nixternal

OK, a couple posts down I made light of the Windows vulnerability that is aimed at the animated cursors was fixed just a few hours after my post. Well so we thought. It seems the fix broke Windows XP SP2 systems. If you have Realtek HD Audio then you stand a good chance of not being able to open the audio control center after applying this patch. OH, and you will also be warned that an illegal DLL relocation has occurred. OK, no big deal you say, well guess what, the exploit is not only still there, but even wider now. So who cares? Well the crackers that will be sending out tons of nude Britney Spears images for those who click and get infected. That is an awesome deal!

“A Microsoft spokesman said in an e-mail that Microsoft was first aware of the issues around the update for Windows XP SP2 during the testing process for the patch. He also said the number of customers affected by the glitch appears “limited” at this point, but the company is recommending that users appply the hotfix.”

Interesting, it says that Microsoft was aware of the issue during testing, but because the glitch appears “limited” they went ahead and released it. Limited strikes me though, as Realtek audio chipsets are some of the most popular chipsets there are, and are in a majority of manufactured PCs as well as some custom built PCs where people didn’t upgrade to a Soundblaster setup or such. I guess causing this issue on more than 25,000 university machines is also considered limited as well.

OK, so I promise to not disrespect Microsoft in this post, as I really don’t have to. They have been doing a great job disrespecting themselves of late. So why all of this Microsoft stuff on your blog Mr. Rich? Well a number of people read this blog, not just Planet Ubuntu, but quiet a few other planets and aggregators. My job is to promote Free and Open Source, well it isn’t my job, but my hobby. No better way to promote it than by showing off the continuous flaws in Microsoft. Well Linux has flaws too, and you are correct. However in the world of Free and Open Source software, you usually don’t get the amount of stupid updates that you do elsewhere for one, and two who cares what the reports say, Linux is far more secure than Windows, if it wasn’t so secure, stable, and blazing fast, than can someone explain why it controls more than 60% of the worlds web servers?

The Linux desktop is getting better everyday, and no matter your skill level, Linux has more to offer than Windows will ever have, oh and lets not forget Apple who is over in the corner sitting pretty right now. You may not be able to game or do your AutoCAD like you can with Windows, but everything else is good to go. I have been using Linux forever and the only reason I had the need for a Windows box was to game and do some AutoCAD. Other than that I have been able to follow along in college with my trusty Linux setup producing projects and products that are on par with the rest of the class and at times even better, but of course that is more me than it is Linux

Here is my offer to you, if you have been thinking about trying out this “Linux” thing, go for it. No matter your age, your race, sex, creed, religion, or knowledge, unlike Microsoft, we (Linux) do not discriminate! Give it a try right now!

…Microsoft Funny

What happened to the days of super smart hackers, writing code to infiltrate your libraries, overflow your buffers, and hijack your sessions? Remember hackers using nothing more than tty1-6, no need for a GUI?

Well that has all changed…Welcome Microsoft Windows Vista!

MICROSOFT plans to patch a security hole in Windows related to an animated cursor that hackers have used to launch attacks after users click on links to malicious web sites.

I checked the date, and it is from April 3^rd, so it isn’t a fool’s joke that I can see. Can you believe that? It is stupid security flaws like this that should have millions running in droves to get away from the bs they are put through from Microsoft. Vista users, please come and join us here at Ubuntu, where your presence is not only welcomed, but also commended.

I got this funny little tidbit from HERE.

On a side note, if you are a Windows user and have my contact information in your Outlook or Outlook Express, please remove me by Sunday or get a free and open source email solution if you must stick with Microsoft.

It said most of the activity around the so-called ANI exploit has been via dozens of malicious websites but warned that on Sunday the first internet worm, able to replicate without the user doing anything to the machine, was found using the flaw to spread.

Yes, I love DRM. I really do, I have been a hypocrite for years now and I have silently, in the closet, been supporting DRM.

OK, I am just kidding, don’t beat me up for that one

Last week everyone seen and heard the joy in the community when not only Steve Jobs, but also Bill Gates renounced DRM. Someone on IRC said they always knew Bill had some sense. Well, Bill Gates, one of the amazing co-founders of the ever-so-lovable Microsoft has been toasted. His very own company turns him around and stabs him in the back, or was Bill lying out of his teeth? Microsoft has just launched “ReadyPlay.” ReadyPlay is their brand new DRM system. For a small fee, so they say, you can watch copyrighted material with Windows Media Player. OK, I am sick of talking about it, here read it, it is nuts.

“I must tell you everything in my soul tells me that we should do what I called
plan (b) yesterday. We need a simple fast storage system. LH is a pig and I don’t see any solution to this problem. If we are to rise to the challenge of Linux and Apple, we need to start taking the lessons of “scenario, simple, fast” to heart.” - Jim Allchin

This is old news, as it is the last line in the email Jim Allchin sent that said if he didn’t work for Microsoft that he would buy an Apple. I have been following the class action that Iowa (Comes) has against Microsoft. It is interesting to see that even the executives in Microsoft, may not be affraid of their position, but do realize they are wrong. Of course Jim states that they (Microsoft) has lost their vision whereas Apple hasn’t, and in a way neither has Linux.

So my question is this. Could Microsoft really rise to the challenge of Linux and Apple by taking in the 3 lessons listed above? How does scenario, simple, fast relate to the freeness and openness that our community exuberates? Is their recent bedding down with Novell a part of their “Plan B”? Granted this email was from the latter of 2004, but recent (01/19/2007) court hearings showed that Microsoft still feels the same. Hopefully with the upcoming weeks, more information about Microsoft wanting to “whack” Dell for selling Linux solutions will come to light because of Iowa. Iowa not only grows corn, but they also take on Microsoft. GO IOWA!

On a side note, Norway is taking on Apple to defeat one of their DRM applications. Norway, as do I, believes that iTunes music should be able to be played on more than the iPod. I stand behind you Norway and wish you the best in this endeavor. Apple, just like Microsoft, doesn’t play fair, so be careful.

Now, seeing that other countries are doing their part fighting off the giants, maybe it is time that Mr. Bush shoves a bomb up his ass (don’t flame me, I voted for him twice damnit) instead of Baghdad, and let’s go after these giants here in the US. Come on Congress, wake up and smell the Open Source I bet senators would go for Linux and Open Source if we were to put a few extra million dollars in their pockets (little do they know that Linux and Open Source would save them money, in turn putting more money in their pockets). Since when has the mafia moved from Chicago and New York to D.C.?