BolehVPN News/Status/Fun

We are performing some repairs to the Barack server on the Private Tracker configurations.

We estimate this repair to take 1 day.

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ANNOUNCEMENT ON CONFLICKER WORM

Dear Valued Customers,

Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) wishes to inform its customers that they may be experiencing slow browsing due to the widespread infection of the Conflicker Worm.

Conficker, also known as Downup, Downadup and Kido, is a computer worm that surfaced in October 2008 and targets the Microsoft Windows operating system. The worm exploits a previously patched vulnerability in the Server service used by Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 Beta, and Windows Server 2008 R2 Beta.

The Conficker worm is a computer worm that can infect your computer and spread itself to other computers across a network automatically, without human interaction. It is a standalone malicious program which uses computer or network resources to make complete copies of itself. It may include code or other malware to damage both the system and the network.

Conflicker infects other computers across a network by exploiting the vulnerability in the Windows Server service (SVCHOST.EXE). It might spread through file sharing and via removable drives, such as USB drives (also known as thumb drives). The worm adds a file to the removable drive so that when the drive is used, the AutoPlay dialog box will show one additional option. The Conflicker worm can also disable important services on your computer.

TM strongly encourages its customers to update unpatched systems as soon as possible. Additionally, TM recommends that customers take the following preventive measures to help mitigate the security risks:

Step 1 – Turn on your firewall – Point to Control Panel -> Network and Internet Connections ->Windows Firewall.
Step 2 – Update Windows - Open up Internet Explorer and go to http://update.microsoft.com.  Do all the urgent or required updates.
Step 3 – Verify that your antivirus software is on and keep it up-to-date.  You should have a “resident” (always running) antivirus software installed such as Norton, McAfee, AVG, Trend Micro, etc.  Open your antivirus and see if it is running and updated.  Update it if it is not.  You can also go to Start Menu -> Control Panel -> Security Center to verify that antivirus is running.

For additional information about this threat, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/worms/conficker.mspx

Technical Details: http://www.mycert.org.my/en/services/advisories/mycert/2009/main/detail/626/index.html

Source: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/dd452420.aspx

Thank You.

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I will be on leave for a holiday to the Land of Yatta! from the 15-31 May 2009. I will not be reachable by phone but will be checking e-mail whenever I can.

Pit Boss and Gilbert will still be monitoring the service and generating keys as usual but support queries/pms may take a little longer than usual during this time. I will ensure that my duties be delegated down as best that I can.

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We are noticing a loss in connectivity to all Luxembourg servers and suspect a datacentre issue.

We are working to see what the issue is.

Update 4:50PM: All Luxembourg servers are now back online and should be operating within normal parameters. We are enquiring with our hosts as to the reason of the downtime.

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Streamyx has posted an announcement. I forsee mayhem when this ‘upgrade’ takes place (even if you’re outside the affected areas), so just some advance notice:

STREAMYX SERVICE INTERRUPTION IN SERDANG, CHERAS & TAMAN TUN DR ISMAIL

Dear Valued Customers,

We wish to inform our Streamyx customers that Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) will be performing a network upgrading exercise from 11.00 pm, Tuesday, 12th May 2009 until 6.00 am, Wednesday, 13th May 2009.

As a result, Streamyx customers in Serdang, Cheras & Taman Tun Dr Ismail may experience a disruption of service during the stipulated period. We would like to assure you that the service would resume to normal after this period.

TM apologizes for any inconvenience caused whilst the same time, we would like to assure you that we are upgrading our network to enable us to serve you better.

Customers can call TM at 100 and select “Internet Services” or e-mail us at help@tm.com.my for any Streamyx related problems.

Thank You.

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After speaking to one of the Rescue Mission Reps, Zalina, I have decided to make a personal donation of 300 USD to the cause.

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IPT Account details changed due to some Paypal fraud cases.

Read your subscription e-mail again on how to get the most updated details. If you don’t understand it, you probably don’t deserve the use of this account.

