MalekTips: 12-09-2004
 
Welcome to the latest issue of the MalekTips newsletter, providing computer and technology help and tips. We appreciate your subscription!
 
* Interested in taking waterfall photos, with their drama of gushing water splashing on rocks, sparkling reflections, and leaves or moss adding local color? This newsletter has some tips on finding waterfalls to snap, safety tips when taking pictures, and ideas on how to compose your photos.
 
* Windows XP users - we've got tweaks! Remove the arrows in shortcut icons on your Desktop and in Explorer. Get rid of Quick Launch icons on your Taskbar that you rarely use. Clean up the Start Menu by removing options you may never need. Get quicker access to your favorite websites.
 
* Plus, this newsletter contains advice on purchasing a scanner including why you may need a USB 2.0 card to get the advertised speeds, Mozilla Firefox tips such as how to disable the website history to increase your privacy, and help configuring the Spy Sweeper anti-spyware software.
 
These tips and more, 30 in total, can be found below in the latest issue 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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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 *
 
12-8-2004: Multiple Browser Vulnerability
 
Security firm Secunia has reported a vulnerability that can be tested with a variety of web browsers. On a vulnerable web browser (which includes Internet Explorer, Firefox, and others), if a malicious website is open while viewing a trusted website, if the malicious website knows the trusted website is open, it can inject contents into a pop-up window created by the trusted website. This can be used to grab secure information such as credit card and social security numbers.
 
The only workaround so far: "Do not browse untrusted sites while browsing trusted sites." When browsing a trusted website asking for sensitive information, make sure to close all other browser windows and tabs.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/multiple_browsers_window_inject
ion_vulnerability_test/
 
12-8-2004: Minor Internet Explorer Vulnerability
 
Security firm Secunia announced a non-critical vulnerability with Internet Explorer, where malicious websites can detect the presence of local software using a combination of JavaScript and a vulnerable URL handler.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/13396/
 
12-7-2004: Holiday Digital Camera Buying Guide Announced
 
In case you missed the graphic at the top of the front page, MalekTips has released a Holiday Digital Camera Buying Guide, offering advice on what to look for when buying a digital camera, and what to avoid. Advice includes why you should ignore digital zoom specifications, why megapixels should not be the sole criteria when choosing a digital camera, using comparitive shopping search engines to find the best price, and more.
 
Link: http://malektips.com/holidayguide/
 
12-7-2004: Phishing Attacks Predicted To Increase
 
MessageLabs, an e-mail security provider, has released a press release describing security trends and predictions for 2004 and 2005. In it, they predict that phishing attacks will continue to increase, costing companies and individuals time, money, and aggravation. This is based on MessageLabs' e-mail filtering, which has caught over 18 million phishing-related e-mails in 2004.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.messagelabs.com/news/pressreleases/deta
il/default.asp?contentItemId=1245®ion=
 
Link: http://malektips.com/emb0023.html
 
12-7-2004: Thunderbird 1.0 E-Mail Client Launched
 
The Mozilla Organization has released Thunderbird 1.0, a free e-mail client for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. Features include anti-spam prevention, customizable views and layouts, spell-checking, personalization options, an integrated news-reader, and more. Downloads are available at the Thunderbird website.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.mozilla.org/press/mozilla-2004-12-7.htm
l
 
Link (External Site): http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/
 
12-3-2004: Mac OS X Security Updates
 
According to security firm Secunia, Apple has released a Security Update to tackle several problems in Apache, Appkit, Kerberos authentication, QuickTime Streaming Server, Safari, Terminal, and more. Potential exploits run the gamut from spoofing to bypassing security restrictions to system comprimising. Downloads are available from Apple's website.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/13362/
 
Link (External Site): http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/
 
* Tips! *
 
These tips are NOT available to the general public yet! You can find them here first in the MalekTips newsletter! Thanks for subscribing.
 
Buying a Scanner - Make Sure it has a Matching Interface
Ensure your scanner uses a type of communications interface (USB, Firewire) your computer supports.
 
Buying a Scanner - Faster Speed May Require USB 2.0
USB 2.0 may be required to get scanning speeds noted by the manufacturer.
 
Buying a Scanner - Make Sure you Have Lots of Hard Drive Space
A scanner won't do you much good if you can't store the images.
 
