Tech News Archive in reverse chronological order
3.31.05
Phishers Ply New Waters
While phishing attacks via email declined in February, security experts noticed an increase in phishing attempts using instant messaging software. According to the report carried by CNET, the phishers attacking victims through IM programs lure users to a phony web site then try to extract sensitive information; do not follow links you view in IM, instead open a new web browser and type in the domain name of the site you wish to visit.
Microsoft Begins Crackdown on Pirates
According to PC World, “Microsoft will require users who want to download local language add-ons to Windows to first validate their copy of the operating system as legitimate.” This is the first step by Microsoft in their efforts to stem what they perceive as a piracy problem. Microsoft has named this new piracy protection tool the “Windows Genuine Advantage”; advantage to Microsoft without a doubt.
Symantec: Yes Flaws Exists in Anti-virus Software
After spending the week trashing the security of Apple’s OS X, Symantec has acknowledged there are problems with their anti-virus software. The flaw was detailed in this column yesterday and can allow crackers to initiate denial-of-service attack against your PC according to CNET. If you are using Norton Antivirus, use LiveUpdate to download the patch from Symantec.
Microsoft Provides Video Downloads To Go
According to PC World, Microsoft has a new service aimed at users of Windows Mobile-based devices. MSN Video Downloads will offer clips from the entertainment world and television programs from Microsoft partners CinemaNow, MSNBC.com, and TiVo.
Review: Mac Mini as Home Media Center
It is possible to use a Mac Mini for your home media center and the MacMegasite has a first look at how the newest member of the Apple family performs. The author details the setup and provides links to the peripherals and software used with the project. The bottom line, it works and the bugs will disappear as more developers release products for this market niche.
No Las Vegas Comdex 2005
Organizers are unable to rebound from the one-year hiatus of the Comdex trade show and have announced there will not be a Comdex 2005 this November in Las Vegas. If you want to catch a Comdex show, book a flight to France or Greece as these events are still scheduled to take place according to PC World.
Open Source Updates
Secunia released these updates for open source users: Fedora (1, 2, 3), OpenBSD, Gentoo, Red Hat (graded highly critical), and Debian.
Apple Tip of the Day: Catalog Your Library
Booxter is a cool tool I used last weekend to begin cataloging my non-virtual library. You can use the tool free to catalog a small library (under 30 books) or you can purchase the full version for $14.99. I was interested in cataloging and establishing the textbooks I have accumulated for my field of study (Biology) and the books from my hobbies. The application allows you to record where you have the books located and if you have the ISBN or Library of Congress number, you will have access to an incredible amount of information. For instance, the program provides you with a value for books when available; I was astounded to learn that my collection of textbooks alone is worth $2000! This could be a valuable tool in the event of a catastrophic event and could provide you with proof of ownership for insurance purposes.
PC Tip of the Day: Tablet PCs Are For Road Warriors
In keeping with the wireless topic of the week, Tablet PC users who travel are the targets of the PC tip of the day. Microsoft provides advice for road warriors and they even provide tips on backing up before you start.
What is IrDA?
According to Wikipedia, “The Infrared Data Association (IrDA) defines physical specifications communications protocolstandards for the short range exchange of data over infrared light, for uses such as personal area networks (PANs).”
3.30.05
Another Day, Another 98,000 ID’s Ripped Off
If it’s Wednesday, it must be the University of California at Berkeley’s turn to announce another incident of identity theft. Not satisfied with just keeping up the trend, UC Berkeley topped the records set by CSU Chico and Boston College last week. Much like the other incidents, a significant period elapsed before officials deemed it necessary for the victims to be informed according to a report by CNET. In a related story also carried by CNET, Senator Dianne Feinstein has introduced legislation that will make victim notification mandatory anytime personal information has been accessed by unauthorized sources.
Should a CD Last Forever? Add Your Two Cents Worth
How long should your optical discs last? Although CDs can last longer than some other forms of recordable media, there is a finite life span and that can be shortened considerably depending upon how you store and use the discs. According to a story in CNET, you can add your two cents to this debate by participating in a survey sponsored in part by the U. S. government.
Supreme Court Spends Time Pondering Virtual World
The U. S. Supreme Court spent a considerable amount of time pondering the future of the virtual world as they listened to arguments for and against peer-to-peer file sharing software and considered the future of broadband access according to reports from PC World. Decisions on these matters will be released latter this year.
Open Source Updates
Secunia has these update and security bulletins for the open source world: Debian (1, 2), Fedora (1, 2, 3 –Highly Critical), FreeBSD, Mandrake, Red Hat, and SuSE.
Apple Tip of the Day: Manage Multiple Photo Library
If you use more than a single photo library Rick Neil’s free Photo Buddy could be the solution to your conundrum and this utility functions with iMovie and iDVD too. The tool receives high marks from reviewers (4.6 out of 5 stars) and you can download the application at the VersionTracker web site.
PC Tip of the Day: Battle the Bulge When Ripping CDs
If you are ripping a multitude of CDs to your Windows PC, you might want to visit Microsoft’s support site to learn about your options. You can configure your imports to limit the size of the files you are ripping, or if you want to preserve maximum sound quality and hard drive space is not an issue, you can increase the Kbps to capture the best sound quality available from the CD.
What is Bluetooth?
You can develop a sweet-tooth for Bluetooth and Wikipedia has the following definition, “Bluetooth is a wireless radio standard primarily designed for low power consumption, with a short range (up to 10 meters [1],) and with a low-cost transceivermicrochip in each device.
It can be used to wirelessly connect peripherals like printers or keyboards to computers, or to have PDAs communicate with other nearby PDAs or computers.
Cell phones with integrated Bluetooth technology have also been sold in large numbers, and are able to connect to computers, PDAs and, specifically, to hands free devices. BMW was the first motor vehicle manufacturer to install hands free Bluetooth technology in its cars, adding it as an option on its 3 Series, 5 Series and X5 vehicles. Since then, other manufacturers have followed suit, with many vehicles, including the 2004 Toyota Prius and the 2004 Lexus LS 430. The Bluetooth car kits allow users with Bluetooth-equipped cell phones to make use of some of the phone's features, such as making calls, while the phone itself can be left in a suitcase or in the boot/trunk, for instance.
The standard also includes support for more powerful, longer-range devices suitable for constructing wireless LANs.
A Bluetooth device playing the role of "master" can communicate with up to seven devices playing the role of "slave". At any given instant in time, data can be transferred between the master and one slave; but the master switches rapidly from slave to slave in a round-robin fashion. (Simultaneous transmission from the master to multiple slaves is possible, but not used much in practice). These groups of up to 8 devices (1 master and 7 slaves) are called piconets.
The Bluetooth specification also allows connecting two or more piconets together to form a scatternet, with some devices acting as a bridge by simultaneously playing the master role in one piconet and the slave role in another piconet. These devices have yet to come, though are supposed to appear within the next two years.
Any device may perform an "inquiry" to find other devices to which to connect, and any device can be configured to respond to such inquiries.
Pairs of devices may establish a trusted relationship by learning (by user input) a shared secret known as a "passkey". A device that wants to communicate only with a trusted device can cryptographicallyauthenticate the identity of the other device. Trusted devices may also encrypt the data that they exchange over the air so that no one can listen in.”
3.29.05
Microsoft to Legacy Operating Systems: Oops
Via a post on discussion boards, Microsoft notified Windows 98/ 98SE, and Windows ME users of a flaw contained in the patch issued during January 2005. According to a report from CRN, the company has confirmed the problem and is working on a solution. If you are having slow down issues or hanging issues while using Internet Explorer, you should probably uninstall the last update.
