May Tech News Archive in reverse chronological order

5.31.05

When is it Spyware?

According to PC World, prompted by threats of legal action, anti-spyware companies are delisting companies that claim their product is legitimate adware, not to be confused with spyware. To that we say: BALONEY! If it resides on your computer and generates advertisement I really don’t care what name you give it, I don’t want it and want to have the option of removing it. Having said that I can understand the position of anti-spyware makers, particularly those that offer their services to PC people at no charge. The best defense in this case might be a strong offense and that would include a team that includes several anti-spyware applications; make sure you include Microsoft’s Windows AntiSpyware product in that mix.

Portable Pain in the…

First we learned that the heat generated by laptops are harmful to our health and now CNET is reporting that notebooks are also creating pains in other places, including your wrists and neck. Most of those reporting problems have been using their portables for a desktop replacement and the juxtaposition of the keyboard and screen cause the discomforts that in the worst cases require medical attention. Read more about the aches and pains of portability at CNET:

Is your laptop a pain in the neck?

Notebook PCs may be convenient, but they're also an ergonomic nightmare. In addition, more and more people are discovering that the hard way. CNET News.com

Stats for May: Browser Results

The percentages leave little doubt and the visitors today are unlikely to change the top ten results for browsers used in the month of May while visiting Multiple Platforms.com:

61%  Microsoft Internet Explorer

13%  Firefox

9.2%  Safari

5.5%  unknown

4.6%  NetNewsWire

3.9%  Mozilla

1.5%  Netscape

0.2%  Opera

0.2%  Konqueror

Another Reason to Switch from Internet Explorer

As you can see from the above data, Microsoft’s IE remains very popular with visitors to this web site. However, Secunia is reporting yet another flaw in Internet Exploder 6.x and although they grade this threat as ‘not critical’, the solution they suggest will help thwart other more critical attacks. Secunia recommends: “Disable Active Scripting except for trusted sites.”

Open Source Updates

Secunia announced that Mandriva has an update available.

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms.com: Don’t Forget the Other Search Engines

If you can’t get your web site ranked on Google, it can be hard to attract visitors to your site but that doesn’t mean that the search engine giant is the only game in town; in fact, a recent survey pegged Yahoo’s share of the search queries at only 5 percent less than Google’s. I also like Dogpile.com and recent stories about AskJeeves detail their attempts to gain surfers.

What is Konqueror?

Wikipedia supplies our definition for today: “In computing, Konqueror is part of the K Desktop Environment (KDE), primarily developed for the Linuxplatform, but also available for some other platforms (including BSD and, recently, MicrosoftWindows, although Windows support is very limited). It functions as a file manager, web browser, and file viewer. Like the rest of the "kdebase" package, Konqueror is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). The name Konqueror is a play on the names of other browsers: first comes the Navigator, then the Explorer, and finally the Konqueror (and follows the KDE convention of having program names start with the letter K).

5.30.05

Happy Birthday Dad!

Tech News Lite

I promised a post today, but the tech news is definitely on the light-side so I am highlighting some important items from the last week, interspersed with some new and some review material.

Even an Eleven Year Old Can Do It

After spending several hours setting up Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 and still not correctly configuring my network connections, I read the following article in MacWorld with envy, awe, and the thought that I should have invested my dollars into Apple’s new server software than this bloated batch of software included in my Microsoft Action Pack; oh-well, read more about the ease of installation at MacWorld.

Reminder: Apple Issues Recall for Laptop Batteries

Apple has issued another recall regarding batteries for their iBook and PowerBook line of computers. According to MacWorld, the computers with serial numbers in the following ranges are the subjects of this recall: “A1061, A1078 and A1079 and serial numbers that begin with HQ441 through HQ507 or 3X446 through 3X510.”

Encryption Tool Update

Last week the tip of the day from Multiple Platforms.com featured encryption advice and I mentioned that using the open source version freeware version from PGP looked somewhat imposing and the May issue of PC World concurs with my observation (I finally caught up on my tech reading this weekend). The article on page 40 of the May issue of PC World recommend Steganos’s Security Suite for encryption and secure deletion. CNET Reviews also has information on this software and includes a setup tutorial.

Open Source Updates

Secunia is busy at work but for the first time in many days, there are no open source updates. Enjoy your reprieve!

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms.com: Gmail Accounts For You

As I mentioned last week, Google is replacing every Gmail account I give away with another one and according to a recent recipient you get an allotment of fifty when you initiate your account. If you would like a Gmail account, send an email to: http://mailhide.recaptcha.net/d?k=01_CYdbG3G8Bh7MdskTeTP0w==&c=pKEf2yrBRdKaLmzwt1ln6WdZae-yMxuGo0u42mijLo8= and include the line ‘I want a Gmail account’ in the subject line. Once you have a Gmail account, you can also customize your Google search page. PC World suggest that you use some of the 1 Gigabyte of storage space that you get with a Google Gmail account for online storage in the May edition. You can use Gmail Drive, a tool from vikso.dk to establish on online filesystem.

What is a Gmail Account?

Originally published 5.23.05

Wikipedia supplies this definition for Gmail: “Gmail is a free web mail service, currently in beta testing, offered by Google, Inc.

For more than a year after Gmail's initial release on March 31, 2004, access to the service was restricted to those who had received an invitation token from an existing account holder.

While Gmail is not entirely open to the general public yet, most Gmail users have many invites to spare, as Google has lately been giving quite a few of these out. Gmail invites are also given away at random through Google's home page.

The service is notable for providing over 2.2 gigabytes of storage space (increased from the original limit of 1.0 gigabyte). This change was announced on April Fool's Day 2005, and was made for the one-year anniversary of Gmail. The announcement was accompanied by a statement that Google would continue to increase storage until they reached the theoretical limit, infinity gigabytes, then give each user one more. All Google will say about this now is that it will keep increasing by the second as long as they have enough space on their servers. Gmail makes intensive use of modern browser features such as JavaScript and keyboard access keys, allowing for a richer user experience, while retaining the benefits of a web application (most importantly, immediate availability of the service on any computer with a supported browser).”

5.26.05

New Tool For Firefox Thwarts Wicked Web Sites

Web sites that have been created by crackers to steal your information are hard to differentiate from legitimate sites as the crooks become increasing sophisticated in their efforts to pharm your personal information. Now a tool that has been available for Internet Explorer users has been released for Firefox fanatics. CNET is reporting that the tool can ‘trap’ fraudulent sites by identifying suspicious addresses based on character analysis.

Keynote Application Needs a Patch

Apple users that employ Keynote in their software arsenal need to update the application according to reports from CNET, Secunia, MacFixIt, and MacWorld. The flaw could allow crackers to compromise your Apple system although Secunia has graded the issue ‘less critical’.

Stalking the Trail of the Witty Worm

A year ago, this web site was still wet-behind-the-ears but we were reporting on the Witty Worm. Now researchers are investigating the likely source of the worm and trying to learn from history; the report in CNET indicates the likely source of the infection was Europe.

Jason’s Bugged by MDATA.DAT

Jason sent me an email regarding an MDATA.DAT error message he started receiving after a system restore. This annoyance has cropped up before with Multiple Platforms visitors and the solution for this problem is posted on the ‘Answers’ page for this site (see the new link to the left). For the benefit of Jason and anyone else experiencing these problems, here is the text from my previous post:

This could be related to the mouse in your house; have you added a new one lately? If you have, try uninstalling any software related to the mouse by using this path: Start/ Control Panel/ Add or Remove Programs. Then look for anything related to the mouse (company name, etc.). Reconnect the mouse, restart and update the drivers by using the method described in the next paragraph or by using the software that was provided by the mouse maker.
If you have not added a new mouse, we will try Plan B: Start/ Control Panel/ Mouse. In the General tab select the Troubleshoot button and run the diagnostic test. If it declares that the device is working properly, select the Properties button adjacent to the Troubleshoot button. Choose the Driver tab and click on the Update Driver button. If you have updated your PC recently (and I hope you have), you may need to update the driver for the mouse; follow the prompts if this is the case and then restart. If no driver update was available use the uninstall button; this will open a Confirm Device Removal dialogue box, select OK (don’t worry, Windows will recognize the mouse when you boot-up again). The computer will have to restart for the change to take effect, and more than likely you will be instructed to restart once more before the PC is satisfied with the new configuration.

