Technology Vault - NewsBytes
Thursday 26 February, 2004
OpenGL Flag Demo by Humus by @ 9:01 pm
Humus (Emil Persson) from Sweden has added a new OpenGL demo called Flag to his collection. This demo simulates a flag in the wind. It's based on the same basic code as the cloth demo, but with a few changes to get the wind effect.
Humus has made some fantastic demonstration programs over the past few years in both DirectX and OpenGL. His latest demo shows how cloth can be made to look realistic.
To download the Flag demo and see the dozens of 3D demo programs Humus has made CLICK HERE
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Friday 20 February, 2004
Netsky Virus warning by @ 4:45 pm
There is a new virus (worm) threat advisory. The latest installation of is known as Win32.Netsky.b@MM.
Virus Characteristics
This virus spreads via email and mapped drives. It sends itself to
addresses found on the victim's machine and by copying itself to folders on drives C: - Z:. The virus also attempts to deactivate the W32/Mydoom.a@MM and W32/Mydoom.b@MM viruses.
Mail propagation
The virus may be received in an email message as follows:
From: (forged address taken from infected system) or skynet@skynet.de
Subject: (one of the following)
* fake
* for
* hello
* hi
* immediately
* information
* it
* read
* something
* stolen
* unknown
* warning
* you
Body: (one of the following)
* about me
* anything ok?
* do you? that's funny
* from the chatter
* greetings
* here
* here is the document.
* here it is
* here, the cheats
* here, the introduction
* here, the serials
* i found this document about you
* I have your password!
* i hope it is not true!
* i wait for a reply!
* i'm waiting ok
* information about you
* is that from you?
* is that true?
* is that your account?
* is that your name?
* kill the writer of this document!
* my hero
* read it immediately!
* read the details.
* reply
* see you
* something about you!
* something is fool
* something is going wrong
* something is going wrong!
* stuff about you?
* take it easy
* that is bad
* thats wrong why?
* what does it mean?
* yes, really?
* you are a bad writer
* you are bad
* you earn money
* you feel the same
* you try to steal
* your name is wrong
Attachment: (one of the following names)
* aboutyou
* attachment
* bill
* concert
* creditcard
* details
* dinner
* disco
* doc
* document
* final
* found
* friend
* jokes
* location
* mail2
* mails
* me
* message
* misc
* msg
* nomoney
* note
* object
* part2
* party
* posting
* product
* ps
* ranking
* release
* shower
* story
* stuff
* swimmingpool
* talk
* textfile
* topseller
* website
May be followed by:
* .doc
* .htm
* .rtf
* .text
* .com
* .exe
* .pif
* .scr
* .zip
The attachment may have a double-extension, such as .rtf.pif, and may be contained in a .ZIP file.
The virus sends itself via SMTP - constructing messages using its own SMTP engine. It queries the DNS server for the MX record and connects directly to the MTA of the targeted domain and sends the message.
Robin A. Allsup
Director, Information Systems, CCA
Saturday 14 February, 2004
Who let the code out? by bluetracker @ 8:13 am
Thanks to forum member Eggz for the 'heads up'
Chunks of Windows source code go public!
Thursday 12th February 2004 became a 'red letter day' in the Microsoft diary when it was revealed that P2P networks were buzzing with activity, why?
The reason was not the downloading of pirate copies of Windows or music or videos but one of Microsoft's most valuable assets - Source code for Windows was 'leaked'. Microsoft's Windows NT 4 and Windows 2000 products became the topic of conversation on P2P networks like Kazzaa and Irc as chunks of the 'nuts and bolts' of these operating systems were uploaded and made available to anyone with the desire to download it.
But from where did the leak originate from?
That's the $50,000 question on the lips of Redmond 'Blood-hounds' over the past couple of days as the software giant attempts to find out who's hand it was that took the lid off the 'cookie jar'.
The exact nature of the code isn't known (publicly ...unless you were among the many who downloaded it, and knew what you were looking at) but it follows that MS wouldn't be in such a panic if the code was for something like Solitaire.
The fact that Microsoft runs the Shared Source Initiative that lets researchers and key customers and business partners get a look at the basic code for many of its products, may be the way this code got out in the first instance. The recent proliference of MyDoom and it's stablemate Doomjuice may have provided the writer of these viruses with the means to access one of Microsofts 'SSI' buddies computers and lay hands on the code.