Hold That Thought
Legal worries will quash a virus-writing contest initiated after Symantec’s self-serving claims regarding threats to Apple users. A bad idea started looking even worse when it appeared that the organizers could be in violation of the law. According to ZDNET, the company responsible for the ‘contest’ claimed that it wasn’t done as a publicity stunt, and in that spirit, we will not identify them and I will not include a link to their business. Symantec’s continued crowing this week is helping their publicity drive as more news reports are carrying the story about this ‘threat (see TLR 3.26.05)’. Ironically, Secunia announced Symantec’s product Norton is vulnerable to a Denial of Service attack from a malicious remote user (AKA Crackers). Maybe the security giant should focus on their current line of products instead of trying to drum up future business. The bottom line here is, OS X has been out for four years and has yet to be attacked and when Tiger is released, the crackers will have to start over.
Pre-Order Tiger and Save $35
You can pre-order Apple’s new operating system Tiger from Amzon.com and save $35. Please help support this web site by using the link below to order the latest release from Apple. I am still trying to cover the costs incurred for this web site over the past year and your support will be appreciated.
Pre-order Tiger Save $35Open Source Updates
Secunia released the following update or security bulletins for open source users: Fedora (1, 2), Red Hat (1, 2, 3), Gentoo, Conectiva, Sun Solaris, Ubuntu, and Linux Kernel.
Apple Tip of the Day: Capture Screen to Clipboard
Apple users can capture screens using the Grab application or they can use the Apple.com Pro Tip from last week. If you press Shift- Control- Command- 3 (or 4) you can capture the screen image to the Clipboard. The author uses this for pasting screen shots into Photoshop.
PC Tip of the Day: Move Your Music to Your Portable Device
Secunia announced a DOS flaw exists in Norton’s AntiVirus software and if you use this product as your anti-virus protection, use LiveUpdate to install the new patch ASAP.
What is WPAN?
Wikipedia has this definition for WPAN, “A wireless personal area network (WPAN) is a personal area network (PAN) that uses radio rather than wires.”
3.28.05
Grokster Prepares for Date With the Supreme Court
In a battle many within the industry feel could have far reaching affects, the United States Supreme Court will hear the case of MGM vs. Grokster. Grokster created a software package that allows computer users to share files (AKA peer to peer software or P- to –P). Insiders in the computer world like Leo Laporte, and industry watchers like PC World are closely watching this case because of the future implications a decision favoring MGM could initiate; read more about this issue in the item below.
Knight in Shining Armor Arrives for Grokster
Billionaire Mark Cuban announced he would be riding to the rescue of Grokster, the peer-to-peer software company. CNET reports that Cuban will play the part of a knight in shining armor and supply the funding for the legal defenses incurred by Grokster in the a battle Cuban fears could result in the death of technological innovation.
Not All File Sharing is Bad
To demonstrate the positive effects of file sharing, The Fingerprint Sharing Alliance (FSA) will share data on crackers in real time. CNET reports that this group will not only share information but also communicate any attacks on their servers immediately in an effort to limit the impact of coordinated Internet attacks. The FSA includes communication giants like Earthlink, MCI, Cisco, British Telecom, and others.
Sleepy Macs Continued
MacFixIt continues to report problems with Apple computers that are reluctant to wake from the sleep state. The work around is to unplug all external devices before putting your Mac to sleep; this sounds like a major hassle, and I hope Apple addresses the situation soon. Instead of putting a Mac to sleep, I think it might be easier to shut down and restart unless your start up time is excessively long. If the latter is a problem for you, Mac guru John Gruber has been exploring a problem with extremely long login times at his web site, Daring Fireball.
New Release of Gentoo Available
The wait is over as Gentoo released their latest version of Gentoo Linux 2005.0/. The update contains security updates and package upgrades according to DistroWatch.
Open Source Updates
Secunia released bulletins for the following open source systems: SuSE (1), Slackware, and Gentoo (1, 2, 3, 4).
Multiple Platforms’ Tip of the Day: Stop Blocking Your Wireless Signal
The tip of the day relates to the topic of the week for the Multiple Platforms What Is section, the world of wireless networking. According to the PC World’s March 2005 issue, you can block your wireless signal if you surround your wireless router with CDs. Much like a Faraday cage, the metallic substances within the CD can deflect the signal. PC World is an excellent magazine and their web site carries many of their reviews and articles.
What Is a WLAN?
This week the ‘what is’ section will focus on the words of wireless. Wikipedia provides this definition for wireless LAN: “A wireless LAN or WLAN is a wirelesslocal area network that uses radio waves as its carrier: the last link with the users is wireless, to give a network connection to all users in a building or campus. The backbone network usually uses cables.
WLAN is expected to continue to be an important form of connection in many business areas. The market is expected to grow as the benefits of WLAN are recognized. Frost and Sullivan estimate the WLAN market to have been 0.3 billion US dollars in 1998 and 1.6 billion dollars in 2005. So far, WLANs have been installed in universities, airports, and other major public places. Decreasing costs of WLAN equipment has also brought it to many homes. However, in the UK the exorbitant cost of using such connections has so far limited use to airports' Business Class lounges, etc. Large future markets are estimated to be in health care, corporate offices and the downtown area of major cities. New York City has even begun a pilot program to cover all five boroughs of the city with wireless Internet.
Originally WLAN hardware was so expensive that it was only used as an alternative to cabled LAN in places where cabling was difficult or impossible. Such places could be old protected buildings or classrooms, although the restricted range of the 802.11b (typically 30ft.) limits its use to smaller buildings. WLAN components are now cheap enough to be used in the home, with many being set-up so that one PC (a parent's PC, for example) can be used to share an Internet connection with the whole family (whilst retaining access control at the parents' PC).”
3.25.05
Phishers After Yahoo IM Users
CNET reports that phishers are looking toward Yahoo’s IM users in the never-ending quest to rip us off. Yahoo is warning their customers that phishers are issuing messages with links to bogus web sites that resemble an official Yahoo site. The message initiated by a phisher appears to come from a known contact; the unsuspecting victim is then asked to enter their user name and password and the phishers catch another live one in their net. Yahoo states that the attacks are not widespread but recommend IM users exercise caution when revealing sensitive information. It is always better to open a new browser and type in the company’s domain name if you need to exchange security-sensitive information.
Banks Must Reveal Security Problems
New regulations based upon interpretation of an old act (the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act) make it mandatory for financial institutions to reveal security breaches to their customers. According to CNET, if “an incident of unauthorized access to sensitive information” occurs the bank needs to make every “reasonably possible” effort to notify their customers in a timely manner; however, this act does not cover other breaches of sensitive information like those that occurred at Boston College and California State University, Chico. In the case of the latter, several weeks elapsed before notifications of the breach were distributed. I can tell you from personal experience that it only takes a matter of hours for an un-authorized person to max out your credit card, and delaying notification of security breaches should result stiffer penalties; like the assumption of all financial losses incurred because of the incident and a monetary fine.
Update for iPod
Apple has released an update for the iPod’s software, iPod Updater 2005-03-23. According to Apple, the update will provide support for the iPod Camera connector and update slideshow transitions. Click on the Apple logo in your toolbar and select Software Update to download and install this update.
Update for iPod
Apple has released an update for the iPod’s software, iPod Updater 2005-03-23. According to Apple, the update will provide support for the iPod Camera connector and update slideshow transitions. Click on the Apple logo in your toolbar and select Software Update to download and install this update.
Listen To The Tech Guy and Learn
Leo Laporte is The Tech Guy on KFI and he answers your questions about all things digital on the weekends from 11 am to 2 pm. You can listen to Leo live in the Los Angeles area on AM640 or catch the Internet feed by visiting Leo’s web site and then clicking on the KFI logo.
Open Source Updates
Secunia has released bulletins for the following open source systems: Fedora (1, 2), SuSE (1, 2), Gentoo, and Red Hat (1).
