Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Monday, June 28, 2004
Saturday, June 26, 2004
freshmeat.net: Project details for NewsFeed
freshmeat.net: Project details for NewsFeed
I started using this software in Linux. After getting used to Sharpreader on Windows, I just had to have a RSS reader for Linux. I couldn't find one for Linux that worked well for me. I had problems installing straw. Finally I found this program which is pretty good, though it doesn't read Atom feeds yet.
I started using this software in Linux. After getting used to Sharpreader on Windows, I just had to have a RSS reader for Linux. I couldn't find one for Linux that worked well for me. I had problems installing straw. Finally I found this program which is pretty good, though it doesn't read Atom feeds yet.
I finally convinced some people to stop using IE and move to firefox. Lets see how long they stay. I just booted to my windows partition, after a few days and was surprised to see that I did not have any critical updates to apply. And I didn't have any of the tell tales files, kk32.dll or surf.dat on my system. I guess it has to do with the kind of software you use, and the kind of protection you have. I use IE only when doing windowsupdate. And thats because I have to. I've been using firefox for a while now, both in Windows and Linux. I guess I am safe for the time being. Plus the spybot registry checker works well. Now changes to the registry without my knowledge, the way it should be. I also suggest that all windows users install the new version of spybot from the spybot web site, with all the addin software like the registry checker (dont remember what its called).
Friday, June 25, 2004
Researchers warn of infectious Web sites - News - ZDNet
Researchers warn of infectious Web sites - News - ZDNet
The group also pointed out that the malicious program uploaded to a victim's computer is not currently detected as a virus by most antivirus software. With no patch from Microsoft, that leaves Internet Explorer users vulnerable. A representative of the software giant was not immediately available for comment on when a patch might be available.
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Halloween XI
I love conspiracy theories.
Let's start by reminding ourselves of the stakes. For Microsoft (or at least its present business model) to survive, open source must die. It's a lot like the Cold War was; peaceful coexistence could be a stable solution for us, but it can never be for them, because they can't tolerate the corrosive effect on their customer relationships of comparisons with a more open system. (Anyone who thinks I'm being perfervid or overly melodramatic about this should review the direct long-term revenue and platform threat language from Halloween I. Other people may fool themselves about what this means, but Microsoft never has.).
Because coexistence is not a stable solution for them, it cannot be for us either. We have to assume that Microsoft's long-term aim is to crush our culture and drive us to extinction by whatever combination of technical, economic, legal, and political means they can muster. So, in evaluating the Get the Facts road show, we need to start by asking how it fits into Microsoft's larger strategic plans.
I love conspiracy theories.
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
WindowsDevCenter.com: Easily Purge Spyware, Adware, and Other Malware [Jun. 22, 2004]
WindowsDevCenter.com: Easily Purge Spyware, Adware, and Other Malware [Jun. 22, 2004]
Interesting reading. I dont know, but I also feel that browsing with firefox makes it a little safer still. Plus I like the small utility that comes with spybot that asks before a change to the registry is made by an application. Quite helpful. I cannot stand popups and hence, browsing on Windows is limited. Much safer to work in Linux.
Interesting reading. I dont know, but I also feel that browsing with firefox makes it a little safer still. Plus I like the small utility that comes with spybot that asks before a change to the registry is made by an application. Quite helpful. I cannot stand popups and hence, browsing on Windows is limited. Much safer to work in Linux.
Monday, June 21, 2004
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Friday, June 18, 2004
O'Reilly Network: The Brouhaha [Jun. 18, 2004]
O'Reilly Network: The Brouhaha [Jun. 18, 2004]
I guess the fine line between a Trojan Horse and "spyware" or other piggy-back software, is whether the writer of the software has corporate backing.
I guess the fine line between a Trojan Horse and "spyware" or other piggy-back software, is whether the writer of the software has corporate backing.
XML.com: Mozilla and Opera Renew the Browser Battle [Jun. 16, 2004]
XML.com: Mozilla and Opera Renew the Browser Battle [Jun. 16, 2004]:
"If they don't know or care about IE's many defects, why should I?
Because there are so many of them!"
"If they don't know or care about IE's many defects, why should I?
Because there are so many of them!"
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Philip Greenspun's Weblog:
Philip Greenspun's Weblog:
No No No NOOOOOOOO!!!!
