Archive of December Tech News (in reverse chronological order)

12-31-04

Update Available for AVG AntiVirus

An update is available for AVG Free AntiVirus and other antivirus programs produced by Grisoft. You can visit VersionTracker or you can start the program and update from within the application.

New Information on 1406 Error Messages While Installing iTunes

You can find more information on how to work around the 1406 error messages currently plaguing PC users trying to install Apple's iTunes by visiting the Answers page of Multiple Platforms.com/. This 1406 error message has been a common question to the web site over the past several weeks. I think maybe Apple doesn't want it to be to easy for PC owners to use their iPod, while using the iPod itself is quite easy; then PC owners may begin to consider an Apple for their next purchase... Maybe?!

Virtual New Year’s Eve

Watch the events of the New Year’s Eve from the comforts of your home by surfing to Broadcast.com and viewing a live feed from Times Square. If that is not enough, surf over to CNET and find links to the Seattle Space Needle and more.

Alternative to Knoppix is a Parallel

Parallel Computing has released ParallelKnoppix according to a report in the Linux Gazette. The distro is based on Debian Linux and is a live CD like Knoppix. The kicker for this Knoppix system is that it is a time saver when configuring your computer. Read more about the release at the Linux Gazette web site.

Apple Pro Speakers Slowing Startup

MacFixIt has a reader that determined his Apple Pro speakers were the cause of his slow startups. He has a fix; you can remove a kernel extension from your System/ Library/ Extensions/ folder. Visit MacFixIt for the specifics on this work around.

Free Tech Support

Still having problems with that tech toy you got for the holidays? Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI answers questions on all things digital on the weekends from 12-3pm on 640AM in the Los Angeles area and the rest of us can listen on the Internet. Visit Leo’s web site to find links to the show, the chat room, and much more.

Apple Tip of the Day: See Your Cookies

The Apple tip of the day is a tip for Safari users on finding out which cookies are stored on your computer. Open your browser and click on Safari in the toolbar, then select Preferences and choose the Security tab. Choose the Show Cookies option to view the cookies collected on your computer. If you followed yesterday’s tip and chose the cookies option ‘Never’ you should delete all the cookies by clicking on a cookie file and then use the command-A shortcut to highlight all the cookies and click on Delete.

PC Tip of the Day: Clear Cookies

The PC tip of the day helps you check on and clear cookies with your Mozilla browser; first, open the browser and choose Tools and select options. Click on the Privacy tab and then click on Cookies. You can choose the Stored Cookies option to view all those cookies in the jar, or you can click on the Clear button to remove all the cookies.

What is a CPU Cache?

Wikipedia has this definition for, “A CPU cache is a cache used by the central processing unit of a computer to reduce the average time to access memory. The cache is a smaller, faster memory which stores copies of the most frequently used main memory locations. So long as most accesses are to the cached copies, the average latency to memory will be closer to the cache latency than to the latency of main memory.�?

Happy New Year!!!

12-30-04

Help Tsunami Victims

If you would like to contribute funds to help the victims of the tsunami in South Eastern Asia, please click on the link at the bottom of this page. We donated and I hope you can help too.

High School Student Shift Gears at Web Site and Help Tsunami Victims

A web site dedicated to ‘The Simpsons’ and maintained by a Italian high school student has quickly shifted gears and is attempting to help victims of the tsunami connect with their friends and family. CNET reports that the site has had 82,000 hits in two days.

New Information on 1406 Error Messages While Installing iTunes

New Threat to PC - Phel is No Help

According to a report carried by CNET, the security flaw exposed last October is now a virus threat in the wild. The Trojan horse is named ‘Phel’ (help spelled side ways-sort-of) and the one bit of good news is there is a flaw in the code and it may not install in all computers. The bad news is that crackers will quickly correct their error and strike again. This threat effects PCs with Window’s XP Service Pack 2 installed, but only if they visit a malicious web site using Internet Explorer. Switch to another browser like Mozilla or Firefox and keep your computer safe from these types of attacks.

Take Our Survey

Did you get a new tech toy for a holdiay gift? Was it a good experience, or did you say some words you aren't exactly proud of? Take our survey to the left and then check the results against your experiences.

Update for Ad-aware SE

An update is available for Lavasoft’s excellent free spyware remover Ad-aware SE according to MajorGeeks.com/. You can visit their site to download the update manually, or you can activate your program and update using the automatic update feature.

Apple Tip of the Day: Close the Cookie Jar

The Apple tip of the day is another tip for Safari users on how to control those cookies. Open your browser and click on Safari on the toolbar, then select Preferences and choose the Security tab. You will be given several choices including never accept cookies, always accept cookies, and only accept cookies from sites you visit. Some sites require you to allow cookies to access their site including some educational sites.

PC Tip of the Day: Control Cookies

The PC tip of the day will help you control cookies with your Mozilla browser; first, open the browser and choose Tools and select options. Click on the Privacy tab and then click on Cookies. You will then have several options including enabling cookies with various conditions.

What is a Cookie?

According to Wikipedia, “An HTTP cookie (usually called simply a cookie) is a packet of information sent by a server to a World Wide Web browser and then sent back by the browser each time it accesses that server. They were invented by Lou Montulli, a former employee of Netscape Communications.

Cookies can contain any arbitrary information the server chooses and are used to maintain state between otherwise stateless HTTP transactions. Typically this is used to authenticate or identify a registered user of a web site as part of their first login process or initial site registration without requiring them to sign in again every time they access that site. Other uses are maintaining a "shopping basket" of goods selected for purchase during a session at a site, site personalisation (presenting different pages to different users), and tracking a particular user's access to a site.

12-29-04
US Bank Hoax Circulates

The security experts at Sophos issued a bulletin regarding a hoax email circulating that appears to originate from US Bank. The hoax is actually a phishing attempt from a Korean based web site. The text of the message includes: “Dear U.S. Bank account holder,
We regret to inform you, that we had to block your U.S. Bank account because we have been notified that your account may have been compromised by outside parties.�? Sophos recommends, “If you receive this or a similar message, you are advised not to reply to it or forward it to your friends and colleagues. The best advice is simply to delete the email.�?

Accessories Galore for Your iPod

According to Insanely Great Mac and a story carried in the White Plains Journal News there are more than 200 accessories available for the popular iPod. You can rev-up your iPod and play it through your car stereo, you can use it as a backup for your home folder (see story below), or store medical data on them (see report 12-22 ‘Blinding You With Science’).

Use iPod as Backup Device

You can use your iPod as a backup device with a free application available from Versiontracker.com/. This little tool is getting great reviews from users and has an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars! Find out more by visiting Versiontracker.com; the author does accept donation for this freeware application.

Hard Drive Installation of Knoppix

Desktoplinux.com has a how-to article on installing Knoppix on your hard drive. Knoppix is a great introduction into the world of open source and if you haven’t tried it this article will provide you with more background on this free and compact operating system.

Open Source Updates

Secunia has released security updates for the following Gentoo Linux 1.x (1, 2, 3).

Apple Tip of the Day: Block Pop-Up Windows

Safari has a built-in pop-up blocker and you can activate this handy tool and that is the Apple tip of the day; first, choose Safari on the toolbar and then select Block Pop-Up Windows. Then those annoying pop-ups will no longer bug you. Warning: if you take tests for school online, you may want to disable the pop-up blocker; at our university having the pop-up blocker activated will prevent you from taking the test.

PC Tip of the Day: Control Destination of Downloaded Files

The PC tip of the day will help you control the destination of your downloaded files if you are using Mozilla or Firefox. Open your browser and choose Tools then select Options. Click on the Downloads tab and choose where to save your files, or opt for the ‘Ask me where to save every file’ choice.

What is a Pop-Up?

According to Wikipedia, “Pop-up ads are a form of online advertising on the World Wide Web where certain websites open a new web browser window to display advertisements. The pop-up window containing an advertisement is usually generated by JavaScript, but can be generated by other means as well. A less intrusive variation on the pop-up window is the pop-under advertisement. This opens a new browser window, but in the background, so as not to interrupt the user's page-view.
For early advertising-supported websites, banner ads were sufficient revenue generators, but in the wake of the dot com crash, prices paid for banner advertising clickthroughs decreased and many vendors began to investigate more effective advertising methods. Pop-up ads by their nature are difficult to ignore or overlook, and are claimed to be more effective than static banner ads. Pop-ups have a much higher click rate than web banner ads do.
Most users regard pop-ups as a nuisance. In the early 2000s, all major web browsers except Internet Explorer (then the most popular browser and still as of 2004) allowed the user to block pop-ups almost completely. In 2004, Microsoft released Windows XP SP2, which added pop-up blocking to Internet Explorer. Many users, however, remain unaware of this ability, or else choose not to use it. Some users install non-Microsoft ad-blocking software instead. Advertisers continually seek ways to circumvent such restrictions. Many of the latest pop-ups are created using Flash and have extensive animation and trickery.