Whispers on the 'net suggest that it was indeed one of Microsofts long term SSI buddies that was the original 'open cookie jar'. Other whispers point in various directions, but it appears that a cookie crumbed finger is to be found pointing to Mainsoft in the signature of the code currently 'in the wild'.
Of course this *could* be a 'red herring' left there on purpose by the 'real' perpetrator of the dastardly deed to throw the Microsoft hounds off the scent. If so, someone with that sort of ability should be working for Microsoft!
New ways to foul up the World Of Windows would be 'meat and two veg' for those with the desire to inflict users of the worlds most used OS platforms with yet more grief than is currently available. It would also cast serious doubts in the minds of large corporations looking to install an operating system from the MS stable....not good for business when Linux in a 'host of flavours' is 'knocking on the door' as a viable alternative.
Microsoft have gone 'on record' terming this episode as "a breach of intellectual property rights" rather than a serious security breach that could undermine the security of one of it's most prized possessions yet again.
It does however need just one dedicated individual with the expertise and know-how to use the leaked code to add to the security problems that have plagued many versions of Windows over the years ......But then again why go to so much trouble when Microsoft regularly make 'beta' software of new Operating systems freely available for download as a 'taster of things to come' ?..........
Service pack anyone?
STOP PRESS...UPDATE!....
The Washington Post has just recently added to the speculation on the implications of the source code leak.
Their story can be found by clicking HERE
Mainsoft have also responded to the allegations made re their involvement in the leak, and their (rather brief response) is to be found HERE
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Thursday 12 February, 2004
CATALYST 4.2 is now available by @ 7:36 pm
Terry Makedon has just sent the following infomation to The Technology Vault.
Just wanted to inform your readers that CATALYST 4.2 is now available. This update provides a new driver (now up to version 7.98) and a new multimedia center (now up to version 8.9). CLICK HERE for a quick link to the XP drivers.
Furthermore I wanted to let you know that ATI in conjunction with Beyond3d.com and DriverHeaven.net have released a "SMARSHADER Effects" tool. This innovative new concept will let users create their own shaders and load them up on CATALYST. Both Beyond3d.com and Driverheaven.net will be hosting this tool as well as having great end user contests to get peoples creative shader juices flowing. These can be found here and I highly recommend checking them out www.beyond3d.com/misc/atiss/ and www.driverheaven.net/smartshader/
New Features
This section provides information on new features found in this release of the CATALYST(tm) Display Drivers. New features include:
Component Video Output Enhancement
The latest ATI software driver now allows the user the choice of using panning mode or a center-timing mode in which the image would appear in the center of the TV screen when using the Component Video output on an HDTV display. This option is found in the ATI Control Panel and is supported under the Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows ME operating systems. This feature is available on the ATI RADEON(tm) 8500 and higher class of products.
Direct3D Setting Enhancement
Previous versions of the ATI display driver required the monitor going blank for up to 8 seconds when applying Direct3D settings. The latest ATI software driver for the RADEON(tm) 9500 and higher class of products now allows for the Direct3D setting to be applied without the monitor's display going blank. Performance Improvements
As with most CATALYST(tm) releases performance has increased in various situations. This release of CATALYST(tm) provides performance gains to the ATI DX8 product family. These products include the RADEON(tm) 9200, 9000, and 8500 series. Performance gains are noticed throughout the following software:
* Framerates in Unreal Tournament 2003 is up by 15%
* A performance gain of between 5 and 10% is noticed in Aquamark3
* A performance gain of between 2-3% is noticed in ShaderMark scores
* Framerates in Halo is up between 3-4%
* A performance improvement of 2% is noticed in Tomb Raider
Some Resolved Game Issues This section provides information on game issues that have been resolved in the latest release of CATALYST(tm). These include the following:
* Launching the game Tron 2.0 under Windows XP no longer results in the game failing to respond after the game introduction is loaded
* Launching the game Line of Sight: Vietnam and setting the graphics option to 800x600 16bpp no longer results in the game failing to respond when selecting a new game
* Running the game Armed and Dangerous under Windows XP with an ATI RADEON(tm) 9200 series installed no longer results in the display image appearing corrupted when selecting Storm the Base mission in the game
* The game Half-Life is now displayed properly under Windows XP when the game resolution is set to either 320x240 or 400x300
* Playing the game Serious Sam 2 under Windows XP with an ATI RADEON&tdrade; 9500/9800 series installed no longer results in the game failing to run when the game option is set to OpenGL
* Playing the game Unreal Tournament 2003 under Windows XP with an ATI RADEON(tm) 9600 series installed no longer results in texture corruption being displayed on the flag surfaces in the DM-Tokara Forest
* Selecting the Optimum Quality setting in D3D control panel no longer results in a frozen frame when launching the game HALO
* Setting the resolution in the game SpyHunter to 1280x1024 along with having the Use Recommended Settings slider set to balanced in the ATI 3D tab no longer results in some background images being missing while the game is loading
* Setting the display option to 640x480 or 800x600 in the game Splinter Cell no longer results in the game menu flickering
* Returning to the main menu in the game Counter-Strike no longer results in the game's refresh rate reverting back to 60Hz when resuming game play
New Features found in the ATI MULTIMEDIA CENTER(tm) 8.9
Smooth Aspect Ratio Transition Enhancement EAZYLOOK(tm) allows the user to view TV and DVD features from a distance. Currently when changing the aspect ratio in the TV or DVD the transition changes are not smooth. This new feature allows for a smooth transition when changing the aspect ratio.
