Microsoft investigates Windows 7 ’screen of death’
Microsoft has confirmed that it is investigating a problem described as the “black screen of death”, which affects its latest operating system.
The error means that users of Windows 7 see a totally black screen after logging on to the system. The firm said it was looking into reports that suggest its latest security update was the cause the problem. Reports suggest the flaw also affects Vista, XP and other systems.Software firm Prevx, which has issued a fix for the problem, says “millions” of people may be affected.
“Users have resorted to reloading Windows as a last ditch effort to fix the problem,” the firm’s David Kennerley wrote in a blog post.
“We hope we can help a good many of you avoid the need to reload.”
Unknown problem
The firm said its fix did not work in all cases.
“There can be many causes,” said Mr Kennerley.
“But if your black screen woes began in the last two weeks after a Windows update or after running any security program (including Prevx) to remove malware during this time then this fix will have a high probability of working.”
Mr Kennerly said the firm had identified “at least 10 different scenarios which will trigger the same black screen conditions”.
“These appear to have been around for years now,” he said.
The firm reports that the problem affects editions of Windows 7, Vista, XP, NT, and Windows 2000.
B.C. university adds grade worse than ‘F’
Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., recently introduced a grade called FD to deal with cheaters. The letters stand for failure with academic dishonesty.
Photograph by: Nick Brancaccio, The Windsor Star
VANCOUVER — There are two new scarlet letters in academia.
Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., recently introduced a grade called FD to deal with cheaters.
4 Lies that Can Cost You Your Job
When Mark N. was approached by one of his company’s vendors, the Information Technology professional had no idea that secretly taking on a client in his spare time would cost him his job. Sure seems obvious after the fact, but Mark is not alone.
Lisa F. shares his pain, but from a managerial perspective. “I know when a woman lies about being sick, just by looking at her hands and toes.” For the senior level new media executive, the giveaway is newly polished nails. “You cannot imagine how many women come in after a sick day with a fresh manicure or pedicure,” she observes.
[Read the rest of this entry...]
Cybercriminals refine data-sniffing software for ATM fraud
By Jeremy Kirk , IDG News Service , 06/04/2009
The malware, which steals PINs and card data, works on ATMs running Windows XP
Cybercriminals are improving a malicious software program that can be installed on ATMs running Microsoft’s Windows XP operating system that records sensitive card details, according to security vendor Trustwave.
The malware has been found on ATMs in Eastern European countries, according to a Trustwave report.
Loading ...