12-28-04
Santy Worm Shifts Target

Google acted quickly in squashing the latest security threat Santy, but a new variant of the worm is striking search engines at Yahoo and AOL according to a report in CNET. PC World’s story states that the worm targets web sites with bulletin boards created using phpBB; no worries here at Multiple Platforms, I haven’t included a bulletin board at this site for this a other reasons related to offering a secure visiting experience.

More On OS X Update From Apple

The latest update from Apple may not be recorded in history as the smoothes installation based on the ever-increasing reports recorded at MacFixIt. It seems that the problems if incurred are somewhat catastrophic in nature and if you have yet to install this update, wait; with this many problems (failure to boot, Firewire issues, and more), Apple will probably be issuing a corrective patch. Currently there are no major security issues that override the need to implement this patch for most Mac-heads.

Best Choice for iPod Case

Kirk McElhern, a writer, software creator, and Mac guru offers recommendations for the best iPod cases at his web site Kirkville. You will find Kirk’s web site packed with a variety of helpful information for Mac-heads and it served as an inspiration for the recent face-lift of this web site.

Free Tune From Apple

Tuesday is free download day at Apple’s iTunes Music Store and you can grab your freebie by clicking on the iTunes Music Store logo to the right.

Advice for New PC Owners

Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI has advice on security and safely connecting to the Internet for those of you with a new PC. If you do not follow that correct procedures, you can have a computer infected with the Sasser virus 5 minutes after going online. Visit Leo’s web site to learn how to get your PC on the Internet safely. Leo also has advice on spyware prevention and security software. Links to the same spyware and security products are also located at the bottom of this page.

PC Tip of the Day: Home Page Change, too

If you have taken the advice offered here and elsewhere and switched to Mozilla or Firefox, you can change your browsers home page just like Safari users can by following these steps: Open your browsers and navigate to the page you would like to use for your home page (like Google). Then choose Tools and click on Options. Select the General tab and choose the Use Current Page button to change y the home page of your browser.

Apple Tip of the Day: Choose Where that Download Goes

If you are always forgetting where you downloaded a file, or want to store them in a special folder named “Downloaded Files�? this Apple tip of the day will help you; to change the location of where your download is stored, open Safari and select Preferences from the Safari toolbar. Then under General tab you can change the location of the files you download.

What is the Home Page?

Wikipedia has this definition, “On the World Wide Web, a homepage is the starting point, or root of a website, a group of pages belonging to the same person, group, business or any other organization. The homepage usually includes basic information on the theme of the whole website, and links to other related pages. It has the shortest URL: just the domain name. For example the homepage for Wikipedia is the Main Page which outlines the project and gives links into the body of articles. Most web browsers allow a particular URL to be designated as the homepage for the browser. This was in fact the original meaning of homepage: The first web page to be automatically connected to (sent an http request) upon launch of the browser.�?

12-27-04
More Reasons To Install SP 2 Updates

The latest security risks for Windows users does not effect PCs that have been updated to Microsoft’s Service Pack 2 update according to a report carried by eWeek. The security bulletin from Secunia confirms that computers with the SP 2 update installed are not at risk with these latest attacks.

Amazon.com Loves iPod

Amazon.com loves the iPod, or at least they love selling the iPod after recording the busiest holiday marketing period in 10 years. During one period, the online retailer was selling 32 items per second according to MacDailyNews. If you feel the need to continue this shopping spree, please click on the Amazon.com link to the right and show your support for this web site.

Use PowerPoint to for Collage

This tip comes from Mac OS X Hints.com and is framed for use in an iMovie, but you could use this technique utilizing PowerPoint to make a collage for any project. According to the tip from Slacker, you can use the same method with OpenOffice with a slight tweak; visit the web site for more.

Free iPod Stories

MacMerc is carrying a comment on the FreeiPods.com offer and the confirmation of this deal as reported in the New York Times. The offer works if you can talk friends and families into joining you in this deal, but apparently, it is a legitimate offer. Rick, the Senior Editor at MacMerc isn’t signing-up but is inviting any readers to have to post comments on their web site.

Open Source Updates

Secunia has released update bulletins for the following open source systems: Debian GNU/Linux 3.0 (1, 2), Linux Kernel 2.6.x/, and Fedora Core 2/3 (1, 2).

Apple Tip of the Day: Change Your Home Page

Today’s tip is for Apple users that want to change their home page for the Safari browser. To set a webpage as your home page surf to that site and choose Preferences from the Safari on the toolbar. Then under the General tab, click on the Set to Current Page button. I like to use a webpage that opens quickly like Google for my home page.

PC Tip of the Day: Browser Advice for New PC Owners

If you are the owner of a new PC, the PC tip of the day involves an important choice you need to make: which browser should you use for your default browser. The advice from this column is to choose any browser but Internet Explorer. The favorite browser at Multiple Platforms.com comes from Mozilla.org/. Visit their web site then download and install either Firefox or Mozilla; both of these browsers are free. If you want a stripped down fast browser choose Firefox and if you would like to have an email client choose Mozilla.

What is Peripheral?

Did you get any new peripherals? Wikipedia has this definition for a peripheral, “A peripheral is a type of computer hardware that is added to a host computer, in order to expand its abilities. More specifically the term is used to describe those devices that are optional in nature, as opposed to hardware that is either demanded, or always required in principle. The term also tends to be applied to devices that are hooked up externally, typically though some form of computer bus like USB. Typical examples include joysticks, printers and scanners. Devices such as monitors and disk drives are not considered peripherals because they are not truly optional, and video capture cards are typically not referred to as peripheral because they are internal devices.�"

12-24-04

Face Lift and New Engine

Regular visitors to Multiple Platforms.com may have noticed a change over the last several days as I completed the transition to Dreamweaver. Hopefully, this upgrade from FrontPage will eliminate some of the rendering problems I have been battling over the past several months. I am still working on some features like the search tool to the right. Thanks for visiting Multiple Platforms.com and please share this site with your family and friends. Happy Holidays from Mike at Multiple Platforms.com!

Mozilla E-Mail Program Review

PC World has given Mozilla’s e-mail program a shaken-down cruise and just like Mikey, they like it. There are other news stories today carrying rumors of what is to come with this free tool, and if the rumors prove to be true, Outlook could be in for some serious competition. Read more about this free program at PC World.

New Opera Browser Talks, Just Like Mister Ed

Opera has released a beta version of their browser that will allow you to use voice commands to launch tasks and the browser can read text from web pages according to CNET. Other improvements include better RSS features and cleaner menus with better support for printing. The software is not yet named but we have a suggestion, in recognition of the browsers’ speech capabilities and to honor television’s talking horse the browser could be named Mister Ed. You can try the beta version available at the Opera web site, but remember it is a beta version and bugs could cause conflicts with your system.

Apple Will Patent iPod Technology

Apple has applied for a patent that according to a report in CNET, “…allow a portable media player to detect when it is falling and then stop reading or writing to the hard drive.” This would help minimize the damage when an iPod is accidentally dropped. It is similar to a feature used in notebooks and laptops and would be a welcome addition to on any gadget with a hard drive.

Listen To The Tech Guy and Learn

Leo Laporte is The Tech Guy on KFI and he answers questions on all thing digital on KFI AM640 in the Los Angeles area and on the Internet weekends from 12-3 pm PDT. Leo has a ‘best-of’ compilation of calls from the last year scheduled to air on December 25th and will return live on the 26th.

Apple and PC Tip of the day will return on Monday.

What is DLP?

Wikipedia has this definition for DLP: “Digital Light Processing (initializedDLP) is a technology used in projectors and projection televisions. DLP was originally developed by Texas Instruments, and they remain the sole manufacturer of such technology, though many licensees market products based on their chipsets.In DLP projectors, the image is created by microscopically small mirrors laid out in a matrix on a semiconductor chip, known as a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD). Each mirror represents one pixel in the projected image. The number of mirrors corresponds to the resolution of the projected image: 800x600, 1024x768, and 1280x720 matrices are some common DMD sizes. These mirrors can be repositioned rapidly to reflect light either through the lens or on to a heatsink.
Happy Holidays!

12-23-04
Google Fights Back

Google is being pro-active and is blocking searches that are a result of the latest hack attack, Santy.A/. PC World reports that the impacts of this worm are still being assessed and that the target of this attack is a web server using phpBB software. The host of this website, is not using this software so have no fear while surfing here.

Turn Your iPod Into Remote Control Device

Belkin will release a Bluetooth device early next year that will transform your iPod into a remote control unit for your entertainment center. The iPod will serve as a storage device and controller capable of delivering songs wirelessly to your entertainment center from distance up to 30 feet according to a report in CNET.

New Music Service Targets Open Source Customers

There is a new music download service on the block and this one is targeting open source customers according to a report carried by Desktoplinux.com/. Mindawn is the concept and of TheKompany.com and the startup company is claiming that digital rights management restrictions are minimal. Open source users will find files for downloading include most “lossless” formats.

