MalekTips: 02-09-2005
 
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:
 
* This newsletter contains ten more tips to help in your digital photography. Not getting the kind of photos you would like at public aquariums? Have you run out of ideas of possible photo subjects in your own town? Are your waterfall photos not coming out quite right? Unable to take quick enough photos at sporting events? We've got the answers to these and other questions.
 
* Tweak your Microsoft Excel 2003 spreadsheets. Tired of seeing '####' in your spreadsheets where a value should be? Force Excel to shrink data values so they fit inside cells. Export spreadsheets by default to XML files or other spreadsheet formats if your organization uses a variety of different software. Add graphics and photos directly from your scanner or digital camera to illustrate a point.
 
* Plus, this newsletter contains tips on Adobe Reader 7 such as how to make it automatically scroll through PDF documents for you, Mozilla Firefox tweaks including how to create right-click menus to query various search engines, and Windows XP information such as how to navigate your system easier by including the full folder paths in your window title bars.
 
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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* Recent MalekTips Front Page Stories *
 
2-8-2005: Critical Windows and Office Security Updates
 
Microsoft has released their February security updates, which consist of 12 updates that affect virtually all versions of Windows, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office XP and 2003, SharePoint services, the .Net framework, and much more. If you run Windows software, access Windows Update to download the latest patches. Also, you should access Office Update at Office Update in case your version of Microsoft Office is affected.
 
Several patches are marked critical. You should read the information provided in the security bulletin and consider updating NOW!
 
Link (External Site): http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/current.
aspx
 
Link (External Site): http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/
 
2-8-2005: Google Maps Beta
 
Search engine Google, according to a blog entry, has designed a new Google Maps feature. Maps are dynamically generated, can show where hotels and other businesses are nearby to a location, and support dragging so one can easily pan around a particular area. Google has created a tour of the new features if you're interested.
 
While the dynamic location panning is impressive, Google Maps is a beta. I tried a few maps that seemed fairly accurate. However, I had a less-than-satisfactory time querying for locations near my address, including large thoroughfares that should be easily found.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.google.com/
 
Link (External Site): http://www.google.com/intl/en/googleblog/2005/02/m
apping-your-way.html
 
Link (External Site): http://maps.google.com/
 
Link (External Site): http://www.google.com/help/maps/tour/
 
2-8-2005: Mozilla and Firefox Vulnerabilities
 
Security firm Secunia is reporting on three vulnerabilities in the latest public versions of Mozilla and Mozilla Firefox. The first vulnerability involves tricking people to drag-and-drop malicious images on a webpage that are implanted with executable code. The second involves tricking users to drag-and-drop malicious links embedded with Javascript into another tab. The third vulnerability involves plugins that may be able to access restricted URIs. Though fixes are available in the latest CVS repository, they have not yet been integrated into public versions of the web browsers.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/14160/
 
2-8-2005: Firefox Spyware?
 
The honeymoon may be over. According to an article on Newsforge, many experts are predicting that as Firefox increases in popularity, it too will be a target of spyware authors. However, according to an entry on MozillaZine, spyware on Firefox is already possible via unreviewed Extensions.
 
Link (External Site): http://internet.newsforge.com/internet/05/01/31/21
21249.shtml
 
Link (External Site): http://www.mozillazine.org/talkback.html?article=6
033
 
2-8-2005: Mac OS X Vulnerability
 
Security firm Secunia has reported a vulnerability with the Mac OS X Finder. Due to certain files being written insecurely, malicious users could create links to files running with enhanced privileges. This was confirmed on Mac OS X 10.3.7 with Finder 10.3.2 - other versions may be affected.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/14188/
 
2-8-2005: AskJeeves Acquires BlogLines
 
Search engine firm Ask Jeeves has announced it has acquired the Bloglines RSS subscribing, searching, and publishing service. Financial terms were not disclosed.
 
My guess is that, while Ask Jeeves claims Bloglines will remain a separate URL, more extensive blog and RSS searches are in Ask Jeeves' not-too-distant future.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.aj.com/
 
Link (External Site): http://www.irconnect.com/askjinc/pages/news_releas
es.html?d=72257
 
Link (External Site): http://www.bloglines.com/
 
2-7-2005: Multiple Browser Spoofing Issue
 
Security firm Secunia is reporting on a security issue that affects the latest versions of a variety of browsers, including Mozilla, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, and Safari. By registering a domain using international characters, a malicious website owner could register and distribute URLs that look exactly like those of legitimate sites but which actually point to a site of their choosing. Thus, you could see "s reporting on a security issue that affects the latest versions of a variety of browsers, including Mozilla, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, and Safari. By registering a domain using international characters, a malicious website owner could register and distribute URLs that look exactly like those of legitimate sites but which actually point to a site of their choosing. Thus, you could see "http://www.paypal.com" in the web browser address bar, yet the currently-visited site is NOT PayPal. A demonstration is available on Secunia's website. There is currently no workaround except to now follow links from untrusted sources.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/multiple_browsers_idn_spoofing_
test/
 
2-3-2005: Instant Messanger Worm_Bropia.F
 
Antivirus firm Trend Micro has upgraded Worm_Bropia.F to a medium level risk. This worm propagates by sending copies of itself via MSN Messenger. Make sure to update your anti-virus definition files to help protect yourself against this threat.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/defau
lt5.asp?VName=WORM_BROPIA.F
 
2-3-2005: Eudora Vulnerability
 
Secunrity firm Secunia is reporting a security vulnerability in the Eudora e-mail software. If exploited, the vulnerability could lead to a system being compromised. Versions 6.2.0 for Windows and prior are vulnerable - Eudora has released version 6.2.1.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/14104/
 
Link (External Site): http://www.eudora.com/products/
 
2-1-2005: 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: Storing and using CDs and DVDs, Digital photography basics, Microsoft AntiSpyware, Adobe Reader 7, Microsoft Word 2003, and RealPlayer 10.5.
 
