The Big Storm last night
I couldn’t sleep at all last night. It was one of those nights where you just lay there wide awake, ready to party. Finally about 4 or so I nodded off. Of course, that was right before the Shuttle launch. But, after getting cranked up watching the Saints win the Super Bowl, watching a launch would have wrecked what little chance at sleep I had left. So, I just lay there and waited, knowing SOMETHING must be keeping me awake. Finally, this morning, I read the news and saw immediately what the problem was:
There was a major storm last night. Now, this wasn’t one of those piddly snow storms dropping a couple of feet of snow on the East Coast, this was a major outburst of energy probably made a lot of static inside my brain, which would be really loud. Yeah, that sounds goofy, but first time I couldn’t sleep in months just happens to be right when the first MAJOR sunspot in years hits? Something’s gotta be there. I’m sure most learned scientists would tell you there’s no way possible a solar storm could affect my sleep. Of course, those same people are quick to tell us there is no way sunspots affect our climate either.
Gmail hacked
The code that was used to hack Gmail accounts in China is now publicly available on the Internet, and security experts are urging computer users throughout the world to be highly vigilant until a patch can be developed.
The hack involves Internet Explorer 6, the browser that came with the Windows XP operating system that, while outdated, still powers millions of businesses and home computers and is now dangerously compromised.
On Thursday, the code that was used to hack Gmail accounts in China and led Google to threaten to close shop there was posted to malware-analysis Web site Wepawet. By Friday, security site Metasploit had posted a demonstration of just how easily the exploit can be used to gain complete control over a computer.
Just make sure you’re using IE8 and you’re OK. Keeping a typical eye on your gmail account helps a lot too. But, this does bug me because I do use Google services a lot.
