March 19, 2004

Downloader Beware Security Focus has a story on how a pair of programmers created a Trojan horse program that they uploaded to file-sharing networks disguised as activation key generators and crack utilities for games. When run the program displays an anti-software piracy message and then reports information including the name it was run under to a central server where the results are tabulated and displayed. While the program does not do much harm it could have easily formatted ones hard drive or copied sensitive data to a the author’s web site. 10:59:22 PM

CNN reports that having completed their primary mission of determining that Mars once had water on its surface the two Martian Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity will be sent on lengthier journey each day in an attempt to reach distance interest geological formations. Meanwhile NASA is cutting back on the mission’s support staff and shifting people to regular Earth time instead of longer Martian days as they become more proficient at planning the days’ missions. Spirit’s target will be hills in the distance with its speed increased to about 50 metres a day from the current 37 metres a day. Due to flatter terrain Opportunity may be able to travel twice as fast. 10:19:18 PM