Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19-5-2017

That’s a worry.

I’m something of a Mac fan.

Part of the appeal?   Is simply the fact the Mac platform is rarely hit by malicious software.

The recent ransomware attack that hit many Windows machines?

Would have slid off my Mac.

There’s been a few though.   I can still remember the Inqtana, a few years ago: ad that was a relatively innocuous proof-of-concept virus.

There’s been a few more serious ones doing the rounds.

A while ago, Transmission, the BitTorrent client, had issues: when a spiked version of the application was issued … from Transmission’s own sites.

Something similar’s recently happened: with popular video transcoder, HandBrake: someone’s sneaked a spiked copy of the installer onto one of HandBrake’s own mirrors, that installs a back door, allowing passwords to be harvested from one’s Mac.

I’ve made sure my system’s OK: there’s no trace of the malware, here.

I’ve also quietly advised others to do likewise, if they’ve downloaded HandBrake during the relevant period.

But I can’t help but think a few things.

The one thing I notice from the HandBrake and Transmission attacks?

Is that the attacks happened in a similar way.

In other words, the infected installers were sneaked onto the app’s legitimate download sites.

People were tricked into downloading them, because they thought they were the legitimate apps.

I think we are going to have to be more careful about downloading things: even from the genuine sites.

I ALSO think app developers are going to need to hike up their security, in order to stop this sort of thing.

Or, at least, keep it to a bare minimum.

I also think the trick’s going to catch on.

Next time?

Some-one could well be downloading a spiked copy of Microsoft’s Office suite: from Microsoft’s own site.

Nasty idea, that …

~≈∑≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s teaser saw Olga* and Debbi† put in their answers: with both scoring ten out of ten.

Let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video … 

Q1) 19th May, 1935, saw the death of T. E. Lawrence.   The retired Army colonel was better known as Lawrence of where?

Q2) Giscard d’Estaing was elected as French President: on 19th May, 1974.   Name either of the final two candidates in this year’s French Presidential election.

Q3) Tennis player, Heather Watson, was born: on 19th May, 1992.   She was born in Saint Peter Port: on which of the Channel Islands?

Q4) That same day — 19th May, 1992 — saw the birth of singer, Sam Smith.   His song, Writing’s on the Wall, is the theme tune to which James bond film?

Q5) Finally … Parliament passed the law — on 19th May, 1649 — that declared England to be a type of republic.   A type called what: Republic, Commonwealth or Confederacy?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1) 18th May saw what many regard as the first Indian feature film, released.   In which year: 1910, 1911 or 1912?

A1) 1912.

Q2) Called Shree Pundalik, the film was how long: 20, 21 or 22 minutes?

A2) 22.

Q3) Was the film silent, or a talkie?

A3) Silent.

Q4) If the film was a talkie, it would have been in which language: Hindi, Bengali or Marathi?

A4) Marathi.

Q5) The film’s director, Dadasaheb Torne, spoke that language.   He’s also known as the what of Indian Cinema: father, mother or uncle?

A5) Father.

Q6) Torne made a few silent films.   One of the last, Sindabad Khalasi, was a version of which character’s story?

A6) Sinbad the Sailor.   (Rather than Daenerys Targaryen!)

Q7) Shree Pundalik was shown in the Coronation Cinematograph, in Girgaum.   Girgaum is an area of which city: Kolkata, Mumbai or Chennai?

A7) Mumbai.

Q8) The word ‘Bollywood,’ is used to describe the Indian film industry.   Strictly speaking, though?   ‘Bollywood’ actually refers to Indian films from which City?

A8) Mumbai.   (They’re ALSO usually in Hindi.)

Q9) As of 2013, India’s film industry is the biggest on Earth, by output.   Which country’s film industry is the second most prolific?

A9) Nollywood: in OTHER word’s, Nigeria’s.

Q10) Finally … In 2015, the Indian film industry had gross box office takings of how much: $1.6 billion, $1.7 billion or $1.8 billion.

A10) $1.6 billion .

Here’s a thought …

“I’m not going to sit at your table and watch you eat, with nothing on my plate, and call myself a diner. Sitting at the table doesn’t make you a diner, unless you eat some of what’s on that plate.”

Malcolm X, May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965.

And, as it’s Malcolm’s birthday?

This tune … 

Today’s questions will be answered in tomorrow’s Teaser.

Have a good day.

*        Yeah, Olga: I knew about the Tennant/Piper thing: they’ve been working on stuff for Big Finish for a while!   Never could get into the audios, although I know they’re popular.   The Jago and Litefoot ones sound good, though.   (The pair from The Talons of Weng Chiang?   Yeah, them!)   And I’ve seen the trailer for that film, and the original!   I keep meaning to check them out … as soon as I get a chance!   It sound fantastic!

†        THINK I might have to do some persuading, Debbi!   Oh, did the trailer for the film Olga mention, reach the US?   Looks like it could be fun!