I dont want my applications and data on someone elses computer. I dont want to wait while Microsoft techs try to get thier servers up and running while I wait for a valuable email. I dont want to pay for premium service from Microsoft monthly when I can easily buy an app that can store data on my personal computer which is available when I went it, how I want it. I dont want to read my email on a web based service that is slow as molasses compaired to an application running on MY computer. I dont want to have my data lie in other peoples hands.
And I definitely dont want Web Based Applications!!!!!
No No No NOOOOOOOO!!!!
I dont want my applications and data on someone elses computer. I dont want to wait while Microsoft techs try to get thier servers up and running while I wait for a valuable email. I dont want to pay for premium service from Microsoft monthly when I can easily buy an app that can store data on my personal computer which is available when I went it, how I want it. I dont want to read my email on a web based service that is slow as molasses compaired to an application running on MY computer. I dont want to have my data lie in other peoples hands.
And I definitely dont want Web Based Applications!!!!!
Why your Movable Type blog must die || kuro5hin.org
Why your Movable Type blog must die || kuro5hin.org
Hmm... dont like blogs... dont read them.
its not like theres a gun to your head.
Its people like these who feel that they have to read blogs because everybody is doing it, and then complain that they dont find blogs interesting. If they are not interesting dont read them, just move on. The author probably doesn't care who reads his blog. In my case, the blog is there for me. If someone likes what I write, they are welcome to read it, if not... who cares!
Hmm... dont like blogs... dont read them.
its not like theres a gun to your head.
Its people like these who feel that they have to read blogs because everybody is doing it, and then complain that they dont find blogs interesting. If they are not interesting dont read them, just move on. The author probably doesn't care who reads his blog. In my case, the blog is there for me. If someone likes what I write, they are welcome to read it, if not... who cares!
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
SecurityFocus HOME News: Backdoor program gets backdoored
SecurityFocus HOME News: Backdoor program gets backdoored: "Like other species in a genus that includes BO2K, SubSeven, and Beast, the working end of Optix Pro is a server that the hacker must insinuate into a victim's computer"
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Friday, June 11, 2004
I've been working on this PC at work that got infected by spyware. Damn pain. It had all kinds of stuff installed on it, and it took me three days to clean it out. First I tried all the programs I knew. Spybot, Adaware, and the bazooka spyware checker. Spybot got rid of everything except one trojan called Win32.Delf.Trojan.A. Damn thing would not go away, and kept reappearing. I edited the registry removed all references to the file, but I guess that wasn't enough. The program would come up again, as a renamed file.
Adaware kept detecting it, and trying to remove it, but it wouldn't help. I was about to give up and reformat the PC, but then adaware downloaded updated Ref files, and viola. Its gone. So far.
For a sysadmin, Windows is a PAIN!
I never have problems on my system running Windows, but then, I know how to use my computer! Its all the other users that are a problem!
Adaware kept detecting it, and trying to remove it, but it wouldn't help. I was about to give up and reformat the PC, but then adaware downloaded updated Ref files, and viola. Its gone. So far.
For a sysadmin, Windows is a PAIN!
I never have problems on my system running Windows, but then, I know how to use my computer! Its all the other users that are a problem!
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Jon's Radio
Jon's Radio
I have previously noticed that more and more apps are coming up with web based interfaces. People find them easier to use, and a lot of applications can be made so that they are web enabled. And more and more I am beginning to like the idea. The ease with which these applications can be accessed locally and remotely is amazing. With PHP and Python the interface can be made so that it rarely lacking. XUL which is the interface language for mozilla brought to us what is called the rich environment. However not many people used this environment. Now Microsoft is trying to bring forth a competitor called Avalon because they realize how useful it is to have a rich interface that can be easily put forht on the web. The only problem is that they want to ensure user lock in, and hence Avalon is nothing like XUL. Ofcourse there are deeper technical reasons for Microsoft to do this, but the threat to open source software is very real, IMHO.
Introduction of Avalon means that new software written to take advantage of Avalons API will be restricted to the Windows Longhorn platform. Slowly Microsoft wants to move its applications, Web Sites and developers to this new API locking them in. And this means that once again internet users will have to either use Windows or stick with opensource. They will not be able to use both as they can at present. I dont have an answer to this problem. The one thing that open source and other independant developers have on thier side is time. Right now there are other alternative technologies that can be used and exploited now, and if enough costumer base builds up by the time longhorn and avalon are ready, Microsoft will have no option but to support the open technologies rather than forcing thier closed technologies down our throats. Longhorn is incredibly dangerous IMHO... something must be done.
