|
Torian Group Times
“Technology with Integrity”
|
Widgets are small applications that you can add to your desktop for a specific purpose, such as a stock ticker, weather update, or RSS feed. They have become a target for hackers.
http://newsletters.trendmicro.com/servlet/website/ResponseForm?mgLEVTTA_TCTA_.40ev.2e_ew_eHmLlm0okLHm
Microsoft Office Live Basics – Microsoft is offering free domain registration, web hosting and email. You cannot use ftp or FrontPage. You must use their online web design tools, which include copy and paste. You must provide a valid credit card. This is a cheap way to reserve a domain name or build a simple web site.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/officelive/FX101534261033.aspx
Network printers are getting better and cheaper. Basic color laser printers are under $400. You can get a laser copier/scanner/fax, with networking for under $500 now. With scanning capability, you can start working toward a paperless office by saving documents to .pdf format.
http://www.eweek.com/slideshow_viewer/0,1205,l=&s=25950&a=214549&po=1,00.asp?p=y&kc=EWKNLEDP090707A
Spam with attachments – in addition to .pdf, spammers are using excel and .zip files. Antispam software is slowly catching up with the new formats.
There will be only one critical Windows update this month, released Tuesday Sept. 11th.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms07-sep.mspx
Some updates were released at the end of August as well.
Most problems are coming from un-patched add in products such as Java, Acrobat, Flash, etc. See last month’s newsletter: www.toriangroup.com/resources/Newsletters/Index2007.asp
USB flash drives often assign themselves a drive letter which conflicts with a network drive. This utility automatically manages USB drive letter assignment to prevent conflicts.
http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbdlm_e.html
Acer has purchased Gateway. Acer also owns the EMachine brand. Leading laptop manufacturers are now HP, Dell, Lenovo (Thinkpads), and Acer. http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,136436-pg,1/article.html
Windows Scripting 5.7 released. This brings the Vista scripting updates to XP and 2003 Server. Scripting is mostly used for web page design and advanced batch files. This update will improve your ability to handle web pages.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=47809025-D896-482E-A0D6-524E7E844D81&displaylang=en
Digital car keys cracked. Models affected include Chrysler, Daewoo, Fiat, GM, Honda, Toyota, Volvo, VW, Clifford, Shurlok, and Jaguar. http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/08/researchers-cra.html
Daylight Savings Time ends Nov. 4. If you had problems with DST starting, or are on Windows 2000, keep an eye on your computer time during the transition. Microsoft issued another time zone update on August 30 to address additional worldwide changes in time zones. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933360
Hp is supporting most of their older printers with a universal print driver for Vista.
http://h20338.www2.hp.com/hpsub/cache/343033-0-0-225-121.html?jumpid=ex_r2845_go/upd
Lacerte 2007 will run on Vista. All older versions are not fully compatible. Their recommended solution is to run an XP virtual machine inside Vista, or run earlier versions as local administrator. Printing to .pdf does not work in Vista on earlier versions.
http://www.lacertesoftware.com/products/tax/faq.aspx#vista1
http://www.intuitaccountants.com/webx/forums/Lacerte/lacerteGeneralForum/218
Any software using MSDE 2000 will not run on Vista. This is a popular database engine.
http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlexpress/archive/2006/08/09/693650.aspx
Bluejacking – If your computer or mobile phone is using Bluetooth, you can be hacked. Bluetooth earpieces can be used by others, even when not active, to listen in. With a bluesnyper rifle, a hacker can snoop from up to ½ mile away.
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9764450-7.html
www.bluejackq.com www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/view/24228/98
Norton AV 2008 Released. We still recommend Trend Antivirus.
http://blogs.pcmag.com/securitywatch/2007/08/norton_2008_hits_the_streets.php
David Allen, author of Getting Things Done, is my favorite for task and time management. He has a newsletter and some useful articles at his web site: www.davidco.com
Scott is leaving us again. He is moving to live with his new wife in Washington State. Nino and Bill will be dividing up his workload for now, and his cell phone is forwarded to Tim. Please call Tim if you have any questions.
Tim Torian
Torian, Group, Inc.
http://www.toriangroup.com