Tech News Blog
5.20.05
There’s No Microsoft Update Sent Through E-mail
Another round of bogus Windows patches are arriving in inboxes and according to eWeek, the fake fixes contain, surprise, a virus! Remember, Microsoft does not send updates by email! You should only update your Windows PC using the update features now incorporated in Windows XP. Read more about the latest cracker attack at eWeek:
Fake Microsoft Patch Triggers Virus Attack
The bogus e-mail contains an attachment that purports to be a cumulative Windows patch for May 2005. It's actually an executable file for a well-known virus. eWEEK Technology News

Opera and Firefox Reviewed
A comparison of the relative merits of the browsers Opera and Firefox can be found by visiting NewsForge. The review covers the performance of these browsers on Multiple Platforms: Windows 2000, Mac OS X, and SuSE Linux 9.1/. Opera wins the appearance race while Firefox takes the honors for functionality.

Apple Recalls Laptop Batteries
Apple has issued another recall regarding batteries for their iBook and PowerBook line of computers. According to MacWorld, the computers with serial numbers in the following ranges are the subjects of this recall: “A1061, A1078 and A1079 and serial numbers that begin with HQ441 through HQ507 or 3X446 through 3X510.”

Details of Apple Security Update
If you are curious about the latest security update for Tiger, Apple’s new operating system, you can visit the Apple web site or Secunia for detailed information. Secunia, the security firm has graded rated the flaw as ‘moderately critical’.

Listen to The Tech Guy
You can improve your digital knowledge every weekend; all you need to do is listen between 11 am to 2 pm (PDST) to Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI. If you are in the Los Angeles area tune into AM640 and listen live or visit Leo’s web site then click on the KFI logo to hear the Internet stream. Leo answers questions on all things digital and uses Multiple Platforms too!

Open Source Updates
Secunia released these bulletins for open source users: Mandriva, Red Hat (1, 2), Debian (1, 2), Gentoo, and Ubuntu.

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms.com: Digital Photo Advice
Last week my brother went to purchase a digital camera from a local big box store without first conducting any preliminary research regarding his specific needs. He has recently purchased a new iMac and printer but has yet to unpack them and put these tools to work; and lack of knowledge about what his computer package can do for him almost caused him to purchase a digital camera based upon the inappropriate recommendations of the salesperson. Luckily, he called me before finalizing the purchase and where did I turn to for advice? I surfed to steves-digicam.com/, one of the best sites for camera reviews. Instead of purchasing the Kodak camera with a docking station and printer (a duplication of equipment, as previously mentioned, he has a printer) my brother got a Canon Powershot A95 and an upgraded, fast memory card for the same cost. Check out steves-digicam.com for details on a plethora of digital cameras.

What is XML?
According to Wikipedia, “The Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a W3C-recommended general-purpose markup language for creating special-purpose markup languages. It is a simplified subset of SGML, capable of describing many different kinds of data. Its primary purpose is to facilitate the sharing of data across different systems, particularly systems connected via the Internet. Languages based on XML (for example, RDF, RSS, MathML, XHTML and SVG) are themselves described in a formal way, allowing some programs to modify and validate documents in these languages without prior knowledge of their form.”

Tech News Blog
5.19.05
New Update Coming for Windows
Another patch will be forthcoming from Microsoft that will address a TCP/IP issue and although the company is downplaying the flaw, the matter is serious according to eWeek:
New TCP/IP Flaw Haunts Windows
Microsoft issues a prepatch advisory with mitigation guidance after exploit code is published on a popular security Web site. eWEEK Technology News

Tiger Problems Detailed
I have come to love Tiger, but there are a few issues bugging me like not being able to use RsyncX and Retrospect to backup my system. I have used Carbon Copy Cloner, but I prefer the other two applications for my backup needs. MacFixIt has more on the problems Apple users are having with Tiger.

Slow Tech News Week
As usual, when an event like the Electronic Entertainment Expo is taking place, the tech news slows to a crawl; but as they say, no news is good news…

Open Source Updates
Secunia has announced that the following systems have update or security bulletins available: OpenBSD, Red Hat (1, 2, 3, 4), Mandriva (1, 2), Debian, SuSE, and Ubuntu.

