That is exactly what's happening. When you type a word into the address bar of FF, it does a Google "I'm Feeling Lucky" search. The bad link starts with http:// which is cool. But it looks like it's there twice, so most people will goto the beginning of the link and hit the delete key 7 times to get rid of the duplicate http://. HOWEVER, the second one looks like this, http//. There's no colon. Thus, it doesn't register as a protocol (as http:// would) and ends up getting the default treatment of any non-protocol string typed into the address bar.
tags then decide what they do and whether your preferences say to block that particular action or not. However, this site has javascript creating javascript. The original script function actually writes the popup script to the page, but in a round about way. Notice this:
It prints the word script in 2 parts, thus Firefox never finds an instance of the word SCRIPT to block it.
But how does it not block the originating script? The originating script is only using javascript's print function. Nothing harmful, as far as Firefox is concerned, until now. Looks like someone should inform the Firefox writers and have them make a pre-javascript engine to find out what the javascript does before it runs it... Just my 2 cents.
You'd think they would. Take, for example, Windows Server 2003. I just ran WU and it had 30 updates! 30! Sounds like it's time for a service pack.
Despite what people say, and how much they hate Linux and all *NIX variants, the thinking is solid. Open source allows for a lot of vulnerabilities to be found much quicker, and fixed much quicker. This would allow Microsoft to release an operating system which already had a lot of vulnerabilities fixed, and would allow each new vulnerability to be found and fixed quicker than normal.
You're only half wrong.:) Most large organizations nowadays get volume license agreements which allow for a preset number of installs (normally in the thousands) of Windows. So as long as they are reloading the machines with their volume license copy, they're fine.
Dell is also a good company for this. You're probably thinking, why should I buy an agreement like this from Microsoft when I have no choice but to pay for the Windows license from Dell? Dell will work with you. Once they verify you have a VLA with Microsoft, they will deduct the cost of the Windows license(s) form your order.
Now speaking from experience, all preloaded machines are CRAP! Dell loads all kinds of "tools" on their default install (this also means never use their restore cd's either). Take 2 machines, load one by hand with a vanilla XP cd and load the other with the Dell XP cd. Once in Windows check out the Services list. Surprised? There's a lot of unnecessary services and also programs preinstalled, which over time, will make the system unstable. I learned the hard way. I started off using the Dell loads until I noticed a pattern in BSOD's and crashes. Then I started a standardized imaging system with the base images being done by hand with a vanilla XP cd. No more random crashes...
I have noticed, however, that sometimes the DellTech will ask you to boot to the Diag partition (a supersmall FAT partiton they put at the beginning of the hard drive with diagnostic utilities) for error codes and such. Blow that partition away. You don't need it. I've made it a habit that before I call a DellTech, I boot to the Diagnostic cd for that system (each system has it's own (GX260, GX270, Latitude D600, etc.)) and write down every error code it spits out. This will greatly speed up your call time and get your machine fixed very quickly.
If nothing else, I hope people who have to work with such machines have learned 2 things:
Wipe the machines and start from scratch (or an image if you have one)
No, most corporations use an internal SUS server to distribute Windows Updates. Using SUS, the administrator must first approve the critical updates before they get pushed to the clients. That is, unless some assclown configured the SUS server and makes it auto-approve anything...
No, the problem isn't with, specifically, the free version. The problem is that most spyware is more advanced than before... modifying numberous registry keys, changing file names so as to not be detected, etc.
Spyware removal programs are a FIRST step to removing spyware, not the only step. After running a removal program you should 1. Goto Add/Remove Programs and uninstall anything that doesn't look legit (this includes and IE toolbars) 2. Run msconfig and uncheck any services that don't look legit 3. Rebooting into safe mode and deleting the folders in "Program Files" of stuff that won't go away 5. Finally, run your removal tool again
Spyware, these days, is much harder to get rid of. A simple scan from a program isn't gonna do it. I've been doing ad-hoc tech support for my college dorm, and 95% of the cases I see are computers crippled because of spyware. There hasn't been one I couldn't fix yet.
Here's what I do:
-Install Ad-Aware SE (from a pen drive, since the spyware killed the internet)
-Update it
-Do a default scan
-Remove ANYTHING it finds
-Remove anything it puts in the quarantine
-Run MSCONFIG and, using your best judgement, uncheck anything from the services tab that doesn't look kosher
-Uninstall anything not kosher from Add/Remove Programs
-Reboot into safe mode
-Uninstall anything that didn't work before from Add/Remove Programs
-Open Explorer and delete anything from the Program Files directory that isn't kosher (this step will only work in safe mode because the programs in here won't be loaded into memory)
-Delete anything not kosher from the Start Menu's Startup folder
-Reboot into Normal mode
-Run Ad-Aware again just to be sure
-Install Firefox and hide IE icons
That should take care of the spyware (until the user decides to download more of it).
