01 May 2007
Trojan Hides in Postcard
Sophos has just posted a warning about an electronic postcard that is being sent out containing the Trojan Mal/Zapchas-A.
The email's appearance makes one think that it came from a friend and is very similar to any other postcard one might receive asking the users to go the some site to download the postcard. The file is named postcard.exe which should serve as a warning immediately - most e-postcards and e-cards run as a flash animation embedded in the website itself.
Full information and a copy of the actual text of the message can be found here.
The email's appearance makes one think that it came from a friend and is very similar to any other postcard one might receive asking the users to go the some site to download the postcard. The file is named postcard.exe which should serve as a warning immediately - most e-postcards and e-cards run as a flash animation embedded in the website itself.
Full information and a copy of the actual text of the message can be found here.
Labels: email, microsoft, spam, spyware, trojan, virus, windows
30 April 2007
Against DRM, Tell Warner Music Says DefectivebyDesign.org
DefectivebyDesign.org is once again calling for support to help stop DRM in music.
Last time it was to sign a petition to be sent to Steve Jobs asking him to follow through on his pledge to bring DRM free music through iTunes. That led to the deal with EMI and announcements from other online music stores and more recently the announcement that Universal may open some of their catalog.
Warner Music doesn't seem to see the same way as the other labels and still refuses to participate in such DRM free music and even considered a takeover of EMI to stop them distributing DRM free music. The have also recently filed lawsuit against AnywhereCD.com to stop them from distributing MP3 files with the purchase of a CD.
DefectivebyDesign.org is calling on people now to call the people in Warner's New York office to express their opinions about DRM. They provide a list of people who you may consider calling which is replicated below.
Laird Popkin, Director of Digital Technology
Alex Zubilaga, Executive Vice President for Digital Strategy and Business Development
Edgar Bronfman, Jr., Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
PR Department Execs:
Will Tanous
Susan Mazo
Amanda Collins
Along with contact information, each link provides a place to report on the result of the calls.
Last time it was to sign a petition to be sent to Steve Jobs asking him to follow through on his pledge to bring DRM free music through iTunes. That led to the deal with EMI and announcements from other online music stores and more recently the announcement that Universal may open some of their catalog.
Warner Music doesn't seem to see the same way as the other labels and still refuses to participate in such DRM free music and even considered a takeover of EMI to stop them distributing DRM free music. The have also recently filed lawsuit against AnywhereCD.com to stop them from distributing MP3 files with the purchase of a CD.
DefectivebyDesign.org is calling on people now to call the people in Warner's New York office to express their opinions about DRM. They provide a list of people who you may consider calling which is replicated below.
Laird Popkin, Director of Digital Technology
Alex Zubilaga, Executive Vice President for Digital Strategy and Business Development
Edgar Bronfman, Jr., Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
PR Department Execs:
Will Tanous
Susan Mazo
Amanda Collins
Along with contact information, each link provides a place to report on the result of the calls.
Labels: drm
25 April 2007
Offline Version of Wikipedia
WikipediaOnDVD through the help of the wikipedia community has released a DVD containing about 2000 articles from the English Wikipedia. The articles have all been reviewed for quality and importance and include topics about geography, the arts, literature, science, history and natural sciences. This is version 0.5 and later versions are expected to include articles in other languages as well as a larger collection of articles.
The CD is compatable with Windows 98+, OS X running on the Intel-based Mac and Linux also running an x86 and can be purchased for 13.99 USD or downloaded free.
The resource is intended to be used by people without Internet connections, but I would consider it more of a preview for those people as with only 2000 articles it is very limited.
The CD is compatable with Windows 98+, OS X running on the Intel-based Mac and Linux also running an x86 and can be purchased for 13.99 USD or downloaded free.
The resource is intended to be used by people without Internet connections, but I would consider it more of a preview for those people as with only 2000 articles it is very limited.
24 March 2007
Linux Media Center - In A World Of Its Own
A very thorough comparison of Windows Media Center and Linux Media Center reveals some amazing differences. After watching it I wonder if you can really call it a comparison at all. The features of the Linux Media Center are just phenomenal and leave no comparison to any other product on the market. It isn't just for controlling your TV, but for your entire house, including every device from lights, alarm systems, cameras, mobile phones, stationary phones, other computers, etc. If you're prepared to forget everything you ever thought about media centers this is a video you should watch.
