ChipThaMac

UPDATE:  [3-11-2009] Apparently the African IP thing was a 4chan gag.  GG 4chan.

This PIFTS.EXE thing is about the most interesting thing I have seen in a long time.  Reportedly is just a firewall error caused by an unsigned Symantec update, but who can really say.  Why did Google Trends on this search dissapear?  Why are Symantec Forum Mods deleting any thread dealing with PIFTS.EXE?  Why is it trying to contact a server in Africa and what data is it that it is trying to send to that server in Africa?

Here is a compliation of just about all the information I  have found so far about the PIFTS.EXE episode. (Conspiracy? You decide!)

#
PIFTS.exe accesses your Internet History, Temporary Internet Files and Google Desktop. It appears to be tracking your searches. Norton is deleting all comments about it on their forums, and they were being deleted on Yahoo! Answers as well.
#
#
#

#
#
#
==== CONTACT ====
#
#
#
#Pifts.exe @ irc.freenode.net
#
#
#
#Pifts.exe_misinfo @ irc.freenode.net
#
#
#

#
#
#
==== DATA ====
#
#
#

http://pastebin.com/m1e207a78

#
#
#

http://www.mediafire.com/?mnmh35b9d0k

#
#
#
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HV4TFAJJ PIFTS.exe disassembled
#
#
#
http://anubis.iseclab.org/?action=result&task_id=19d7659347c3ebcd4a5ba7e9faa60fa14&format=htm (srs website wondering wtf the file is)
#
#
#

#
#
#
==== MEDIA ====
#
#
#
http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/03/10/139229 (WIN!)
#
#
#

http://digg.com/software/What_is_PIFTS_and_why_is_Symantec_covering_it_up

#
#
#

http://digg.com/software/What_is_PIFTS_and_why_is_Symantec_covering_it_up?

#
#
#

http://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/83hjr/symantec_covering_up_the_piftsexe_file_and/

#
#
#

http://www.tech-linkblog.com/2009/03/conspiracy-theories-run-rampant-due-to-piftsexe.html

#
#
#

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=444230

#
#
#

http://forums.zonealarm.org/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=Off-Topic&message.id=19880

#
#
#
http://community.norton.com/norton/board?board.id=nis_feedback (Norton Internet Security / Norton AntiVirus Forums)
#
#
#

http://chrysler5thavenue.blogspot.com/2009/03/piftsexe.html

#
#
#

#
#
#
http://gigazine.net/index.php?/news/comments/20090310_pifts_exe_norton/ (japanese tech blog picked up on the story)
#
#
#
http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fgigazine.net%2Findex.php%3F%2Fnews%2Fcomments%2F20090310_pifts_exe_norton%2F&sl=ja&tl=en&history_state0= (tranlation to english)
#
#
#

#
#
#
http://questionbox.jp.msn.com/qa4784219.html (MSN Japanese post about it a tech help section of there site. site is regional it seems)
#
#
#
http://74.125.113.132/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://questionbox.jp.msn.com/qa4784219.html&prev=_t&usg=ALkJrhj_g1aRvBSFwp1sJVA-YQdRZzE57A (tranlation to english)
#
#
#

#
#
#
http://pc11.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/sec/1235400043/642n (2ch BBS discussion begins)
#
#
#
http://74.125.113.132/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://pc11.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/sec/1235400043/642n&prev=_t&usg=ALkJrhiCZNufy_SmBRfQwdAdMczO0v2whQ (tranlation to english)
#
#
#

#
#
#
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?s=8861e008de41ff5bc2c71247750de8d3&p=6268378 (discussion about pifts.exe and Steve Gibson’s podcast, Security Now! podcaster. Users hoping he can explain wtf the file is all about)
#
#
#

