Geeks Blog

Where Geeks Rule

DNS Changer: The Virus that Can Get You Off the Grid

By

The plethora of virus and other malware today will either make you paranoid or completely indifferent about the whole thing. Either way, the fact remains that malware and spyware do exist with some having more apparent effects than other, and others being more destructive than most.

While the main reasons people get all jittery about malware and spyware are usually privacy and data issues, one thing that would surely make anyone take notice is suddenly not being able to connect to the Internet. We are so used to being continuously hooked to the Internet that we no longer think about it. Well if the Internet is as essential to you as it is to me, then you’d better pay attention to the virus called DNS Changer.

The DNS Changer is a malware that the FBI first issued a warning on back in November 2011. According to the FBI, the DNSChanger affects your computer by controlling DNS servers and in effect forcing unsuspecting users to fraudulent websites, interfering with web browsing, and making your computer vulnerable to other malware. While that in itself is bad enough for you to take notice and make sure that your computer is not affected by the virus, the fact is that computers that are stil infected by the virus come July 9, 2012 will probably end up losing Internet connectivity.

The reason for this is that the only reason you still have Internet connectivity at all (if you’re affected by the virus) is the FBI was able to get a court order “authorizing the Internet Systems Consortium (ISC) to deploy and maintain temporary clean DNS servers” for those already affected by the virus. These clean servers will be shut down on July 9, by which time you should have cleaned up your own system and restored your DNS settings to what it should be. So if you’re not yet sure if you’re affected by the malware, head to DNS Changer Check Up Site to see if you are in the clear.

 

Image via DNS Changer Check Up

The Party Geek’s Guide to Drinking

By

We geeks definitely know have to fun. We like parties as much as the next person and can hold our own when it comes to drinking. What’s even better is that we take drinking to the next level, not just enjoying the drink itself, but enjoying analyzing the drinks as well. This is perhaps why the experiment published in Gizmodo entitled “Shaken or Stirred: Which Gets You Drunker? A Scientific Exploration” is an article any party-loving geek would appreciate.

While I encourage you to read the entire article itself, which gives you not just the results but outlines the methodology they used as well (And yes, they were pretty scientific about it), here’s a quick summary of the results from the study.

  • Shaken drinks win for coldness. If you want to get your drink to get cold as fast as possible, shake it. In the experiment shaken drinks’ temperature dropped down to 29 degree F immediately, while the stirred drinks’ temperature dropped only to 38.1 degree F.
  • Stirred drinks win for purity. The drop in temperature of shaken drinks comes with a price, diluting a drink by up to 1.75 times more than stirring does.

In short, if you want to pace yourself, then shake your drink. But if you want to get drunk faster, then stir it.
Other recommendations of the study include shaking cocktails that have juice, dairy, or egg whites, and stirring those that only use spirits—such as martinis and Manhattans.

Source: Gizmodo


Function Meets Fashion with USB Cuff Links

By

Geeks may be bullied all through high school, but once we enter the workforce we find our niche. Geeks rule the corporate world, climbing up the corporate ladder pretty quickly, especially those in the IT industry.

If you’re looking for the perfect fashion accessory to celebrate your success, why not get cuff links for your dress shirts? However, not just any cuff link will do. Why get a cuff link that serves only as a cuff link? Get one that will do more than that, like store your data.

Store your data and bring it wherever you go without fear of misplacing your USB flash drive by putting on some USB cuff links. You got that. USB cuff links.

You can find USB cuff links for $100 to more than $200 in online stores. These little gadgets actually look pretty snazzy and look exactly like your normal cuff links and are available in gunmetal and gold-plated finishes. Unfortunately, the mother of pearl gunmetal cuff link by Cuff Daddy that look specially nice is out of stock as of the moment.

If you don’t feel like toting around a USB drive, you can find other functional and geeky cuff links such as thermometer cuff links, watch cuff links, abacus cuff links, and compass cuff links. While these cuff links are just as functional as your USB cuff link, they are not as inconspicuous as USB cuff links and would not make for everyday wear. However, they are more affordable with prices ranging from $30 to $70.

Image via Amazon