Labels: asterisk, linux, media center, microsoft, os, windows
14 March 2007
Next Step For Dell Towards Pre-Installed Linux
In response to the overwhelming response Dell received from customers interested in having Linux pre-installed computers, they have developed a survey asking for more specific information from users. Dell's exact words were that they "can’t offer everything (all systems, all distributions, all support options), so we’ve crafted a survey (www.dell.com/linuxsurvey) to let you help us prioritize what we should deliver for you".
It seems that this survey is receiving overwhelming response as well and their server is overloaded as well. This is being worked on currently. The survey will be available until 23 March.
It seems that this survey is receiving overwhelming response as well and their server is overloaded as well. This is being worked on currently. The survey will be available until 23 March.
Labels: computer, Dell, linux, os
12 March 2007
4000 for a Extended Patchs
Microsoft has announced that for people running older versions of their products that are outside of the standard support and in the extended support phase, for example Windows 2000, that need to be patched for the DST changes, the patches can be bought for 4000 USD. This is a decrease from the original 40,000 USD. Microsoft said that the 4K was just to cover costs. People who have already paid the 40,000 USD will be reimbursed the difference.
While I can understand charging users a small fee for such patches, charging something around 13 times more than the original value of the software is a bit much. With the number of people and companies still running Windows 2000 and other software that has moved into extended support, a small fee would be plenty to cover costs. This just help the idea that Microsoft has lost sight of its customers and their needs and has matured into a company only interested in making profits in the most Machiavellian ways.
While I can understand charging users a small fee for such patches, charging something around 13 times more than the original value of the software is a bit much. With the number of people and companies still running Windows 2000 and other software that has moved into extended support, a small fee would be plenty to cover costs. This just help the idea that Microsoft has lost sight of its customers and their needs and has matured into a company only interested in making profits in the most Machiavellian ways.
10 March 2007
Daring Article About Linux Shortcomings
Recently an article was written by Rob Enderle discussing in his opinion the shortcomings of Linux.
As a someone who has worked in IT for over 10 years evaluating solutions, I encourage such discussions as a way for people to find out more information and make better choices, but as a Linux user there are some areas that I have to disagree with and others that I agree completely with.
The first is his idea that Linux is not one thing but many different things distributions that are all different. There is only one Linux kernel released by Linus Torvalds. That is Linux, the distributions are based on the software and customizations that are on top of that kernel. To say that the distributions make the Linux a different breed is like saying a Windows computer running the MS Office Suite is not the same Windows as a Windows computer running the MS Works Suite. There is no difference in the kernel and core of those two Windows machines and there is no difference in the core and kernel between any of the Linux distributions. Linux as one unit then can be compared to Windows as one unit. Distributions come in when you look at which software you want on the machines.
I will agree that Linux is not for everything or everyone. The distributions succeed in making it more 'universal' by customizing it for specific purposes.
From a security point of view, Linux's security model is from Unix making it very secure As to the point made about no identity checks on Open Source developers and the possibility of someone with not so admirable intentions being able to work within the group and write bugs intentionally into the software, I completely agree with the possibility. Looking at it though, while it is possible one has to remember that software should also be tested before being deployed both by hand executing the code and by actually running it. With hundreds or thousands of people working on popular projects the ability for such a malicious bug to make it through testing is very small, albeit possible. Using the fact that this hasn't happened so far in Open Source software, I would put this risk as negligible.
Again I also agree that no operating system should be considered so secure to ignore good security practices. All operating systems are crackable, I just wouldn't want to be the one trying to crack a hardened Linux or Unix box. All networks need some sort of auditing practice to lead network admins to possible attempts at cracking the network to stop the perpetrator(s) before they get in.
I also agree completely that some people in the community of Linux users tend to be rather cult-ish putting the OS as a type of god and can be very standoffish when someone says anything negative about it. I think every 'normal' person using the OS would agree that these are the types of people who keep others away from Linux (Mac has similar people too causing the same problem). These fundamental users hinder the normal discussion process which is exactly what Linux (Mac OS) needs to become more popular and more widely accepted.
