By: John Progar

I recently learned the Coreflood botnet is taking a hit and will be brought down.  For anyone unfamiliar with Coreflood or what a botnet is, let me explain.  First, a botnet is a series of computers that have been taken over by a hacker.  He or she uses the compromised computers to launch attacks against web servers, gather personal information, con computer users to make money, or do just about anything the hacker wants on a whim.  Therefore the computers are controllable robots that are networked together – botnet.

Coreflood is one of the largest botnets to have ever surfaced and has done enough damage to capture the attention of the FBI and Department of Justice (DoJ).  The impressive part of the story is the government’s intervention to bring down the botnet.  Most of the time an end-user has to take a defensive roll and very little offensive action is taken.  But in a case when millions of computers are compromised someone has to bring the fight to the hacker’s doorstep.

The Internet is a scary place, yet it shouldn’t be and many believe in fighting for a cause to keep the Internet a prosperous medium for communications, commerce, and entertainment.  Although we constantly try to improve the Internet many will try to take advantage for their own selfish desires.  I for one enjoy using the Internet and accessing its vast amount of services, but I am always keeping an eye out for security leaks and holes.

Bottom line is more so a reminder.  Be careful with opening emails from unknown senders, take a moment before clicking on links or opening files that seem unusual, beware of fake pop-up web pages that pretend to be anti-virus or anti-spyware programs, and if in doubt ask!  In the case of an unusual email ask the person who sent it and verify the message.  If you are surfing the web and see a window open that says your computer is under attack, question it.  The fake warnings are typically generic or at times try to impersonate the name brand anti-virus software.  I recommend rebooting the computer right away and run a scan with the installed protection software you have (Norton, AVG, McAfee, etc…).  Worse case you will need to ask a tech savvy friend, family member, or the awesome I.T. guy/girl at work for help.  Those of us in I.T. departments deal with compromises all the time, and if he or she is like me we despise the hacker.

Please read the following articles and provide your feed back.

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/042711-feds-to-remotely-uninstall-coreflood.html?page=1

http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/fbi-doj-bomb-coreflood-botnet

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9216190/Court_order_cripples_Coreflood_botnet_says_FBI

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/04/coreflood/

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As the City of Chicago’s summer calendar quickly fills up, it’s easy to see how we are becoming a warm weather destination. Offering access to the sparkling lakefront, prestigious museums and most importantly providing the best music festivals the country has to offer. 

 Joining the summer festival roster this year is the Dave Matthews Band Caravan. Not only is Dave providing a star-studded line up for his 3 day festival; The Flaming Lips, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero’s, Emmylou Harris, Ray LaMontagne, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, among others, but he is also utilizing the former south side U.S. Steel mill as the concert venue.

 The US Steel plant provided the materials for both the Hancock Building and Willis Tower and was shut down in 1993, leaving behind an unsightly brownfield site. It has since been abandoned due to the high costs associated with cleaning up and restoring former industrial sites.

 In a rare public-private partnership, Jam Produtions, Live Nation, Starr Hill Presents, U.S. Steel Corp and McCaffery Interests of Chicago have combined forces with The Dave Matthews Band (who are synonymous with sustainability and green culture) to revitalize and repurpose the 600 acre former steel mill into a lakefront venue.

 The Dave Matthews Band Caravan tour rolls into Chicago July 8-10.If this venture is successful it will open to door for further repurposing of brownfield and industrial sites into vibrant, useful public spaces.

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The New York City Department of Buildings has successfully launched the use Quick Response (QR) Codes on all Building Permits, providing New Yorkers with instant access to information related to buildings and construction sites throughout New York City.

New Yorkers now can scan the QR code of any construction permit and instantly learn details about the ongoing project – including the approved scope of work, identities of the property owner and job applicant, other approved projects associated with the permit, the complaints and violations related to the location and user will have the ability to click a link that will initiate a phone call to 311 to make a complaint.

Commissioner LiMandri. “Construction is vital to the growth of this city, but when that work impacts our quality of life, residents should be able to quickly learn who is responsible and what work has been approved. By scanning a QR code on a permit, New Yorkers can easily learn important details about construction work in their neighborhood and if that work is safe and lawful. I encourage all New Yorkers to download a QR app and scan a permit today.”

Click here to read this entire article from New York City’s Department of Buildings.

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