digg / technology: Texas to get broadband over its power lines

Mantus submitted by Mantus 1 day 19 hours ago (via http://news.com.com/Texas to g...)

Two Texas companies have announced a plan to offer high-speed Internet service over the power grid."

You're infected so pay us to get infested | The Register: "You're infected so pay us to get infested
Spyware spam scams dissected
By John Leyden
Published Wednesday 21st December 2005 09:39 GMT
Get breaking Security news straight to your desktop - click here to find out how

Spyware spreaders have stepped up attempts to trick users into downloading malware using a combination of browser vulnerabilities and deceptive spam emails. In particular, bogus warnings about infestation are frequently being used to dupe Windows users into accepting potentially malign code, reports security vendor Websense. In many cases, these scam emails also request money in return for 'fixing' supposed security problems that don't actually exist (example here).

Such social engineering tricks represent a common-enough spyware scumbag ploy but Websense has identified a number of common factors within attacks launched over the last fortnight. Many of the sites involved in these scams are hosted in either the Ukraine or Russia. Their domain names are registered in countries such as Vanuatu and Mexico. Code downloaded from these sites often includes several pieces of spyware, adware, and other potentially unwanted software. Removing any of this software often forces users to fill out a survey.
Click Here

The same IP netblocks associated with these nefarious sites have often recently been used to host malicious code such as Trojan horse downloaders and host-file redirection software, Websense reports. Furthermore, IP netblocks of these scam hosting sites are often hosting other questionable sites such as fraudulent search engines. Several of the 1,500 sites analysed by Websense contain links to other sites that are hosting IE exploit code.

In summary, these scam emails subject recipients to a noxious cocktail of unpleasantness that's best avoided. Screen shots of these spyware scam emails can be found on Websense's website here. ?"

Stuff. :: Nifty Technology: VMware Browser Applicance :: December :: 2005: "Nifty Technology: VMware Browser Applicance
Filed under:

* irishblogs

Full disclosure: I benefit materially from VMware?s ongoing success.

Right, so we live in a world of malware and spyware. This crap infects your web browser like an easily communicable STD and before you know it you?re hunting around looking for something, anything, to act as a cure. The answers to preventing these problems can be somewhat drastic, everything from ditching your web browser to ditching your operating system. Well, why not do both, sort of.

The VMware Player allows you to run Virtual Machines (VMs) on your Windows or Linux systems, these are fully featured operating systems running on top of your current fully featured operating system. So, why not do what people keep telling you and run something which isn?t IE on something which isn?t Windows. That?s where the Browser Appliance comes in, it?s a prebuilt Virtual Machine which contains FireFox running on Ubuntu.

Once it loads you end up in FireFox. No Linux experience required, but since it?s a full Linux system you can su to root and get your administration on if you so choose.

If you have privacy concerns you can set the Virtual Machine to reset to it?s initial state, which means the next time someone starts the VM up it won?t contain any information which might have been created during the last session. No mucking about deleting history, cookies, or fears of it holding onto passwords or autofilling credit card info. To ensure it always resets to it?s initial state you add the following to the Browser-Appliance.vmx file."

Globetechnology: Pulsar announces water heater using microwaves: "Tuesday, November 22, 2005 Posted at 2:57 PM EST

Globe and Mail Update

Pulsar Advanced Technologies has announced will next week launch its lead product, the Vulcanus MK4, a water heater USING microwave technology to heat water on demand. This technology with super-heating capabilities will drastically cut energy costs and totally eliminate the need to store hot water. The Vulcanus MK4 is making its world premier at Construct Canada in Toronto between Nov. 30 and Dec. 2.

The tankless system uses microwave technology to heat water on demand, saving energy and providing an endless supply of hot water for residential and commercial usage. The technology is designed to eliminate the deadly Legionella Pneumophila, since water will not stagnate, as it does with conventional hot water heaters.

Powered by electricity and unaffected by the volatile gas markets, the Vulcanus MK4 can heat water from 35 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit in seconds and can source multiple applications at once: showers, dishwasher, sink usages and more. The Vulcanus MK4 is the size of a stereo speaker with a sleek modern look, making it ideal for condos and apartments, while powerful enough to serve the needs of any size family."

digg / technology: "PC Interfaces 101

Albertpacino submitted by Albertpacino 22 hours 51 minutes ago (via http://www.tomshardware.com/ho...)

'You, of course, have a flawless understanding of SATA, AGP, IDE and PCI-E or any other PC interface. But for those of you who are afraid to admit even minor lapses in your standards knowledge base, THG details which connectors go where and what they do.'"

digg / software: "Biggest List of Open Source Apps

utch submitted by utch 5 hours 38 minutes ago (via http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L...)

Surfing around I found this awsome yes again 'wikipedia' article. It is basically the biggest list I have found of open source software all nice and neat categories. Enjoy!"

digg / security: "Reset Windows XP password

leehord submitted by leehord 16 hours 58 minutes ago (via http://pubs.logicalexpressions...)

Uses install disc and a hole in the installation screen."

BetaNews | Microsoft Software to Require 64-bits: "Microsoft Software to Require 64-bits
By Nate Mook, BetaNews
November 15, 2005, 2:57 PM

64-bit computing may not be taking off on the desktop due to a lack of drivers and applications, but Microsoft is preparing to force an upgrade on the server side. The company announced at the IT Forum in Barcelona Tuesday that it would drop support for 32-bit systems in upcoming product releases.

