Compuker Security Info

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

FYI, two recent computer vulnerabilities items.


Hacker highlights gaping Vista security hole

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2183507/vista-secirity-hole-discovered


Firefox Flaw Could Let Attackers Change Cookies

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2096266,00.asp

[WA1GFZ]

I guess vista will need another 100 meg of hard drive space.
another hunk of crap out of ms

[KA8WTK]

Firefox has a flaw? Say it isn't so!!

[k4kyv]

Besides anti-virus and anti-spyware programs, you need to install a custom HOSTS file.  The one I use is probably the best one available and is absolutely free of charge.

You don't hear a lot about it because it is a hack that kills many "legitimate" but annoying banner ads.  For example, I never get any of the banner ads that are supposed come with my free Hotmail account - making it almost like using my ISP account.  And the ad-laden sites load up much more quickly, since each ad is a separate web address that must load before the main page appears.  I'm sure M$ and others who run "free" web sites financed by advertising, aren't thrilled about the availability of the HOSTS file.

But my spyware and adware count, as indicated by Spybot Search & Destroy, AdAware SE and M$ Defender, dropped by about 95% after I installed the file.  I have mine set up to e-mail me whenever a fortnightly updated version is released.  Updates have to be manually installed by the user, but once you get hang, it takes about 45 seconds, every two weeks or so.

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

[N3DRB The Derb]

http://www.apple.com/getamac/

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Mozilla has just posted an update/patch for Firefox.

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/2.0.0.2/releasenotes/

[k4kyv]

That's MS, never finished fixing XP, so come out with Vista-start plugging holes in it, make millions!

And they're already talking about the version that will follow Vista.

I don't plan to "upgrade" to Vista.  From what I am hearing the new features are not worth the hassle, or the expense.

Firefox has flaws also! Now I feel better about not switching!

Show me some software that doesn't have flaws.  I still like Firefox better than IE, even the new version (which I also installed).

I just finished installing the Firefox update to v 2.0.0.2.

[WA3VJB]

Long time ago I re-named the desktop link from Windows Upgrade to Window Repairs. 

It gets used quite a bit.

[W1RKW]

I have to concur with Don on the MVPS.org host file.  It eliminates a bunch of BS and  makes surfing speedier. 

Occassionally I will run into a website that won't work 100% like the local news channel or sometimes there's something on CNN I want to view which causes me to have to switch out the host file.  I have 2 small batch files that allow me to switch it in or out with a mouse click.

[k4kyv]

I have to concur with Don on the MVPS.org host file.  It eliminates a bunch of BS and  makes surfing speedier. 

Occassionally I will run into a website that won't work 100% like the local news channel or sometimes there's something on CNN I want to view which causes me to have to switch out the host file.  I have 2 small batch files that allow me to switch it in or out with a mouse click.

The website gives specific step-by-step instructions on how to install the batch file.  Initially, the HOSTS file could slow down your computer, but there is an easy and effective work-around (the site gives step-by-step instructions):

    In most cases a large HOSTS file (over 135 kb) tends to slow down the machine. This only occurs in W2000/XP/Vista. Windows 98 and ME are not affected.

    To resolve this issue (manually) open the "Services Editor"

        * Start | Run (type) "services.msc" (no quotes)
        * Scroll down to "DNS Client", Right-click and select: Properties
        * Click the drop-down arrow for "Startup type"
        * Select: Manual, or Disabled (recommended) click Apply/Ok and restart. (a link is given for more info, and explanation why the above "Service" is not needed)

[nu2b]

I love Mozilla...
They just did an auto notify/auto update for me about an hour ago.

Firefox update to v 2.0.0.2
Took about 1 minute on my slow dialup.
BobbyT

[Opcom]

another horror and abomination, brought to you by Adobe:

The next generation tracking cookie and web site monitoring tool…

Subject: Fwd: clear out those Flash settings

 http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/helpdesk/?p=992&tag=nl.e103

[K3ZS]

After being forced to download Adobe Flash 10, I was really annoyed that these flash cookies exist.    Maybe it is common knowledge among the gurus, but I never knew about this before.  After disabling them at the Adobe site, many programs that seemed to have nothing to do with the flash player did not work.   One of them, my favorite music source, pandora.com would not work.    I reluctantly reenabled everything so that many of the programs I used will work.    There oughta be a law against the snoops in the internet.

[ka3zlr]

It's Public Domain, there's no Privacy on the Net, I like the new TV commercial that's telling the public to Back up their kompukers to their site for security's sake...I wonder how many folks did that....now there's a Data base to work with...LOL...

73
Jack.

[K3ZS]

Next time maybe I will getamac.    One good reason to do it.    Are they prone to these things?

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

The Flash problem Opcom posted is a problem on the Macs too.

[Ed/KB1HYS]

Damn. I went and followed the directions about disabling the flash cookies. Why the HELL should I have to go to an external site to control MY COMPUTER and MY PRIVACY? That is absolute RUBBISH! 

I left some pretty negative feedback on the Adobe site about it too, FWIW.

Time to yank this damned thing outta the wall and chuck it as far as it goes. or perhaps plug the tesla coil into the network and see if it really IS a FIREWIRE!!

too bad you can't by film for those cameras anymore. that's about the only thing these spyboxes are good for is photos. of course, that's all crap as the viewers and formats change you will loose your images.  No more going through the shoe-box full of old photos of grandpa & the gang etc. one crash and you loose all your history. Used to just take a fire or flood to do it.

Sometimes new technology really sucks out loud.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

I made all those changes years ago.

It's the same on a Mac or PC. It's a Flash problem or feature. 

The Flash problem Opcom posted is a problem on the Macs too.

All you have to do is go here and adjust your settings, it easy.

http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager02.html

Note: The Settings Manager that you see above is not an image; it is the actual Settings Manager. Click the tabs to see different panels, and click the options in the panels to change your Flash Player settings.

[K3ZS]

You have to have the flash player installed to change the settings.    Change the settings and delete the flash cookies first, then remove the Adobe Flash player from you computer.    Many web sites will not work, even if no flash video is on it, after you remove the flash player.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Yea, Web designers went overboard with their use of Flash about 3-4 years ago. The more intelligent ones offer a non-Flash version of their Web site.

[W1UJR]

Love the ending, "When you're ready to compromise, you call me." 


http://movies.apple.com/media/us/mac/getamac/2009/apple-mvp-top_of_the_line-us-20090824_640x360.mov

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

It's only superior if people can view it. Most of the Flash stuff I've seen was needless fluff or could be done without it. Flash, like Frontpage extensions is anti-Web because it locks people into a propietary SW to create and view. That's great for Adobe, bad for the rest of us.

Yea, Web designers went overboard with their use of Flash about 3-4 years ago. The more intelligent ones offer a non-Flash version of their Web site.

Yeah, but Flash Video is superior for use on websites because of it's format. The file sizes are much smaller because of its better compression. It the easiest way to create almost instant download and play video on web pages.

Can you imagine going to a webpage and seeing nothing but the placeholder for a long time until the other video format starts to play while it’s downloaded?

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Not really. There are other players that work with MOVs. Further, the QT file format is an open standard adopted by the Moving Pictures Experts Group group for MPEG 4.

Finally, I've never seen a web page the was all Mov. The same cannot be said for Flash.

It's apples and dump trucks really.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Adobe wouldn't exist if it weren't for the Mac.

That said, there's a big world outside Silicon Valley. Flash is anti-Web, just like M$. For that reason alone, it blows.