Geek Stuff category archive

The stuxnet malware is getting lots of gee-whiz coverage in the news lately.

This, from the Christian Science Monitor, is typical:

The Stuxnet malware has infiltrated industrial computer systems worldwide. Now, cyber security sleuths say it’s a search-and-destroy weapon meant to hit a single target. One expert suggests it may be after Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant.

One thing that is hardly mentioned in most of the stories is this:

It’s a Windows virus. It works only on Windows computers. Here’s what Symantec has to say about it (emphasis added):

We’ve been analyzing W32.Stuxnet, which is a threat that uses a legitimate digital certificate from a major third party and takes advantage of a previously unknown bug in Windows; ultimately, it searches for SCADA systems and design documents. The findings of our analysis are being documented in a series of blog articles.

Also, take the golly-gosh-gee-Batman-It’s-the-Joker coverage with several grains pounds of salt.

Pretty soon, they’ll sue Sesame Street for being “brought to you by the letter i.”

From El Reg:

Steve Jobs & Co submitted the voluminous document in a dispute with Sector Labs, a startup that’s developing a projector called the Video Pod, Wired.com reported. The Reg has been unable to confirm this because the filing (PDF, we’re told) was evidently more than the Patent and Trademark Office website could bear.

Apple is reportedly arguing that a video projector with the word “Pod” in its name would cause confusion with its own iPod products.

(snip)

A lawyer representing Sector Labs tells the publication there’s a growing trend of dominant tech firms trying to assume ownership of ordinary words.

From the BBC.

Kompozer was one of the tools I used to update my boating website over the past week.

I’ve written a review of it at at Geekazine.

I have updated the my boating website. It’s down the hall, second door on the left (here, there are no doors on the right).

There’s a little in the way of new content, but most of what I did was internal to make it easier to use and compliant with current web standards and practices.

I have converted it to HTML 4.01 with CSS, fixed or deleted broken links, added a few new links, and sharpened up some of the pictures.

The XAMPP Project provides a pre-configured webserver package that you can install on your home computer. It’s useful for writing and testing websites on your local computer. It includes the Apache webserver, the MySQL database engine, PHP, and Perl.

With the proper security adjustments, it can also be used to present a site to the Big Wide World(TM). Downloads are available for Linux, Windows, Mac, and Solaris.

Recently, I made a presentation about XAMPP for Linux to my local LUG. You can download the handout if you’re interested.

Or even if you’re not.

One born every minute . . . .

Target will begin selling Facebook Credits gift cards, giving players a new way to get virtual cash to buy goods within “FarmVille,” “Mafia Wars” and other games on the Palo Alto-based social networking site.

Offered without comment:

Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg says a lawsuit by a man who claims to own a huge chunk of the popular social networking website is seeking to uncover needless details about his private life.

Learn about the wonderful world of free and open source.

What: The 4th Annual Super Summer Saturday TWUUG Meeting.

Who: Everyone in TideWater/Hampton Roads with interest in any/all flavors of Unix/Linux. There are no dues or signup requirements. All are welcome.

Where: Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital in Norfolk-Employee Cafeteria. See directions below. (Wireless and wired internet connection available.)

When: 7:30 PM till whenever (usually 9:30ish) on Thursday, September 2.

Directions: Lake Taylor Hospital-1309, Kempsville Road, Norfolk, 23502 (Kempsville Rd. at Lowry Rd.) 461-5001

Pre-Meeting Dinner at 6:00 PM (separate checks) at Uno Chicago Grill, Virginia Beach Blvd. & Military Highway (Janaf Shopping Center). Accessible through the Janaf parking lot or directly from the ramp from Virginia Beach Blvd. to Military Highway north.

In the San Jose Mercury-News.

Do you embed videos on your blog and find that they are just too damned big?

Fixing that is absurdly easy, but it’s only easy when you know how.

Find out how at Geekazine.

Another reason not to get an iPad.

Listen up This is essential reading for anyone who has ever visited a website. I just double-checked my Opera browser settings–yup, I turned off third-party cookies a long time ago:

In a recent conversation with Fresh Air contributor Dave Davies, Angwin explains how consumer surveillance works, how users can disable the tracking software — and how advertisers are continually evolving to keep up with the data they receive. She notes that many Internet users are unaware that their information is being tracked and then traded.

“Most people that we have heard from since writing these stories did not know what was going on,” Angwin explains. “So when you go to a website, you’re not thinking about the fact that they might have relationships with all different types of monitoring firms, and those firms are installing things that are invisible to you on your computer.”

Follow the link to listen to the show or read the transcript.

Via Atrios.

More here.

The ACLU has a quiz to help you diagnose your on-line exposure.

I didn’t learn anything new from it, but I have followed this sort of stuff for years. If you aren’t sure about your privacy on line, it’s probably worth the three minutes.

My first Youtube.

Yes, I am humorless.

Details at Geekazine.

Learn about the wonderful world of free and open source.

What: The 4th Annual Super Summer Saturday TWUUG Meeting.

Who: Everyone in TideWater/Hampton Roads with interest in any/all flavors of Unix/Linux. There are no dues or signup requirements. All are welcome to attend

Where: Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital in Norfolk-Employee Cafeteria. See directions below. (Wireless and wired internet connection available.)

When: 12:00 PM till whenever (usually 3ish) on Sat Aug 7

Stuff: Lots of great door prizes from ThinkGeek and O’Reilly!!

Food: Free pizza! Free drinks! Free dessert!

Directions: Lake Taylor Hospital-1309, Kempsville Road, Norfolk, 23502 (Kempsville Rd. at Lowry Rd.) 461-5001