Computer Tips -Tech Info

Category: General Web/Tech

  • Criminal Charges against users of software that infringes on Intellectual Property?

    According to cnet news. A new proposed EU law could allow criminal charges and jail time for the bosses of businesses that run software that infringes on someones Intellictual Property. SCO in the last couple of years has brought civil charges against businesses using linux claiming that linux violates their (SCO’s) IP. (Something which as of yet has not been proven.) A law like this could put doubts in peoples minds about using Open Source software (as the article is titled…. “EU Plan could put open sourcers in court”).
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  • Google cache revealing critical personal infromation

    A while back I did an article on using Google search in some slightly more advanced ways, as well as a link to a site of specific Google searches. I’ve come across something in the Handlers diary at Incidents.org that is worth knowing about. The entry in question details that apparently someone made a BIG order for internet services that prompted the business to do a bit of research on the buyer. They found in Google’s cache a LOT of information – name, address, phone number, date of birth, credit card type, cc number, CCV2 #, credit card expiration, Social Security Number, bank pin number, account number, routing number, phone number, paypal email and password, drivers license number and state issued.
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  • Microsoft launches start page test to compete with Google’s start page

    When I first saw the MSN search page I had to smirk. It reminded me much of the Google search page. It was a nice “clean” layout, take away the blue background and the similarities would be greater. Of course my first thought was. “OK they’re copying google.” or at least their style. Next
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  • Linux in city government

    Newforge has a good article about the city of Kenosha Wisconsin and their experience to linux. They started their “test” about 10 years ago starting with a DNS server and or a mailserver. They’ve moved now to a complete server/thin-client setup. They initially saved $100,000 a year with Linux, now that number is higher from reduced staffing costs. They have an IT staff of 1 and 1/2 people (I’ve GOT to see that.) They claim if they had PC’s (Windows I assume), they would have to have twice as many on staff.
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  • Boycott Microsoft’s IE 7.0 ?

    There’s an editorial at Windows IT pro that’s trying to hold Microsoft’s feet to the fire with the upcoming browser release. Disappointed by yesterdays posting that IE will fail the Acid2 test, Paul Thurrott says we should all boycott Internet Explorer 7 until Microsoft gets their act together and makes Explorer more secure and standards compliant.

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  • Ap coverage of hacker convention

    Apnews has an article on the recent “hacker convention” in Las Vegas. In typical media fashion they paint with a broad brush to display it as “a no-mans land where customary adversaries, feds vs. digital mavericks are supposed to share ideas about making the internet safe.”
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  • You wanted bluetooth in your car, right?

    This falls under comptuers and security. A new tool has been released that makes it possible to eavesdrop on and send audio messages to, the interior of some vehicles with bluetooth enabled with an insecure default password. Car Whisperer basically takes advantage of the fact that most bluetooth enabled cars set the default passkey for the bluetooth to 0000 or 1234. All it takes to eavesdrop, or send audio messages is a directional antenna and laptop running linux with this program. Of course, bluetooths range is rather limited, but it gives something to think about.

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  • Linux/Unix Bash scripted weblog

    Oh my some people have time on their hands. I just found Linux, Unix, /etc/: Unix Weblog Hacks where the writer says they wanted to do a weblog, but didn’t want to go with a big blog hosting service, or have to deal with a hard to install blogging script. So their solution was to write their own weblog tool in the bash scripting language.
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  • Microsoft will win in the battle for the internet

    According to an article from libertad digital (spanish) Steve Ballmer, of Microsoft has said that Microsoft will defeat their rivals, Google and Yahoo for dominance on the web. A more direct translation of the article headline says to me “Ballmer asures that Microsoft will win the war for dominion of the web.”
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  • Australian Linux consultancy lodges complaint against Microsoft Windows

    A Melbourne based open source firm has lodged a complaint with that country’s Competition and Consumer Commision against Microsoft. According to The Computer Business Review online, they claim that Microsoft’s monopoly is harming consumers. They are calling for 1) the availability of computers without a preinstalled operating system and 2) the commision to force Microsoft to disclose any information that would allow for interoperability with their software.
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