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Beware of any email invitation to the Beijing Olympics. The malicious mails are supposed to be as an invitation to the Olympics but actually these are E-mail virus which once opened affects MS word, MS PowerPoint and MS excel applications on your system. The virus could allow the remote attackers to take complete control of an affected system, or cause the application to crash.

Experts at Trend Micro’s TrendLabs have confirmed that these mails are malicious. Country Manager – India & SAARC, Trend Micro, Niraj Kaushik said, “When exploited, the unspecified remote code-execution vulnerability could allow remote attackers to take complete control of an affected system, or cause the application to crash.”

“Among others, if you receive any email that has an attachment file named attachment .doc, appeal_letter_of_fttj.doc, attend_the_opening_ceremony_of_the_29th_olympic_games_in_beijing.doc, five_resolutions.doc, or lingotto_con_fiat.doc, be warned that opening it may make your computer vulnerable to attack,” added Kaushik.

Experts said that the malicious .doc files are spreading in the wild which are taking benefit of the ongoing Beijing Olympics in China, the popular event of the time. This makes the receiver to click on the mail and open the files. The samples that TrendLabs has come across are detected as TROJ_MDROPPER.ZT.

Kaushik added, “The Olympics event having such a big fan-following, the potential of people unknowingly getting lured into opening such Trojanized files is huge. With 10, 708 athletes competing in 28 sports for 302 gold medals, the Olympics is the most prestigious affair of its kind, and as such command a worldwide audience. It is thus expected that it will be included in malicious users’ arsenal of social engineering techniques.”

These files are zero-day exploits under vulnerability summary CVE-2008-2244 under the Common Vulnerabilities & Exposures (CVE) List of the National Cyber Security Division of the US Department of Homeland Security.

Besides TrendLabs has also reported Trojan samples of .XLS and .PPT circulating, all drawing correlation to the ongoing Olympics and the Tibet conflict. Trend Micro detects the malicious Excel file as TROJ_MDROPPER.ZY, and the PowerPoint file as TROJ_PPDROP.M. Unlike the Word file malware, these Excel and PowerPoint files are not confirmed to have zero-day vulnerabilities as yet.

If you are also getting these kinds of mails, do not take as an invitation. It is malicious mails which can damage your system. Avoid opening them and delete them at once.

Tags: Beijing Olympic, E-mail, Excel, MS Word, Olympic, Powerpoint, Trend Micro’s, Virus

Much feared of any mishappening due to protest all over the world, the Indian leg of Olympic Torch Relay ended peacefully in New Delhi on Thursday. After the relay, IOA President Suresh Kalmadi congratulated all the torch bearers and others present.

The Olympic cauldron was lit at India Gate by Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, culminating the Olympic torch relay run in the capital.

Despite threats from Tibetan protesters Olympic torch relay started from Rashtrapati Bhawan amid tight security along the 2.3 Km stretch of the relay in Delhi guarded by as many as 17,000 security personnel. The relay lasted for around 40 minutes. Around 70 celebrities took part in the relay including sports stars, film stars and politicians.

Indian leg is considered much sensitive place in global voyage of the relay as about one lakh exiled Tibetans are living here. They are protesting against Chinese crackdown in Lhasa.

The relay began with IOA President Suresh Kalmadi handing over the torch to prominent sports persons such as Anju Bobby George, Zafar Iqbal and Abhinav Bindra, from where it passed into the hands of Kunjurani Devi, Saif Ali Khan, Aslam Sher Khan and others.

Sprint Queen P T Usha, former Olympic bronze medalist weightlifter Karnam Malleshwari and world shooting champion Manavjit Singh Sandhu were among other sportspersons took part in the relay.

Among the participants in the rally were a large number of monks attired in traditional red robes, women and children.

They were supported by prominent personalities like George Fernandes, Ramdas Athavale, Jaya Jaitley, Kirti Azad, Swami Agnivesh, Sudheendra Kulkarni and Nafisa Ali.

Around 60 Tibetans were detained as they attempted to block roads and entered into minor clashes with police in various parts of Delhi.

With the area in and around Rajpath out of bounds, hundreds of Tibetans took out a parallel torch relay run from Rajghat, the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi [Images], to Jantar Mantar, which has been the epicentre of Tibetan protests over the past several days.

Protesters who participated in the relay shouted slogans and Banners like “Free Tibet” and “Azad Tibet, Surakshit Bharat” and waving Tibetan flags.

The public was kept out and all the access roads to the historic stretch was cut off for several hours to ensure a smooth passage of the torch relay, which was earlier plagued by disruptions in London, San Francisco and Paris.

The torch reached New Delhi from Islamabad Yesterday amid tight security which is now going to reach Bangkok after the smooth run on Delhi roads. Suresh Kalmadi said that the IOA is determined to keep up the spirit of the Olympics.

Tags: China, Delhi, India, Lhasa, Olympic, Tibet, Torch

Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan on Tuesday denied taking part in Olympic torch relay in New Delhi this week reasoning some strong personal factors behind.

However she didn’t disclose her personal reasons to media but she said that she supports the relay.

