Tech News Blog
5.26.05
Microsoft to Customers: Remove Netscape
PC World is reporting that Microsoft has determined that Netscape 8 is causing problems with Internet Explorer. If you been visiting this web site for any length of time, your first inclination might be, so what. However, it is a BIG what according to Microsoft as the Netscape browser disables XML rendering and you may not be able to view web sites that use XML (like Multiple Platforms.com) if you’re surfing in IE after installation of Netscape. A fix for Netscape is forthcoming according to the article and PC World suggests the following suggestions: “… uninstalling Netscape 8, or deleting the XML node from a Registry file entitled HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Plugins\Extension.” Read more about this issue at PC World:
Microsoft: New Netscape Breaks IE
Netscape 8 disables the XML rendering capabilities of Internet Explorer, software giant says. PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories

Zombie Watch
There are bird watchers, clock-watchers, people watchers and now we have the latest type of watching, the Zombie watch. According to CNET, an Internet security watchdog has re-deployed their ZombieMeter a device that tracks the number of PC being zombified on an hourly basis. The threat from zombie computers is serious and the Federal Trade Commission has launched their own attack asking ISPs to quarantine zombie computers according to the article and as we reported earlier this week.

David Pogue Spells Out Why Multiple Platforms Rules
In words made famous by the Beetles, “Come together -- right now” and if you don’t, well just stop complaining about the other guy until you test drive his ride. At least that is the message I got while reading the latest article by David Pogue in the New York Times. David has a point I like to make, we are actually living in a world of multiple platforms and if you can exist in all systems, you can go forth and prosper. Check out the word from one of my favorite tech geeks, David Pogue (note: you may have to register to view this article, but the NY Times does not sell or otherwise release your information. If you don’t want to use your regular address, grab a Gmail account from Multiple Platforms.com; just scroll down to yesterday’s tip of the day).

Photo Editor Advice
My brother recently purchased a new iMac and digital camera and his photo editing needs can be satisfied using the included iPhoto application that many Mac users love. My Dad is still using PCs and his digital photos are becoming cumbersome as they are divided amongst various editing and software programs included with his cameras. When he asked me for advice on an inexpensive solution to his dilemma, I suggested Google’s Picasa based partly on his qualifier of ‘inexpensive’. I use iPhoto and I have also used Gimp, but that was another story and in another platform. If you have a favorite photo editor that fits my Fathers needs (inexpensive, easy to use, and PC friendly), drop us a note at: contactus@multiplelplatforms.com/.

Open Source Updates
Secunia has these updates for open source users: Red Hat, Ubuntu (1, 2, 3), Gentoo, and Fedora.

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms.com: Free Music Frenzy
Don’t forget you can download a free tune from Apple’s iTunes Music Store every week. Just click on the logo to the left and download your freebie. If you haven’t already installed iTunes, the link for that program is also available to the left.

What is a platform?
Wikipedia has this definition for a platform, “In computing, a platform describes some sort of framework, either in hardware or software, which allows software to run. Typical platforms include a computer's architecture, operating system, or programming languages and their runtime libraries.”

Editors Note: Multiple Platforms will publish news on Monday (a legal holiday in the United States). Have a safe weekend.

Tech News Blog
5.26.05
New Tool For Firefox Thwarts Wicked Web Sites
Web sites that have been created by crackers to steal your information are hard to differentiate from legitimate sites as the crooks become increasing sophisticated in their efforts to pharm your personal information. Now a tool that has been available for Internet Explorer users has been released for Firefox fanatics. CNET is reporting that the tool can ‘trap’ fraudulent sites by identifying suspicious addresses based on character analysis.

Keynote Application Needs a Patch
Apple users that employ Keynote in their software arsenal need to update the application according to reports from CNET, Secunia, MacFixIt, and MacWorld. The flaw could allow crackers to compromise your Apple system although Secunia has graded the issue ‘less critical’.

Stalking the Trail of the Witty Worm
A year ago, this web site was still wet-behind-the-ears but we were reporting on the Witty Worm. Now researchers are investigating the likely source of the worm and trying to learn from history; the report in CNET indicates the likely source of the infection was Europe.

