MalekTips: 10-29-2004
 
Welcome to the latest issue of the MalekTips newsletter, providing computer and technology help and tips. We appreciate your subscription!
 
* Learn more about ridding your computer of spyware and using the powerful Spybot Search and Destroy software. Help prevent spyware from pointing you to websites you did not mean to visit. Find out what a keylogger is and how it can violate your privacy. Consider upgrading to Service Pack 2 if you are running Windows XP to help prevent against spyware attacks.
 
* Get more out of the Google search engine. Take a virtual tour of the world without leaving your home. Search for products that are priced within a range you specify. Search just for scholarly information by removing commercial sites from your results. Scan through mail-order catalogs to find great gifts for the holidays. And, just for fun, query Google in Pig Latin.
 
* Plus, this newsletter contains tips on digital travel photography including why you should consider a tour bus when going on vacation, Microsoft Excel 2003 tips including adjusting security settings and removing personal information from saved files, and Windows XP and DOS tips including how to display printer spooler and system diagnostic information in a batch file.
 
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 *
 
10-28-2004: Mozilla Firefox 1.0 Release Candidate Released
 
Mozilla has released the First Release Candidate of Firefox 1.0. However, according to the MozillaZine news, Asa Dotzler writes "If you've already downloaded 1.0 PR (the "feature complete" preview) and you're not really interested in testing and bug reporting, then you should probably stick with 1.0 PR for a couple more weeks and upgrade when we release the official Firefox 1.0." Nevertheless, if your current version of Firefox is not working well, you may consider upgrading. Just note that the updates are not available in a 'pretty' download webpage - you'll have to find the correct version of the Firefox software for your language and operating system on a list.
 
Link (External Site): http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/rel
eases/1.0rc1/
 
Link (External Site): http://www.mozillazine.org/talkback.html?article=5
429
 
10-28-2004: QuickTime Vulnerability for Mac and Windows
 
Security firm Secunia released information about two vulnerabilities in Apple QuickTime 6.x rated "highly critical". These exploits involve potential boundary and buffer overruns that can allow malicious document creators to run arbitrary code on systems. More information and update links for both operating systems are available on their web site.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/13005/
 
10-28-2004: Apple Remote Desktop Exploit
 
Security firm Secunia released information about an exploit with Apple Remote Desktop 1.x and 2.x. This vulnerability allows malicious users to potentially run applications with root access. More information and update links are available on their web site.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/11711/
 
10-27-2004: Putty SSH Client Exploit
 
iDefense has reported a security vulnerability in the Putty SSH cilent v0.55. A buffer overflow vulnerabililty can allow the execution of code on the client's system. If you use this tool, upgrade to 0.56 as soon as possible.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.idefense.com/application/poi/display?id
=155&type=vulnerabilities
 
Link (External Site): http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/
 
10-27-2004: RealPlayer / RealOne Vulnerability
 
Security firm Secunia has announced information about a vulnerability in RealPlayer and RealOne Player. A buffer overflow may occur when processing skin files, allowing the possible execution of arbitrary code. This affects at least the following versions:
 
* RealPlayer 10.5 (prior to build 6.0.12.1056) * RealPlayer 10 * RealOne Player v2 * RealOne Player v1
 
Use RealPlayer's "Check for Updates" feature to scan for and apply updates.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/12869/
 
10-26-2004: New iPods
 
The iPod family has grown. Apple today announced the iPod U2 Special Edition, a black iPod with a red Click Wheel and the engraving of U2 member signatures. This is a 20 gb device with an advertised up to 12 hour battery life, and it includes a $50 coupon off of "The Complete U2" on iTunes. This 'digital box set' contains over 400 tracks.
 
Apple has also introduced the iPod Photo. This device comes with a 65,536 color screen for displaying photos stored on the unit. It can also be connected to a TV for showing photographs to others. The iPod Photo comes in 40gb and 60gb units with an advertised 15 hour of music playback or 5 hour of slideshow playback battery life.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2004/oct/26u2ipod.
html
 
Link (External Site): http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2004/oct/26ipodpho
to.html
 
10-25-2004: Firefox, Mozilla, Thunderbird Vulnerability
 
Security firm Secunia has released information about a "Less critical" vulnerability in Mozilla, Firefox, and Thunderbird regarding downloaded files. The vulnerability involves downloaded files not having correct file permissions set, allowing the ability to read other peoples' files. A fix is available in the CVS repository but is not yet available in official builds.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/12956/
 
10-22-2004: Google Fixes Vulnerability
 
According to Netcraft, Google has fixed a second phishing vulnerability that "would have allowed fraudsters to inject their own content onto Google's web site, making the content appear to be published by Google." Concerns about possible phishing attacks on Google have increased due to their recent release of a Desktop Search tool, allowing Windows users to search both their hard drives and the web for information.
 
