Patch Patch Patch Patch, Saugage Spam and Patch Patch Patch
If you tend to Windows desktops and networks, today is a busy day.
Microsoft
released seven security bulletins, with three for Office and four for Windows.
Windows Update and Software Update Services (formerly WUS) have been tweaked
as well. Now get patchin'!
Free Folder Password Tool -- One String Attached!
Microsoft has a new lure to get users to sign up for Windows Genuine
Advantage (WGA). As you know, WGA is a tool that calls Redmond to insure that
your Windows isn't pirated. If you're legit, you can get Windows
Updates. If not, you live with the holes XP was born with.
Now there's a new little item, a
gadget that can password-protect a single folder (and for some strange reason,
only one folder). Just what I need: another password to forget. Imagine losing
access to all the files that were so important you invented a password to protect
them?
What would you use this to protect? Love letters, that novel you're trying
to finish or your plans to rob the bank down the street? Let us know what secrets
you'd hide by writing to [email protected].
Don't worry, we'll use your first name only if we publish your letter!
Microsoft and OpenDoc
There's been a big stink about the OpenDoc format promoted by the OpenOffice
folks and others, and the fact that Microsoft wants to support it about as much
as Alec Baldwin wants to support the John Birch Society (hey, I ain't taking
sides, but you're welcome to at [email protected]).
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Redmond recently softened its stance and supports
an open source effort to build translators from Microsoft's version of an
open format, Open XML (kind of a proprietary open format), and OpenDoc itself.
It is just me or is this kludgy and bizarre? I mean, how hard would it be just
to add native OpenDoc support the way that Word used to with WordPerfect? So
to save in OpenDoc, you first save in Open XML, then crank it through the translator.
Yeah, that sounds real simple!
British Hacker To Face Justice Across the Pond?
Britain and the U.S. are true allies, having joined hands in two wars
in as many decades, speak the same language (roughly speaking), and sharing
a penchant for large quantities of beer (their's warm and thick, our's cold
and thin). Now the
Brits have agreed to send us an infamous hacker who broke into U.S. military
computers. The hacker, Gary McKinnon, says he was simply trying to prove that
Americans are covering up details about UFOs. McKinnon is expected to appeal.
Wonder if we'll pick him up in a spaceship.
About the Author
Doug Barney is editor in chief of Redmond magazine and the VP, editorial director of Redmond Media Group.