click on the embedded link as instructed to "download the patch and protect your computer against WinLogon attacks" they actually download a keystroke logger "BeastPWS-C" .
Direct your users to the How to tell whether a Microsoft security-related e-mail message is genuine page that reminds them that "We never attach software updates to our security e-mail notifications." "We never send notices about security updates or incidents until after we publish information about them on our Web site. Check the Security site on Microsoft.com to see whether the information is listed there."

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This virus (Archiveus) is the latest example of so-called "ransomware" that tries to extort cash from victims.

"This virus swaps files found in the "My Documents" folder on Windows with a single file protected by a 30-digit password. Victims are only told the password if they buy drugs from one of three online pharmacies.

The 30-digit password locking the files is "mf2lro8sw03ufvnsq034jfowr18f3cszc20vmw".

Using the password should restore all the hijacked files.

"
Now the password has been uncovered, there should be no reason for anyone hit by this ransomware attack to have to make any payments to the criminals behind it," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for security firm Sophos
".

Full Story from BBC website

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I have added a link to the Office 2007 download on msupport blog site

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Please add these dates to your diaries, they are open events, so tell your friends, colleagues and customers to make it along!

More details are on the UK website (http://unitedkingdom.iasahome.org/), where you can register your interest in attending (this being important for security reasons).

London: Requirements and Architecture Traps and Pitfalls
CANCELLED!
June 20, 6pm-8:30pm
Christine Cooper-Bland & Rob Machin
Unfortunately, Rob is unable to make it to this session so it has been pushed back to later in the year. Also, as this conflicts with the Football, it was decided not to try and put something in it?s place this time around.

Birmingham: Informal meet up
June 28, 6pm, Pub Venue not decided yet! (have a look at this one Neil)
http://birmingham.iasahome.org/

London: The Identity MetaSystem
July 5, 6pm-8:30pm (then more football!)
Kim Cameron (www.identityblog.com)
http://unitedkingdom.iasahome.org

NOW a SHOUT for help in developing coursework

IASA Course Work

The IASA are planning to introduce a course work system soon and are in the process of looking for qualified individuals to deliver courses to our members.

There will be two types of courses available; free for member courses (this will help with paid memberships) and premium courses (they will require payment by members and non-members and will pay royalties to the creator).

If anyone you know would be interested to developing course ware for architects, please let me "Matt Deacon" know ASAP.

We already have a number of committed authors but the more the better.

My thanks to Matt Deacon an Architect at Microsoft UK & UK IASA Regional President and just a nice bloke.

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News just Broken,

Bill Gates will transition out of a day-to-day role in Microsoft effective July 2008 to spend more time on his global health and education work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and will continue to serve as the company?s chairman and an advisor on key development projects. Ray Ozzie assumes the title of chief software architect and will begin working side by side with Gates on all technical architecture and product oversight responsibilities, while Craig Mundie takes the new title of chief research and strategy officer and will work closely with Gates to assume his responsibility for the company?s research and incubation efforts.

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