Well last week was technically my “vacation” from computer work…. it didn’t quite turn out that way, but I did enjoy what I got to do, although I would much rather the WMF exploit had not come about. The week is shaping up to be quite busy with regards to appointments, so I doubt you should expect as high a rate of posting as there was last week. I’ll do my best to continue to hit the highlights. Thanks for visiting.
Month: January 2006
-
Microsoft warns against unofficial patch
I didn’t exactly expect a parade staged by Microsoft for the writer of the unofficial patch for this WMF vulnerability, but…. eweek tells us that Microsoft says “beware of unofficial WMF patch” It also mentions that behind the scenes Microsoft officials are furious that the threat has been overblown. Personally, I think they’ve downplayed the issue in their recent security bulletin and frankly, I’ve seen quite a bit of overblown hype. (*virus threatens every windows os shipped since 1990…)
-
Microsoft advisory on Sober “Awakening”
Microsoft has posted a security advisory (912920) on the previously reported “awakening” of the Sober worm, expected January 6th.
Systems that are infected with Win32/Sober.Z@mm may download and run malicious files from certain Web domains beginning on January 6, 2006
Further they give the following note….
(more…) -
Kubuntu Review and Ubuntu Review
There’s a good review up of both Kubuntu and Ubuntu over at Desktoplinux.com. The writer doesn’t seem to find either a perfect fit. Ubuntu is Gnome based, Kubuntu is KDE based. The versions reviewed are 5.10
Ultimately the writer suggests Suse Linux 10.0 or Xandros as a desktop workstation, Mepislite or SimplyMepis for a new user and OpenSuse for a server-based linux OS.
-
Google Search Boxes
I’ve been tinkering with placement of Google Search boxes on the site. These days, with a google search box in Firefox, I don’t think about the convenience factor of putting it in the page too much, but…. At one point I had the box in the sidebar and it did strange rendering things for Internet Explorer, I think the new placement(s) shouldn’t give any problems.
-
WMF Exploit Unofficial patch additional download locations
The unofficial WMF exploit patch now has multiple locations to download from. They’ve apparently run into some bandwidth problems at the main site. Sunbeltblog has an alternate download location, Sans is hosting a download here (direct download link)
-
WMF exploit vs. Windows 98 again…
If you’ve visited here in the last few days, you’ll have noticed that I’ve been trying to test the WMF exploit against a Windows 98 Virtual machine since January 1st. I initially started out with a default install, which didn’t work, (for the exploit), then added irfanview (didn’t work), tried the exploit as a jpg, gif, htm, doc file extension, (didn’t work) and then this morning saw that I’m not the only one that’s been testing this….
-
MS seeing WMF with rose colored glasses?
Ok – so at least I wasn’t the only one to see Microsoft’s update to the security bulletin as downplaying the threat….
Of course, I don’t expect them to say…. “OH NO>>>> THE INTERNET WILL BE CRASHING AND BURNING…” But acknowledging that it is a very serious threat and there are few ways (outside of the unofficial patch) to be certain that you’re protected in some manner, shape, form would be nice.
-
WMF exploit testing on Windows 98
I had hoped to get in another test of Windows 98 with yet another WMF viewer (tried Kodak imaging, and irfanview). So far I haven’t seen a way that the WMF exploits can work on Windows 98 SE. I’m running out of time before I have to run to some computer service appointments and maybe will be able to pick up again this afternoon/evening. Larry Seltzer had a post this morning that earlier versions of Windows might not be as vulnerable because they had no default WMF viewer, but with a default WMF viewer they may be susceptible. I’m still looking for a WMF viewer that makes the exploit possible on Windows 98 SE.
-
The Google PC and OS
Rumors have been around for some time about Google launching Google OS, an Operating System to compete with Microsoft Windows. Well…. now the rumors are circulating around the Google PC (with Google OS). The Latimes.com is reporting that Google has been meeting with people from Wal-Mart (and others) to distribute a cheap pc. This would be a Google PC running something other than Windows – Google OS….