This week we learned how to backup and resurrect a dead or dying system disk with Clonezilla, use Windows 7′s Previous Versions to go back in time and save files, get 20GB of Amazon Cloud Storage for 89 cents, get past difficult levels in Angry Birds with video cheats for every level, see what your fellow readers had to say on the subject of registry cleaners, and more.

Photo by Don Solo.

Weekly News Links

Chart by Stephen Shankland at CNET.

• Firefox 4 beats IE9 out of the gate in usage
  Despite arriving a week later, Firefox 4 is outpacing Internet Explorer 9 in real-world use so far, new statistics show.
• Massive SQL injection attack making the rounds—694K URLs so far
  Hundreds of thousands of URLs have been compromised in an enormous and indiscriminate SQL injection attack. The attack has modified text stored in databases, with the result that pages served up by the attacked systems include within each page one or more references to a particular JavaScript file.
• Hundreds of thousands of hacked websites spreading scareware
  Using an automated SQL injection attack, criminals have embedded links to domains carrying scareware in hundreds of thousands of websites.
• Comodo: Web attack broader than initially thought
  An attack in which someone fraudulently obtained digital certificates for some major Web sites–which could have been used to impersonate those sites–was broader than originally reported.
• Researchers point out holes in McAfee’s Web site
  Researchers disclosed on a public security e-mail list today three vulnerabilities in the Web site of security firm McAfee, whose site has been found to have bugs several times before.
• Trojan claims to be on police business
  Security firm AV-Test has warned of a new trojan that targets Windows PCs (XP, Vista, Windows 7) and displays a notice allegedly sent by the German Federal Criminal Police Office about illegal PC content.
• Fake Android app steals data, takes shot at pirates
  A malicious Android app that masquerades as a free version of a legitimate app steals data and sends spam text messages and a warning that chastise the user for trying to get around paying for the actual app.
• Samsung cleared of false key logger allegations
  Samsung has been cleared of false allegations lodged by a security specialist who claimed that keylogging software was installed on two of the company’s laptops.
• CSP: Thwarting cross-site scripting and click-jacking attacks
  Content Security Policies are designed to prevent cross-site scripting and other attack types. Firefox 4 is the first browser to support this new concept.
• Privacy: Facebook’s Achilles heel
  The folks who run Facebook are laughing all the way to the bank. They’re making money hand over fist, and all they have to do is sit back and watch as the people who comprise their product volunteer tons of incredibly personal information. Then they sell access to that information to any advertiser or other business who wants it.
• McAfee: Cybercrooks target corporate trade secrets
  Cybercriminals are increasingly moving from stealing just personal data to capturing trade secrets and other corporate intellectual capital that they can easily sell through the underground market, according to a new report from McAfee and the SAIC.
• Report: NSA joins Nasdaq hack probe
  The National Security Agency has joined the investigation into last October’s cyberattack on the computer network of the company that runs the Nasdaq stock exchange.
• Mozilla’s Do Not Track header gaining ad industry support
  One of the new features that Mozilla introduced in Firefox 4 is a Do Not Track (DNT) setting. When the user enables the DNT option in the browser’s preference dialog, Firefox will transmit a custom header in HTTP requests that will inform servers that the user wants to opt out of Internet tracking.
• Cree.py application knows where you’ve been
  A new Python-based application called Cree.py uses geolocation data from social networks and image hosting services to build a minute by minute time line of a person’s movements.
• Google gets 20 years of FTC audits in Google Buzz privacy blunder
  Google has agreed to settle with the Federal Trade Commission over allegations that Google Buzz, the social network launched in 2010, violated the FTC Act.

Random TinyHacker Links

• Google Talk Guru
  Get weather info, solve math questions and more by simply sending a text to guru@googlelabs.com Use Google Talk, Pidgin or any Jabber enabled IM client.
• The History of Web Browsers
  An interesting infographic depicting the rise, fall, and fortunes of various browsers over the years.
• Create Your Own Screensaver in Windows 7
  Unfortunately Windows 7 doesn’t have any functionality for creating your own screensavers. Luckily, Windows Live Photo Gallery 2011 helps you fix this problem. Check out this tutorial to learn how.
• Disable Popup on Sending Message Without a Subject (Outlook ‘10)
  Okay, so maybe we should never send an email without a subject. On the occasion that you do, it’s nice not to have to click an annoying popup box. Using a simple macro and a few clicks, you can do away with the reminder once and for all.
• Have you ever used K7 Total Security?
  Before this review, we knew nothing about K7 Computing and their security products. Apparently their K7 Total Security suite is a product worth trying. To learn more, check out this review.

Super User Questions

If you have questions, then Super User has answers. Here is this week’s selection from the most popular thread.

• Dual-booting Windows and Linux: Why install Windows first?
• How to use external hard disk in both Windows and Mac OS X?
• How can I stop others from seeing all my folders on the network?
• How to prevent my client from hacking into the demo computer I provide him?
• Why does my Firefox spell checker marked “realize” and “analyze” as misspelled?

How-To Geek Weekly Article Recap

Enjoy getting caught up on your HTG reading this weekend with our hottest articles of the week.

• The 10 Most Ridiculously Awesome Geeky Computer Pranks
• What Files Should You Backup On Your Windows PC?
• How To Make Custom Silicone Ear Molds for Your In-Ear Monitors
• How to Remotely Control Your PC (Even When it Crashes)
• Ask the Readers: Have Registry Cleaners Helped Your Computer…Ever?

Geeky Goodness from the ETC Side

Have fun looking through our ten most popular ETC posts from this past week.

• Keeping Watch over Earth from the Space Station [Wallpaper]
• View and Download Your Own Free Copy of Google’s Quarterly Magazine
• Angry Birds: The Movie [Fake Movie Trailer Video]
• A History of April Fools’ Web Pranks [Infographic]
• The Ubuntu Alien Conspiracy [Wallpaper]
• The Matrix Turns 12 Today; Celebrate with Matrix Wallpaper and Screensavers
• 8-Bit Fonts Add Retro Flair to Modern Computers
• Shoot the Dog from Duck Hunt [Flash Game]
• How to Make Beer [Infographic]
• Score 50% Off at Barnes & Noble [Deals]

One Year Ago on How-To Geek

Round out your weekend reading with these great articles from one year ago.

• Recover Data Like a Forensics Expert Using an Ubuntu Live CD
• Change or Reset Windows Password from a Ubuntu Live CD
• Create a Persistent Bootable Ubuntu USB Flash Drive
• Use an Ubuntu Live CD to Securely Wipe Your PC’s Hard Drive
• Wipe, Delete, and Securely Destroy Your Hard Drive’s Data the Easy Way