Thursday Tech Reading - tech
(hx) 12:26 AM CEST - Oct,08 2004
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- Trojan pretends to do good - Security company Symantec is warning
Internet users of
a
Trojan horse that removes adware but alters the settings in computers.
While Downloader.Lunii eliminates a variety of adware programs--often known as
spyware--the Trojan also tries to maliciously change the security settings of
Windows PCs and then downloads files from unknown Web sites, Symantec said.
- Noomy.A virus spreading via chat rooms - Security experts have
warned internet users to update their antivirus systems to protect against a
newly discovered
worm dubbed Noomy.A, which "could represent a new trend in malicious code
techniques". Written in Visual Basic, the worm creates an HTTP server on
affected computers and generates a large number of files containing copies of
its code. The names of these files, designed to tempt unwary users into
believing that they are software cracks, include '2004serials.pif',
'Ageofempires2crack.exe', 'AgeOfMythologyISO.exe' or
'AnaKurnikovaVirualGirl2004.scr', among many others. Noomy.A then connects and
logs on to different IRC channels as if it were a user, and starts sending
messages to different chat rooms. The messages use social engineering
techniques to get users' attention, offering attractive content to trick them
into downloading files to their computers.
- Critical Update for Windows XP (KB885523) -
This update resolves a compatibility issue with a non-Microsoft software
application installed on your computer. This application prevents successful
installation of Windows XP Service Packs, critical security updates and other
system file updates. This update should be applied to your system to enable
safe installation of these updates now and in the future.
- Microsoft Issues Ominous ASP.Net Security Warning -
A security flaw in Microsoft's ASP.NET apparently allows access to
password-protected areas just by altering a URL. There's no patch yet, but in
the meantime Microsoft is telling ASP.NET developers they can rewrite their
applications to prevent exploits.
- RealPlayer security patch -
The flaws, that include remotely exploitable buffer overflows and file
access issues, have been fixed by Real. The patch can be downloaded from
here.
- Security Concerns Shelve MSN Messenger 7 - Microsoft has
suspended the beta testing of the next version of its MSN Messenger client
because of a potential security problem, a company spokesperson says. Testers
discovered a potential security issue in the early version of MSN Messenger 7
shortly after Microsoft made the instant messaging client available to a
select group of testers over the weekend, according to postings on MSN
Messenger enthusiast Web site Mess.be.
- BPI starts legal action against UK P2P uploaders - The UK record
industry trade association said that it
is beginning the
process of legal action against 28 UK file sharers, with more cases
expected to follow. It plans to seek damages and injunctions to stop people
illegally uploading recordings onto file sharing networks. The large-scale
uploaders subject to legal action include users of the KaZaA, Imesh, Grokster,
Bearshare and WinMX networks
- Spyware Bills Win House Approval -
Two bills designed to curb the proliferation of Internet "spyware" took
another step toward law this week with overwhelming approval from the House of
Representatives, but supporters said they face a tough race against the clock
to get Senate approval before Congress disperses for the November elections.
The House on Wednesday voted 415-0 on a bill that would send some spyware
users to jail for up to five years. On Tuesday, the House approved a second
bill in a 399-1 vote that would fine individuals and companies every time they
install spyware on people's computers without permission.
- Off-topic: Hydrogen Vehicle Generates Its Own Fuel -
The truck is hydrogen-powered and creates its own fuel from solar energy
and water, a technical feat that rivals the advanced technology being
researched by major auto companies and universities. The four-cylinder engine
is tuned to run on hydrogen, which is produced by a hand-built electrolysis
system mounted in the bed. (thanks
Slashdot.org)
- Off-topic: Man in satanic Renault terror ordeal - A traumatised
Frenchman is shaken but otherwise unharmed after his Renault Vel Satis
kidnapped him on the A71 motorway in central France and subjected him to an
hour-long 125mph terror ordeal. Hicham Dequiedt, 29, was overtaking a lorry on
said highway when the car's automatic speed regulator stuck, AFP reports.