Antispam, MSN Postmaster Unveiled By Microsoft

Microsoft has a new service to offer customers via their MSN web site: MSN Postmaster. According to CNET (this is not my only source for news, they just are featuring the best stories for Multiple Platforms readers today), the new feature will help Microsoft users beat the spammers while allowing legitimate mail to get through to MSN Hotmail customers. My pet peeve is trying to communicate with Hotmail clients, their inbox is constantly full and if there is one group of people that should take advantage of the tip of the day from Multiple Platforms, it is Hotmail –heads. You can probably get the same address sans Hotmail on the end if you grab a Gmail account now.

Open Source Updates

Secunia has these bulletins available for open source systems: Debian (1, 2), Gentoo, and Red Hat (1, 2).

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms.com: Take My Gmail Accounts, Please!

Google is replacing every Gmail account I give away with another one and according to a recent recipient you get an allotment of fifty when you initiate your account. If you would like a Gmail account, send an email to: http://mailhide.recaptcha.net/d?k=01_CYdbG3G8Bh7MdskTeTP0w==&c=pKEf2yrBRdKaLmzwt1ln6WdZae-yMxuGo0u42mijLo8= and include the line ‘I want a Gmail account’ in the subject line. Once you have a Gmail account, you can also customize your Google search page.

What is Firefox?

Wikipedia has this explanation for Firefox: “Mozilla Firefox (originally known as Phoenix and briefly as Mozilla Firebird) is a free, cross-platform, graphicalweb browser developed by the Mozilla Foundation and hundreds of volunteers [1]. Before its 1.0 release on November 9, 2004, Firefox had already garnered a great deal of acclaim from numerous media outlets, including Forbes and the Wall Street Journal. With over 25 million downloads in the 99 days after its release, Firefox became one of the most-used free and open source applications, especially among home users [4].  The 50 millionth download of Firefox occurred on April 29, 2005 (about 6 months after the 1.0 release).

With Firefox, the Mozilla Foundation aims to develop a lightweight, fast, intuitive, and highly extensible standalone browser based on the Navigator component of the Mozilla Suite. Firefox has become the foundation's main development focus (along with its Thunderbirdemail client), and has replaced the Mozilla Suite as their official main software release.

Features of Firefox include the integrated pop-up blocker, tabbed browsing, live bookmarks, support for open standards, and an extension mechanism for adding functionality. Although other browsers have offered these features for some time, Firefox became the first browser with such features to achieve large-scale adoption.”

I can sum the above paragraphs up with seven words: Firefox and Mozilla are darn good browsers.

5.25.05

Crackers Latest Ploy: Hijack Your Files for Ransom

A cracker has gained notoriety after encrypting files (see below for definition) and then demanding that $200 be placed in a specified account. Therein lies the problem for these would be thieves, tracing funds in this electronic age is easier than tracking the real crooks. Read more about the story here: Miscreants encrypt files, hold them for ransom

In a new type of attack, user files are encrypted remotely and attackers demand money for key to decode them. CNET News.com - Security.

Minnesota Court Rips Encryption

According to CNET, the Court of Appeals in Minnesota has ruled that the use of encryption software from PGP can signal criminal intent by making files un-readable to anyone other than the ‘National Security Agency’. The ruling is in connection with a particular case and leaves open the question of exactly what constitutes criminal intent when using other forms of encryption like FileVault found on Macs. This story was somewhat ironic in it’s timing for me, I was in the process of installing the very software that this court claims demonstrates my intent to be a bad person. The reality is, I was trying out the encryption product to protect me (and indirectly, you too) from those with criminal intent (see the preceding CNET stories for proof of what the bad guys want, and read the items below about what you and I want).

Open Source Updates

Secunia posted these bulletins for Red Hat users (1, 2).

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms.com: Encryption Tools

As mentioned above, I spent part of Tuesday learning about encryption tools available free and commercially. The open source community provides the free tools and you can access links to the mirrors at GNUPG. I only tried the tools for Apple and whether you are using Panther or Tiger you will need X11 installed and functioning. I have some conflict within my systems running Tiger and I was unable to generate keys for digital signatures and encryptions; I apparently have a command missing and Terminal is unable to execute the proper processes. I literally spent hours updating, compiling, and re-configuring the tools and ran out of time, not to mention patience with the freeware. To be honest, the PC side looks even more complicated and if you aren’t a tech geek, the commercial products might be the best bet and you can test them out free for thirty days. The two I tried (again on the Mac side only, my PCs contain no vital information at this time) are Stuffit Deluxe and Kremlin. Both of the products are available for Multiple Platforms users and they have some unique features that make them worthy of the investment. Stuffit has a cool feature that allows you to size your encrypted and compressed files to fit on a variety of popular storage tools (zip drive, CD, etc.). The Kremlin software includes a ‘Secure Delete’ application and can ‘wipe’ your hard drive at programmable intervals. I wish that the tool from Kremlin let the user define when encrypted items are decrypted, and Stuffit was extremely slow when converting large files. Stuffit Deluxe sells for $49.99 for Macs and $29.99 for PCs. Kremlin is priced at $35 for either platform (we like a company that treats Multiple Platforms users equally!).

What is Encryption?

Answers.com supplies this explanation for encryption: “The reversible transformation of data from the original (the plaintext) to a difficult-to-interpret format (the ciphertext) as a mechanism for protecting its confidentiality, integrity and sometimes its authenticity. Encryption uses an encryption algorithm and one or more encryption keys. See encryption algorithm and cryptography.”

5.24.05

Banks Bit by Breach, Customers Might Feel Pain

Two more banks are reporting security breaches associated with customer information according to a report published by the Register. Wachovia and Bank of America have been notifying customers of the potential security error and more than 100,000 customers have been affected according to the Register. Another story carried by the Associated Press affiliate the Charlotte Observer noted that security remains a low priority despite the high profile problems exposed recently. To read details on the bank problems click on the following links:

US bank staff 'sold customer details'

Data theft apology sent to thousands… The Register

Several Antivirus Programs Have Flaws

According to CNET, Computer Associates International antivirus product has a flaw in the scanning engine and this problem could allow a cracker to gain control over a victims PC. Secunia also has information regarding this issue. Another popular Antivirus product from Zonelabs also has security issues and Secunia has rated the flaw ‘highly critical’. Secunia recommends that ZoneAlarm users should update their software firewall.

Wonderful World of Windows

If your life is wonderful because of Windows and you compose your thoughts on the subject in essay form, you could meet the Big Cheese at Microsoft, Bill Gates. If meeting Gates doesn’t float your boat, other prizes include a chance to experience a National Geographic Expedition and a makeover home-style from HGTV. The report in CNET states that Microsoft is “looking for true stories about people using Windows…”; and please, do not include quotes from anonymous sources as that practice has recently fallen-out of favor.

Your chance to meet Bill Gates

Microsoft is soliciting essays about people using Windows computers to pursue a passion or hobby; prizes include chance to meet Gates. CNET News.com

Open Source Updates

These bulletins were released by Secunia: Gentoo (1, 2, 3), Fedora (1, 2, 3), Red Hat, and Ubuntu.

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms.com: Get a Security Blanket

(Editors Note: This tip and the following definition was originally published 4.13.05, but it’s worthy of frequent repetition.) What is one of the most secure methods to protect your PC or Mac? A router will provide a great deal of protection and even eliminate the need for a firewall for your PC according to Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI. A router provides you and your favorite Multiple Platforms system from outside intrusion using a NAT technology (see definition below). A router can also protect you when a software firewall has flaws as we noted above.

What is NAT?

According to the excellent resource tool Wikipedia, “In computer networking, network address translation (NAT, also known as network masquerading or IP-masquerading) is a technique in which the source and/or destination addresses of IP packets are rewritten as they pass through a router or firewall. It is most commonly used to enable multiple hosts on a private network to access the Internet using a single public IP address. According to specifications, routers should not act in this way, but it is a convenient and widely used technique. Nonetheless, NAT can introduce complications in communication between hosts.”

5.23.05

Crackdown On Zombies Soon?

