1,331 Posted Topics
 | Akronix, a company that provides IM security and management tools, reports that Q3 2005 attacks on IM networks averaged more than one per day. The report mentions that IM borne viruses were "often mutations of other varients, however in September, we had seven new viruses." The report did not mention …  |
| | Launched September 5, 1977, the Voyager 1 spacecraft has crossed the Termination Shock* of our solar system, and has entered a new region of space at extreme distances from our sun. According to researchers at the University of Maryland, Voyager made this transition December 16, 2004, and it took researchers … |
| | Microsoft's new Digital Locker system allows users of Windows computers to download computer software from a variety of vendors. A number of software vendors already provide this functionality -- Microsoft's system brings those vendors under "one roof", manages the financial transactions, and then stores the license information for later use … |
| | Apple has upgraded the adorable Mac Mini. Reports on the internet reveal that the advertised 1.42 GHz computer was actually shipped at 1.5 GHz, and sported some other features. The new Mac Mini reportably has the following new features: * New 8x Dual-layer Super Drive, model UJ-845. This media device … |
| | According to some online blogs, TiVo is employing a new scheme of digital rights management (DRM) which allows program sponsors (the people who provide the show, such as the network, or perhaps the syndication agency) to define when a show may be watched, and if it may be stored for …  |
| | According to Steve Jobs, Apple Computer is ontrack to ship Intel based Macintosh computers by June 2006. Jobs said at the recent Apple Expo (Paris) that "We said we'd be shipping by next June, and we are on track to have that be a true statement." Apple made announcements several … |
| | OpenOffice.Org, the creaters and maintainers of the open-sourced OpenOffice, have just released version 1.1.5 of their office software suite. The update addresses a security problem concerning a buffer overflow; there are other issues that are repaired since version 1.1.4, such as porting updates (OpenOffice was developed for Linux first, and … |
| | Security researchers announced a new vulnerability for users of the Firefox 1.0.6 browsers on a Unix or Linux platform. The problem revolves around a security bug that could allow hackers to execute arbitrary shell commands if they can trick the user into accepting a malicious link on a website. The … |
| | Symantec released a report comparing Mozilla Firefox vs. Windows Explorer, and found that Firefox had more security flaws, but Explorer's were more severe. The report also disclosed statistics on a number of other concerns involving Internet Security. Using data collected between January and June 2005, Mozilla's browsers suffered 25 vendor-confirmed … |
| | What does Googlebombing mean? How does it affect IT? Can it affect the integrity of website searches? Should search engines have the ethical responsibility to restore / correct the rubble the Googlebomb causes? Let's look into this facinating new word I learned today. According to Wikipedia, Googlebombing is "the attempt … |
| | Microsoft messed up Update Rollup 1, that caused compatability problems with several vendor applications such as Citrix, Sophos, and some parts of Microsoft Office. Programs were unable to access floppy disks, or even crashed more often, or simply didn't work. Microsoft earlier remarked that only a handful of applications failed … |
| | Massachusetts has a new state policy that requires state agencies to use an "Open Document" format in their business applications. Not surprisingly, propriety software giant Microsoft has filed complaints with the state concerning the policy. Back in 2003, the Massachusetts Office of Administration and Finance directed the state agencies to … |
| | Early in September, NASA implemented new software controls on the Hubble Space Telescope, allowing it to shut down one of the three remaining gyroscopes, reserving the third gyroscope for later use. By doing this, scientists hope to extend the Hubble's mission through mid-2008. Gyroscopes are rotating mechanisms that remain fixated … |
| | Apple Computer, announced on Wednesday a new cell phone that serves as an iTunes player. The phone, available only through Cingular Wireless holds about 100 songs that are downloaded from a Windows PC or Macintosh, and the songs are managed just like an iPod. According to the FAQ, the phone … |
| | FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Association committed acts of browser discrimination by only allowing people with Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer 6.0 to file electronic claims in response to Hurricane Katrina. This means that if I was an affected citizen of the US, and had my Mac laptop with me …  |
| | WinFS is Microsoft's new Relational File System, and the company released a Beta 1 edition of the software to members of the Microsoft Developer Network. Originally planned for a Windows Vista release, the software runs on Windows XP. A forthcomming Beta 2 release should work on the beta releases of … |
