Cause For Concern? Iran States They Successfully Launched Satellite Into Space

Photo by WharmanSending off alarm signals around the world, Iran announced the successful launch of their first domestically made satellite into space.

The U.S. State Department said Iran’s development of a space-launch vehicle gives the country the “technical basis” to develop long-range ballistic missile systems.

At a time when world pressure on Iran is building against their nuclear program, it may pose more trouble to the Obama administration at a time when they are attempting to reach out to Iran to establish a dialog.

Even France is worried and has expressed concern over the launch of the Satellite.

Though this may cause more international pressure to increase against Iran, time is running short. I personally doubt much will be done to stop Iran.

If nothing is done, they will not only have a nuclear weapon but the capability to launch  long range missiles as well.

Feds Stop Computer Virus In Plot To Destroy Fannie Mae

The Justice Department today announced that they foiled a plot by a former Fannie Mae contractor who was fired from unleashing a virus.

According to the Feds the virus would have destroyed data on all of the finance company's 4,000 computers tomorrow (Saturday January 31).

Rajendrasinh B. Makwana, 35, of Glen Allen, Va., a citizen of India, was fired early on the afternoon of Oct. 24 from his job at Fannie Mae's data center. An affidavit states he was fired for erroneously writing programming instructions two weeks earlier that changed the settings on high-speed computers.

However, beofre surrendering his Fannie Mae badge and laptop computer at the end of the day Oct. 24, Makwana "intentionally and without authorization caused and attempted to cause damage to Fannie Mae's computer network by entering malicious code."

The indictment says the virus was found "by chance" in late October and removed.

Criminal Probe Called For In Tainted Peanut Butter Incident

After the deaths of eight people, and the sickening of over 500 after the Peanut Corporation of America allegedly knew of the Salmonella Typhimurium contamination, but covered it up and sold and shipped their products to companies and institutions anyway.

The company's actions "can only be described as reprehensible and criminal," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., who oversees Food and Drug Administration funding. "Not only did this company knowingly sell tainted products, it shopped for a laboratory that would provide the acceptable results they were seeking. This behavior represents the worst of our current food safety regulatory system."

Georgia's, top agriculture official joined DeLauro in asking the Justice Department to determine if the case warrants criminal prosecution.

The Plant also has a history of problems, and was cited repeatedly in over the last three years.

From a PR perspective the company has gone down the wrong path. If the allegations turn out to be true, I expect that many of the executives at this company may face criminal charges, in addition to dozens of lawsuits.

I have a previous post on the the situation with links to the recalled products called Salmonella Outbreak, Product Recall Grows

Downadup Worm Continues To Spread, Get Conficker Patch To Protect Systems

The Downadup worm (also known as Conficker,or Kido) continues to spread across the world affecting more than 20 million systems as security experts fear the results should it kick-off other malicious activities.

Referred to as "very well-engineered" by Alfred Huger, vice president of development at Symantec Corp.'s security response group. Alfred Huger also called the malicious software "very complex" adding that "At the byte level, it implements [things] in some novel ways." Compared to most malware, which Huger said is "written off the cuff," Downadup is downright elegant.

The worm first surfaced in November and appears to have originated in the Ukraine. It currently keeps users from accessing antivirus sites to obtain updates, though the worm is capable of downloading a second stage of code for as yet unknown intentions, though security experts are saying we could see that soon.

Microsoft Virus Alert for Downadup, Conficker

F-Secure.com has a Disinfecting Tool available and has excellent Downadup (Conficker) Information.

Will Alaskan Volcano, Redoubt Erupt again?

Image courtesy of the Alaska Volcano ObservatoryThe Alaskan volcano Redoubt continues to ruble according to geologists and might erupt within hours or days.

Geologists did a fly over the sight said the could smell sulfur in the air so staff at the observatory will be monitoring activity and satellite images that identify temperature changes round the clock.

If Redoubt erupts, it will likely dump ash on several surrounding communities including Anchorage, Alaska.

The last time Mount Redoubt erupted was in December 1989 and lasted for five months causing mud flows into the Drift River drainage which caused partial flooding of the Drift River Oil Terminal facility. The large ash plume also disrupted international air traffic and a thin ash layer coated Anchorage and surrounding communities.

Below is an image of the eruption in 1990 of Mount Redoubt.

courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey