Australian Open Access User Group

28 Jul 24 ABC: How a bug in a little-known piece of software caused a global meltdown + CISA: Widespread IT Outage Due to CrowdStrike.
28 Jul 2024 Tech Advisor: ZX Spectrum at 40: why it's the most important computer in history.
23 Oct 23! FirewallTimes: Microsoft Data Breaches: Full Timeline Through 2023.
1 Oct 22 Bleeding Computer: New Microsoft Exchange zero-days actively exploited in attacks - CERT advice: Microsoft Releases Guidance on Zero-Day Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server.
17 Dec 21 Japan Today: Global race to patch critical computer bug.(‘Log4Shell’)
7 Aug 21 Gizmodo: Kindle [e-Reader] Flaw Could Have Let Hackers Take Control of Your Ebook Reader and Steal Information
11 Mar 21 Yahoo: 'URGENT': Aussies warned over Microsoft email hack attack.
14 Jan 21 Signal [app] to ramp up hiring after WhatsApp controversy drives download surge
8 Jan 21 Techradar: WhatsApp's new privacy policy requires you to share data with Facebook.
14 Jul 20 Techradar: Microsoft Office 365 users targeted in SurveyMonkey phishing
14 Jul 20 The Guardian: Google detecting 18m malware and phishing messages per day related to Covid-19.
11 Mar 20 The Verge: A major new Intel processor flaw could defeat encryption and DRM protections
18 Jan 20 CNN: NSA alerted Microsoft to major Windows 10 security flaw + Techradar: Microsoft releases critical Windows 10 security update – which doesn’t work.
10 Jan 2020! New Scientist: A lazy fix 20 years ago means the Y2K bug is taking down computers now (see our Y2K page)
30 Nov 19 Australian Cyber Security Centre: Widespread exploitation of vulnerable systems via Emotet malware.
19 Aug 19 ARS Technica: Four wormable bugs in newer versions of Windows need your attention now. Exploits against Windows 7 to 10 could spread from PC to PC—no user interaction needed.
16 Jul 19 News.com: ‘Agent Smith’ infects 25 million Android devices globally through WhatsApp, Opera and SwiftKey clones + Checkpoint: Agent Smith: A New Species of Mobile Malware (thanks Al Varnell)
8 Oct 18 Lifehacker: Microsoft's Windows 10 October Update Has Turned Into A Huge Mess - user files deleted
21 May 18 MacRumours: Intel Discloses New 'Variant 4' Spectre-Like Vulnerability.
18 Apr 18 NYMag: An Apology for the Internet — From the People Who Built It.
17 Apr 18 ABC: Russian hacking: Australia caught up in cyber attacks blamed on Moscow-backed hackers. (routers!)
17 Apr 18 WSJ: Microsoft Turns to Old Enemy Linux to Solve Vexing Tech Threat.
5 Feb 18 News Azure: Microsoft releases emergency Windows update to leverage Spectre - previous patch has bugs?
3 Jan 18 Gizmodo: Report: All Intel Processors Made In The Last Decade Might Have A Massive Security Flaw - patches imminent?
29 Nov 17 SMH: Apple Mac [High Sierra] software has login flaw that puts private data at risk - you need to address this! (see also Apple:How to enable the root user on your Mac or change your root password & MacRumours)
22 Nov 17 Gizmodo: How Facebook Figures Out Everyone You've Ever Met - anyone who has your details and agrees to upload their contacts to Facebook (just by agreeing to "People You May Know" terms and condtions) creates a silent record of those details!
22 Nov 17 Japan Times: U.S. says North Korean malware lurking in computer networks.
30 Jun 17 Gizmodo: Windows 10 S Doesn't Appear to Be as Invulnerable to Ransomware as Microsoft Claims.
15 May 17 CERT: Indicators Associated With WannaCry Ransomware - gaining access to enterprise servers either through Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) compromise or through the exploitation of a critical Windows SMB vulnerability. Microsoft released a security update for the MS17-010 (link is external) vulnerability on March 14, 2017. According to open sources, one possible infection vector is via phishing emails.
5 May 17 Reddit: New Google Docs phishing scam, almost undetectable (update:resolved but be cautious)
19 Apr 17 CIO: Leaked NSA exploits plant a bull's-eye on Windows Server - A hacking group leaked spying tools on Friday that can target older versions of Windows
29 Aug 16 CERT: Symantec and Norton Security Products Contain Critical Vulnerabilities
12 Mar 16 SMH: Malware hijacks big four Australian banks' apps, steals two-factor SMS codes - the malware sneaks onto Android devices by imitating the Adobe Flash Player application... + 'Locky' ransomware scam hits tens of thousands of Australian computers.
21 Jul 15 The Independemt: Windows vulnerability lets hackers take control of computers, Microsoft issues fix for PCs .
1 May 14 SMH: Australia, US, UK advise avoiding Microsoft Internet Explorer until bug fixed.
27 Mar 14 About.com: Word Subject to New Remote Code Execution Attack (includes Macs)
27 Nov 12 SMH: Windows 8 sales flounder as critics pan clumsy interface - "a monster that terrorises poor office workers and strangles their productivity"
27 Nov 12 CSO: Malware RAT rides hoax news.com.au tsunami [threat] to Australia [on New Years Eve] - a sad method of using fear to spread a computer virus. Like earthquakes, tsunami cannot be accurately predicted.
7 Apr 12 SMH: Anti-virus can't keep up with threat onslaught.
11 May 11 Scientific American: Microsoft's Skype Deal Promises Video Chat for Windows Phones - it is buying voice and video communications provider Skype Global for $8.5 billion. Ominous!
23 Oct 10 NewSci: Stuxnet: the online front line - a few lines of malicious computer code can trip electricity grids, burn out power-station generators, pollute water supplies and sabotage gas pipelines... It uses vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows to give an attacker remote control of the specialised factory-floor computers used to control industrial processes.
23 Jul 10 New Scientist: PC giant warns of hardware trojan - Computer maker Dell is warning, according to The Register, that some of its server motherboards have been delivered to customers carrying an unwanted extra: computer malware...
3 Jun 10 About.com: Spyware Embedded in [Mac] Screen Saver Installer + Google Dumps Windows; Mac or Linux the Choice for New Hires - Google is dumping the Windows OS from all of its computing platforms due to security concerns.
27 May 10 BBC: Apple passes Microsoft to be biggest tech company
24 Apr 10 BBC: Security update hits Windows PCs - Thousands of PCs around the world have been paralysed by a security update that wrongly labelled part of Windows as a virus.
17 Jan 10 BBC: German government warns against using MS Explorer.
13 May 09 WP: Can I Recommend Internet Explorer 8? Should I? See the long list of user woes... note that a Coloured Tab add-on is available for Firefox.
28 Feb 09 WP: Microsoft: Attackers Target Unpatched Excel Flaw.
22 Jan 09 BBC: Windows worm trickery for Vista.
17 Dec 08 WP: Microsoft: Big Security Hole in All IE Versions.
31 Oct 08 WP: Data-Stealing Trojan Exploiting Just-Patched Windows Flaw.
3 Jun 08 BCS: Microsoft issues caution [over Safari bug]
4 May 08 PC World: Microsoft Backpedals on Windows Updates - Microsoft has withdrawn Vista SP1 from automatic delivery in the wake of news that XP SP3 can cause data corruption in business apps.
13 Jan 08 BBC: Warning on stealthy Windows virus - Many are falling victim via booby-trapped websites that use vulnerabilities in Microsoft's browser to install the attack code, which steals login details for online bank accounts.
21 Sep 07 DownloadSquad: Microsoft allowing PC makers to offer XP downgrade from Vista.
18 May 07 WP: Samba developers quash serious bug - a popular way of allowing Windows clients to print and store files using a Linux or Unix machine.
12 Apr 07 WP: Critical Vista flaw...
7 Apr 07 Computerworld: Researchers question Vista security after ANI exploit - Microsoft Corp.'s failure to spot the animated cursor bug in Windows Vista is, at best, a flag to hackers that old flaws may abound in the new operating system, researchers said today. At worst, it's a disconcerting sign that Vista's security-oriented development process slipped up.
4 Mar 07 Günther Waldbauer: Demo of a web server for an Open Access 4 database - access data directly from a DF file "In the next 2 weeks we provide the Open Access Community with Write Support for databases under PHP..."
2 Mar 07 BBC: Net firms tackle Vista headache Some old installation discs that simplify the task of configuring a PC for broadband have refused to work on machines loaded with Vista...+ Falling into the Vista trap.