Exchange Server 12 will be one of the first updates to become exclusively 64-bit, requiring an Intel or AMD processor with 64-bit extensions and an x64 version of Windows Server. The new release is currently slated to launch in early 2007, around the time Windows Server 'Longhorn' is completed."

digg / hardware: "ATI breaks 1GHz GPU speed barrier!

bigz submitted by bigz 8 days ago (via http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2...)

This is insane, two Finnish overclockers have managed to overclock an ATI X1800XT to over 1Ghz core! They actually managed to get the card to 1003/1881Mhz according to the article. Woah!"

digg / hardware: "10 gigabit Ethernet runs on copper wires

deviceguru submitted by deviceguru 2 days ago (via http://deviceforge.com/news/NS...)

Dynatem is shipping a 10 gigabit Ethernet (GbE) NIC (network interface card) claimed to offer the world's 'highest throughput Ethernet performance.' In contrast to today's fiber-optic 10GbE NICs, the MAX Copper enables 10GbE transmissions at distances up to 10 meters using standard CAT5e or CAT6 cabling and RJ-45 connectors."

digg / technology: "The rechargeable batteries of the future have arrived

dontod submitted by dontod 1 day 23 hours ago (via http://www.akihabaranews.com/e...)

Sanyo has announced their ENELOOP batteries yesterday."

Doctor Who set to return on Xmas Day | The Register: "Doctor Who set to return on Xmas Day
Tardis to land during Children in Need too
By Tony Smith
Published Friday 4th November 2005 13:52 GMT
Get breaking Reg news straight to your desktop - click here to find out how

The Doctor Who Christmas Special, provisionally titled The Christmas Invasion, will be broadcast on Christmas Day, the BBC has said.

The hour-long one-off show will mark the first full adventure for tenth Doctor David Tennant after his brief appearance in the ultimate episode of the 2005 season, The Parting of the Ways, when ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston's time in the role came to an end.
Click Here

That said, Tennant will also appear later this month in a short film recorded for the BBC's Children in Need telethon. The mini-episode, set between The Parting of the Ways and The Christmas Invasion will be broadcast on the evening of 18 November.

The following Monday (21 November) sees the release of a monster Tardis-shaped box set comprising all 13 episodes of the last series on DVD, along with a Krynoid-sized heap of extras, including commentaries, video diaries and behind-the-scenes features.

Personally, we're hoping our Christmas Stocking will contain a sonic screwdriver...

The Christmas special will see the good Doctor come to grips with his new incarnation while he battles the deadly Sycorax, bent on conquering the Earth in the guise of Father Christmas.

The story will see the return of Harriet Jones, MP, from the last season's Aliens of London and World War Three, again played by Penelope Wilton, but now promoted to Prime Minister. Actors Noel Clarke and Camille Coduri reprise their roles of Mickey and Jackie Tyler, respectively.

Billie Piper, recently awarded a best drama actress gong for Doctor Who, returns as the Doctor's sidekick, Rose. ®"

BetaNews | Google Upgrades its Desktop to 2.0: "Google Upgrades its Desktop to 2.0
By Nate Mook, BetaNews
November 3, 2005, 6:14 PM

Google Desktop SidebarMicrosoft may be afraid to show its sidebar, but Google apparently has no such qualms. The company on Thursday rolled out the final version of Google Desktop 2.0, its venerable search utility that has morphed into a full-fledged desktop application with scriptable plug-ins.

The free Google Desktop combines search with the Google Sidebar, which can be custom tailored with news, weather, stocks and more. Users can add their own content via RSS feeds and create a photo slideshow using local images or those from a Web site.

An e-mail panel checks for new messages based on a user-defined filter and a Personalized Maps panel, new to version 2.0, loads up maps based on the content of the Web site you are visiting. 'It can show you interesting places around the world, or you can directly navigate to your favorite spots,' Google says.

But the real power behind Google Desktop 2.0 lies in its extensibility. With the beta release in August, Google opened the door to developers by providing a rich API upon which to build third-party plug-ins. iTunes and Winamp controls, a dictionary and system monitor are some of the dozens of user-created panels available for download.

The final release of version 2.0 now supports scripting languages such as JavaScript and VBScript, which can be packaged using a new automatic plug-in installer. Samples and documentation are available to help guide the way for developers.

Google Desktop isn't just for home users, however. The company has released a free edition for businesses that features increased security and administration capabilities.

'We've tested the Enterprise version in a number of medium and large businesses to verify the administration, integration and security features that are important within business environments,' said Google soft"

digg / software: "Download the best WYSIWYG XHTML editor hands down, for free.


Amaya is created by W3C and outputs fully cross-browser compatible, valid XHTML 1.1 and CSS. Has a bit of a complicated interface but indispensible once you have it down."

digg / linux/unix: "Build Your Own Linux Home Theater PC


For the penguin lover: a how-to on building a Linux-based home-theater PC, complete with PVR capabilities."

digg / software: "Run windows programs... Without using Windows!

saggygrandma submitted by saggygrandma 11 hours 47 minutes ago (via http://www.reactos.org/xhtml/e...)

The ReactOS� project is dedicated to making Free Software available to everyone by providing a ground-up implementation of a Microsoft Windows� XP compatible operating system"