MalekTips: 05-10-2005
 
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:
 
* Not performing a simple Windows tweak can possibly result in falling prey to phishing and Trojan Horse attacks. Rogue programs can have multiple file extensions, and if you don't perform a particular tweak, you may think you're opening up an image or text file inside an e-mail attachment yet something much worse occurs.
 
* Having difficulty with the Internet Explorer 6 web browser? Are hyperlinks not working correctly? Are cookies that you want to keep getting deleted? Or is Internet Explorer just running too slow? Read on for some possible solutions.
 
* Plus, this newsletter contains tips for the Adobe Reader 7 PDF viewer including how to export PDF documents to text files. There are Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 tips such as preventing popup menus from accidentally appearing during slideshows. There's help for the MSN Search engine including how to query for song and artist information. All this plus a couple more Windows XP tips and advice for diagnosing bad wireless connections!
 
Remember - if you have a computer question, be sure to visit the MalekTips forums at http://www.malektips.com/forums
 
Andrew Malek MalekTips.Com
 
* Tell a Friend! *
 
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 *
 
5-9-2005: Mozilla Firefox Exploits
 
Security firm Secunia has reported on two exploits found in the latest version of Mozilla Firefox. Using IFRAME tags, arbitrary JavaScript and HTML can be executed. Also, input to the software installation procedure is not being protected. Mozilla has temporarily fixed the second vulnerability by making changes to their software update boxes, but JavaScript can still be used to execute some arbitratry code in a different site's context. Until a new version of Mozilla Firefox is released you may wish to disable JavaScript support.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/15292/
 
5-3-2005: W32.Sober.O@mm Worm
 
Security firm Symantec has just labeled worm W32.Sober.O@mm as a Level 3 risk. This worm spreads by e-mail, grabbing e-mail addresses from users' address books and files on compromised systems. The worm is sent as ZIP file attachments containing PIF or EXE files. Be sure to update your virus definitions and ALWAYS be wary of email containing file attachments!
 
Link (External Site): http://www.sarc.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.sober.o
@mm.html
 
4-30-2005: 50 Million Downloads of Mozilla Firefox
 
According to the Spread Firefox website, Mozilla Firefox has now surpassed over 50 million downloads. Although it's assumed this counts Mozilla Firefox being downloaded multiple times by a single person (for version upgrades, for instance), it does not count if one person downloaded Mozilla Firefox once and installed it on multiple computers. If you're interesting in trying out Mozilla Firefox, be sure to check out our collection of Mozilla Firefox tips.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.spreadfirefox.com/
 
Link: http://malektips.com/mozilla_firefox_help_and_tips
.html
 
4-29-2005: Mac OS X v10.4, "Tiger", Release Today
 
If you own a Macintosh you probably already know this (some of you are already lining up at the stores waiting for its release!). In case you don't, according to an Apple press release, Mac OS X v10.4, "Tiger", will be released today at 6:00 pm. New features in this version of the Mac OS include the "Starlight" desktop search, and the widget-based "Dashboard", allowing quick access to stock quotes, weather, calendars, and more.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2005/apr/28tiger.h
tml
 
4-29-2005: Two Critical Netscape Vulnerabilities This Week
 
Security firm Secunia has reported on two unpatched Netscape vulnerabilities this week that it has marked as "highly critical". A malicious GIF image could cause a buffer overflow, leading to the execution of arbitraty code. Also, certain DOM errors can be exploited to allow the execution of arbitraty code.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/15103/
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/15135/
 
4-25-2005: 64-Bit Versions of Windows Released
 
From a Microsoft press release: Microsoft has officially released 64-bit versions of Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional. These releases can run upcoming 64-bit applications and older 32-bit software. Differences in the 64-bit editions include reportedly enhanced performance and the ability to access "up to 32 times more physical memory and more than 1,000 times more virtual memory". Supported 64-bit processors include the 64-bit Intel Xeon and Pentium 4, and AMD Opteron and Athlon 64-bit.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/apr0
5/04-25Winx64LaunchPR.asp
 
4-24-2005: Microsoft Internet Explorer Weblog
 
If you're interested in the upcoming Internet Explorer 7 browser, be sure to check out the Microsoft Internet Explorer Weblog, or IEBlog, for updates. The latest 4/22/2005 post claims they hope to have "the first beta of IE7 this summer".
 