17 Feb 07 BBC: Home network security scrutinised + WP: The Dangers of Default Passwords [on routers]
15 Feb 07 BBC: Microsoft fixes 20 security holes - Half of the patches in the update have been rated as critical
2 Feb 07 BBC: Vista has speech recognition hole.
31 Jan 07 Washington Post: At Microsoft, a Sad Software Lesson - In my view, we lost our way," Vista's manager, Jim Allchin, wrote in an e-mail (later posted online) to Microsoft founder Bill Gates and chief executive Steve Ballmer. "I would buy a Mac today if I was not working at Microsoft." (too credible to be true!)
31 Jan 07 PC World: Symantec warns of new zero-day Word attack
Until the vulnerability is patched, users should avoid opening unexpected Word documents.
18 Jan 07 WP: Do Away With HTML Based E-mail - Last week, Microsoft issued a patch to fix an extremely dangerous flaw in Windows that cyber crooks could use to break into your computer just by getting you to open an e-mail...
6 Jan 07 BBC: Security bug found in [Acrobat] PDF reader [Firefox and Internet Explorer Windows users are vulnerable] + Rivals battle for connected world [Microsoft Vs Apple]
21 Dec 06 BBC: Triple threat targets Word users - Users of older versions of Office are vulnerable...
8 Dec 06 New Scientist: Spam choking the internet again.
5 Dec 06 IT Wire: More problems with Vista final release?
18 Nov 06 PC World: Tips & Tweaks: Put Junk E-Mail in Its Place.
11 Nov 06 CPSC: Sony Recalls Notebook Computer Batteries Due to Previous Fires - Fujitsu, Gateway, Sony and Toshiba notebook computers. About 340,000 batteries in USA (an additional 3,080,000 battery packs were sold worldwide)
27 Oct 06 Scientific American (subs): Malware Goes Mobile - Computer viruses are now airborne, infecting mobile phones in every part of the globe.
19 Oct 06 SMH: Apple blames Microsoft for virus-infected iPods.
19 Oct 06 WP: Patches Available for Bluetooth Flaw [in Toshiba & Dell laptops]
13 Oct 06 waldbauer.com: Now hosts OA4 databases for web-serving purposes - see this site (in German)
3 Oct 06 BBC: Microsoft 'taking security risks' - "Microsoft is stopping security firms from accessing the core of the [Vista] operating system, called the kernel, and is therefore preventing them from releasing third-party security add-ons." - unlike Apple that uses a Unix core.
28 Sep 06 WP: Microsoft Issues Emergency Patch for IE Flaw - a flaw that hackers have been exploiting to install spyware on vulnerable computers.
10 Aug 06 WP: Microsoft Fixes 23 Security Flaws.
3 Aug 06 WP: Hijacking a Macbook [or PC] in 60 Seconds or Less - wireless insecurity.
28 Jul 06 WP: Password-Stealing Trojan Disguised as Firefox Extension + Mozilla Issues Security Updates for Firefox + Microsoft to Push Out IE7 as High Priority Update.
24 Jul 06 SMH: Microsoft warns about PowerPoint virus - CERT advice.
21 Jul 06 WP: Hacked Ad Seen on MySpace Served Spyware to a Million - An online banner advertisement that ran on MySpace.com and other sites over the past week used a Windows security flaw to infect more than a million users with spyware when people merely browsed the sites with unpatched versions of Windows...
14 Jul 06 WP: Adobe Issues [Acrobat] Security Update + Microsoft Patches 18 Security Flaws in Windows, Office.
7 Jul 06 The Register: Windows Genuine [Dis]advantage malware sighted - The Cuebot-K worm spreads via AOL instant messenger in the guise of WGA - thanks Stephen Withers.
6 Jul 06 BBC: Web perils advise switch to Macs. Security threats to PCs with Microsoft Windows have increased so much that computer users should consider using a Mac, says a leading security firm...
4 Jul 06 WP: Microsoft to End Support Of Old Windows Versions - Microsoft will end support for Windows 98, Windows 98 Special Edition (SE) and Windows Millennium Edition (ME). That means users of those versions will no longer have the protection of software fixes issued by Microsoft, potentially leaving them exposed to attack when hackers exploit previously unknown flaws in the operating systems.
30 Jun 06 WP: Exploits Target Multiple Excel, IE Security Holes.
17 Jun 06 WP: Microsoft Warns of Attack Via Unpatched Excel Flaw.
12 Jun 06 SMH: 'Spy' revealed in Microsoft security tool.
31 May 06 WP: Fun With Java Updates + New Winamp Version Fixes Major Security Hole
25 May 06 WP: Critical Microsoft Patches Cause Havoc.
23 May 06 WP: Hackers Exploiting Unpatched Flaw in MS Word - Vulnerability tracking company Secunia rated the flaw "extremely critical," its most dire warning level.
15 May 06 CNet: 'Critical' Windows, Exchange fixes coming [Tuesday] - thanks Stephen Withers.
10 May 06 waldbauer.com: Demo of a web server for an Open Access 4 database. Access data from a DF file (try uploading your own file to test). Please give feedback to Günther Waldbauer.
5 May 06 WP: Duck, It's a Microsoft Patch - can prevent Word & Excel saving to My Documents! Microsoft advice.
2 May 06 WP: Two New IE Flaws Found.
26 Apr 06 WP: MS Office Flaws Ideal Tools for Targeted Attacks + MS Expands Anti-Piracy Program, Reissues Patch (spyware!)
30 Mar 06 WP: Non-Microsoft Patches Issued for [critical] IE Flaw - security experts have identified at least 200 Web sites that are being used to install password-stealing malware on Windows PCs when users merely visit one of the sites with IE. IE: Allowing Only Certain ActiveX Controls to Run in Internet Explorer (thanks Gregory and Sendal).
28 Mar 06 WP: Attacks on Unpatched IE Flaw Escalate. More than 200 Web sites -- many of them belonging to legitimate businesses -- have been hacked and seeded with code that tries to take advantage of a unpatched security hole in Microsoft's Internet Explorer Web browser to install hostile code on Windows computers when users merely visit the sites.
24 Mar 06 SMH: Critical flaw bites IE browser .
15 Mar 06 WP: Apple Issues Another Mac Patch Bundle + Microsoft Patches: Two for Tuesday.
16 Feb 06 WP: Microsoft Issues 7 Patches - Two of the patches fix "critical" problems that could allow the propagation of an Internet worm that spreads on its own to vulnerable PCs without any action on the part of the
user.
9 Feb 06 WP: Microsoft Anti-Virus Pricing Ripples? + Microsoft: Another Critical IE Flaw + A Time to Patch II: Mozilla + Spyware Found Exploiting Winamp Flaw
3 Feb 06 BBC: Nasty Nyxem virus set to strike - A Windows virus is set to unleash its payload and start deleting files at midnight on 3 February.
2 Feb 06 Washington Post: Research: Buggy, Flawed 'ActiveX' Controls Pervasive + Be Careful With Winamp Links
7 Jan 06 BBC: Microsoft rushes out Windows fix.
5 Jan 06 Yahoo: Microsoft Prepares Patch for Windows [image] Flaw
30 Dec 05 BBC: Sites exploit Windows image flaw
15 Dec 05 Washington Post: Opera Browser Users Urged to Upgrade + Microsoft Patches Critical Browser Flaw
7 Dec 05 Washington Post: Document Security 101 - embarassing metadata in public documents
25 Nov 05 BBC: Fake FBI virus catches net users
19 Nov 05 Freedom-to-tinker: Not Again! Uninstaller for Other Sony DRM Also Opens Huge Security Hole.
12 Nov 05 BBC: [Windows] Viruses use Sony anti-piracy CDs
8 Nov 05 BBC: Microsoft warns of latest flaws - Three new security holes have been highlighted by Microsoft and users are urged to download patches.
4 Nov 05 Washington Post: Study of Sony Anti-Piracy Software Triggers Uproar - File-Hiding Technique [for Windows PCs] Alarms Security Researchers; Developer Offers Patch
18 Oct 05 Some tips for using Filemaker Pro 8 - takes me back to 1985 and Open Access 2!
18 Oct 05 CERT: Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer, and Exchange Server Vulnerabilities (11 Oct 05) + Apple Mac Products are Affected by Multiple Vulnerabilities (17 Aug 05)
18 Oct 05 SMH: More Microsoft holes pending - security updates for Windows.
16 Aug 05 SMH: Zotob worm hits Windows users.
10 Aug 05 Microsoft: Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification - 15 Sep 05, at least one is rated 'critical' - thanks Stephen Withers.
10 Aug 05 SMH: Spammer agrees to $9m settlement with Microsoft
28 Jul 05 CERT: Vulnerabilities in Mozilla - upgrade to v1.7.10
19 Jul 05 SMH: Mozilla patches Firefox flaws - The Mozilla Foundation has patched several flaws in the Firefox browser and the Mozilla suite of applications, and is advising users to upgrade.
6 Jul 05 Washington Post: Microsoft Warns of [another] Browser Security Hole.
24 Jun 05 SMH: Landmark case says Perth man sent 56 million emails - A Perth man dubbed a spam king could face multimillion-dollar penalties in the first court action taken underAustralia's Spam Act.