Open Source Updates

Secunia released the following bulletins for open source users: Mandrake Linux 9.x to 10.1 (1, 2, 3, 4), Fedora Core 2/3, Redhat Linux, KDE 3.x/, Debian GNU/Linux 3.0, and SuSE Linux.

Apple Tip of The Day: Translation With Sherlock

The tip of the day for Apple users is a handy translation tool that is hidden within the Sherlock application. This tool will translate text from and to a wide range of languages. Find this handy tool by following this path: Applications/ Sherlock and select Channel from the toolbar and click on translation. A window will open and you can begin translating that message to friends in Germany in their own language.

PC Tip of The Day: Translations for PCs

PC and Apple people can also use the translation tools at Google. From Google’s home page click on the ‘more’ option and then click on the Translate tool icon. Then you can access the same type of translation tool that Mac-heads use in their Sherlock application.

What is Bluetooth?

According to CE Windows.net Bluetooth is, “A wireless protocol that is used to communicate from one device to another in a small area usually less than 30 feet. It uses the 2.4 ghz spectrums to communicate a 1-megabit connection between two devices for both a voice channel and a 768k data channel. The Bluetooth specification calls for different profiles such as voice and serial emulation to be used by devices to communicate. However, interoperability needs to be tested to confirm compatibility of the higher-level protocols that use Bluetooth to communicate between devices. Version 1.0 requires users to register the connection between the 2 devices while version 1.1 allows a Bluetooth device to communicate with up to 8 devices.”

12-22-04
Who’s Fooling Whom?

PC World has conducted tests and determined that two-security company’s products are causing conflicts with the updated Windows Service Pack 2 package from Microsoft. The tests on Symantec's Norton Internet Security 2005 and McAfee's Internet Security Suite 2005 revealed that XP was displaying false information regarding the status of these security systems; indicating that the programs are up-to-date when they are in actually needing an update.

Nature is Tech Person of the Year

According to CNET, Nature takes the award for tech person of the year, and biology and environmental sciences are the hot subjects of the day. As a computer geek and a graduate student in biological sciences, this award is one that I can get behind!

Blinding You With Science

Speaking of science, a source we aren’t normally citing in this column carries a story uniquely related to the tech news, the Radiological Society of North America reports that radiologists are using their iPods to store medical images. Using the iPod as an external storage source is a valid argument for those searching for reasons to add an iPod to their growing list of tech toys.

Open Source Tip: Get Those Last Minute Cards Done

The tip for open source users is from Tux.org/ is a how-to on creating holiday cards and is aimed at those of us who like to think we work better under pressure. Read all about it at Tux.org’s web site.

Apple Tip of The Day: Hide the Dock

I love the Dock feature of OS X, but sometimes it gets in the way of what I’m trying to do. If this happens to you, or the Dock just bugs you, you can hide the Dock by changing the preference settings. Open Systems Preferences and click on the Dock icon, then you can check the box to automatically hide and show the Dock.

PC Tip of The Day: Backup or Restore Registry

Before attempting to remove stubborn spyware or viruses, you should visit Microsoft’s Support site to learn about the subject of today’s PC tip, backing-up your Windows Registry. If you don’t have a backup of your Registry, you should take the time to read this how-to article and protect you and your PC in the event of the unexpected.

Open Source Security Updates

The following bulletins were released by Secunia for open source systems: Fedora Core 2/3 (1, 2, 3), Gentoo Linux 1.x (1, 2), Redhat Linux (1, 2), SuSE Linux 7.x to 9.2 (1, 2), Linux Kernel 2.6.x/.

What is the Registry?

Wikipedia has this definition for Registry: “The registry is a database used to store settings and options for the operating system, especially for Microsoft Windows 32-bit versions. It contains information and settings for all the hardware, software, users, and preferences of the PC. Whenever a user makes changes to "Control Panel" settings, or file associations, system policies, or installed software, the changes are reflected and stored in the registry. (Taken from infoAnarchy.org/wiki :) Many optimization and "hacking" tools are available to modify this portion of the Windows operating system.

On Windows 9x computers, an older installation can have a very large registry that slows down the computer's startup and can make the computer unstable. The registry can be edited on Windows XP by clicking start, run and typing 'regedit' and clicking 'OK'. BEWARE: editing the registry can cause irreversible damage unless you are sure of what you are doing.”

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12-21-04
Apple Extends iBook Logic Board Replacement Program
Apple has once again extended their iBook Logic board replacement program according to a report carried by Macworld.com/. The ongoing replacement program covers iBook models produced between May 2002 and April 2003 and include serial numbers ranges of UV117XXXXXX to UV342XXXXXX. If you have experienced video problems with your iBook, visit the Apple web site to learn more. They replaced my iBook logic board in less than five days; I sent it in on a Thursday afternoon and received my little iBook back on Monday morning!

Windows Users Have iTunes Issues
CNET is reporting that Windows iTunes customers have been experiencing difficulties downloading iTunes purchases. There is some speculation that Microsoft’s Windows XP Service Pack 2 update of last week is related to the problem.

Word on iPod Battery
MacDailyNews has the word on what options iPod users have when it is time to replace the battery in their favorite music player. You can do-it-yourself or send it to Apple, find out more at the MacDailyNews website.

Almost Free Stuff
Free After Rebate.com has the deal of the day on a USB Hub Power Bar from Circuit City that can be yours for the cost of shipping. This is a cool little powered up USB hub that will not only extend the USB-ports on your computer, you get extra power plug-ins to boot.

Open Source Updates
Open source updates and security bulletins for the following open source systems have been released by Secunia:
KDE Konqueror Java Sandbox Security Bypass Vulnerabilities
Two vulnerabilities have been reported in KDE Konqueror, which can be exploited by malicious people to compromise a user's system. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Debian update for a2ps
Debian has issued an update for a2ps. This fixes a vulnerability, which potentially can be exploited by malicious, local users to gain escalated privileges. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Debian update for htget
Debian has issued an update for htget. This fixes a vulnerability, which can be exploited by malicious people to compromise a user's system. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Red Hat update for XFree86
Red Hat has issued an update for xfree86. This fixes some vulnerabilities, which can be exploited by malicious people to cause a DoS (Denial of Service) or compromise a vulnerable system. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Fedora update for CUPS
Fedora has issued an update for CUPS. This fixes two vulnerabilities, which can be exploited by malicious users to manipulate certain files, cause a DoS (Denial of Service), or compromise a vulnerable system. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Mandrake update for php
Mandrakesoft has issued an update for php. This fixes some vulnerabilities, which can be exploited to gain escalated privileges, bypass certain security restrictions, gain knowledge of sensitive information, or compromise a vulnerable system. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories] and Gentoo update for Ethereal
Gentoo has issued an update for Ethereal. This fixes some vulnerabilities, which can be exploited by malicious people to cause a DoS (Denial of Service) and potentially compromise a vulnerable system. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories] Gentoo has a long list of updates available, please visit your Gentoo site for all the updates.

Multiple Platforms Tip: Recall Links
Multiple platforms users can find information on recent recalls by visiting the federal government’s web site Recalls.gov/. There you will find details on products recalled by various agencies of the United States government.

PC Tip of The Day: Recovery Tool
The PC tip today is a link to Microsoft’s Support site for directions on how to install the Recovery Console in the event that your PC doesn’t start correctly or does not boot-up at all. MS recommends this process for advanced users only, but you can at least be aware that this application is available in times of crisis.

Apple Tip of the Day: Apple Scripts for iPods
The Apple tip of the day is for iPod owners and this script allows you to use your iPod as an electronic notebook. The package also includes scripts that allow you to eject you iPod and notes from MacCentral’s web site. Visit the Apple web site to download the scripts.

What is a Webcast?
According to Wikipedia, “A webcast is similar in intent to a broadcast television program but designed for internet transmission. Webcast clients allow a user to connect to a server, which is distributing (webcasting) the webcast, and displays the televisual content to the user.
Initially webcasts were non interactive, in other words, the user was not able to alter the content of the webcast or to interact with the subjects of the webcast. For the most part they were also hosted live (with recordings retained for later dissemination), however more recently there has been greater overlap between video conferencing and webcasting such that webcasts have been generally consigned to being recordings of video conferences and training material where there is much less demand for an interactive session.”

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12-20-04
More Flaws in Google’s Desktop Search
According to a report carried by PC World, Google has more problems with their recently released desktop search tool. To read more on this issue click on the following link: New Flaw Found in Google Desktop Search
Hole could allow remote attackers to access your local search results. [PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories]

FireWire Issues and Apple OS X 10.3.7 Update
MacFixIt reports that Apple users that installed the latest update without disconnecting external FireWire drives may be experiencing issues and they recommend re-installing the latest firmware update for FireWire. To read more visit MacFixIt: Mac OS X 10.3.7 (#4): More on FireWire problems, solutions; Slow network/application launch/system startup fixes; more
What to do if you left a FireWire drive connected during the update and had problems In its release notes for Mac OS X 10.3.7, Apple explained that users should disconnect any FireWire driv [MacFixIt]

Almost Free Stuff: Velocity DVD 10-pak
Free After Rebate.com has information on how you can get a Velocity DVD-R 4X/ 4.7 GB (10-spindle) for only the cost of shipping from Amazon.com: NexxTech USB Hub Power Bar NexxTech USB Hub Power Bar $24.99, free after rebate, at Circuit City. Circuit City provides free standard shipping on orders of $25 -- just a penny more! Rebate expires December 28, 2004. [Free After Rebate]
Please use our Amazon link to the right if you are taking advantage of this freebie. Thanks!

