This week we learned how to encrypt and hide your personal files inside of a photo, “display image size in Google Images, preserve tabs while using CCleaner, & what to backup on your Windows box”, look up Event IDs from the Event Viewer using a free tool, turn your friends into zombies for Halloween (in Photoshop), found out what your favorite Windows Explorer alternatives are, and more.

Photo by pasukaru76.

Weekly News Links

Photo courtesy of ESET Threat Blog.

• ‘Tsunami’ trojan malware bot ported to OS X
  Another day, another Trojan. The malware bot called “Tsunami” that has been developed for Linux systems since around 2002 has been found on OS X.
• New attack tool targets Web servers using secure connections
  Hackers have released a program they assert will allow a single computer to take down a Web server using a secure connection.
• Dolphin HD browser snared in security breach
  The makers of a popular mobile browser called Dolphin HD confirmed that their software leaks the addresses of all Web sites a user visits, a potential privacy and security breach.
• Further evidence of Certificate Authority break-ins
  In a feature article on the security of SSL, Peter Eckersley from the Electronic Frontier Foundation has said that at least five Certificate Authorities (CAs) have been compromised in the past four months. Eckersley extracted this information from the revocation lists that are released by the CAs.
• MyBB downloads were infected
  In a blog posting, the MyBB development team has confirmed that the download package for version 1.6.4 of MyBB had been modified to include malicious code. Unknown attackers were able to exploit a vulnerability in the MyBB web site’s CMS (content management system) to inject and execute PHP code.
• Researchers find holes in the cloud
  Until recently, a vulnerability in Amazon Web Services including the EC2 cloud allowed unauthorised users to perform administrative tasks. At an ACM workshop on cloud security, a team of researchers from Germany’s Ruhr University of Bochum reported that attackers were, for example, able to start and stop virtual machines, and create new images and gateways, in an EC2 instance.
• CCC criticises new version of government trojan
  The CCC (Chaos Computer Club) has analysed the more recent version of Digitask’s German government trojan that was discovered by Kaspersky. This version dates back to December 2010 and has not yet been associated with an actual case. The analysis focused on the improvements that were made to fix the previous version’s weaknesses, and on the postulated “audit-proof logging” of all activities.
• Android owners getting stiffed on OS updates, study claims
  Android phones have a bad history of not getting the latest OS upgrades, often leaving them several versions behind, says a new study.
• Report: Asia dominates in Net speed, attacks
  Asia is home not only to some of the world’s fastest Internet connections, but also the highest attack traffic, new statistics have shown.
• Users don’t understand public Wi-Fi risks
  Users have not fully comprehended the threats associated with accessing Wi-Fi via a public hotspot, and the proliferation of mobile devices and the move toward a wireless mesh network will only compound these network risks.
• Browser updates needed for increased security
  Browsers that are not updated when necessary can carry security vulnerabilities created from coding errors and third-party applications, warn market players who advise browser makers to actively entice users to keep their browsers updated with “automatic update” function and campaigns.
• Linux Foundation announces long-term support kernel tree for CE vendors
  At the LinuxCon Europe event in Prague, the Linux Foundation announced plans to launch a new kernel tree aimed at providing long-term support for device vendors. The project, which is called the Long Term Stable Kernel Initiative (LTSI), could reduce the cost of producing a custom Linux-based platform for a mobile or embedded system.
• Linux Foundation proposes to use UEFI to make PCs secure and free
  The Linux Foundation and friends are working on using UEFI so that computers can be both more secure and give users freedom of operating system choice instead of using Microsoft’s secure boot plan to lock users into Windows 8.
• Ubuntu Linux will try for the business desktop
  Ubuntu has long been popular on the Linux enthusiast desktop, but, so far it hasn’t been very popular on business desktops. Canonical plans on changing that with its next version.
• Google: Governments seek more about you than ever
  A new report from Google shows a rise in government requests for user account data and content removal, including a request by one unnamed law enforcement agency to remove YouTube videos of police brutality–which the company refused.

Random TinyHacker Links

• Know Your In-Laws, er, Zombies
  A fun infographic detailing different kinds of zombies, a quick diagnosis guide on how soon you will turn if you are bitten by a zombie, and the items you need for a good zombie invasion survival kit.
• Analysis: The Ribbon in Windows 8 is More Efficient
  According to this interesting study, the ribbon interface as used in Windows 8, is more efficient than the old interface paradigm we’ve grown used to in Windows XP. Check out this study for details and don’t hesitate to share your take.
• Desktop Gadgets Discontinued – Now What?
  Last month, Microsoft decided to discontinue their desktop gadgets gallery and the support for these mini-applications. Where Windows 7 & Windows Vista users can now get access to good gadgets? This article aims to help and shares two of the remaining sources of gadgets, plus a roundup of great gadgets you might want to try.
• Privacy in the Digital Age (or lack thereof)
  Short film on the privacy you may be giving up to remain connected.
• largehearted boy’s List of 100 Online Sources for Free and Legal Music
  This is a great, comprehensive collection of sites to download music. All free, all legal.

Super User Questions

See the answers to these terrific questions from this week’s most popular thread at Super User.

• Which of the Windows updates are really necessary?
• Does deleting temporary files really speed up your computer? (Windows)
• Linux password manager program
• Hidden Files on Flash Drive
• Why would an incorrect password attempt take a lot longer to process than a correct one?

How-To Geek Weekly Article Recap

Tear into some good reading this weekend with our hottest HTG Main posts of the week.

• The 20 Best Windows 7 Start Menu and Taskbar Tips and Tricks
• Online Safety: Why You Should Give Up Windows XP For Good (Updated)
• Supercharge Your Dropbox Account with Space Upgrades, Apps, and More
• Ask the Readers: What’s Your Favorite Windows Explorer Alternative?
• How to Assign a Static Drive Letter to a USB Drive in Windows 7

Geeky Goodness from the ETC Side

Set aside some time this weekend for a bit of fun reading with our most popular ETC posts of the week.

• The Seven Deadly Keyboard Sins [Funny Image]
• When Internet Explorer is Afraid of the Competition [Funny Image]
• Why Computer Voices Are Mostly Female
• The Wrong Way to do Online Shopping with a Credit Card [Classic Funny Image]
• Bypass the Unity UI Altogether in Ubuntu 11.10 with the GNOME Shell Remix
• View a Scanned Copy of the 1983 Apple Gift Catalog [Nostalgic Images]
• DIY Ambilight Clone Even Better Than Original Commercial Version
• Spook Trick-or-Treaters with the Haunted Mansion Singing Ghosts
• LED-Fueled Halloween Lightshow Illuminates Neighborhood
• $5 DIY Fog Machine Adds Dirt-Cheap Ambiance to Your Halloween Party

One Year Ago on How-To Geek

Learn something new this weekend with this great collection of articles from one year ago.

• Create Tighter Outlines in Word By Using Only Tabs
• Use Your PC to Learn a New Language (Without Spending a Dime)
• How to Maximize the Battery Life on Your Linux Laptop
• Never Run Out of Minutes Again: Make Free VoIP Calls on Android Phones
• Preventing Repetitive Strain Injury the Geeky Way

How-To Geek Comics Weekly Roundup

• Too Busy Installing Updates
• Embracing Diversity
• Hiding Desktop Icons the ‘Old School’ Way
• They are not for 3D TV
• Sore Loser