16 Jun 05 BBC: Microsoft warns of critical flaws - updates to download
11 Jun 05 BBC: Jackson suicide spam hides virus
11 Jun 05 Washington Post: 10 Microsoft Patches Due Next Week + Apple's Bushel of Critical Fixes.
2 Jun 05 BBC: Bagle virus peril in empty e-mail
27 May 05 Washington Post: Before You Buy That Anti-Spyware Program...
17 May 05 SMH: Sober worm delivers Teutonic spam -A variant of the mass-mailing Sober worm is responsible for the recent flood of spam in German
11 May 05 Washington Post: Apple Releases iTunes Security Update + 'Extremely Critical' Flaws Found in Netscape Browser.
11 May 05 BBC: Critical flaws found in Firefox - Mozilla advice about Firefox.
6 May 05 BBC: IBM to axe 13,000 jobs worldwide
5 May 05 BBC: Ticket trap snares Windows users (World Cup virus)
28 Apr 05 Washington Post: 'Extremely Critical' Flaws Found in Netscape Browser + Microsoft Releases Eight Security Updates for Windows - The TCP/IP flaw, and another critical problem in Microsoft's Exchange e-mail software, are extremely serious because they don't require any user interaction for hackers to exploit them successfully...
8 Apr 05 Washington Post: Radio Silence on Internet Attacks? - the company's DNS servers had been attacked when employees began reporting that their Internet browsers were being redirected to a Web site hawking generic Viagra and other prescription drugs...
1 Apr 05 (no joke!) SMH: eEye finds more holes in Windows
18 Mar 05 BBC: Have hackers recruited your PC? More than one million computers on the net have been hijacked to attack websites and pump out spam and viruses.
10 Feb 05 BBC: Microsoft releases bumper patches fixes some IE flaws + Warning over Microsoft Word files (hidden edits)
25 Jan 05 Sophos: W32/Crowt-A virus - The Crowt-A virus has a very sneaky way of getting people to open its emails: the subject line, content and attachment names are lifted from CNN's site - thanks Stephen Withers.
25 Jan 05 CERT: Microsoft Windows HTML Help ActiveX Contol Cross-Domain Vulnerability + Multiple Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows Icon and Cursor Processing + Microsoft Windows LoadImage API integer overflow + Windows XP SP2 HTML Help Local Machine Zone Lockdown bypass + Multiple Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows
25 Jan 05 BBC: Microsoft backs down in EU tussle
23 Dec 04 BBC: Santy worm makes unwelcome visit - Search site Google has inadvertently helped a worm hit thousands of websites.
15 Dec 04 ABC: New Internet worm disguised as e-Christmas card - Internet security experts have warned of a new virulent email worm particularly successful in infecting computers as it is disguised as a multilingual electronic Christmas card.
10 Dec 04 NewSci: Banking site hijacked by fraudsters
4 Dec 04 CNet: Microsoft rushes out [another] critical IE fix - thanks Stephen Withers.
30 Nov 04 BBC: Screensaver tackles spam websites - spam them back!
30 Nov 04 About.com: Mac vs PC - with links to Common Myths About Mac, Mac and PC: A Guide to Peaceful Co-Existence and OS Shootout: OS X vs XP
26 Nov 04 Znet: It can pay to criticise Microsoft.
26 Nov 04 NewSci: Sprawling systems teeter on IT chaos + Spyware floods PCs from a single web page
25 Nov 04 BBC: Hi-tech tools fuel phishing boom + New browser wins over net surfers + Urgent meeting in Microsoft case
22 Nov 04: Snapshot of Open Access 4 running in DOSBOX on a Mac. Use Radnor to launch Dosbox in Mac OS X. Open Access 4 flys on my Mac Powerbook. However, I haven't worked out how to print directly from Open Access (have to save to file and print later from TextEdit). Also there might be some maths errors in this version - try using OA Calculator to check it .
20 Nov 04 BBC: Lazarus-like virus hits computers
17 Nov 04 SMH: Critical W2K bug unpatched after 105 days.
16 Nov 04 BBC: Toxic web links help virus spread+ Computer use link to eye disease
11 Nov 04 BBC: Firefox browser takes on Microsoft. Then there is good ol' Mozilla (formerly Netscape)
10 Nov 04 The Age: EU presses ahead with Microsoft case
5 Nov 04 Enterprise Security Today: Critical IE Security Problem Reported [the bug] can be exploited to cause a buffer overflow via a malicious HTML document containing overly long strings in the "SRC" and "NAME" attributes of the tag. Successful exploitation of the error allows execution of arbitrary code.- thanks Stephen Withers. CERT: IE FRAME/IFRAME buffer overflow
4 Nov 04 Annoyances.org: Windows XP Forum for users' experiences with XP SP2. SP2 Halts 15% of Systems, Survey Says + How do I skip the Product Activation in Windows XP? (you can't!)
4 Nov 04 SMH: Keeping an eye out for the Trojan Horse
30 Oct 04 BBC: Joke e-mail virus tricks users - CERT: W32/Bagle Revisited
28 Oct 04 Consumer reports: DELL LAPTOP ADAPTERS. Nearly 1 million laptop adapters have been
recalled because they could overheat, catch fire, and possibly give users an electric shock + DELL INSPIRON LAPTOP PROBLEM - performance slows when a certain security software (XP2) is installed.
28 Oct 04 BBC: UK report says Linux is 'viable' [alternative to Windows]
25 Oct 04 CERT: Multiple Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer
24 Oct 04 CNet: Secure your wireless networks, or else (thanks Stephen Withers.)
21 Oct 04 BBC: Users face new phishing threats - Some of the most sophisticated phishing e-mail messages refer people to sites that look exactly the same as the website of whichever financial firm or online company they are targeting... sophisticated attacks could catch out up to 50% of people. Statistics show that a maximum of 3% of people fall victim to current phishing e-mail attacks.
19 Oct 04 WorldTechNews: The internet will collapse in 2006 (from too much spam!)
19 Oct 04 SMH: Nigerian [email] scam fools financial adviser.
15 Oct 04 CERT: Multiple vulnerabilities in Mozilla products - you probably need to update to the latest verison (eg Mozilla 1.7.3)
13 Oct 04 SMH: A new king of the block [Spam] + Origin of the term "spam" to mean net abuse - Monty Python's Spam Skit.
26 Sep 04 BBC: Virus writers focus on [Windows jpeg] image bug - see CERT: Microsoft Windows JPEG component buffer overflow
20 Sep 04 NewSci: [Windows] Software bug raises spectre of 'JPEG of death'
20 Aug 04 ABC: New Microsoft security flaws found - XP2
13 Aug 04 BBC: Concerns over key Windows update - Some users are reporting problems when installing a major security update for Windows XP. For example, Command virus protection must be updated before the Windows update.
7 Aug 04 Bill Bramble: Today I will put oneBay the Software Products International Open Access III Language Calls Reference manual for sale, there may be some people who would like to advance OA to better fields and as this manual is not available today and was US$1000 to purchase at the time of release. I thought his book is of value to anyone that may appreciate OA in the way that you and I do, could use this tool.
4 Aug 04 BBC: Net virus posing as Berg video + PCs hijacked to spew spam
3 Aug 04 BBC: Microsoft fixes big browser bug. The software giant has released a fix for a serious security hole in its Internet Explorer browser.
31 Jul 04 Consumer Reports (USA): Faulty memory could cause laptops to crash - Memory modules in 900,000 Compaq and HP laptop computers have a flawed circuit design that could cause the computer to freeze intermittently... installed on laptops sold from March 2002 to July 2003.
29 Jul 04 BBC: New virus exploits MyDoom success.
16 Jul 04 BBC: Microsoft warns of critical flaws [in IE and Outlook]
5 Jul 04 Daily Telegraph: Net virus could cause chaos - The [Outlook] mass mailer worm, dubbed Evaman, has been likened to the MyDoom worm...messages carrying the virus usually had subject headings like "failed transaction" and "failure delivery".
26 Jun 04 BBC: Web browser flaw prompts warning- IE vulnerability.
16 Jun 04 SMH: First mobile phone virus strikes + Spam king agrees to stop sending unwanted email
14 Jun 04 BBC: Microsoft races to deter hackers - hazard from clicking on "malicious" web links. So do you click on the BBC link??
5 Jun 04 BBC: [Windows] Worm [Korgo] eyes up credit card details + Modern gadgets raise work stress
4 Jun 04 BBC: Potter-mania fuels pesky virus - The Netsky.P [Windows] worm is enjoying a resurgence by disguising itself as a Potter game...
1 Jun 04 The Age: Why Windows is a security nightmare + Mac's great red hope.
25 May 04 BBC: Apple tackles Mac security flaw.(Safari)
19 Apr 04 SMH: The claws of the jungle - Cyber jungle laws mean Jaguar and Panther must give way to the Tiger (Mac OS 10.4 on the way!)