| | GAP, Inc. the owners of Gap.com and OldNavy.com closed down their websites last week to prepare them for the upcoming holiday season. Instead of developing a test-beta site, they opted to close the websites completely, and complete the overhaul before releasing it to the public. The company is collecting email … |
| | The case between Google and Microsoft over executive Kal-Fu Lee began this week in court. According to reports, the case already has both sides trowing mud at each other. Some of you may recall that Kal-Fu Lee, a former executive of Microsoft, recently left the company and joined Google in … |
| | What is a Wiki? I have seen the word before when installing eGroupware, a web-based emailing and calendar program that could give Microsoft Exchange a real run for the money. But I haven't had the chance to really think about what a Wiki was until I used Wikipedia, and looked …  |
| | Last week, Intel announced a new chip design that promises less power use per unit time, along with embedded security and management functions. The goal is to provide a 3.5 times performance-per-watt improvement over today's single-core Xeon based server CPU. Intel's CEO Paul Otellini said that this new design goal … |
| | Hello, I am a firm believer in spelling, punctuation, and complete composure of thought. You can tell who has English as a Second Language (ESL), and I will work with those folks to help them along... they usually get the verb tenses wrong, or miss some words or get a … |
| | Creative Technology, the makers of the Soundblaster cards, and more recently, the Zen Neon portable music players, confirmed this week that 4,000 of it's shipped Neon music players shipped with the Wullik.b worm that affects Windows computers. Wullik.b came to the world in 2003 and it attacks all flavors of … |
| | The Mozilla Foundation ([url]www.mozilla.org[/url]) has announced that Firefox 1.5 Beta 1 is due on September 8. Firefox is an alternative web browser to IE developed by the Mozilla foundation, the group of people who brought us Netscape and other fine utilities. Firefox is available for Windows, Macintosh (both OS 9 … |
| | Imagine turning on your radio, and instead of hearing music or your sports program, you hear a buzzing noise that is more annoying than static. You try to tune in your favorite station, but you cannot hear it anymore until you drive out of town, or perhaps you need to … |
| | Toshiba announced last week that they are producing a 1.8" hard drive using perpendicular recording to allow hard drive storage capabilities to 40 GB on a single platter. These types of drives are found in small hand-held devices such as Apple's iPod MP3 player. Computers typically use 2.5" hard drives. … |
| | Mid last week, Intel and Matsushita announced that they are working on an 8 hour notebook battery solution featuring Intel's low-power consumption technology powered by Matsushita's lithium-ion battery solutions. Currently, (pardon the pun) laptops range anywhere from 3 - 6 hours, depending on what the users's power settings are. Users … |
| | Hello, I am a ham radio operator, and during times of weather emergencies, a number of us use our radios to communicate information to civil authorities, such as the National Weather Service, the Red Cross, or FEMA. One of the methods of communication involves a "voice over IP" or using … |
| | Webroot, the makers of Spy Sweeper, are claiming that 8 out of 10 corporate PCs are infected with Spyware. Wow! That's a significant amount of computers. Looking at my personal experience troubleshooting and repairing computers, I have to agree with them. Before we go to deeply, let's define Spyware. According … |
| | What, exactly, is free speech? What is allowed by the US 1st Amendment? Where are the lines drawn concerning what people can say, and how they can be liable for their statements? "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging … |
| | On August 17, CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) released information about Apple Mac products facing several security Vulnerabilities. Systems affected: Mac OS X 10.3.9 and 10.4.2 (both workstation and server) Apps affected: Apple Safari Web browser. Apple has addressed these issues in "Apple Security Update 2005-007" According to CERT's writeup, … |
| | Attention Microsoft Users -- As of late Tuesday afternoon Chicago time, major news networks are reporting being affected by a new bug called Zotob. It affects Microsoft systems, as described in a Microsoft Bulliton MS05-039, a document that was released earlier this month. CERT sources say that they have seen … |
| | Congress is debating an Energy bill, and one of the measures of that bill is to lengthen Daylight Savings Time about a month. For those who may be outside of the US, or places along the equator, there are some countries that change their time clocks to take advantage of …  |