PC Tip of the Day: How to Backup Files With Windows XP
The Backup tool Microsoft included with Windows XP can be a lifesaver in the event of an unfortunate accident (AKA your hard drive dies or is erased); but if you don’t know how to use the application it is as worthless as your dead hard drive. Microsoft’s web site has a how-to article on the methods you can use to protect your data from a disaster.

Apple Tip of the Day: Tandem Apple Script
Today the tip for Mac users is an Apple script that will allow you to view two new Finder windows placed on the bottom of your window in column view. The two windows are ‘vertically adjacent’ and allow you to easily drag and drop files to different locations. You can download the script at the Apple web site.

What is an Apple Script?
According to Apple’s help information, “Script Menu is a script access utility that resides in the Finder menu bar. It provides easy access to dozens of useful scripts that help you perform tasks such as batch editing of file or folder names, creating FontSync profiles, or sending a quick email message. You can download extra scripts from the AppleScript Web site, or you can add your own scripts to Script Menu.” To learn more about Apple Script you can visit the Apple Support site.
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12-17-04
Windows Critical Flaw Patched
Microsoft has released a patch for a critical flaw that could compromise PC that had printer and file sharing enabled. If this describes your computer, read the article below from PC World. This is an update you may want to download soon; or consider disabling the aforementioned sharing preferences. You are also protected if your PC is behind a router.
Microsoft Fixes 'Critical' XP Firewall Issue
Fix prevents users from sharing their files and printers with the entire Internet. [PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories]

Apple iTunes Downloads Top 200 Million
The Apple iTunes Store marked the 200 millionth download according to Apple’s Hot News web site.
iTunes Tops 200 Million Downloads
Music fans have purchased and downloaded more than 200 million songs from the iTunes Music Store. The 200 millionth song, part of “The Complete U2,” was purchased by Ryan Alekman from Belchertown, MA. iTunes has made it easy to give the gift of music this holiday season with $15 and $25 iTunes prepaid cards available from retailers including Amazon.com, Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Kroger, RadioShack, 7-Eleven, Target, as well as the Apple online store and Apple retail stores. [Dec 16] [Apple Hot News]

Routine Maintenance For Macs
Most of the maintenance processes for your Mac are set to run in the middle of the night and most of us do not leave our Apples powered up all night. You can change the commands that tell your Mac when to run these tasks or you can use a software tool like the one from Macaroni. You can check it out free for thirty-days, and after that it is only $8.99 with discounts available for multiple license. Macaroni 2.0.4 - Performs OS X maintenance...
Macaroni 2.0.4 - Performs OS X maintenance routines. [MacUpdate - Mac OS X]

Open Source Updates
Secunia released the following open source related bulletins:
Gentoo update for vim/gvim
Gentoo has issued updates for vim and gvim. These fix some vulnerabilities, which can be exploited by malicious, local users to gain escalated privileges. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Mandrake update for kdebase/kdelibs
MandrakeSoft has issued updates for kdebase and kdelibs. These fix some vulnerabilities, which can be exploited by malicious people to spoof the content of websites. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Fedora update for flim
Fedora has issued an update for flim. This fixes a vulnerability, which can be exploited by malicious, local users to perform certain actions on a vulnerable system with escalated privileges. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Fedora update for kdebase/kdelibs
Fedora has issued updates for kdebase and kdelibs. These fix some vulnerabilities, which can be exploited by malicious people to spoof the content of websites. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]

Almost Free Stuff: Belkin Wireless Router
You can get a Belkin wireless router from PC Connection for less than ten dollars after rebates if you visit Free After Rebate.com/. If you don’t have a wireless router and you have a laptop, you should take advantage of this offer and use the savings for a wireless card for your notebook. This router will function with multiple platforms; Apple-heads do not have to use an Airport router if you don’t want to.

PC Tip of the Day: Search Microsoft’s Support Site
If you own a PC this is a tip you’ll want to keep handy and add the URL to your bookmarks right next to Multiple Platforms.com/, to search the Microsoft Support site visit: http://search.microsoft.com/search/results.aspx?st=b&na=90&View=en-us&qu=error+messages

Apple Tip of the Day: Quicksilver
Quicksilver is a great tool that I heard about from Dan, the chat room moderator for Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI. Here is the description of the free software from the, “Quicksilver allows you to navigate to what you need quickly and easily, while keeping your hands on the keyboard. For example, if you want to launch an application hidden in the depths of your file system, simply activate Quicksilver with a keystroke, type a few letters of the application's name, then hit Return or Enter to launch it. When you don't need Quicksilver, it keeps out of your way, preserving precious screen real estate, and yet you can summon it instantly with a key stroke - just like Mercury the winged messenger. [Ed. Note: Actually, Roman mythological texts are remarkably silent on whether Mercury could be summoned with a key stroke, but it would have been great if he could. Quicksilver will certainly make you feel as if you have god-like powers.]
Quicksilver indexes and parses selected parts of the contents of your hard drive in the Catalog, so that it locates and displays the items matching your search really quickly. If you are a programmer or an über-geek, you will be glad to know that you can extend and customise Quicksilver until it does exactly what you want it to. The modular structure also means that the application will never be bloated: You only load the modules that you find useful.”

What Is a Document Map
There is no GPS for your documents, but there is a map and Jegswork.com has this definition: “An outline on the left of the document display in Word that is based on the paragraphs that use a heading style. Clicking on an entry scrolls the document to that point in the document.”
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12-16-04
Apple Releases Panther Update
Apple has released another security update and according to Apple:
"The 10.3.7 Update delivers enhanced functionality and improved reliability for Mac OS X v10.3 "Panther" and is recommended for all users.
Key enhancements include:
    •     improved AFP support for saving documents with long file names
    •     improved OpenGL technology and updated ATI and NVIDIA graphics drivers
    •     improved FireWire device compatibility
    •     updated Preview application
    •     improved compatibility for third party applications
    •     previous standalone security updates"
To download the update, click on the Apple in your toolbar and select Software update. I have updated my G3s and have not experienced any problems. Remember to repair disk permission before and after to avoid conflicts. We'll watch MacFixIt over the next week and inform you if any serious issues arise from this update.

New Disguised as Holiday Greeting
According to CNET a new virus is circulation posing as a holiday greeting. The virus contained within the messages is similar to Zafi, the latest virus threat.

What Every Mac-Head Wants
If you have an Apple lover on your shopping list, ComputerWorld has the shopping list that we all approve of. At the top of the list is a new iMac. My brother just has received one of these little gems and I can't wait to help him set it up, I know he'll love it. My brother-in-law loves his new iPod and can't imagine life without it; what could they both use? A membership to .Mac because the benefits are worth far more than the cost of membership and we are proud to announce our affiliation with .Mac and you can learn more about the benefits by clicking on the logo below.

Cool Mac stuff: What to give for the holidays
Knowing that some Mac-heads can sometimes be hard to buy for, columnist Ryan Faas offers some gift ideas for the Mac fan in your life. [Computerworld News]

Adobe Flaws Fixed
Secunia released a security bulletin regarding this flaw post-publishing and in a timely manner, Adobe has already responded to the flaws uncovered this week. CNET has the story, and don't forget to update your Acrobat programs.
Adobe smoothes kinks in Acrobat
The software firm patches three security holes with the release of the latest version of its document reader. [CNET News.com]

Everything You Wanted to Know About and iPod
The Apple Hot News has the link to a comprehensive FAQ/guide for Apple's iPod. The article by Walt Mossberg promises tips for all levels of iPod users and includes links to iPod sites.
iPod User’s Guide
Introducing his iPod User’s Guide, the Wall Street Journal’s Walt Mossberg writes, “By all accounts, millions of people will buy or receive Apple Computer’s iPod digital-music players this holiday season. The gadgets are beautifully designed and simple to operate, which is one reason they’re so popular, even after three years on the market and despite a rising number of competitors.” [Dec 15] [Apple Hot News]

Phishing Pickups: Season For Giving?
Phishers must be working overtime to purchase those special holiday gifts judging by the increase in their attempts against Earthlink and MSN customers. CNET is reporting the two companies have been hammered by a whopping 29% increase in phishing attempts in the November.
'Phishing' attacks rocket in November
EarthLink and MSN were hard hit by the 29 percent increase in fraud, according to a new report. [CNET News.com]

Apple Tip of the Day: .Mac Membership
We love the fact that you can backup and store important data offsite. I also like to use the web sites on .Mac to post pictures of events that I want a large number of friends to view, but don't really care to share with all the visitors to this web site and California Fairs and Festivals.com , our other web site. The following is from ComputerWorld regarding .Mac: "Many users can appreciate the tools that come with a .Mac membership, particularly those who aren't up to creating Web pages or Web-based photo albums on their own. For $99, a .Mac membership makes sharing photos a snap, plus you get a cool .mac e-mail address, 250MB of online storage, free Virex software and a host of other freebies. It's ideal for the Mac-fan with almost everything."