#
#
#
==== IMAGES ====
#
#
#

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/8581/pifts.gif

#
#
#

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/3863/pifts2.gif

#
#
#
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/750/1236680748455.jpg (properties of a file in a update directory, unconfirmed if it’s the real file or just a faker trying to get attention, I suspect it is the real one)
#
#
#
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/6486/1236683072542.jpg (info about pifsvc.exe which seems related)
#
#
#
http://gigazine.jp/img/2009/03/10/pifts_exe_norton/pifts01.png (/b/ having some fun, but there was lots of legit posts about pifts.exe before they got there)
#
#
#
http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/6922/registeration.jpg (taken at http://community.norton.com/norton/user_signup that’s some wired shit going on, those mod should get fired.
#
#
#

#
#
#
==== RELATED ====
#
#
#
pifsvc.exe (process info for LiveUpdate Notice Service) may be related in purpose to pifts.exe since they both are named with P I F which is in the windows registry of computers with norton installed.
#
#
#
links: http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&q=%22pifsvc.exe%22&btnG=Google+Search
#
#
#

#
#
#
==== OTHER IDEAS ====
#
#
#
=================================================================================================================================
#
#
#
=================================================================================================================================
#
#
#
Anonymous 03/10/09(Tue)06:29:36 No.122551388  (from /b/)
#
#
#
Anon, I propose a war. A war unlike any others. Please, hear me out.
#
#
#

#
#
#
A wise anon posted this.
#
#
#

#
#
#
>Ummm, shouldn’t we be fanning these flames of mistrust into ever greater fear and ultimately rage?
#
#
#

#
#
#
>I mean, shouldn’t we harness this to cause damage to someone, which would be Symantec’s reputation I guess.
#
#
#

#
#
#
>Anyway, this thread seems just too passive. When there is something unusual and possibly scary, but probably not, I think we should give it a nudge into horrifying paranoia.
#
#
#

#
#
#
>I like the North African IP thing. What would sound scary there? Al Qaeda in Eritrea? A new Al Qaeda online cyberterror front that has designs on stealing people banking details and identities for use in funding and upplying terror ops? Did they have a spy named Arun at Symantec? Arun [make up good sounding arab surname] of Al Qaeda in Eritrea?
#
#
#

#
#
#
This got me thinking. He’s right, on one hand we’ve got everyone looking to norton for an explanation and everyone else searching the internets for the string “pifts.exe”. I say we start making claims. We blow this out of proportion. IMO the best way to go about this is is by coming up with a few “facts” and then every anon can string them together however they like.
#
#
#

#
#
#
continued in next post
#
#
#

#
#
#
>>Anonymous 03/10/09(Tue)06:30:00 No.122551434
#
#
#
part 2
#
#
#

#
#
#
We’d be posting on the forums as someone said in another post.
#
#
#

#
#
#
>We’re joining in the game a little bit late so we will want to plan ahead. Everyone needs to make accounts on their forums. If we just raid it as is they’ll probably stop allowing new accounts and just block the already made accounts from being able to post (seems to be their current tactic). So how about we start the raid in two hours? Does that seem like enough time for everyone to make accounts? We don’t want to give them enough time to come up with a story that will calm everyone down.
#
#
#

#
#
#
>Remember, we’re like the 300 spartans, the whole internets is practically raiding them right now, but we’re the only ones who know what the fuck we’re doing.
#
#
#

#
#
#
Also, we’d be making blogs and shit which we would be linking to for our sources. The more blogs we have and the more interlinked they are the harder it will be to disprove (think religious circular logic). Blag A cites Blog B which cites Blog C and A and so on and so forth.
#
#
#
=================================================================================================================================
#
#
#
=================================================================================================================================
#
#
#

#
#
#
“Magic Lantern is keystroke logging software developed by the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation.
#
#
#

#
#
#
Symantec, the makers of Norton AntiVirus and related products, is reportedly working with the FBI on ways to preclude their products from detecting Magic Lantern. Eric Chien, a top researcher at Symantec, emphasized the ability to detect “modified versions.” –Anonymous
#
#
#

#
#
#
There is some discussion that Pifts.exe may be a keylogger program, a modified version of Magic Lantern [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Lantern_(software)

Also this blog seems to be updating hourly on the PIFTS.EXE issue, so check it out if you want to follow…

I have to tell you, as Terminator series being in my top 3 movie favorites of all times, I am stoked about this movie coming out.
This trailer is the best so far too.  The only thing I  would change about the series, is I would  have got Edward Furlong to play John Conner in every one.  I don’t know, there was just something about when I was a kid and saw Terminator 2, how I felt like I really identified with his character.  The movies have been so far apart, that his age would have been about perfect at each taping.  Oh well though, I guess his drug use was more important.  Anycrap, here is the trailer.