Multiple Platforms Tip of the Day: Favorite Web Sites
The following are some of our favorite (and helpful) web sites: Overclockersclub.com/, MacFixIt, Leoville.tv/, iPodLounge, MacWorld, and PC World.
What is Universal Serial Bus?
We end the week with the familiar bus standard, USB and Wikipedia provides this definition, “Universal Serial Bus (USB) provides a serialbus standard for connecting devices, usually to a computer, but it also is in use on other devices such as set-top boxes, game consoles and PDAs.
A USB system has an asymmetric design, consisting of a host controller and multiple devices connected in a tree-like fashion using special hubdevices. There is a limit of 5 levels of branching hubs per controller. Up to 127 devices may be connected to a single host controller, but the count must include the hub devices as well. A modern computer likely has several host controllers so the total useful number of connected devices is beyond what could reasonably be connected to a single computer. There is no need for a terminator on any USB bus, as there is for SCSI and some others.
The design of USB aimed to remove the need for adding separate expansion cards into the computer's ISA or PCI bus, and improve plug-and-play capabilities by allowing devices to be hot swapped or added to the system without rebooting the computer. When the new device first plugs in, the host enumerates it and loads the device driver necessary to run it.”
3.24.05
Security Update for Firefox is Important
The update for Firefox (1.02) addresses critical issues affecting the browser according to reports from CNET and Secunia; the latter has graded this flaw as ‘highly critical’. You should upgrade the browser ASAP to avoid any attacks from crackers. Once the pathway to your PC has been published, crackers begin exploiting the defect and you and your computer could be at risk.
Apple Compromises on Lawsuit
MacWorld is reporting that a settlement has been reached between Apple and one of those accused of ‘leaking’ Apple’s soon-to-be-released operating system, Tiger. The accused issued an acknowledgement and apology for his actions and Apple got to look somewhat compassionate and issued a statement expressing the company’s pleasure in putting this part of their legal action to rest. I honestly believe Apple benefits tremendously from these rumor sites and if Steve was paying attention, he could borrow a page from the political world and ‘arrange’ for these sites to have even better (dis) information.
Update for OnyX
I have been using OnyX for several weeks and with the exception of one problem (self-inflicted, I assure you), it has been a useful tool for system maintenance. Apple.com is featuring this application and they supply a link to download the tool; current users of this program should update the application.
OpenOffice 2.0 Reviewed
PC World has reviewed OpenOffice 2.0/, the free open source office application and they give the new package a positive review. If you are looking for a replacement for Microsoft Office, you should check out this review from PC World. I have used OpenOffice 1.x and found it to be as good if not better than Office for some tasks. Check out the Multiple Platforms how-to article by clicking here (05/01/04).
Skype Offers More Tools for PC Users
I love Skype and soon Multiple Platforms will have a phone number that you can use to contact us with your questions and comments. I have wanted to add a phone number to my contact information to lend a degree of legitimacy to this site, but the high cost has restricted my ambition. However, Skype’s service is affordable and I think this could pave the way for many small businesses to extend their customer base. I hope that Skype will offer toll free numbers in the future. CNET featured Skype in an article published yesterday extolling the virtues of the new features available for PC users.
Open Source Updates
Secunia released updates or security bulletins for the following open source systems: Fedora (1, 2–Graded: Highly Critical), Red Hat, and SuSE.
Apple Tip of the Day: Must Have Applications for Macs
Third-party applications are an excellent way to add to your Apple experience and listeners of Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI have compiled list of must-have applications for Mac-heads.
PC Tip of the Day: Must Have Security Applications
The PC tip of the day regards must have security applications according to Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI; visit Leo’s web site for recommendations and links to security software that Leo likes.
What is Futurebus?
What will the new computer bus standard be? According to Wikipedia, “Futurebus (IEEE 896) is a computer bus standard, intended to replace all local bus connections in a computer, including the CPU, memory, plug-in cards and even, to some extent, LAN links between machines. The effort started in 1979 and did not complete until 1987, and then immediately went into a redesign that lasted until 1994. By this point everyone involved lost interest, and Futurebus saw little use.”
3.23.05
Microsoft Unveils New Update Delivery
A free program from Microsoft will allow customers more flexibility in how they receive their updates according to a report from CNET. Microsoft Update will give PC users a complete update package, but if you prefer receiving Windows and Office updates separately, Microsoft will continue those services as well.
Is Firefox Safer Than Internet Explorer?
If you listen to the president of the Mozilla Foundation, Firefox won’t have as many security issues as Internet Explorer, but CNET quotes him as saying, “There is nothing that will be perfect.” Security experts claim that open source systems will become targets as they become more popular. These same security experts are singing a similar song about Apple’s OS X operating system. Could it be that these security experts are hoping that you can be frightened into buying their products? The problem is, many of the conflicts I hear about and help solve involve the same security systems that are supposed to be providing users with protection, but instead seem to deal up large doses of frustration.
Update On Apple’s Patch
MacFixIt reports that Apple has removed the Security Update 2005-003 for Mac OS X Server probably because of a conflict with Cyrus mail service. This was an issue reported on yesterday by MacFixIt and we cited that article in this column. Another annoyance experienced by some Apple users after updating is connectivity issues using Safari.
Mozilla Browser Update
Mozilla 1.7.6 is now available for Mac-heads and the latest release includes several security fixes that make the update worthwhile. You can visit Apple’s web site to learn more or surf directly to http://www.mozilla.org/.
Is Linux Safer than Microsoft?
When you are conducting a study for Bill Gates, you design the experimental to demonstrate what the big-guy wants to show-off, or you will probably be looking for a new job. According to a report from ComputerWorld (and no surprise), the researchers found just what the head of Microsoft wanted to hear: Windows Server 2003 did not have as many security problems as Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES 3 based on research sponsored by Microsoft. Okay, that is one system of many that Microsoft beat, what about the rest of the server systems?
Open Source Updates
Secunia announced updates for these open source systems: Debian, Red Hat (1, 2, 3, 4), Fedora, and Sun Java.
Apple Tip of the Day: Get Rid of the Startup Blues
Occasionally Apple users experience the startup blues and a good defensive strategy is to know what to do before the blues hits you. To learn what steps you can take before being hit with a calamity, visit MacFixIt for their tutorial on the startup blues.
PC Tip of the Day: How to Work at Home
If you want to quit commuting and start working from home the PC tip of the day is for you; Microsoft has suggestions on how you can work from home using your PC and Windows software products. To learn more about configuring and using Remote Desktop Sharing, visit the Microsoft support site.
What is Front Side Bus?
Wikipedia has this definition: “Front Side Bus (FSB) is the term used to describe the CPUdata bus. This bus carries all information that passes from the CPU to other devices within the system such as RAM, PCI expansion cards, hard disks, etc.
On older computers where the L2 cache was not integrated into the CPU, the back side bus connects to the L2 cache, and using this was faster than accessing the RAM via the front side bus. With modern CPUs having L2 cache on the processor die itself, this bus no longer exists, as the CPU's cache is simply checked for the appropriate data before a read request is issued to main memory.”
3.22.05
Virus Writers: Show Me The Money
The target of 54 percent of the worst crack attacks was your identity and the aim of those crackers is your money according to Symantec. In a report carried by CNET and a continuation of the thread started yesterday, it appears that crackers greed is overtaking their egos and that this trend of targeting personal information will continue until holes in web servers (another of the increasingly popular targets) are patched.