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms.com: Check out the Number 1 Podcast
The results are in and the new number one podcast according to Podcast Alley is TWIT (AKA This Week in Tech). The podcast is a combined effort by Kevin Rose, Yoshi, Patrick Norton, Robert Herron, and Leo Laporte and you can check out the podcast by visiting their new web site: thisweekintech.com/. You can also find many great podcasts including the archives of our podcast, Life in a Multiple Platforms World at Podcast Alley.

What is a Podcast?
Wikipedia has this regarding podcasts: “Podcasting is a way of publishing sound files to the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed and receive new audio files automatically. Podcasting is distinct from other types of audio content delivery because it uses the RSS protocol. This technique has enabled many producers to create self-published, syndicated radio shows.
Users subscribe to podcasts using "podcatching" software (also called "aggregator" software) which periodically checks for and downloads new content. It can then sync the content to the user's portable music player, hence the portmanteau of Apple's "iPod" and "broadcasting". Podcasting does not require an iPod, however; any digital audio player or computer with the appropriate software can play podcasts.”

Tech News Blog
5.18.05
Are Attacks Against Your Computer Ending?
Are these latest attacks by crackers on your PC the beginning of the end, or just a precursor for worse damage to come? The answer to that question is it depends on whom you ask. Query a Microsoft security expert and they will maintain that the worst has passed and that indeed the recent slow down in cracker attacks is because of a pro-active approach by Microsoft. At least that is the story carrien by eWeek, but if you visit other web sites, the ‘sky is falling' and we are all going to die:
Tech Gloom Deepens, But Is Sky Falling?
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Spring is in the air, and for tech investors, it's the time of year for minor panic. Reuters: Technology

Malicious Bots Hide Using Rootkit Code
Experts warn that "Rootbots" are emerging as a threat: remote control bots that borrow stealth features from rootkits to creep in undetected. eWEEK Technology News

Please grab a Gmail account While You Still Can
I still have 25 more Gmail invitations to share with readers of Multiple Platforms.com and if you would like a Gmail account all you need to do is send me an email to contactus@multipleplatforms.com/ and include the phrase: I want a Gmail account. I will extend an invitation to next 25 emails I receive.

Open Source Updates
The following update bulletins are available from Secunia: Conectiva, Red Hat (1, 2, 3), Fedora, and Ubuntu.

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms.com: Solve that nagging problem
If you have an annoyance with your computer, let me help solve the issue. Please include as much information as possible regarding the situation, including what operating system you are using and when you last updated, anything you might have installed prior to the start of the problem, if you are logged on as the administrator when the issue occurs and any other information think might be even remotely related. It really helps to include your email address in the event that I need more background information to solve your problem, but you can submit your question anonymously to: contactus@multipleplatforms.com/.

What is Wikipedia?
I rely on Wikipedia and the associated network of contributors to help define the techno-babble that we must all comprehend to survive in the increasingly complex Multiple Platforms world of today. I offer this definition as an explanation for why the writing styles for each term are sometimes different: the work is contributed and corrected by the Wiki community. So, what is Wikipedia? Here is their auto-definition: “Wikipedia is a Web-based, free-content encyclopedia that is written collaboratively by volunteers. It consists of 195 independent language editions sponsored by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation. Entries on traditional encyclopedic topics exist alongside those on almanac, gazetteer and current events topics. Its purpose is to create and distribute, worldwide, a free encyclopedia in as many languages as possible. Wikipedia is one of the most popular reference sites on the Web[1], receiving around 60 million hits per day.
Wikipedia contains approximately 1.5 million articles, more than 500,000 of which are in its English language edition, more than 200,000 in the German language and more than 100,000 each in Japanese and French. It began as a complement to the expert-written Nupedia on January 15, 2001. Having steadily risen in popularity,[2] it has spawned several conceptually related sister projects such as Wiktionary, Wikibooks and Wikinews. Its articles are edited by volunteers in wiki fashion, meaning articles are subject to change by nearly anyone. Wikipedia's volunteers enforce a policy of "neutral point of view." Under this, the views presented by notable persons or literature are summarized without attempting to determine an objective truth. Because of its open nature, vandalism and inaccuracy are problems in Wikipedia.
Wikipedia's status as a reference work has been controversial. It has received praise for being free, editable, and covering a wide range of topics. It has been criticized for a perceived lack of accountability and authority when compared with traditional encyclopedias, systemic biases, and deficiencies in some topics. Its articles have been cited by the mass media and academia. Wikipedia's articles are available under the GNU Free Documentation License. Its German language edition has been distributed on compact discs, and many of its other editions are mirrored or have been forked by websites.”

