Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 29-6-2017

Hmmm … 

Do you follow the technology news?

I do.   I’m not an avid technology buff, but am usually fascinated by it: having grown up when the home computer boom really took off, in the 1980s.

 So I take an interest: especially if I’ve a vague connection to a story.

A few years ago?

A friend asked about a call she’d had: from someone claiming to work for a Microsoft approved body, who received reports that her PC was playing up.

Then tried to trick her into giving them remote control of her computer, so they could ‘sort the issue out.’

And THEN tried to charge for the privilege.

I always used to call it the Comantra Scam: as that was the name of the company.

At any rate?

The things continued: indeed, I’ve had a few such calls, myself.   (They get annoyed when I tell them I have a Mac.)

At any rate?

It seems the scam is still on-goning.

But, at least, we can say arrests have been made.

~≈Ω≈~

In other technology news?

You’ve possibly noticed there’s been a another global ransomware attack: that looks like it’s been aimed at the Ukraine.

I’ve just seen another piece about the attack.

According to that, it seems the early infections was through a piece of Ukrainian accountancy software.

Most ransomware spreads: by sending out emails with dodgy attachments.   Click on that attachment, and you’re in trouble.

It seems this recent one?   Has done the initial infections: through the accountancy software’s legitimate update systems.

To me?   That sounds suspiciously like the KeRanger ransomware attack.   

KeRanger is — as far as I know — the only bit of ransomware that’s affected macOS.   

It was sneaked onto people’s systems when the criminals behind it sneaked a spiked copy of a popular piece of software onto the software’s official download page.

You went to the official page?   You got infected.

Thankfully?

KeRanger got sorted.

This ransomware will, too.

But I’m thinking spiking official pages and update systems?

Will become more common.

~≈Ω≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Olga*, Angel† and Debbi‡ putting in their answers: with all three scoring five out of five.

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

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

Q1) The BBC officially opened Television Centre, its new HQ and studios.   On 29th June of which year of the 1960s?

Q2) BBC, in this context, stands for British Broadcasting … what?

Q3) The Centre’s in which part of the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham: Brook Green, Fulham or Shepard’s Bush?

Q4) Name either of the two nearest tube stations.

Q5) At its height, how many studios did Television Centre have: six, seven or eight?

Q6) Which studio was Match of the Day filmed in: Four, Five or Six?

Q7) A famous children’s TV show — including a notorious episode with Lulu the elephant — was broadcast from Television Centre.   Which Children’s TV show?

Q8) Back in 1988, one program broadcast from the Centre was interrupted by gay rights protestors.   Which program?

Q9) The Horns of Nimon, The Claws of Axos and The War Games, were recorded at Television Centre.   They were all episodes of which series?

Q10) Finally … 1964, 2000 and 2003, all saw what happen at Television Centre: power cuts, strikes or bomb threats?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1) The Greater Republic of Central America formed: on 28th June, 1895.   The Republic consisted of what’s now three modern nations.   Name one of those nations.

A1) Honduras, Nicaragua or El Salvador.

Q2) 37 people were killed in a gas explosion in a mine in Wales: on 28th June of which year of the 1960s?

A2) 1960.

Q3) Edward 4th was crowned as King of England: on 28th June, 1461.   Which Royal House was he a member of: York, Lancaster or Tudor?

A3) York.

Q4) On a similar theme?   Queen Victoria was crowned: on 28th June, 1838.   Who plays Victoria, in the 2016 ITV series, Victoria?

A4) Jenna Coleman.

Q5) Finally … The treaty that formally ended the First World War was signed: on 28th June, 1919.   That treaty was the Treaty of where?

A5) Versailles.

Here’s a video …

And an observation about design …

“Its architect, Graham Dawbarn, is said to have doodled a question mark while considering its design. He looked at it and thought to himself, ‘Hang on, that looks rather good.’”

From BBC Television Centre: A nostalgic wander through the sets, studios and ghosts of programmes past by Steve Boggan.

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

Have a good day.

*        I’m still waiting, Olga: but did manage to get in touch with the testers.   We’ve rearranged for Friday.   Here’s hoping I get back from the High Street in time!   And it’s always about the accountants, isn’t it?   There’s a scene from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy I always think about …   (The bodyguard?   Is Darth Vader, so you know …)

†        I keep thinking a few more Macs would be helpful, Angel, but there you go!   But you’re right: a few more Linux machines could be helpful.   It all comes down to big tin, I think.   I get the impression that, after the ransomware attack that hit the NHS, the older XP machines were running the big kit: the x-ray machines and medical scanners.   Any Linux distros that government bodies want to use would need to be able to run that kit.

‡        My pleasure, Debbi.   I’ve picked up the impression — this might grab Rick — the the word’s of Italian origin.   Supposedly, it comes from Punto Banco, one of the versions of Baccarat.