PC Tip of the Day: Update Your Spyware Removal Tool
If your PC is protected from spyware by Ad-aware SE Personal, you should open the application and update the program. You should also update ZoneLab firewall if you haven't been prompted to do so already by the Window's Security featue.

Open Source Tip: Power Tools for Linux
RootPrompt is a great source for Unix information and they are featuring an article on Power Tools for Linux. Visit the web site, or click on the link directly below to read this review of Linux tools.
Linux Power Tools
15 Dec 2004: "Linux is a great desktop OS for developers as well as system administrators. Let us take a look at some of the utilities which makes this a great environment for system administrators and developers. Most of the content below is taken from the home pages of these apps and the I make no claims on the originality. My aim introduce the reader to the wonderful tools that are available in a Linux/BSD desktop environment." Story [RootPrompt.org -- Nothing but Unix]

Have You Ordered Items Through Our Links?
If you have ordered an item through any of our links, please contact us regarding the merchant and the date the item shipped. It has come to my attention that we have not been receiving commissions on some of the sales that have been generated through the ads at this site. We only receive income for carrying these ads if an ordered is placed after clicking on the ad. However, several friends have ordered merchandise through these links and we haven't received renumeration from the companies. I intend to remove any of the ads that do not adhere to the policies of our agreement, and your help would be greatly appreciated in this matter. Just use the form below if you have made purchases through this web site and provide me with the merchant and date you made a purchase. You do not need to provide me with any other information. If you prefer, you can use the 'contact us' link and submit your information anonymously. Thanks for your support!

What is FAT?
This isn't the kind of FAT you battle at the gym, according to Wikipedia FAT is: "File Allocation Table (FAT) is a file system that was developed for MS-DOS and used in consumer versions of Microsoft Windows up to and including Windows Me. The FAT file system is considered relatively uncomplicated, and because of that, it is a popular format for floppy disks; moreover, it is supported by virtually all existing operating systems for personal computers, and because of that it is often used to share data between several operating systems booting on the same computer (a multiboot environment). It is also used on solid-state memory sticks and other similar devices."
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12-15-04
New Worm Hides as Holiday Greeting
The latest worm to squirm its' way onto the scene has been dubbed Zafi and this little annelid hides behind a cheery holiday greeting, then infects your PC.
Zafi Worm Hides Behind Christmas Cheer
New variant offers holiday greetings before infecting your PC with a virus. [PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories]

Test Drive MSN New Desktop Search Suite
You can take the beta version of MSN's new desktop search suite by visiting MSN.com/; remember it is a beta version, so do not use it to build and store information you will need later for a thesis or dissertation. In fact, you may want to read the article following this one before using any desktop search tools.
MSN Ships Revolutionary Desktop Search Tool
On Monday afternoon, Microsoft's MSN unit unveiled a beta version of the MSN Toolbar Suite, a sweeping set of desktop and Web searching tools that promises to give Windows users today many of the search features the company originally promised for [Windows & .NET Magazine - Windows & .NET Magazine]

Next Target For Crackers: Desktop Search Engines
It really is annoying that just as a new technology begins to sweep across the tech world, crackers start scheming up ways to take advantage of our new tools, but it is reality according to a report from CNET. So, as we have informed you previously, desktop search software could compromise your PC. That is why you need not only a router to protect your PC from incoming attacks by crackers, but you also need a software firewall to monitor your outbound traffic on the computer. I still like the free firewall from ZoneLabs and you can find a link for this nifty tool at the bottom of this page.
Desktop search new target for viruses?
Security experts warn it's "just a matter of time" before virus writers eye desktop search tools. [CNET News.com]
Related Story: Gartner: Google desktop search not enterprise-ready
The tool is fine for home, an analyst says, but when it comes to office use, "we have some security and privacy issues." [CNET News.com]

PC Tip of the Day: Microsoft Releases Patches
Microsoft has released their monthly patches and there are no critical flaws associated with this release. To learn more about this update visit PC World:
Microsoft Issues Five Bulletins on Windows Flaws
Desktops, servers affected, but no vulnerabilities deemed critical. [PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories]

Multiple Platforms Tip of the Day: Free Download from iTunes
You can get a free download from iTunes and you won't be breaking any laws with this freebie. Just click on the logo for the iTunes Music Store to the right and get your free tune. You can also purchase gift certificates at iTunes for the holidays or any day.

Apple Tip of the Day: Impress Your Friends
Today the Apple tip is from The Apple Hot News web site and allows Mac-heads to show-off to their PC friends:
Mac OS X Tip of the Week: Be a Show-off
Want to impress your Windows-using friends and colleagues? Start a QuickTime movie, play a DVD, click on the visualizer in iTunes while it plays a song. Then press F9 and watch what happens. [Dec 15] [Apple Hot News]

Open Source Updates
Secunia has released the following update bulletins for open source systems:
OpenBSD isakmpd Denial of Service Vulnerability
A vulnerability has been reported in OpenBSD, which can be exploited by malicious, local users to cause a DoS (Denial of Service). [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Debian update for atari800
Debian has issued an update for atari800. This fixes multiple vulnerabilities, which can be exploited by malicious, local users to escalate their privileges on a vulnerable system. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Debian update for zgv
Debian has issued an update for zgv. This fixes multiple vulnerabilities, which potentially can be exploited by malicious people to compromise a vulnerable system. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Linux Kernel IGMP and "__scm_send()" Vulnerabilities
Paul Starzetz has reported some vulnerabilities in the Linux Kernel, which can be exploited by malicious people to cause a DoS (Denial of Service), and by malicious, local users to cause a DoS, gain knowledge of sensitive information, or potentially gain escalated privileges. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]

Secunia Releases Security Bulletin for Opera Browsers
Secunia has released a security bulletin for users of Opera. Read more about this flaw classified as less critical from Secunia's site:
Opera Default Application "kfmclient exec" Security Issue
Giovanni Delvecchio has discovered a security issue in Opera, which can be exploited by malicious people to compromise a user's system. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]

Free Norton Ghost Upgrade
The Ghost tool from Norton is one of their best products and you can get a free upgrade after rebates by visiting Buy.com. Please click on their logo to the right and order your upgrade. Then follow the link below from Free After Rebate.com to learn the details on the rebates.
Symantec Norton Ghost 9.0 (upgrade/competitive upgrade)
Symantec Norton Ghost 9.0 (upgrade/competitive upgrade) $63.99 -- just $3.99 after 2 rebates -- at Buy.com. Buy.com provides free standard shipping! Rebate expires December 15, 2004 -- Hurry! [Free After Rebate]

What is Ghost?
According to Wikipedia, "Ghost is a disk cloning program, originally produced by Binary Research, but purchased by Symantec in 1998. Ghost was the program that originated the disk-cloning software market. The name originally was an acronym for 'General Hardware Oriented Software Transfer'. Ghost was originally written by Murray Haszard in 1996, using the experience of a parallel and serial file-copying program previously produced by Binary Research. Initially, Ghost supported only FAT filesystems directly, but it could also copy (although not resize) other filesystems by performing a sector copy. Ghost added support for the NTFS filesystem later that year, and also provided a program to change the Security ID (SID) that made Windows NT systems distinguishable from each other. Support for the ext2 filesystem was added in 1999 and for ext3 subsequently. Ghost was developed in Auckland, New Zealand and, although a few functions such as translation into other languages are now carried out elsewhere, the main development and quality assurance is still in Auckland. The first versions of Ghost supported only the cloning of entire disks, but version 3.1 in 1997 allowed the cloning of individual partitions as well."

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12-14-04
The iBook Logic Board Recall Expires Soon
If you have an iBook that qualifies for the logic board recall and have experienced video display problems, your time to act is running short as the recall expires in four days. AppleInsider is reporting that some lucky iBook owners are receiving more than just a new logic board with their iBook repair, to learn more read:
Briefly: iBook repair upgrades, Tiger, iTunes, iCal
Apple Offers Free Super-Sizing of iBook Repairs In an article published last month, AppleInsider ... [AppleInsider]

Apple Releases iCal Update
Apple has released an update for iCal and they have this to say about that. " iCal 1.5.5 includes improvements in iSync synchronization on computers running Mac OS X version 10.2. iCal 1.5.4 or later includes security enhancements to help protect your computer when subscribing to calendars or importing events with alarms that open files or applications." To download the update, click on the Apple in your toolbar and then select Software Update.