According to a report from CNET, the Feds at the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) are set to ask ISPs (Internet service providers) to identify and block zombie computers. Zombies are computers that are remotely controlled by crackers after the PC has been infected with any of a variety of viruses currently in the wild. What does this mean to you? We’ll a zombie computer by definition is a computer that is infected and controlled by a cracker without the knowledge of the PC’s owner. Therefore, if your Windows PC has been running slower than molasses in January, it might suddenly loose Internet access if the source of that slowness is associated with a virus that is allowing your PC to be co-opted. If you haven’t yet started using the Anti-virus application from Microsoft, install it and start protecting your computer now.

Feds to fight the zombies

FTC plans to tell Internet service providers to take stronger action against spam infiltrators, News.com has learned. CNET News.com

How Spammers Operate and What They Learn

PC World has good information on how spammers are obtaining ‘live’ email addresses to use in their never ending attack on our inboxes. The scary part is how much they can learn by inference when mining your email addresses from various web sites that require a login with a password to access the site. That is one of the reasons I chose not to make that a requirement at Multiple Platforms.com/.

Spam Slayer: E-Mail Attackers Know All About You

Spammers and scammers are finding new ways to uncover your e-mail address, and a whole host of personal information along with it. PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories

Sleepy Macs a Problem Again; Security Issues Linger?

With every update issued, some Apple users seem to be plagued with sleep issues and the latest update for Tiger, 10.4.1 is no different. MacFixIt has suggestions for work around for this problem. Meanwhile, MacNN is reporting that the security fix isn’t enough and that Apple-ites could still be at risk if they download and install an ‘unscrupulous widget’. The piece carries the headline: “Security risk remains, Apple takes ‘Microsoft stance’”.

Open Source Updates

Secunia announced these updates and security bulletins are available for open source users: Ubuntu, Gentoo (1, 2), Red Hat, Linux Kernel, Solaris, and Debian.

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms.com: Personalize Your Google Browser

It doesn’t matter if it is Firefox, Mozilla, Safari, OmniWeb, or Internet Explorer my browsers all open to the same home page – Google’s search page. Now you can personalize that same page with your local weather, stock market results, news headlines, and more by visiting Google at this link: http://labs.google.com/. You need to have an account with Google, for instance a Gmail account to take advantage of this service. What’s that, you don’t have one? Well I still have a bunch left to share, send an email to: http://mailhide.recaptcha.net/d?k=01_CYdbG3G8Bh7MdskTeTP0w==&c=pKEf2yrBRdKaLmzwt1ln6WdZae-yMxuGo0u42mijLo8= and I’ll pass along an invitation to you. PC World has more on the customizations possible:

Google's Home Page Gets Personal

Users will be able to view news, weather, and Gmail messages on the company's home page. PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories

What is Gmail?

Wikipedia supplies this definition for Gmail: “Gmail is a free web mail service, currently in beta testing, offered by Google, Inc.

For more than a year after Gmail's initial release on March 31, 2004, access to the service was restricted to those who had received an invitation token from an existing account holder.

While Gmail is not entirely open to the general public yet, most Gmail users have many invites to spare, as Google has lately been giving quite a few of these out. Gmail invites are also given away at random through Google's home page.

The service is notable for providing over 2.2 gigabytes of storage space (increased from the original limit of 1.0 gigabyte). This change was announced on April Fool's Day 2005, and was made for the one-year anniversary of Gmail. The announcement was accompained by a statement that google would continue to increase storage until they reached the theoretical limit, infinity gigabytes, then give each user one more. All Google will say about this now is that it will keep increasing by the second as long as they have enough space on their servers. Gmail makes intensive use of modern browser features such as JavaScript and keyboard access keys, allowing for a richer user experience, while retaining the benefits of a web application (most importantly, immediate availability of the service on any computer with a supported browser).”

5.20.05

There’s No Microsoft Update Sent Through E-mail

Another round of bogus Windows patches are arriving in inboxes and according to eWeek, the fake fixes contain, surprise, a virus! Remember, Microsoft does not send updates by email! You should only update your Windows PC using the update features now incorporated in Windows XP. Read more about the latest cracker attack at eWeek:

Fake Microsoft Patch Triggers Virus Attack

The bogus e-mail contains an attachment that purports to be a cumulative Windows patch for May 2005. It's actually an executable file for a well-known virus. eWEEK Technology News

Opera and Firefox Reviewed

A comparison of the relative merits of the browsers Opera and Firefox can be found by visiting NewsForge. The review covers the performance of these browsers on Multiple Platforms: Windows 2000, Mac OS X, and SuSE Linux 9.1/. Opera wins the appearance race while Firefox takes the honors for functionality.

Apple Recalls Laptop Batteries

Apple has issued another recall regarding batteries for their iBook and PowerBook line of computers. According to MacWorld, the computers with serial numbers in the following ranges are the subjects of this recall: “A1061, A1078 and A1079 and serial numbers that begin with HQ441 through HQ507 or 3X446 through 3X510.”

Details of Apple Security Update

If you are curious about the latest security update for Tiger, Apple’s new operating system, you can visit the Apple web site or Secunia for detailed information. Secunia, the security firm has graded rated the flaw as ‘moderately critical’.

Listen to The Tech Guy

You can improve your digital knowledge every weekend; all you need to do is listen between 11 am to 2 pm (PDST) to Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI. If you are in the Los Angeles area tune into AM640 and listen live or visit Leo’s web site then click on the KFI logo to hear the Internet stream. Leo answers questions on all things digital and uses Multiple Platforms too!

Open Source Updates

Secunia released these bulletins for open source users: Mandriva, Red Hat (1, 2), Debian (1, 2), Gentoo, and Ubuntu.

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms.com: Digital Photo Advice

Last week my brother went to purchase a digital camera from a local big box store without first conducting any preliminary research regarding his specific needs. He has recently purchased a new iMac and printer but has yet to unpack them and put these tools to work; and lack of knowledge about what his computer package can do for him almost caused him to purchase a digital camera based upon the inappropriate recommendations of the salesperson. Luckily, he called me before finalizing the purchase and where did I turn to for advice? I surfed to steves-digicam.com/, one of the best sites for camera reviews. Instead of purchasing the Kodak camera with a docking station and printer (a duplication of equipment, as previously mentioned, he has a printer) my brother got a Canon Powershot A95 and an upgraded, fast memory card for the same cost. Check out steves-digicam.com for details on a plethora of digital cameras.

What is XML?

According to Wikipedia, “The Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a W3C-recommended general-purpose markup language for creating special-purpose markup languages. It is a simplified subset of SGML, capable of describing many different kinds of data. Its primary purpose is to facilitate the sharing of data across different systems, particularly systems connected via the Internet. Languages based on XML (for example, RDF, RSS, MathML, XHTML and SVG) are themselves described in a formal way, allowing some programs to modify and validate documents in these languages without prior knowledge of their form.”

5.19.05

New Update Coming for Windows

Another patch will be forthcoming from Microsoft that will address a TCP/IP issue and although the company is downplaying the flaw, the matter is serious according to eWeek:

New TCP/IP Flaw Haunts Windows

Microsoft issues a prepatch advisory with mitigation guidance after exploit code is published on a popular security Web site. eWEEK Technology News

Tiger Problems Detailed

I have come to love Tiger, but there are a few issues bugging me like not being able to use RsyncX and Retrospect to backup my system. I have used Carbon Copy Cloner, but I prefer the other two applications for my backup needs. MacFixIt has more on the problems Apple users are having with Tiger.

Slow Tech News Week

As usual, when an event like the Electronic Entertainment Expo is taking place, the tech news slows to a crawl; but as they say, no news is good news…

Open Source Updates

Secunia has announced that the following systems have update or security bulletins available: OpenBSD, Red Hat (1, 2, 3, 4), Mandriva (1, 2), Debian, SuSE, and Ubuntu.

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms.com: Check out the Number 1 Podcast

The results are in and the new number one podcast according to Podcast Alley is TWIT (AKA This Week in Tech). The podcast is a combined effort by Kevin Rose, Yoshi, Patrick Norton, Robert Herron, and Leo Laporte and you can check out the podcast by visiting their new web site: thisweekintech.com/. You can also find many great podcasts including the archives of our podcast, Life in a Multiple Platforms World at Podcast Alley.

What is a Podcast?