Link (External Site): http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/
 
4-23-2005: Windows XP Vulnerability
 
Security firm Secunia is reporting a security vulnerability for patched Windows XP machines. Viewing an "overly large" image, such as one on a web page through Internet Explorer, can cause a denial-of-service. There is no patch as of yet; the only workaround is to not run important applications while accessing HTML content.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/15064/
 
* 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 - Export a PDF file to a text file
Quickly create plain-text files from your PDF documents.
 
Adobe Reader 7 - Change the Color of Red Squiggles when Proofreading
If the squiggles underneath misspelled text filled out in PDF forms are hard to see, change the color.
 
Adobe Reader 7 - Use High-Contrast Colors
Make PDF documents easier to read in some cases with Adobe Reader 7.
 
Adobe Reader 7 - Always Show or Hide Mouse Cursor in Full-Screen Mode
Viewing PDFs in kiosk mode? Force the mouse pointer to always remain visible or invisible.
 
Adobe Reader 7 - Don't Change URLs to Hyperlinks
Keep Adobe Reader 7 from hyperlinking all URLs in a PDF document.
 
File Extensions - What Are File Extensions?
File extensions defined. This tip explains what the usually three characters are for.
 
File Extensions - Viewing File Extensions on Windows
Help protect yourself from accidentally opening rogue files by forcing Explorer to show all files' extensions.
 
File Extensions - Be Careful with Files Containing Multiple Extensions
Files with multiple extensions may be Trojan Horses waiting for you to open them and release their nefarious content. Be careful with these files.
 
File Extensions - EXE File Format
The EXE executable (program) file format defined.
 
File Extensions - TXT File Format
The TXT plain-text file format defined.
 
Internet Explorer 6 Miscellaneous - Clicking on a Hyperlink Does Nothing
Troubleshoot Internet Explorer in case clicking on a hyperlink does not visit a website.
 
Internet Explorer 6 Miscellaneous - Troubleshoot Internet Explorer Running Slowly
Spyware, viruses, and fragmented hard drives can cause Internet Explorer 6 to run slowly.
 
Internet Explorer 6 Miscellaneous - What Version Are you Running?
Determine the version of Internet Explorer running on your computer.
 
Internet Explorer 6 Privacy and Cookies - Clear the Website Cache Manually
For privacy reasons or to troubleshoot Internet Explorer 6 problems, clear the website cache.
 
Internet Explorer 6 Privacy and Cookies - My Cookies are Being Deleted!
Legitimate cookies may accidentally get deleted by firewall and anti-spyware software.
 
Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 - Insert Automatically Updated Time and Date on Each Slide
Keep your Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 presentations looking up-to-date.
 
Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 - Prompt for File Properties Automatically On Save
Force Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 to prompt you for subject, author, category and other file information whenever you save presentations.
 
Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 - Change Text Case
Copy text between the headers and bodies of Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 slides, changing text case as necessary.
 
Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 - Don't Show Menus During a Slideshow
Keep your Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 slide shows looking professional - prevent a popup menu from accidentally appearing.
 
Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 - Acquire an Image from the Scanner or Digital Camera
Add scanned or photographed pictures into your Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 presentations.
 
MSN Search - Show More Results Per Site
Show more than ten results from MSN Search on a single page.
 
MSN Search - Who Links to My Site?
Webmasters - find out who links to your website by using MSN Search.
 
MSN Search - Search for Music
Scan for song, album, and artist information with MSN Search.
 
MSN Search - Return Only Results in a Given Language
Limit your MSN Search results to webpages written in a particular language.
 
MSN Search - Read the MSN Search Blog
Scan the MSN Search Blog for updates on Microsoft's search engine.
 
Windows XP and Explorer - Quickly Minimize all Windows
Get quick access to your Windows XP Desktop with a couple of keystrokes.
 
Windows XP and Laptops - Consider a USB Drive
A USB drive can make transferring data from your laptop to a desktop computer easier.
 
Wireless Internet - Diagnosing No Connection
A quick checklist if you cannot connect to a wireless network.
 
Wireless Internet - May Have to Agree to Terms of Service Before Access
Don't get frustrated if connecting to the Internet via a HotSpot doesn't seem to work - you may have to agree to a Terms of Service first using the web browser.
 
Wireless Internet - Access May Extend Outside of a Wi-Fi Hotspot
Wireless Internet access may not end at a site's walls or at a street corner.
 
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
 
* 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.