Several months ago, Microsoft helped take down a huge botnet called Kelihos. According to some reports, it’s back. Microsoft and Kaspersky have denied that it has returned, but does mention that there is a variant of the botnet and it very similar. Programmers like to reuse code when they can, and as the botnet was so successful, someone took the code and modified it to behave similar, but different enough to not be detected as the same botnet or malware.

What a mess these people cause. At least we have the good guys always on the job to help keep us safe from these online threats. Always be smart out there: don’t open attachments from Prince’s needing your account number, watch what you download, keep your machine patched and updated, and keep your antivirus up to date!

Contrary to some reports, Kaspersky and Microsoft have no evidence that the botnet that was taken down in September has returned to the control of cybercriminals or is spamming again at this time. However, we have seen evidence of distribution of new malware that appears to be a slightly updated variant of the malware that built the original Kelihos botnet. This does not mean that the Kelihos botnet we took down is back in operation, but that a new version of Kelihos malware known as “Backdoor:Win32/Kelihos.B” is being used to create a new botnet. Microsoft has already made protection from this new malware variant available in the Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT). This kind of effort by botherders to try to rebuild a botnet from the ashes of the old is not new.

For the first time in history, the television networks and NFL have acknowledged that the Internet exists and will be streaming the Super Bowl (American Football) live on a few sites. First, NBC Sports will stream the entire game and pregame, along with custom camera angles, pause and rewind and social media functions. NFL.com will also show the game. For those that are mobile users, Verizon lets you watch the action on your iPhone or Android cell phone.

Yes, this isn’t directly Microsoft related, but for football fans, it’s nice to have an alternative way to watch a great game. Besides, you might get stuck in the loo after eating too many chicken wings and beer, alone with your iPhone, and you can still catch the rest of the game!

It looks like Bing is promoting the upcoming beta of Windows 8. With a new live HTML background featuring the beta fish, and some nice links for more information on the officially named Consumer Preview, it is a nice shoutout to Windows 8. However, the link at the bottom that goes to a prev.windows.microsoft.com seems to be dead for me. Anyone else experiencing that? Maybe the beta was released and it’s just way too busy? Wishful thinking?

After Microsoft acquired Skype, everyone knew it was a matter of time before they created a Windows Phone version of the popular video phone program. It sounds like that time has finally come. With a front facing camera on a WP device, this could be a Facetime killer. Skype is available on a lot more platforms, and is used by a lot more people that Apple’s popular Facetime. Note: I actually love Facetime and feel that is it definitely a feature that others should incorporate into their software. I’m very surprised that Apple didn’t release the application on other platforms. Very easy to use, quick, and convenient.

This version of Skype reportedly will be a standalone app when it launches and be integrated into the People Hub part of the phone with the release of Windows Phone 8. Skype could be introduced as early as Mobile World Congress, which begins in the last week of February.

Microsoft is playing a game of hide and seek with the Windows Start Orb in Windows 8. I hope that it doesn’t end up like this in the new version. I already have had a lot of questions with Vista and 7 as to where the Start Menu went. Then, without text on the Task Bar running programs, where did they go?!

From what we understand, the super bar from Windows 7 remains modestly in place. The understanding is that the bar now becomes a place to pin applications (which you can already do) but that it will become more necessary than previously. Essentially, you will want to pin your most used, non-metro apps to the superbar for quick access without jumping to the metro UI.

I love leaks. According to PocketNow.com, they have some new information on the new version of Windows Phone, codename Apollo (here’s the real shocker – it’s Windows Phone 8!). Some new features, some that we’ve already heard about (shares code with Windows 8), and others are completely new. Sounds like they are really looking to completely overhaul the whole Windows ecosystem from top to bottom.

Overall, we’re looking at a lot of changes and additions here, all of which seem designed to either bring Windows Phone in line with other platforms, feature-wise, or make it more closely identical to the desktop version of Windows. It’s probably safe to say that the jump from Mango/Tango to Apollo will be nearly as significant as the transition from Windows Mobile to Windows Phone, and this preview certainly gives us a lot to look forward to.

For those that remember the Gmail Man from last year, he has returned – still reading your email. While it is a shady practice, it is what you get when you go with a free service. What people need to realize that when something is given away for free, and a company is making money, the thing being sold is YOU. You are the product. Advertising is targeted towards what you do and type. Advertisers pay lots of money to target ads towards a certain demographic, and it works. Don’t like it? Pay for your email services and don’t get ads. BTW: The ads you see on this site and others that use Google AdSense use targeted ads based on your browsing history. I also have some ads that are generic for certain vendors, just PC related.

The video is still funny, however. Know what else is funny? Microsoft posted this to Google owned YouTube.

Just in time for Spring, Microsoft has released a new Roses Theme for Windows 7. As I live near and visit frequently, the City of Roses: Portland, OR, I appreciate this theme. Roses are very beautiful flowers, smell great and are cool. Not as cool as orchids, but still pretty nice!

Due to “restructuring”, Microsoft has started laying off some of it’s marketing team. If it was up to me, and I was restructuring, I’d be finding these folks some different positions within the company at the very least. If they weren’t good enough to keep, then I can see a layoff, but I’m sure they are throwing away some good talent there. It’s been rumored that the layoffs were coming, and were expected, but sad that they have to pack up their offices and get their resumes out again. Good luck, guys and gals.

One Marketing Manager at Microsoft tweeted on February 1 that the layoffs had begun. “Microsoft to announce major layoffs today as a result of marketing org restructuring,” tweeted Commercial and Communications Sector Lead Maher Al-Khaiyat.

LockerGnome has a great article on Windows optimization tools. You hear the commercials on the radio and see them on TV, and those with little PC experience fall for their tactics. If your PC is slow, there are many freeware and low cost ways of fixing it. Do some research or ask a knowledgeable friend. You may be doing more harm than good when it comes to “fixing” your PC. I’ve used CCleaner for a long time, and have been very happy with it. It’s free and does a great job. Don’t expect any miracles, but it is a great start.

If these “subtle” marketing strategies don’t do the trick, there are more devious methods at hand that scam artist software peddlers can use to sucker in more unwary clientele. One is the ever-suspicious pop-up that displays as a phony alert that there’s something wrong with a system. A few years ago, my partner and I were running a very successful computer business. At the time, business was booming because unfortunate souls had downloaded software or email infected with viruses. To further add to their distress, some of them had attempted to fix their own systems with any number of the optimization scams or gimmicks that were currently out there. Others had installed the optimization tools in an attempt to speed up what they thought were slow PCs.