Computer

For quite some time now I have had “robots” mining my posts and putting them on their “blogs” resulting in pingback in my posts. Most of these are just intended to generate traffic back to their sites. Lately there have been some from a site of various names, but if the pinback is followed, looks like this:

It looks like a page full of YouTube links but if you click on one (I like to live on the edge) you actually go to a bogus site: http://youutubee.com/. You see the clever spelling? When you get there it tries to automatically download and install a program:

Now here is the bit about the Mac OS, the file is obviously a Windows .exe file and thus couldn’t be installed. Furthermore, FireFox (and Safari) both have warnings before downloading and installing (I know this is true on Windows as well). I cannot be sure, but it appears that it initially tries to do this in the background, since the page seemed to be trying to run a script before defaulting to the download attempt.

The truth is that there is little inherently more secure about the Mac OS, it is just not popular enough for hackers to have spent their time and energy targeting it. That is one reason why I am happy to have Apple profitable (therefore still in business) but not more than a single digit of the total market share.

The moral of the story boys and girls? Be very careful when clicking on pingback and always use protection.

 

I have one of the old versions and I use it at home to extend my network (and connect iTunes to my stereo) and then take it on the road with me. It is perfect for hotels with a wired network connection (who often then charge for a wireless connection, if available). It also allows you to have your own encrypted network, so it is safer to use than the open hotel wifi. At conferences I occasionally room with a colleague or they are in nearby rooms so I can then share the network with them as well. Now it is up to N speeds and still only $99! That is a bah-gain.

802.11n Airport Express is now on sale

Filed under: Airport

Some people may not believe that a leak on the Swiss Apple Store is an indication of actual product coming down the mountain. “The Swiss don’t make mistakes like that,” they say. Well, fair enough, but we now have the real deal: the Airport Express with 802.11n is on sale in the US Apple Store.

Our retail channel sources told us that the AE would be available by 3/23 or sooner, so looks like “sooner” wins. $99, supports up to 10 connected machines, AirTunes and printer sharing: works for me.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)