Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20th September, 2017

Hmmm … 

I don’t know if you were aware, but, quite some time ago, news about potential security attacks on computers running the various iterations of OS X — or macOS, as it now is — hit the (Technology) headlines.

Hackers had managed to issue Mac specific malware: by sneaking spiked versions of popular utilities onto the utilities own download pages.

I, and most of the Mac users I know?   Made sure we weren’t infected.   And kept our eyes peeled for other similar attacks.

I think we can say they have.   Between then and now, a major malware attack — aimed at Windows based PCs — took place: spread by spiked version of popular Ukrainian accounting software.

And, only a few days ago?

Another attack on Windows PCs was spread.

By attackers who spiked a version of Piriform’s popular CCleaner utility, and sneaked it onto Piriform’s own site.

I think the worry I and others had — about more malware for Macs — seems to not have happened.

I think that hackers have nicked the idea that was used: sneaking spiked software onto the official sites, in order to spread it.

I think if spiked versions of the big bits of software — Microsoft Office, iTunes, Adobe Acrobat, what have you — there’s going to be hell to pay.

~≈Ê≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Olga* and Debbi† putting in their answers: with both scoring five out of five.

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

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

Q1) The Prophet, Muhammed, arrived in Medina: on 20th September, 622 AD.   After leaving which city?

Q2) 20th September, 1967, saw the Queen launch which ship?

Q3) Five different nations signed the Treaty of Ryswick: on 20th September, 1697.   The Treaty ended what: the War of the Roses, the Nine Year War or the Hundred Years War?

Q4) The socialist republic of where, was admitted to the UN: on 20th September, 1977?

Q5) Finally … 85, Vauxhall Cross was attacked on 20th September, 2000.   The building is home to whom: MI5, MI6 or GCHQ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1) 19th September is International Talk Like a Pirate Day.   Instead of  saying ‘Hello,’ we’re expected to say ‘Ahoy … ’ what?

A1) Matey.

Q2) To mark the day, tech publishers, O’Reilly, once discounted a line of books: about which programming language?

A2) R.   (Arrrrr … You know, Arrrrr … ?   No … ?   Never mind …)

Q3) Famously, people can access pirate, streamed video, with a fully loaded what?

A3) Kodi box.

Q4) Cave-in-Rock, in Illinois, was a nineteenth century river pirate hub: on which river?

A4) The Ohio.

Q5) Finally … Blackbeard’s best known ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, is wrecked off the coast of which US state?

A5) North Carolina.

As it’s John Dankworth’s birthday, I’ll leave you with a theme tune he wrote …

And a thought …

“In real life, the hardest aspect of the battle between good and evil is determining which is which.”

George R. R. Martin, born September 20, 1948.

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

Have a good day.

*        Yeah, the dogs can drive you barking mad, Olga!   Sorry, sorry, I can never resist a cheap pun!   And we’re glad to have you back!

†        Ha! I WISH, Debbi!   At any rate, it wasn’t just that he was involved with: he was the one of the troops involved the liberation of Belsen …