Update: For those not aware, I released a new website earlier this year to remove MSN Viruses. This software is completely free, and will remove over 6,000 MSN viruses! For more info, visit www.msnvirusremoval.com

Windows Live Messenger, as formally known as MSN Messenger, is a popular messaging service for both the young and the old. However, it seems that more and more viruses are lurking to the surface by exploiting the system.

A new virus, dubbed the “image**.zip” virus has become popular, leeching itself to your contacts and sharing the virus onto them. The virus begins by infecting one machine, however that came about. It then joins to your contacts, sending them a copy of a file, usually called “image24.zip”, “image25.zip”, “image35.zip” or something similar. It’s usually joined with a message such as “wow! look at this old picture i found….” or “Hey just finished my new myspace album! theres a few kinky ones in there!”. (examples can be seen by clicking images to the right) If the contact accepts it, then the virus infects that machine and the loop continues, infecting more and more machines as it goes along.

The problem with this type of virus is that people think that a file they’re being sent is completely safe, it’s from their contacts after all isn’t it? But no, it isn’t.

Now, I’m attempting to create some type of program to remove this virus from people’s machines, or at least to the best of my abilities. So, here are my instructions to far (not yet tested but will hopefully work, please let me know if it does or doesn’t).

Prevention is the best cure

Don’t get yourself in this trouble, follow this guide:

• Don’t accept files unless you know exactly what they are, even if they are from your friends
• If you get a message such as the above mentioned, ask the user back what the file is. Usually if it’s a robot it won’t respond.
• Be safe and install anti-virus applications. They’re even good free ones such as AVG Antivirus (http://free.grisoft.com)

Remove the virus

So it’s too late, ok well now it’s time to try my removal tool. If I know it works for a large amount of people I’ll create a better application that’ll be much easier to fix the bug.

1. Download http://www.miccas.net/files/remove24.reg
2. Open the file, and click Yes when prompted. Then click Ok once it’s completed
3. Reboot/Restart your computer
4. Delete the following files (%windir% is usually c:\windows\)

%windir%\system\ehSched.exe
%windir%\system\IMG024.JPG.zip

5. Hopefully that’ll be it! Let me know if this works.

UPDATE: Service Pack 1 users will not be able to use the latest RTM version of DreamScene, however according to a microsoft official website it will be enabled very soon.

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After numerous user complaints about the small amount of Ultimate Extras for the new Windows Vista operating system, we can happily report that Microsoft’s DreamScene addition has gone RTM.

The system, allowing you to have a full motion desktop instead of a static picture, was released a few months ago in beta, however today was released as a full finished copy.

“As most of you already know, Windows DreamScene transforms your desktop from a static wallpaper image into a full-motion video.” said Barry Goffe in an online statement. “While we are excited about shipping DreamScene, the remaining 19 language packs are, unfortunately, not yet ready for release. Recently we realized that Ultimate customers who tried to install the language packs that shipped earlier this year were experiencing an unacceptably high number of failures during installation. We continue to make delivering the highest quality, most secure Extras our top priority, and we will not ship any Extra until it is absolutely ready. We know this is disappointing, and again we apologize, but we are working hard to ensure that all of the remaining language packs will be ready for release by the end of October.”

Another important note that Barry mentioned was in regards to the change of the Ultimate Extras page built into the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system, which had been altered with Service Pack 1. “… as the broad beta for Windows Vista SP1 nears, people have noticed that the screen which welcomes customers to Windows Ultimate Extras has changed. Our intent in making this change was simply to broaden the definition in anticipation of a broader range of Ultimate Extras being available in the future—that do not necessarily map to the original, narrow definition”

You can read the full announcement here - http://windowsultimate.com/blogs/announcements/archive/2007/09/25/windows-dreamscene-released.aspx

After the announcement that 2Clix was suing the popular Whirlpool’s forum founder, users donated large sums of money - enough to force Whirlpool to close the donation area so they could work out what they were doing

However, Simon Wright (forum founder) has made an announcement that “.. Whirlpool legal team can confirm that they received informal notice from an employee of 2Clix that there may be an intention on the part of 2Clix to withdraw their Statement of Claim against Simon”.

We will update you on any news we receive.

Well, so far we’ve completely redesigned the blog, and more and more news articles are being posted. We’re still on the way of development but we’re getting there. Today, I’d like to announce a new feature on the MiCCAS.net Blog.

On the right hand side of the blog site, you’ll now see a new section called “SUBSCRIBE”. This will be where we will be adding future methods of subscribing to the blog.

For the moment however, we have the option of receiving updates to the MiCCAS.net Official Blog via Windows Live Messenger. Every time we release a new blog, you’ll receive a nice window message like you would when a contact is to sign in.

To subscribe using this method, click the image on the right hand side that looks like the following and follow the instructions (you will be redirected to the Microsoft website - no contact details are ever given to us).

We plan to release more methods to subscribe including RSS and Email. Stay tuned!

An accounting software firm 2Clix is suing the popular web forum Whirlpool.net.au for “alleged “injurious falsehood”.”

2Clix is suing for over $150,000, and the immediate removal of the two posts in question. According to 2Clix, they have allowed comments and statements “relating to the Plaintiff and its software product that are both false and malicious”

The two posts in question are:

• http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=479484; and
• http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=628356

More information can be found on the Whirlpool.net.au website at http://whirlpool.net.au/article.cfm/1753, and we will update you when we hear more.