Wikipedia has this regarding podcasts: “Podcasting is a way of publishing sound files to the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed and receive new audio files automatically. Podcasting is distinct from other types of audio content delivery because it uses the RSS protocol. This technique has enabled many producers to create self-published, syndicated radio shows.

Users subscribe to podcasts using "podcatching" software (also called "aggregator" software) which periodically checks for and downloads new content. It can then sync the content to the user's portable music player, hence the portmanteau of Apple's "iPod" and "broadcasting". Podcasting does not require an iPod, however; any digital audio player or computer with the appropriate software can play podcasts.”

5.18.05

Are Attacks Against Your Computer Ending?

Are these latest attacks by crackers on your PC the beginning of the end, or just a precursor for worse damage to come? The answer to that question is it depends on whom you ask. Query a Microsoft security expert and they will maintain that the worst has passed and that indeed the recent slow down in cracker attacks is because of a pro-active approach by Microsoft. At least that is the story carrien by eWeek, but if you visit other web sites, the ‘sky is falling' and we are all going to die:

Tech Gloom Deepens, But Is Sky Falling?

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Spring is in the air, and for tech investors, it's the time of year for minor panic. Reuters: Technology

Malicious Bots Hide Using Rootkit Code

Experts warn that "Rootbots" are emerging as a threat: remote control bots that borrow stealth features from rootkits to creep in undetected. eWEEK Technology News

Please grab a Gmail account While You Still Can

I still have 25 more 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 an invitation to next 25 emails I receive.

Open Source Updates

The following update bulletins are available from Secunia: Conectiva, Red Hat (1, 2, 3), Fedora, and Ubuntu.

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms.com: Solve that nagging problem

If you have an annoyance with your computer, let me help solve the issue. Please include as much information as possible regarding the situation, including what operating system you are using and when you last updated, anything you might have installed prior to the start of the problem, if you are logged on as the administrator when the issue occurs and any other information think might be even remotely related. It really helps to include your email address in the event that I need more background information to solve your problem, but you can submit your question anonymously to: http://mailhide.recaptcha.net/d?k=01_CYdbG3G8Bh7MdskTeTP0w==&c=pKEf2yrBRdKaLmzwt1ln6WdZae-yMxuGo0u42mijLo8=/.

What is Wikipedia?

I rely on Wikipedia and the associated network of contributors to help define the techno-babble that we must all comprehend to survive in the increasingly complex Multiple Platforms world of today. I offer this definition as an explanation for why the writing styles for each term are sometimes different: the work is contributed and corrected by the Wiki community. So, what is Wikipedia? Here is their auto-definition: “Wikipedia is a Web-based, free-contentencyclopedia that is written collaboratively by volunteers. It consists of 195 independent language editions sponsored by the non-profitWikimedia Foundation. Entries on traditional encyclopedic topics exist alongside those on almanac, gazetteer and current events topics. Its purpose is to create and distribute, worldwide, a free encyclopedia in as many languages as possible. Wikipedia is one of the most popular reference sites on the Web[1], receiving around 60 million hits per day.

Wikipedia contains approximately 1.5 million articles, more than 500,000 of which are in its English language edition, more than 200,000 in the German language and more than 100,000 each in Japanese and French. It began as a complement to the expert-written Nupedia on January 15, 2001. Having steadily risen in popularity,[2] it has spawned several conceptually related sister projects such as Wiktionary, Wikibooks and Wikinews. Its articles are edited by volunteers in wiki fashion, meaning articles are subject to change by nearly anyone. Wikipedia's volunteers enforce a policy of "neutral point of view." Under this, the views presented by notable persons or literature are summarized without attempting to determine an objective truth. Because of its open nature, vandalism and inaccuracy are problems in Wikipedia.

Wikipedia's status as a reference work has been controversial. It has received praise for being free, editable, and covering a wide range of topics. It has been criticized for a perceived lack of accountability and authority when compared with traditional encyclopedias, systemic biases, and deficiencies in some topics. Its articles have been cited by the mass media and academia. Wikipedia's articles are available under the GNU Free Documentation License. Its German language edition has been distributed on compact discs, and many of its other editions are mirrored or have been forked by websites.”

5.17.05

Connecting the Dots and Worms

The items cited yesterday regarding the new phishing trend using email addresses from real people and the Sober worm spreading political propaganda are related and indeed one in the same. Furthermore, the latest variant of the Sober worm appears to be capable of updating itself to stay ahead of antivirus measures. Read more about this issue from the Sacramento Bee (you must register to read the story). The emails contain various message lines in both German and English according to CRN are striking email users worldwide. Security experts recommend that you delete these messages without opening them.

AIM Users are Worm Target

Yes the annelids, strike that, worms keep wiggling this week and now it is slithering after AIM users. To learn more about this new threat surf to PC World:

New Worm Targets AIM Users

Malware allows an attacker to gain remote access to your PC. PCWorld.com

Is Linux The Eiger-nator?

Living in California, the ‘-nator’ tag is not reserved only for the current governors’ use and an article in eWeek leads me to believe that any open source system could claim the title of Eiger-nator (source for this item is Linuxtoday):

eWeek: Why Wait for Eiger When Linux is Ready Today

Microsoft has finally realized that Windows NT Workstation, 98, and ME users need an upgrade path that will work with their hardware. Too bad, Linux desktops can already fill that bill...Linux Today

Update for Tiger from Apple

Apple released the first update for Tiger users and just to be safe, I’ll be recommending the same course of actions as with Panther: wait a week. When you are ready to install the update, remember to disconnect your Firewire devices. I will also repair disk permissions before and after the update; and backup before you start any upgrade or update. I have overcome my initial blasé attitude regarding Tiger. I Love It! I have even been able to get Endnote 7.0 to function with Microsoft’s Word v.X on my iBook! That is significant and may keep me from having to upgrade to Endnote 8, and considering I haven’t used version 7 since it made my iBook imitate a crash test dummy, Tiger’s improved compatibility with the programs is appreciated. The following Apple sites have information regarding the update:

Apple releases Mac OS X 10.4.1, addresses Widget vulnerability

Apple has released Mac OS X 10.4.1, the first major update to Tiger. The release is available through Software Update, or as a… MacFixIt

About the Mac OS X 10.4.1 Update

This software updates Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger to version 10.4.1.</p> <h4>Important: Please read before installing... Apple Computer Top Mac OS X Documents

Apple releases Mac OS X "Tiger" 10.4.1 update

Apple this evening released Mac OS X 10.4.1, a free update to the "Tiger" operating system. The update... MacNN

Apple offers first Tiger update

Company says new version offers a variety of fixes, including improvements to AFP and SMB file sharing. CNET News.com

Open Source Update

Secunia released these bulletins for open source systems: Linux kernel, Gentoo, and Slackware (1, 2).

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms: Fun for the Weekend

There is no better day to plan for the weekend than Tuesday and if you live in California or plan to visit there, check out our other web site California Fairs and Festivals.com/. The web site has been completely transformed into a fast-loading, html-conforming, good reference for weekend family fun.

What is an SMB?

Wikipedia provides this definition for SMB: “Server message block (SMB) is a network protocol mainly applied to share files, printers, serial ports, and miscellaneous communications between nodes on a network. It is mainly used by Microsoft Windows equipped computers.

SMB was originally invented by IBM but the most common version is modified heavily by Microsoft. Microsoft renamed SMB to CIFS (Common Internet File System) in 1998 and added more features, including support for symbolic links, hard links, and larger file sizes.

SMB works through a client-server approach, where a client makes specific requests and the file server responds accordingly.

The SMB servers make their file systems and other resources available to clients on the network. Client computers may have their own hard disks, which are not publicly shared, yet also want access to the shared file systems and printers on the server.

SMB was originally designed to run on top of one of the various NetBIOS implementations (usually NetBEUI or NBT), though it can also run on top of TCP/IP directly since Windows 2000.

Microsoft has added several features to its own SMB implementation that are not part of the original SMB protocol.

Samba is a free reimplementation of the SMB protocol and the Microsoft extensions to it..”