EAZYLOOK(tm) Menu Functionality
With the new EAZYLOOK(tm) menu functionality, feature level menus can now be viewed when using EAZYLOOK(tm). Feature can now be configured mwith ease when using EAZYLOOK(tm). Further, users will have an easier time changing settings that are mapped to programmable keys on the remote. Enhanced Scheduled Event Recording
The latest version of the ATI MULTIMEDIA CENTER(tm) allows users to create and record a scheduled event without viewing the video. Right-clicking on the record button provide the user with a drop down menu that provides a short cut to the recording options available.
Thanks Terry!
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Saturday 7 February, 2004
Security updates for Real.com players by bluetracker @ 11:14 am
RealNetworks has released security updates
These fix vunerabilities found in RealOne and RealPlayer In fact there are three vulnerabilities that have been identified that could allow an attacker to run arbitrary code on affected computers. All users whose computers could be affected are advised to install the corresponding update.
The first of these security flaws could allow Javascript code to be run from the domain of the URL opened by an SMIL or other type of file. This vulnerability affects RealOne Player, RealOne Player v2 for Windows (in all languages), the beta version of RealPlayer 10 in English, RealOne Enterprise
Desktop and RealPlayer Enterprise.
The second vulnerability is more serious than the previous one, as it could allow a hacker to download and run arbitrary code through a specially-crafted rmp file. It affects RealOne Player, RealOne Player v2 (in all languages and OS platforms), RealOne Enterprise Desktop and RealPlayer Enterprise.
The third and final security flaw could allow a 'cracker' (hacker) to cause a buffer overflow using multimedia files. This vulnerability has been detected in RealOne Player and RealPlayer 8 (again all language versions are affected).
Get your player patched HERE
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Friday 6 February, 2004
AVG Update by @ 1:17 pm
Grisoft have updated both AVG 6 (free) and AVG 7. They have added detection of new viruses Win32/Zevity, Win32/Lala. Added detection of new variants of I-Worm/Mimail, Worm/Raleka, Worm/Agobot, Worm/Spybot, Win32/Icer and added detection of new variants of trojan Startpage, IRC/BackDoor.SdBot.
Make sure whatever antivirus software you use, you check for updates everyday.
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Sunday 1 February, 2004
SmartBarXP Beta4.8 by @ 11:01 pm
SmartBarXP is another free Longhorn style side bar utility that offers news, weather, media players, slide shows and much more. If you didn't want to install the Microsoft .NET Framework required by Codename Dashboard or found that you just couldn't get on with it on your system, then SmartBarXP offers you an suitable alternative.
SmartBarXP offers a number of themes and can automatically match to your WindowsXP theme. So whether your a default Blue person, Green or Silver, SmartBarXP will match it.
The SmartBar offers 3 weather options including a BBC weather map. A host of inbuilt news feeds, a news ticker, slide show, dictionary, calender, alarm clock, a host of media player options, control features and an advanced system monitor.
The advanced system monitor can show you CPU usage, ram, page file, network use, ip addresses and disk use to name a few. It's a really handy tool.
CLICK HERE to lean more about SmartBarXP and to download the latest beta version.
To add the Technology Vault (and/or my) newsfeed CLICK HERE. Unzip it and put the .pane files into the NEWS folder in your SmartBarXP directory to be recognised by SmartBarXP. (C:\Program Files\SmartBarXP BETA4.8\NEWS)
I gave SmartBarXP a try this afternoon and it seems very stable and easy to understand. However be warned, this is a beta program and it may have some bugs that need to be ironed out.
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