Desktop Search Beta Available From MSN
The desktop search tool de jour is from MSN and is available as a beta release according to PC World. In my world, grading and finals are the priority, so for the how-to click on:
MSN Desktop Search Debuts
Beta application is available as part of the new MSN Toolbar Suite. [PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories]

Google is Going to the Library
Soon you will be able to Google the contents of some of the largest libraries in the land according to the story carried by CNET and just about every other news organization:
Google adds major libraries to its database
Search giant plans to begin converting the holdings of leading research libraries into digital files that would be searchable online. [CNET News.com]

Open Source Updates/ Security Bulletins
Secunia has released the following updates and bulletins for these open source systems:
Gentoo update for nfs-utils
Gentoo has issued an update for nfs-utils. This fixes some vulnerabilities, which can be exploited by malicious people to cause a DoS (Denial of Service) or potentially compromise a vulnerable system. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Gentoo update for file
Gentoo has issued an update for file. This fixes a vulnerability, which potentially can be exploited by malicious people to compromise a user's system. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Red Hat update for itanium kernel
Red Hat has issued an update for the itanium kernel. This fixes multiple vulnerabilities, which can be exploited to gain escalated privileges, cause a DoS (Denial of Service), gain knowledge of sensitive information, or potentially compromise a system. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Red Hat update for kernel
Red Hat has issued an update for the kernel. This fixes multiple vulnerabilities, which can be exploited to gain escalated privileges, gain knowledge of sensitive information, cause a DoS (Denial of Service), or potentially compromise a system. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Red Hat update for ncompress
Red Hat has issued an update for ncompress. This fixes an old vulnerability, which potentially can be exploited by malicious people to compromise a vulnerable system. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Red Hat update for apache/mod_ssl
Red Hat has issued updates for apache and mod_ssl. These fix multiple vulnerabilities, which can be exploited to gain escalated privileges, gain unauthorised access to other web sites, or bypass certain security restrictions. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Red Hat update for ruby
Red Hat has issued an update for ruby. This fixes a vulnerability, which can be exploited by malicious people to cause a DoS (Denial of Service). [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Mandrake update for iproute2
MandrakeSoft has issued an update for iproute2. This fixes a vulnerability, which can be exploited by malicious, local users to cause a DoS (Denial of Service). [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Mandrake update for postgresql
MandrakeSoft has issued an update for postgresql. This fixes a vulnerability, which can be exploited by malicious, local users to perform certain actions on a vulnerable system with escalated privileges. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]

Update for Symantec
Secunia has also released an update bulletin for users of Norton Symantec and you can update your protection via the LiveUpdate option:
Symantec Windows LiveUpdate NetDetect Privilege Escalation
Secure Network Operations has reported a vulnerability in Symantec Windows LiveUpdate, which can be exploited by malicious, local users to gain escalated privileges. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]

Almost Free Stuff
I just purchased a male-to-female USB 2.0 6-foot cable for the same price that you can order one from PC Connection after rebate. Get all the details from Free After Reabate.com:
USB 2.0 Blue Illuminated Male-to-Male Cable (6-foot)
USB 2.0 Blue Illuminated Male-to-Male Cable (6-foot) $5.10 -- just 10 cents after $5 rebate -- at eCOST. eCOST charges $7.95 shipping plus a $3.95 handling fee -- but if you spend $25, eCOST may provide free shipping. Rebate expires December 31, 2004. [Free After Rebate]

The Survey Says: Open Source Has Best Quality
After four years of research the verdict is in, the judgement: Linux is plagued by fewer bugs than most software according to a report carried by CNET. The researchers found flaws in Linux code compared to other commercial program code at a ratio of 1:5. So are we five times crazier to be using anything but open source, or are we just five times lazier (and cozier).
Security research suggests Linux has fewer flaws
Four years of research by a code-analysis firm finds that the latest open-source OS beats commercial software for quality. [CNET News.com]

Ten Million Strong, And Growing
Their proudly crowing about the growing going on in the world of Mozilla, as the celebrate a landmark ten-million downloads of their free and safe browser projects. Haven't joined the crowd yet? Click on this link:

Learn About VNC
There are many ways to connect to your multiple platforms and we have been playing with them all lately in an effort to remove the clutter from the desktop. VNC is a tool multiple platform users can employ and O"Reilly MacDevCenter.com has a review/how-to on VNC:
Homemade Dot-Mac: Remote Control
Ever dreamed of having remote access to your Mac? This edition of Homemade Dot-Mac proves that having remote access, actually getting to see your screen and take control of your mouse, is a lot easier than you ever imagined. Alan Graham promises that it's quick and painless using VNC. [O'Reilly MacDevCenter.com]

Apple, Open Source, and PC Tip of the Day: Set Password
Remember that routers (wireless and otherwise) ship with a default name and password. Some routers (Belkin is one exapmle) do not even require a password initially, you only have to click on enter the preferences. Remember to reset the router name and password whenever you purchase a router or update the firmware or risk having someone else change them for you, or worse co-opt your machine and turn it into a zombie. Yesterday I logged on to my neighbors wireless router accidentently because the system was wide-open and my Airport card was enabled.

What is DRAM?
It sounds like a bad word, but according to Wikipedia DRAM is: "DRAM is a type of random access memory that stores each bit of data in a separate capacitor. The amount of electric charge stored in the capacitor determines whether the bit is considered 1 or 0. As leakage causes the charge on a capacitor to decay, the information gets lost eventually, unless the charge is refreshed periodically. Because it must be refreshed periodically, it is a dynamic memory as opposed to static memory like SRAM. Also, since DRAM loses its data when the power supply is removed, it is in the class of volatile memory devices."

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12-13-04
Security News:
Routers Leave Hole for Crackers
Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI had security expert Steve Gibson as his guest on Sunday and as usual, Steve had a plethora of good advice and is advising all router users to disable the Plug-and-Play functionality option on their router. To read more about this router security flaw visit Leo or Steve's web site. You can also check the security of your system at Steve's web site by clicking on the Shields Up security check feature.

Phishing Attempts Increase
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again seems to be the motto behind an increase in the phishing attempts according to PC World. Find out what new methods these crooks are using by reading the following article at PC World.
Phishing Scams Continue to Grow
After a drop off earlier this fall, more fraudulent Web sites are popping up. [PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories]

PC News:
More Desktop Search Tools Coming
Following the lead of Blinx, Google, X1, and our favorite Copernic Desktop Search, several big name players are preparing desktop search tools of their own. Read more about this subject at PC World.com:
Desktop Search Avalanche Set to Hit
Yahoo, Ask Jeeves, and Microsoft all plan to follow Google to the desktop. [PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories]

PC Tip of the Day: Copernic Desktop Search
Today the tip is related to the story above because I like this desktop search tool by Copernic. In fact, I like it so much that I removed the Google and Blinx Desktop programs from my PCs. I still have a few more days of the free trial from X1, but I am afraid Copernic has my business after the free trial expires. You can download this cool application from the Copernic web site, and I detected no spyware associated with it.

Mac News:
Apple iTunes Allows Payment with PayPal
The Apple iTunes Music store is making it easier for customers to pay for music they download by including PayPal as an alternative for music lovers. ActiveMac carried the following story regarding this topic:
Apple Says ITunes Music Store Now Accepts PayPal
Apple Computer Inc. on Friday said customers of its iTunes online music store can now use eBay Inc.'s online payment service PayPal to buy songs and audiobooks, becoming the second major online music store to do so. Starting Friday, purchases from Cupertino, California-based Apple's online music store can be funded via PayPal, using a credit card, bank account or a stored account balance. [ActiveMac]

NetNewsWire Is Great
I can scan through hundreds of sources and thousands of stories about the tech world every day thanks to NetNewsWire's RSS software and you can try out the light version of the same product if you visit Mac OS X Apps web site.
NetNewsWire Lite 1.0.8
NetNewsWire Lit is an easy-to-use RSS Web newsreader for Mac OS X. Its familiar three-paned interface - similar to Apple Mail and Outlook Express - can fetch and display news from thousands of different websites and weblogs, making it quick and easy to keep up with the latest news. [Mac OS X Apps]

Apple Tip of the Day: Workaround for iBook and Powerbook Problems
Today the Apple tip works for you and me; I have been experiencing this issue with my iBook after it has gone into the sleep mode, a blank screen. If your PowerBook or iBook is unresponsive after going into the sleep mode, read about the fix at MacFixIt.
PowerBook/iBook stays unresponsive after attempted wake-from-sleep (#4): New workarounds, confirmation for others
We continue to cover an issue where PowerBooks and iBooks appear unresponsive when owners attempts to wake them from sleep mode; specifically, the screens remains black or, in some cases, the lapt [MacFixIt]

Open Source News:
Computerworld has the scoop on a new version of GNOME for open source users:
New GNOME version is available for Linux users
Improvements include new file manager, ability to recognize removable storage devices and an integrated e-mail and groupwware client. [Computerworld Linux News]