EDIT: Updated to HD and Widescreen Version, hosted on my servers.  Yahoo Movies was sucking a fatty.

Malika, who was initially arrested for auto theft, kicked her shoe at the deputy in a manner that does not appear to be very threatening before the deputy rushes in and kicks the teenage girl, slamming her to the floor and striking her and pulling her hair.

Deputy Schene has pleaded not guilty to assault charges. According to Chen, the deputies claim the girl was “real lippy” and called them “fat pigs.” Malika says the deputies had attitude and were being rude to her, which is why she kicked off her shoe at the deputy, which does not appear to actually hit him. The deputy told her this was assaulting a police officer, and then charged in and began beating her.

Here is the shocking video, transcript from interview with Julie Chen below.

Deputies say the girl was, quote, “real lippy,” and that she had called them, quote, “fat pigs.” Paramedics were called after Calhoun had complained that she had difficulty breathing, but she did not require hospitalization. Calhoun and another 15-year-old girl were arrested after they were found in the other girl’s mother’s car, which had been reported stolen.

[Transcript]

CHEN: Joining us now for an exclusive interview, Malika Calhoun and her father, Curtiss. Good morning to you both.

MALIKA CALHOUN, POLICE BEATING VICTIM: Good morning.

CHEN: Malika, let me begin with you. What do you remember about the beating?

M. CALHOUN: I remember the way he just came in after I kicked my shoe off, and we were arguing back and forth all night since the arrest happened. And just…

CHEN: What were you arguing about back and forth all night?

M. CALHOUN: Just the way he was talking to me, and we were just, I don’t know, he just had an attitude…

CHEN: Which was how?

M. CALHOUN: … with everything.

CHEN: How was he talking to you when he arrested you?

M. CALHOUN: He was being — just talking about us in rude ways, making rude comments about things, like, oh, you guys steal cars, and it wasn’t

– technically, we didn’t steal the car. We were just borrowing my friend’s mom’s car without permission. We used it without permission.

CHEN: And then what was the exchange going on between you and the officer in the cell during the beating?

M. CALHOUN: He first, when he first came in, where I kicked the shoe off at him, and I was about to take my other one off, he said, you know, it’s assaulting an officer. And that’s when he charged in and started beating me. And I was yelling. I was like, this isn’t — I’m not resisting. I’m not resisting. And he said, whether you’re resisting or not, that was assault.

Then he just kept doing it and kept going and going.

CHEN: Why did you kick the shoe off at him?

M. CALHOUN: Because my arms were folded, and I was upset with the way he was talking to me. And I was talking back to him. And I just took it off. And I was ready to take off my other shoe, and then that’s what happened.

CHEN: Did the shoe hit him?

M. CALHOUN: No, it didn’t hit him at all. I was standing in the inside of the door, and he was standing holding the door open. Didn’t hit him, and he was saying that it made blood pockets and stuff, and it didn’t even hit him at all.

CHEN: Tell me about the beating. How hard was it?

M. CALHOUN: It was horrible, like my head hit the wall when he first came in and kicked me. And then my head hit the wall in the back. And then he kept — threw me to the ground, was pulling my hair constantly.

And it was just horrible.

CHEN: Were you screaming for him to stop?

M. CALHOUN: Yes. I said, I’m not resisting. I’m not resisting.

CHEN: And what did he say?

M. CALHOUN: He didn’t say anything back until after, when I was like, I didn’t resist. And he said, well, it was still assaulting an officer.

CHEN: Curtiss, let me turn to you. This video’s so difficult to watch. What did you think the first time you saw it?

