This weekend, my sons had friends over. These friends used my computer.

While I’m not sure where they went on the internet, I’m fairly sure it wasn’t a truly wholesome and family friendly joyride.

When I fired up my PC on Saturday night, I was greeted to the joys of SpyAxe being installed and a few extra special links added to my favorites. While the favorites are easy enough to clean up, removing SpyAxe is not.

For those unfamiliar with SpyAxe, let me give you my experience with it.

In my opinion, it’s extortion ware. It installs on your computer just by viewing a website, then appears in your tool pallet (by the system clock) and starts whining about how your machine is infected with spyware (yes it is… it has SpyAxe on it now!). The only way to fully remove it is to purchase their spyware removal tool. Finding the removal tool is easy enough, because your web browser is hijacked to go there, regardless of what you’ve set your default webpage to, every time you launch your browser. If you have the audacity to click on a link from your favorites, it tells you that you can’t go there because YOUR COMPUTER IS INFECTED WITH SPYWARE!

I truly hope there’s a special place in hell for people who write software like that… a place that involves stinging nettles being rammed into the orifice du jour with red hot pokers. Repeat daily for eternity.

I did find some tools to remove this little gem with, but they were sadly lacking. They would remove one part of the problem, but not another. Both Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware were also unable to correct the issue. I finally ended up scrubbing my C: drive and reinstalling windows.

The authors of SpyAxe claim that they don’t engage in such practices, but rather, some of their affiliates with less than shining morals are responsible. Why are they still affiliates then?

*sigh*

Apparently, as of November 25th, they’ve ported this little gem to affect the latest version of Firebox as well… so it doesn’t much matter what browser you use. I’ve now installed TeaTimer on my machine, which protects my registry and system files from being modified without my permission. Sure… it’s a pain in the ass, but it’s far easier than scrubbing my hard drive when things like this happen (and I would rather spend the afternoon formatting and reinstalling than give one cent to a software company that does such things).

For the love of God, people… read the fine print!!

There are a few auctions going on right now in ebay with the title of XBOX 360 Premium Game System – Box Only

Be the first to own this years hottest Holiday gift box!

This is the PREMIUM BUNDLE BOX, and it would include a wireless controller, 20 gigabyte hard disk drive, high definition component video cables, remote control, and a headset communicator if it were the console, but it is only the box, and will not come with these items. The XBOX 360 PREMIUM system was the ultimate gift this holiday season, people stood in lines for over 12 hours for these wonderful game consoles, i know i had to stand in line for almost 13 to get this box. 13 hours for a game console! Everyone should have one. This is a great gag gift, and in case you are not clear, you are getting an empty XBOX PREMIUM BUNDLE box without accessories or the console. Also, please be aware that this is not for the original xbox package, it is a box i have made with scanned images of the original taped to it for a simple gag gift. Image is only representative of what you will recieve, not the actual thing. You will be reported to Ebay if you do not follow through with the purchase if you bid. This is a binding contract, so only serious bidders, and i have been clear on the contents, so please, no questions!

These have sold for over $600… for a cardboard box… that says “XBOX” on the side (hand written.. it’s not even a real XBOX box).

Click the thumbnail for a larger image:

For those who are hunting for one of these things… be careful. For those who were stupid enough to not read what they were buying… well… good luck!

EDIT: My cousin found the link to the auction mentioned above.

We’re getting a little love from Old Man Winter this week.

Thankfully… it happened AFTER I went on my trip to Portland.

While it’s not as bad as they had predicted… we have a few more days of this until the storm front passes (and is followed by another one). Good thing I got that snow blower last year.

Click the thumbnail for a larger image:

My yard, the hedge along the drive, and the house itself.

And yes… all those white dots in the air are snow flakes.

After a whirl-wind tour of northern Oregon, I am once again home.

My sister, brother-in-law, and I went down to Portland to hang out with my dad. We left friday morning at 10 and got there around 4:30 in the afternoon.

Good times had by all!

It was great hanging out with my dad and we did a few things while we were down there: toured the Widmer brewery (yay… free beer!!), hit a casino (I’ve never done that before), and ate a ton good food.

I’ll post pics later on.

EDIT 04:51pm: We have pictures of the Widmer tour available now.

Aren’t you lucky? Yes you are! Now click the link… CLICK IT!!!!

A holiday greeting from team WWBD to you!

Eat plenty, unzip your pants, watch the game!

Switch has become possessed by the thought of all that turkey!