Security Tango - Keep Your Computer Clean

Nick's Security Blog

Intermittent musings on security and other stuff
Fri 18 May 2012 7:09 AM

Microsoft Stealth-Installs a Firefox Extension
Mon 1 Jun 2009 7:40 PM
I don't know. I suppose I should be angrier about this. But by now, this is the kind of stuff we've come to expect from Microsoft.

Earlier this year, Microsoft issued a service pack (fancy name for a bunch of updates) for their .NET Framework, which is one of their myriad programming plat...

Click here to read the entire entry

Widget-crazy? You are sadly at risk.
Fri 21 Sep 2007 4:30 PM
Widgets are those fun, graphic programs that bring all kinds of nifty toys to your desktop. Most Linux GUI desktops have them, OS X has them, Vista has them, and lots of Web sites have them. And they're great, big security holes. Patches to these things have appeared by the dozens (yes, even for yo...

Click here to read the entire entry

Limewire User? Thanks for Your Banking Data!
Fri 7 Sep 2007 2:02 PM
I've been saying this for years: using a peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing program like Limewire or KaZaA or Soulseek or whatever can open up your hard drive to such an extent that people can find anything on it. Including your financial records. In fact, a Seattle, Washington man has been a...

Click here to read the entire entry

Windows Flaw Exposes Your Personal Data. You're Welcome.
Thu 16 Aug 2007 2:09 PM
A little known feature in the Windows operating system is called URI - the Uniform Resource Identifier. It's a set of special keys in the Windows Registry that are used to launch programs through your Web browser, and - I hope you're sitting down - it can be used to steal data from your computer. Click here to read the entire entry

Internet Explorer to Firefox - Double Play!
Sat 14 Jul 2007 9:39 PM
This is one of those stories that just makes you shake your head. There seems to be a flaw in Internet Explorer that allows it to pass on a command to Firefox. Seriously. And, of course, script kiddies are taking advantage of this to pass Firefox malicious Web sites. Yes, Internet Explorer can cause...

Click here to read the entire entry

Vista is Watching You...
Mon 2 Jul 2007 7:13 PM
We've been through this before, a lot of times. Every time a new version of anything from Microsoft comes out, it's followed closely by the tin-foil hat crowd, screaming that Microsoft is sending back information about us to the Mothership, and we're all doomed to be slaves for our corporate overlor...

Click here to read the entire entry

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in Your Email!
Sun 1 Jul 2007 12:03 PM
Can you believe it? Somebody's gotten their hands on the text of the not-yet-released final Harry Potter book, scanned it, and is sending it out to everybody! Why, it's too good to be true!

Wait... what?

Too good to be true? Hmmm...

That's right. If you take even a tenth o...

Click here to read the entire entry

Important Message? Or Scam?
Mon 25 Jun 2007 12:14 AM
I got the following email today:

hi.. are you still at this email address? I was told you might be... if you are, PLEASE email me back at this email address [address elided]. I'm supposed to relay an important message.

Ummm... right... A couple of things make me just a tad...

Click here to read the entire entry

Safari, Not Sagoodi
Fri 15 Jun 2007 12:19 AM
Man, I hope that pun makes sense to you...

Apple has released their Safari Web browser for Windows, and rabid Mac fanatics (you know who you are) are all walking cross-legged with excitement. Unfortunately, it didn't take long for the Windows naysayers (you know who you are) to rain on thei...

Click here to read the entire entry

Microsoft's Monthly Visitor- June 2007
Wed 13 Jun 2007 6:37 PM
Microsoft's latest update/patch/fix/whatever includes something for everyone. There are six patches just for Internet Explorer (only one of which has been publicly disclosed). Microsoft said that all but one of them could allow system hijacking if a user were to visit a malicious Web page. One of th...

