ZeroAccess botnet

ZeroAccess, also known as Max++ and/or Sirefef, is Trojan horse computer malware that affects Microsoft Windows operating systems. It is used to download other malware on an infected machine from a botnet mostly involved in bitcoin mining and click fraud, while remaining hidden on a system using rootkit techniques.

History and propagation

The ZeroAccess botnet was discovered at least around May 2011. The ZeroAccess rootkit responsible for the botnet's spread is estimated to have been present on at least 9 million systems. Estimates of the size of the botnet vary across sources; antivirus vendor Sophos estimated the botnet size at around 1 million active and infected machines in the third quarter of 2012, and security firm Kindsight estimated 2.2 million infected and active systems.

The bot itself is spread through the ZeroAccess rootkit through a variety of attack vectors. One attack vector is a form of social engineering, where a user is persuaded to execute malicious code either by disguising it as a legitimate file, or including it hidden as an additional payload in an executable which announces itself as, for example, bypassing copyright protection (a keygen). A second attack vector utilizes an advertising network in order to have the user click on an advertisement that redirects them to a site hosting the malicious software itself. A third infection vector used is an affiliate scheme where third party persons are paid for installing the rootkit on a system.

Max Damage

Slade Mercer (born 1987 in New Plymouth, New Zealand) is a professional wrestler, otherwise known as Max Damage or Max "The Axe" Damage. He currently wrestled for the Brisbane based promotions PWA Queensland. He is an Ex-New Zealand Heavyweight Champion and Ex-New Zealand Tag Team Champion.

Career

New Zealand Wide Pro Wrestling

Damage initially trained under Jonnie Juice before joining New Zealand Wide Pro Wrestling where he was further trained by Martin Stirling, Inferno, Island Boy Si and a myriad of other senior wrestlers with the group. He made his official debut as Max Damage on 25 March 2005 at NZWPW's Powerplay II. He lost to Island Boy Si in the semi-finals of the New Zealand Heavyweight Championship tournament, where IBS was later crowned the inaugural champion.

At the start of his tenure in NZWPW, Damage joined the heel stable, The 'Naki Phullas, wrestling alongside "The Deal" Dal Knox, "Silencer" Jean Miracle, and Gold. By the time he had joined, Dal Knox had already left to wrestle for IPW, and Gold had been ejected from the company, making it a two-man team consisting of himself and "Silencer" Jean Miracle.

Max (2015 film)

Max is a 2015 American adventure drama film directed by Boaz Yakin, and co-written with Sheldon Lettich. The film stars Josh Wiggins, Mia Xitlali, Dejon LaQuake, Thomas Haden Church, Robbie Amell, Lauren Graham, Luke Kleintank, and Jay Hernandez. The film was released by Warner Bros. on June 26, 2015.

Plot

Max, a Belgian Malinois used to help U.S. Marines in Afghanistan, is handled by Kyle Wincott. Kyle is questioned when weapons seized by his squad go missing. Realizing his friend Tyler Harne is among those involved with the shady dealings, he warns Tyler that he cannot cover for him. The two then go into the battlefield with their squad, with Max on point. While advancing on a suicide bomber, Max is injured by an explosion. In the ensuing gunfight, Kyle is shot and killed.

Kyle's younger brother Justin, who makes money pirating video games, their mother Pamela and their father Ray are informed of his death. After Kyle's body is brought home for burial, the other Marines notice that Max is only calm when he is around Justin, apparently sensing that he is Kyle's brother. The family adopts the dog, who would otherwise be euthanized for his disturbed behavior. Justin initially wants little to do with Max but eventually warms up to him. While meeting up with his friend Chuy, Justin meets Chuy's cousin Carmen, who offers to go to his house and show him some handling tricks for Max. Little by little, Max's behavior improves around other people.

Magic (Pilot song)

"Magic" is a popular 1974 song by Scottish pop rock band Pilot, and was the first hit single for the group. It was written by band members Billy Lyall and David Paton for their debut album, From the Album of the Same Name.

It charted most successfully in Canada, where it reached No. 1, topping the RPM national singles chart on 19 July 1975, and received a gold certification. It climbed as far as #11 on the UK Singles Chart and reached No. 5 during the summer of 1975 in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100.

Uses in popular culture

The song was used in the films Happy Gilmore, Herbie: Fully Loaded, The Magic Roundabout, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, and Eve and the Fire Horse as well as the trailer for Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. The song was used in a scene cut from Guardians of the Galaxy; the scene is included on the home media release of the film. Manchester United supporters sing a different version of the song regarding Michael Carrick. The lyrics are as follows: 'Its hard to believe its not Scholes. Its Carrick you know.'

Magic (Ladyhawke song)

"Magic" is a song performed by New Zealand recording artist Ladyhawke, released as the fifth and final single from her debut album Ladyhawke (2008). It was produced by Pascal Gabriel who co-wrote the song with Ladyhawke herself. The song was inspired to be a fantasy epic and love song. Lyrically, it tells a story about trying to coax someone over to talk to you, where in reality you feel alone.

"Magic" received critical acclaim with most critics giving the song positive reviews. The single peaked at number thirty-one in New Zealand, becoming her second most successful single and third top forty hit there to-date. It was accompanied by a music video, directed by Shelly Love and released on September 30, 2009.

Background and writing

The song was written by Ladyhawke and Pascal Gabriel. Ladyhawke wrote the song when she first went to London and she didn't know anyone. She describes it as a fantasy epic where she has someone and she is trying to coax them over to talk to her, where in reality she felt alone. She also says it is a love song, but also a 'pining' song.

Rooster Teeth

Rooster Teeth Productions is an American production company located in Austin, Texas; Flower Mound, Texas; and Los Angeles, California, involved primarily in the production of machinima (films created in real-time video game environments) with its long-running series Red vs. Blue, as well as live action shorts and series, comedy gameplay with the branch Achievement Hunter, and full animated productions such as RWBY and X-Ray and Vav. Rooster Teeth hosts its convention, RTX, annually in Austin, Texas and most recently Australia.

Rooster Teeth was founded by Burnie Burns, Matt Hullum, Geoff Ramsey, Gus Sorola, and Joel Heyman in 2003. Burns created voice-over-enhanced gameplay videos of Bungie Studios' popular first-person shooter video game Halo: Combat Evolved. Eventually, these videos led to the creation of Red vs. Blue, which premiered in April 2003 and is still in production, making it the longest-running web series of all time. The production team also focuses on projects such as reality shows, video game development, entertainment news programs and podcasts. Rooster Teeth released its feature film debut, Lazer Team, a science fiction action comedy film in 2016.