Tech News Blog
5.17.05
Connecting the Dots and Worms
The items cited yesterday regarding the new phishing trend using email addresses from real people and the Sober worm spreading political propaganda are related and indeed one in the same. Furthermore, the latest variant of the Sober worm appears to be capable of updating itself to stay ahead of antivirus measures. Read more about this issue from the Sacramento Bee (you must register to read the story). The emails contain various message lines in both German and English according to CRN are striking email users worldwide. Security experts recommend that you delete these messages without opening them.

AIM Users are Worm Target
Yes the annelids, strike that, worms keep wiggling this week and now it is slithering after AIM users. To learn more about this new threat surf to PC World:
New Worm Targets AIM Users
Malware allows an attacker to gain remote access to your PC. PCWorld.com

Is Linux The Eiger-nator?
Living in California, the ‘-nator’ tag is not reserved only for the current governors’ use and an article in eWeek leads me to believe that any open source system could claim the title of Eiger-nator (source for this item is Linuxtoday):
eWeek: Why Wait for Eiger When Linux is Ready Today
Microsoft has finally realized that Windows NT Workstation, 98, and ME users need an upgrade path that will work with their hardware. Too bad, Linux desktops can already fill that bill...Linux Today

Update for Tiger from Apple
Apple released the first update for Tiger users and just to be safe, I’ll be recommending the same course of actions as with Panther: wait a week. When you are ready to install the update, remember to disconnect your Firewire devices. I will also repair disk permissions before and after the update; and backup before you start any upgrade or update. I have overcome my initial blasé attitude regarding Tiger. I Love It! I have even been able to get Endnote 7.0 to function with Microsoft’s Word v.X on my iBook! That is significant and may keep me from having to upgrade to Endnote 8, and considering I haven’t used version 7 since it made my iBook imitate a crash test dummy, Tiger’s improved compatibility with the programs is appreciated. The following Apple sites have information regarding the update:
Apple releases Mac OS X 10.4.1, addresses Widget vulnerability
Apple has released Mac OS X 10.4.1, the first major update to Tiger. The release is available through Software Update, or as a… MacFixIt

About the Mac OS X 10.4.1 Update
This software updates Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger to version 10.4.1.

Tech News Blog
5.16.05
New Phishing Trend Worrisome
The latest tactic by phishers is to employ stolen identities to gain the trust of their intended victims. CNET has more on this disturbing new MO:
New phishing attack uses real ID hooks
Researchers are tracking an emerging form of phishing that uses stolen identity information to target individuals and their bank accounts. CNET News.com

Sober Annelid Causing Problems
Did I say annelids? It must be finals week for this biology major, I meant to say the Sober Worm is spreading spam and the message is political propaganda. You can read more at PC World:
Worm Spawns German Spam
Worm variant sends political propaganda messages in both English and German. PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories

Tiger Tune-up
MacFixIt offers advice regarding Tiger problems including issues with Spotlight, invisible files and more:
Special Report: Troubleshooting Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Covering these and other topics: Mac OS X 10.4: Spotlight: Invisible files limitation; Processor… MacFixIt

Open Source Updates
Secunia announced these updates for open source users: Trustix (1, 2, 3), Gentoo (1, 2), and Slackware.

Multiple Platforms Tip of the Day: Get a Gmail Account
I have 50 more Gmail invitations to share with readers of Multiple Platforms.com and if you would like a Gmail account all you need to do is send me an email to contactus@multipleplatforms.com/ and include the phrase: I want a Gmail account. I will extend an invitation to the first fifty emails I receive and all I ask in return is for you to tell your family and friends about Multiple Platforms.com/.

What is Slackware?
According to Wikipedia, “Slackware is a Linux distribution. Slackware takes a different approach than other popular distributions such as Red Hat, Debian, Gentoo, SuSE, and Mandrake Linux. It might best be described as "UNIX-like", given its policy of incorporating only stable applications, and the absence of distribution-specific GUI configuration tools found in other varieties of Linux. Partisans have been known to say, "When you know Slackware, you know Linux... when you know Red Hat, all you know is Red Hat."”