5.16.05

New Phishing Trend Worrisome

The latest tactic by phishers is to employ stolen identities to gain the trust of their intended victims. CNET has more on this disturbing new MO:

New phishing attack uses real ID hooks

Researchers are tracking an emerging form of phishing that uses stolen identity information to target individuals and their bank accounts. CNET News.com

Sober Annelid Causing Problems

Did I say annelids? It must be finals week for this biology major, I meant to say the Sober Worm is spreading spam and the message is political propaganda. You can read more at PC World:

Worm Spawns German Spam

 Worm variant sends political propaganda messages in both English and German. PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories

Tiger Tune-up

MacFixIt offers advice regarding Tiger problems including issues with Spotlight, invisible files and more:

Special Report: Troubleshooting Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)

Covering these and other topics: Mac OS X 10.4: Spotlight: Invisible files limitation; Processor… MacFixIt

Open Source Updates

Secunia announced these updates for open source users: Trustix (1, 2, 3), Gentoo (1, 2), and Slackware.

Multiple Platforms Tip of the Day: Get a Gmail Account

I have 50 more 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 an invitation 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/.

What is Slackware?

According to Wikipedia, “Slackware is a Linux distribution. Slackware takes a different approach than other popular distributions such as Red Hat, Debian, Gentoo, SuSE, and Mandrake Linux. It might best be described as "UNIX-like", given its policy of incorporating only stable applications, and the absence of distribution-specific GUI configuration tools found in other varieties of Linux. Partisans have been known to say, "When you know Slackware, you know Linux... when you know Red Hat, all you know is Red Hat."”

5.13.05

Eiger Sanctioned?

According to a story published by CNET, Microsoft is developing a new operating system aimed at old PCs that either can’t be upgraded to XP, or have owners that won’t upgrade because of security concerns. While that strategy may help Microsoft sell a few more operating systems, it won’t get around the fact that many applications available today and being developed for tomorrow require an ever increasing share of processing power and memory capacity. Combine that with the end of support for products like Quicken, and you are faced with the inevitable fact that you need to upgrade and or replace your computer every 3-4 years and even more frequently if you are a power-user or a wanna-be power-user like me. Read more about Microsoft’s plan at CNET:

Microsoft tries to breathe life into older PCs

Software maker announces plans for "Eiger," a new version of Windows that would potentially make it more secure. CNET News.com

Firefox Fix Important

The update available from Mozilla for the Firefox browser patches a critical flaw as we noted here yesterday; PC World has more on the issue:

Mozilla Fixes Critical Firefox Bugs

Alternative browser's security upgraded. PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories

Tiger Tales

I have had a few issues with Tiger over the past several days and it looks like my problems are associated with iDisk and the synchronization of the same. After examining my running processes and finding nothing out of the ordinary and eliminating other open programs, it appears to be the cause, but time will tell. If you have had applications unexpectedly quit, Apple’s OS X Top Documents has advice on what steps you can take:

Mac OS X 10.4: Reopening an application after it unexpectedly quits

If a Mac OS X application unexpectedly quits in Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, an alert appears that lets you report the issue to Apple or try to reopen the application… Apple Computer Top Mac OS X Documents

Ted Landau Explains the Information Above

MacFixIt has the link for an article by Mac guru Ted Landau that explains the new application crash dialogs for Apple-heads. There has been an improvement in the method your Mac uses to recover from an unexpected crash, but you may not know how to take advantage of the new system without checking out the following:

mac.column.ted: Tiger's new and improved “application crash” dialogs

Ted Landau May 2005 [Note: This is the first of a few columns where I explore the "smaller" changes in Mac OS X 10.4. These are changes that, while they may not … MacFixIt

Open Source Updates

Secunia has the following bulletins for open source users: Mandriva (1, 2, 3, 4), Ubuntu (1, 2), and FreeBSD.

Multiple Platforms Tip of the Day: Have a good weekend

It is finally finals week in my world of Multiple Platforms and the strain on my brain from grading papers has robbed my creativity for tips for Multiple Platforms users. So the tip for today is have a great weekend, and check out Leo Laporte’s show The Tech Guy On KFI from 11 am to 2pm Saturday and Sunday. Listen live on AM640 in the LA area or via the Internet, just click on the KFI logo found at Leo’s web site.

Catch This Bus

The Multiple Platforms word of the day is ‘bus’ and Wikipedia has this definition: “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.”

5.12.05

Firefox Update Available

Mozilla.org has released an update for their Firefox browser that includes security patches that help remedy some recently discovered bugs. Visit Mozilla to get the update or read more on the issue from MacMinute.

Mac Widgets: Truth With Not Much Consequence

MacCentral assures Apple owners that we all need to “take a deep breath” and continue those life processes that are so vital to our existence, like using our Macs. As we noted yesterday, you have nothing to worry about regarding this Widget issue unless someone creates a malicious Widget and then you have the misfortune of finding and installing that bad creation. Check out the word from a Mac expert by clicking on the following:
Editors' Notes: Widget security: fact and fiction

There are valid security concerns about Tiger’s Dashboard widgets. But if you’re overwhelmed by widget worries, take a deep breath and read what Rob Griffiths has to say on the subject. MacCentral

Gates Dreaming of Surpassing iPod Sales; What is Steve Dreaming of?

Reuters is featuring a story regarding Bill Gate’s lofty dreams of mobile phones surpassing iPods as the music player of choice. No word on if Steve Jobs’ has been dreaming lately of so distracting Microsoft with the iPod and their latest operating system successes that Apple grabs a 40 percent share of the computer market (compared to an estimated 4 percent currently).

Gates sees mobile phones overtaking iPods

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Microsoft founder Bill Gates sees mobile phones overtaking MP3s as the top choice of portable music player, and views the raging popularity of Apple's iPod player as unsustainable, he told a German newspaper. Reuters: Technology

Apple Offers Students $100 Rebate

Apple is offering students (or their parents) a one hundred dollar rebate for computers purchased over the next month (May 2 until June 25, 2005). Not all Macs are eligible for this offer, specifically the Mac mini, eMacs, and the least expensive iBook are excluded (I know, my heart started racing too at the thought of adding a mini for less than four hundred dollars).

Amazon Specials

Please help support this web site by checking out the Google ads that interest you, and if you click on the links of our associated merchants found on this page and complete a transaction, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the following deals at Amazon:

• 52 % OFF - Jabra BT110 Bluetooth headset. Only $29.99 with purchase of a qualifying Bluetooth-compatible phone. Just add both items to your Shopping Cart and use this promotional code at checkout: 02JABRABT110.
  
• Get $100 Cash back when you purchase the Motorola V300 with new service activation on T-Mobile.

• 59% OFF - Porter-Cable 324MAG 7-1/4" Blade Right Circular Saw - Only $99 after rebate

Migrate to Open Source Using Mac mini

If you are interested in trying open source on the cheap, you can do it with the Mac mini. You can’t build your own computer for the price of the mini and the operating system of choice is Yellow Dog. Check out the tutorial from Lewin Edwards in the following article:

Mad Mac mini multimedia machine, Part 1: Load Linux on the Mac mini

The Mac mini is an ideal low-cost, high-performance PowerPC development platform for numerous applications. Learn how to install and configure Linux on the mini. Future articles will add the software required to make it into a stand-alone multimedia appliance.

Accelerate YourMac News (story origin)

Open Source Update

Secunia announced these security and update bulletins are available for open source systems: Red Hat (1, 2), Linux kernel, Fedora, and Gentoo.

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms.com: Looking for a Security Blanket?

If you need protection from crackers, check out St. Bernard Software one of the MultiplePlatforms.com related links: Spam Filters & Email Security - ePrism ePrism is an email filter / spam filters appliance that provides organizations with a total secure email perimeter defense solution.

What is a Spam Filter?

Wikipedia is the source for the following information: “A mail filter is a piece of software which takes an input of an email message. For its output, it might pass the message through unchanged for delivery to the user's mailbox, it might redirect the message for delivery elsewhere, or it might even throw the message away. Some mail filters are able to edit messages during processing.”

