The Dr. Bill Podcast Number 71, and Netcast Number 2! (Audio)

Dr. Bill Podcast – 71 – (01/13/07)
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“It’s All About the Pentiums,” by Weird Al Yankovik, our Geek Culture for the Week! How To: “Ghost4Linux Backup and Restore,” Props to Henry L. Ratliff for a BIG, new feature for DirCaster, also, a tour of the DirCaster web site, also, a new feature to Dr. Bill.TV! My son, Ben’s first submission to YouTube, and how he did it! Geek Project, how to do a VODcast! The Top 10 Nastiest Malware Trends!

The Top 10 Nastiest Malware Trends

What would you label “the worse” of the malware that’s “out there” in the wild? IT Security has a list. I have only quoted the first paragraph of each one, so click on the link below for full details:

IT Security: The Top 10 Nastiest Malware Trends

“1. Adware

The most common form of malware is adware. It’s a type of spyware that secretly imbeds itself on your computer and analyzes your web browsing habits and then related banner advertising occasionally in popup windows. While most of the advertisements you see are for legitimate companies, the actual producers of the spyware are not…

2. Browser Hijacker

Browser hijackers, or hijackware, al ter web browser settings to redirect you to a different homepage, typically to questionable websites (adult, gaming, celebrity). Those programs which redirect surfers to adult sites will sometimes leave telltale bookmarks, which have been known to cost people their jobs…

3. Internet Dialer

There are legitimate Internet dialers, but the malware variety does sinister things including making phone calls to 1-900 numbers secretly through your modem. The result is been monster phone bills and lots of family feuds…

4. Keylogger

In the past, keyloggers have been legitimate software used by law enforcement. The FBI used [1] a Trojan to download a keylogger called Magic Lantern, which helped indict Nicodemo Scarfo, Jr., for running an illegal gambling organization. Keyloggers are also used by companies to monitor employees, and by parents to monitor children online…

5. Rootkit

Rootkits are amongst the most sinister of all types of malware, going to the operating system and disabling security features such as firewalls and anti-virus programs, thus rendering themselves invisible. They also install other malicious code, change DNS settings and system configurations, access private files, and generally affect security and system performance…

6. Trojan Horse

Trojan horses are masters of disguise. This form of malware pretends to be innocuous plugins, add-ons, or even CODECs (Encoder/ Decoder) for multimedia audio or video players such as WinAmp, and other harmless software. The creators of trojan horses often use an e-mail or a web page written to trick you into installing the Trojan. Trojan horses may live on websites with music or video downloads or even some of the new batch of web2.0 alpha- or beta-mode application sites…

7. Worm

Worms are a self-propagating (they multiply on their own) form of malware. Worms hunt for security flaws in other computers on the same network as an infected computer and copy themselves onto the new computer through that loophole. This way of multiplying makes worms particularly dangerous, because they can result in huge network traffic floods or outages, as well as mass infection over a short time…

8. Virus

The term “virus” has been used fairly generically in the history of computing, but technically speaking, it refers to software that inserts malicious code into existing documents or even other code [1], and which is then spread by various means. Some early viruses were pranks, others were propagated via MS-Word documents attached in emails…

9. Drive-By Download (DBD)

In general, the term “drive-by download” (DBD) refers to any malware installed without user consent or knowledge. This malware can download spyware, a virus, etc., and this can happen while viewing a website or popup window, or from an email message…

10. Piggyback

Piggyback malware refers to embedded malicious code within an otherwise harmless executable file. According to a recent study, 4% of websites and 5% of available downloads were infected with any of 89 types of malware [1]. This means that even trusted sites might cause your computer to be infected, thus rendering IP/ site blacklists less effective. Typically suspect piggyback sites are those having downloads for games, music, and wallpapers, as well as celebrity and adult sites…

Quick Summary of Growing Malware Trends

This quick summary is a brief reminder of current Malware trends and new threats which are expected to grow in 2007:

1. Mobile attacks using SMS (SMiShing), whereby malware such as MSIL/Xrove infects smartphones via ActiveSync.
2. Media malware using MPEG video files or CODECs for MP3 audio players. Thanks to the popularity of video sharing sites like YouTube, this mode of attack is expected to grow.
3. Increase in zombie computers and botnets.
4. Return of parasitic malware, which operate by modifying files already existent on your hard drive.
5. Increased silent and targeted attacks on transactions instead of computers.
6. Suicidal malware that uses polymorphic techniques to evade detection.
7. Ransomware. A new threat, called ransomware, is where malware authors hold computers hostage unless an infected machine’s owner pays a certain amount.”

