Comodo = Software Leak?

Now I've got a lot of good things to say about Comodo Internet Security suite. Firstly it has proper 32bit and 64bit versions and has for some time now. Secondly its feature "Defense+" is possibly the most comprehensive and ambitious pro-active security solution ever (though you really need to be a computer developer to make the most from it).

Now for the whine:

Defense+ includes a section called "Pending Files" which I hadn't really investigated much until today (that is Comodo Internet Security version 4.1.1500349.920). This section reportedly maintains a list of unrecognised executable files (which on the surface seems fine). It gives the option to submit these unrecognised files to Comodo (presumably for approval or whatever).

So, today I was investigating a Virus Report from the engine. Comodo has had a bit of a spotted history with its Anti-Virus solution. Specifically if is quite prone to false or incorrect reports. So, I was attempting to validate its claim using http://www.totalvirus.com/ which seems like a good site. Whilst I was looking into this I came across "My Pending Files" and I looked and there where a list of executables (fair enough) and amoung them some of my own peices of software.

Then I looked again, and noticed that 2 of the files in the list had been "submitted" to Comodo. I was not aware of ever agreed to this! One of these files was an application I develop that contained propritory code I would very much not like to distribute anywhere for any reason. Whilst I'm not saying Comodo are going to be stealing code, they are probably going to be performing a threat analysis upon the executable in question and to do that understanding its function and purpose is key. So, then they will understand the function and purpose of my propriotory code and well, if you understand something you use that knowledge!

This, to me, is a serious risk of software leak. One I felt I was not given the option to prevent (or at least there was no clear warning it would be sending this file out).

So in summary. If your a software developer, Defense+ is both a boon and a danger. I am not going to disable it because it does guard my system well in all other respects.

This post on their forums has also pacified me for now :

http://forums.comodo.com/help_for_v3/how_do_i_disable_my_pending_files-t15799.0.html;msg124795

Lastly at least it DID tell me it had leaked my executable. I will be keeping a close eye on it in future and possibly doing my development on a different machine to my internet connected system.

AMMENDIUM: I now noticed this:

The "Submit the file to COMODO for analyis" button must have been checked when I was wanting / expecting to check / select "Do this for every" checkbox from the older Comodo dialog. So, sadly, I guess I have been my own leak. Still far to easy to do and no way to disable this.

Torchwood, Series 3.. Return to form

After struggling through series one and two of Torchwood cringing along the way I finally reached Series 3, also known as Children of the Earth.

What a brilliant return to form, intrigue, action, suspense, plot oh joyous plot unfolding (previously so absent).

I'm only on Day 3 (the third episode) so I might well yet be posting a blog on how bad the ending is, after earlier disapointments I'm not going to get too excited yet.. but I have a cautious optimism based on episodes one and two. Fingers crossed.

...

Whoever directed the Day Three episode completely overused the "Zoom onto the News on TV" effect. It completely destroyed the power of such a cinematic. If used once or twice its a powerful and moving moment / gesture.. if you show it 10 or more times like in this epsiode / series.... well.

Still, managed to be good overall tho :).

Overall, Series 3 is a thumbs up :). Though, parts of it are very contrived... kids as alien drugs? hmmmm, still glossing over those types of shortcommings a great series!

Torchwood... so bad I had to fast forward!

Oh my God!

I've never known a TV show I liked to be SO bad that I couldn't watch it!

Even the piss poor episode with the Psyco family was "comparitively" watchable.

I just watched "Out of Time", please do yourself a favour, skip it! I am a bit stubborn watching series in order and since Torchwood and Dr Who match up I wanted to watch them in order. Out of time was SO awful I had to skip at least 5 mins of it. I couldn't watch it any longer... I stuck it out after stupid twist after stupid twist.

Where was the plot? Where was the "reason". Where was the interest! The "girl" who plays the lead fancies everyone, and I mean everyone.. every damn episode shes giving googly love eyes to someone else. Whilst i'm sure this is probably a very real possibility, wheres the character... can you base a "character" on the lack their of?

There was a moment when things looked like they might have picked up. When the man met his son.

The whole of Torchwood seems to pander to many of the worst traits in humanity, even bringing down the best actions to seem selfish and unimportant.

Strikes me that the writers could do with listening to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD1512_XJEw

Which is a link which a very good friend of mine posted.

Torchwoood / Could-have-been-so-good

What a tragedy! Great actors, great initial concept.. entirely ruined by a lack of creative writing talent (and possibly poor direction).

First episode, exceptional, good start (enough to get me hooked, well done)...

Second episode, bizare unsettling but never the less passibly good (weird tho, but par for course I guess).

Third episode, utter drivel. Yet, still vuagely watchable drivel.

Fourth episode... could be a recovery, not quite working but an improvement.

