Computer Viruses Suck! And Playing Tourist - Part 1

Sorry the photos were delayed. My computer got loaded with spyware virus last night (whoever created Personal Guard 2009 can get run over by a Russian tank after I shoot him). Despite 7 hours (didn't go to bed until past 3a) going through the registry & deleting processes and running my antivirus software, I was still infected and probably screwed up some other things. And the virus has corrupted my IE so I wasn't even able to get onto the internet to dl the appropriate AntiMalware. This morning I took it to Geek Squad; hope to get it back Tuesday evening (then I will edit this paragraph & add photos to the blog).

Today was my first tourist day. Aliendial (whom I know from unFiction and ARGFests) took me to brunch in Alexandria. After a detour to Best Buy we headed into the Capital. Destination was the Newseum on Pennsylvania Ave. We spent a lovely afternoon exploring all the exhibits, watching a few videos, playing with the interactive monitors, and I took a few pictures (there are more at my flickr).




It also turned into a bit of an adventure as we got on the 295N instead of South and then she felt something wasn't right with the vehicle. Flat tire. Yes, two women CAN change a tire (sorry, no pictures of this one, we didn't really like the neighborhood).

Now I'm back at the hotel, waiting for my weekend Chinese food delivery, using the computer in the business center. Guess I'll get some reading done the next few nights (no computer also means no DVD player). Fingers crossed Best Buy has it ready for pick-up on Tuesday after work.

Headlines: USAFE luring personnel to phishing exercise

By Matt Millham, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Saturday, February 7, 2009

U.S. Air Forces in Europe has launched an information awareness campaign that will include at least one faux hoax.

Spurred by the widespread misuse of removable flash media devices, those in charge of securing USAFE’s computer networks plan to lure servicemembers and Air Force civilians into giving up personal information in a theaterwide con sometime between now and May.

"We hope that people know about it when it does happen," said Master Sgt. Dustin Ruland, USAFE cyber surety program manager.

USAFE’s computer gurus have redoubled their efforts to educate Air Force personnel in Europe about proper use of government systems through a series of computer pop-ups and a print and online media campaign.

They want personnel to know what to do before they launch the next phase of the campaign, which will include administrator-generated "glitches" and a "phishing" scam that could net them such information as Social Security numbers, bank data or computer passwords.

"Our goal is to not catch anybody," Ruland said. "If we do the phishing exercise and we get zero hits, we did our job properly."

So far, the pop-up campaign, which began Wednesday, has drawn little notice from airmen, who are used to clicking through a sea of computer pop-ups as they go through their daily routines.

Staff Sgt. Matthew Pearson, a member of the 1st Communications Maintenance Squadron at Kapaun Air Station, said he didn’t know about the stepped-up efforts, "but I don’t read all the little pop-ups that pop up," he said.

"There’s a new one every day," and he just doesn’t pay attention to them.

Still, he and others in his unit knew what to do in case of a glitch or scam e-mail.
"We go through a lot of training," said Staff Sgt. Charles Franklin.

Nevertheless, not everybody is following the rules, according to officials.

"The goal of this campaign is education and awareness," said Master Sgt. Chad Pope, USAFE communications security program manager.

"We’re not trying to be tricky. We just want to make sure people understand the rules and follow them."