Brian's Buzz past issues
Major improvements are coming to Brian's Buzz on Windows
Introduction
I think you'll be pleased to read the announcements I'll be making in the next issue of this newsletter. Thanks to my readers' generous contributions, major names in Windows expertise will be joining me to bring you new and improved content. And I'll be able to unveil a much stronger search-engine technology for WinFind, my free service that unearths Windows tips and tricks for you in respected high-tech Web sites.
The promise of XP Service Pack 2
Top Story by Brian Livingston
After many agonizing months of development, Microsoft issued on June 14 its Release Candidate 2 of the major new upgrade, Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP. As a "release candidate," the update is not yet a supported package that can be installed en masse by Windows users. (For one thing, it's never recommended that you install the final software over a release candidate, even if there's an uninstall feature for the beta version.) But it's getting very close to the "gold" version of the software that Microsoft will soon be urging all XP users to install.
Web sites infect IE, no patch yet 
Microsoft's Latest Patches
An exploit is loose on the Internet that allows a Web site to infect a PC running a fully patched version of Internet Explorer 6, and Microsoft at this writing has no patch available to close the security hole.
How Microsoft lost the API war
This Week's Hot Tips
Joel Spolsky, who's written a series of articles under the rubric "Joel on Software," has given birth to a major, thought-provoking piece. He argues that Microsoft has lost many, many developers moving to new programming environments that aren't downward-compatible with the old.
USDA classifies frozen French fries as fresh vegetables
Wacky Web Week
Wait! Don't dump that fast food! You can now eat French fries without guilt because the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture classifies them as "fresh vegetables" — and the government agency is winning court decisions when the idea is challenged.
Lock attackers out of your PC
Top Story by Brian Livingston
The recent wave of "phishing" attacks was the primary subject of Brian's Buzz on Windows in both my May 6 and May 20 issues. In a phishing exploit, you receive an official-looking e-mail that appears to be from an online banking or financial site — perhaps one that you have an account with. The e-mail says you must "re-confirm" your account details. If you click the link in the e-mail, you're sent to an official-looking Web page that's actually controlled by thieves. When you type in your password or credit-card number, the hackers behind the site capture the information and use it to steal from your account.
WinPatrol controls all running tasks
The Best New Freeware
After reading the May 20 issue of Brian's Buzz, with its report on hackers changing the Hosts file (as described in the Top Story, above), Jerry Dallal wrote in about a free program that tells him about attempts to change several aspects of Windows:
Fit your windows in any way you want
This Week's Hot Tips
If you ever need two or more windows to fit on your screen in a certain arrangement, you know how frustrating it can be to have to pull them into those same positions again.
Save $500 by changing one byte of code
Wacky Web Week
Digital camera enthusiasts were pleasantly surprised last fall when Canon released its 6-megapixel EOS 300D unit (at left in photo) for a list price of only $899 (currently about $775 street at Shopping.com). This was hundreds of dollars below Canon's very similar EOS 10D (at right), which had shipped earlier for $1,499 (about $1,275 street).
Readers find new phishing attacks
Top Story by Brian Livingston
The top story of the May 6 issue of Brian's Buzz on Windows revealed that hackers had found a way to hijack the address bar of Internet Explorer, Netscape, and possibly other browsers. This exploit makes it appear that you are visiting one site — such as your online bank — whereas you are actually visiting a bogus site that just happens to look exactly like your online bank.
Help system is vulnerable in XP and 2003
Microsoft's Latest Patches
MS04-015 (840374): Microsoft released only one security bulletin on May 11, the date of its customary 2nd Tuesday update for Windows. This bulletin, MS04-015, is rated "important," one step below the most severe rating of "critical." It affects only Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.
Phenomenal update info on 32 Microsoft products
This Week's Hot Tips
Someone other than Microsoft has finally put together a coherent guide, in a convenient checklist format, to the many patches and updates that are needed Windows and a great number of Redmond's various applications and add-ins for it
College alumnus has the last laugh
Wacky Web Week
'Tis the season for college graduation ceremonies, and while most grads are enduring some bureaucrat or another as their speaker, the matriculating students of the College of William and Mary got — drum roll, please — Jon Stewart, the funnyman of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" (picture, left).