5.11.05

Patch For Microsoft Important

The latest security update released by Microsoft for Windows XP is ‘important’ and you can learn more about the issue by checking out the following from CNET:

Fix in for Windows flaw

Microsoft patches "important" security hole in the OS and publishes two early alerts in its new advisory program. CNET News.com - Security

New Operating System for Mobile Devices

PC World has a mini-review of Mobile 5, the new operating system released by Microsoft for PDAs and smart phones. Although some have declared the PDA market DOA, Microsoft seems to be providing users with reasons not to throw out the Treo just now and the added tweaks for smart phones won’t hurt sales of the new system either; read the story at PC World:

Microsoft Unwraps Windows Mobile 5

New handheld OS offers increased reliability, improved hardware support, and a host of new features. PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories

Brakes Put on Googlecelerator

The Midas touch that has been so instrumental in the success of Google has apparently failed as the search giant stopped users from downloading their latest software, Accelerator. In a CNET article, Google claims it is a matter of capacity or a lack of the same. Read more about the issue from CNET:

Google puts brakes on Accelerator

Company stops downloads of new Web software, blaming capacity issues. However, some have complained it compromises privacy. CNET News.com

Advice for Widget Monitoring

MacFixIt is an excellent source for advice on anything effecting Apples and they have suggestions for keeping tabs on your Widgets. Remember, if you are just using the Widgets that are supplied by Apple you are not at risk and if follow the directions provided yesterday regarding preference settings you are safe from crackers:

Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) #14: More on managing Widgets; Another CD/DVD burning fix; iSync problem; Classic startup; DHCP; more

Another method for monitoring your Widgets folder Yesterday, in our coverage of an emerging issue where malicious, or at least annoying Widgets could be installed, without the user's…MacFixIt

Open Source Updates

Secunia released these updates for open source users: Mandriva, Ubuntu, Fedora, Red Hat, Sun Solaris, and Gentoo (1, 2).

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms: Hot Web Site

If there is a Cinderella story for startup web sites then ipodlounge.com wouldn’t require an audition to grab the lead role; the site is still gaining visitors and when you host a site that highlights the hottest music player on the market it is understandable. If you want to know about iPods, the ipodlounge.com is the place for you to hang. If you are having iTunes annoyances, check out the solutions we have found in response to visitors questions.

What is a Widget?

Apple’s new Widget could be the first crack in security for Mac owners; what is a widget?

Wikipedia provides this on that: “A widget (or control) is a graphical interface component that a computer user interacts with, such as a window or a text box. Widgets are sometimes qualified as virtual to distinguish them from their physical counterparts, e.g. virtual buttons that can be clicked with a mouse cursor, vs physical buttons that can be pressed with a finger. Widgets are often packaged together in widget toolkits. Programmers use widgets to build graphical user interfaces (GUIs).” 

5.10.05

Googlecellerator?

Google released their ‘Web Accelerator’ last week and per usual it has some people cheering, while it leaves others jeering about possible privacy issues. I haven’t tried it yet, and with broadband speed to my PC, I’m not sure if Google’s new tool will make a noticeable difference. According to a CNET article a frequent surfer can save up to three hours a month using this software that caches and compresses web pages. Read more at CNET:

FAQ: Hard facts about Google's Web Accelerator

The downloadable software speeds the delivery of Web pages but has its critics. What is it, and how does it work?CNET News.com

More on Mac Widget Security Problem

As we reported yesterday, the security of Apple’s Widget architecture or lack thereof, is in question and more experts are weighing in on this issue. The following report is from MacCentral:

News: Dashboard: Widget (In)Security

A new Web page documents an issue with Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger's new Dashboard feature that, left unchecked, could potentially be exploited by malware developers, according to the page's author. The exploit is described and demonstrated on a page called Zaptastic: Blueprint for a widget of mass destruction. Going by the nom de plume of Stephan.com, the author has described how Safari 2.0's default preference settings could lead users to unwittingly download and install a Dashboard widget. MacCentral

Update iTunes to Avoid Security Flaw

According to Secunia, Apple’s iTunes 4.x has a ‘highly critical flaw’ that could allow crackers to compromise your machine through a “MPEG-4 file parsing buffer overflow”. Secunia advises iTunes users to “update to version 4.8”. MacFixIt and MacCentral are reporting the availability of Apple’s latest version, read more about by following these links:

Apple releases iTunes 4.8

Apple has released iTunes 4.8, available as a 11 MB standalone Web download. According to Apple, the new release offers the following enhancement …MacFixIt

Feature: New in iTunes 4.8 [updated]

Apple has released a new version of iTunes and, in typical fashion, tells us very little about what it improves and adds. Here’s what we’ve discovered in our first look. MacCentral

Open Source Update

Secunia released the following bulletins for open source systems: Fedora (1, 2), Gentoo, and Debian (1, 2).

Multiple Platforms Tip of the Day: Common Error Messages

The Apple web site has a page listing the most common error messages received by Mac-heads when they are downloading files. Find out what those annoying messages really mean by visiting the Apple Support site. PC owners can visit the error message page found at the Microsoft Support Site.

What is Kernel Panic?

According to Wikipedia, “A kernel panic is a message displayed by an operating system upon detecting an internal system error from which it cannot recover. Kernel panics often provide cryptic debugging information that is useful only to the developers of the operating system.

Attempts by the operating system to read an invalid or unpermitted address are a common source of kernel panics. A panic may also occur as a result of a hardware failure.

Kernel Panic (http://ubersoft.net/kpanic/index.html) is also the name of a web comic by Christopher Wright. The comic revolves around a group of unix and linux server admins ordered to change the server farm over to Nifty Doorways (a parody of the Windows operating system.).”

5.09.05

Some Sobering Numbers

CNET is reporting that the latest variant of the Sober worm is setting records in the number of PC infected and according to the security watch dog Sophos, the worm was responsible for more than three-fourths of the weekend security breaches. Read more from CNET:

Sober worm hits new heights

The variant now accounts for more than 5 percent of all e-mail, surprising experts with its continued growth. CNET News.com

New Firefox and Mozilla Flaws Found

The Firefox and Mozilla browsers are vulnerable to attacks from crackers according to reports from Secunia and PC World. The Firefox exploits have been rated ‘extremely critical’ and the solution suggested for both browsers is the same, “disable JavaScript” and you will close the door on crackers. For the technical bulletins on these issues, visit Secunia (Firefox and Mozilla).

Critical Flaw Found in Firefox

Exploit code is already circulating online, security experts warn.

PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories

Mac Widget Worries

Widgets are wonderful but apparently open Mac-heads to possible problems according to reports from MacFixIt; a problem associated with the architecture of Apple’s Widgets could allow a cracker to install a ‘malicious JavaScipt’. The solution is to turn-off the option to open safe files after downloading, a command found in the preferences of Safari. Read more about this annoyance at MacFixIt:

Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) #12: Malicious Widget Installation; More on SCSI problems; Potential AirPort re-connect fix; more

Malicious Widget Installation Over the weekend, a Mac OS X user named Stephan posted a Web page demonstrating a vulnerability in Tiger's Widget architecture that could allow malicious JavaS… MacFixIt

Open Source Updates

Secunia announced that the following systems have security or update bulletins: Mandriva, Sun Solaris, Gentoo (1, 2), and Ubuntu (1, 2).

Multiple Platforms Tip of the Day: One for each platform

An extended graduate exam followed by a nasty head cold resulted in little creative thought and planning for the Multiple Platforms Tip of the Day over this past weekend; please forgive this replay of tips and definitions from November 24, 2004; the tips are still useful and if you are like me, you forget more shortcuts than you remember.

PC Tip of the Day: Desktop Cleanup Wizard

Is your desktop getting cluttered with shortcuts you never use? Windows XP includes the Desktop Cleanup Wizard and you can activate this program by right-clicking anywhere in a open Finder window then select ‘Arrange Icons By’; click on the Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard at the bottom of the pop-up dialogue box and follow the Wizard to a clean desktop.

Apple Tip of the Day: Close Programs Quickly

Last week our tips included the keyboard shortcut to quickly scroll through open programs: first press and hold command then press tab and the open application will be displayed in a small window and each time you depress Tab you scroll to the next program and the program last selected moves to the front. To quit any of those applications, command and tab to it, then while you continue to hold down the command key, select Q and the program will close.

What is GUI?

Microsoft provides the definition of the acronym GUI, “graphical user interface. An interface that represents programs, files, and options with graphical images. These images can include icons, menus, and dialog boxes. The user selects and activates these options by pointing and clicking with a mouse or with the keyboard. A particular GUI item (for example, a scroll bar) works the same way in all applications.”