7 May 04 SMH: Microsoft revs up PC protection - People should treat their computers like cars, updating protection programs
as regularly as they fill up with petrol, according to Microsoft Australia. People should treat MS products with caution!
4 May 04 BBC: Sasser net worm disruption grows - A Finnish bank and Taiwan's post office are the latest casualties of a virus attacking Microsoft computers.
25 Mar 04 BBC: Microsoft hit by record EU fine.
4 Mar 04 TerraDaily: Wave of viruses, worms sweep cyberspace: experts.
3 Mar 04 Yahoo: For Windows Users, 'Browser Hijacking' Is Only the Latest Threat + Broken Windows: Will Your PC Ever Be Secure? + File Sharing Vulnerability Discovered in Mac OS X
3 Mar 04 SecurityFocus: Knock, Knock, Knock - Windows email attachments.
27 Feb 04 BBC: More virus misery for mail users - Three new viruses are causing headaches for people using Windows computers...Bizex worm that travels via ICQ + Hackers exploit Windows patches.
22 Feb 04 Yahoo: Netsky.B Tunnels Through Windows Systems
12 Feb 04 BBC: 'Protect PCs' Microsoft users told - another security patch
11 Feb 04 MS: Vulnerability in Virtual PC for Mac - security update for Virtual PC running Windows on Macs.
30 Jan 04 BBC: Virulent worm targets Microsoft - A new strain of the Mydoom worm could spread more widely than its predecessor warn experts.
28 Jan 04 SMH: Latest [Windows] e-mail virus spreads fast - one of its messages reads: "The message contains Unicode characters and has been sent as a binary attachment."
20 Jan 04 BBC: Bagle virus hides as calculator - Many people in Australia look like they have been caught out by the [Windows] virus
14 Jan 04 BBC: Windows 98 wins support lifeline
4 Dec 03 Apple: Mac OS X 10.3: Firewall Unavailable After (Panther) Upgrade Installation
8 Nov 03 BBC: Users face malicious web attacks - Virus attacks on computers which do damage through HTML in e-mails and websites are set to increase, says a security expert. These security threats exploit vulnerabilities in Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) browser.
29 Oct 03 BBC: New Windows virus hits computers + First look at future of Windows + Panther - Apple update to OS X.
17 Oct 03 BBC: Microsoft warns of 'critical' flaws - Software giant Microsoft has warned of seven security flaws in its programs, describing five as "critical" + Odd mishaps cause computer grief - data disasters
20 Sep 03 BBC: Virus poses as Microsoft update. A Windows virus masquerading as a security update from Microsoft is spreading via e-mail
12 Sep 03 BBC: Windows faces fresh web worm woe - Microsoft has discovered new vulnerabilities in Windows
20 Aug 03 BBC: New computer virus hits inboxes Sobig F spreads by e-mail and by exploiting unsecured network links between Windows PCs. (this is another Word virus that generates a sender address at random - someone is sending out infected emails with my address!) + Apple fans snap up 'fastest' Mac.
16 Aug 03: Microsoft have taken over Virtual PC for Mac - errgh!
15 Aug 03 NZ Herald: Spammers hit below men's belts - NZ spammer named - get back at him!? Try to remove your name from one annoying list here.
15 Aug 03 BBC: Wiping out the web worm + Designer's dream desk for i[Mac]-things
12 Aug 03 BBC: Worm blasts across the web - seems that people didn't heed the previous warning about a Windows flaw! CERT advice.
25 Jul 03 BBC: 'Critical' flaw found in Windows - Microsoft is warning about a severe security flaw that affects many people who use Windows. Another good reason to switch to Apple!
16 May 03 SciAm: Self-Repairing Computers
13 May 03 BBC: Sneaky virus spreading rapidly. The mass-mailing worm, dubbed Fizzer, is rapidly infecting computers using the Windows operating system.
11 May 03 BBC: Flaw exposes Microsoft ID service.[MSN security...]
5 May 03 BBC: Experts target junk e-mail. + Students get iPods as study aids.
8 Apr 03: Check the screen snapshot. Open Access 4 running in a window of Windows 98 running in a window of OS X on an iMac? Yes I have abandoned WINTEL and bought an Apple. All my old DOS and Windows programs are running fine and I have all the advantages of the OS X system (a STABLE unix-based platform). The iMac will talk to WINTEL PCs on a LAN but I needed to buy a router in order to have both a cable modem and the LAN working (as I would have with a WINTEL LAN and a cable modem linked by Ethernet). The router has cable and wireless support and so now I can wander around the office with my laptop and stay linked to the LAN - including data on the iMac. My advice is that if you are thinking of upgrading to Windows XP then have a serious look at the eMac and iMac instead. Add Virtual PC (~AU$400) and install your old (unused) Windows (95-XP) and you have a system able to run that "legacy" sofware. You have a choice of running Microsoft Office (again your old unused version) under the Virtual Windows or upgrading to the superior MS Office:Mac for OS X (on special ~AU$400). It will read and write files that are fully compatible with WINTEL Office. Why write this today? Well my old WINTEL PC crashed again and I had to do a c: drive restore using Norton Ghost. Mac OS X links.
28 Mar 03 BBC: Government crackdown on spam.
19 Mar 03 BBC: Software bug bites US military - a flaw in Microsoft's Windows 2000 operating system ... A server operated by the US Army has already been attacked via the security hole.
6 Mar 03 NewSci: Email security flaw triggers global worm watch.
4 Feb 03 BBC: Aggressive net bug makes history - The bug targeted a known flaw in Microsoft's SQL database software.
31 Dec 02 Nature: Browsers go back to the future - Computer scientists have redesigned the way the back button works so that it really can retrace your Internet steps. They have replaced the current stacking system, which only records index pages, with one that records every page in the order it was visited. [Of course, in the days when pages couild be cached, this was what happened. Now that most fancy web pages are created on the fly the caching no longer works efficiently.]
31 Dec 02 BBC: Viruses hit new highs - 2002 saw lots of new harmful programs
21 Nov 02 ABC: Software Sucks - each year bugs in software costs the US economy about $60 US Billion
28 Oct 02: Quick reference guide for JVC DVL series digital video cameras.(16K PDF)
18 Oct 02: OpenAccess in a Novell Network and WinXP Workstations - tip from Alfred Unkrig
4 Oct 02 Command.com: W32/Bugbear.A@mm Worm - a mass-mailing worm that arrives as an email attachment with a randomly generated name. The subject line and the message body of an infected email are also randomly chosen, making this worm potentially hard to identity. The email message may contain an exploit that allows the attachment to run automatically when infected mail is viewed; a patch for this vulnerability is available on the Microsoft site
6 Jul 02: Netscape 7.0 - tips and release notes.
28 Jun 02 Opinion by Michael Paine: There is a sinister development with web page designs that are becoming less and less friendly to Netscape Communicator. The web designers reply that Netscape users comprise less than 5% of surfers these days. I am not so sure about that figure, but that attitude is equivalent to a retail store denying access to customers who are left handed. In case of web pages the trend seems to be to have fancy web pages pages (that unfortunatley won't cache so take ages to reload via modem). My bet is that the most frequently clicked link in the world is now "Skip intro" when those annoying home pages load.
3 Jun 02 BBC: Watch out Windows? - Linux fights back!
28 May 02 Command.com: Jdbgmgr.exe Hoax - The hoax email refers to the file "jdbgmgr.exe", a legitimate file that can be found in your system directory. If you receive an email with an attachment named "jdbgmgr.exe", it may be an actual virus.
17 May 02: Please tell us your experiences with using OA or any DOS software under WIN2000.
21 Apr 02: W32/Klez.H@mm ("Klez") virus. Another virus that exploits Outlook. The email subject and message can vary. Also it seems to be able to create a SENDER from the address book! See Semantec advice.
9 Apr 02 BBC: Why one spam could cost £35 - A 2001 survey by the European Commission estimates that spam costs consumers an estimated $8.8bn a year worldwide just in connection costs.
31 Mar 02 Tip: To check and manage all those programs that load when you start Windows 98+: Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Information