But there is more work to be done. Show the user what Firefox is and that they should use it from now on. Turn on Automatic Updates so they never have to visit the Windows Update site, the updates will download automatically. Inform them of the dangers of clicking popup messages to install software or whatnot. Though this is not a problem with firefox, explain they should read everything and install nothing that they didn't ask for.
Yes, this takes some time, sometimes upwards of 30 minutes, but if you did your job, you won't be visiting that person for a long time (at least for computer problems).
There is an employee at my place of employment who can make anyone laugh. Out of nowhere, he will break into a whole episode of SouthPark. Every voice is done with perfection and every line is without error. But the best part is when I check my voicemail and hear, "Timmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy!"
... is a moron. Obviously he confuses being annoying with being correct. Yes, I do mix technical lingo into my everyday conversations, but that's what makes me me. I know of a lot of people, in different walks of life, who do the same thing. I don't find them annoying, I start searching online and try to learn exactly what they were talking about. Lots of different people know lots of different things. I am one of those people who want to know everything, and I do everything I can to do just that. I know about law, medicine, computers, sports, music, etc. I think the writer needs to take a step back, realize that people know different things, and that if all he wants to do in his life is say how people different from him are annoying, fine, but if he wants to be an informed citizen, he should definately try to learn everything he can.
I feel sorry for those folks who work in the phone center making these calls who are only there because they need a job in order to support their families. I feel expecially sorry for those people who know exactly what they're getting people like Lauren into when they make the phone call or send the e-mail.
Some of my friends thrive on such programs. Punk'd is one of their favorites. I can't stand it. For those of you who have never heard of it, it airs on MTV. The premise of this show is the same as the debate show, except they take more extreme measures. Instead of arguing with you, they'll have your house repossessed and make you think you just lost your home, until the end of the show when they inform you it was only a joke. I've seen people start to cry on this show. Somehow, I'm not finding this funny!
Some people think of this as genius, I see it as a striving reach for attention. These people need help, I can't provide it, but someone has to.
1. Kill all suspicious processes
2. Clear Internet history, cookies, and cache.
3. Delete any crap from the Startup group
4. Install Ad-Aware (this might have to be done from cd or removable media since some spyware causes internet breakage)
5. Update Ad-Aware
6. Run Ad-Aware
7. Delete anything Ad-Aware quarantined
8. Run msconfig and remove from the Startup group anything you don't know what it is
9. Reboot
10. Repeat steps 6 and 7
11. Reboot
You should be good to go. I've had to do this on just about everyone's computer in the dorm at school and many family and friend's computers... It's never failed once.
Some people might not like this suggestion, but trust me, it works. Install Firefox and remove any shortcuts to IE (just make it unusable by the average person, since you still need it for Windows Updates). Teach whoever how to use Firefox. I've done this with my parents (who are NOT computer literate). I set all the settings correctly, installed all the plugins, etc. They don't miss IE at all. Plus, Firefox blocks popups and doesn't run ANYTHING without asking you first, thus, no more unwanted spyware from bad websites...
Well, first off, If you're parents are running 2k or xp, group policy is your friend. In there you can prohibit anything you want.
Remove all shortcuts to IE and install Mozilla Firefox. I've used it since it came out and I haven't touched IE. Nothing gets installed oor downloaded without you telling it to in Firefox, unlike IE that autodownloads everything!
IF you have a spare computer sitting around, throw linux on it and set up iptables. Make this the firewall for your computer(s). Only let simple things like http, pop3, named, smtp, 5190 (everyone likes AIM), etc.
Hope that helps a little
Java isn't technically in the core yet. There is a class this semester under the "special Topics" label, which is basically a trial class. My college, like many, want to dwindle down to VB and I do not want to let that happen.
This is an IT degree. Not CS, Not CE, Not IS. Information Technology. The whole point of this degree is to combine concepts with practical use; the theory most people are ranting about being put to use through different applications. I don't know about most of you, but you can teach me all the theory you want. It's not going to make sense until I get my hands on something and do it for myself. That's what I'm after. These classes will teach theory, but at the same time let you figure it out for yourself...
Get the biggest monitor you can afford with the lowest dot pitch. I.E. my monitor is a 19" flat CRT with a.20 dot pitch. This thing is so clear, I'd swear it's clearer than real life. Don't be fooled by stripe pitch either. You'd have to get a.17 stripe pitch to have the clarity of a.20 dot pitch.
Well, I bought 6 white roses, and 6 red roses. I'm getting up insanely early that morning and driving the white roses to her house, putting them in a good spot, then leaving, so she can find them when she wakes up. I'll see her later that day at choir practice, where I'll have the red roses and a poem, which is printed on photo paper with a background consisting of a heart with musical notes hanging on it. Hopefully this will make for a good Valentine's Day!