5.06.05

Upcoming Microsoft Patch Small But Important

According to eWeek Technology, the update for Microsoft to be released next Tuesday will include only one small, but important update; I haven’t had the chance to look at the email from Microsoft regarding the update yet but the eWeek tech team has this to say:

Microsoft Patch Day: 1 Bulletin Expected

"The solitary bulletin will provide a fix for a Windows flaw and carries a maximum severity rating of "important."eWEEK Technology News

New Tweaks For Tiger

Tiger tweaks are tantalizing and I have installed two of the following free treats featured as gems from MacWorld (Safari Buttons 0.4 and Amnesty 0.5b); check out the details of these free and beta apps (respectively) by clicking on the following:

Mac Gems: Tiger's First Tweaks

Take a look at some of the first interface tweaks for Tiger…
MacCentral

False Positive for Apple User Protected by Norton

MacFixIt is reporting some Mac-heads that have their computer protected by Norton Antivirus have been receiving a ‘false positive’ alert regarding the ‘hacktool.underhand’, check out the article if you are a Norton customer:

"hacktool.underhand" Trojan apparently a false positive from Norton Anti-Virus

Several MacFixIt readers have reported receiving an alert from Norton Anti-Virus of a trojan called… MacFixIt

Open Source on a Mac

Yes, you can get there from here and if you are interested in running Ubuntu on your Apple computer, then check out the Free Loader Friday Special from MacMerc:

PPC Linux

I know this is the year of the Tiger, but OS X isn't the only OS for Mac Pros. Linux for the PowerPC has made great strides this year too. And single-boot machines are so 90's.

Join me for a look at what might be the most Mac-friendly Linux distribution out there, and its not Yellow Dog. Have a look in…  MacMerc

Open Source Update

Secunia released the following bulletins for open source systems: FreeBSD (1, 2, 3), Mandriva, Fedora, and Gentoo.

Tip of the day from Multiple Platforms: KFI Offers Free Tech Support

If you have a question on any thing digital, you can get free tech support from KFI on the weekends from 11 am to 2 pm. Leo Laporte is the Tech Guy on KFI and this geek can help you solve any digital annoyance you are experiencing. Listen to Leo via the Internet or live in the Los Angeles area on AM640.

We Can Help Too

If you are to shy to call Leo, then why not ask me. If you have an annoyance with your computer, let me help solve the problem. Remember to include as much information as possible regarding the situation, including what operating system you are using and when you last updated, anything you might have installed prior to the start of the problem, if you are logged on as the administrator when the issue occurs and any other information think might be even remotely related. It really helps to include your email address in the event that I need more background information to solve your problem, but you can submit your question anonymously to: http://mailhide.recaptcha.net/d?k=01_CYdbG3G8Bh7MdskTeTP0w==&c=pKEf2yrBRdKaLmzwt1ln6WdZae-yMxuGo0u42mijLo8=/.

What is Grisoft?

Wikipedia describes Grisoft as: “Grisoft is a software house that specializes in anti-virus software. In particular, it produces the AVG Anti-Virus product. Grisoft originated in Czechoslovakia in 1991.”

Widget Wackiness, Just Because It’s the Weekend

What wisdom, wit, and words will we wean from the widget today? Just for weekend fun, here are a few items from the widgets wandering in my window…

Lucky Lotto Numbers

I’ll share these lucky lotto numbers with you, chosen at random with the lotto widget: 18, 25, 33, 34, 37, and 38. If you win, send us an email from Bermuda.

Today in history:

• First postage stamp in England, 1840
• Artic Explorer Robert Perry was born on this day in 1856 (I loved reading about the Artic explorations of this naturalist growing up)
• Father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud was born on this day in 1856
• The Hindenburg tragedy occurred on this day in 1937

The USD vs. Euro today is: 1 : .773

Translation according to the Widget with the same name: English to German – ‘will you drink lemonade with me?’, and the translation is: ‘trinken Sie Limonade mit mir?’ That is wasn’t exactly as I remembered the phrase from my junior high German class, but close enough for government work.

Weather for my Multiple Platforms World – Northern California: Partly cloudy, high 73 degrees Fahrenheit with the same expected Saturday; chance of rain on Sunday.

Word: Widget (n) in computing is a component of a user interface that operates in a particular way.

If you want to add to your Widget World Visit Apple’s Dashboard web page.

5.05.05

Multiple Platforms Subject of PC World Article

I wish the article was about this web site, Multiple Platforms.com/, but the topic is the inspiration behind this site and possibly the author will inspire more PC users to crossover to the world of Multiple Platforms. Check out the entire article here:
Up Front: Multiple Platforms, Infinite Possibilities

How to thrive in two (or more) computing worlds. Plus: two new PCW offerings.

When Tracey Capen, our executive editor for reviews, went hunting for a new computer for his home network, he knew what he wanted: an affordable, secure, compact machine with enough hardware muscle and software savvy for demanding jobs like video editing. He found all of the above in a Mac Mini. PC WORLD

Phishing Attacks Employ Keyloggers

According to a report carried by CNET, phishers are using keylogger programs to steal sensitive data from your PC on a more frequent basis. The report was released by the Anti-Phishing Working Group associated with Websense, a security software company; so take the warning with a grain of salt, but keep an open mind regarding the possibility that these types of attacks exist and crackers will try anything to get your money. Read more on this issue from CNET:

Phishing attacks take a new twist

Schemes involving malicious code that intercepts passwords and usernames are on the rise, Websense Security Labs reports.CNET News.com

Shuffle Solidifies Apple’s Music Stranglehold

Apple continues to ride the wave of popularity created first by the iPod and now continued by the iPod Shuffle and CNET reports that a whopping 58% of the flash player market is going to Apple:

Shuffle grabs 58% of flash player market

Blog: Judging by the proliferation of iPod Shuffles you see bopping around these days, it's no surprise: Apple Computer's flash-based... CNET News.com

MacWorld Reviews Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT

Although I don’t cover digital cameras much here at Multiple Platforms.com/, I love the fact that digital photography has re-sparked my interest in a past hobby and we have a great time taking pictures with our Nikon CoolPix 4300. That doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t like to upgrade and the following review from MacWorld started the drool response in me:

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT (4.5 mice)

The camera’s feature set; combined with the vast assortment of available Canon mount lenses ; make the Rebel XT the best choice so far in the sub-$1,000 digital-SLR market.

Macworld Reviews

Laptop With Linux From Acer

There is such a beast, and open source users have another option for Linux on a laptop according to Linux Today:

The Inquirer: Acer Starts Selling Linux Laptops

"Taiwanese notebook giant Acer has started selling laptops loaded with the Linux operating system through its distributor and reseller channel...Linux Today

Open Source Update

Secunia released the following bulletins for open source systems: Ubuntu, Red Hat (1, 2).

Tip of the day from Multiple Platforms: USB Flash Drive Helps Swap File

A USB Flash Drive (AKA thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, micro hard drive, pocket drive, USB key) can help you store files safely, carry important files with you where ever you go, and it can help you transfer files between your Multiple Platforms systems. Because the flash drive memory uses the FAT file system, it is compatible with most computers and additional drivers are not required. You can also use an iPod Shuffle as a flash drive, but with the cost of thumb drives so low, why fill your Shuffle with data when instead it can contain the latest free tune from the iTunes Music Store (click on the logo to the left to download your free tune).

What is McAfee?

According to Wikipedia, “McAfee, Inc. is an antivirus and computer security company headquartered in Santa Clara, California. It markets McAfee VirusScan and related security products and services, including the IntruShield, Entercept, and Foundstone brands.

The company was founded in 1987 as McAfee Associates, named for its founder John McAfee. Network Associates was formed in 1997 as a merger of McAfee Associates and Network General. In the year 2004, a major restructuring occurred. In the spring, the company sold the Magic Solutions business to Remedy, a subsidiary of BMC Software. In the summer of 2004, the company sold the Sniffer Technologies business to Network General. Also, the company changed its name to McAfee to reflect its focus on security-related technologies.

