======================================================================== ROBERT X. CRINGELY http://www.infoworld.com ======================================================================== Monday, October 11, 2004
MCAFEE KNOCKS, SCOTCH ON THE ROCKS By Robert X. Cringely(R) Posted October 08, 2004 3:00 PM Pacific Time I know spammers are usually a few transistors short of a full circuit, but lately it seems like they've become even more addled. During the past week, I've been buried with spam for (ahem) personal enhancement pills from senders with names like Hiatus Q. Emotive, Undulations L. Sharlene, and Lapwing T. Buttocks. I'm starting to miss the good old days when spammers went to some effort to fool you into reading their junk. Now they act like they just don't care. ADVERTISEMENT -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- IP - Can you hear me now? IP Telephony can deliver powerful benefits by cutting costs, supporting new applications, and improving customer service. Tune in to learn more. http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=93DC65:2B910B2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Your mother was a MyDoom and your father smelt of Sobig: Anti-virus vendor BitDefender got a bit peeved when a routine Google search for "bitdefender" turned up an ad for McAfee claiming to "Remove Bitdefender Virus." McAfee says the culprit was one of its affiliates, which apparently mistook the name of the Bucharest-based company for the name of a virus it had discovered. McAfee apologized and had the affiliate pull the ad before BitDefender could get medieval on their assets. Hit me with your best shot: While walking the floor this week at Big Apple trade show TechXNY, Cringester Zachary P. reports sparse attendance except at the Johnnie Walker Black exhibit, where overflow crowds were queuing up for a 20-minute sampling session. What's a Scotch maker doing at a tech expo? Humanitarian aid. With flu shots suddenly in scarce supply, Johnnie wants to make sure that geeks get a shot of something medicinal. Don't forget to invite your cousin Void: Cringe fan Leslie S. says she recently received an e-mail invitation to a Webinar hosted by "quality optimization" company Segue that began "Dear NULL." It's that personal touch that makes all the difference. Silent but deadly: My blurb about Microsoft's India support techs reminded Cringester Bill F. of the time he called Gateway support and spoke with an Indian tech named "Buster." When he asked for Buster's last name, the tech replied "Keaton." Gateway says it no longer uses that contractor -- or any company based in India -- to provide support. Too bad. I was hoping to talk to its crack team of level-two techs: Groucho, Harpo, and Chico. Got hot tips or especially stupid spam tricks? Send 'em to [EMAIL PROTECTED], and you may take home a stylin' bag. Send tips to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ======================================================================== Because you can't have too much decision support You choose the platforms, the languages, the developers. And everything -- the whole IT infrastructure, the success of the enterprise - flows from there. With that much on the line, you can't have too much of the good advice you'll get in the Strategic Developer newsletter, by InfoWorld Test Center lead analyst Jon Udell. Delivered every Thursday. Subscribe at http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=93DC61:2B910B2 ADVERTISE ======================================================================== For information on advertising, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] UNSUBSCRIBE/MANAGE NEWSLETTERS ======================================================================== To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your e-mail address for any of InfoWorld's e-mail newsletters, go to: http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=93DC62:2B910B2 To subscribe to InfoWorld.com, or InfoWorld Print, or both, or to renew or correct a problem with any InfoWorld subscription, go to http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=93DC64:2B910B2 To view InfoWorld's privacy policy, visit: http://newsletter.infoworld.com/t?ctl=93DC63:2B910B2 Copyright (C) 2004 InfoWorld Media Group, 501 Second St., San Francisco, CA 94107 This message was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
