Dr. Bill | The Computer Curmudgeon

Microsoft June 15 confirmed that a new, undocumented flaw in its widely used Excel spreadsheet program was being used in an attack against an unnamed target.

Microsoft Confirms Excel Zero-Day Attack Under Way

“The company’s warning comes less than a month after a code-execution hole in Microsoft Word was exploited in what is described as a “super, super targeted attack” against business interests overseas. The back-to-back zero-day attacks closely resemble each other and suggest that well-organized criminals are conducting corporate espionage using critical flaws purchased from underground hackers.”

You have gotten used to a “net neutral” Internet. We take it for granted. But, if certain forces have their way, the Internet could become “segmented” into faster and slower “lanes” on the “Information Superhighway.” The Internet is the “great equalizer” for folks like me that are opinionated and want to share their thoughts and ideas freely! Join the drive to keep the Internet free!

Save the Internet!

“The SavetheInternet.com Coalition is a real grassroots alliance of organizations, citizens, businesses and bloggers that have banded together to protect Internet freedom. The Coalition believes that the Internet is a crucial engine for economic growth and free speech. We are working together to urge Congress to preserve Network Neutrality, the First Amendment for the Internet that ensures that the Internet remains open to innovation and progress. From its beginnings, the Internet has leveled the playing field for all comers. Everyday people can have their voices heard by thousands, even millions of people. The SavetheInternet.com Coalition — representing millions of Americans from all walks of life — is working together to ensure that Congress passes no telecommunications legislation without meaningful and enforceable Network Neutrality protections.”

Well, to be less involved in the day-to-day operations anyway. I gotta give Bill G. credit. (I know you probably think the aliens have replaced me!) Anyway, Bill G. and I are the same age. If I had the mega-mega bucks that he has, I think I would have long since gone on to pursue other things. But then, I know he is probably heavily involved in Microsoft as “part of himself,” defining who he is… so it is probably hard to leave. He is actually slowly removing himself from day-to-day operations over a two year period. He will remain as Chairman of M$. So, Bill, enjoy!

Bill Gate Steps Down

Don’t worry! I will resume attacking M$ really soon, I promise! [GRIN!]

So… you know I like to torque Microsoft’s jaw about how lame their products are… here’s a fun “proof” that you can show an unsuspecting user!

This actually works. It will not crash your computer, it just “breaks” Notepad in that it causes it to display very oddly. No permanent damage comes of doing the following steps.

Here’s how to do it:
1. Open up Notepad (not Wordpad, not Word, or any other word processor)
2. Type in this sentence exactly (without quotes): “this app can break”
3. Save the file to your hard drive.
4. Close Notepad
5. Open the saved file by double clicking it.

Weird, huh? Proof again that Microsoft is a bizarre company! Notepad just can’t seem to handle that string. Maybe an “insider” Microsoft programmer joke? If so, what other “surprises” are “under the hood?”

A lot of people are VERY concerned about what is being called “Domestic Spying” by the government, with cries of, “Big Brother!” and Orwellian conspiracy schemes are discussed in hushed tones throughout the country. A close look at the truth of such programs would seem to make these fears less scary… as the information being gathered is not actual phone conversations, but just numbers called. Still, that is enough to chill many folks!

Now, what if I told you that there was a company that since 2005 has had a program on YOUR computer that reports EVERY DAY about your system, what it is running, and other pertinent information? well, that HAS been happening… and the company is… you guessed it… Microsoft!

Microsoft as “Big Brother”

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols says in his article, “I don’t mean to be paranoid, but when someone tells me that, oh, by the way, they’ve been checking on my XP and Windows 2000 PCs every day since July 2005 when Microsoft made WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) mandatory or you couldn’t download patches, I get a little concerned. Still, it’s not like Microsoft would actually collect more information and then use it against such competitors as Firefox would they? Oh wait, come to think of it, didn’t Microsoft once cause Windows to produce fake error messages if a user was running DR-DOS instead of MS-DOS? While they never admitted to it, they did finally end up paying Caldera Systems, one of the ancestors of today’s SCO, approximately $60 million to make the resulting lawsuit go away. No, nothing like that has happened. I mean maybe they’re using WGA to report on what applications people are really using for market information, but that’s harmless isn’t it? I mean lots of spyware, ah, programs do that, right? Of course.”

Scott Redmon, artist extraordinaire, sent me a 1st Anniversary celebration header for the Blog! Thanks, dewd!

The well known Open Source Packet Sniffer “Ethereal” is now known as “Wireshark!”

Ethereal Changes Name to “Wireshark”

“Gerald Combs, founder of the Ethereal project — billed as the world’s most popular network protocol analyzer — caused a flurry of excitement among users and developers Wednesday when he announced on the Ethereal developers mailing list that he was changing jobs, moving to a new location, and taking the project and its core developers with him as he leaves.”

Today is officially one full year since starting this Blog! Wow! We have come a long way in one year! We now have not only the Blog, but the Podcast, and I am actually considering a VODcast (Videocast, Vlog… take your pick.) We have become part of the Techpodcasts.com Network, and we have (as of today) 27 folks from around the world that have put a pin in our Frappr map (so far!)

So… time has marched on, and I trust that you have found my musings entertaining and informative! Let’s go boldly into the next year!