VML Exploit
Recently, I sent out a warning about the VML Exploit. It was so critical, that Microsoft actually released a patch "out of cycle". However, unless you have your system set up to automatically download updates and install them, your computer may still be at risk if you did not unregister the VGX.dll file (for more info, look at the security update that I sent out on 9/22/06). To check if your system is vulnerable, click on the following link: http://www.isotf.org/zert/testvml.htm . I would suggest if you are using Mozilla, to open up Internet Explorer when you test your system out. If IE crashes after visiting the site, you are at risk! I would then go to windows update and get the latest updates and install them and reboot if asked to (If you are using Sandboxie, make sure it is running "outside the sandbox", otherwise a system update won't work). Once that is completed, do the test again.
If you are one of the few that unregistered the VGX.dll file previously, and are sure the updates were applied for the VML Exploit, you will need to re-register the VGX.dll file. To do this click Start/Run and in the open box paste the following: regsvr32 "%CommonProgramFiles%\Microsoft Shared\VGX\vgx.dll" (quotes and all) and then click OK. A box will pop up telling you it was successful. Once you have done that, use the link in the first paragraph to test your system. That's it!
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Sandboxie
I spoke of Sandboxie in the last email and why you should consider using it. Sandboxie is a program that allows programs to be "sand boxed" when in use, which essentially protects your system since changes are not written to the hard drive. I have used this program now for awhile and suggest its use, especially if you have kids browsing the Internet. To learn more, go to http://sandboxie.com/.
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Tips
Thunderbird Tip!
Use the Hotkey F8 to switch off the email view pane! Try it. Open up Thunderbird and hit the key F8. You will see the email view pane disappear. Push it again to make it return. Use it to delete suspicious email without looking at it!
Firefox Tip!
Firefox uses hotkeys to speed the use of the browser (such as navigation). To learn more, go to the Help menu and in Firefox you will see a section on Hotkeys!
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