Apple Releases Update for OS X
Mac users have a new update available, Apple Security Update 2005-003 and according to MacFixIt, a few conflicts are associated with the update are being reported. The issues include server problems, printer sharing difficulties, and Hotsync failures with Palm users. CNET is carrying a story on the specifics of the update from Apple and if you want to learn more about the technical aspects of the update you can surf to Secunia or Apple. Remember to follow the procedures recommended by MacFixIt. I actually skip their suggested step of booting from the CD. Here is the method I use: Disconnect Firewire devices; log out and restart (I don’t have any applications configured to launch at startup, but if you do first disable those programs from your Accounts Preference panel: System Preferences/ Accounts/ Your Admin account). Next follow this path: Applications/ Utilities/ Disk Utilities and then repair disk permissions. After the repair process is complete, close the program and access the update by clicking on the Apple logo in your toolbar and selecting Software Update. After installing the update and restarting, again repair your disk permissions. You should now be updated safely; as usual, you might want to wait for 5-7 days before installing the update to insure that there aren’t any conflicts with this latest fix.
Camino Update for Apple
Mozilla has released an update for Mac-heads, Camino 0.8.2/. MacWorld reports that the update fixes some flaws that caused stability issues and allows for easier bookmark importing. Visit Mozilla.org to download the latest version of this free browser for Macs.
Survey Says: Apple Will Increase Market Share
Based on a survey published by Morgan Stanley, Apple could increase their market share of desktop computers to 5 percent due to the popularity of the iPod. According to the article in CNET, the iPod is seen as the impetus for the conversion of PC users to Mac-heads. The article does not state if these PC users are complete converts, or just joining the growing ranks of Multiple Platforms users. Apple is currently soliciting recent converts to share their stories and if that describes you, visit the Apple web site.
Thunderbird Users Should Update
If you are using Mozilla’s Thunderbird version 1.x or 0.x/, you should upgrade to the latest release Thunderbird 1.0.2 according to Secunia. The security company is suggesting this update based upon the discovery of a ‘drag and drop vulnerability’ graded ‘less critical’. To update to the latest version you can click here.
Novell Releases Small-Business Open Source Package
Novell has announced the release of a Linux package designed for small businesses according to a report from CNET. The package will retail for $475 for five computers and should be available after March 31. The package is a bargain at that price and comes complete with Novell Linux Desktop for PCs, server software for email management and more. I received a complimentary package of this software but I have had very little time to work with it. It certainly struck me as a complete package.
Open Source Updates
Secunia has released bulletins for the following open source systems: Debian, Gentoo, Mandrake, Trustix, and Red Hat (1, 2, 3).
The Source for Open Source
The question comes up on a regular basis when tech geeks gather: where can I get the latest release of an open source platform? I have found that one of the best sites for open source distributions is DistroWatch.com/. This site has links to the latest distro releases, packages, and reviews of the same. It is a virtual one-stop shop for open source users.
Multiple Platforms’ Tip of the Day: Use Skype and Talk Free
I tried out last weekend and the audio quality is amazing! It truly is a Multiple Platforms application and is available for PCs, Linux, and Apple. According to the Skype web site: “Skype is free Internet telephony that just works. Skype is for calling other people on their computers or phones.” To learn more about Skype visit their web site. ZDNet UK has a story regarding the free VoIP service provider and they give a positive review; you can also check out The Skype Journal, a web site dedicated to this topic.
What is the Back Side Bus?
According to Wikipedia, “The back side bus is a computer bus used to connect the CPU with the L2 cache. The back side bus is found within the processor and speed is determined by the processor.”
3.21.05
Number One Threat to the Internet: Phishing
Phishing attacks are the number one threat to Internet safety and they have increased by 64 percent this year according to Symantec. Software issues are another favorite target of crackers and have increased during the second half of this year according to a report from PC World. Meanwhile, the number of zombie computers has declined to less than 5000 a day after reaching a high of 30000 computers a day in July.
PlayStation Portable Popular Topic
The hot topic for the week is the release of Sony’s PlayStation Portable (PSP) but according to reports from CNET and elsewhere, you might have a tough time finding this new tech toy. The official release date is Thursday, but many of those being shipped have been pre-sold by retailers and if you order a PSP now you won’t see your player until next month. If you can’t wait, try eBay and if you opt for the Japanese version you can save some serious cash.
Google Library Project Online
Slashdot reports that the Google Print project has started to release their online library and you can access Oliver Twist (starting on page 11) and other stories. Before you sell all the books in your personal library though, you might want to read the following news item regarding the computer and learning.
Do Computers Help or Hinder Learning?
Contrary to popular opinion, using a computer may actually hinder students trying to master science, math, and English according to a study cited by The Register. The research also found that if a household contained 500 books or more, the student typically performed at a higher level than those homes with fewer than 500 books. Sorry, technical manuals for your electronic toys and comic books do not count toward the 500 books total. There is speculation amongst the researchers that part of the problem with computers use associated with learning is the distractions provided by today’s computers; you could test this theory by following the lead of others and block IM ports and apply parental filters.
Mac Safer for Now
We all know of the security woes that have been plaguing the Microsoft users of the world and Mac-heads have become accustomed to not worrying about worms and viruses. However, the tech headlines today warn of a possible change to come. A report from Zdnet Australia (via Yahoo News) and featured by MacNN states that security giant Symantec has identified a trend of Macs becoming a target of crackers and malware; and the company claims there are 37 critical issues in Apple’s OS X system. The Zdnet article has a link to one of the vulnerabilities Symantec is referring to and it is the same flaw reported on in February by eWeek and in this column.
Open Source Update
Secunia released updates or security bulletins for the following open source systems: Conectiva, Gentoo (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), Red Hat (1, 2), Linux Kernel 2.6, Fedora, and Ubuntu.
Multiple Platforms’ Tip of the Day: Get a Gmail Account
I have 50 Gmail invitations to share with readers of Multiple Platforms.com and if you would like a Gmail account all you need to do is send me an email to http://mailhide.recaptcha.net/d?k=01_CYdbG3G8Bh7MdskTeTP0w==&c=pKEf2yrBRdKaLmzwt1ln6WdZae-yMxuGo0u42mijLo8=/ and include the phrase: I want a Gmail account. I will extend invitations to the first fifty emails I receive and all I ask in return is for you to tell your family and friends about Multiple Platforms.com/. For more information on Gmail, you can visit Google’s web site.
What is the Computer Bus?
This week the Multiple Platforms ‘what is’ section will focus on the bus and Wikipedia has this definition for computer bus, “In computer architecture, a bus is a subsystem that transfers data or power between computer components inside a computer or between computers. Unlike a point-to-point connection, a bus can logically connect several peripherals over the same set of wires.
Early computer buses were literally parallel electrical buses with multiple connections, but the term is now used for any physical arrangement that provides the same logical functionality as a parallel electrical bus. Modern computer buses can use both parallel and bit-serial connections, and can be wired in either a multidrop (electrical parallel) or daisy chain topology, or connected by switched hubs, as in the case of USB.”
3.18.05
Boston College and California State University, Chico Data Bases Compromised
I actually learned of the cracking of the California State University, Chico (CSUC) data- base straight from the horses’ mouth several days ago and now CNET is carrying a story on the issue. As a graduate student, and employee of the university I can state with a high degree of certainty that these events are occurring far to often as this is the second breach of security at our school in the past several years. Our IT personnel state that no evidence suggests the crackers were after personal data and to that we answer: SO WHAT!!! According to CNET, the crack at BC occurred when a virus attacked a call center computer and again the college maintains that there is no evidence crackers were after the social security numbers and other personal information contained within the database; some how there assurances fail to fill me with optimism.
Screen Savers Ex-Host Starts Blog
According to The Laporte Report, Patrick Norton, the ex-host (and one of the best-ever) has responded to the challenges of his fellow tech geeks (Leo Laporte, Kevin Rose, and Yoshi) and started his own blog, Patrick Norton.Slamdance Industry. It is just a few lines but it is a start! Speaking of Leo, don’t forget to listen to The Tech Guy On KFI this and every weekend from 11 am to 2 pm PST live in the Los Angeles area on AM640 or via the Internet feed; just click on the KFI logo.
