Virus - Update Notice

[Arcaneind]

I was just at Arstechnica.com and noticed this article. There is a flaw in Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer that allows virus to be passed on in .jpeg images (like the many at playainfo). Basically update now as the viruses will be coming in a few days.

http://arstechnica.com/news/posts/20040923-4227.html

[denisea]

Just another reason why I love my Mac.

[Nerak936]

Arcaneind: Thanks for the heads up.

[james]

Originally Posted by Arcaneind

I was just at Arstechnica.com and noticed this article. There is a flaw in Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer that allows virus to be passed on in .jpeg images (like the many at playainfo). Basically update now as the viruses will be coming in a few days.

http://arstechnica.com/news/posts/20040923-4227.html

let's keep this in perspective. this exploit has nothing to do with any of the existing images on this site, so to reference "the many at playainfo" is not a fair statement. thanks for the heads-up in any case, I hadn't heard about this one yet. Amazing the amount of exploits in MS code!

advice:
- keep your operating system up-to-date (prudent no matter your platform: there are exploits in ALL operating systems) Windows XP SP2 (service pack 2 update) is NOT vulnerable to this, so just update your XP and you are fine.

- dump MS Internet Explorer and switch to a better browser (like free Firefox)

[TnJ]

agree, firefox works fine for this site!

[Arcaneind]

Originally Posted by james

let's keep this in perspective. this exploit has nothing to do with any of the existing images on this site, so to reference "the many at playainfo" is not a fair statement. thanks for the heads-up in any case, I hadn't heard about this one yet. Amazing the amount of exploits in MS code!

advice:
- keep your operating system up-to-date (prudent no matter your platform: there are exploits in ALL operating systems) Windows XP SP2 (service pack 2 update) is NOT vulnerable to this, so just update your XP and you are fine.

- dump MS Internet Explorer and switch to a better browser (like free Firefox)

Sorry, I wasn't trying to say that the jpeg's here are infected, but just that using playa as an example of a site with many images!

I've updated both my MS Office and IE, but I'm sold on Firefox. It works great for 95% of the sites. I only use IE as my back-up for the 5% that don't open with Firefox.

[james]

What 5% don't work with Firefox? From my experience, there are 0.5% of sites that have issues, and they still work, but since they rely upon certain IE proprietary, non-standards-compliant functions, they don't behave the same way.

I use Shutterfly to share pictures with my family, and their upload interface is IE-only.

(and, of course, Windows update demands IE )

[Softy57]

well yeah James-Bill Gates Controls!

[Bumper]

Just switched to Firefox earlier this week. Not that I had any problems with Internet Explorer, but a feature on CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp - our government underwritten national radio service) contained information to the effect that the IE product was susceptible to some potential difficulties, and somewhat vulnerable, largely because of its wide availability and general acceptance. Their resident computer geek recommended looking at another provider, and mentioned Firefox specifically. You all know how non-technical I am, and pretty much computer illiterate, but the download was comparatively painless. Frankly, I don't see any particular difference, but perhaps I will, down the road. To tell the truth, I don't understand any of this computer stuff. It's likely capable of doing lots of things I could use, but I don't know how to find out what they are, or even the questions to ask. I just punch the buttons and it generally seems to do what I want, but then my expectations are pretty limited. Sort of like how I've operated my cars over the last 40 years. I don't understand them either. I push on the slanty pedal and it goes. And if it doesn't...I get somebody. I hate daylight savings time because it usually takes me about a week to figure out how to change my digital watch.

[Arcaneind]

Originally Posted by james

What 5% don't work with Firefox? From my experience, there are 0.5% of sites that have issues, and they still work, but since they rely upon certain IE proprietary, non-standards-compliant functions, they don't behave the same way.

I use Shutterfly to share pictures with my family, and their upload interface is IE-only.

(and, of course, Windows update demands IE )

I mainly have problems on sites that are really heavy on Java or Adobe .pdf's (my firefox crashes about 2/3 of the time with Adobe. It is probably an Adobe issue, not Firefox). I also have found some of the banking secure sites don't like Firefox, but I haven't tried it since the last upgrade.

[james]

definitely upgrade to the new 1.0 preview release (and upgrade your Acrobat plugin and Java VM). I haven't had any crashes from plugins

[jx2]

Can you tell me how to line my bookmarks up either in alpha or by frequency of use?

[tommy]

If you go to the bookmarks drop down you can open them in tabs across the top of your browser...Or you can right click the bookmarks toolbar folder dropdown and select manage folder then select view and you can sort them in many different ways...a/z z/a by date last view etc.etc..good luck

[jx2]

Thank you sun seekers! It worked!

[birdman]

computer illiterate here, don't know firefox from fox tails just keep hitting the update notices that Norton sends out. I hope they work or I'm in big trouble