Offtakes on Web-related software, services 'n tips
Archive for April, 2006
Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 Previewed
Apr 29th
These frequent Mozilla security-related updates to the ever-popular Firefox browser beget questions. Whether Firefox has become this decade’s Internet Explorer? Is this browser intrinsically unsafe. Was it rushed to release without adequate testing to become an IE alternate ‘mom could use’? Very possibly. But when comparing Firefox to Internet Explorer never forget that the former with bad code just crashes leaving Windows unscathed.
And we need to commend the Mozilla team for acknowledging vulnerabilities and issuing updates no matter how minor the issue. Over the past 45 days there have been three incremental Firefox upgrades. The current Firefox 1.5.3 was released More >
Firefox Rocket In Your Pocket
Apr 23rd
I have been hiding something from my readers: my default Firefox build is no longer the production Firefox 1.5.2. Instead I increasingly use Portable Firefox 2.0 Alpha 1. That forms part of the set of portable versions of well known productivity tools. Re-engineered to work with portable devices on Windows. You can store the applications, with your customized settings, on a USB thumb drive, portable hard drive, iPod/MP3 and even a CD-RW (packet reading). Or store it on your hard disk like I do. The software available are email (Mozilla Thunderbird), image editing (GIMP), FTP (FileZilla), chat (Gaim, Miranda). As More >
Just Like Solomon Grundy
Apr 17th
You know what the worst about being a advice giver? It’s about not practicing what you preach. And I paid in spades on Thursday last. From the previous Monday, my office computer had been indicating imminent system meltdown. With frequent lockups. Often accompanied by the hard disk LED staying lit that indicated an storage media problem.
The SpeedFan utility I use to monitor fan speeds as well as CPU, motherboard and HDD temperatures. Indicated that system temperatures were at, or above, recommended limits. And yet I did nothing. Beyond ripping off one of the side panels. And rearranging the PC with More >
First Windows/Linux Cross Platform Proof-of-Concept Virus Strikes
Apr 9th
Virus.Linux.Bi.a/Virus.Win32.Bi.a is the first cross-platform (Windows and Linux) virus. Albeit as a proof of concept. According to the Russia-based Kaspersky Labs, Bi has been written in assembler and infects files in the current directory.
Such self-contained viruses aren’t new. In 2001, Sadmind/ISS worm exploited a hole in Sun Solaris to infect systems running vulnerable versions of the operating system. These infected systems then scanned for, and attacked, servers running Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) sites. And Winux, another proof-of-concept virus, infected both Windows and Linux systems.
Software security firm Secunia has discovered an Active Scripting induced leak in Internet Explorer 6 and More >
Too Dull To Continue?
Apr 2nd
Too much work as well as considerable play. Combined with not enough sleep has left EMusings a very dull person! Still, some residual aggression is frequently expended via the excellent RasterWerks Phosphor Beta FPS (first person shooter). Which I may add is the first Shockwave application that runs better in Opera and Firefox. Than Internet Explorer 6!
And yes, I have managed to collect the Suit Of Armor. For those whose introduction to FPS has been Phosphor. Do position yourself several paces behind the railing, then run. And just as you see the catwalk railing appear, Jump. If your sound is enabled More >
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