This week we learned how to secure a Linux PC by encrypting the hard drive, become familiar with the toolbox in Photoshop, improve battery life in Windows 7 with the built-in power troubleshooter, become familiar with the panels in Photoshop, print files from anywhere via any device with Dropbox, and more.

Photo by d.loop. [via Dirk Loop]

Random Geek Links

Unmodified, original photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video.

• Java replaces Adobe Reader as the most frequent attack target
  Microsoft Malware Protection Center (MMPC) monitoring shows a dramatic increase in recent months in the number of attempted attacks on Java vulnerabilities.
• Adobe: Flash, Reader hole used in PDF attacks
  A new critical vulnerability in Flash and Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.x is being exploited to attack computers running the popular PDF viewer software.
• Critical security risk posed by new ‘Boonana’ Trojan horse for OS X
  A new Trojan horse malware that affects Mac OS X has been uncovered. The Trojan is called “trojan.osx.boonana.a” and is being disguised as a video and distributed through social-networking sites like Facebook.
• Spy swallows spy
  According to research  conducted by security specialist Brian Krebs, ZeuS developer “Slavik” has handed over all of his source code to SpyEye developer “Harderman” and withdrawn from further development.
• Sharp rise in targeted attacks against retailers
  Targeted e-mail attacks have increased significantly from one to two attacks per week in 2005, to 77 attacks per day this month, with the global retail sector facing a sharp rise in attacks for the first time, finds a Symantec survey.
• Shuttleworth: Unity shell will be default desktop in Ubuntu 11.04
  Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth has announced that the Unity shell will become Ubuntu’s default user interface across both the desktop and netbook editions.
• Firefox 4 beta 7 now due early November, RC1 in early ’11
  The Mozilla team has announced that the next beta, beta 7, is due in early November, the first release candidate in early 2011 and the final version will ship “close behind” that.
• Firefox extension steals Facebook, Twitter, etc. sessions
  Presented at ToorCon, Firefox extension Firesheep  demonstrates how easy it is for attackers to access accounts belonging to other users on the same network, such as a Wi-Fi hotspot.
• Attackers exploit zero day vulnerability in Firefox
  The trojan attack on visitors to the Nobel Peace Prize web site reported on Tuesday, exploited a previously unknown vulnerability in Firefox. Make sure to update to the latest version if you have not done so already!
• Microsoft strategy against Android comes together
  The problem with software patents, as opposed to those for drugs or medical devices, is that they don’t cover the way you do something, but the idea of doing something.

Geek Video of the Week

How do Computer, Keyboard, Monitor, and Mouse manage to put up with Printer being such a brat all day? If you have ever had a printer that acted like this one, then you will definitely be satisfied with the results!

Photo by CollegeHumor.

Your Printer is a Brat

Productive Geek Tips

• Create Tighter Outlines in Word By Using Only Tabs
  Word’s default outline format inserts too much extra space and the auto-formatting prevents you from controlling the final product. To create tighter outlines in Word, all you need is the tab button.
• Keep Track of Ideas with Microsoft OneNote
  Ideas come to us at unexpected times, and we don’t always have enough time to take action on all of them at once. Thankfully Microsoft OneNote is a great tool to keep track of ideas for anything.
• How to Avoid Overspending Your Money for Holiday Trips
  Each holiday carries the risk of overspending our money, so we should pay a closer look to our holiday plan and make sure that we prepare a good budget to get the most out of our holiday.
• How to use Google Squared to Research Essay Topics (for Students)
  We often grumble on essay assignments because we know the tedious process of gathering ideas, but we can make that more fun by using Google Squared to research topics.

Random TinyHacker Links

• Great Collection of Cheat-Sheet Desktop Wallpapers
  A nice collection of code cheat-sheets to be used as desktop wallpapers.
• Free Outlook ‘10 online training videos
  Whether you are new to Outlook, have recently upgraded, or are an experienced user that likes to organize your Inbox with the new Conversations view, there is something here for you.
• MilkSync For Outlook
  Remember The Milk, the popular to-do list tool, has introduced its Outlook sync tool.
• Tiny App Mouse Jiggler Keeps Movies and Presentations Playing
  Mouse Jiggler will imitate the movement of a mouse you can play videos, movies or any video presentation without interruption. So small, yet so wonderful.
• Using YouTube Safety Mode
  A guide to YouTube’s built-in safety mode.

Super User Questions

Enjoy reading through our newest group of questions and answers from Super User.

• Will my PC work with Windows 7 even if I can’t find Windows 7 drivers on the manufacturers website?
• RAM speed: How does it impact performance?
• Is there a file size limit in Paint.NET?
• Is https traffic over an unencrypted wireless network secure?
• Is there any easy way to copy from a VirtualBox Guest to the Host?

Latest Reviews at How-To Geek

Settle back for some great reading with this week’s software reviews.

• CopyTrans Suite
  CopyTrans Suite is a collection of utilities that allows you to manage your iPod / iPhone without the horribly bloated iTunes.
• ESET Smart Security 4
  ESET Smart Security is a complete suite of security solutions for the PC that integrates Antispyware, Antivirus, Antispam, and a personal firewall.
• Nero Multimedia Suite Platinum 10 HD
  The Nero Multimedia Suite is one of the most popular commercial programs for creating movies, burning discs, backing up data, support for Blu-ray and more.

How-To Geek Weekly Article Recap

Get caught up on your weekly reading with our hottest articles from this past week.

• BitTorrent for Beginners: Protecting Your Privacy
• How to Crash Any Version of Internet Explorer with Simple HTML
• How to Create a Pumpkin Carving Stencil in Photoshop
• Ask the Readers: Which Photo App is a Must-Have Software on Your Computer?
• What is the Linux Kernel and What Does It Do?

One Year Ago on How-To Geek

Here is our latest batch of retro geeky goodness from one year ago.

• 175 Windows 7 Tweaks, Tips, and How-To Articles
• Backup Windows Mail Messages and Contacts in Vista
• Color Code Outlook for Easier Management
• How To (Really) Completely Disable UAC on Windows 7
• View Webpage Source Code in Tabs in Firefox

The Geek Note

That is all the treats that we have for you this week. Happy Halloween everyone! Remember to keep those great tips coming in to us at tips@howtogeek.com.

Photo by moominmolly.