Mercifully, Dequiedt
managed to disable the vehicle by pulling out the Renault's magnetic card
ignition key. He finally ground to a halt 12 miles from Riom. A police
officer noted: "The driver was really afraid - especially at one point when he
had to overtake at 200 kilometres per hour on the emergency lane."
- Off-topic: Scientists Find Deadly Component of 1918 Flu Virus -
Scientists who synthesized two genes from the virus that caused the 1918
Spanish influenza pandemic said Thursday
they have a found new clues about what made it so deadly. Between 20
million and 50 million people worldwide died in the 1918-1919 pandemic, the
deadliest in the past century. By unraveling the secrets of the virus,
researchers hope to improve methods to spot the next potential flu pandemic
which some scientists believe is overdue.
- Windows XP Service Pack 2 heads to retail - Microsoft last week
started the process of swapping out all of the boxed copies of Windows XP with
the updated version, with a triangle in the upper corner touting SP2 and its
security enhancements. Retailer OfficeMax is among those promoting the change,
advertising that it will have
XP SP2
on sale starting Wednesday. Over the next month, Microsoft hopes to
swap out the bulk of all boxed copies worldwide. Retailers can, through their
distributor, exchange their existing Windows XP boxes for the update.
- Piggyback developers in a bind over IE - As founder and CEO of
Stilesoft, Stiles has marketed the NetCaptor software as an IE browser for
power users. NetCaptor, which uses Microsoft's IE rendering engine to provide
browser tabs and other comparatively advanced features, has capitalized on the
fact that
IE hasn't gotten an all-around feature upgrade in more than three years.
- Google Sends Out an SMS - Google this week launched
a beta test version of Google SMS, a new service that lets users of
wireless devices query Google for specific information, such as business or
residential phone listings, product prices, and word definitions, the company
says. Google SMS also can be used to solve mathematical calculations, to look
up area codes and zip codes, and to receive snippets of Google search engine
results.
In related news, Co-Founder of Google's Blogger Leaving Company.
- BBC Wants Help With Dirac Codec - Lead developer Dr. Thomas Davies
said that
the BBC wants to collaborate with the open source community and academics
in the further development of the technology. Dirac is a general purpose video
codec which uses wavelets, motion compensation and arithmetic coding
techniques to achieve what Davies described as the most advanced open source
codec ever developed.
- AT&T Tests Linux to Replace Microsoft's Windows on 70,000 PCs - -AT&T
Corp. is testing Linux software as a replacement for Microsoft Corp.'s
Windows operating system, which runs the 70,000 personal computers used by its
employees. A decision by AT&T to abandon Windows would be Microsoft's
biggest loss to the 13-year-old Linux system
- Keyboard and mouse come to Xbox - The device, which is
detailed
on this page, simply has two PS/2 ports on one end and a controller-port
connector for the appropriate colour on the other. The units come
pre-programmed with key configurations for popular games such as Halo or
Chronicles of Riddick, and users can customise the key combinations as they
want them, including setting mouse invert. (thanks
TheInquirer)
- HP unveils cheaper, faster, smaller mono printers - Hewlett Packard
has introduced a
new range of smaller, quicker and cheaper mono printers targeted at the
home, SME and enterprise markets. Included in the launch are six new product
families containing a total of 27 new individual models. Prices range from
L219 to L2,179.
- Verbatim starts to ship 2.4 -5x DVD+R double layer 3-packs -
Verbatim announced today that
it is now shipping Verbatim 8.5GB DVD+R DL-certified discs in 3-packs.
With the new packaging, consumers have a convenient solution for experiencing
the benefits of the higher-capacity DL format as well as the quality and
reliability of Verbatim DL-certified discs. The 3-packs also provide retailers
with an ideal solution for enhancing the value of their Double Layer DVD+R
hardware products.
