Just a Little Scare and Other Stuff

I had quite the scare last evening. Even though I take all the usual (and some unusual) precautions, I somehow managed to become infected with Spyware.WinSpy yesterday. Or so Norton told me last evening when the scheduled daily virus scan was completed. Shite. Frick. Just what I don’t need. This little gem is particularly nasty. From the Symantec web site:

When Spyware.WinSpy runs, it can:

• Log chat and instant message conversations.
• Capture information about every window viewed.
• Log all the visited Web site titles and addresses.
• Log keystrokes and the windows in which they were entered.
• Monitor email.
• Capture screen shots
• Download, hide, create, or delete files or folders.

The initial, scheduled virus scan reported two “threats,” one resolved, one not, both instances with the same name: Spyware.WinSpy. I’ve seen this sort of thing before. I strongly suspect Norton has isolated and killed the infection, but perhaps not. {Sigh} So I close everything out, download the latest dat files from Symantec, do another full system scan, and also run a full-system scan using Spyware Doctor. No infections reported by either tool. Reboot. Everything is fine now.

But, still.

One is left with a certain sense of insecurity about it all. Almost makes one want to go out and buy a Mac. Just sayin’.

Flew around the blogosphere a bit this morning, mainly reading articles and comment on Porter Goss’ abrupt resignation as DCI. As usual, paranoid conspiracies abound on the Left, and speculation about Goss’ replacement on the Right. Check memeorandum for links. There’s lots and lots.

Time magazine is reporting the President will name General Michael Hayden as DCI. Good choice. I, for one, believe the intelligence agencies function much better under military-style (i.e., “command and control”) leadership, rather than that provided by a career bureaucrat. And you’ll not be able to beat the confirmation hearings for sheer theatre. I’ll be glued to C-SPAN.

Brief hockey update. Watched a couple of good games last night and earlier today. Both were satisfying, but for different reasons. Anaheim continued on its roll, beating the stuffing out of Colorado, 5-0. Theodore, Colorado’s goalie, is a mediocre talent who mysteriously got by the number two seeded Dallas Stars in the first round. He won’t be that lucky this time around. I predict Anaheim in five.

And then there was New Jersey’s 6-0 loss to Carolina. I don’t know what to make of this one. Is Carolina really that good? New Jersey couldn’t go on winning forever (having won 15 in a row prior to today’s game), but to lose 6-0, with five power play goals against, and all on Martin Brodeur’s birthday? This should be a hella series! I won’t begin to venture a call on this one. Well, maybe I will: New Jersey in six. Only a fool would bet against Brodeur.

And then there’s this. Just when I’m about ready to sign on to the theory that the current war against the Islamofascists is really a war against Islam, along comes a rational, middle-of-the-road, Muslim academic who nails his 27-item version of 95 Theses to the mosque door. Moderate Muslims do exist, reading Algerian reformist Malek Chebel’s 27 Propositions for Reforming Islam proves it. Now the trick will be to get the attention and support of the umma. Easier said than done. Still and all, this list of proposals is highly recommended reading.

And finally… Feisty Republican Whore is a relatively new read for me. This woman is good. She’s funny, articulate, and irreverent. My kinda woman! I’m not trying to be domineering or anything, but you should get on over there and give her a read. Right now!