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About 300 stray dogs were rounded up by Pulau Ketam residents and deported to an isolated island to fend for themselves.

Over half of them are already dead and the remaining ones may not live long. A rescue mission is being mounted and your help is needed.

Please consider lending your support by going here.

For info or enquiries:
The Rescue Mission Secretariat at +6012 378 3730 (Janet) or +6012 320 8090 (Zalina)
The Sec’s E-mail is dogrescue.pk@gmail.com (see updates page for info) .

Here’s an update I found particularly infuriating and typical of Malaysian politicians:

Thu, 07/05/09:
A SORRY STATE
As the problem exploded in their faces, opportunistic politicians and NGOs are quick to call press conferences and media briefings. Where were these people previously? Not that they didn’t know. They didn’t bother.

Of course now, they are covering their sorry asses and hoping to cash in at the same time. A meeting is being called with all concerned government agencies on Monday next. You know what? After all the expected red tape and bureaucracy, more dogs will be dead.

The meeting involved some people who will speak out only for pedigree dogs. And another NGO which is quick to promote culling. What a sick joke! I get this feeling that these people will probably take the easy way and shoot all of the dogs quietly to eliminate the inconvenience it is causing them.

And NO, Yang Berhormat! We will not reschedule our rescue work to accommodate your ‘busy’ schedules. If you want to come see the plight of the dogs, you make and suit our time.

Me and my blogging friends worked hard to put some of these people into power during the last elections. We were hoping they will be different and more caring to the less fortunate. But instead, many turned out to be hideous “close-one-eye” types who try to evade reponsibility when the shit hit the fan.

I don’t need to remind the voters who they should reconsider during the next elections. Karma will deal with them , that I am sure.

We have made it known that we need boats urgently and not one person in power lifted his or her finger to mobilise resources. At the same time, villagers are charging us even more when we are there to help solve the mess they themselves created. Tragic irony for the dogs.

All the state machinery and equipment belongs to us tax payers but yet are held back when they are needed most. I also can’t believe that with a fancy yacht club and so many nice boats anchored in Port Klang, not one member offered to help. (Except, one kind officer from the club who helped us transport the cages).

We are not asking for free rides. We will pay for fuel, crew and reasonable rental. I just want a safer vessel for our volunteers. Currently, we have to make do with all kinds of flimsy boats, putting the lives of volunteers and rescued animals at great risk. Do I also need to mention not one single vet offered to help?

I am extremely disheartened but me and Sabrina will soldier on knowing that time is running out for the dogs.

Updates by TV Smith

You may also wish to read theSUN’s recent article that shows that there are other islands of exiled dogs.

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After the brief respite of say…1.5 days, connections have returned to becoming crappy for Streamyx users:

1. Streamyx website does not load
2. Ping Loss % to Google is back up to >70%
3. General surfing sluggishness
4. And yes of course VPN slowdowns

So don’t come yelling at us please! Please perform the test in Item 4 in this guide if you wish to confirm this problem.

This Streamyx announcement may lend some explanation (but what the heck, I’m not in the affected area and I’m affected!)

Dear Valued Customers,

We wish to inform our Streamyx customers that Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) will be performing a network upgrading exercise from 11.00 pm, Wednesday, 6th May 2009 until 6.00 am, Thursday, 7th May 2009.

As a result, Streamyx customers in Keramat and Petaling Jaya, may experience a disruption of service during the stipulated period. We would like to assure you that the service would resume to normal after this period.

TM apologizes for any inconvenience caused whilst the same time, we would like to assure you that we are upgrading our network to enable us to serve you better.

Customers can call TM at 100 and select “Internet Services” or e-mail us at help@tm.com.my for any Streamyx related problems.

Thank You.

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If you are using Paypal, please ensure that you are not passing your Paypal transactions through our VPN.

Although the VPN is encrypted, Paypal detects that you’re from a different location than you are usually and thinks this is an unauthorized attempt and locks the transaction.

This is our last notice on this issue!

Many thanks!

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