| | The purpose of Marketing is simple: get your message to a customer, with as little cost as possible, and motivate them to purchase your product. As an engineer / scientist, I thought some of the gizmos such as free pens, the little footballs, the shirts and coffee cups were all … |
| | According to hardware.silicon.com, Microsoft revealed Longhorn Server (Windows Server 2007?) to 5000 people this week. Microsoft confirmed the release that these people will receive a beta for the next-generation OS. The Longhorn Server is not available for public download. There is no date schedule for when a beta may or … |
| | According to Information week, AMD and Intel have cut their prices on their processor platforms, anywhere from 10 to 30 percent on some models, such as the Centrino and Athlon64 X2 dual-core chips. This is interesting news, considering that there is a lawsuit in Federal Court in Deleware, where Intel … |
| | Hello, The shuttle was delayed another day. I also think it is doing remarkably well. I am also really ashamed that as Americans, who got to the moon in the late 60's, could not put together a mission within a year to return to the moon. We are looking at … |
| | Ladies and Gentlemen, stop the presses! Well, in today's world, I should change that... Stop uploading the websites! This is BIG News. Ever since Apple came out with the Macintosh (1984), they have only shipped with one-button mice. Even mice prepared for the Apple IIe / IIc / IIgs had … |
| | According to Information Week (July 25, 2005), Firefox is facing a release delay. The article mentions that the Mozilla foundation has delayed the release of the next major version of Firefox until September. The current version of Firefox is 1.0.6 Firefox is a major alternative to Internet Explorer, the default … |
| | Re: WH Toy Drive Hello, It sounds like a good deal. Do not wish to steal your thunder, but if people are more comfortable donating "locally", the USMC (United States Marine Corps) has an annual "Toys for Tots", and offer in many major cities, the ability to drive up and place a Toy in … |
| | Hello, Question for the group: If you replace the files from the CD-ROM, you would be going back to the "shipping version" and be installing files that may have been patched. How can one be sure that an unstable condition is not being created? If Microsoft makes registry edits when … |
 | Hi, I too would like it removed from here. I think it is a distraction from the mission of the forum. Christian |
| | Hello, I would guess that this is handled by the Windows Registry. You can make what is called a .reg file that inserts information into the registry. You could write a C++ code to prompt the user the desktop options, and then have the C++ program make the registry edit. … |
 | Hello, This may be way-overboard, but I would love to see a virtual environment of a router-network. Have a program that when launched sets up an environment. Use a couple shapes for routers, and have abilities to program in IP numbers and perhaps other protocols. Have it accept the subnet …  |
| | Hello, You want to go strict, because if you have a traditional firewall setup, that firewall is protecting you from attacks on the internet, but not inspecting anything coming through the wireless, because it is *assumed to be trusted*. DMR is very good at what he does, and he will …  |
| | Hello, You might have an OS issue, and / or a permissions issue. Is your W2K3 server completely patched and up to date? The next time this happens, have the Windows user login on a Mac, and see if the file permissions are correct. If there is a permission problem, … |
| | Hello, Are you referring to the viewer program, or the server program? The server program is called Terminal Services, and it can be found on NT Server, 2000 Server, 2003 Server, and XP Professional. Not sure if it is on XP Home or not. When run in administrative mode, it … |
| | Hello Blue, The question you are asking is similar to the questions that someone buying a car or a house should be asking. I am personally biased in favor of Macintosh, and if you are interested in that OS, we can talk further. If you are already sold on Windows …  |
| | Hello, Is there something about the password that could be different, such as is your caps lock on or not? Do you have any other accounts on the machine, such as another administrator account, or did you enable the root account? If so, you can get into the machine from … |
 | Hello, Back in my day, I saw a lot of people working with a package called pspice. Do a google search for it. I remember people could layout a bunch of components with it, and then simulate different volts and amps. I did not get deeply into it, however. Christian |
| | Hello, I would argue that if you have a 24 x 7 connection, you do need a personal firewall, especially to prevent access to file sharing on the Windows computer. If you are dialing up, and then disconnecting after checking your mail or whatnot, then your risk is smaller due … |
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