Multiple Platforms’ Tip of the Day: Passwords That Are Tough on Crackers
In case you missed our tip (see Multiple Platforms tip 3.04.05) on the Firefox extension that creates safe passwords, you can learn about the suggestions from Microsoft on this subject by visiting the Microsoft support site.
What is a Password?
According to Wikipedia, “A password is a form of authentication which uses secret data to control access to a resource. The password is kept secret from those not allowed access, and those wishing to gain access are tested on whether or not they know the password and are granted or denied access accordingly. The use of passwords goes back to ancient times. Sentries guarding a location would challenge for a password. They would only allow a person in if they knew the password.
In modern times, passwords are used to control access to protected computer operating systems, mobile phones, cable TV decoders, automated teller machines (ATMs), etc. A typical computer user may require passwords for many purposes, including logons to computer accounts, retrieving email from servers, accessing databases, networks and web sites, even reading the morning newspaper online.
Password use is often depicted in fiction, Illya Kuryakin 'proving' his identity to the U.N.C.L.E. security door with a code word, or Harry Potter giving a password to a magic painting to enter his dormitory.
Despite the name, there is no need for passwords to be actual words; indeed passwords which are not actual words are harder to guess (a desirable property). Note that password is often used to describe what would be more accurately called a pass phrase. Passcode is sometimes taken to imply that the information used is purely numeric, such as the personal identification number (PIN) commonly used for ATM access. Passwords are generally short enough to be memorized.”
More News:
Now You Tell Us
A day later and millions of dollars late we now find out that:
Greenspan should have removed the punch bowl
Do you remember the dot-com bubble? Take a trip down memory lane with newly-released documents from a 1999 Fed meeting. [CNET News.com]
Would Spam Stop if We Could Just Begin:Cleaning spam from swapping networks
Researchers think computers that "gossip" with each other are key to filtering out ads--and piracy-fighting decoys--on P2P networks. [CNET News.com] Be Careful When Trying to
Hack Your Mac MiniMac Mini Hacks
The Mac Mini is opened with a Putty knife as instructed by Apple however this method is leaving peoples Mac Mini in damaged conditions in many cases including scratches, seperation gaps and other...
[[ Visit http://www.macmegasite.com for full article ]] [MacMegasite]
More On Mac Mini--Noisy Hard Drive: Mac Mini: Hard drive "clunking" (#3) Firmware Update coming from Seagate; APM solution; more
We continue to cover a distinct 'clunking' noise emanating from the Mac mini, which involves persistent, intrusive interruptions in system responsiveness accompanied by a noise that can best be de [MacFixIt]
PC World Tried It, Should You Buy It?
Tested: 64-Bit P4
Intel hops on the 64-bit desktop bandwagon with new Pentium 4 CPUs. These chips are fast, but AMD's Athlon 64 FX retains the speed crown. [PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories]
Everyone Keeps Trying So:
Can IRiver Become an IPod Killer?
Company hopes its digital audio players will lure users away from Apple. [PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories]
Gone in Sixty Seconds
RFID crack raises spector of weak encryption
With a bit of technical acumen and a few hundred dollars, thieves could steal some late-model cars and gas them up for free, according to research published by security experts at the Johns Hopkins University and RSA Security Inc. [Computerworld News]
Global Warming Not a Hoax
This is not a subject normally featured at Multiple Platforms.com, but I am a biologist and this is no hoax:
Sea levels likely to rise 25cm this century
Next century will be wetter and hotter, according to new studies on global warming from National Center for Atmospheric Research. [CNET News.com]
3.17.05
Tech News Lite
The tech news is on the light side today and that is good news for computer users everywhere. Check out our podcast from yesterday to learn how you can receive a Gmail invitation. Click on the podcast logo below or to subscribe to our podcast add this URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/Multipleplatforms
Free Apple Loops
The MacMegasite carried an announcement from MacJams.com regarding the release of 100+ free Apple loops that you can use with GarageBand and Logic. The loops are packaged as Tune-up Mini and can be downloaded after you register. I haven’t had a chance to check out these loops yet, so caveat emptor.
More for Mac
Apple will now allow iPod accessory vendors to display a “Made for iPod” logo for products developed for the popular music player for a small fee according to a report carried by the Mac Observer. How small? How about ten percent of the wholesale price, and if you don’t like it, chances are you won’t ever find a spot on the Apple Store web site for your product. Cha-ching…
Open Source Updates
Secunia released bulletins for the following open source systems: Gentoo (1, 2), Mandrake, Conectiva, SuSE, Fedora, and Red Hat.
Konqueror Spoofing Flaw
Secunia has another announcement of interest to the open source world concerning a ‘less critical’ flaw with Konqueror version 3.2.2 and version 3.3.1. /. They recommend not following links from untrusted sources, a rule most open source users already adhere to.
Multiple Platforms’ Tip of the Day: Cross-platform Use and Office
If you want to learn more about cross-platform use of Microsoft’s Office then the Multiple Platforms’ tip of the day from Microsoft today’s how-to article on using Office with Multiple Platforms is for you. Surf over to the Microsoft support site for this helpful lesson.
What are Cross-platforms?
Wikipedia has the following explanation for cross-platform, “A cross-platform (or platform independent) programming language, software application or hardware device works on more than one system platform (e.g. Unix, Windows and Macintosh). Examples of cross-platform languages are C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Perl, Python, Tcl, Erlang and REALbasic.
Most computer languages in their pure sense are cross-platform - as a high-level, human readable way to instruct a CPU there is no need to strongly depend on any particular operating system. However, to do things such as create a GUI using the system widget set a program links to libraries, which may be particular to the developer's system. Although C++ itself is cross platform, a program written in for Windows using the Win32 API would normally not compile on a Unix computer. There are often also differences in how compiler writers interpret a language specification, in this case a program may require some attention before it be built on multiple systems.
Some programming languages such as Java were designed from the start to work on any platform that has a suitable virtual machine. Languages which use bytecode as the compiled representation or which interpret scripts directly do not need to be compiled for any particular operating system. Native libraries of the operating system are not linked to by the distributed code; rather the run time environment reimplements much of the same functionality, or provides a common bridge to similar functions on different systems. It is possible to create Java programs, which only run on a particular system, either by using JNI or by running a bytecode-to-machine code compiler; this is not necessary for most tasks.
Providing and testing compiled versions of a program for every OS and CPU is practically impossible, so projects which are open source or otherwise allow the user to compile their own object code could be said to be more cross-platform. Likewise, languages that are interpreted or otherwise require a virtual machine are more cross-platform where individuals can compile their own. Hotspot, Sun's Java virtual machine is provided only as compiled binaries, with support for several, but not all, platforms. For example, Sun only support GNU/Linux on the i386 architecture - anyone running Linux on PowerPC or SPARC computers cannot use Java without compiling to native machine code or using third party tools.
Many APIs are platform specific. OpenGL can be said to be cross-platform because it is not tied to any particular operating system, CPU architecture or brand of graphics hardware. Platform specific APIs may be recreated on other systems as a compatibility layer, such as the WINE library that allows programs requiring windows libraries to be used on UNIX.
There are also cross-platform extensions and middleware for many programming languages that enable programmers to compile/run the same source code with minimal fixes on different platforms. Examples include Qt and wxWidgets.”
3.16.05
Ready or Not, Safer Computer Coming Soon
The move toward safer computing is on as most of the major PC builders will begin delivering computers with ‘trusted computing hardware’ that will prevent crackers from accessing “security sensitive applications” according CNET. Unfortunately, Microsoft will not implement the software required to utilize this safety feature until the release of long-delayed Longhorn. The companies responsible for the development of this module concluded that if it were a problem of the ‘chicken and egg’ variety, they would take the lead and release the hardware sans Microsoft support.