29 Jan 02 CERT: W32/Myparty Malicious Code -

com

The .com is NOT an internet address - it is a malicous executable file that affects (infects) systems running

Microsoft Windows

. Update 30 Jan - BBC on to it!

18 Jan 02 BBC: Microsoft to tackle security failings - Bill Gates has declared war on Microsoft's insecure software.
10 Jan 02 BBC: Viruses get flashy - Websites that use animation software to create flashing graphics have become the latest target of virus writers. Anti-virus firm Sophos has received a virus that infects Macromedia's Flash files.
7 Jan 02: Block those annoying pop-up ads.
24 Dec 01 ABC: 'Happy New Year' computer virus heading for Australia - A new virus which targets Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express users could be heading for Australia. Reezak, which first appeared in Europe, appears in in-boxes with the subject line "Hi" and a message that reads "I can't describe my feelings, but all I can say is Happy New Year." Command.com: Keyluc virus.
24 Dec 01 BBC: Fix your Windows, says Microsoft - Microsoft is urging users of its new Windows XP operating system to download a fix for a serious security hole.
21 Dec 01 Command.com: Christmas.exeOutlook worm Subject: Happy New Year.
20 Dec 01 BBC: Microsoft closes browser holes - Microsoft has issued a patch for "critical" security holes in its popular Internet Explorer browser. The software giant said that people should apply the patch "immediately" to protect themselves against malicious hackers. Patch here.
10 Dec 01: The last ever Australian Open Access User Group meeting (well - party!) will be held at Judy Jeffery's house tomorrow night (Tue 11/12) from 6pm. Despite the end of formal meetings we plan to keep this website going indefinitely so keep an eye out for User Group news.
5 Dec 01 BBC: Goner virus causing e-mail havoc - seems to be another Outlook problem.
28 Nov 01 BBC: BadTrans computer virus strikes - attempts to spread by exploiting weaknesses in Microsoft e-mail programs. Apparently just opening the email is enough to get infected.
27 Oct 01 BBC: XP keeps consumers guessing - consumers may balk at paying for XP because it offers them little that they do not do already...Windows XP, even more than earlier versions of the operating system, is a resource hog...so far Microsoft has not provided much information about which older programs will work with Windows XP. As yet it is unclear whether files and documents created using older versions of software packages will work with the new version of Windows.
25 Oct 01 BBC: Microsoft's XP extends reach - Some of the most virulent viruses of recent months, such as Code Red, have exploited weaknesses in programs that run on NT and other versions of Windows. A personal firewall is included with XP, but it is not yet clear how effective it is. Microsoft's seeming inability to produce secure programs could foil its grand strategy. Already the US Computer Incident Advisory Capability has warned about the security problems of XP.
23 Oct 01 Scientific American: When did the term 'computer virus' arise? + VMyths.com
15 Oct 01 CERT: Automatic Execution of Macros - An intruder can include a specially crafted macro in a Microsoft Excel or PowerPoint document that can avoid detection and run automatically regardless of the security settings specified by the user. NOTE:A similar exploit exists for Microsoft Word, however the Microsoft Security patch available in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS01-034 for Steven McLeod's Microsoft Word macro exploit also protects against this exploit. Symantec urges all Microsoft Word users, who have not applied the patch in MS01-34, immediately download and apply that patch as well for maximum protection.
28 Sep 01 Request from Alfred Unkrig: Have you any Information about the File Header Structure and the Table Structure of OA IV? It would be of great help. Our intention is to write a new Converter from OA

26 Sep 01: Zip files (see downloads) updated to a more recent verison of PKZIP (now supported by WINZIP). The previous versions were created using XTGold and may have caused difficulties.
25 Sep 01 CERT: Hidden file extensions can disguise viruses. I was wondering why some email attachments have odd extensions with two dots such as xxxx.htm.vbs. It turns out they are exploiting yet another flaw in MS Windows. When you select the Windows Explorer preference to "show file extensions" not all are shown. This can disguise a virus-containing attachment. To fix the problem see this advice from CERT.
19 Sep 01Commaand.com: W95/Nimda.A@mm is a new mass-mailing internet worm that is spreading rapidly around the world. It proliferates as an attachment named "readme.exe"; it also has the ability to spread using Internet Information Server (IIS). Also SMH: "Computers can also be infected if users visit a corrupted website" (apparently it exploits a weakness in MS Internet Explorer that automatically runs the attachment - this may be why the virus is spreading so effectively) Update 20 Sep: See also CERT advice: Due to a vulnerability any mail software running on an x86 platform that uses Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 SP1 or earlier (except IE 5.01 SP2) to render the HTML mail automatically runs the enclosed attachment and, as result, infects the machine with the worm. Thus, in vulnerable configurtions, the worm payload will automatically be triggered by simply opening (or previewing) this mail message. As an executable binary, the payload can also be triggered by simply running the attachment. CERT/CC recommends that end user systems disable JavaScript. See our news on 2 Jan 2000 foreshadowing the Javascript problem.
5 Sep 01 Command.com: W95/Apost.A@mm is a mass mailing internet worm written in Visual Basic. It arrives as an attachment to an email that contains the following information:

Subject: As per your request!

Message: Please find attached file for your review.

I look forward to hear from you again very soon. Thank you.

