I’ve been using Windows 7 fairly regularly on one of my machines for the past month or so. One thing I noticed is that the default password settings for Windows 7 include the fact that password expire after 42 days. Since most home users will never change their default settings, this setting will likely become a de-facto standard. However, the default settings also have a password history of zero (no remembered passwords), and a minimum age of zero as well. This means that every home user, when prompted to change their password, will simply change it to the password they had initially, making this setting useless.

It always amazes me that:

1 – people assume that because something is written down it must be true.

2 – disreputable people will always find new and creative ways to take advantage of the above.

Courtesy of Emails from crazy people (and further variants on snopes) comes the newest evolution of the Nigerian 419 scam. Absolutely astounding.

I want you to read this message very carefully, and keep its content secret till further notice, you have no need of knowing who I am, where am from, till I make out a space for us to see, I have been paid $50,000.00 in advance to terminate your existence with some reasons not listed in my contract by my employer, this employer is one you may call family, I have been in close surveillance for one week and three days now and have seen that you may be innocent, which really is not for me to decide.

Note that for your safety do not think of contacting the police or F.B.I or try to send a copy of the message to them, because seeing an alert on this massage will force me to do what I do not intend doing (Believe me it will seem like an accident to even the F.B.I forensics) As this is the first time am betraying a client.I will be needing a retirement fee from you to return to my country ASAP as I can not stay any longer in your country after this.

Now, listen very carefully I will arrange a location for you to pick up tapes and pics of me and my employer for court evidence, and also meet with you face to face if you promise you won’t involve the police or F.B.I. Contact this email within 48hrs as I do not have much time. *****@yahoo.

Be careful of who you think you are showing this massage to, we are watching and listening to every move you make.

You don’t need my phone contact for now till am assured you are ready to comply good.