Divorce and Moving Less Stressful than a Virus
The BBC has an interesting report on the stress-level caused by a computer virus and how little prevention most IT personnel exercise on a system-wide basis. According to those interviewed, the stress caused by a computer virus was similar to the emotional distress caused by divorce, separation, and moving; yet, only a small segment of those surveyed had complete protection in place and often left notebooks used outside the office completely unprotected.
Start Your Own Blog
Yahoo has jumped on the blogging bandwagon and is offering you a chance to start your own blog and the price is right: free. You can read more about it in CNET or just sign-up for a Yahoo ID and you are on your way to joining the blogosphere; try it, you will like it!
Thirty-two FAQs About iPods
The Apple Computer Knowledge Base has a list of the 32 most frequently asked questions regarding the iPod. The number one question is: Is iPod compatible with my computer? Answer: most of the time, the answer is affirmative. The most FAQ for Multiple Platforms users: “I have both a Mac and a PC. Will my iPod work on both?
Answer: No, not at the same time. iPod is configured for either Mac or PC. You can use the iPod Software Updater utility to restore iPod to work with a Mac or a PC (depending on which version of the utility you use). See "Restoring iPod to factory settings" for more information. iPod shuffle is an exception in that it is formatted as FAT32 and can work with both a Mac and a PC without reformatting.” Therefore, the iPod Shuffle is a Multiple Platforms users best friend!
Open Source Updates
Secunia released these updates for open source users: Linux Kernel (1, 2), Fedora, Gentoo, and Mandrake (1, 2, 3).
PC Tip of the Day: Home Networking Starter Course
If you need a starter course on home networking, Microsoft can provide you with a starting point and this tip is beneficial to Multiple Platforms users. Learn the basics of home networking by visiting the Microsoft support site.
Apple Tip of the Day: Setting up Small Ethernet Network
Mac-heads will benefit from the above tip and can learn more about setting up a small ethernet network by surfing to the Apple support site.
What is Partitioning?
According to Wikipedia, “In computer engineering, hard disk drive partitioning is the creation of logical divisions upon a hard disk that allows one to apply operating system-specific logical formatting.
Disk partitioning is a simple technique, which can be viewed as a precursor of Logical volume management.
More than one operating system can be executed or installed in a single computer, without partitioning (LiveCDs, keydrives or a second hard disk unit with a bootable media that jumps to the second hard disk).
For UNIX-based and UNIX-like operating systems, fancy partitioning creates separate partitions for /, /boot, /home, /tmp, /usr, /var, /opt and swap. This ensures that if one file system gets corrupted, the rest of the data (the other file systems) stay intact, minimizing data loss. This has the disadvantage of subdividing the drive into small, fixed-size partitions, so, for instance, a user can fill up their /home partition and run out of useable hard drive space, even though other partitions still have plenty of free space. A good implementation requires the user to predict how much space each partition will need; sometimes a difficult task. Typical desktop systems use the other convention; a "/" (root) partition containing the entire filesystem and a separate swap partition.”
3.15.05
Phishing and Zombies Continued
Yesterday we reported on tech items regarding pharming and today the same thread continues with reports from CNET regarding zombie computer networks that have been identified thanks to the work of the Honeynet Project. In another related item from CNET, banking sites may be at risk due to a cross-site scripting flaw that could allow phishers to redirect web site visitors to their phony phishing sites. These stories are very similar to those we reported on yesterday (see Monday’s tech news below).
FTC Closes Phony Anti-Spyware Software Maker
The FTC has closed down a software maker that claimed to help remove “nonexistent computer spyware” according to CNET. The company that sold the product Spyware Assassin used pop-up ads that claimed the user computer was infected with spyware and claimed that their software could restore the computer to a clean state, a condition that already existed in many cases according to the FTC.
Apple Sneaks in Restrictions with iTunes Update
MacNN reports that Apple has included new restrictions on iTunes users within the latest update, iTunes 4.7.1/. According to the story, after installation of the update iTunes users sharing is limited to five unique computers daily regardless of any copyright protection (like Apple’s FairPlay Digital Rights Management AKA: DRM). This is another error on Apple’s part in my mind and another reason to begin looking at other alternatives for music listening. I can see where Apple feels that it has the right to block ‘too many’ users from accessing an individuals iTunes songs that are protected by Apple’s DRM, but to block you from sharing the other music within your iTunes library goes to far. I honestly feel that the entire DRM is becoming a deterrent to the Apple experience. If I am not mistaken, Apple is charging me a fee to buy the song and I should be free to use that song just as I can do if I purchase a CD at the local mall. When I purchase that CD at the mall, I am entitled to use it on my personal music player and even make a copy of the same for my own personal use. Now Apple is trying to restrict this right because I have chosen to use Apple’s iTunes as my music player, is that right? I think it sucks… I hope the bigwigs at Apple readjust their thinking caps and correct this restriction on the use of what we consumers have purchased, and have a legal right to use.
Microsoft Has New Import Tool Available
Microsoft has released an oft-requested tool for Mac users, .PST Import Tool for Mac. This tool will allow Mac-heads to import their files from Outlook 2001 into Entourage 2004 according to a story carried by MacCentral. To download the free tool you can visit the Microsoft support site.
Mac Users Get Doom 3 First!
The PC gamers of the world will be shocked as they are forced to watch their Mac brethren load up Doom 3 weeks before it will be available to them according to a report from CNET. A storied about the release carried by MacCentral states that Aspyr Media Inc. plans to release the game by March 19, 2005 and MacCentral has benchmarks on the game available at their web site.
Shuffle in Style
I just stick my iPod Shuffle in my shirt pocket or wear it under my shirt when necessary, but if you would like a shirt with a pocket designed especially for your Shuffle surf over to the MacDailyNews and check out their story on the latest fashion trend. Beware: MacDailyNews presents you with a pop-under ads; I forgot to remove them from my RSS feed subscriptions and got another annoying ad. Come on MacDailyNews, you don’t need to do this to your visitors! Removal process started, good-bye MDN…
Open Source Updates
Secunia released update or security bulletins for these systems: Fedora, Debian, SuSE, and Conectiva.
Debian on Mac Mini
If you want to use your Mac Mini for a server, this author has provided a great tutorial at Macminihacks.org/. You will find a well-done package of information including links to supported software, screen shots of the installation process, and a wealth of helpful how-to tips for using you Mac as a server.
Apple Tip of the Day: Safari Tune-up
Continuing on the item from yesterdays news regarding Safari and connectivity issues, MacFixIt has additional suggestions for solving the conflicts in Safari post-installation of Apple’s update 10.3.8; the solution is to install a previously recommended application Safari Enhancer. This tool allows you to disable Safari cache and alleviates the problem. I already use Safari Enhancer, which might explain why I didn’t experience this particular issue; although I had another connectivity issue that was system-wide and not browser specific that I corrected using Preferential Treatment to search for corrupt .plist files.
PC Tip of the Day: Which File System is Best for Gamers: Fat32 or NTFS?
PC owners that game and use Windows XP will find this article helpful when deciding which file system is best for gaming. The author’s findings may surprise you, the file system that best serves gamers will work for power users too, and the verdict is: NTFS.
What is FAT?
Wikipedia provide this definition for FAT, “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.”
3.14.05
Phishers Turn to Pharmers
The newest term to add to your geek-speak repertoire is pharming (see the definitions from Wikipedia below) and according to a report in Wired, the newest wave of scammers is scooping up victims in large volumes. The fraud involves redirecting victims from a legitimate web site to a bogus site that attempts to extract sensitive information from the unsuspecting visitor. The fake web sites are often very realistic-looking according to Wired. You shouldn’t follow links provided in an email message or from web sites to banks and financial institutions without verifying the URL. If you feel that the message might be legitimate, open a secure browser (like Firefox) and type in the domain name of the business in the address bar. A new virus circulating can reportedly compromise this method too, I’ll provide more details as they become available.