Open Source Updates
Secunia has released bulletins regarding the following open source systems:
Red Hat update for imlib
Red Hat has issued an update for imlib. This fixes multiple vulnerabilities, which potentially can be exploited by malicious people to compromise a vulnerable system. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Gentoo update for phprojekt
Gentoo has issued an update for phprojekt. This fixes a vulnerability, which can be exploited by malicious people to bypass certain security restrictions. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]
Debian update for xfree86
Debian has issued an update for xfree86. This fixes some vulnerabilities, which can be exploited by malicious people to cause a DoS (Denial of Service) or compromise a vulnerable system. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]

What is CMOS?
According to Wikipedia, "In computing the term CMOS is often used to mean the non-volatile memory that stores motherboard BIOS information. This was called the CMOS RAM or just the CMOS because it usually used a low-power CMOS memory chip, powered by a small battery. The term remains common but has become a misnomer as nearly all modern computer components except the "CMOS memory" are constructed in CMOS technology. For the "CMOS", in modern computers, flash memory is usually employed. Most modern PCs have I/O addresses assigned to read or write to the CMOS memory which typically stores BIOS configuration and RTC."
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12-10-04
Editors Note: Sorry to be so blog-like, but a I have a big stack of papers to grade and a short time to get them done; the tips and the ‘what is word of the day’ will return next week. Here are some news headlines and briefs with attribution:

Microsoft Internet Explorer FTP Command Injection Vulnerability
Albert Puigsech Galicia has discovered a vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer, which can be exploited by malicious people to conduct FTP command injection attacks. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]Apple: Widget writers wanted
Company hopes possibility of winning an iPod will prompt developers to start writing small Mac programs for next version of OS X. [CNET News.com]PC-Tools.net: Why OpenOffice.org?
"There are some very good reasons to use OpenOffice.org instead of Microsoft Office, and the best reasons have nothing to do with cost of the software..." [Linux Today]How to use multiple iPods with one computer
[Apple Computer Knowledge Base Changes]

PowerBook/iBook stays unresponsive after attempted wake-from-sleep (#2): Potential causes; Workarounds
We've received an overwhelming response to a report yesterday of problems waking various PowerBook and iBook models from sleep. The problem, when manifest, causes a PowerBook/iBook to remain with [MacFixIt]Linux Kernel "sys32_ni_syscall" and "sys32_vm86_warning" Buffer Overflows
Jeremy Fitzhardinge has reported some potential vulnerabilities with an unknown impact in the Linux Kernel. [Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories]Don’t forget to listen to Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI, on the weekends from 12-3 pm 640 AM in the Los Angeles area or on the Internet feed at Leo's’s web site.
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12-9-04
Flaws in Browsers of all Flavors
Secunia is reporting browser security issues have been discovered in most browser for users of multiple platforms. The browsers effected are: Firefox, Internet Explorer, Konqueror, Mozilla, Netscape, Opera, and Safari. The flaw allows spoofing of pop-ups from legitimate sites. That is why we do not include pop-up ads here at Multiple Platforms.com/. CNET is also carrying a story regarding this issue if you don’t like the geek speak at Secunia.

GNOME Desktop Repair
Gentoo and SuSE Linux have patches available for the flaw that exist in the GNOME desktop identified early this week by Secunia according to a report in CNET. These are the same vulnerabilities we notified you of yesterday; the open source community knows how to respond to security issues, quickly.

Free Stuff: Card Reader
This freebie comes from PC Connection via Free After Rebate.com, a 3 port USB 2.0 hub and a 9 in 1 card reader for the cost of shipping only. This is a nice addition to your peripherals if you are looking for a card reader as the three USB 2.0 ports are an addition anyone can use.

Apple Tip of the Day: Use Expose Within an Application
Today the tip is located at the Apple Pro Tip of the Week site and involves using Expose within an application, the trick is to use F10 to utilize the power of this application when buried in another program.

PC Tip of the Day: Customize Your Mouse and Pointer
Following up on this weeks theme of customizing your PC, visit Microsoft’s Support site to learn the tricks you can use to make your mouse and pointer more user friendly.

What is an I/O Port?
According to Wikipedia, “Nearly all processor families use the same assembly instructions for both memory access and hardware I/O (see memory-mapped I/O for details). However, Intel microprocessors have assembly instructions (IN and OUT) that are used specifically for hardware I/O. These instructions figure out which hardware device to communicate with using the concept of an I/O port or machine port. These ports are numbered based on which hardware device they refer to.Intel microprocessors generally allow one octet (byte) to be sent or received during each instruction. The hardware device decides how to interpret data sent to it and what data to send to the processor. For example, a common use is to ask a hardware device which byte (in a data transfer) it will be sending next.”
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12-8-04
Feeding Frenzy
In an ironic twist and somewhat like sharks in a feeding frenzy, adware (AKA spyware) competitors are working to knock each other out in the ever-increasing process of tracking computer surfer’s habits. According to CNET, the rivals are even including code to eliminate the other company’s ads as the battle escalates.

Spyware Killer
If you have tried everything and the kitchen sink to rid your PC of spyware, PC World has an article with advice and links for a free removal tool, HijackThis. Make sure you read this article before attempting to use this tool to avoid making a bad situation worse.

More Reasons to try Thunderbird
Mozilla.org has released their email client, Thunderbird 1.0 and MacWorld lists several good reasons to switch to the latest open source offering including the better security and HTML is rendered by Mozilla rather the Internet Explorer, making your mail viewing safer.

Open Source Tip: Slackware
Slackware is another open source choice available at LinuxISO.org and they have this to say about the distro: “Description: Since its first release in April of 1993, the Slackware Linux Project has aimed at producing the most "UNIX-like" Linux distribution out there.”

PC Tip of the Day: Background Change
You can change the desktop background on your Windows PC via the control panel. To learn the secrets of changing the background, visit Microsoft’s Support site.

Apple Tip of the Day: Dock Your Favorite Web Site
You favorite web site can be a click away if you place it in your dock. Open your web browser and surf to the site you would like to save, like Multiple Platforms.com, then triple-click on the URL and drag it to your Dock on the Trash side of the dividing line. When you want to visit the site next time, you can just click on that icon in the Dock and surf away.

What is a Network Port?
Yesterday we featured a hardware port and today the spotlight is on the definition of a network port, and Wikipedia has this on that, “A network port is an interface for communicating with a computer program over a network. Network ports are usually numbered and a network implementation like TCP or UDP will attach a port number to data it sends; the receiving implementation will use the attached port number to figure out which computer program to send the data to. In TCP and UDP the combination of a port and a network address (IP-number) is called a socket: e.g. the list of well-known ports (computing)."

12-7-04

Screensaver Hides Trojan
Scammers are now hiding a Trojan horse within a Lycos antispam screensaver and it is currently spreading in Europe through email. This attack has a key-logger that steals all your keystrokes and the scammers are capitalizing on the Lycos Europe antispam campaign by riding the wave of publicity surrounding Lycos recent efforts, according to CNET.

Thunderbird 1.0 is Ready
Mozialla.org has announced the availability of Mozilla Thunderbird 1.0 email client. The press release from Mozilla states: “Thunderbird focuses on new features and settings to help stop spam and prevent viruses, the two biggest problems facing email users today. Mozilla Thunderbird follows last month's highly successful release of Mozilla Firefox 1.0 that has been downloaded by over nine million users.” I haven’t had a chance to check out Thunderbird, if you test drive this email client, let us know if you like it.

Are Gamers Bogging Down the Net?
According to an Internet traffic watcher, Xbox Live has been responsible for a quadrupling of net traffic post-Halo 2 introduction. According to the report in CNET, the net watchers are urging ISPs to take notice and prepare for further increases in the future as these games become available globally.

Some Internet Problems After Apple Update
I have installed the 2004-12-02 Security Update on our G3 and G4 Macs and have experienced no ill effects, but MacFixIt reports the same is not true for all Mac-heads. Internet connectivity problems seem to be the most troublesome and if you are experiencing the same you can visit MacFixIt for workaround for this issue.

Free Stuff: Belkin Surge Master
For the cost of shipping ($5) you can get a Belkin 7-Outlet SurgeMaster from CompUSA. To learn more about the details visit Free After Rebate.com/.

PC Tip of the Day: Personalize Start Menu
Windows XP users can configure the Start Menu and task bar to contain programs they commonly use. Other alternatives include using the Quick Launch bar or placing a shortcut icon to your favorite program on the desktop. The Microsoft Support site has directions on how to use any or all of the above and serves as Multiple Platforms.com tip of the day.

Apple Tip of the Day: Dock It, Matey
Before I install an update on my Macs, I always repair the Disk Permissions a process initiated from Disk Utility and the latter is buried in the Utilities folder that is snuggled into the Applications folder. I finally got tired of all that digging and chose to keep it in the Dock on all our Macs. To keep an application in the Dock, just click on the icon in the Dock after the program is opened and select Keep in Dock. I always repair disk permission after installing the update also, so it is handy to keep it Docked.