Jason’s Bugged by MDATA.DAT
Jason sent me an email regarding an MDATA.DAT error message he started receiving after a system restore. This annoyance has cropped up before with Multiple Platforms visitors and the solution for this problem is posted on the ‘Answers’ page for this site. For the benefit of Jason and anyone else experiencing these problems, here is the text from my previous post:
This could be related to the mouse in your house; have you added a new one lately? If you have, try uninstalling any software related to the mouse by using this path: Start/ Control Panel/ Add or Remove Programs. Then look for anything related to the mouse (company name, etc.). Reconnect the mouse, restart and update the drivers by using the method described in the next paragraph or by using the software that was provided by the mouse maker.
If you have not added a new mouse, we will try Plan B: Start/ Control Panel/ Mouse. In the General tab select the Troubleshoot button and run the diagnostic test. If it declares that the device is working properly, select the Properties button adjacent to the Troubleshoot button. Choose the Driver tab and click on the Update Driver button. If you have updated your PC recently (and I hope you have), you may need to update the driver for the mouse; follow the prompts if this is the case and then restart. If no driver update was available use the uninstall button; this will open a Confirm Device Removal dialogue box, select OK (don’t worry, Windows will recognize the mouse when you boot-up again). The computer will have to restart for the change to take effect, and more than likely you will be instructed to restart once more before the PC is satisfied with the new configuration.

Antispam, MSN Postmaster Unveiled By Microsoft
Microsoft has a new service to offer customers via their MSN web site: MSN Postmaster. According to CNET (this is not my only source for news, they just are featuring the best stories for Multiple Platforms readers today), the new feature will help Microsoft users beat the spammers while allowing legitimate mail to get through to MSN Hotmail customers. My pet peeve is trying to communicate with Hotmail clients, their inbox is constantly full and if there is one group of people that should take advantage of the tip of the day from Multiple Platforms, it is Hotmail –heads. You can probably get the same address sans Hotmail on the end if you grab a Gmail account now.

Open Source Updates
Secunia has these bulletins available for open source systems: Debian (1, 2), Gentoo, and Red Hat (1, 2).

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms.com: Take My Gmail Accounts, Please!
Google is replacing every Gmail account I give away with another one and according to a recent recipient you get an allotment of fifty when you initiate your account. If you would like a Gmail account, send an email to: contactus@multipleplatforms.com and include the line ‘I want a Gmail account’ in the subject line. Once you have a Gmail account, you can also customize your Google search page.

What is Firefox?
Wikipedia has this explanation for Firefox: “Mozilla Firefox (originally known as Phoenix and briefly as Mozilla Firebird) is a free, cross-platform, graphical web browser developed by the Mozilla Foundation and hundreds of volunteers [1]. Before its 1.0 release on November 9, 2004, Firefox had already garnered a great deal of acclaim from numerous media outlets, including Forbes and the Wall Street Journal. With over 25 million downloads in the 99 days after its release, Firefox became one of the most-used free and open source applications, especially among home users [4]. The 50 millionth download of Firefox occurred on April 29, 2005 (about 6 months after the 1.0 release).
With Firefox, the Mozilla Foundation aims to develop a lightweight, fast, intuitive, and highly extensible standalone browser based on the Navigator component of the Mozilla Suite. Firefox has become the foundation's main development focus (along with its Thunderbird email client), and has replaced the Mozilla Suite as their official main software release.
Features of Firefox include the integrated pop-up blocker, tabbed browsing, live bookmarks, support for open standards, and an extension mechanism for adding functionality. Although other browsers have offered these features for some time, Firefox became the first browser with such features to achieve large-scale adoption.”
I can sum the above paragraphs up with seven words: Firefox and Mozilla are darn good browsers.

Tech News Blog
5.25.05
Crackers Latest Ploy: Hijack Your Files for Ransom
A cracker has gained notoriety after encrypting files (see below for definition) and then demanding that $200 be placed in a specified account. Therein lies the problem for these would be thieves, tracing funds in this electronic age is easier than tracking the real crooks. Read more about the story here: Miscreants encrypt files, hold them for ransom
In a new type of attack, user files are encrypted remotely and attackers demand money for key to decode them. CNET News.com - Security.

