7/11/09

Of Viruses, Communication, and TV

Tri-O's
Oddities, observations, and opinions By Herb Kandel


My computer recently got infected with a virus that warned me on a black screen with big red letters “WARNING Yourr’re (sic.) Computer is infected with spy ware” and they ask you to pay for a download to fix the problem. If you click “no” the messages go into a loop and the same messages keep appearing until you press the power button to reboot and you get into the same situation again after you reboot. *

I asked Rick Burdick, Owner of Computing Solutions in Gulf Shores about this. He responded, “There are currently several “fake alert” virus threats looking for victims on the Internet. The most prevalent is Antivirus 2009, which acts like a free antivirus, but is really a virus in disguise. It really wants your credit card. It comes in many different packages, and acts as though it has discovered malware infections on your computer. It will remove them for you… for a price. Once they get your credit card, then nothing is really done. Since most of these companies operate overseas, there is little that local crime enforcement can do about it. President Obama recently announced that he is going to appoint a “Cyber Space Czar” to look into these types of crimes. These white collar criminals are getting away with Internet Robbery, and there currently is no one out to get them.”

These programs are tantamount to criminal extortion and cyber-napping. They are holding you up for ransom for something they don't have, giving you nothing in return, and setting you up for the next hijacking!! In fact this will be a topic brought up internationally when President Obama visits Russia and at the U.N. In November. There are several plans to combat this thievery and global cyberwar, but it’s an uphill battle as criminal elements and governments wishing to do us harm need not abide by such treaties.

That Cyber Space Czar will be most welcome.

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Besides using the Internet for communication, information and entertainment lets focus on TV as the medium where we switch channels instead of clicking ‘delete’.

Although we don't have the instant gratification of searching on Google we can speculate on some past and present programs and personalities seen on the tube.

There continues to be much talk about conservative right-wing broadcasters such as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly, etc., but the pioneer of confrontational talk shows was Joe Pyne in the ‘50’s and 60’s. Both on radio and TV. He would usually make his guest defensive by first angering them with something derogatory and get them flustered. He also had a wooden leg from service in WW2. The famous interview between him and musician Frank Zappa started: Pyne: "So I guess your long hair makes you a woman."　Zappa: "So I guess your wooden leg makes you a table!" He was also the guy who dismissed guests with whom he disagreed by telling them to "Go gargle with razor blades!" Not even Rush is that derisive.

The recent passing of Billy Mays, the TV pitchman, conjures the picture of him ascending to heaven with snow white wings while expounding cleaning power of Oxi-Clean.

Other infomercials tend to exaggerate, if not mislead. Take for instance the upside down tomato one that claims to yield the red fruit (yes, I know they are in the vegetable section of the supermarket) in pounds . However I harvested only a single tomato from my upside down plant following all the directions with careful watering and fertilizing. That was one expensive salad ingredient!

How about that ice cream maker that sells on QVC and HSN; my attempts never match the quality of the store bought desert. It stretches the credibility of the “Oh’s” and “Ah’s” of delight by the hosts of those shows.

If you have some extra time on your hands you can listen to an iPod with 60 GB memory. It can hold 15,000 songs. If an average song lasts three minutes it would take 750 hours (over one month listening all day) to go through all of it. Not to mention the time spent downloading. Talk about excess!

On the lighter side, with reference to current events and personalities- if they were TV programs here is what they could be:

The Fairhope mayor and City Council “The Bickersons”

Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina and his lover in Argentina: “Married …… With Children”

Obama administration takes over General Motors: “Big Brother”-

North Korea ruler Kim Jong-IL: “Deal or No Deal”

Macaulay Culkin: “Growing Pains”

Hillary Clinton, Silda Spitzer, and Jenny Sanford: “Lie To Me” or “Survivor” or “Desperate Housewives”

All this electronic gadgetry, from computers to the first radio set with cat’s whiskers have had pitfalls and shortcomings. I guess the last remaining perfections are our grandchildren.

END

* I fixed mine by starting Windows in the “Safe Mode with Networking” (see your manual) and downloading a free anti-virus program. 　



http://www.baldwincountynow.com/articles/2009/07/12/columnists/doc4a57a29533bb5153301298.txt