Netscape Returns
Netscape 7.2 has been released and according to PC World several of the new features may be useful for PC users that have yet to migrate away from the still venerable Internet Explorer. Tab browsing, a Quick Launch option that allows fast access to the Internet and more are features included in the latest release.
Safari Connectivity Fix
If you have been experiencing connectivity issues with Safari post-installation of Apple’s 10.3.8 update, MacFixIt has a work around available. Apparently, the conflict occurs because of a cache folder corruption and by making the cache inaccessible, you can correct the problem.
Give Stuck CD the Boot
I had this problem last week: a CD was stuck in my iMac and I couldn’t get it to eject. I remembered that holding the mouse button down while booting causes the CD to eject and I watched with relief as the tray slid open when I re-started. If that would have failed, there are other methods available and MacMerc provides four options in their Power User Monday Tip of the Week.
Open Source Updates
Secunia released these updates for open source users: Gentoo (1, 2, 3), and Red Hat.
Multiple Platforms Tip of the Day: Tutorial on Identifying Phishing Scams
The Multiple Platforms tip of the day comes from Microsoft and is in the form of a tutorial to educate us on identifying and controlling phishing attacks. Visit the Microsoft support site to view this tip.
What is Phishing?
According to Wikipedia, “In computing, phishing is the fraudulent acquisition, through deception, of sensitive personal information such as passwords and credit card details, by masquerading as someone trustworthy with a real need for such information. It is a form of social engineering attack. (See an example.)
The term was coined in the mid 1990's by crackers attempting to steal AOL accounts. An attacker would pose as an AOL staff member and send an instant message to a potential victim. The message would ask the victim to reveal his or her password, for instance to "verify your account" or to "confirm billing information". Once the victim gave over the password, the attacker could access the victim's account and use it for criminal purposes, such as spamming.”
What is Pharming?
Wikipedia supplies this definition, “Pharming is the exploitation of a vulnerability in the DNS server software that allows a hacker to acquire the Domain Name for a site, and to redirect traffic to that website to another website. DNS servers are the giant computers that "run" the Internet.
If the website receiving the traffic is a fake website, such as a copy of a bank's website, it can be used to "Phish" or steal a computer user's passwords, PIN number or account number.
For example, in January 2005, the Domain Name for a large New York ISP, Panix, was hijacked to a site in Australia. In 2004 a German teenager hijacked the eBay.de Domain Name.”
3.11.05
Say It Isn’t So
PC World is reporting that Mozilla will stop developing the Mozilla browser suite and concentrate on their Firefox and Thunderbird applications. Mozilla is our favorite browser and I had been testing beta versions of Mozilla 1.8.x/. Bummer!
Why VoIP Won’t Work Here, Reason Related to Late Post Today
I have broadband Internet service provided by Comcast and while it has been reliable for the most part, the service was down for seven hours this morning and that is a long stretch to last without the Internet; to be without a phone during that same stretch would not work in this household. Yes, we have cell phones that seem to be far less reliable than our cable company, so they wouldn’t be much help a backup to VoIP. The price and options are attractive, but the dependability is still suspect given the limitations of broadband.
Multiple Platforms Tip of the Week Will Return Next Week
Help, I’m running out of original ideas for these daily tips; do you have a great tip you would like to share? I will gladly provide you with attribution if you so desire. Send your tip to http://mailhide.recaptcha.net/d?k=01_CYdbG3G8Bh7MdskTeTP0w==&c=pKEf2yrBRdKaLmzwt1ln6WdZae-yMxuGo0u42mijLo8=/.
More On Pop Under Ads
MacDailyNews is including pop under ads when you access their web site. I just wanted to clarify that issue leftover from last week’s news. I don’t like this new tactic, do you? I think I’ll unsubscribe their web site from my RSS reader, NetNewsWire.
Leo Laporte, Digital Deity
Listen to the Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI this and every weekend from 11 am to 2 pm PST live in the Los Angeles are on AM640 or catch Leo’s show via the Internet feed by clicking on the KFI logo.
What is a LAN Party?
Hey it is Friday and the perfect day to provide a definition from Wikipedia for LAN Party, “A LAN party is a temporary, sometimes spontaneous gathering of people together with their computers, which they connect together in a local area network (LAN) primarily for the purpose of playing multiplayercomputer games.
These LANs come in various sizes, from the very small (2 people) to the very large (4000+ people). Small parties can form spontaneously, but large ones usually require a fair amount of planning and preparation on the part of the organizing team.
Many parties offer various tournaments, competing in such games as Quake III, Warcraft III, Counter-strike, Unreal Tournament, and the Doom series, sometimes awarding prizes to the winners, as well as counting for standings in national and international gaming leagues, such as the WWCL. There are regular events, such as Quakecon, in which the very best players from around the world compete against one another, much like in popular sports.
The duration of the event is not standardized; many organized parties last for a weekend, while there have also been longer and shorter parties. In particular, small, spontaneous parties often last for only minutes to hours.
Big LAN parties often offer a quiet place to sleep, showers, catering, alternative entertainment (such as music) and a dedicated support crew, as well as a professionally managed network including a connection to the Internet.
Gaming clans, groups of gamers that often play in team games such as Counter-Strike, often use these gatherings to meet one another, since they typically play together over the Internet between parties with little real-world contact. Their goal is often to win tournaments.
While being in the minority, and usually discouraged or forbidden by the party organization, some attendees also use these parties for the purpose of copyright infringement (often trading copies of software, music, and movies). It also provides a forum to show off case mods, and other technical wizardry.
There are also other kinds of parties where temporary LANs are built, but which are not commonly referred to as a "LAN party" alone; amongst these are demo parties such as Assembly, hacker conventions such as DEF CON, and freestyle events such as the Burning Man.”
3.10.05
More Sensitive Information Compromised
Last week we learned that ChoicePoint had failed miserably in their duties to protect the public from unscrupulous attacks by phishers posing as legitimate businesses, and now PC World is reporting that another breach of trust has occurred. LexisNexis has announced (with regret) that 32,000 people may have had their sensitive information compromised after crackers infiltrated the company’s database. The company is in the process of notifying affected customers.
Spinning Your Wheels
Every Mac owner has experienced it at least once, the dreaded spinning wheel and that sinking feeling that your Apple is now doing its’ PC imitation; to help you avoid that issue in the future MacFixIt has a tutorial available on different strategies to prevent the wheel of misfortune. Some of the remedies include increasing your RAM, decreasing the clutter on your hard drive, and removing troublesome .plist files using a cool tool called Preferential Treatment. I tested the latter and found one corrupt .plist file that could have been causing conflicts with Internet connectivity (a recurring issue that has affected all my browsers).
Free Firewalls
PC World has the links to ZoneAlarm Free 5.5 and Sygate Personal Firewall v4.01/. I have not yet tried the latter, but I am currently using the former. Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI recommends the Sygate Personal Firewall. The best protection you can provide for you and your computer is a router, it provides you with NAT protection although they are not free, the are well worth the money.
Some Office 2004 Users Can’t Update
According to MacFixIt, some Apple-ites haven’t been able to download and install the latest update from Microsoft, Office 2004 11.1.1/. If the update goes south, a “verification failed” message is displayed or a “Gathering Information” window appears before the computer freezes. Some users are reporting that using the “Check for Updates” option available in the Help menu of Office 2003 will remedy this malady.
Open Source Updates
Secunia announced that SuSE (HIGHLY CRITICAL) and Fedora have security of update bulletins available.