CURTISS CALHOUN, FATHER OF POLICE BEATING VICTIM: I didn’t see it the first time until Friday evening, when I got home from work, and it was very disturbing. I didn’t know it was this severe of an assault.

CHEN: What do you want to see happen to this officer? He’s currently on administrative leave. If he’s found guilty, he could spend one year behind bars. What do each of you want to see happen to this officer?

Curtiss?

C. CALHOUN: As far as what happens to him, I wouldn’t like to see him work as a police officer anymore. I don’t think that’s the job for him, based on the way he reacted. Dealing with people, I don’t think he can respond that way and still be an officer.

CHEN: Malika, in the last five seconds, what do you want to see happen to him?

M. CALHOUN: I just want to — I don’t know — justice. I don’t want this to happen to anyone else.

CHEN: Malika and Curtiss Calhoun, thank you.

M. CALHOUN: Thank you

 [End Transcript]

The cop pleads not guilty? Really?  People, and especially cops need to be accountable for thier actions.  How can he possibly think he is not guilty?
The Deputy’s name is Paul Schene, and the incident occured in the Seattle-Tacoma City Hall holding cell. Malika the girl, is a young 15 years old.
I am fed up with seeing reports/videos/testimonies of police abuse.  It’s our fault as the public, because until we make a united stand, this crap will continue.  The minimum punishment this officer should get is 2 years in prison.  Why so severe?  I would say because he is an officer of the law, and put in a position of power.  Every officer should know that if they take part in abuses of power such as this, then there will be a hefty price to pay.

First off, this first video shows you how to feed your cat effectivly.  Pay close attention so that your cat too, will have as much win as this cat.

This next video, is some racist preacher, in some racist town, in some racist convention, somewhere.  Nah, I don’t really think he’s THAT racist, just a little dumb.  White people clap on 1 and 3 and black people on 2 and 4?  ORLY?  WTF!  Because that makes a big difference.  I think he’s onto us, white people are racist against even numbers.

Here are some wierd letter rearrangements you may or may have not seen around the internet.

• George Bush – rearrange the letters – He bugs Gore.
• Dormitory – rearrange the letters – Dirty Room.
• Evangelist – rearrange the letters – Evil’s Agent.
• Desperation – rearrange the letters – A Rope Ends It.
• The Morse Code – rearrange the letters – Here Come Dots.
• Slot Machines – rearrange the letters – Cash Lost In ‘Em.
• Animosity – rearrange the letters – Is No Amity.
• Mother-in-law – rearrange the letters – Woman Hitler.
• Snooze Alarms – rearrange the letters – Alas! No More Z’s.
• A Decimal Point – rearrange the letters – I’m A Dot In Place
• Eleven plus two – rearrange the letters – Twelve plus one.

And finally, if you are still bored, here are 99 videos you should have seen already.

-peace and nachos

LOL.  This kid is having fun and living life. Is it a boy or girl, I don’t know, you tell me, just think of him/her as Pat from Saturday Night Live.

At least the pictures and text will be.  No luck on the flash until apple decides to allow flash plugin.
peace and nachos,
-chipthamac

WTF is wrong with people?  This video is disturbing on so many levels.  It seems they clearly know it’s wrong, as from this video they are hiding thier faces.  Are parents not giving children enough consequenses for thier actions these days?  How could someone enjoy hurting another living creature.  It’s just sad on so many levels.  This video shows very graphic animal abuse. 
Here is some additional info and links related to the video, seems they are from Texas.  Other people seemed outraged as well.

Is this fucking for real?  LOL, is this supposed to make people aware or I just don’t get it.

Proof that Men Have Better Friends…

Friendship among Women:
A woman didn’t come home one night.
The next morning she told her husband that she had slept over at a friend’s house.
The man called his wife’s 10 best friends. None of them knew anything about it.

Friendship among Men:
A man didn’t come home one night.
The next morning he told his wife that he had slept over at a friend’s house.
The woman called her husband’s 10 best friends. Eight confirmed that he had slept over, and two said he was still there.

It should update my twitter! Also looking for media embedding plug-ins. rawr.