Hackers grab IE's address bar
Top Story by Brian Livingston
Scam artists on the Internet have developed a way to make your browser's address bar say that you're viewing a legitimate Web site — when you're actually visiting a malicious site instead. The new technique is known to affect Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) browser, but also affects the Netscape browser and possibly others as well.
Sasser worm highlights MS04-011 problems
The Latest From Microsoft
A fast-spreading worm named Sasser hit the computer world last week — focusing more attention on MS04-011, a bug-ridden Microsoft security patch that was designed to halt such threats.
Cut Adobe Reader's load time by 60%
The Best New Freeware
It's nice to be able to use the free Adobe Reader (formerly Acrobat Reader), but the darn thing is so-o-o slo-o-o-o-w! This is especially true of the newer version 6 of the Reader, which is much larger and more molasses-like than the old reliable 5.x.
The Shining, re-enacted by bunnies
Wacky Web Week
In homage to the late, great Stanley Kubrick, and with apologies to Steven King, Jennifer Shiman has created a Flash animation called The Shining in 30 Seconds as Re-Told Bunnies. This is just the kind of weird, offbeat, cartoony humor that I know my readers like.
IntelliMouse phones home
Top Story by Brian Livingston
I've seen several comments from readers about versions of Microsoft's IntelliMouse software — its configuration utility for pointing devices — trying to quietly establish an Internet connection. For example, Bill Kennedy sent in the following description of his experiences:
Patch fixes 14 holes in NT, 2000, XP, and 2003 —but is buggy
The Latest From Microsoft
MS04-011 (835732): Out of four major security updates released on Apr. 13 Microsoft on its regular monthly patch schedule, the MS04-011 bulletin stands out as a whopper. It replaces more than a dozen previous security patches that Microsoft delivered to users during the past five years. In doing so, it attempts to close 14 newly discovered weaknesses.
Free tools liberate Outlook attachments
The Best New Freeware
Microsoft has increasingly placed limitations on attachments in its e-mail programs, beginning with Outlook 98. These restrictions attempt to cut down on viruses' unchecked use of Outlook to broadcast infected messages.
SBS Windows Server 2003 Registry needs a hack
This Week's Hot Tips
The version of Windows Server 2003 that comes with Microsoft's Small Business Server 2003 (both Standard and Premium Edition) has an error in its Registry that can cause services to corrupt data when the server is shut down or rebooted. Fortunately, the Registry entry can be corrected manually, if you know the secret.
Nice horn you've got there
Wacky Web Week
Reuters reports (via CNN.com) that a male rhinoceros in a British drive-through nature park got a little too user-friendly with a passenger car that had stopped to watch him frolic with a lady rhino.
What's really going on with Google
Top Story by Brian Livingston
Google.com is a search engine, not a Windows program. But Google is running on so many desktops — and so many computer professionals use Google to look up technical-support information — that it almost seems at times like a built-in Windows applet.
No new security bulletins this month — yet
The Latest From Microsoft
Microsoft has not released any new security bulletins since the last issue of Brian's Buzz was sent out. The company probably won't issue any more such bulletins until its next regularly scheduled announcement on April 13, which is the second Tuesday of this month.
Helping users to not always run as 'Administrator'
This Week's Hot Tips
I've often advised people not to operate Windows while logged in as "Administrator" all the time. (Nor should you allow users you're responsible for to do so). The reason for this advice is that more damage can be done to your PC a virus or a worm if it happens to run while you have the full privileges that typically derive from an "Administrator" account.
The Subservient Chicken
Wacky Web Week
Someone in a chicken costume rises from his perch and moves to the center of the room, facing you. He just sort of gazes at you, as if waiting for you to do something.
Office XP Service Pack 3 problems bite users
Top Story by Brian Livingston
Microsoft released its latest mass beta test on an unsuspecting populace when it started downloading into end users' computers on Mar. 9 its new Service Pack 3 for Windows XP.
Changes to security situations might help or hurt you
The Latest From Microsoft
I wrote in the Mar. 11 issue of Brian's Buzz about three security bulletins that Microsoft released as part of its normal monthly update schedule on Mar. 9.
