Browser Wars, take two

various FR links | 12-22-04 | The Heavy Equipment Guy

[backhoe]

 

FireFox Burns Internet Explorer’s Market Share

 An extended explanation on why Internet Explorer is insecure

 

  How Spyware Took The Next-Gen Threat Crown (On The Internet's No #1 Threat Today MUST READ!!!) -- My own opinion is that anything that takes over your private computer without your informed consent should be illegal and that anyone distributing such programs and those paying to have it distributed (the engine that drives this train) should be held criminally responsible. A politician who would undertake such legislation would have an instantaneous, nation-wide following... a political hero (are you listening out there?)

 

 Browser Wars -- Broadband Firefox users should try ForecastFox 0.5.8. It will put the Weather Channel forecast of your choice in the taskbar. Completely customizeable (I selected the three-day, day-and-night forecast for my ZIP) and totally cool.

 

 Safe Personal Computing

 

  New IE hole could helpperfect phishing scams [GET FIREFOX]

 

 The Fox Is in Microsoft's Henhouse (and Salivating)

 

 Firefox is hot; Thunderbird's not — for good reason -- Since Version 1.0 of Firefox went public about a month ago, about 10 million Internet Explorer users have seen the white-hot light and switched...

 

 

 Massive IE phishing exploit discovered 

Now that you have changed to Firefox, go to this thread to help you out.... if you are on a Broadband Internet connection.

How To Speed Up Firefox (Helpful Vanity)

 

 Safe Personal Computing

 

 Spyware Is the Scourge of Microsoft Windows Users

 

 New search engines let you find Web videos

 

 Five important fixes in MS December patch batch

 

 

Zafi Worm Hides Behind Christmas Cheer (Don't Click!)

 

 Top 10 "Most Unwanted" Spyware Named -- Router with firewall is a must these-days (extra firewall layer, and use multiple comps...)

Free Help here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1301552/posts?page=99#99

 Currently I'm running pretty safely  with Adaware, Spybot, Firefox, AVG, Sun Java (people forget this upgrade) Zone Alarm and a router. And I deactivated ActiveX for all but Windows update.

 

 Two Million Scans Uncover 55 Million Instances of Spyware,

 

 

 Google Worm Shows Bad Guys Want Efficiency, Too

 

 Google desktop search flawed

 

  Anti Spywear

 

 Apple's iPod Leads the Way in the Fledgling Digital Music World -- I've had an iPod since early September and I must honestly say that it is life-altering. My massive 1000+ CD collection is now boxed up in the attic, serving as backup only.

 

 Samsung Claims Largest Plasma Display [102 inches diagonally] -- Sony is the canary in the mine here. When they
stop selling CRTs, you'll know cross-over is at hand. Sony
has already stopped selling all CRT computer monitors
except for one high-end color-reference 21-inch.

 

  Americans Lured to Look at Digital Cameras

 

 It's aimed more at the business organization than the individual user, but IBM published a very nice Linux Client Migration Cookbook.

Some recommend Xandros 3.0. Windows like and the easiest Debian Linux distro for newbies to install and maintain. Even all the names have been changed to make getting around the operating system as painless and familiar as possible. In addition, with the Deluxe Version, you can run Windows applications with Crossover Office. http://www.xandros.com

 

 Need a method/utility to access backup FAT32 - VANITY

[Jackknife]

Is there any Freepers out there who run Firefox?

Start using it, and within a week or so, you'll be used to its functions. I have been using it for just over a year, and love it.

[ovrtaxt]

I've been thinking about Linux too.

Do they have any "virtual Windows" programs that will accomodate all Microsquish software? I understand there's something like that for Macs now.

[backhoe]

I've been thinking about Linux too. Do they have any "virtual Windows" programs that will accomodate all Microsquish software? I understand there's something like that for Macs now.

Bear in mind I'm not that well qualified to answer- there are supposedly emulators that allow running MS inside a Linux installation. The primary reason we still use Win2000 aroound here is that my wife brings tons on Win2000 files home from work and is paranoid about "where are my files! My files!"

The last time we tried Linux ( Mandrake 9 ) over a year ago, there was a confluence of annoying problems- the fonts were too small, the modem was not recognized by the OS- so no online help- lightning fried the modem, etc., etc.,-- I finally gave up.

That said, the Ubuntu Live CD I just got boots up and recognizes all the hardware on both the newer PC ( built 2004 ) and the older Dell Optiplex kept as backup, so if MS keeps screwing around, I'll be tempted to ditch it.

[ovrtaxt]

I've been reading some Linux threads over the last few minutes. I think I'll stick to XP for now for my home desktop, but I'll be watching...

[backhoe]

I've been reading some Linux threads over the last few minutes. I think I'll stick to XP for now for my home desktop, but I'll be watching...

The biggest problem I had with Linux last year was that it was, at that time, still too geekyfied-- all the forums I visited seemed to lack concise answers, and were swamped with obscure references to Gnomes & Gnus & Gnarfs & Gnod knows what else. It was very off-putting.

But if they get it to the stage where you can pop in a CD and install without having to do a lot of hunting extra information or drivers, and can import your old work from Windows, then MS is going to have a real run for its money.

Like you, I will be watching...

[backhoe]

 Hackers prey on unguarded wireless links

[backhoe]

Computer ? Memory In D Drive Instead Of C Drive

[backhoe]

 Piracy-check mandatory for Windows add-ons -- This is totally stupid.  Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage cracked by Indian-- http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/6563.cfm

 Detailed instructions for defeating it: http://www.hackingspirits.com/vuln-rnd/defeating-wga-check.zip

[backhoe]

Red Hat holes less severe than Windows - study

 

 Origin of CTRL-ALT-DELETE

[backhoe]

 Pop-Ups Drive Customers Away -- Seventy percent of consumers said they were unlikely to purchase from, or even return to, a Web site that has pop-up advertising, registration log-on pages, software installation, or slow-loading pages...

[backhoe]

 Rejoicing as the king of spam meets his maker [New details]

"beaten to death"

Obviously a suicide.



OBVIOUSLY    "In Soviet Russia, spam deletes YOU!"

[backhoe]

TRADER BEWARE WIFI PIRATES' HOOKS (hi-tech pirates lift personal info, transfer holdings)

[backhoe]

The Approaching Chinese Cyber Storm

[gopheraj]

saving bump

[backhoe]

 Windows copy protection defeated(1 line of JavaScript allows systems to ignore authentication check) -- so where's the script?

javascript:void(window.g_sDisableWGACheck='all')

-- That's why Microsoft wants a protected path on your "trusted" machine -- it is not so that *you* the owner somehow gains trust in your computer, it's so Microsoft [and the "content providers"] will trust "your" computer to do what they want.

[backhoe]

 Networking: 'Smart highways' emerging

[backhoe]

 Microsoft braces for user backlash over downloads -- All of this from the same company that promised all of their problems would be taken care of with the release of Windows 98.

[backhoe]

 Kaspersky debuts Linux antivirus in the U.S.

[backhoe]

 Infrared exploits open the door to hotel hacking

[backhoe]

 

Hackers Demonstrate Their Skills in Vegas