Our latest edition of WIG is filled with news link coverage on topics such as new malware is posing as a security warning from the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit, Google is redirecting Picasa Web Albums users to Google+ Photos, Java’s new malware protection comes undone due to old-school attack, and more.

Image courtesy of SimCity at Twitter.

Weekly News Links

Image courtesy of SimCity at Twitter.

• SimCity launch fallout continues
  Danger still looms over SimCity as Electronic Arts and Maxis try to right the massive wrong caused by its botched launch earlier this week. Plus, refund drama!
• Google now redirects Picasa Web Albums to Google+ Photos
  It’s another nail in the coffin for Picasa Web Albums as its URL now brings users to their photo albums on Google+.
• Google+ updates with bigger photos and local reviews
  A day ahead of Facebook’s News Feed event, Google moves to freshen up its social network.
• Facebook’s bigger pics: It’s about the ad revenue
  The social network’s redesign of its News Feed features bigger photos, something that could keep users engaged on the site longer, giving the company more opportunity to market to them.
• Twitter kills Android, iPhone and AIR desktop apps for TweetDeck
  Personal browser apps will go dead after May so TweetDeck team can focus on Web-based versions instead.
• Google to add password sync to new version of Chrome
  The beta version of Chrome 26 will let uses sync their passwords across multiple devices, including Android phones and tablets.
• Office 2013 licenses can now be transferred to another PC
  Reacting to user feedback, Microsoft will now allow Office 2013 owners to transfer their license from one PC to another up to once every 90 days.
• Exclusive: Microsoft account renaming feature to make a return with enhanced “aliases”
  When Microsoft introduced the new Outlook.com last year, it brought the ability for users to rename their Microsoft account to a new one. Some users found issues and glitches with the Microsoft account rename feature, including losing the ability to access their emails after renaming their account. As a precautionary measure, Microsoft took the step to disable the renaming feature to investigate the problem, but the Microsoft account renaming feature will make a return soon.
• Opera’s overhauled Android browser now in beta
  The public now can start judging whether it was a good idea for the Norwegian browser company to scrap its own browser engine for the open-source WebKit.
• Chrome for Android gets server-accelerated browsing
  Proxy browsing uses Google’s servers to squeeze Web pages then shoot them to Chrome faster using SPDY networking technology. Also in Chrome 26 for Android: password sync and early WebRTC support.
• CCleaner is coming to Android ‘soon’
  Although there are many free system cleaners available for Windows and Mac OS X, CCleaner is one of the most popular, and for good reason. It’s thorough, trustworthy and very easy to use. The good news for Android owners is developer Piriform is working on a new version of its cleanup tool specifically for the mobile platform that will offer one-click cleaning to “help keep your Android devices running like new”.
• Google’s Red Guide to the Android App Store
  As they approach the 1m apps mark, smartphone and tablet app stores leave users stranded in thick, uncharted forests. What are Google and Apple waiting for?
• Android to take 58 percent of smartphone apps
  Android will account for over half of the estimated 56 billion smartphone app downloads in 2013, exceeding iOS which will take 33 percent, and mobile developers will adopt Android-first strategy.
• Canonical reveals plans to launch Mir display server
  On the evening before the first online Ubuntu Developer Summit, Canonical revealed its plans for “Mir”, a next-generation display server which will run as a system-level component to replace the X Window system.
• Warning: Your iPad may put your MacBook to sleep
  If you use your iPad in close proximity to your MacBook, there’s a chance that the MacBook might fall asleep. Don’t worry; it’s not permanent.