Click here to read the entire entry

See more blog entries

The Ask Nick!™ The Ask Nick!™ Security Security Tango™ Tango™ Sponsored by Sponsored by

Tango Links: Home Let's Dance! Good Passwords Nick's Blog Get the CD Definitions Security News Blame, Credits, etc. Windows Links: *Anti-Virus:* McAfee Security Symantec (Norton) CA's eTrust Grisoft's AVG avast! Panda Software *Anti-Malware:* SuperAntiSpyware Malwarebytes *Firewalls:* ZoneAlarm McAfee Firewall Norton Firewall	Nick's Security Blog Intermittent musings on security and other stuff Fri 18 May 2012 7:09 AM Microsoft Stealth-Installs a Firefox Extension Mon 1 Jun 2009 7:40 PM I don't know. I suppose I should be angrier about this. But by now, this is the kind of stuff we've come to expect from Microsoft. Earlier this year, Microsoft issued a service pack (fancy name for a bunch of updates) for their .NET Framework, which is one of their myriad programming plat... Click here to read the entire entry Widget-crazy? You are sadly at risk. Fri 21 Sep 2007 4:30 PM Widgets are those fun, graphic programs that bring all kinds of nifty toys to your desktop. Most Linux GUI desktops have them, OS X has them, Vista has them, and lots of Web sites have them. And they're great, big security holes. Patches to these things have appeared by the dozens (yes, even for yo... Click here to read the entire entry Limewire User? Thanks for Your Banking Data! Fri 7 Sep 2007 2:02 PM I've been saying this for years: using a peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing program like Limewire or KaZaA or Soulseek or whatever can open up your hard drive to such an extent that people can find anything on it. Including your financial records. In fact, a Seattle, Washington man has been a... Click here to read the entire entry Windows Flaw Exposes Your Personal Data. You're Welcome. Thu 16 Aug 2007 2:09 PM A little known feature in the Windows operating system is called URI - the Uniform Resource Identifier. It's a set of special keys in the Windows Registry that are used to launch programs through your Web browser, and - I hope you're sitting down - it can be used to steal data from your computer. Click here to read the entire entry Internet Explorer to Firefox - Double Play! Sat 14 Jul 2007 9:39 PM This is one of those stories that just makes you shake your head. There seems to be a flaw in Internet Explorer that allows it to pass on a command to Firefox. Seriously. And, of course, script kiddies are taking advantage of this to pass Firefox malicious Web sites. Yes, Internet Explorer can cause... Click here to read the entire entry Vista is Watching You... Mon 2 Jul 2007 7:13 PM We've been through this before, a lot of times. Every time a new version of anything from Microsoft comes out, it's followed closely by the tin-foil hat crowd, screaming that Microsoft is sending back information about us to the Mothership, and we're all doomed to be slaves for our corporate overlor... Click here to read the entire entry Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in Your Email! Sun 1 Jul 2007 12:03 PM Can you believe it? Somebody's gotten their hands on the text of the not-yet-released final Harry Potter book, scanned it, and is sending it out to everybody! Why, it's too good to be true! Wait... what? Too good to be true? Hmmm... That's right. If you take even a tenth o... Click here to read the entire entry Important Message? Or Scam? Mon 25 Jun 2007 12:14 AM I got the following email today: hi.. are you still at this email address? I was told you might be... if you are, PLEASE email me back at this email address [address elided]. I'm supposed to relay an important message. Ummm... right... A couple of things make me just a tad... Click here to read the entire entry Safari, Not Sagoodi Fri 15 Jun 2007 12:19 AM Man, I hope that pun makes sense to you... Apple has released their Safari Web browser for Windows, and rabid Mac fanatics (you know who you are) are all walking cross-legged with excitement. Unfortunately, it didn't take long for the Windows naysayers (you know who you are) to rain on thei... Click here to read the entire entry Microsoft's Monthly Visitor- June 2007 Wed 13 Jun 2007 6:37 PM Microsoft's latest update/patch/fix/whatever includes something for everyone. There are six patches just for Internet Explorer (only one of which has been publicly disclosed). Microsoft said that all but one of them could allow system hijacking if a user were to visit a malicious Web page. One of th... Click here to read the entire entry See more blog entries
Text, "Security Tango," and logo Copyright © 2012 Nick Francesco Hosting provided by CLSS Enterprises, the greatest host on Earth This page has been accessed 36,488* times.*