Saturday, March 27, 2010

New malware overwrites software updaters | ITworld

For the first time security researchers have spotted a type of malicious software that overwrites update functions for other applications, which could pose additional long-term risks for users.
Malware is getting worse, here is an article on how it is pretending to be an update to other programs you are running like Adobe Reader. I says it's will update the software and over writes it with malware.

Make sure any update you do is real and from the company that built it.

AlaskaJoe

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Create a Bootable Ubuntu 9.10 USB Flash Drive - How-To Geek

The Ubuntu Live CD isn’t just useful for trying out Ubuntu before you install it, you can also use it to maintain and repair your Windows PC. Even if you have no intention of installing Linux, every Windows user should have a bootable Ubuntu USB drive on hand in case something goes wrong in Windows.

This is a handy tool to have around if you do any repair work on a PC. it's easy to use (If your PC will boot to a USB drive)

I just set this up on a 1GB USB stick and my Mini boots to it, I had to play a little to get the wireless NIC to work, but it does a good job!

AlaskaJoe

Sunday, March 21, 2010

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 03-21-10

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 03-21-10. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific that's 1PM to 4PM Eastern. Join us for the live show and chat. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.

Links From The Gregg Zone

1) If you thought you had seen it all when it comes to interesting places to put solar cells, think again. At first glance this seems pretty far out there as presented here http://www.fastcompany.com/ their idea is to replace roads and parking lots with durable solar panels. Seems to have problems like traction, extreme weight of some trucking. But, hey why not sidewalks, parking garage roofs, light show patios, there must be many other applications.
2) Looks like those on glass computer generated displays are soon to our car windshields, I guess it was inevitable the military already has some. Why not have the major car companies start a gadget race for space on my windshield, I’m ready just what I wanted my car looks at my eyes, translates where I am looking and draws circles around what it thinks I am looking for. http://www.popsci.com
3) The evolution of space travel is sure getting mixed up these days. The space race is definitely warming up again China, Japan, India, of course North Korea, along with several other countries are rushing ahead with various programs. The U.S. seems to be backing down in general, but there is hope! In the U.S. what we do best is private industry, they are smelling the money and they are going for it. Here is an interesting article with video about the new citizen’s astronauts program, planning to put people in space in the next year or so. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com
4) This caught my eye thinking it was a good idea, and then having second thoughts. They are talking about using genetics to alter mosquitoes in a way to use them to deliver vaccines to fight diseases usually carried by mosquitoes. I am worried thinking about the whole mutation thing, so many ecological disasters created by bringing in one animal to control a pest, only to have them become a bigger pest. It would probably sell a lot of books for the conspiracy buffs, government altered mosquitoes delivering something extremely evil to the people. http://www.cnn.com
5) I have been waiting for this awhile now, the United States is launching a new division of the military, and it is about time… meet USCybercom. We are fielding a new cyber army to contend with all of the threats being launched at our cyber structure from foreign countries. Being a fan of evolution, I would like to see this morph into one hundred of our finest gamers, and a hundred of their best in a big room in two different countries playing a computer game called “War of the World”. Whenever one country wins a round, they get to make a law that must be obeyed by both countries, whoever wins the next round can either make a new law or revoke the last law. It is just an idea. But, it does look like there will be a new place for geeks in the army. http://news.bbc.co.uk

Earl's Cyber Steals and Deals

Best Buy offers the 5.9-lb. Toshiba Satellite L455-S5009 Pentium Dual-Core 2.2GHz 15.6" Widescreen Notebook for $399.99. Shipping adds $14.99, or opt for free in-store pickup. Even with shipping, that's $165 off list and the lowest total price we could find. Sales tax is added where applicable. It features an Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4400 2.2GHz processor, 15.6" 1366x768 widescreen LCD, 3GB RAM, 250GB 5400 rpm SATA hard drive, dual layer DVD burner, media card reader, 802.11g wireless, 6-cell battery, and Windows 7 Home Premium.

Dell Small Business offers the Dell Vostro 230 Intel Core 2 Quad 2.66GHz Mini Tower Desktop PC bundled with an Iomega 1TB USB 2.0 Prestige Desktop Hard Drive for $489 with $8 for shipping. That's $351 off and the lowest total price we could find for such a bundle with this configuration. Features include an Intel Core 2 Quad 8400 2.93GHz quad-core processor, 3GB RAM, 250GB 7200 rpm hard drive, DVD burner, keyboard, optical mouse, and Windows 7 Professional 32-bit.

Newegg has the Toshiba HDDR500E04XK 500GB 5400 RPM 8MB Cache USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive for $80 - $5 off with coupon code EMCYPZW48 [Exp 3/24] = $75 with free shipping. Features complete system backup and recovery (Windows only), password-protected data encryption, and internal shock sensor. Dimensions: 3.2" x 5" x 0.65

Newegg has the SASUS EN8400GS Silent/P/512M GeForce 8400 GS 512MB 64-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card for $31 - $13 rebate [Exp 3/31] = $18 with free shipping.uper silent operation due to its fanless design.

Lenovo.com offers its Lenovo L215 21.5" 1080p Widescreen LCD Monitor, model no. 6325HB1, for $152.99. Coupon code "USPRETHINK" cuts it to $137.69 with free shipping. That's $2 under yesterday's mention and the lowest total price we could find by $12. Sales tax is added where applicable. Features include a 1920x1080 (1080p) native resolution, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 300 cd/m² brightness, 5ms response time, and both HDMI and VGA inputs


Dell Small Business offers the Western Digital Elements 320GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive, model no. WDBAAR3200ABK-NESN, for $79.99 with free shipping. Apply coupon code "Z36$8LXH1R05WS" and it drops to $54.99 ($0.17/GB). That's the lowest total price we could find by $10, although it was a buck less two weeks ago. Sales tax is added where applicable. This drive is powered via USB; it doesn't require a separate power adapter

Today only, Woot Sellout offers the Diamond ATI TV Wonder HD 600 PCI Express Combo HDTV Tuner, model no. TVW600PCIEV, for $14.99 with $5 for shipping. That's $5 under our mention from last month and the lowest total price we could find by $9. This tuner card allows attachment of an analog TV cable or HD antenna to watch TV on a PC. The included software features an MPEG-2 encoder, TV program scheduling and recording capabilities, and more

Today only, Yugster.com offers this Remote Control Luggage Locator, model no. 48875, for $4.97 with $3 for shipping. That's a buck over our mention of a similar item from earlier this month but the lowest total price we could find by $5. It includes a sensor that attaches to your luggage. Press the remote and the sensor will beep and flash to assist in locating your luggage