Windows 7 x64 RC Installed!!
Well the time finally came for me to ditch vista forever and move to the new and upcoming Windows 7! Yes that’s right, I totally switched over completely and to tell you the truth I am enjoying the experience. Windows 7 has proved to be impressive in boot time, installation, user interface, and more.
For example, during installation It automatically installed my video, sound, and other critical system devices. It also asked me what wireless network I would like to join, and allowed me the option to start that connection automatically during startup!! At that point I was already impressed at how easy and fast it was to install Windows 7, but once I started to use the new and improved Aero interface I was blown away at how intuitive and easy it was.
The new Aero interface is just what Microsoft needed to improve windows switching and task management inside of windows. I’ve noticed that I am able to more quickly find the windows I want, and be able to multitask way better than I was able to in Vista and XP. This is largly due to the window transparency effect that happens while switching windows. Evey window that is not in focus turns transparent which allows you to focus on the selected window, making it easy and quick to find what you are looking for.
Anyway, If you haven’t installed Windows 7 RC on any of your PC rigs I suggest you do so. It will improve your productivity levels and keep you up to date with the lastest tech as well.
I got hacked!
Just today I discoverd that my wordpress blog had been destroyed by some strange malware. I am still waiting to get my hands on the access logs to determine where the attack came from, however it just stuns me that some people actually like doing stupid stuff like this for a living or a hobby. Why cant they do something productive??!! or help someone out for a change!! I know I am going on a rant here, but I am sure that you all can understand my frusteration. The world would be a lot better without all these virii and exploits….
While researching a fix for my blog I found these usefull posts that helped me get my site back up to normal. Enjoy!!
http://blog.silverstone.nu/2009/04/04/wordpress-271-hacked/
http://wordpress.org/support/topic/166902
Virtual Windows XP
Microsoft has implemented a Virtual Windows XP Mode in its newest upcoming operating system Windows 7. Virtual XP mode in Winodws 7 will allow you to run legacy programs that worked in Windows XP or eariler version of windows via virtualization. Now before you get any misconceptions in you head, this is not like a virtual machine that runs on its own screen or in a tiny window on the side of your monitor. It is a virtualized platform that allows you to install Windows XP programs and add it to the host (Windows 7), and add the installed programs to the start menu. You are not required to run the VM to use the programs installed in it. It will run these legacy applications alongside Windows 7 applications!! In my opinion this was a great move for Microsoft, because this way they can claim 100% compatibility with Windows XP and ditch the “compatibility mode” that never worked half the time anyway!
Virtual Windows XP will be made available, for free, to users of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions via a download from the Microsoft web site.
References:
http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2009/04/24/secret-no-more-revealing-virtual-windows-xp-for-windows-7.aspx
http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/xp_mode_pre_shots.asp
Mac OS X botnet
I am sure everyone saw this coming for a while, and today it finally happened. There is a new Mac OS X botnet loose and active on the internet today, and it’s all thanks to pirated copies of iLife 09 that people downloaded and installed off p2p networks. This proves that macs are not immune to trojans, malware, viruses, and other attacks that have been in the Windows world a long time. It just comes to show that no matter how secure a system is, it’s only as secure as the person using it! Stop Downloading Crap!! Buy Legit Software guys!! come on!! This is what you get when you pirate software and install it, you just can never be sure what you are getting.
Although I do admit that this was a application level attack and not a direct attack on the Mac OS itself, it still dosn’t change the fact that there is a MAC OS X botnet out there in the wild!!! The myth that Macs are immune to trojans, viruses, malware,etc.. is now officially over… it’s time to move on guys.
Don’t get me wrong I love the Mac OS and use it all the time, I am just saying that Mac users should be careful what they download and not throw all caution to the wind.
The average Mac user believes he or she is immune to any type of attack or vulnerability just because he or she has a Mac. The misinformation and half-truths that Apple and its fanboys have spread throughout the years is finally catching up to some of their users.
Here are the links to the news articles that go into more detail:
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/041709-first-mac-os-x-botnet.html
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=3157
Kill IE 6
I still can’t believe how many business and and regular home users are still using Internet Explorer 6!!! Thanks to those ignorant users, tons of malware and exploits are still able to attack and compromise these outdated systems and continue to add to the Headache of System Admins and Security Professionals.
Luckily there seems to be a new cool way to help these user upgrade there browsers. Over at http://ie6update.com/# they have some code you install on your website that will check to see if they have IE 6 installed, and if they do it will pop up a browser update bar at the top of the browser. This is designed to look just like other activex plugin / download notifications in IE, so that way they will trust it.
So let get working and start killing IE 6
http://ie6update.com/#