Soha who initially said yes to run with the relay along with her actor brother Saif Ali Khan said on Tuesday, “I fully support the Olympic relay and am saddened at the disruptions in its path in various parts of the world as well as the violence in Tibet. But I can’t run due to strong personal reasons.”

Sahin Tendulkar, who initially said ‘Yes’ to hold the torch, also denied today to run because of his groin injury.

Earlier, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, Magsaysay Awardee Dr Kiran Bedi and National football captain Bhaichung Bhutia, a Buddhist refused to carry the Olympic torch.

Those who supported the relay includes Leander Paes, actor Saif Ali Khan, Tata Consultancy Services CEO Subramanian Ramadorai, Ingram Micro India CEO Jaishankar Krishnan and orthopaedic surgeon Dr Vaibhav Bagaria from Nagpur including Ex Olympian Milkha Singh and India’s number one golfer Jyoti Randhawa.

The torch-relay is taking place in the wake of worldwide protests by Tibetans against the crackdown in Lhasa.

Olympic torch will reach to Delhi tonight and will go through the Capital tomorrow on April 17.

Tags: China, India, Khan, Olympic, Pakistan, Soha Ali Khan, Tibet, Torch

India’s Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar has pulled out from the Indian leg of the Olympic torch relay going to be held in the Capital city on Thursday, the 17th April. Sachin’s groin injury that ruled him out of the Test series against South Africa is told as the reason behind his refusal.

Sachin said that he was invited by IOA and it is a matter of proud for him. But he will not be able to run because of his fitness.

Olympic torch has arrived in Pakistan’s capital city Islamabad early on Wednesday on the first leg of its relay in Asia. The torch, touring the world ahead of the Olympic Games in Beijing in August, arrived in a chartered plane from Muscat at an airbase in the nearby city of Rawalpindi.

Earlier, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, Magsaysay Awardee Dr Kiran Bedi and National football captain Bhaichung Bhutia, a Buddhist refused to carry the Olympic torch.

The Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan, who initially gave her consent to take part in the relay also refused to run because of some personal reasons.

The torch will reach in Delhi tonight. Fearing Tibetan protest, India also squeezed the route for the relay on Tuesday. The new route is less than a third part of its original 9 Km path. The torch will now travel the two-and-a-half-kilometer route between Vijay Path and India Gate. More than 3000 security personnel have been deployed for the event.

The torch-relay is taking place in the wake of worldwide protests by Tibetans against the crackdown in Lhasa.

Tags: China, India, Olympic, Pakistan, Sachin, Sachin Tendulkar, Tendulkar, Tibet, Torch

Magsaysay Awardee Dr Kiran Bedi slammed the tight security arrangements of the Olympic torch relay and refused the invitation of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to be a part of it while the relay continues through New Delhi on April 17.

Due to worldwide protest of the relay, the relay is continued under tight security arrangements for which Bedi said, “I am a sportswoman. I do not want to run with the torch as a caged woman. Why turn India Gate into a zoo?

If you make the environment so suffocating, then it is better to let the torch travel on wheels or with the Army’ the former national-level tennis champion added.

Meanwhile Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi is also invited with his young parliamentarians for the relay. However Sources close to Gandhi family feared Rahul’s participation in the relay. No confirmation is obtained from them till now.

National football captain Bhaichung Bhutia, a Buddhist, is the only notable exception who has refused to carry the Flame to show his solidarity with the Tibetans.

Other icons from diverse fields that are going to take part in the relay are Leander Paes, actors Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan, Tata Consultancy Services CEO Subramanian Ramadorai, Ingram Micro India CEO Jaishankar Krishnan and orthopaedic surgeon Dr Vaibhav Bagaria from Nagpur including Ex Olympian Milkha Singh and India’s number one golfer Jyoti Randhawa.

The torch-relay is taking place in the wake of worldwide protests by Tibetans against the crackdown in Lhasa.

Tags: China, India, Kiran Bedi, Olympic

After inviting the batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) now seeks Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi along with other young Parliamentarians to take part in the Indian leg of the Olympic Torch Relay.

IOA president Suresh Kalmadi said the step to invite political personalities has been taken on the behest of the organisers.

“They want people from all walks of life to take part in the relay. So, we have invited few young MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada and Sachin Pilot,” Kalmadi told.

However Kalmandi said that formal invitation is sent to Rahul but he will visit personally to them and will invite in the relay.

He also assured that the Indian leg of the relay going to take place on April 17 in New Delhi would go without any trouble in spite of protests all over the world.

“The torch relay is a matter of pride and we would ensure that no untoward incident takes place. Everything has been planned and there would be adequate security measures,” he said.

However, sources close to Gandhi family disclosed that the young Gandhi is unlikely to accept the invitation. Reason is not yet cleared.

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Other greats from diverse fields like Leander Paes, actors Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan, Tata Consultancy Services CEO Subramanian Ramadorai, Ingram Micro India CEO Jaishankar Krishnan and orthopedic surgeon Dr Vaibhav Bagaria from Nagpur will also take part in the event.