Minnesota Court Rips Encryption
According to CNET, the Court of Appeals in Minnesota has ruled that the use of encryption software from PGP can signal criminal intent by making files un-readable to anyone other than the ‘National Security Agency’. The ruling is in connection with a particular case and leaves open the question of exactly what constitutes criminal intent when using other forms of encryption like FileVault found on Macs. This story was somewhat ironic in it’s timing for me, I was in the process of installing the very software that this court claims demonstrates my intent to be a bad person. The reality is, I was trying out the encryption product to protect me (and indirectly, you too) from those with criminal intent (see the preceding CNET stories for proof of what the bad guys want, and read the items below about what you and I want).

Open Source Updates
Secunia posted these bulletins for Red Hat users (1, 2).

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms.com: Encryption Tools
As mentioned above, I spent part of Tuesday learning about encryption tools available free and commercially. The open source community provides the free tools and you can access links to the mirrors at GNUPG. I only tried the tools for Apple and whether you are using Panther or Tiger you will need X11 installed and functioning. I have some conflict within my systems running Tiger and I was unable to generate keys for digital signatures and encryptions; I apparently have a command missing and Terminal is unable to execute the proper processes. I literally spent hours updating, compiling, and re-configuring the tools and ran out of time, not to mention patience with the freeware. To be honest, the PC side looks even more complicated and if you aren’t a tech geek, the commercial products might be the best bet and you can test them out free for thirty days. The two I tried (again on the Mac side only, my PCs contain no vital information at this time) are Stuffit Deluxe and Kremlin. Both of the products are available for Multiple Platforms users and they have some unique features that make them worthy of the investment. Stuffit has a cool feature that allows you to size your encrypted and compressed files to fit on a variety of popular storage tools (zip drive, CD, etc.). The Kremlin software includes a ‘Secure Delete’ application and can ‘wipe’ your hard drive at programmable intervals. I wish that the tool from Kremlin let the user define when encrypted items are decrypted, and Stuffit was extremely slow when converting large files. Stuffit Deluxe sells for $49.99 for Macs and $29.99 for PCs. Kremlin is priced at $35 for either platform (we like a company that treats Multiple Platforms users equally!).

What is Encryption?
Answers.com supplies this explanation for encryption: “The reversible transformation of data from the original (the plaintext) to a difficult-to-interpret format (the ciphertext) as a mechanism for protecting its confidentiality, integrity and sometimes its authenticity. Encryption uses an encryption algorithm and one or more encryption keys. See encryption algorithm and cryptography.”

Tech News Blog
5.24.05
Banks Bit by Breach, Customers Might Feel Pain
Two more banks are reporting security breaches associated with customer information according to a report published by the Register. Wachovia and Bank of America have been notifying customers of the potential security error and more than 100,000 customers have been affected according to the Register. Another story carried by the Associated Press affiliate the Charlotte Observer noted that security remains a low priority despite the high profile problems exposed recently. To read details on the bank problems click on the following links:
US bank staff 'sold customer details'
Data theft apology sent to thousands… The Register

Several Antivirus Programs Have Flaws
According to CNET, Computer Associates International antivirus product has a flaw in the scanning engine and this problem could allow a cracker to gain control over a victims PC. Secunia also has information regarding this issue. Another popular Antivirus product from Zonelabs also has security issues and Secunia has rated the flaw ‘highly critical’. Secunia recommends that ZoneAlarm users should update their software firewall.

Wonderful World of Windows
If your life is wonderful because of Windows and you compose your thoughts on the subject in essay form, you could meet the Big Cheese at Microsoft, Bill Gates. If meeting Gates doesn’t float your boat, other prizes include a chance to experience a National Geographic Expedition and a makeover home-style from HGTV. The report in CNET states that Microsoft is “looking for true stories about people using Windows…”; and please, do not include quotes from anonymous sources as that practice has recently fallen-out of favor.
Your chance to meet Bill Gates
Microsoft is soliciting essays about people using Windows computers to pursue a passion or hobby; prizes include chance to meet Gates. CNET News.com

Open Source Updates
These bulletins were released by Secunia: Gentoo (1, 2, 3), Fedora (1, 2, 3), Red Hat, and Ubuntu.

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms.com: Get a Security Blanket
(Editors Note: This tip and the following definition was originally published 4.13.05, but it’s worthy of frequent repetition.) What is one of the most secure methods to protect your PC or Mac? A router will provide a great deal of protection and even eliminate the need for a firewall for your PC according to Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI. A router provides you and your favorite Multiple Platforms system from outside intrusion using a NAT technology (see definition below). A router can also protect you when a software firewall has flaws as we noted above.

