On-line

H.T. White

Bob Grytten

PowerSquid

Here's a non-photographic gadget for your photographer gadget bag, or even for home/office use. We all know the problems with the traditional power strip. It's kinda bulky, and for every transformer block ("brick") you plug into it, you generally lose the use of the adjacent outlet. Take a look at this item. It's a four-foot power cord with 5 short pigtails that allows you to plug in a brick into each outlet, if you need to. Includes a lighted switch and 15-amp circuit breaker. It could also be useful at airports and other public places where outlets are scarce (you and the person who got ahead of you can now share the power source). Just remember to take it with you when leaving. Here's a link to Amazon, which also lists other sellers (this item is not directly sold by Amazon). http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000ACGE3U/photosourcefolio.com

Internet Explorer

Food for thought: Based on 85 advisories published by Secunia (www.secunia.com) between 2003 and 2005, about 25% do not yet have resolutions, and out of that 25%, about 40% could, if exploited, result in serious system compromises.

Ransomware?

To the lexicon of spyware, malware, viruses, trojans, malicious websites, and worms, we now add another: Ransomware. Ransomware refers to malware that commandeers your computer, then asks for money to return control to you. Apparently, this tactic has been seen in Russia, but the first one in English appeared last March. One version locks up your computer and demands that you send money via Western Union (yeah, you'd think they'd be caught right away, but enforcement is lax in many countries). It purportedly displays a message saying that it is deleting files every 30 minutes until you send the requested $10.99. Another one encrypts your files, demanding $300 for the unlock code. Unfortunately for the ransomware writer, the unlock code could be found on an infected computer. Sophos (a security concern, www.sophos.com) cracked the code and publicly released it. You know, sometimes the only practical recourse to remove certain malware is to restore your system from a protected source, like the original system restore CD. Granted, that option will restore your computer to the factory configuration when it was originally purchased, wiping out all your data and subsequently-installed programs. One more reason to make frequent back ups of your computer, especially the data. Do you know where all your data is? Hint: It's not all in the (Windows) My Documents folder.

Bill Hopkins is the Webmaster of PhotoSourceFolio* (www.photosourcefolio.com) and a regular contributor to PhotoStockNotes. Send comments via e-mail to wh@photosourcefolio.com. Fax: 1 818 831-0916. For on-line questions, contact Bill on the Kracker Barrel at www.photosource.com/board.

*Display 6 of your own images for photobuyers to view, on your page on the PhotoSource website.

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