Buying a Scanner - Does it Have One Touch Buttons?
One-touch scanner buttons may make emailing and printing scans much easier.
 
Buying a Scanner - Don't Repurchase Software you Already Have
Full versions of photo software may add hundreds of dollars to a high-end scanner's price, so cut it out if you don't need it.
 
Digital Waterfall Photography - Where to Find Them?
Where must you go to find waterfalls to photograph? They may be closer than you think.
 
Digital Waterfall Photography - Polarizing Filter
Don't lose detail photographing a waterfall on a bright, sunny day - remove reflections with a polarizing filter.
 
Digital Waterfall Photography - Add Local Color
Tips to make your waterfall photography stand out.
 
Digital Waterfall Photography - Experiment with Zooming
Zooming out to get the whole waterfall picture is great, but consider capturing detail others may miss in a waterfall scene.
 
Digital Waterfall Photography - Be Careful Hiking In a Waterfall!
Resist the urge to climb rocks in a waterfall for a digital photo opportunity - use your zoom instead.
 
Mozilla Firefox - Disable Browser History for Privacy Reasons
To enhance your privacy, you may wish to disable Mozilla Firefox's website history.
 
Mozilla Firefox - Keyboard Navigation Shortcuts
Jump between recent websites with Mozilla Firefox without using the mouse.
 
Mozilla Firefox - Access the Internet through a Proxy Server
If security restrictions require accessing the Internet through a proxy server, here's how to configure Mozilla Firefox
 
Mozilla Firefox - Stop Resizing Images
Show all images in their full resolution when browsing websites with Mozilla Firefox.
 
Mozilla Firefox - Shortcuts to 'Open Location' and 'Web Search' Textboxes
Access controls to browse and search the web with Mozilla Firefox without using the mouse.
 
Spy Sweeper - Remove Internet Explorer Favorites Shield
If you can't easily change your Internet Explorer Favorites after installing Spy Sweeper, perform this tweak.
 
Spy Sweeper - Remove Tooltips
Prevent Tooltips from popping over your Spy Sweeper software.
 
Spy Sweeper - Stop Automatically Checking For Updates
If privacy or your Internet speed is a concern, configure Spy Sweeper to not keep checking for updates automatically.
 
Spy Sweeper - Speed Up Scans By Searching Fewer Folders
If spyware scans take too long, configure Spy Sweeper to only look inside folders where most spyware reside.
 
Spy Sweeper - Delete Quarantined Items Sooner/Later
Manage quarantined items found through Spy Sweeper scans.
 
Windows XP Taskbar - Toolbar - Start Menu - Show Your Favorite Websites on the Start Menu
Quickly access Internet Explorer Favorites directly from your Windows XP Start Menu.
 
Windows XP Taskbar - Toolbar - Start Menu - Remove Quick Launch Icon
Delete shortcuts on the Windows XP Taskbar to software programs you rarely access.
 
Windows XP Taskbar - Toolbar - Start Menu - Remove the 'Help and Support' Link from the Start Menu
If you are an advanced Windows XP user, you may want to clean up your Start Menu by deleting a help shortcut.
 
Windows XP Taskbar - Toolbar - Start Menu - Change or Remove the Internet Program Listed on the Start Menu
Remove or change the Windows XP Start Menu shortcut to access the Internet.
 
Windows XP Taskbar - Toolbar - Start Menu - Remove Printers and Faxes Option from the Start Menu
If you don't frequently use or change fax machines or printers, clean up your Windows XP Start Menu.
 
Windows XP and Tweak UI - Change or Remove the Explorer Shortcut Arrow
Get rid of arrows appearing on shortcut icons on your Windows XP system using Tweak UI.
 
Windows XP and Tweak UI - Add or Remove File Types When You Right-Click and Choose 'New'.
Change the file types available when you create a new file from Windows XP Explorer with Tweak UI for Windows XP.
 
Windows XP and Tweak UI - Change "View Source" Program in Internet Explorer
View the source of web pages using a text editor other than Notepad with Tweak UI for Windows XP.
 
Windows XP and Tweak UI - Fix the "My Music" Icon
Fix the icon to the "My Music" folder using Tweak UI.
 
Windows XP and Tweak UI - Stop Warning Of Low Disk Space on the Taskbar
Prevent Windows XP from displaying balloon help whenever a hard drive is about to run out of space.
 

 
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* Copyright Notice *
 
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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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