- Ultra 4 in 1 USB 1.1 128MB Drive / MP3 Player review -
Ap0calypse.com informed us they have posted
a
review of Ultra Product's 4 In 1 USB 1.1 MP3 Player / Voice Recorder /
Thumb Drive. Another review can be found
here.
- iRiver's H320 MP3 player review - THG has taken
a look at the iRiver's H320 digital music player. This iRiver player has a
20GB hard disk (40GB version also available) and it has a coloured
screen.
- Samsung SCD103 MiniDV Digital Video Camcorder - Tweaknews.net has
posted a
review of the Samsung SCD103 MiniDV Digital Video Camcorder.
- Dell Axim X30 PDA review - TrustedReviews have posted
a
review of the Dell Axim X30 PDA with a 624MHz PXA processor, built in
Wireless networking and Bluetooth.
- VIA K8M800: DFI K8M800-MLV review -VIA's
K8M800 integrated graphics Athlon 64 chipset has been out for a few
months, but you probably haven't seen many reviews.
- ABIT AG8 Motherboard (Socket 775) video-review -
The ABIT AG8 Motherboard is based on the Intel 915X chipset and supports
the latest Intel Socket 775 CPUs. This board has onboard 5.1 channel audio,
USB, Firewire, LAN and more. Also included is software which has a number of
very useful overclocking and monitoring features. It's loaded with goodies,
stable, performs well and is great at overclocking.
- Pioneer DVR-A08XLA DVD Writer review - After spending a good amount
of time and media on
the Pioneer DVR-A08XLA, the drive's subdued operating noise, good media
compatibility and commendable burn quality were key areas that left the
deepest impression. Pioneer's arsenal of technologies and innovations such as
Precision Recording, Quiet Drive and Performance Adjusting Firmware functioned
well and these helped deliver the drive's impressive performance.
- Ultra XConnect 500Watt Power Supply review - OCIA.net has posted
a
review of the Ultra XConnect 500 Watt Power Supply.
- Logitech MX1000 Laser Mouse review - Designtechnica has
posted a
review of Logitech MX1000 Laser Mouse.
- 8COM Wireless Digital BH220 Bluetooth Headset review - Hardware
Pacers has posted
a review on the 8COM Wireless Digital BH220 Bluetooth Headset.
- MSN Messenger 6 - WindowsX 7.2137 - A new version of the
WindowsX edition of Messenger is now available for download which ADS
patch and polygamy included with all languages and 50 skins.
- Crap Cleaner 1.14.072 -
Crap
Cleaner is a freeware system optimisation tool. That removes unused and
temporary files from your system - allowing it to run faster, more efficiently
and giving you more hard disk space.
- WinAce 2.6 Beta 2 -
WinAce (download)
is not just another archiving shell. With it's own powerful compression format
ACE and built-in support for other popular compression types like ZIP, RAR and
MS-CAB (to name a few), WinAce could actually become the only archiver you
need.
- Google Toolbar 2.0.114.6 -
The Google Toolbar
(download
winxp/2k ~
win9x/me) increases your ability to find information from anywhere on the
web and takes only seconds to install. When the Google Toolbar is installed,
it automatically appears along with the Internet Explorer toolbar.
- Nero Burning ROM 6.6 Reloaded (Unofficialy yet)-
Nero 6.6 supports for the first time a burning of short Lead Outs. Thus
one can save up to 80 seconds when burning and has 12 Mb more storage
location. A function is offered, which makes it possible to examine at the end
of the combustion the medium for errors. The Tool Nero Vision Express was
revised completely and is provided now in the version 3.It can read in and
further process immediately films already burned. All usual formats are
supported. The operation is very easy: One indicates the drive assembly, in
which is the CD or DVD and indicates vision express in an overview with
Thumbnails, which films are present. The download can also be found on
TCMagazine.
- Intel Chipset Identification Utility 2.89 -
The Intel Chipset Identification Utility provides an easy way to identify
the specific Intel chipset that is located on your motherboard.
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Updated:12:47 AM CEST Jun,04
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