Get Your LiveUpdate running!
ISS has reported a large vulnerability in a component that is used in most of Symantec products. Symantec has acknowledged this and is fixing these problems through its LiveUpdates of its products. Symantec has buried it’s acknowledgement of the problem. If you want to read it and see if your product is affected, here is Symantec’s announcement.
phpBB taken down!
Well it seems a hacker group has taken it upon themselves to take down phpBB.com. phpBB is a popular open source forum software. Not to long ago there was a worm going around targeting this popular software using Google to find vulnerable systems. The worm utilized a flaw in PHP to gain access to systems and deface them. In this case it was a flaw in awstats that was used to deface the site. phpBB has taken the forums down and replaced it with a splash screen explaining what had transpired. It seems as if they could be down for almost a week since they are having the actual server shipped from their data farm to their location for further investigation as to the extend of the compromise.
Move over Google
Looks like Google might get dethroned soon. Microsoft has just released it’s new Search engine and has added some pretty unique features to it tool set. Microsoft has added the ability for you to do search based on your location using the “Near me” option. When this option is used it does a reverse IP lookup to estimate location. It can also give answers to simple questions such as “How many carbs in a potato?” or “Who shot JFK”. The new search engine hooks into Microsoft’s extensive information contained in its Encarta product. Head on over to search.msn.com and give it a try.
Having a Latte
Well Its Saturday afternoon and I am sitting in Starbucks wit a client discussing Web Design and the Internet
Strong arming bloggers
What is it with big companies trying to squash bloggers lately? First it was Apple going after a 19 year old blogger concerning a scoop on Apple’s new iPod shuffle and mini Mac before they announced at Mac World. Now it seems Microsoft wants to get some bad PR by going after a couple of sites blogging about the future of their mobile technologies. It is a shame that since these bloggers are not large publications, companies like Apple and Microsoft can have their way with them. Since most of them couldn’t afford to protect themselves in court against them they usually back down due to threats from these companies. The fact is that these companies are not under any NDAs (Non Disclosure Agreements) so why go after them. Go after the people who leaked the information rather than these individuals only reporting on the information that has been given them. If the people reporting the information were CNN or the New York Times, would the companies even attempt to sue them let alone strong arm them? If you ant to read some more info on these instances follow the links below.
Microsoft Boggers Recieve Legal Threats Think Secret Gets Legal Defense
Computer? Whats a computer?
I was taught by my parents to show kindness and help your neighbors. After my current interactions with my neighbor, I might have to re-think that idealistic concept. My car has custom license plates with the word ‘PC-Doc’ imprinted on it. Well my neighbor saw this and knocked on my door one night. They asked if I fixed computers and I told them that I was a Network Engineer but asked “what was the problem they were having?” After hearing her reply I said I would drop by since it sounded like a spyware / virus problem. I loaded Adaware, Spybot and AVG Anti-Virus onto a USB thumbdrive and went over. Once I got there the machine was infested with viruses and spyware. The file / registry key count was in the thousands. I spent an hour and cleaned the system out for them. They then asked how much they owed me for the service and I did the neighborly thing and told them not to worry about it. I also told them to do themselves a favor and purchase Symantec AntiVirus and a Linksys DSL/Cable router since their cable modem was directly attached to the workstation. Well they didn’t listen to me about the router and I have since had to pay them two more visits. They have now turned into the bane of my existence. Looking back at things now I should have charged them my regular rate of $150 an hour and they would have thought twice about asking me again for help. Since I was kind and helped them, I am now their personal computer guru (pulls hair out of head just thinking about it). Take a tip from your uncle Doc, avoid helping out friends and neighbors with computer problems unless you truly want to have the little personal time you have for yourself stripped away.
Battlestar GaWacktica
Some how I missed this the first time it came around. A client of mine told me about Battlestar Galactica being redone. My first thought was that they picked it up from where they left off, when they got to earth. He then informed me that they redid the story from the beginning and that Edward James Olmos was playing Adama. I would have no problem with anyone redoing the show. However they completely destroyed the show within the first 15 minutes.
These are my major issues with the show:
1. Starbuch is a girl
2. Apollo hates Adama
3. Cylones look human
4. Battlestar Galactica can jump (Hyperdrive)
5. Baltar is now a scientist
6. They only have a handful vipers
7. The casting of all the characters is just horrid.
The list does not end there it just keeps on rolling. Why mess around with a classic that was well done in the first place. This is a real slap in the face for any true Sci-Fi fan.
The Mac mini
Sounds like something on the McDonald’s Kids menu, but this mini belongs to Apple. I have a love hate relationship with Apple. I have owned many Macs over the years and I have sold them all on eBay. I love Apple’s OS X interface however it always comes down to issues with me. The two issues being cost of ownership and the miniscule amount of software available compared to a PC. Well it might be time for me to plunk down some money on a new Mac. Apple introduced a new headless inexpensive Mac they call the “Mac mini”. The base model is priced just below $500 the specs aren’t much to talk about, but at least you’re not out a lot for something to play around with. To find out more about Apple’s new offering, just follow the link.