My Son’s First YouTube Post

My son, Ben, is a “chip off the ol’ block” in that he, too, is a geek! I have been working with video technology to produce my podcast/netcast on Dr. Bill.TV, and he has been working on a game challenge for YouTube. Here’s his first post. He did it all himself (after the ol’ man introduced him to the software we use for editing the video.)

He “shot” (acquired?) the video by playing the game on a TV that has a built-in VCR. We then “ported” the VCR feed through a device from ADStech called “VideoXpress,” which I must say, I am pretty impressed with!

ADStech VideoXpress

He then edited it with Ulead’s VideoStudio:

Ulead VideoStudio 10 Plus

Pretty cool stuff! That’s my boy!

A BIG, NEW Feature for DirCaster!

Henry L. Ratliff, PHP programmer extraordinaire, has done it again for those of us in the DirCaster community! He has added a feature that I am making great use of for the new Netcast on Dr. Bill.TV! It is a feature that allows the user of DirCaster to “override” the ID3 tag information in the actual MP3 or MP4 (or any other supported file type) in the feed. This allowed me, for instance, to have the feed information be correct for my video files for my Dr. Bill.TV feed even though I have yet to “settle on” a good ID3 tag writer for all the file types I need. This is awesome! So, be sure to check out the new version at:

The Dircaster Project

How To: Ghost4Linux Backup and Restore

This is a neat “how to” article! I have used Ghost4Linux, and it does rock! Check it out!

How to Backup and Restore Hard Drives with Ghost4Linux

“This tutorial shows how you can back up and restore hard drives and partitions with Ghost4Linux. Ghost4Linux is a Linux Live-CD that you insert into your computer; it contains hard disk and partition imaging and cloning tools similar to Norton Ghost. The created images are compressed and transferred to an FTP server instead of cloning locally. I do not issue any guarantee that this will work for you!”

The First Edition of the Dr. Bill.TV VODcast! (And, Podcast Number 70 as well!) (Video)

Dr. Bill Podcast – 70 – (01/06/07)
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Dr. Bill.TV

Our very first VODcast! Introduction to our new VODcast (Video On Demand!) Who says that Linux doesn’t DO games? Weird Zune ads from Microsoft! The Million Dollar Homepage has SOLD OUT! Whoa! Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos has funded the creation of a spacecraft to pioneer commercial space tourism. Move to OpenOffice.org 2.1 NOW! Think about this headline: “Internet Explorer Unsafe for 284 Days in 2006!” My opinion piece on the current state of IPTV! Our Geek Project for this week: setting up Dircaster! The new Blog Theme and the new VODcast!

The VODcast is at: www.DrBill.TV


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The First Edition of the Dr. Bill.TV VODcast! (And, Podcast Number 70 as well!) (Audio)

Dr. Bill Podcast – 70 – (01/06/07)
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Dr. Bill.TV

Our very first VODcast! Introduction to our new VODcast (Video On Demand!) Who says that Linux doesn’t DO games? Weird Zune ads from Microsoft! The Million Dollar Homepage has SOLD OUT! Whoa! Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos has funded the creation of a spacecraft to pioneer commercial space tourism. Move to OpenOffice.org 2.1 NOW! Think about this headline: “Internet Explorer Unsafe for 284 Days in 2006!” My opinion piece on the current state of IPTV! Our Geek Project for this week: setting up Dircaster! The new Blog Theme and the new VODcast!