Then, the worst kind of desperate plots follow. Dr Who, know for its scientific fiction with a little bit of artistic licence just to give science a shine. Torchwood, their dealing with ghosts, twisted horror, thrillers and faries! OMG why not just take every major B movie ever made and make it into a Torchwood episode.. oh wait.. you did >.<

Its a criminal shame!

Not to mention how weak is the introduction sequence (Actor playing Jack, c'mon i've seen great acting from you in Dr Who, I know your good.. was this an off day?)!

So so very disapointed!

Oh my god (watching it now) this is so awful (as people try to make dramtic what is senseless drivel.. and bear in mind, I can rather enjoy drivel if its good)! I feel like i'm wasting my life watching this but I know i'll watch them all for the sake of the fact that Dr Who is still excellent (and I want to know how things tie in as a stickler for completeness).

Torchwood (as a series) fails on nearly every level, and what is most tragic is that it should have been a hit (its so good in theory, just lacked execution). Jack Harkness, what a character (ruined) all the characters had so much potential, but the way they played out resulted in sh**.

Highly Recommend Dr Who, highly slate Torchwood (which is sad because I so want to like it too).

Doggy

Catherine Tate Ruined Dr Who!

I am a huge Dr Who fan. Daivd Tennant did the seemingly impossible by surplanting Jon Pertwee as my favourite doctor (and thats no mean feat). Now, Catherine Tate is ruining the enitre Dr Who experience (yes, i'm behind, still on Season Four).

She is just point blank irritating. I've never encountered a more irritating assistant. Maybe its acted to be that way, but then why the heck is the doctor putting up with the crap.

Personally, I think its more likely the over the top ham acting shes famous for. Thats why shes a comedian and not an actor in my view (ham is funny when its a comedy).. yes, I know Dr Who has been including more humor which is all well and good but shes more farce and ridicule. A little of which can counterpoint the seriousness of the doctor... a lot.. pah!

I'll watch the episodes, becasue the plots are still good and Tennant is masterful! I wasn't initially convinced by the earlier two companions but without fail by the end of the first episodes they fitted and by their last they where missed when they left.

Really hating whoever cast Catherine Tate in the role.

DONT USE WINDOWS UPDATE

Ammendium: As you can tell from the below post. I was pretty steaming when this happened. Now, in clamer tones I will reflect my opinion.

WARNING: If you are using Microsoft Products DISABLE WINDOWS UPDATE unless you want to risk losing your work.

The catch 22 of this situation is I have to recommend regularly keeping your system up to date. I just can't recommend Windows Update because of its shamefully bad behaviour.

(I keep my original irate post as a reminder of just HOW irate Windows Update can make me).

"THIS IS THE FUCKING LAST STRAW....

VISTA HAS FOR THE FUCKING 10TH TIME REBOOTED MY PC LOSING ALL MY WORK TO APPLY ITS FUCKING S***E UPDATES. WINDOWS 7 HAS NOT IMPROVED THIS EITHER (I've lost work at work this way too)!!! >.<

I'D FEEL BETTER OFF HAVING A VIRUS. AT LEAST A VIRUS WOULD PREVENT ME FROM REBOOTING.

END OF STORY."

Windows Vista, DVD-R Destruction

When I take a disk recorded in my stand alone HDD/DVD recorder and try to play it in on my Windows Vista Ultimate PC, sometimes Vista destroys the DVD in such a way that it won't play afterwards in either the computer or on the DVD player.

• I have a Sanyo HDD/DVD Recorder which does an adquate job of recording some of my favourite Television. Occasionally, I archive recorded episodes to DVD.
• I have a Windows Vista Ulitmate PC with 2 LG DVD drives which I occationally use as a media centre.
  

There is no pattern to this behaviour, but having investigated the resultant corrupt disk using ISO buster it appears that Windows Vista is falsly recognising the inserted disk as a "empty" (or something) and writting a second "NULL" session to the disk (effectively erasing the disk). Oddly, when the disk is inserted into the HDD/DVD recorder afterwards it says : "No Disk". It also claims their is "No Disk" when inserting it into the PC (though ISO Buster, being an excellent tool, is able to see the original session).

The odd thing is, this doesn't seem to always happen? This always worries me because most commonly in my experience inconsistant issues are a result of user error? Though, I fail to see why any action of inserting a disk (without any specialised software running) should cause a recordable DVD to be effectively destroyed for normal use!

Fortunately, this issue does not unduely concern me as purchase all the movies I like and I haven't lost a recording I could not replace.

It seems Microsoft provide a very poor solution when it comes to built-in DVDR/CDR support in Vista. Microsoft do manage to present a simple interface to DVD/CD writing but this is entirely ruined by the fact that it can cause loss of data when using non-Microsoft software written DVD's.

Shame on them!