News written by James Delahunty (July, 2012)

FBI deadline may see thousands of Internet users unable to browse web.

These users have been affected by malicious software (dubbed DNSChanger, associated with TDL4 rootkits and a bootkit) that, among other nasty deeds, changes DNS settings on their PCs, Macs and maybe even wireless routers in order to present a spam-filled altered version of the Internet.

The FBI took down the rogue operation in November 2011 (Operation Ghost Click), but after it was found that hundreds of thousands of users were using the rogue DNS settings without knowledge, the decision was made to put clean DNS servers online using the same IP ranges as the malicious servers.

That bought infected users some time to detect and fix the problem. However, even with the support of giants like Google (which alerts some users in search results if their DNS settings appear altered), there are still reportedly hundreds of thousands of users worldwide who rely on the DNS servers - which are due to be disconnected on Monday, July 9.

European Parliament does not wait on European Court.

In February, European Commissioner for Trade, Karel De Gucht, announced that ACTA would be referred to the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The court will assess whether ACTA is incompatible with the EU's fundamental rights and freedoms, such as freedom of expression and information or data protection and the right to property in cases of intellectual property.

Today, however, the European Parliament has voted heavily against the treaty. Only 39 MEPs voted in favour of ACTA, while 478 voted against the measure and 165 abstained. This marks the first time that the Parliament has rejected an International trade agreement - a power it only gained in 2009 with the adopting of the Treaty of Lisbon.

Microsoft aims to make transition to Windows 8 as painless as possible.

If you are running Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7, you will qualify to download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99. The promo will start when Windows 8 is launched this fall, and will end January 31, 2013. Additionally, the add features option in Windows 8 will allow upgraders to download Windows Media Center for free.

If you would prefer to buy an upgrade from a retail store, it will cost $69.99 during the promotion.

VLC for Android was announced as being in development last year, and welcomed by every user of VLC on another platform. VLC is a commendable project; a free, open source media playing, streaming and capturing solution that is used by millions of Windows, Mac, Linux and other users.

The first beta of VLC on the Android platform has been added to the Google Play market, giving a taste of what to expect over the coming months. The app is, most definitely, far from being anything considered "final" - a fact that the VideoLAN project alludes to in its warning on the app description:

"It might kill your kitten, destroy your house and start the mayan apocalypse. Use it at your own risk. Have Fun! :)".

How do you keep your (or a family member's) Windows PC/Laptop secure? Most of the time, the first answer to that question is to ensure that all security updates have been installed. Windows downloads updates automatically in the background for the operating system, but many users neglect ensuring that third-party software is updated, which can present a big risk to security and privacy.

There are many ways to check if third-party software is updated and safe. One such solution is an application called Secunia PSI (Personal Software Inspector). If you have used this application before, then you know how useful it can be. If not, you should try it on your system or a system you are cleaning/repairing.