I will make no statements in regard to Groklaw as it is not Linux but an open advocacy group that was formed in some way of protecting Linux. It is very young and probably immature yet. In five or ten years time it will be interesting to see how it developed.
This is perfectly said. The role of any analyst is to be open to all options not only Microsoft or Apple or Open Source. When giving opinions preferences do not apply, what is the best option for the situation is the only thing that applies. Recently I was asked my opinion of Mac computers from someone who had been shown one in an shop. The person was impressed with what they had seen and I added to it what I liked about them. Along with this, I gave the disadvantage of cost. This point we both agreed on. I told him the options in local shops of Windows, Mac OS and Linux all of which can be found pre-installed on computers. He had already seen Mac OS and had already used Windows so I gave him a Live CD of a popular Linux distribution and told him to play around with it before making a decision. I didn't tell him one option was better or worse, just gave him the tools to make the decision himself.
As a someone who has worked in IT for over 10 years evaluating solutions, I encourage such discussions as a way for people to find out more information and make better choices, but as a Linux user there are some areas that I have to disagree with and others that I agree completely with.
The first is his idea that Linux is not one thing but many different things distributions that are all different. There is only one Linux kernel released by Linus Torvalds. That is Linux, the distributions are based on the software and customizations that are on top of that kernel. To say that the distributions make the Linux a different breed is like saying a Windows computer running the MS Office Suite is not the same Windows as a Windows computer running the MS Works Suite. There is no difference in the kernel and core of those two Windows machines and there is no difference in the core and kernel between any of the Linux distributions. Linux as one unit then can be compared to Windows as one unit. Distributions come in when you look at which software you want on the machines.
I will agree that Linux is not for everything or everyone. The distributions succeed in making it more 'universal' by customizing it for specific purposes.
From a security point of view, Linux's security model is from Unix making it very secure As to the point made about no identity checks on Open Source developers and the possibility of someone with not so admirable intentions being able to work within the group and write bugs intentionally into the software, I completely agree with the possibility. Looking at it though, while it is possible one has to remember that software should also be tested before being deployed both by hand executing the code and by actually running it. With hundreds or thousands of people working on popular projects the ability for such a malicious bug to make it through testing is very small, albeit possible. Using the fact that this hasn't happened so far in Open Source software, I would put this risk as negligible.
Again I also agree that no operating system should be considered so secure to ignore good security practices. All operating systems are crackable, I just wouldn't want to be the one trying to crack a hardened Linux or Unix box. All networks need some sort of auditing practice to lead network admins to possible attempts at cracking the network to stop the perpetrator(s) before they get in.
I also agree completely that some people in the community of Linux users tend to be rather cult-ish putting the OS as a type of god and can be very standoffish when someone says anything negative about it. I think every 'normal' person using the OS would agree that these are the types of people who keep others away from Linux (Mac has similar people too causing the same problem). These fundamental users hinder the normal discussion process which is exactly what Linux (Mac OS) needs to become more popular and more widely accepted.
I will make no statements in regard to Groklaw as it is not Linux but an open advocacy group that was formed in some way of protecting Linux. It is very young and probably immature yet. In five or ten years time it will be interesting to see how it developed.
I think the thing that bothers me the most about Linux is IT advocacy. IT shouldn’t be an advocate of any product, because it needs to make determinations between them. Whether it is Microsoft, Apple, or Linux, once IT takes a side it is no longer capable of properly assessing a solution based on the needs of the business. And that is the job.
This is perfectly said. The role of any analyst is to be open to all options not only Microsoft or Apple or Open Source. When giving opinions preferences do not apply, what is the best option for the situation is the only thing that applies. Recently I was asked my opinion of Mac computers from someone who had been shown one in an shop. The person was impressed with what they had seen and I added to it what I liked about them. Along with this, I gave the disadvantage of cost. This point we both agreed on. I told him the options in local shops of Windows, Mac OS and Linux all of which can be found pre-installed on computers. He had already seen Mac OS and had already used Windows so I gave him a Live CD of a popular Linux distribution and told him to play around with it before making a decision. I didn't tell him one option was better or worse, just gave him the tools to make the decision himself.