Security News

• Thanks, Oracle: New Java malware protection undone by old-school attack
  Researchers have found a shortcoming in key security protection recently introduced in the browser plugin for Oracle’s Java software framework, a flaw that makes it easier for attackers to sneak malware onto end-user computers.
• Oracle releases new Java patch to address this week’s McRat problem
  Oracle has released an emergency Java patch addressing the latest in-the-wild exploit targeting the software. The company suggests users apply this update “as soon as possible” due to “the severity of these vulnerabilities.” Uninstall or disable Java on your system using our article here.
• Critics: Substandard crypto needlessly puts Evernote accounts at risk
  Security experts are criticizing online note-syncing service Evernote, saying the service needlessly put sensitive user data at risk because it employed substandard cryptographic protections when storing passwords on servers and Android handsets.
• Malware attack poses as security warning from Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit
  Windows users – do you take your computer’s security seriously? If so, you might decide to take prompt action when you receive an email seemingly from the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit. But that would actually be a big mistake.
• Russian ransomware takes advantage of Windows PowerShell
  Recently Sophos received a ransomware sample from one of their customers, which immediately piqued their interest as it used Windows PowerShell program to perform file encryption.
• Report: Android is home to 96% of new mobile malware
  F-Secure’s latest Mobile Threat Report for the last three months of 2012 names Android as the home of 96% of the new “mobile threat families”. Of 100 new threat families detected in that quarter, 96 of them were based on Android, up from the previous quarter’s 49 out of 74, and only 4 were resident on Symbian, down from 21 in the previous quarter.
• Mobile Malcoders Pay to (Google) Play
  An explosion in malware targeting Android users is being fueled in part by a budding market for mobile malcode creation kits, as well as a brisk market for hijacked or fraudulent developer accounts at Google Play that can be used to disguise malware as legitimate apps for sale.
• Lost+Found: PGP verification, cash for Bitcoins, unsafe API keys
  Too small for news, but too good to lose, Lost+Found is a compilation of the other stories that have been on The H’s radar this week: PGP verification, Java 0-days, Bitcoins for cash, default logins, API keys, and keyboards with card readers.
• Apple finally fixes App Store flaw by turning on encryption
  Company moves to protect its iOS customers from security and privacy attacks over Wi-Fi by turning on encryption, at least half a year after being alerted to the problem.
• Raspberry Pi Foundation gets hit by a DDoS attack
  The website of computer charity the Raspberry Pi Foundation was hit by a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack late on Tuesday evening. The organisation announced the attack on Twitter. It also admitted that it was not the first attack on its network and said that the the attack was quite sophisticated.
• Patch Tuesday: Microsoft to fix four critical flaws, all versions of IE at risk again
  Prepare your systems (and a strong pot of coffee): Patch Tuesday is on deck for another month. Microsoft will release patches for seven security vulnerabilities, four of them considered ‘critical.’
• Pwn2Own ends with all attackers winning
  The Pwn2Own competition at CanSecWest has come to an end with the second day being like the first day. No web browser plugin survived being attacked and Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader XI and Java were all successfully hacked.
• Jailed cybercriminal hacked into his own prison’s computer system after being put in IT class
  Here’s a piece of advice for those running classes training prisoners about information technology. It’s probably not a good idea to let notorious hackers join the course – or, if you do, to keep a very close eye on what they’re up to.
• High-tech software for retailers discreetly tracks customers
  Every retailer wants to know which products attract shoppers. San Francisco startup Prism Skylabs has developed sophisticated technology that helps business owners get a window into the minds of customers.
• Seattle dive bar becomes first to ban Google Glass
  Owner says “it’s because it’s kind of a private place that people go.” Will other businesses follow?

TinyHacker Links

• FREE How-To Geek’s Guide to Windows 8 (Kindle)
  Free, for a very limited time, the How-To Geek’s Guide to Windows 8 available as a Kindle download. Everything (and then some) you need to know about Win 8 is covered in The Geek’s book.
• Best Text Management Apps for Mac and iOS
  Useful text utilities for Mac and iOS.
• Track Packages and Store E-receipts With Slice
  A cool service for online shoppers.
• Is Internet Addiction Real?
  An interesting infographic discussing internet addiction.
• Microsoft Wedge Touch Mouse – Is it usable?
  This mouse is so tiny, we could not believe it was actually usable. Find out if it works well, its strengths and shortcomings from this thorough review.
• Mossberg Reviews Pebble Watch
  Walt Mossberg reviews the Pebble smart watch.
• How Many Glasses of Water Every Day?
  We all know we should drink a good amount of water every day, but how many glasses exactly? Here’s an interesting post on Lifehacker that throws some light on this topic.

How-To Geek Weekly Article Recap

• How to Find the Root Cause of Your Android Battery Problems
• How to Turn An Old Android Phone into a Networked Security Camera
• How to Turn a Raspberry Pi into a Low-Power Network Storage Device
• Introducing How-To Geek School: Learn Technology Here for Free
• 16 Android Voice Actions to Make Android Your Own Personal Assistant
• HTG Explains: Why Android Geeks Buy Nexus Devices
• Stupid Geek Tricks: Run Commands in the Windows Explorer Address Bar
• How to Change Hidden Advanced Settings in Any Browser
• Remove Your PC’s Recovery Partition and Take Control of Your Hard Drive
• How to Access Mobile Websites Using Your Desktop Browser

Geeky Goodness from the ETC Side

• New Update Available for Java – Download Now to Secure Your System
• Greenshot is a Free, Lightweight Screenshot Utility with Many Useful Features
• Fantasy Wallpaper Collection for Your iPad
• Is There Gravity in Space?
• How to Organize, Add, and Multiply Matrices
• Microsoft Changes Licensing, Now Allows Transfer of Office 2013 to Other PCs
• Quickly Change Your Default Web Browser in Windows From the System Tray
• The Simple Story of Photosynthesis and Food

How-To Geek Weekly Trivia Roundup

• What Was The First Video Game Console Called?
• The First Netiquette Proposal Called For What To Lead A Network Ban?
• The Opposite Of Paranoia Is?
• Prior To The Advent Of Petrol-based Lubricants What Was The Best Lubricant Available?
• Cel-Shading Was First Used In Which Video Game?
• Who Was The Only Civilian Astronaut In The Gemini Space Program?
• Who Was Yoda’s Face Modeled Off Of?

One Year Ago on How-To Geek

• The How-To Geek Guide to Getting Started with TrueCrypt
• The HTG Guide to Hiding Your Data in a TrueCrypt Hidden Volume
• The Top 10 Tips for Securing Your Data
• How To Knock Into Your Network (DD-WRT)
• How to Knock into Your Network, Part 2: Protect Your VPN (DD-WRT)
• HTG Explains: What Can You Find in an Email Header?