Multiple Platforms Tip of the Day: External Hard Drives
The easiest way to back up you computer is with an external hard drive. I am using a Maxtor 200 GB One Touch Firewire/ USB 2.0 and it has been a lifesaver more than once this week. I back up my iMacs and iBook and sync the computers using the external hard drive and RsyncX. To find the right external hard drive for your needs read the reviews from CNET, MacWorld and PC World. You should definitely opt for Firewire if you have that capability built-in to your computer. You can also build an external hard drive using a hard drive enclosure and I hope to bring you a how-to article on that issue when finances allow. If you do not have an external hard drive, back up your computer to CDs or a DVD.
What is a Mini-ITX?
Wikipedia has this definition for Mini-ITX, “Mini-ITX is a form factor for computer cases and motherboards developed by VIA Technologies. Mini-ITX is compatible with ATX and Mini-ATX but significantly smaller, as the motherboard dimensions are only 170mm by 170mm. Most of the commercially available motherboards in this form factor use considerably less power than most normal computer systems. Processors for Mini-ITX motherboards are often embedded, unlike other motherboards, which provide a socket for a separately sold processor. In some cases, the heat generated by these systems can be mitigated through passive cooling, such that a fan is not necessary. Systems like these are often ideal for the use in home theater systems, where the noise generated by a computer (in particular, the cooling fans) can detract from the cinema experience.
In March2001, VIA released the reference design for the ITX motherboard, with dimensions of 215mm x 191mm. However, the ITX specification did not catch on, as manufacturers leaned towards the FlexATX design, about 15mm longer in length. In October, VIA announce their decision to create a new motherboard division. In order to remain competitive over the FlexATX design, they decided to focus on low-cost, embedded systems. The result was the November release of the Mini-ITX reference design.
Today, Mini-ITX is used by hobbyists to build not only embedded computers, but also to build computers in nearly any object that will house it. Hollowed out vintage computers, humidors, toys, electronics, a guitar, and even a 1960s-era toaster have become homes to relatively quiet, or even silent Mini-ITX systems, capable of many of the tasks of a modern desktop PC. Facade Computer is an example of a company founded on this concept.
The design and form factor of the Mac mini seem to derive in large part from the Mini-ITX concept.”
3.09.05
MSN Messenger Users Targeted by New Worm
A new worm is targeting MSN Messenger users according to a report from PC World. The worm is named Bropia and is infecting computers using the instant messaging application from Microsoft. The message with the new virus reads: "lol! see it! u'll like it," and has a link to a file called "omg.pif".
More On Hot iMacs
MacFixIt has received more reports on G5 iMacs and overheating issues. The web site is reporting more than a dozen confirmations of heat related problems for new iMac owners.
Open Source Updates
Secunia has released the following bulletins for open source systems: Debian, Fedora (HIGHLY CRITICAL), and Conectiva.
Multiple Platforms Tip of the Day: Backup Tools
I am constantly reminding you to backup you systems and the Multiple Platforms tip of the day includes links to free applications to help you backup your computers. A great tool for Mac-heads is RsyncX available at MacUpdate. I’ve used this tool daily to backup and sync my iMacs and iBook. PC users can use a free tool recommended by PC World, SyncBack v3.2.4/. I’m in the process of trying the application currently, but the review in the February PC World is positive for this free program.
Backups Can Save The Day
I wrote the Multiple Platforms tip of the day for a reason; the same reason the tech news is somewhat brief, in my zeal to test new applications available I inadvertently cleansed my main iMac too much using an application named OnyX. This is not meant to be a slam against the aforementioned tool, but exercise caution when using the cleaning function. I’m still not sure which option I shouldn’t have used, but the result was an iMac that wouldn’t start. I was able to boot up to my external hard drive within minutes, but restoring the iMac was not as swift and I’m still not back, to where I was last night. Remember, before toying with new applications have a backup of your system ready; and test that readiness by booting up to that backup! The podcast may again have to be delayed because of this temporary set back.
What is a Graphic Card?
According to Wikipedia, “A graphics card or video card is a component of a computer which is designed to convert a logical representation of an image stored in memory to a signal that can be used as input for a display medium, most often a monitor utilising a variety of display standards. Typically, it also provides functionality to manipulate the logical image in memory.
As was in the past, many graphics cards are separate devices, attached to a PCmotherboard via the ISA, PCI, VESA, or AGPbuses, with recently-introduced PCI Express expected to be prominent in the future.
Increasingly, however, the graphics card is no longer a "card" in the strictest sense, but is an integrated section of the motherboard dedicated to the same purpose. Integrated-graphics- y.displays usually have inferior 3D performance compared with dedicated graphics cards (due to using cheaper chipsets and sharing system memory rather than using dedicated memory); those who require high performance still prefer non-integrated solutions. Integrated graphics displays have gradually become more common since the mid 1990s as advancing technology makes them more practical. Anyone using their computer for office tasks, web browsing, email and such things will be fine with an integrated graphics chip.
The most powerful graphics hardware, usually geared towards 3D graphics for games, is still card-based. Their processing engines are sometimes called GPUs (graphics processing units). The longterm goal of graphics cards manufacturers (and game developers) appears to be real-time photorealistic rendering. New products and technologies are often touted to provide "Hollywood quality" - 3dfx used claims of movie-quality effects to promote their Voodoo 5 cards with T-Buffer technology, allowing motion blur, depth of field and full screen anti-aliasing effects. nVidia talked about "The dawn of cinematic computing" when introducing its GeForce FX chip with the Dawn technology demo. Others use the new technology for more impressive, but unrealistic rendering, such as cel shading.
Conversely, sometimes 3D-graphics capabilities are not relevant to the choice of high-performance graphics card; 2D graphics and fine visual-quality fill specialized niches in areas such as medical imaging.”
3.09.05
MSN Messenger Users Targeted by New Worm
A new worm is targeting MSN Messenger users according to a report from PC World. The worm is named Bropia and is infecting computers using the instant messaging application from Microsoft. The message with the new virus reads: "lol! see it! u'll like it," and has a link to a file called "omg.pif".
More On Hot iMacs
MacFixIt has received more reports on G5 iMacs and overheating issues. The web site is reporting more than a dozen confirmations of heat related problems for new iMac owners.
Open Source Updates
Secunia has released the following bulletins for open source systems: Debian, Fedora (HIGHLY CRITICAL), and Conectiva.
Multiple Platforms Tip of the Day: Backup Tools
I am constantly reminding you to backup you systems and the Multiple Platforms tip of the day includes links to free applications to help you backup your computers. A great tool for Mac-heads is RsyncX available at MacUpdate. I’ve used this tool daily to backup and sync my iMacs and iBook. PC users can use a free tool recommended by PC World, SyncBack v3.2.4/. I’m in the process of trying the application currently, but the review in the February PC World is positive for this free program.
Backups Can Save The Day
I wrote the Multiple Platforms tip of the day for a reason; the same reason the tech news is somewhat brief, in my zeal to test new applications available I inadvertently cleansed my main iMac too much using an application named OnyX. This is not meant to be a slam against the aforementioned tool, but exercise caution when using the cleaning function. I’m still not sure which option I shouldn’t have used, but the result was an iMac that wouldn’t start. I was able to boot up to my external hard drive within minutes, but restoring the iMac was not as swift and I’m still not back, to where I was last night. Remember, before toying with new applications have a backup of your system ready; and test that readiness by booting up to that backup! The podcast may again have to be delayed because of this temporary set back.
What is a Graphic Card?
According to Wikipedia, “A graphics card or video card is a component of a computer which is designed to convert a logical representation of an image stored in memory to a signal that can be used as input for a display medium, most often a monitor utilising a variety of display standards. Typically, it also provides functionality to manipulate the logical image in memory.
As was in the past, many graphics cards are separate devices, attached to a PC