Hot Launch makes complex tasks into short clicks
The Best New Freeware
The new version 1.1 of PS Hot Launch, a freeware product from PS Soft Lab, was posted on Feb. 14, and it's a great Valentine for any Windows user or administrator who'd like to simplify some complicated processes.
"Magnetoids" will be the next "Tickle Me Elmo"
Wacky Web Week
You read it here first — well, second. A shockingly simple new toy (or is it a brilliant relaxation device?) has just gone on sale at a single online e-tailer. I predict that these shiny little ovoids, left, will take off like a rocket this year.
XP Service Pack 1 clogs USB ports
Top Story
Microsoft has acknowledged that installing Service Pack 1 on Windows XP can make USB ports so slow that they almost seem to have frozen. This occurs because the "lazy write" cache gets confused about what information has been written to disk, with the result that the same bits are sent many times over.
Outlook 2002 allows takeover via viewing a message
The Latest From Microsoft
MS04-009 (828040): Microsoft has announced a security weakness in Outlook 2002, which is available separately as well as in Office XP, that can allow an attacker to take control of a PC if a malicious Web page or e-mail message is viewed.
ServersCheck adds several features for monitoring
The Best New Freeware
A new 5.0 version of ServersCheck, a networking monitoring utility, was released this month, adding to the capabilities of this highly-rated software package.
Don't install Windows 2000 SP4 with DFS off
This Week's Hot Tips
Reader Alan Chattaway of Surrey, Canada, found that an update for Windows 2000, in his case, caused an interaction with Microsoft's Distributed File System (DFS, pronounced "doofus"). DFS had somehow been turned off on his system without his knowledge. The steps he describes have so far fixed the problem, and I link below to a complete Microsoft Knowledge Base article about it:
Woman kills boyfriend with iPod, authorities say
Wacky Web Week
Police in Memphis, Tennessee, arrested a 23-year-old woman on Mar. 5 after she allegedly bludgeoned her boyfriend to death with an Apple iPod, a popular music player known for its hard, metal case, according to Headlined News (photo, left).
Readers say Google is losing its relevance
Top Story by Brian Livingston
I reported in eWeek on Feb. 17 that my readers and I had found numerous specific examples of the Google.com search engine failing to provide in its first 10 results good links for fairly straight-forward technical searches. The apparent decline in relevance is a very fitting subject for a follow-up story in today's Brian's Buzz, even though Google of course isn't a Windows program. Google is used so many people in the information technology biz to research PC problems that the search engine sometimes seems like an ever-present Windows utility.
Use Setup.exe to install SBS if DVD won't boot
This Week's Hot Tips
I wrote in my Jan. 29 review of Small Business Server 2003 that rather than installing from the several CD-ROMs that are provided, it's much quicker to install the software from the single DVD that's hidden in the packaging. If you're installing on a PC that can't boot from a DVD, I reported a suggestion from Harry Breslford, an SBS consultant and author of Windows Small Business Server 2003 Best Practices, that you could "run the setup program launching CD1\i386\winnt32.exe, then run the rest of the install from the DVD."
IE weakness reveals passwords; there's no patch
The Latest From Microsoft
Security researchers have published a warning that most versions of Microsoft's Internet Explorer have flaws that allow an attacker to "listen" to username/password strings when a connection to a " secure" Web site is begun.
SBS 2003 and Exchange Server require little-known settings
This Week's Hot Tips - Part 2
I wrote a lengthy review of Small Business Server (SBS) 2003 — Microsoft's low-cost bundle of Windows Server 2003, Exchange Server 2003, and other products — in the Jan. 29 issue of Brian's Buzz. Readers submitted numerous tips about SBS 2003 in the issue that followed on Feb. 12.
