MalekTips: 01-20-2005
 
Welcome to the latest issue of the MalekTips newsletter, providing computer and technology help and tips. We appreciate your subscription!
 
We have 30 new tips, found below in the latest issue of MalekTips, including:
 
* Microsoft has released a beta version of their new anti-spyware software, Microsoft AntiSpyware, based on technology purchased from GIANT. This newsletter contains information on how to download the tool, how you can bypass a potentially time-consuming Windows validation process, and warnings about running this application alongside other anti-spyware tools.
 
* Interested in taking digital photos of animals? Learn tips to reduce reflections when taking photos of fish or waterfowl, prevent perfectionism from ruining your wildlife photos, and why, when going to a zoo, you should focus some of your photography away from just the animals.
 
* This newsletter also has advice for Microsoft Excel 2003 users including how to add page numbers to your spreadsheet, tips for Word 2003 users such as displaying a word count toolbar, tweaks for Mozilla Firefox users including preventing a possible privacy violation by disabling form information saving, and information about Putty, a Telnet/SSH client that system administrators should consider.
 
Remember - if you have a computer question, be sure to visit the MalekTips forums at http://www.malektips.com/forums
 
Andrew Malek MalekTips.Com
 
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Don't keep all these great tips to yourself - be sure to tell a friend about what's available, at no cost, on MalekTips.Com, and please pass this newsletter along! Let them know they can sign up to receive notifications regarding new tips added to the site.
 
Point them to the following web address to sign up and read past newsletters online: http://malektips.com/maillist
 
* Recent MalekTips Front Page Stories *
 
1-20-05: Andrew Malek Will be on Photo Talk Radio
 
Interested in talking about digital photography? I will be on Photo Talk Radio, "The Worldwide Voice of Photography", this Saturday, January 22, 2005 at 11a-noon EST (8a-9a PST). You can listen in by visiting the following website. Plus, you can call-in and ask questions during the LIVE show free in the United States and Canada at 888-514-2100, or (toll call) 001-858-268-3068 from all other communities worldwide. If you can't listen in live, an archive of the show will be available.
 
Even if you don't call in, be sure to listen to the program for hints and advice about the exciting world of digital photography!
 
Link (External Site): http://www.phototalkradio.com/
 
1-19-2005: Oracle Critical Patch Update
 
Oracle has released a Critical Patch Update for various of its products, including several versions of its database and database servers, application server, Collaboration Suite, and E-Business Suite and Applications Release. This patch includes security and non-security related fixes.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.oracle.com/technology/deploy/security/a
lerts.htm
 
1-19-2005: JibJab's "Second Term" Dedicated to Elvis
 
JibJab is an it again, this time with a new movie lampooning George Bush's "Second Term". All the old friends are there, including Cheney, Kerry, Edwards, and yes, President and Senator Clinton. Enjoy! Note that some of the jokes are not for kiddies.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.jibjab.com/
 
1-18-2005: Google Releases Picasa(tm)2.
 
Google has announced the release of Picasa(tm)2, the latest version of their photo management product. New features include additional editing tools including 12 photographic filter effects; file backup capabilities; sharing features such as the ability to upload photos to a Blogger blog; the ability to order prints via Ofoto, Shutterfly, Snapfish, and Walmart, and more.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.picasa.com/
 
1-18-2005: Internet Explorer Weakness
 
Security firm Secunia has reported a "weakness" in Internet Explorer 5 and 6, even with Windows XP SP2. This can be exploited by malicious scripts to detect that local files exist on a user's system. No patch is available, but disabling Active Scripting prevents this from occurring.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/13872/
 
1-15-2005: Archived Newsletters Online
 
I've just uploaded 5 archived issues of the MalekTips Computer and Technology Help newsletter, covering tips on Microsoft Excel 2003, digital photography, Windows XP, Microsoft Word 2003, Mozilla Firefox, Adobe Reader 7, Winamp 5, anti-spyware tools, and more - 150 tips in all. If you're not a newsletter subscriber and want to see what's been recently added to the site, or if you are a subscriber but want to catch up on the latest tips, check them out.
 
* January 13, 2005
 
* December 29, 2004
 
* December 21, 2004
 
* December 9, 2004
 
* December 2, 2004
 
Link: http://malektips.com/maillist/computer_help_newsle
tter_01-13-2005.html
 
Link: http://malektips.com/maillist/computer_help_newsle
tter_12-29-2004.html
 
Link: http://malektips.com/maillist/computer_help_newsle
tter_12-21-2004.html
 
Link: http://malektips.com/maillist/computer_help_newsle
tter_12-09-2004.html
 
Link: http://malektips.com/maillist/computer_help_newsle
tter_12-02-2004.html
 
1-13-2005: 30 New Tips in Computer / Tech Help Newsletter
 
The latest FREE MalekTips Computer and Technology Help Newsletter was just sent out. 30 NEW tips were released in the following categories: Adobe Reader 7.0, digital portrait photography, Microsoft Excel 2003, Microsoft PowerPoint 2003, the Mozilla Firefox web browser, and WordPad with Windows XP.
 