Subscribers get the tips first, and subscription is free - sign up today!
 
Link: http://malektips.com/maillist/
 
2-1-2005: Microsoft Launches New MSN Search
 
Microsoft has announced the launch of its new MSN Search. Powered by new search technology by Microsoft, MSN Search also includes localized searching ("Search Near Me"), an image search feature, and integrated results from Microsoft Encarta.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2005/f
eb05/02-01MSNSearch.asp
 
Link (External Site): http://www.msn.com/
 
* Tips! *
 
These tips are NOT available to the general public yet! You can find them here first in the MalekTips newsletter! Thanks for subscribing.
 
Adobe Reader 7 - Automatically Scroll Through a Document
Scroll through a PDF file without using the keyboard or mouse.
 
Adobe Reader 7 - Convert PDF to a Text File
Create text files from PDFs for research or distribution.
 
Adobe Reader 7 - View or Send System Information When Troubleshooting
Send detailed system information to a troubleshooter if you cannot reliably use Adobe Reader 7.
 
Adobe Reader 7 - Auto-Advance PDF Documents Displayed in Full Screen
Scan through PDF documents in kiosk mode without having to manually switch pages.
 
Adobe Reader 7 - Reset Toolbars Showing and their Positions
Reset toolbar modifications to the default that came with Adobe Reader 7.
 
Digital Sports Photography - Don't Forget the Fans
The look on a fan's face can sometimes tell the story of a sporting event just as well as a photo of athletes.
 
Digital Sports Photography - Shoot in JPG, not RAW or TIFF
In the high-speed world of sports, use a lightweight image format to help you take more photos quickly.
 
Digital Travel Photography - Taking Photos at Aquariums
Several tips you can use at aquariums to avoid blurry, out-of focus, underexposed digital photos.
 
Digital Travel Photography - Act as a Visitor to your Own Town
Find digital photo opportunities in your own town that you may never have known existed.
 
Digital Travel Photography - It May Take Two Trips
You may need two trips to take great digital photos of a particular city or area.
 
Digital Travel Photography - Hurricane Warning? Leave Now!
Digital photography can wait if a hurricane warning is issued.
 
Digital Travel Photography - Call Ahead Before Visiting a Lighthouse
Planning to climb a lighthouse to take great digital photos? Call ahead and ensure it is open.
 
Digital Waterfall Photography - Consider Shooting on Cloudy Days
Overcast days may be perfect times to take digital photos of roaring waterfalls.
 
Digital Waterfall Photography - Bracketing is Vital
Due to the running water and complex lighting at waterfalls, bracketing is vital.
 
Digital Waterfall Photography - Look for Different Angles
There are many different ways to shoot waterfalls than just from the front.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - Shrink Values to Fit in a Cell
Force large values to fit inside a small cell of a Microsoft Excel 2003 spreadsheet.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - Convert Delimited Text to Columns
Easily convert text copied from another program to columns in an Excel 2003 spreadsheet.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - Determine the Largest or Smallest Value in a Series
These formulas automatically determine the minimum and maximum values in an Excel 2003 data series.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - Save Spreadsheets Using a Different File Type
For compatibility, export Excel 2003 spreadsheets by default to XML or formats readable by older spreadsheet software.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - Acquire a Picture from your Scanner or Digital Camera
Add photos or scanned documents to explain data in your Excel 2003 spreadsheet.
 
Mozilla Firefox - Right-Click to Search a Dictionary, Encyclopedia, or other Website
Query search engines, dictionaries, encyclopedias, or other data sources from Mozilla just by right-clicking text.
 
Mozilla Firefox - Disable Automatic Update Notifications
Prevent Mozilla Firefox from alerting whenever updates are available.
 
Mozilla Firefox - Re-import Settings from Internet Explorer
Obtain Internet Explorer settings into your Mozilla Firefox web browser.
 
Mozilla Firefox - Change Default Fonts and Colors
Force Mozilla Firefox to render webpages using colors and fonts you define.
 
Mozilla Firefox - Test Your Internet Connection Speed
How fast are you currently accessing the Internet? This Mozilla Firefox extension will tell you.
 
Windows XP and Explorer - Display Folder Path in Title Bar
Add the full path to a subfolder to the title bars of folders in Windows XP.
 
Windows XP and Explorer - Are You Running the Latest Windows XP Patches?
Is your copy of Windows XP patched with the latest security updates?
 
Windows XP and Explorer - Many Ways to get Icon Properties
Get access to an icon's properties with these mouse and keyboard shortcuts.
 
Windows XP and Explorer - Select all Files for Moving or Copying
Select all files and subfolders in a folder and its subfolder for copying, moving, or other manipulation.
 
Windows XP and Explorer - Do Not Display Folder Size
Don't waste CPU cycles or cause your hard drive to spin every time you hover your mouse pointer over a folder.
 
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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.

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