Slashdot Mirror
That is exactly what's happening. When you type a word into the address bar of FF, it does a Google "I'm Feeling Lucky" search. The bad link starts with http:// which is cool. But it looks like it's there twice, so most people will goto the beginning of the link and hit the delete key 7 times to get rid of the duplicate http://. HOWEVER, the second one looks like this, http//. There's no colon. Thus, it doesn't register as a protocol (as http:// would) and ends up getting the default treatment of any non-protocol string typed into the address bar.
MP3Gain is the best program I've found. It doesn't normalize like other programs do. 'Instead, MP3Gain uses David Robinson's Replay Gain algorithm to calculate how loud the file actually sounds to a human's ears.'
This is what I use and it works like a charm...
You'd think they would. Take, for example, Windows Server 2003. I just ran WU and it had 30 updates! 30! Sounds like it's time for a service pack.
Despite what people say, and how much they hate Linux and all *NIX variants, the thinking is solid. Open source allows for a lot of vulnerabilities to be found much quicker, and fixed much quicker. This would allow Microsoft to release an operating system which already had a lot of vulnerabilities fixed, and would allow each new vulnerability to be found and fixed quicker than normal.
Dell is also a good company for this. You're probably thinking, why should I buy an agreement like this from Microsoft when I have no choice but to pay for the Windows license from Dell? Dell will work with you. Once they verify you have a VLA with Microsoft, they will deduct the cost of the Windows license(s) form your order.
Now speaking from experience, all preloaded machines are CRAP! Dell loads all kinds of "tools" on their default install (this also means never use their restore cd's either). Take 2 machines, load one by hand with a vanilla XP cd and load the other with the Dell XP cd. Once in Windows check out the Services list. Surprised? There's a lot of unnecessary services and also programs preinstalled, which over time, will make the system unstable. I learned the hard way. I started off using the Dell loads until I noticed a pattern in BSOD's and crashes. Then I started a standardized imaging system with the base images being done by hand with a vanilla XP cd. No more random crashes...
I have noticed, however, that sometimes the DellTech will ask you to boot to the Diag partition (a supersmall FAT partiton they put at the beginning of the hard drive with diagnostic utilities) for error codes and such. Blow that partition away. You don't need it. I've made it a habit that before I call a DellTech, I boot to the Diagnostic cd for that system (each system has it's own (GX260, GX270, Latitude D600, etc.)) and write down every error code it spits out. This will greatly speed up your call time and get your machine fixed very quickly.
If nothing else, I hope people who have to work with such machines have learned 2 things:
You're an assclown!
http://www.winehq.com/site/myths
"As Wine's name says: "Wine Is Not an Emulator": Wine does not emulate the Intel x86 processor."
No, most corporations use an internal SUS server to distribute Windows Updates. Using SUS, the administrator must first approve the critical updates before they get pushed to the clients. That is, unless some assclown configured the SUS server and makes it auto-approve anything...
No, the problem isn't with, specifically, the free version. The problem is that most spyware is more advanced than before... modifying numberous registry keys, changing file names so as to not be detected, etc.
Spyware removal programs are a FIRST step to removing spyware, not the only step. After running a removal program you should
1. Goto Add/Remove Programs and uninstall anything that doesn't look legit (this includes and IE toolbars)
2. Run msconfig and uncheck any services that don't look legit
3. Rebooting into safe mode and deleting the folders in "Program Files" of stuff that won't go away
5. Finally, run your removal tool again
Spyware, these days, is much harder to get rid of. A simple scan from a program isn't gonna do it. I've been doing ad-hoc tech support for my college dorm, and 95% of the cases I see are computers crippled because of spyware. There hasn't been one I couldn't fix yet.
Here's what I do:
-Install Ad-Aware SE (from a pen drive, since the spyware killed the internet)
-Update it
-Do a default scan
-Remove ANYTHING it finds
-Remove anything it puts in the quarantine
-Run MSCONFIG and, using your best judgement, uncheck anything from the services tab that doesn't look kosher
-Uninstall anything not kosher from Add/Remove Programs
-Reboot into safe mode
-Uninstall anything that didn't work before from Add/Remove Programs
-Open Explorer and delete anything from the Program Files directory that isn't kosher (this step will only work in safe mode because the programs in here won't be loaded into memory)
-Delete anything not kosher from the Start Menu's Startup folder
-Reboot into Normal mode
-Run Ad-Aware again just to be sure
-Install Firefox and hide IE icons
That should take care of the spyware (until the user decides to download more of it).
But there is more work to be done. Show the user what Firefox is and that they should use it from now on. Turn on Automatic Updates so they never have to visit the Windows Update site, the updates will download automatically. Inform them of the dangers of clicking popup messages to install software or whatnot. Though this is not a problem with firefox, explain they should read everything and install nothing that they didn't ask for.