Attachment: readme.exe

14 Aug 01: Meeting tonight at Judy Jeffery's house. One topic will be firewalls!
14 Aug 01 BBC: Hackers make house calls - see 9 Aug 01 below (ZoneAlarm). Usually intention is to infect the PC with a trojan virus.
10 Aug 01 ABC: Quantum computing a leap closer. See our article.
9 Aug 01: The Sircam virus (or a variant) seems to be sweeping around Europe at present. I am receiving many large, infected emails from Europe. Take care! Check out ZoneAlarm firewall software (free for personal use - you will be amazed at how many attempts there are to breach your PC each hour!).
4 Aug 01: New UK website dedicated to Open Access.
30 Jul 01 BBC: Internet's 'very real' virus threat - Yet another breach of Microsoft security. Code Red exploits a vulnerability in internet server software from Microsoft on the companies NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 operating systems. Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me users are not affected.Command.com advice.
25 Jul 01 BBC: Sircam virus steals files. Not just Outlook! Command.com advice. This is becoming rampant and is sending huge files to random sites!
9 Jun 01: Next meeting on 12 June at Judy's.
9 Jun 01: Miss World Virus. Yet another Outlook worm virus for the gullible!
31 May 01Command.com: Hoax virus encourages you to delete an important Windows system file (SULFNBK.EXE).
17 May 01: Request from Peter Schmidt (email) "Does anyone have a copy of the installation disks for Open Access II? I'd like to view some old files, however my OA II disks have errors on them, being so old and all. If you've got them and are willing to zip them up and e-mail them tome, I'd be much appreciated"
10 May 01 ABC: New Internet (Homepage) virus spreading quickly around the world. See Command.com. Subject: Homepage / Message: You've got to see this page! It's really cool ;0) / Attachment: homeepage.HTML.vbs. When this attachment is double clicked, the worm is executed and will email a copy of itself to every recipient in Outlook's Address Book.
10 May 01 DFP: Leave it (your PC) on or turn it off? The answer is still elusive.
6 May 01 BBC: Computers burnt by CD software - Computers users have been warned about installing the latest version of one of the most popular CD recording programs. The latest version of Easy CD Creator is causing significant problems for computers using the Windows 2000 operating system. The patch.
3 May 01 BBC: Microsoft warns of 'serious' software hole (Windows 2000 server software). Also When paper clips attack (from May 2000!) - Security experts have found a security hole that could be used by malicious hackers to subvert the paper clip and turn it against users. Tip: to permanently get rid of the paper clip rename the Actors sub-directory in the Microsoft Office/Office folder to, say, XACTORS.
14 Apr 01: More great tips for printing from DOS applications under WIN98. From Steve Hayes, UK. Overcome partial printouts and missing pages.
13 Apr 01 Command.com: Virus alert - W95/BadTrans.A@mm. W95/BadTrans.A@mm is a mass-mailing internet worm with a remote access trojan component. When executed, the worm makes a copy of itself named "inetd.exe" and puts it into the Windows directory. It also drops the trojan file, named "kern32.exe", and a keylogger DLL, named "hksdll.dll", into the Windows System directory. When this process is complete, an "Install Error" box with the message "File data corrupt: probably due to bad transmission or bad disk access" will be displayed. The next time the computer is restarted, the worm will use MAPI to reply to all unread email messages by sending itself as an attachment.
6 Apr 01: Article about using Ghost to backup up a partition (posted June 2000 but mentioned in the latest newsletter - due out next week). Also backup tips from Peter Freeman.
5 Apr 01 New Scientist: Smart buffer - A common write error which trashes CDs is solved. Also Easy writer - Software that turns everyday language into computer code could make us all programmers.
4 Apr 01 DISPI: Open Access we feel ourselves obligated to port the Open Access database standard towards the windows environment. We made an earlier attempt with OAWinBase however we think it is a lot easier for Open Access users all around the world to work with old DF/IF/SMK/PMK structures of the good old Open Access with no conversions needed. Therefore our development team is working on a way to work with the old structures of Open Access. We will produce a new Open Access standard called NOAH.
2 Apr 01 SMH: Glitch in Explorer browser - Microsoft warned customers that its Internet Explorer Web browser had a security flaw that could allow hackers to run programs on another user's computer. The glitch causes Internet Explorer to automatically open specially coded attachments in email without warning, possibly unleashing programs that could do anything from sending users a harmless message to deleting files from their computers, the software company warned. Microsoft has developed a patch that can be downloaded from its Web site.
23 Mar 01 The Age: Mac's new system here at last - More from Apple - software available.
7 Mar 01 AusABC: Destructive "naked wife" email virus rapidly infecting US computers - Recipients get an email that says: "My wife never looks like that" and it contains an attachment, NakedWife.exe, that activates the virus when clicked. Commandcom Virus Alerts.
21 Feb 01: OA4 Forum - Waldbauer Buerotechnik
13 Feb 01: Meeting tonight at Judy Jeffery's house. Sorry there was no newsletter for the December meeting (we partied!).

Great tip from Keith O'Donnell

Get rid of the instant print icon in Word and Excel

13 Feb 01 Yahoo: "Onthefly" Worm Uses Anna Kournikova Ruse.
5 Feb 01 The Australian: Now where did I put my mouse? - PCs can cause memory los XXX loose XXX loss!
3 Feb 01 ABC: Internet users spend a fortune on 'spam' Internet users world-wide are believed to be unwittingly paying $20 billion a year in connection costs to receive junk e-mail, or "spam".
27 Jan 01: Back issues of meeting notes added (Feb, Apr, Jun and Oct 2000)
27 Jan 01: Need to repartition a hard disk without reformatting? Have a look at Partition Manager from Paragon Software. Allows you to break one large partition (drive) into smaller ones. Limited demo version available.
19 Jan 01 BBC: Linux virus infection fears.
9 Dec 2000: German Open Access Online Support Forum updated.
27 Nov 2000: More on the vicious MTX virus. Advice from Command Software Systems - ...a trojan file named "Mtx_.exe" is dropped in the Windows directory, and the following registry key (which runs the trojan each time Windows reboots) is created:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\SystemBackup = \MTX_.EXE

If it detects that an e-mail is being sent, it will immediately send a second e-mail to the same recipient. The second e-mail has no subject and no body; merely an attachment which is randomly picked from a list of names within the code

PIF

SCR

23 Nov 2000: New virulent virus spreading fast. Command Software Systems, Inc. today (www.commandcom.com) warned the public that the software virus known as W95/MTX is spreading more quickly and has the capacity to block users from going to certain anti-virus software vendor Web sites thus preventing access to updates. As a result, users are not able to access the solutions to protect themselves from this and future virus threats.

W95/MTX is a virus, worm, backdoor access Trojan that arrives through email as an attachment, and has a variety of decoy file names. Once launched, itcan wipe out files and be difficult to remove. Some of the file names being reported to entice the user to open the virus program include README.TXT.pif, I_wanna_see_YOU.TXT.pif, MATRiX_Screen_Saver.SCR, LOVE_LETTER_FOR_YOU.TXT.pif, NEW_playboy_Screen_saver.SCR, BILL_GATES_PIECE.JPG.pif, NEW_NAPSTER_site.TXT.pif., and I_am_sorry.DOC.pif.

Note that PIF and SCR extension files might not be scanned by anti-virus software under default settings.