What is NAT?
According to the excellent resource tool Wikipedia, “In computer networking, network address translation (NAT, also known as network masquerading or IP-masquerading) is a technique in which the source and/or destination addresses of IP packets are rewritten as they pass through a router or firewall. It is most commonly used to enable multiple hosts on a private network to access the Internet using a single public IP address. According to specifications, routers should not act in this way, but it is a convenient and widely used technique. Nonetheless, NAT can introduce complications in communication between hosts.”

Tech News Blog
5.23.05
Crackdown On Zombies Soon?
According to a report from CNET, the Feds at the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) are set to ask ISPs (Internet service providers) to identify and block zombie computers. Zombies are computers that are remotely controlled by crackers after the PC has been infected with any of a variety of viruses currently in the wild. What does this mean to you? We’ll a zombie computer by definition is a computer that is infected and controlled by a cracker without the knowledge of the PC’s owner. Therefore, if your Windows PC has been running slower than molasses in January, it might suddenly loose Internet access if the source of that slowness is associated with a virus that is allowing your PC to be co-opted. If you haven’t yet started using the Anti-virus application from Microsoft, install it and start protecting your computer now.
Feds to fight the zombies
FTC plans to tell Internet service providers to take stronger action against spam infiltrators, News.com has learned. CNET News.com

How Spammers Operate and What They Learn
PC World has good information on how spammers are obtaining ‘live’ email addresses to use in their never ending attack on our inboxes. The scary part is how much they can learn by inference when mining your email addresses from various web sites that require a login with a password to access the site. That is one of the reasons I chose not to make that a requirement at Multiple Platforms.com/.
Spam Slayer: E-Mail Attackers Know All About You
Spammers and scammers are finding new ways to uncover your e-mail address, and a whole host of personal information along with it. PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories

Sleepy Macs a Problem Again; Security Issues Linger?
With every update issued, some Apple users seem to be plagued with sleep issues and the latest update for Tiger, 10.4.1 is no different. MacFixIt has suggestions for work around for this problem. Meanwhile, MacNN is reporting that the security fix isn’t enough and that Apple-ites could still be at risk if they download and install an ‘unscrupulous widget’. The piece carries the headline: “Security risk remains, Apple takes ‘Microsoft stance’”.

Open Source Updates
Secunia announced these updates and security bulletins are available for open source users: Ubuntu, Gentoo (1, 2), Red Hat, Linux Kernel, Solaris, and Debian.

Tip of the Day from Multiple Platforms.com: Personalize Your Google Browser
It doesn’t matter if it is Firefox, Mozilla, Safari, OmniWeb, or Internet Explorer my browsers all open to the same home page – Google’s search page. Now you can personalize that same page with your local weather, stock market results, news headlines, and more by visiting Google at this link: http://labs.google.com/. You need to have an account with Google, for instance a Gmail account to take advantage of this service. What’s that, you don’t have one? Well I still have a bunch left to share, send an email to: contactus@multipleplatforms.com and I’ll pass along an invitation to you. PC World has more on the customizations possible:
Google's Home Page Gets Personal
Users will be able to view news, weather, and Gmail messages on the company's home page. PCWorld.com - Latest News Stories

What is Gmail?
Wikipedia supplies this definition for Gmail: “Gmail is a free web mail service, currently in beta testing, offered by Google, Inc.
For more than a year after Gmail's initial release on March 31, 2004, access to the service was restricted to those who had received an invitation token from an existing account holder.
While Gmail is not entirely open to the general public yet, most Gmail users have many invites to spare, as Google has lately been giving quite a few of these out. Gmail invites are also given away at random through Google's home page.
The service is notable for providing over 2.2 gigabytes of storage space (increased from the original limit of 1.0 gigabyte). This change was announced on April Fool's Day 2005, and was made for the one-year anniversary of Gmail. The announcement was accompained by a statement that google would continue to increase storage until they reached the theoretical limit, infinity gigabytes, then give each user one more. All Google will say about this now is that it will keep increasing by the second as long as they have enough space on their servers. Gmail makes intensive use of modern browser features such as JavaScript and keyboard access keys, allowing for a richer user experience, while retaining the benefits of a web application (most importantly, immediate availability of the service on any computer with a supported browser).”