 

5.04.05
Apple Updates ‘Old’ Operating Systems

According to Secunia, and CNET, Apple has released an important security update for their pre-Tiger operating systems, including the popular Panther version (OS X 10.3.x). Read more about the technical aspects of the update from Secunia or surf to CNET for the non-geek version of the story. Remember to correct disk permissions and disconnect any Firewire devices prior to installing an update on your Mac. I have also included the link to Apple’s OS X Documents regarding the update:

About Security Update 2005-005

Release date: Tue,  3 May 2005 15:07:50 -0500
Apple Computer Top Mac OS X Documents

Mac OS X Security Update Fixes Multiple Vulnerabilities

Apple has issued a security update for Mac OS X, which fixes various vulnerabilities. Secunia - Latest Secunia Security Advisories

Apple patches a batch of Mac OS X flaws

Computer maker issues 20 patches aimed at pre-Tiger versions of its operating system. CNET News.com

Integer Overflow: Multiple Platforms Visitor Has This Problem

A visitor to Multiple Platforms.com contacted me with a question regarding integer overflow: “Why do I get an INTEGER OVERFLOW error message on my Windows XP whenever I try to open my favorite game? I've played every day without problems until now.”

According to k4thryn from Tech FAQ, “An integer overflow, or integer wrapping, is a potential problem in a program based upon the fact that the value that can be held in a numeric datatype is limited by the data type's size in bytes.
Why should you care? If you try to put a value into a data type that is too small to hold it, the high-order bits are dropped, and only the low-order bits are stored. Another way of saying that is that modulo-arithmetic is performed on the value before storing it to make sure it fits within the datatype.”

What can cause these types of problems? According to Symantec, “Microsoft Windows is reported prone to a remote integer overflow vulnerability. This issue is due to a failure of the application to properly ensure that user-supplied input does not result in the overflowing of integer values. This may result in data being copied past the end of a memory buffer.

It is reported that this issue exists in the 'LoadImage' function of the USER32 library. An attacker can exploit this condition by sending a malformed file to a user. If the user opens this file, the integer overflow condition may be triggered. A successful attack would occur in the context of the vulnerable user and may lead to the attacker gaining unauthorized access to an affected computer.

This vulnerability may be present in applications that import the vulnerable function. At the time of writing, it is not known if third-party applications are affected by this vulnerability.”

What can you do to prevent these problems? It could be caused by a number of things including a recent update from Microsoft according to some people plagued with similar problems. Without knowing more about the specifics of this readers problems and based on a trouble free history of using the program before, and given that Windows XP can be vulnerable to these attacks, I would use the various tools available to protect and check the health of their PC. AVG Antivirus, Spyware S&D, Ad-aware, and Microsoft’s new Windows AntiSpyware programs are free and can find most security problems infecting a computer. If you haven’t updated to SP 2, make sure you first disinfect your PC before installing the update, and backup your computer. Then update to SP 2 (read more about the safest method for performing this procedure from Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI). There are other things you can try including searching for an update for your third-party software, or roll back your XP system to a date before this problem started to occur, but again without specific information regarding this annoyance it is difficult to extend more detailed advice. Try a Google search with the name of your game and Windows XP to determine if others are having the same difficulty. If you have experienced this problem and have a suggestion to remedy the issue, please share it with us at: http://mailhide.recaptcha.net/d?k=01_CYdbG3G8Bh7MdskTeTP0w==&c=pKEf2yrBRdKaLmzwt1ln6WdZae-yMxuGo0u42mijLo8=/.

Open Source Update

Secunia released the following bulletins for open source systems: Debian and Ubuntu (1, 2, 3)

Tip of the day from Multiple Platforms: Get Help With Annoyances

Happy Birthday to Multiple Platforms.com! It was one year ago that I started Multiple Platforms.com and the web site, the designing of the same, and the daily grind of compiling the tech news has been a learning experience and a labor of love. I hope you have enjoyed visiting the web site, and no this isn’t a good-bye; but what I would like to start returning to is answering more of your questions. I had originally envisioned this web site as a help site and not a tech news site, but as there wasn’t enough questions to respond to initially and there was a plethora of tech news to report about. So to celebrate the one-year milestone I am inviting readers to help me help you by submitting a question regarding a computer annoyance. I will work hard to find a remedy for your problem but remember to include any information pertinent to the problem; for example: what operating system you are using, when you last updated, security measures you have in-place, and if you want a personal reply make sure you include your email address. Send your questions to: http://mailhide.recaptcha.net/d?k=01_CYdbG3G8Bh7MdskTeTP0w==&c=pKEf2yrBRdKaLmzwt1ln6WdZae-yMxuGo0u42mijLo8=/.

From the Archives:
A Year Ago Today This Was a Story for Multiple Platforms
5-04-04: Sasser is Serious

The Sasser. worm family is spreading faster than originally suspected and MS is taking the attack seriously. If you have downloaded the latest security update from MS, you can check if you are infected. If you are not sure if you have the latest update, check for the latest Windows Update here. You can also download a Sasser worm removal tool from MS. If you have family or friends that do not update their systems, download the removal tool and burn it to a disk. Then if they get the Sasser worms, you will become SuperGeek when you save their computer from the evil hackers! It would also be great to include in that burn a free antivirus from AVG and when you get their system virus-free go to ZoneAlarm for a firewall, then go to Spybot S&D and Ad-aware (it really is beneficial to have to spyware programs working together) and gently remind them of the geek motto: BUB (Backup-Update-Backup). If you stay updated, have a router, then you can help take the joy out of at least this part of hacking. Macs are not targets of Sasser according to the BBC.

What is Symantec?

This definition for Symantec comes from Wikipedia, “Symantec Corporation founded in 1982, is an information security company headquartered in Cupertino, California that specializes in computer security and antivirus software.

Symantec has been primarily known for its Norton brand of antivirus and utility software, named for software engineerPeter Norton.

Some software products released by the Symantec Corporation are Norton AntiVirus, Norton Commander, Norton Internet Security, Norton Personal Firewall, Norton SystemWorks (which now contains the venerable Norton Utilities), Norton AntiSpam, Norton GoBack, and Norton Ghost.

Due to the recent acquisition of PowerQuest, Symantec now produces the newest versions of PartitionMagic, called Norton PartitionMagic. This is true as well of the Netware partition manager, PowerQuest ServerMagic, now called Symantec ServerMagic. Drive Image has become Norton Ghost, replacing the original program.

The Symantec Security Response organization (formerly Symantec Antivirus Research Center) is one of the foremost antivirus and computer security research groups in the industry.”

5.03.05

Sober Worm Returns

CNET is reporting that the Sober worm is responsible for another wave of spam crashing into our inboxes. The latest variant has been named Sober.P and it first co-opts your address book and steals your acquaintances email addresses, then bombards your soon-to-be ex-friends with spam.

Sober worm variant makes the rounds

Sober.P harvests e-mail addresses from a victim and then sends a barrage of spam to those recipients. CNET News.com

Sleepy Macs

Macs not responding after entering the sleep mode is a problem that seems to appear with every update or upgrade from Apple and some of those migrating to Tiger have experienced this annoyance. If you have a Mac that is reluctant to wake-up, visit MacFixIt by clicking on the following link:

Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) #8: Wake-from-sleep issues, solutions; More on Spotlight limitations; Mail.app 2.0 solutions; more

Wake-from-sleep issues continued We continue to receive reports from readers whose Mac OS X 10.4-upgraded systems will not wake properly from sleep, either refusing to wake completely or …MacFixIt

Revenge of The Screen Savers

Leo Laporte and the gang from the old Screen Savers show have recorded another installment of their joint podcast: ROTSS (Revenge of The Screen Savers), and you can access the MP3 file using this link:

The Last ROTSS...

...And the first TWIT. This WEEK in TECH is up for May 1, 2005. This edition is an hour long, because we had so much good stuff.
In this episode: We come up with a new name and new URL. Patrick reviews WinHEC. John C. Dvorak visits from beyond the grave. We answer listener questions about Tiger. And Kevin picks our site of the week: http://boxedthoughts.com. Join Leo Laporte, Patrick Norton, Kevin Rose, Robert Heron, and John C. Dvorak for a look at This WEEK in TECH. [The Laporte Report]

Open Source Update

Secunia released the following bulletins for open source systems: Fedora (1, 2, 3), Ubuntu, and Slackware.

Tip of the day from Multiple Platforms: Alternatives to Internet Explorer

Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI has compiled a list of browsers that you can use as an alternative to Internet Explorer. Options a