A way to trick users into opening a virus. Many people have learned that text files (.TXT) and image files (.GIF, .JPG, etc.) are safe to launch because they are data and not executable software. They have learned to be leery of .EXE, .VBS and other extensions that are executed immediately. Thus, virus writers try to trick more people using double extensions, so "I LOVE YOU.TXT.vbs" is really not a .TXT file, but a .vbs file, a Visual Basic Script that is executed immediately.
You Need to See the Extension
Some mail programs may actually remove the .vbs at the end of the name, leaving users completely helpless to make a determination even if they knew what to look for. This mentality is pervasive. Out of the box, Windows defaults to hiding file extensions in all displays, which is beyond absurdity considering the importance of this file identifier in everyday operations. See dangerous extensions and Love bug.
You Need to See the Extension
Some mail programs may actually remove the .vbs at the end of the name, leaving users completely helpless to make a determination even if they knew what to look for. This mentality is pervasive. Out of the box, Windows defaults to hiding file extensions in all displays, which is beyond absurdity considering the importance of this file identifier in everyday operations. See dangerous extensions and Love bug.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- My father, the casemodder
- I love hearing about these wacky aesthetic computer modifications that people do. While a lot of them definitely have the "cool" factor, most aren't exactly useful or practical. But when I heard about one particular "casemod" from one of my readers, I was intrigued. It just so happened that this...
- Blog posts 2008-08-29
- Microsoft patents 'Page Up' and 'Page Down'
- The software maker has been granted a US patent on "navigating paginated content in page-based increments." Microsoft has been granted a patent on 'Page Up' and 'Page Down' keystrokes. The software giant applied for the patent in 2005, and was granted it on August 19, 2008....
- News items 2008-08-29
- TV Software Pro (exe)
- TV Software Pro is a software to watch thousands of satellite movies and listen to radio channels from all over the globe. With over 3000 channels, quality and quantity is here. This version is the first release on CNET Download.com. Note: The Download Now link will download a small installer...
- Software downloads 2008-08-29
- Cafe (zip)
- The software is designed for management and ratification in Internet cafes and at places, where computers are rented (computer gaming clubs, hotels, hostels, libraries, schools, Internet points, and info centres). Protects computers against unauthorized use, permanent monitoring of the current state of each computer, allows remote control of computers from...
- Software downloads 2008-08-29
- Windows 7 must avoid the marketing trap that Vista stumbled into
- Windows 7 must avoid the marketing trap that Vista stumbled intoI agree "One OS to unite them all""One price to keep all happy" In the end it's just a marketing ploy different versions each with their own "missing" pieces. In many ways it looks like double dipping...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-28
- SaaS market will 'collapse' in two years
- SaaS market will 'collapse' in two yearsHe doesn't get itSo to summarize Debes (who comes off a little like Vinny from da mob or a coke dealer - his words, not mine):(1) SaaS and Cloud computing as a delivery vehicle has been tried before and therefore will fail (like all...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-28
- Bloomberg publishes Jobs obit but why?
- Bloomberg publishes Jobs obit but why?re: Bloomberg publishes Jobs obit but why?[i]Pre-written obits are nothing new in journalism. There are probably pre-fab obits flying around many newsrooms.[/i]There's another thing I didn't know. And fairly depressing to think people write this stuff up waiting for someone to die.George Burns and...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-28
- BugZap (zip)
- The main BugZap highlights are: Small footprint - the minimum useable BugZap configuration requires 2.6MB of hard drive space and 64MB of memory. Naturally, both requirements will increase if optional BugZap components are installed; however, the increase is nowhere as drastic as that imposed by mainstream issue tracking solutions. Ease...
- Software downloads 2008-08-28
- ImVajra Password Manager (exe)
- ImVajra Password Manager stores your passwords, logins, credit card numbers, and any other confidential and precious data in top security level to prevent unauthorized users from accessing and viewing. You can log into your database with password, USB flash disk or both to secure and protect your personal info better...
- Software downloads 2008-08-28
- Internet Explorer 8 beta 2
- With the public release of its second beta, Microsoft said it intends for the Internet Explorer 8 browser to be more customer-oriented than previous versions of its browser. Our initial impression of Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 is positive: we think Microsoft has not only caught up with Opera, Safari,...
- Product reviews 2008-08-27
- Suddenly, Android is hot again
- After months of silence, the double-whammy of new software and hardware has gotten everyone talking about Android again. Earlier this month Erick Schonfeld at TechCrunch was wondering if anybody cared about Android any more. Now TC is practically gushing over the mobile platform. What happened? Two things:...
- Blog posts 2008-08-27
- Major security hole found in iPhone
- Major security hole found in iPhonewhose fault?Seems to me you're blaming Apple for bad coverage when you should be blaming O2. Didn't they give you some sort of trial period when you sign up to see how the coverage was in your area?The risk Me-Firsters takeEr, I mean early...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-27
- Has Firefox already matched IE privacy features?
- Has Firefox already matched IE privacy features?SSH?I thought that was for a secure shell (port 23 i believe) to transfer files vs unsecure FTP (port 21)... SSL (port 443) is whats used in browsers for secure websites...unless im mistaken.It matched it a long time agoThe Distrust extension does what this...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-27
- iPhone passcode lock rendered useless
- iPhone passcode lock rendered uselessiPhoneI'd like to point out that a good workaround is setting your home button "Settings->General->Home Button" to "Home" will effectively negate the issue.Tested on iPhone 2.0RE: iPhone passcode lock rendered uselessStrange it was fixed in a prior version but not pushed into v2. Seems like a...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-27
- Major security hole found in iPhone
- Gizmodo has unearthed a security flaw in the iPhone OS and boy is it a doozy. According to the post it's simple to access a locked iPhone's address book, Mail, SMS, Contacts, and Safari. The vulnerability works like this on a password protected and locked iPhone: ...
- Blog posts 2008-08-27
- Cisco buys PostPath: WebEx to compete with Exchange, Outlook, Office?
- Cisco on Wednesday bought email and calendar software maker PostPath for $215 million in a move that may signal bigger plans for WebEx. Simply put, Cisco and Microsoft are increasingly on a software collision course. Cisco said its latest acquisition will be used to "enhance the existing...
- Blog posts 2008-08-27
- iPhone passcode lock rendered useless
- Do not trust that passcode lock on Apple's iPhone. The feature, which lets users set a four-digit pincode to limit access to the device, can be easily bypassed with a few finger taps on the iPhone to give an intruder access to sensitive information. ...
- Blog posts 2008-08-27
- Purebuds
- Of almost all gadgets, earbuds have the least surface area to work with, which means external design innovations are often incremental and minute. Color and style are the most noticeable physical characteristics that manufacturers tweak, but neither has an effect on the performance of an earphone. So, what's a new...
- Product reviews 2008-08-26
- Magna Charta: Welcome Back, Ross Perot
- Magna Charta: Welcome Back, Ross PerotIf you dont care for perot, his charts, or want another source... how aboutthe comptroller general?A movie released last goes over the same type of stuff. We have a massive defecit, one that will eat our country whole if its not dealt with....
- Discussion threads 2008-08-26
- Qwest CTO on FTTP, bandwidth caps and integrated services
- Qwest plans to roll out integrated home services where it ties its services in with those from its partners such as MSN and DirecTV in a move enabled by a thin layer of software, according to Qwest CTO Pieter Poll. Poll right talked about Qwest's broadband strategy...
- Blog posts 2008-08-25
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