This week we learned how to cut a Linux PC’s boot time in half with E4rat, create a Windows event log notification system, found out how you stay connected when away from home, downloaded a free action pack of the best HTG Photoshop effects, had fun decorating our desktops with a Google+ customization set, and more.

Photo by ntr23.

Weekly News Links

Photo by Paperghost.

• Microsoft expert: “viruses aren’t worth money, but scareware is”
  Fake antivirus software, also known as scareware or rogue AV, is the main reason for most of the calls to Microsoft’s telephone antivirus hotline according to Redmond’s chief virus hunter Vinny Gulloto.
• Raid reveals evidence of ChronoPay ties to MacDefender scareware
  A recent raid by Russian police has revealed evidence that a company called ChronoPay is indeed behind the Mac OS X scareware program MacDefender, despite the company’s earlier denials. But while the raid and the arrest of ChronoPay’s CEO may put a dent in the company’s profits, it’s unlikely that MacDefender or its variants will disappear just yet.
• Study: Cybercrime costs on the rise from last year
  A new annual study on the cost of cybercrime conducted by the Ponemon Institute has found that the expense of dealing with cybercrime is on the rise from last year.
• Viruses: Destroying your systems for 25 years
  The hacker conference DefCon kicked off this past Friday morning with the rare public sighting of a now-archaic piece of technology: the 5 1/4-inch floppy disk. Mikko Hypponen, the chief technical officer for the Finnish security company F-Secure, waved the disk above his head to start off his history of PC viruses, and said, “This is Brain.”
• Linus Torvalds Drops Gnome 3 for Xfce, Calls It ‘Crazy’
  Gnome 3 doesn’t have too many fans among power users and when the father of Linux, Linus Torvalds, speaks out against Gnome 3 and switches to Xfce, it doesn’t look good. Linus believes that Gnome 3 has serious usability issues.
• Global cyber-espionage operation uncovered
  A widespread cyber-espionage campaign stole government secrets, sensitive corporate documents, and other intellectual property for five years from more than 70 public and private organizations in 14 countries, according to the McAfee researcher who uncovered the effort.
• Android users twice as likely to see malware than six months ago
  If you’ve got an Android you are 2.5 times more likely to encounter malware on the device today than six months ago, while mobile users have a 30 percent likelihood of clicking on a malicious link, according to a report released from mobile security firm Lookout.
• New Android trojan records phone calls, shares with remote server
  A new Android trojan has cropped up that records phone calls and related information, according to a blog post by an employee of security company Total Defense. The trojan is triggered when the Android device places or receives a phone call.
• Android could allow mobile ad or phishing pop-ups say researchers
  Researchers have discovered what they say is a design flaw in Android that could be used by criminals to steal data via phishing or by advertisers to bring annoying pop-up ads to phones.
• Timthumb PHP script opens hole in WordPress blogs
  Timthumb.php is an open source image resizing utility which is used by many WordPress themes, but when it is included in a theme, it can be exploited to allow attackers to upload and execute arbitrary PHP code on the WordPress installation.
• Security firm warns of new Twitter threat
  According to Sophos, compromised Twitter accounts are sending out tweets and direct messages to followers, urging them to sign up for a site that will help them make money.
• Web sites can bypass anti-cookie measures
  Some major web sites use sophisticated tracking techniques that allow them to track even those users who try to prevent this – for instance by refusing to accept cookies or by surfing the net in private mode.
• When hacking Chrome, it’s all about your data
  Google touts the Chrome OS as being free from traditional security concerns like malware, but it’s still vulnerable to entirely different kinds of attacks, two researchers from the firm WhiteHat Security told Black Hat attendees this past Thursday.
• Serious security holes found in Siemens control systems targeted by Stuxnet
  A security researcher has uncovered a slew of vulnerabilities in Siemens industrial control systems, including a hardcoded password, that would let attackers reprogram the systems with malicious commands to sabotage critical infrastructures and even lock out legitimate administrators.
• Researchers warn of SCADA equipment discoverable via Google
  Not only are SCADA systems used to run power plants and other critical infrastructure lacking many security precautions to keep hackers out, operators sometimes practically advertise their wares on Google search, according to a demo this past Tuesday during a Black Hat conference workshop.

Random TinyHacker Links

• Win Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 before the US Launch
  If you want to get your hands on a free license of Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 – then you should check out this giveaway.
• Kaspersky 2012 Looks Awesome
  Kaspersky has launched their 2012 products and they look awesome. However, they did not limit themselves just to an interface change. Their 2012 line-up packs a lot more changes. For details, check out this review.
• Windows 7 Visual Quick Tips
  Are you searching for a book that takes a visual approach to teaching people how to work with Windows 7? Then Windows 7 Visual Quick Tips might be for you. To learn more about the book, check out this review.
• Play With Your Images With These Tools
  Some really cool tools to play with your photos.
• Your Mobile Phone = Your Credit Card
  Okay, so the U.S. is a bit late in adapting NFC but it’s coming to a phone near you.

Super User Questions

Need help with a computer problem? Then drop in to ask the friendly folks at Super User.

• Is there a setting in Firefox that will prohibit a page from resizing of my window?
• Windows Update website redirecting newly built Windows XP SP3 computers to KB article page (KB2497281)
• How do I update / flush / reset my DNS records in Windows?
• How close to death is my hard drive?
• Guide to Windows for a Mac user

How-To Geek Weekly Article Recap

Add some heat to your weekend reading with our hottest HTG Main articles of the week.

• How to Convert PDF Files for Easy Ebook Reading
• Stupid Geek Tricks: Hacking the Firefox Profile Data Storage
• How To Make Classic Red/Cyan 3D Photos Out of Any Image
• How To Use Basic Regular Expressions to Search Better and Save Time
• From the Tips Box: Personal Password Algorithms, Linux/Mac Font Rendering in Windows, and AudioManager for Android

Geeky Goodness from the ETC Side

Want something fun to do this weekend? Then enjoy looking through our most popular ETC posts of the week.

• Is it Time to Clean the Computer Yet? [Image]
• A Very Satisfying Windows Service Pack [Funny Image]
• The Evolution of Computer Programming Languages [Infographic]
• How a Gamer Shops for Groceries [Humorous Image]
• Dual Monitor Taskbar Is an Open Source Taskbar Extender for Windows 7
• Biotech Style Desktop [Wallpaper]
• Leaded Glass [Wallpaper]
• Across the Blue Heavens [Wallpaper]
• Antique Seafaring Map [Wallpaper]
• Backlight a Flat Screen TV with Cannibalized USB Power

One Year Ago on How-To Geek

Start getting ready for “back to school” and work with your mobile phone this weekend using these great articles from one year ago.

Photo by Sultry.

• Three Potentially Risky Ways to Save a Lot on Textbooks
• Back to School Guide to Some Awesome Apps and Resources
• Build Your Own Personal Wiki Accessible from Any PC
• Use Email to Send Text Messages (SMS) to Mobile Phones for Free
• Complete Guide to Maximizing Your Android Phone’s Battery Life

How-To Geek Comics Weekly Roundup

• Old School Stalking
• Too Much Gaming
• Yellowtooth
• Customized Ring Tones
• Password Security