Open Source Updates
Secunia has released security bulletins for Mandrakelinux 9.x to 10.1 (1, 2, 3,4, 5) and for Gentoo Linux 1.x (1, 2, and 3).

What is a Port?
A port can be a place to dock your ship, something you drink after dinner, or according to Wikipedia it could be, “A hardware port is an outlet on a piece of equipment into which a plug or cable connects. For instance, most home computers have a keyboard port, into which the keyboard is connected. Hardware ports can almost always be divided into two groups: Those that send and receive one bit at a time via a single wire are called serial ports, and those that send multiple bits at the same time over a set of wires are called parallel ports.”

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12-6-04

It Makes You Wonder Who’s Googling Who
The most popular search on Google just might be you based on a article in PC World. Who is Googling you? The research firm found that 23 percent the surfers interviewed Googled the other people in their lives including the boss, employees, and clients.

New Mac Update: Thumbs Up
Most of the reviews for the latest update from Apple, Security Update 2004-12-02, has received mostly positive comments according to MacFixIt; the source for Apple issues. We have installed the update without issues on G3 and G4 Macs. Remember to repair disk permissions before and after installing the update. To access repair disk permission, open your Utilities program located in your Applications folder, then choose the Utilities folder and select Disk Utility; then choose the drive that you will be installing the update to and select the Repair Disk Permissions button.

This Pear is a Peach
The PearPC project is an effort to emulate the Mac OS X environment on a PC and it really works. You can learn more about this effort and read an interview with the developers at Mac DevCenter. I am playing with PearPC currently and will update you on how this tool can aid Multiple Platform users.

Almost Free Stuff: Motherboard
FreeAfterRebate.com has a scoop on the motherboard perfect for someone building their first PC, and the mobo is just $9 after rebates. Get the rebate forms and the links to Newegg.com by visiting the FreeAfterRebate.com web site.

PC Tip of the Day: Add TweakUI to Control Panel
TweakUI used to be added to the Control Panel in Windows 98, but that is no longer the case with Windows XP. To learn how to add TweakUI to the Control Panel in XP, visit the Windowsitpro.com web site.

Apple Tip of the Day: Slow Expose
If you hold the shift key down and press every key available, you can find some neat short cuts, but today the tip is a cool effect. Press and hold the shift key and then select F9, Expose will slowly shift to the alternative view, release the function key and it the open applications will return in slow motion

Blog on Linux Gazette
Open source bloggers can post their work directly to the Linux Gazette forum by visiting the web site for the post from Friday regarding this issue. If your blog material is good, you could be promoted to the front page.

What is Expose?
According to Wikipedia “In Mac OS X, Exposé is a tool for managing open windows (especially large numbers of windows), allowing the user to quickly see all open windows (or specific sets) without the need to click through many windows to find a specific target.
Exposé has three different modes using different criteria to organize the windows:

1. Exposé can show all open and unhidden windows, shrinking their appearance so they all fit on a single screen. By default, this can be activated using the F9 key.

2. Exposé can show all open and unhidden windows for the currently active application. Again, the windows shrink to appear on the screen together, but generally, they shrink less because there are fewer windows in a single application compared to the system as a whole. (See screenshot, right.) In the default preferences, this can be activated using the F10 key.

3. Exposé can move all windows off the screen, giving the user clear access to the Desktop. In the default preferences, this can be activated using the F11 key.

In the first two cases, after Exposé is activated, the user can select any window by clicking on it or selecting it with a keyboard-driven cursor and pressing Enter. Exposé then deactivates, leaving the selected window in the foreground.

The key used for activating Exposé can be customized to be any of the function keys, the shift, control, option or command key, the fn key on PowerBooks and iBooks, or even a mouse button on multiple-button mice.”

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12-3-04
New AppleUpdate Available
Apple has released Security Update 2004-12-02 for the Panther and Jaguar operating systems. According to Apple, ‘This update includes the following components: Apache, AppKit, HIToolbox, Kerberos, Postfix, PSNormalizer, Safari, and Terminal’ applications. As usual, I’ll monitor MacFixIt and other sites and keep you informed about any conflicts or other issues that might occur after installing this update.

Do You Blog?
If you have not started blogging and you use MSN, you might want to check out the latest offering from Microsoft for the bloggers. According to CNET, MSN Spaces is being available free to MSN Hotmail users. If you do not know what a blog is, read the ‘What is of the day’ below.

New Email Client
Mozilla.org has released a new free email client, Thunderbird 1.0 Release Candidate. Remember when using a Release Candidate program, you are living on the cutting edge, and you could risk loosing important bookmarks or files. If you would like to try a free stable email client, opt for Thunderbird 0.9. You will also find downloads for browser alternatives including Firefox, Mozilla, and Camino.

Open Source Updates
The following open source systems have update available according to Secunia: SuSE Linux 8.x to 9.1, Fedora Core 1/2 (1,2,3), Conectiva Linux 9 (1,2,3), FreeBSD 4.x/ 5.x, Debian GNU/Linux 3.0/.

What is a Blog?
The word just added to the Webster Dictionary is our word of the day; and according to Wikipedia, a blog is ‘A weblog, or simply a blog, is a web application which contains periodic, reverse chronologically ordered posts on a common webpage. Such a Web site would typically be accessible to any Internet user. The term "blog" came into common use as a way of avoiding confusion with the term server log.
Blogs run from individual diaries to arms of political campaigns, media programs and corporations, and from one occasional author to having large communities of writers. Some are maintained by single authors, while others have multiple authors. Many weblogs allow visitors to leave public comments, which can lead to a community of readers centered around the blog; others are non-interactive. The totality of weblogs or blog-related websites is usually called the blogosphere.
The format of weblogs varies, from simple bullet lists of hyperlinks, to article summaries with user-provided comments and ratings. Individual weblog entries are almost always date and time-stamped, with the newest post at the top of the page. Because links are so important to weblogs, most blogs have a way of archiving older entries and generating a static address for individual entries; this static link is referred to as a permalink. The latest headlines, with hyperlinks and summaries, are offered in weblogs in the RSS or Atom XML-format, to be read with a feed reader.’

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12-2-04

Microsoft Releases Explorer Update
Microsoft has released a cumulative security update for Internet Explorer today and you should download and install it if you are still using IE as your primary browser. The bulletin released by Microsoft states that this patch is critical and you read the details in Microsoft Security Bulletin

Popular Topics

Archive of December Tech News (in reverse chronological order)

12-31-04

Update Available for AVG AntiVirus

New Information on 1406 Error Messages While Installing iTunes

Virtual New Year’s Eve

Alternative to Knoppix is a Parallel

Apple Pro Speakers Slowing Startup

Free Tech Support

Apple Tip of the Day: See Your Cookies

PC Tip of the Day: Clear Cookies

What is a CPU Cache?

Happy New Year!!!

12-30-04

Help Tsunami Victims

High School Student Shift Gears at Web Site and Help Tsunami Victims

New Information on 1406 Error Messages While Installing iTunes

New Threat to PC - Phel is No Help

Take Our Survey

Update for Ad-aware SE

Apple Tip of the Day: Close the Cookie Jar

PC Tip of the Day: Control Cookies

What is a Cookie?

12-29-04 US Bank Hoax Circulates

Accessories Galore for Your iPod

Use iPod as Backup Device

Hard Drive Installation of Knoppix

Open Source Updates

Apple Tip of the Day: Block Pop-Up Windows

What is a Pop-Up?

12-28-04 Santy Worm Shifts Target

More On OS X Update From Apple

Best Choice for iPod Case

Free Tune From Apple

Advice for New PC Owners

PC Tip of the Day: Home Page Change, too

Apple Tip of the Day: Choose Where that Download Goes

What is the Home Page?

12-27-04 More Reasons To Install SP 2 Updates

Amazon.com Loves iPod

Use PowerPoint to for Collage

Free iPod Stories

PC Tip of the Day: Browser Advice for New PC Owners

What is Peripheral?

12-24-04 Face Lift and New Engine

Mozilla E-Mail Program Review

New Opera Browser Talks, Just Like Mister Ed

Apple Will Patent iPod Technology

Listen To The Tech Guy and Learn

What is DLP?

12-23-04 Google Fights Back

More Problems Reported With OS X 10.3.7 Update

Turn Your iPod Into Remote Control Device

New Music Service Targets Open Source Customers

Open Source Updates

Apple Tip of The Day: Translation With Sherlock

PC Tip of The Day: Translations for PCs

What is Bluetooth?

12-22-04 Who’s Fooling Whom?

Nature is Tech Person of the Year

Blinding You With Science

Open Source Tip: Get Those Last Minute Cards Done

Apple Tip of The Day: Hide the Dock

PC Tip of The Day: Backup or Restore Registry

Open Source Security Updates

What is the Registry?

12-29-04
US Bank Hoax Circulates

12-28-04
Santy Worm Shifts Target

12-27-04
More Reasons To Install SP 2 Updates

12-24-04

Face Lift and New Engine

12-23-04
Google Fights Back

12-22-04
Who’s Fooling Whom?