Now for a Web page that's really stupid
Wacky Web Week
One of the most hilarious things I've seen in weeks is a Web page that simply lists, in lines of plain text, reason after reason that every proposal to eliminate spam won't work. The page begins as a response to a Usenet posting: "Your post advocates a ( ) technical ( ) legislative ( ) market-based ( ) vigilante approach to fighting spam. Your idea will not work." It ends with, "and you're a stupid person for suggesting it...", with much frivolity in between. See SpamSolutions.txt
Readers send tips on SBS 2003
Top Story by Brian Livingston
The last issue of Brian's Buzz on Jan. 29 featured a review of Small Business Server (SBS) 2003, Microsoft's new bundle of Windows Server 2003, Exchange Server 2003, Outlook 2003, and other products. The thrust of my article was that the list price of SBS 2003 with 5 users ($599 in U.S. dollars) was far below the list price of a similar configuration of Windows Server 2003 ($999) and Exchange Server 2003 ($1,034) alone, not to mention the price of the other components that are included in the new version of SBS. Microsoft, under competitive pressure in the small-server space from Linux, is definitely making its bundled pricing very attractive.
Protect yourself from the coming ASN.1 attack
The Latest From Microsoft by Brian Livingston
Microsoft announced on Feb. 10, as part of its regular monthly patch schedule, a major security hole affecting Windows NT, 2000, XP, and to some extent 2003. Experts are calling the new problem a more dangerous threat to PCs than other virus epidemics such as Code Red.
Everyone will be married to Britney Spears for 15 minutes, study finds
Wacky Web Week
One of my favorite news sites on the Web is Chortler.com, which calls itself a satirical online newspaper. Every day, they come up with great stories such as this: "A report a team of sociologists has found that Jason Alexander, a complete unknown just days ago, has started a whole new wave in wedding trends - everyone will be married to Britney Spears for 15 minutes." The site doesn't dwell merely on entertainment news, however, digging equally into candidates from Democrats to Republicans and events both large and small. ("Pretzel attack planned before September 11, Paul O'Neil claims.")
Small Business Server 2003 cuts costs
Top Story by Brian Livingston
Are you responsible for a company or a workgroup that has 5 to 75 users connected to a server at any one time? Have you decided to upgrade your network to Windows Server 2003 and Exchange Server 2003? If so, you can save money purchasing the software in a bundle called Small Business Server (SBS) 2003, says Harry Brelsford, the founder of SMB Nation, a consulting site that sponsors workshops and publishes books on SBS.
Problems with CHKDSK in Windows 2000 and XP
This Week's Hot Tips
Reader Bert Smith reports that many people have received troubling error messages when they've run the CHKDSK command from a command line under Windows 2000 or XP.
No new security bulletins have been released by Microsoft
The Latest From Microsoft
since the ones that I discussed in the Jan. 15 paid version of Brian's Buzz. For this reason, I have no alerts to tell you about in today's issue. The next expected release of bulletins from Microsoft will be on Feb. 10 and will be analyzed in the Feb. 12 newsletter.
Save Them Goldfish!
Wacky Web Week
Here's a Flash game that's sure to infuriate the most environmentally sensitive among you, but also provide a lot of fun for everyone else. Save Them Goldfish! is a challenge to your mouse-hand coordination. You, a hard-working student, return to your dorm room to find that your slovenly roommate has decided your pet goldfish would make tasty snacks. You open your door just as he's tossing your fishy friends into a hot frying pan, one at a time. You must snare the wriggling fishies with your mouse and drag them back into their goldfish bowl before they roast. After you've saved a few, your roommate starts dropping them into the pan two at a time, and things get more interesting from there.
New technology shines at CES
Top Story by Brian Livingston
LAS VEGAS - The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which assembles every January in this gambling and entertainment capital, has become one of the world's most important venues where new technology products are introduced.
Microsoft renews support for Windows 98 and Me
The Latest From Microsoft
Microsoft had planned to terminate all technical support for Windows 98 on Jan. 16, 2004, and support for Windows Me on Dec. 31, 2004. But an outcry from users, especially in developing countries where most people don't upgrade their software as quickly, led Microsoft into a rare change of heart. Reuters reports that 20% of all Windows-based PCs worldwide run Windows 98 or the even older Windows 95.
How to recover deleted photos from a digital camera
This Week's Hot Tips
We've all done it: deleted photos on a digital camera's memory card before we were really certain that they'd safely made it all the way to the permanent storage location we'd planned.
Mapping Peer-to-Peer Networks
Wacky Web Week
Much of what happens on the Internet is invisible to the naked eye, so it's nice to see a site that reveals the hidden structure to us visually.