Link (External Site): http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2004/10/22/googl
e_fix_second_phishing_vulnerability.html
 
Link (External Site): http://desktop.google.com/
 
10-22-2004: Internet Explorer for Mac Vulnerability
 
Add Internet Explorer 5.x for Macintosh to the list of browsers hit by the Dialog Box Spoofing Vulnerability. As reported by Secunia, this exploit involves dialog boxes opening from inactive windows, spoofing as if they came from a trusted site in another window.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/multiple_browsers_dialog_box_sp
oofing_test/
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/12920/
 
* 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 Travel Photography - Know Accessory Prices In Case Emergencies Happen on a Trip
If you don't know the standard prices of digital camera accessories, it's easier to be cheated if you need something in an emergency when traveling.
 
Digital Travel Photography - Consider a Tour Bus
Get a glimpse of all over town by taking a tour bus. This may provide you with easier photo opportunities than if you had to drive everywhere yourself.
 
Digital Travel Photography - Ultraviolet Filter and Beaches or Desert
Two reasons why you should attach an ultraviolet lens filter to your digital camera before traveling to a beach or desert.
 
Digital Travel Photography - Politeness and Charm Work Wonders
Good manners can greatly assist your travel photography escapades.
 
Digital Travel Photography - Mountainous Areas Change Leaf Color Earlier
Don't wait too late before you take digital photos of fall foliage!
 
Google - Take a Virtual Tour of the World
View photos of the world without leaving your chair with Google.
 
Google - Igpay Atinlay (Pig Latin)
If Google is just too easy to understand in English, consider searching in Pig Latin.
 
Google - Search for a Range of Numbers
Query Google for prices and items within a numerical range.
 
Google - Restrict Searches to Schools, Colleges, and Scholarly Institutions
Remove commercial websites from your Google search results.
 
Google - Search Through Mail-Order Catalogs
Looking for a gift? Search through Google's digitized versions of mail order catalogs.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - Adjust Macro Security Level
Help protect your computer by disabling potentially damaging Excel 2003 macros.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - Remove Personal Information
Delete personal information that may be saved along with your Excel 2003 spreadsheets.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - Change the Gridlines Color
Make your Excel 2003 spreadsheet stand out by adjusting the gridline color.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - Toggle Display of Row and Column Headers
Show or hide row and column headers in your Excel 2003 spreadsheets.
 
Microsoft Excel 2003 - Toggle Page Breaks View
Get a better feel of how your Excel 2003 spreadsheets will be paginated when printed.
 
Spybot Search and Destroy - Scan and Fix Registry Errors
Clean your Windows Registry with Spybot Search and Destroy.
 
Spybot Search and Destroy - Change Internet Explorer's Window Title
Make Internet Explorer 6's title say virtually anything you wish.
 
Spybot Search and Destroy - View Software Uninstall Information
Easily query software programs for their publisher, help, copyright, and uninstall information.
 
Spybot Search and Destroy - View Installed Network Drivers
Help determine if rogue network drivers have been installed on your machine by using Spybot Search and Destroy.
 
Spybot Search and Destroy - Modify Hosts File
Help prevent a common website redirection trick spyware and adware try to use.
 
Spyware and Adware - Home Page or Search Page Changed? Scan your Machine!
If your browser home page or search page has mysteriously changed, it's time to check your machine for spyware.
 
Spyware and Adware - Upgrade to Service Pack 2 if Running Windows XP
Windows XP Service Pack 2 can help protect your machine from getting hit with certain types of spyware.
 
Spyware and Adware - Is all Advertising-Supported Software Spyware and Malicious?
Are all freeware programs supported by advertisements spying on your every move?
 
Spyware and Adware - What is a Keylogger and how can it Violate My Privacy?
Help protect your privacy by learning what a keylogger is and how it can grab sensitive information without your knowledge.
 
Spyware and Adware - Never Trust a Public Computer with Private Information
Be careful before you access private information in a public computer setting! Spyware and keyloggers may be present.
 
Windows XP and DOS - Print Spooler Information in a Batch File
Diagnose printer errors and determine how many documents are waiting to be printed on remote servers using Windows XP.
 
Windows XP and DOS - Show Which Users Have Which Privileges
Quickly determine, from the Windows XP command line, which users have certain rights on a particular workstation or server.
 
Windows XP and DOS - Display Local or Remote Server Debug Information
Help determine if a remote or local Windows XP server has certain security hotfixes installed. Also see what services it is running and more.
 
Windows XP and DOS - Display All System Shares and Privileges
From the Windows XP command-line you can determine all available shares on a remote or local system.
 
Windows XP and DOS - Echo Date Time and Message
Easily allow your Windows XP batch files to display debugging information along with a timestamp.
 

 
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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 2004 Andrew Malek of Envision Programming. All other copyrights and trademarks are properties of their respective companies.

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