31 Oct 2000 IT Australia: Fight for rights, MS users urged. Windows 2000 licensing and support policies were too complex and confusing...Microsoft's decision to dump support for Windows 95...
31 Oct 2000 HP: HP All-in-one products such as the Officejet 635 can cause a freeze/lock up when changing the printer setup from within an application (for example changing from portrait to landscape within Word 97 or Ami Pro). HP suggest changing the printer setup before loading the application! Also WIN98 needs the latest GDI.EXE (version 4.10.2222) available with Office 97 SR2 The upgrades can be downloaded from Microsoft's Web pages at: http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/articles/sr1fact.htm http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/articles/sr2howtoget.htm
30 Oct 2000 New Scientist: Cracked code: Microsoft's HQ may have been infiltrated by a trojan horse virus (QAZ). If only Microsoft had read our posting on 30 Sep!
30 Oct 2000: The MS patch (see 19 July) for Sydney Daylight Saving to cope with the Olympics kindly put my system clock forward an hour again today. Check your PC clock!
30 Sep 2000: New worm virus QAZ. Replaces c:\windows\NOTEPAD.EXE with a worm version that spreads over networks. Adds a line to the Windows Registry auto-start section (see example). To remove it you need to replace NOTEPAD.EXE with a clean copy. You can't do this if the worm is active in memory. To prevent it loading into memory run REGEDIT.EXE and find the section shown. Right click on StartIE and select delete, then reboot the PC. To be alerted if the PC is reinfected try changing the attributes of the clean copy of NOTEPAD.EXE to 'read only' (find it with Windows Explorer, right click and select 'Properties').

12 Sep 2000: Scientific American: The Wireless Web.
30 Aug 2000 SMH: Palm-top virus may be only the beginning. Also ABC News.
12 Aug 2000: New German support forum site: Waldbauer Bürotechnik
9 Aug 2000: June Newletter now online. Dozens of tips for using MS Word.
19 Jul 2000: Microsoft has a patch for WIN95/98 to cope with the daylight savings changes for the Sydney Olympics.
8 Jun 2000 BBC: Has Microsoft stifled innovation? But the history of the PC shows that very few innovations originated within Microsoft. All the software giant has done is roll them into its operating systems and drive their popularity - often to the detriment of the companies that did invent them. "We're convinced that innovation will be greatly enhanced and improved if Microsoft's heavy hand of monopoly is removed from the industry,"
27 May 2000: New virus - Mellisa.BG email attachment the subject

22 May 2000: ShutDownPlus allows you to run programs before Windows shuts down.
17 May 2000 BBC: At last! Microsoft locks out viruses - Microsoft is to close down some of the functions in its popular e-mail program Outlook to try to prevent computer viruses causing havoc. The company has been criticised for allowing Outlook to accept and run almost anything attached to mail messages. This can help viruses to spread.
10 May 2000: Tips for setting up a HP Officejet 635 (all-in-one) as a network printer.
5 May 2000: If you receive an e-mail containing the following information, delete it, do not open it:

ABC News

Command.com

9 Mar 2000 ExoScience: DNA computer solves chess problem - told you so!
27 Feb 2000: OA slow to load on fast Pentiums - Tip from Frank Doevendans - to instantly load OA press PAUSE then ESC!
22 Feb 2000 ABC: Wobbler virus a hoax - "This is an e-mail hoax, a bad sort of joke. It is not a virus -- please do not distribute this to others"
31 Jan 2000: Tips for WIN95 networks and swapping hard disks added.
16 Jan 2000: Following several inquiries I have added a Runtime version of Open Access to the Freeware page. This has a built-in function to convert OA databases to dBase. See Freeware.
2 Jan 2000: For Y2K advice about Open Access and general PC tips see our Y2K page. PCs with "motherboards" older than 1997 are likely to get the date wrong each time they start. The cheapest fix is the add the line DATE to AUTOEXEC.BAT. The computer will then prompt you for the date each time it starts (like the original IBM PC did!).
2 Jan 2000: New Java Script virus spread as an email attachment. At this stage it is a nuisance rather than threatening but it is a sign of things to come with yet another security breach. The following is from Commandcom.com: VBS/The_Fly is a JavaScript worm sent as an e-mail attachment. The subject of the e-mail is "Funny Thing" and the body text reads: "If you ride a motorcycle, close your mouth. :)" If the attached file (The_Fly.chm) is executed the user will first be prompted to allow ActiveX. If denied, the worm will then display a message stating: "The picture couldn't be shown. ActiveX wasn't allowed, please reload and select to use it.". If ActiveX is allowed it will then display a picture and text: "If you ride a motorcycle, close your mouth. :)" The worm then copies itself to the Windows and Windows System directories as The_Fly.CHM and DXGFXB3D.DLL, respectively. It then creates the file, MSJSVM.JS in the Windows directory.
12 Nov 1999: BBC report on a new email virus "Bubbleboy" - not yet in the wild but potentially dangerous. Command.com: BubbleBoy exploits a security flaw in Microsoft’s ActiveX technology - Microsoft has issued a security patch for Internet Explorer
3 Nov 1999: Tips on Hyperlinks in MS Access added
5/10/1999: The HAPPY99.EXE virus is doing the rounds! It attaches itself to your outgoing email.
25/9/1999: Another email virus hoax circulating "Wobble". "Please ignore these messages and don't pass them on"
25/9/1999: PEERNET.DRV BMP is a universal file (printer) driver that converts Windows

documents into high quality, serialized BMP files

12/8/99: On the evening of Tuesday 24 August there will be a special workshop covering conversion of Open Access databases to Microsoft Access (97). Bookings essential - email Michael Paine or phone Keith O'Donnell on 02 96532602.
11/8/1999: Meeting notes from 10 August are in preparation and will cover an introduction to MS Access by Keith O'Donnell. One Windows tip from Keith that can't wait - to deselect highlighted text in a cell (such as an Access table or Excel cell) press the F2 key. You can then edit the item rather than replace it. Saves tedious use of the mouse to edit an item.
17/6/1999: Web links page revised into major categories.
12/6/1999: As predicted, another virus has appeared that utilises the slack security of Microsoft Outlook The virus is in a file called ZIPPED_FILES.EXE that is attached to email with the words "Hi [Recipient Name!] I received your email and I will send you a reply ASAP.Till then, take a look at the attached zipped docs.bye". Commandcom has more details and a fix

The WIN95 Open File window is pretty useless. Try this shareware improvement
Draft meeting notes for 8 June 1999 available. Suggestion that the August meeting be a workshop on converting Open Access databases to MS Access. Also Shane Trengrove's tips for memo fields and a warning about the Ginger virus.
Tip of the year!? Do find the Office Assistant (paperclip animation) in Office 97 intrusive, unhelpful and annoying? See how to get the old help system back with these tips (one way is to rename the /Program Files/MSOffice/Actors sub-directory to, say, ACTORSX). Other PC tips from the same site.
Apr 99: Notes for April 99 meeting available
Mar 99:Melissa Virus: This is a Word 97/2000 Macro virus. As usual with Macro viruses, it can only "infect" your PC if, with Word 97/2000 you open a DOC file containing the virus. YOU CANNOT GET INFECTED BY LOOKING AT YOUR EMAIL. However, whenever email contains a DOC file as an attachment it is best to save it to disk, run an up-to-date virus checker and then open the document if it is found to be "clean". Another trick is to set Word Viewer/Pad as your default program when you open a DOC file from email or Windows Explorer (for some tips see April 99 meeting notes). Word Viewer/Word Pad does not run the autoexec macro that causes the problems (see the Microsoft site for more tips on Word Viewer).

at present

MS Outlook

Command.com

Mar 99: Alfred Unkrig from Germany (email) has noticed that compiled applications sometimes give problems if there is a duplicate data file name lower in the searching order. He is using PREVIEW rather than VIEW in his code and is wondering whether other users have experienced this problem.
Notes for Feb 99 meeting available - using VAR c-call for calcs in PMKs, dependent fields, Bubblejet printer drivers ...
Guenther Waldbauer from Austria added to the list of OA Consultants - website currently only in German.
None of the utilities that come with WIN95 seem to have a facility to search for text within a file. The WIN95 DOS has a FIND command that doesn't seem to work properly. Michael Paine has successfully used the NWDOS FIND command instead (this useful command was reviewed by Lindy Kidman a few years ago). The file and tips are in FINDTEXT.ZIP.
Tip from Marc Sapper: to display the day of the week in a screen mask or print mask, created a Dependent Field with the following:

