MalekTips: 10-22-2004
 
Welcome to the latest issue of the MalekTips newsletter, providing computer and technology help and tips. We appreciate your subscription!
 
* Find more ways to deal with the growing problems of spyware and adware. Consider downloading the Bazooka scanner that can detect some threats other programs miss. Get and use a firewall to help prevent malicious attacks against known operating system exploits. Prevent Internet Explorer 6's Control Panel from being accidentally opened by users or changed via scripts.
 
* Solve problems when playing videos in Windows Media Player 10. Disable video acceleration if it keeps movies from playing. Help prevent kids from viewing PG-13, R, and other adult-rated DVDs. Quickly change the size of video windows using the keyboard.
 
* Plus, this newsletter contains tips and tricks for:
 
- Microsoft Excel 2003, including how to remove the startup task pane
 
- Microsoft Outlook 2003, including how to force automatic proofreading of outgoing e-mail
 
- Spybot Search and Destroy, including how to modify your hosts file so certain malware sites cannot be visited, even accidentally
 
- Winamp 5, including how to download new visualizations that display when playing MP3 files
 
These tips and more, 30 in total, can be found below in the latest version of MalekTips. Enjoy! And 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 *
 
10-20-2004: Tabbed Browsing Vulnerabilites
 
It's a busy day in finding bugs in web browsers.
 
Security firm Secunia is reporting two "less" to "moderately" critical bugs involving how several web browsers support tabbed browsing. One bug, which involves social engineering, is demonstrated on Secunia's website in that a dialog box could be opened by a non-trusted website in one tab spoofing the look and feel of a trusted website in the currently open tab. Also, "inactive tabs can gain focus from form fields on web sites in another tab", which can be exploited causing people to type sensitive information into non-trusted websites. Vulnerabilities are confirmed in:
 
* Mozilla 1.72 and 1.73, Firefox 0.10.1
 
* Netscape 7.x
 
* Opera 6.x and 7.x
 
* among other browsers.
 
No patches are available but workarounds are mentioned.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/12712/
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/12713/
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/12714/
 
10-20-2004: Microsoft Internet Explorer Vulnerabilities
 
Security firm Secunia has found two more vulnerabilities with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6. A drag-and-drop vulnerability, similar to one found earlier, can be exploited to run arbitrary scripts. Another vulnerability involves running a malicious HTML help index (.hhk) file to execute local HTML documents. Combined, these two vulnerabilities "can write arbitrary files [which] can be exploited to compromise a user's system." This behavior was noticed on a machine running Internet Explorer 6 and Windows XP Service Pack 2. No patch is currently available.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/12889/
 
* Tips! *
 
These tips are NOT available to the general public yet! You can find them here first in the MalekTips newsletter! Thanks for subscribing.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - Hide the Startup Task Pane
Startup Task Pane getting in the way when running Microsoft Excel 2003? Here's how to remove it.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - Remember More Files
Allow Microsoft Excel 2003 to remember more of your recently accessed accounting statements, tax sheets, and other spreadsheets.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - Insert Trademark and Copyright Symbols
Insert registered trademark, copyright, and standard trademark characters in your Microsoft Excel 2003 spreadsheets.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - Get the Sum of an Entire Column
Perform a summation of an entire spreadsheet column in Microsoft Excel 2003.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - View Your Spreadsheet without Menus and Status Bars
View large Microsoft Excel 2003 spreadsheets in Full Screen mode.
 
Outlook 2003 Misc - Request Receipts For All E-Mails
Ask for return receipts when e-mailing in Outlook 2003.
 
Outlook 2003 Misc - Automatically Dial the Internet Whenever Sending or Receiving E-mail
Connect to the Internet whenever Outlook 2003 needs to transfer e-mail.
 
Outlook 2003 Misc - Change the Default Fonts
Stop typing in 10 point Arial all the time when using Outlook 2003.
 
Outlook 2003 Misc - Proofread All E-Mail Before Sending
Force Outlook 2003 to automatically proof all outgoing e-mails before sending.
 
Outlook 2003 Misc - Make New E-Mail Desktop Alert Easier to Read
Remove the transparency of Outlook 2003's new e-mail Desktop Alert.
 
Spybot Search and Destroy - Lock Your Hosts File
Have Spybot Search and Destroy keep your hosts file locked from accidental modification.
 
Spybot Search and Destroy - View and Change Browser Pages
Change Internet Explorer's home and search pages using Spybot Search and Destroy.
 
Spybot Search and Destroy - Display Email Opt-Out Addresses
Remove yourself from annoying e-mail lists with this help from Spybot Search and Destroy.
 
Spybot Search and Destroy - Lock Internet Explorer Control Panel From Opening
Help keep scripts from maliciously changing Internet Explorer 6 settings with Spybot Search and Destroy.
 
Spybot Search and Destroy - Remove Access to Spyware/Adware Sites Through Hosts File
Have Spybot Search and Destroy modify your Hosts file, making it more difficult to even accidentally visit spyware and adware sites.
 
Spyware and Adware - Bazooka Scanner to Check for Spyware
Download and run the Bazooka scanner to help detect spyware and adware.
 
Spyware and Adware - Keep Your Software Updated to Help Protect Yourself
Anti-malware products must be updated constantly due to new threats.
 
Spyware and Adware - Use a Firewall to Help Protect Yourself
Updated firewalls can help protect you from spyware and adware.
 
Spyware and Adware - Always read the EULA When Installing Software From Unknown Websites
Downloading new freeware? Read the EULA to help ensure it won't install spyware and adware.
 
Spyware and Adware - Another Reason to Backup Your Machine
If a spyware attack forces you to re-format your machine, don't lose access to your critical files.
 
Winamp 5 - Change Icons for Multimedia Files and Playlists
Change Explorer's icons for Winamp 5 play lists and multimedia files.
 
Winamp 5 - Download New Visualizations
Download new animations that Winamp 5 will display when playing MP3s and other multimedia files.
 
Winamp 5 - Scroll song names slower/faster
Make scrolling song names easier to see in Winamp 5.
 
Winamp 5 - Keep Winamp on Top of Other Windows
Force Winamp 5 to display on top of other windows on your machine.
 
Winamp 5 - Classic Skin Window Resizing Jerky
Winamp 5's window resizing jerky? This can smooth it out.
 
Windows Media Player 10 Video Playback - Disable Video Acceleration if Having Problems
Disable video acceleration techniques if Windows Media Player 10 cannot play movies.
 
Windows Media Player 10 Video Playback - Enable DVD Parental Control
Disable access to adult DVDs with Windows Media Player 10.
 
Windows Media Player 10 Video Playback - Video Size Shortcuts
Quickly change the size of movies played with Windows Media Player 10.
 
Windows Media Player 10 Video Playback - Do Not Show Full-Screen Controls
Hide full-screen controls from covering up parts of your movies when played under Windows Media Player 10.
 
Windows Media Player 10 Video Playback - Show a Different Color Around Videos
Show white or blue bars around movies when played under Windows Media Player 10.
 
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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 2004 Andrew Malek of Envision Programming. All other copyrights and trademarks are properties of their respective companies.

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