Yes, this takes some time, sometimes upwards of 30 minutes, but if you did your job, you won't be visiting that person for a long time (at least for computer problems).
There is an employee at my place of employment who can make anyone laugh. Out of nowhere, he will break into a whole episode of SouthPark. Every voice is done with perfection and every line is without error. But the best part is when I check my voicemail and hear, "Timmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy!"
... is a moron. Obviously he confuses being annoying with being correct. Yes, I do mix technical lingo into my everyday conversations, but that's what makes me me. I know of a lot of people, in different walks of life, who do the same thing. I don't find them annoying, I start searching online and try to learn exactly what they were talking about. Lots of different people know lots of different things. I am one of those people who want to know everything, and I do everything I can to do just that. I know about law, medicine, computers, sports, music, etc. I think the writer needs to take a step back, realize that people know different things, and that if all he wants to do in his life is say how people different from him are annoying, fine, but if he wants to be an informed citizen, he should definately try to learn everything he can.
I feel sorry for those folks who work in the phone center making these calls who are only there because they need a job in order to support their families. I feel expecially sorry for those people who know exactly what they're getting people like Lauren into when they make the phone call or send the e-mail.
Some of my friends thrive on such programs. Punk'd is one of their favorites. I can't stand it. For those of you who have never heard of it, it airs on MTV. The premise of this show is the same as the debate show, except they take more extreme measures. Instead of arguing with you, they'll have your house repossessed and make you think you just lost your home, until the end of the show when they inform you it was only a joke. I've seen people start to cry on this show. Somehow, I'm not finding this funny!
Some people think of this as genius, I see it as a striving reach for attention. These people need help, I can't provide it, but someone has to.
1. Kill all suspicious processes
2. Clear Internet history, cookies, and cache.
3. Delete any crap from the Startup group
4. Install Ad-Aware (this might have to be done from cd or removable media since some spyware causes internet breakage)
5. Update Ad-Aware
6. Run Ad-Aware
7. Delete anything Ad-Aware quarantined
8. Run msconfig and remove from the Startup group anything you don't know what it is
9. Reboot
10. Repeat steps 6 and 7
11. Reboot
You should be good to go. I've had to do this on just about everyone's computer in the dorm at school and many family and friend's computers... It's never failed once.
Some people might not like this suggestion, but trust me, it works. Install Firefox and remove any shortcuts to IE (just make it unusable by the average person, since you still need it for Windows Updates). Teach whoever how to use Firefox. I've done this with my parents (who are NOT computer literate). I set all the settings correctly, installed all the plugins, etc. They don't miss IE at all. Plus, Firefox blocks popups and doesn't run ANYTHING without asking you first, thus, no more unwanted spyware from bad websites...
Well, first off, If you're parents are running 2k or xp, group policy is your friend. In there you can prohibit anything you want. Remove all shortcuts to IE and install Mozilla Firefox. I've used it since it came out and I haven't touched IE. Nothing gets installed oor downloaded without you telling it to in Firefox, unlike IE that autodownloads everything! IF you have a spare computer sitting around, throw linux on it and set up iptables. Make this the firewall for your computer(s). Only let simple things like http, pop3, named, smtp, 5190 (everyone likes AIM), etc. Hope that helps a little
Java isn't technically in the core yet. There is a class this semester under the "special Topics" label, which is basically a trial class. My college, like many, want to dwindle down to VB and I do not want to let that happen.
Yeah.. changes are done. One /.'er noticed a typo that I corrected.
This is an IT degree. Not CS, Not CE, Not IS. Information Technology. The whole point of this degree is to combine concepts with practical use; the theory most people are ranting about being put to use through different applications. I don't know about most of you, but you can teach me all the theory you want. It's not going to make sense until I get my hands on something and do it for myself. That's what I'm after. These classes will teach theory, but at the same time let you figure it out for yourself...
I can't imagine my ISP being able to handle the /. effect. Anyone willing to mirror the 18K pdf?
PDF
You know some moron pilot is gonna take this thing out...
Where is the frickin stable release. Whatever happened to having a stable 5.0 before creating a 5.1.
Get the biggest monitor you can afford with the lowest dot pitch. I.E. my monitor is a 19" flat CRT with a .20 dot pitch. This thing is so clear, I'd swear it's clearer than real life. Don't be fooled by stripe pitch either. You'd have to get a .17 stripe pitch to have the clarity of a .20 dot pitch.
Well, I bought 6 white roses, and 6 red roses. I'm getting up insanely early that morning and driving the white roses to her house, putting them in a good spot, then leaving, so she can find them when she wakes up. I'll see her later that day at choir practice, where I'll have the red roses and a poem, which is printed on photo paper with a background consisting of a heart with musical notes hanging on it. Hopefully this will make for a good Valentine's Day!