Tags: Gandhi, IOA, Olympic, Rahul, Rahul Gandhi, Sachin, Torch

The Indian cricket hero, master blaster Sachin Tendulkar is looking forward to participate in the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay to be held in the Capital city on Monday April 17.

Indian Olympics Association president Suresh Kalmandi confirmed his ongoing presence in the relay.

The Olympic relay is in trouble for being protested by Tibetans following China’s crackdown in Tibet. Today demonstrators interrupted the relay in Paris and forced the officials to extinguish the torch twice which is re-lit after a lot of efforts.

There are also strong chances of protest and demonstrations by Tibetans and other human right groups in Delhi also on the day of the torch relay next week against China’s Tibetan policy.

For security concerns and to avoid any mis happening due to protest the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) shortened the route of the relay in Capital city. Earlier the route was set from Red Fort to India Gate covering around 8-9 Km area which is now squeezed to only 2-3 Km.

The batting maestro, who has been ruled out of the ongoing Test series against South Africa, will have the privilege of sharing the honor with greats from diverse fields like Leander Paes, actors Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan, Tata Consultancy Services CEO Subramanian Ramadorai, Ingram Micro India CEO Jaishankar Krishnan and orthopedic surgeon Dr Vaibhav Bagaria from Nagpur.

“It is a great honor for me. I grew up watching the Olympics and I am looking forward to carry the torch,” Tendulkar told.

India’s football captain Baichung Bhutia is the only one who boycotted the relay and denied to take part in it.

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Tags: Baichung Bhutia, China, India, Olympic, Sachin, Saif Ali Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Tendulkar, Tibet, Torch

Due to violent protest over China’s crackdown on Tibet, French officials were forced on Monday to put off Olympic Torch temporarily during the relay through Paris.

Sources said that officials placed the torch in a bus to protect from demonstrators after setting off from the Eiffel Tower. But soon the torch was re-litand relay is resumed after the incident.

However police has already put tight security to protect the torch from the demonstrators. France has deployed more than 3,000 police officers, some on roller blades, along the 28-km Paris leg of relay, to the Charlety stadium, on the southern edge of town; where the torch was due to arrive at 1500 GMT.

The Olympics torch is scheduled to reach the host country Beijing for the 2008 Olympics in August. Although is not meant to be extinguished before reaching the target but all in vain. A traditional lantern that follows the torch, and must not be extinguished at any cost, was spared similar fate.

Several hundred demonstrators waving banners gathered on the Trocadero esplanade, just the other side of the river Seine from the Eiffel Tower. Banners reading “Boycott Chinese goods” and “Save Tibet” were held by the demonstrators.

The Olympic flame arrived at the Charles de Gaulle Airport on Monday, ahead of a high-security tour through the French capital.

The flame was welcomed by China`s Ambassador to France, Mr Kong Quan, and former athlete Guy Drut. But French President Nicholas Sarkozy stayed away from the welcoming ceremony of the torch to register his protest.

Tags: China, France, Olympic, Paris, Tibet, Torch

The issue of Tibet is raising all over the globe and China is in a bit of pressure due to this. The Olympic torch parade fall into anarchic scene. Violence and chaos disrupts the passage of Olympic torch in London so an extraordinary last minute shift was made to the road relay to a bus due to security reasons.

Olympic torch is facing the protests all over the world and even in India there is a threat of protest. On the street of London scene was marked with the noisy protests against China’s human rights record as hundreds called for Beijing to “free Tibet”.

Around 35 protesters were arrested for their attempt to disrupt the parade and manhandle the torch. After an unpublicized change to the route, the Chinese ambassador Fu Ying carried the torch through the relatively safe Chinese-dominant area of London, Chinatown.

Tags: China, India, London, Olympic, Tibet

Dismissing the reports of being harsh to Indian Ambassadors, the Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan said that there is nothing like that and the Indian Ambassadors are respected and treated very well in Beijing.

Indian Ambassador, who was summoned past midnight in Beijing on the Tibet issue at an odd hour were treated by them very respectfully, said Yan.

Yan told reporters yesterday at the heavily fortified embassy following recent storming of the pro-independence protests by Tibetans that the claim was wrong and there should be no such issue.

“I can responsibly say that what has been reported on this matter is not correct. We have treated your ambassador (Nirupama Rao) very respectably and we have a very good working relationship with your (Indian) Embassy in Beijing,” Zhang Yan said in the capital.

“We don’t think it is a big issue. It is a very very minor issue. I don’t think it will affect our relationship. On the contrary, both sides, that is my feeling, don’t see anything wrong”. In future, the timing should be considered.” He said.

On bilateral ties, Zhang acknowledged that there were some pending issues which have not been resolved. “Of course we don’t deny the differences on the remaining problems our two countries have. But what is important is to report factually and in the right perspective and do not cause problems to the two countries and instead promote the settlement of these problems.”

He said, “The problems are being handled by competent authorities. They are working on it and progress is being made.

He said problems will be sort out soon when the time arises.

Tags: China, India, Olympic, Tibet