I have previously noticed that more and more apps are coming up with web based interfaces. People find them easier to use, and a lot of applications can be made so that they are web enabled. And more and more I am beginning to like the idea. The ease with which these applications can be accessed locally and remotely is amazing. With PHP and Python the interface can be made so that it rarely lacking. XUL which is the interface language for mozilla brought to us what is called the rich environment. However not many people used this environment. Now Microsoft is trying to bring forth a competitor called Avalon because they realize how useful it is to have a rich interface that can be easily put forht on the web. The only problem is that they want to ensure user lock in, and hence Avalon is nothing like XUL. Ofcourse there are deeper technical reasons for Microsoft to do this, but the threat to open source software is very real, IMHO.
Introduction of Avalon means that new software written to take advantage of Avalons API will be restricted to the Windows Longhorn platform. Slowly Microsoft wants to move its applications, Web Sites and developers to this new API locking them in. And this means that once again internet users will have to either use Windows or stick with opensource. They will not be able to use both as they can at present. I dont have an answer to this problem. The one thing that open source and other independant developers have on thier side is time. Right now there are other alternative technologies that can be used and exploited now, and if enough costumer base builds up by the time longhorn and avalon are ready, Microsoft will have no option but to support the open technologies rather than forcing thier closed technologies down our throats. Longhorn is incredibly dangerous IMHO... something must be done.
I'm cleaning out a Windows 98 system at work. It is an old system and it does not make sense to uprade it to Windows XP. I had cleaned it just weeks ago, but the computer is now totally bogged down again. Meaning it has tons of viruses and spyware/adware. Every kind of spyware you can think of. Where did all this come from? Apparently one of the users of the machine had a marraige in his family and wished to download some music on the computer. I know that he installed Kazaa and who knows what else he installed. But he totally messed up that computer.
Anyway, I'm running spybot right now and it seems to be doing a good job of detecting all this crap ware. Also while running the check Norton detected a trojan on the system. Sigh... how long till they infect the machine again?
Anyway, I'm running spybot right now and it seems to be doing a good job of detecting all this crap ware. Also while running the check Norton detected a trojan on the system. Sigh... how long till they infect the machine again?
Saturday, June 05, 2004
Can't stop the pop-ups | CNET News.com
Can't stop the pop-ups | CNET News.com
Popups as I have previously stated are the most annoying and irritating things in the world! Ok, maybe not, but they are close. However I have had no problems with the sites that I visit. The browser I mostly use are either firefox or konqueror, though I have used IE on occasion with the google toolbar. So far no popups. And they better not show up.
I dont mind advertisement, and am perfectly fine with advertisements that are embedded in web pages. I have learnt over the years to skip them, much as I would while reading a news paper. But the distraction caused by popups is really irritating, because it requires a person to perform some sort of action to get rid, reducing the readers concentration. And that is the whole point of a popup. It is easier to gain a users attention through a new windows that may suddenly popup. And the fact that the window requires aaction on the part of the user, usually means that the reader is going to read the advertisement whether he wants to or not. Its forced attention that these marketters are seeking, and this is what I am against. If I am interested I will give you my time, but dont hassle me into listening (or reading) to what you have to say.
Popups as I have previously stated are the most annoying and irritating things in the world! Ok, maybe not, but they are close. However I have had no problems with the sites that I visit. The browser I mostly use are either firefox or konqueror, though I have used IE on occasion with the google toolbar. So far no popups. And they better not show up.
I dont mind advertisement, and am perfectly fine with advertisements that are embedded in web pages. I have learnt over the years to skip them, much as I would while reading a news paper. But the distraction caused by popups is really irritating, because it requires a person to perform some sort of action to get rid, reducing the readers concentration. And that is the whole point of a popup. It is easier to gain a users attention through a new windows that may suddenly popup. And the fact that the window requires aaction on the part of the user, usually means that the reader is going to read the advertisement whether he wants to or not. Its forced attention that these marketters are seeking, and this is what I am against. If I am interested I will give you my time, but dont hassle me into listening (or reading) to what you have to say.
Friday, June 04, 2004
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