The VODcast is at: www.DrBill.TV

Opinion: The Current State of IPTV

This is an “opinion piece” from your friendly, neighborhood Doctor about the current “state” of IPTV. As I have told you before, “IPTV” is the delivery of TV content over “TCP/IP”, or the Internet. Now, there are many views of just what IPTV actually is. I recently heard on the “Cranky Geeks” netcast from Ziff-Davis (which some folks would call “IPTV”) that John C. Dvorak said that IPTV would be “real” only when it was available via a set-top box and not through a computer interface of any type. That day is coming as well. Here’s a Press Release that I was sent recently by Aaron Keogh, of Matrixstream, due to the Computer Curmudgeon Podcast being such an advocate of IPTV:


“MyTVPal.com is ready to launch a new video on demand service for TV starting with ‘North America’s Best Independent Animated Shorts.’ The 84 minute animated short compilation feature film will be made available free for a limited time via user paid targeted advertising starting on January 1st 2007. MyTVPAL.com delivers DVD and HD quality streaming movies instantly on demand via a high definition IMX 1020 HD set top box directly to a television set. No downloading or PC is required in this process.

Unlike most movie download service providers that only offer sub-DVD quality picture and sound not compatible with most home theater receivers, MyTVPal.com will provide full DVD 720 x 480 resolution for standard definition video with AC3 sound – thus delivering the DVD home theater experience over the Internet. This service is currently being made available in North America to anyone with a broadband connection.

MyTVPAL.com is now also making available 100 movie trailers prior to the release of its movie subscription package offering coming in January 2007. Titles include Born To Win staring Robert De Niro, If Tomorrow Comes starring James Franco, Wake starring Martin Landau and Gale Harold, and classic thrillers like Night of the Living Dead, and Corrupt Lieutenant staring Harvey Keitel. These films along with many other titles can be viewed for a low monthly subscription fee.

MyTVPal.com is aiming to be the largest video service provider in North America with a goal of obtaining up to 100,000 DVD quality and High Definition video titles and producing a channel line-up that will range from 700 to 1000 plus channels. This will include sports, news, music, entertainment, film, and other programming genres from around the world. On the backend, MyTVPal.com is planning to scale service to millions of users by using MatrixStream’s patent pending xms video on demand technology in 34 data centers across the US connected via a fiber network.

Those interested in taking a test run may download a free PC Player at www.mytvpal.com.”


Matrixstream UnitNow this exciting stuff… and I have provided a photo of the set-top box to illustrate where we are heading… but the other side of this is that the IPTV phenomenon is growing “organically” as more and more people “get into” the field across the Internet! Just as Podcasts have been growing exponentially since there inception in 2004, I see “VODcasts” (Video-On-Demand,) or “VIDcasts” (Videocasts) growing as well! Our old friend “The Ninja” on “Ask a Ninja” has a funny compelling videocast. And, many such funny, or other “special interest” content is coming out regularly on the ‘net! This is an exciting and growing area! I am excited about the future! Perhaps it IS time to take Leo LaPorte’s advice and call “Podcasts”, “VODcasts”, AND “Vidcasts” the “generic” term “Netcasts!”

Either way, whether a subscription service for “high end” content is your thing, or “freebie” content from Internet denizens is what you are looking for, there is already a lot of IPTV to be had, and more is coming… expect to hear a LOT about this in the coming year! 2007 may be the “Year of IPTV!”

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Think About This Headline: “Internet Explorer Unsafe for 284 Days in 2006”

The largest richest software company in the world, Microsoft, had a product that was used by 90% of the market, and yet it was UNSAFE 284 out of 365 days! Ouch!

Internet Explorer Unsafe for 284 Days in 2006

“Security Fix spent the past several weeks compiling statistics on how long it took some of the major software vendors to issue patches for security flaws in their products. Since Windows is the most-used operating system in the world, it makes sense to lead off with data on Microsoft’s security updates in 2006. First, a note on the methodology behind this blog post: The data presented here builds on a project I began in late 2005 looking back on three years of efforts by Microsoft to address only the most severe security holes in its software. I conducted that same research again last month, individually contacting nearly all of the security researchers who submitted reports of critical flaws in Microsoft products to learn from them not only the dates that they had submitted their findings to the company, but also any other security trends or anomalies they observed in working with the world’s largest software maker. Several weeks prior to posting this information, I shared the data I had gathered with Microsoft. The officials I dealt with helpfully concurred or quibbled slightly with some of my findings, but the company raised no objections that would materially affect the results presented in this particular study of IE flaws.”

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