1-13-2005: iTunes Vulnerability
 
Security firm Secunia has reported a "highly critical" buffer overflow vulnerability involving iTunes. If exploited, it may allow remote users to execute code. Version 4.7.1 has been released to address this vulnerability.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/13804/
 
Link (External Site): http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/itunes471.h
tml
 
1-13-2005: Winamp Vulnerability
 
Security firm Secunia has reported a buffer overflow vulnerability involving Winamp. Version 5.08c has been released to address this issue.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/13781/
 
Link (External Site): http://www.winamp.com/
 
1-13-2005: "Weakness" spotted in Mozilla and Mozilla Firefox
 
Security firm Secunia has reported a "not critical" weakness in Mozilla and Mozilla Firefox. Popup windows can overlap modal dialogs, allowing for a possible spoofing attack. The solution - "Do not take positive actions on dialogs from untrusted sources".
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/13786/
 
* Tips! *
 
These tips are NOT available to the general public yet! You can find them here first in the MalekTips newsletter! Thanks for subscribing.
 
Digital Animal and Wildlife Photography - Don't Let Perfectionism Keep you from Shooting Any Photos
Don't let the "rule of thirds" stifle your digital animal photography.
 
Digital Animal and Wildlife Photography - Don't Just Focus on Animals at a Zoo
Digital photos of peoples' interactions with animals can help tell a story.
 
Digital Animal and Wildlife Photography - Use a Polarizing Filter When Near Water
Polarizing filters can reduce reflections that might otherwise overpower images of animals.
 
Digital Animal and Wildlife Photography - Keep the Eyes in Focus
Keep animals' eyes focused and clear in your digital photos.
 
Digital Animal and Wildlife Photography - Don't Be Afraid of Blurring
When up against the right backdrop, a blurred animal might help make an attractive digital photo.
 
Microsoft AntiSpyware - Where to Download to Remove Spyware
Download the Microsoft AntiSpyware software to help remove spyware, adware, and other rogue software from your computer.
 
Microsoft AntiSpyware - The Beta Will Expire
Keep Microsoft AntiSpyware up-to-date as the beta version will stop working at the end of July, 2005.
 
Microsoft AntiSpyware - You Don't Have to Validate Windows
Save time downloading Microsoft AntiSpyware by skipping the Windows validation step.
 
Microsoft AntiSpyware - Be Careful Running Alongside Other Anti-Spyware Tools
Microsoft AntiSpyware may record false alarms if used with other anti-spyware tools.
 
Microsoft AntiSpyware - Hide the Tray Icon
Keep your Windows System Tray from filling up by removing the Microsoft AntiSpyware bulls-eye icon.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - Disable Cell Drag and Drop
Prevent from accidentally moving cells around your Microsoft Excel 2003 spreadsheet.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - Add Page Numbers
Quickly add page numbers to the top or bottom of your printed Excel 2003 spreadsheets.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - Comparing Strings
Use the =exact function to compare strings inside a Microsoft Excel 2003 spreadsheet.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - Insert Checkmark
Check items off a list in an Excel 2003 spreadsheet.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - The Slash Character Opens Menus - Change It
Learn a keyboard shortcut for opening menus in Microsoft Excel 2003 as well as how to change the shortcut.
 
Microsoft Word 2003 - Hide White Space in Print Layout
Fit more of your Microsoft Word 2003 documents onscreen by removing white space.
 
Microsoft Word 2003 - Display the Word Count
Count the number of words, paragraphs, lines, or pages that make up your Microsoft Word 2003 document.
 
Microsoft Word 2003 - Remove Recently Used File List
For privacy, prevent Microsoft Word 2003 from remembering the most recently-used filenames.
 
Microsoft Word 2003 - Add a Dividing Line in your Document
Add a variety of dividing line styles to your Microsoft Word 2003 document.
 
Microsoft Word 2003 - Print a Draft Copy of Your Document
Save toner and time by printing draft copies of your Microsoft Word 2003 documents.
 
Mozilla Firefox - Do Not Save Form Information
For privacy reasons, prevent Mozilla Firefox from remembering text entered into web page forms.
 
Mozilla Firefox - Modify the Web Page Cache Size
Expand or decrease the size of your Mozilla Firefox cache.
 
Mozilla Firefox - Stop Warning When Closing Multiple Tabs
Close Mozilla Firefox immediately when you want to, and skip tab warning dialogs.
 
Mozilla Firefox - Turn off the Popup Windows Blocker
Allow websites that require pop-ups to display them on your computer when using Mozilla Firefox.
 
Mozilla Firefox - Remove the Page Margins
If your printer supports it, remove margins from your website hard copies with Mozilla Firefox
 
Putty for Windows - What is Putty and Where to Download?
Download the Putty Telnet and SSH terminal software for Windows to remotely access computers over the Internet.
 
Putty for Windows - Full Screen - Kiosk Mode
Display Putty terminal windows in full-screen (kiosk) mode.
 
Putty for Windows - Differentiate Sessions by Color
Don't confuse your open Putty terminal sessions - give each connection window a different color.
 
Putty for Windows - Clear the Scrollback Buffer
Clear Putty’s temporary log of your terminal window activities.
 
Putty for Windows - Security Risk Pre 0.56
Upgrade the Putty Telnet and SSH client if you use an older version.
 

 
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* Copyright Notice *
 
This newsletter can be redistributed, in electronic or print, provided that no changes are made to this document and this notice is left intact. If you wish to redistribute just pieces of this newsletter, such as certain articles, contact Andrew Malek for information.
 
MalekTips is published by Envision Programming:
 
Envision Programming attn: MalekTips PO Box 11592 Knoxville, TN 37939-1592
 
This issue of MalekTips is Copyright 2005 Andrew Malek of Envision Programming. All other copyrights and trademarks are properties of their respective companies.

Note that due to tip recategorization, some of the URLs mentioned in the newsletter may have changed. If you have any problems finding a particular tip, use the MalekTips "Search" feature to conveniently find what you are looking for.

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