Switch Systems Blog

DNS Re-pinning may be the latest big security vulnerability to hit the net. Essentially, using short TTLs on a DNS server when sending back an [A] record (or by using multiple [A] records to serve an address round-robin style), an attacker can circumvent the same-origin policy of browsers and use it to launch code in a protected zone. This PDF has the full details.

It looks like you can no longer request windows XP instead of windows Vista from Dell - a recent purchase of a Vospro 1500 laptop found this out the hard way. If you persist, Dell will offer you £35 off the price for a 'naked' (no operating system) unit, or you can "downgrade to XP" by formatting, installing XP and then phoning up microsoft via telephone activation using the Vista CD key that you have.

Id Software's new game "Rage" has some previews at gamevideos.com and shacknews.

We recently purchased an Eizo 630L thin client from ebay on the cheap to investigate using it as a network monitoring station here in our offices. It's a 15" TFT with a windows CE machine built into the unit (300mhz, 64mb) and built in speakers.
It's running windows CE 4.1, and has Internet Explorer (4) built in, allowing you to browse the net without having to connect to a server. It can deal with RDP v5, and has support for 16bit colour, sound and local devices (com/lpt port). A useful feature is that it can auto-connect/login on startup, which means we can wall mount the unit, remove the keyboard/mouse (or use wireless ones) and leave it watching our networks!

ArsTechnica reports that Microsoft are now going to force it's Action Pack subscribers to take online tests in order to continue their subscription. I have no doubt in my mind that this is to help stop regular non-IT companies from using the action pack subscription to cut their software licensing costs, which is a practice i've seen a few times. Having checked the last set of correspondence, I just noticed this :

...partners either renewing or subscribing to the Action Pack ... will be required to take an online course ... and pass the associated assessment (with a score of 70% or higher). We will require that Acion Pack subscriberse pass an assessment every two years.... most courses are an hour in length.

Hopefully this will put people off from using the Action Pack outside of the terms and conditions of the agreement.

Most probably after the scaremongering tactics of this BBC Panarama program, The Register reports that teachers have voted to ban WiFI from schools.

Parkin demanded an inquiry into the technology, pointing to a range of maladies which could be down to radio waves cooking the brains of pupils and teachers alike. These include loss of concentration, fatigue, reduced memory and headaches.

- The Register.

Had enough of adverts on the websites you read? Now you can get them in office documents whilst you work! The Register reports that Microsoft is piloting an advertising funded version of it's Works software. This leaves me to question A) whether anyone has actually bought MS Works as opposed to MS Office, and B) Why would anyone use this over Open Office?