LINKDATE program (written at an OA workshop in 1991) updated to cope with Year 2000+
Tips for running Xtree under WIN95 plus 32-bit lookalikes.
GEMFIND shareware for locating gemstones in Australia. Visual Basic program.
Dec 99:The US Navy has introduced "Smart Ships" with PCs running Windows NT. Quote: The controversy began when the USS Yorktown, a guided-missile cruiser that was the first to be outfitted with Smart Ship technology, suffered a widespread system failure off the coast of Virginia in September last year. After a crew member mistakenly entered a zero into the data field of an application, the computer system proceeded to divide another quantity by that zero. The operation caused a buffer overflow, in which data leak from a temporary storage space in memory, and the error eventually brought down the ship's propulsion system. The result: the Yorktown was dead in the water for more than two hours. (Update: apparently the system was in an "unorthodox" state at the time)
F-Prot/Command Anti-virus dealership change. Wayne Sharp from PSI - Command, Melbourne is now the dealer. Email: waynes@psiaust.com
Warning about eye damage from laser pointers
Meeting notes for 13 October 1998.
The DNA Computer - talk by Michael Paine at the October 1998 meeeting of the user Group. Includes a program to convert database cross-tab to CSV files (see downloads).
Thinx Software have released version 4.0 of their Thinx product and it now includes Smart DoC. This is a "smart" authoring tool that allows manipulation of drawings (eg AutoCAD), word processed documents and data from databases.
See the new German Open Access web page at http://www.klahold.com/oa/. There is also a noticeboard available http://www.klahold.com/oa/forum/index.html
Problems with recent Pentium PCs and WIN95? I have recently upgraded a client's fileserver to a 233 Pentium PC running the most recent version of WIN95. Network OA (Netbios) now no longer works (illegal access WIN95 message) when launched from WIN95 on the fileserver but works fine when launched from "station" PCs running Windows for Workgroups (with the main OA4.SPI file still on the fileserver). Also OA won't launch from a laptop on the network running a recent version of WIN95. I have not have this problem on another network running WIN95 on an older Pentium and a 486 PC! Wal Shand has reported a similar problem (can't find OA4.SPI) after an upgrade. Is there a problem with the latest BIOS running DOS software under WIN95??
See the new international list of Open Access Consultants
The Group's Annual General Meeting is on Tuesday 9 June. 6pm at Chatswood RSL.
Tips from Shane Trengove about database memos and converting dates to Lotus 123 and Excel. Also tips about passwords on databases from Michael Paine.
Hot news:DISPI has opened a discussion board for Open Access and everything that goes with it. The address is www.dispi.com/wwwboard. "LANGUAGE IS ENGLISH....So everybody can join....... Please spread the word. You can also register to test the beta version of the new OA.... It is just the database and the converter ...We need testers and remarks for building a better version. The next episode is the editor and a deskmanager. The wordprocessor...We are hard working... If beta testers report with e-mailadres we keep them posted on the newest developments." (from Frank Doevendans)
DR DOS is alive and well. Many great features - it will "coexist" with Windows 95 (but does NOT replace the MS DOS that is needed for WIN95 to boot). It is derived from Novell DOS 7.0 (advice from Caldera, June 98)!
Be careful when trying to install DOS software to Windows 95, especially if the diskettes are copy protected. Without asking you, WIN95 can change the boot sector of the diskette (to provide for those nuisance long file names). See Windows 95 Annoyances for details. This could explain a problem I have had deinstalling then reinstalling Ozstation software for System Manager. The installation program now reports a DOS disk error and won't proceed.
Welcome to our new web site! Michael Paine's web directory was getting a little crowded.
Meeting notes for April 98 now available. More tips for running DOS applications such as Open Access under WIN95.
DISPI are working on the new version of Open Access for Windows95/NT. See their Demo site for details.
Marc Sapper now has the DISPI Year 2000 patch available for Australian Open Access users - this treats all two-digit years as 2000 (be careful because 20-04-99 will be treated as 20 April 2099). Send a cheque for $25 to Microguild, PO Box 3145 Ripponlea VIC 3183 and specify whether you want the patch sent by email or by diskette through the post. Marc is the OA distributor in Australia and also provides programming and technical services. See also PC Bugs in Year 2000 - users of Microsoft products should also see Microsoft's year 2000 site - there are numerous products with problems that may need "patches". There are many ways things that can go wrong - OA is the least of your worries!

Click on this icon to download it for use in WIN95 (the one that worked fine under Windows 3.x doesn't work in WIN95 of course):
Automated generation of web pages from OA Database - I should have saved hours and tried OA from the start! I have an MS Access database of vehicle crash test results. I wanted to create a web page listing all of these crash tests , including links to sites in Australia and the USA. After playing around with MS Access I decided to export the data to dBase III format and work on it in Open Access VI. After a short time I had created a print form to do the job. Just print to "FILE" and the web HTML page was fully created automatically. All I had to do was upload it to my service provider. Some great features are that I have links, where available, and the "rating" section is color coded, according to HTML standards (all done within the OA PMK). Creating complex tables in HTML is usually a nuisance but now it is easy. The PMK file and a sample of the database are in WEB_PAGE.ZIP(see README.TXT for instructions).
Jack Huff advises that the following things should be checked if you get the error message "INSERT APPLICATIONS DISK" : 1. Out of memory due to repeat looping with OA4 DOS command; 2. Lack of disk space; 3. Wrong version of APP.SPI or OA4.SPI. (must be a matched for version & networking option); 4 Network workstation may not be logged on to server; 5. User rights problem in network (Give all users READ and WRITE rights in OA4 directory, CREATE and DELETE rights in data directories, including SCRATCH); 6. Path (MAP) on network may have been changed so that OA4 fails to find files; 7. Network cables may have been disturbed - close network down, check cables and restart; 8. Network user count may be used up due to incorrect shut-downs (Run STATIONS.OAC); 9. The APP.SPI file may not be shareable (eg network setting).

Frank Doevendans advises that the Spreadsheet corruption reported in the October newsletter is not a known OA problem it might be due to a hard disk glitch. Also, the tip of avoiding disks in excess of 2Gb is not due to an internal OA limitation - apparently it has been found to cause problems on some combinations of operating system and hardware and this has resulted in problems for OA and other software (for example the early release of WIN95 had problems). Frank uses OAIII and OAIV on a 4Gb hard disk with no problems.
Frank also advises that OASYS.EXE is available as part of the OA Toolkit. This is bundled with OA Vision and several other utilities for US$50 (or US$100 with Compiler - less for bulk orders). Essential tools for any serious OA developer.
On some PCs there might a limit to the maximum "disk space" that OA will address. If any "volume" in the searching order exceeds 2Gb then OA might hang with a message such as "No room on volume...". With networks this can be overcome be limiting the virtual disk space. On standalone PCs you might have to consider partitioning the hard disk. Other DOS software such as dBase may suffer from this problem (tip from Keith O'Donnell). We have even heard of WIN95 having problems! Frank Doevendans from DISPI has advised that this is a DOS/BIOS/hardware problem rather than an OA limitation.
Word for Windows and Excel viruses are getting out of hand (there are 10 new macro viruses coming out per day)! The threat was mentioned in the October/November 96 OA Newsletter. Some Macro viruses spread as email attachments
HP Laserjet 5L Printer. Having spent the morning trying to get my HP Laserjet 5L to work properly again after a hard disk crash I thought others might be interested in my "solution": Don't use the SETUP program on the 1st HP Installation disk this installation tries to be too smart and can cause problems. Instead go to the Control Panel Printers and select Add then choose "Install unlisted or updated printer". Now here's the secret - insert Disk 3 in the floppy drive. For some strange reason HP put the OEMSETUP.INF file on this disk and not on the first disk. This installs the "PCL" version of the 5L printer driver. This is actually more versatile than the drivers intalled by SETUP. Once the driver is installed select the setup button. Make sure the paper size is set to A4. For "Print Quality" I have found that "Manual Settings" is best. Click on the "Settings" button and the options for manual settings are displayed. I usually set the "Graphics Mode" to RASTER for the widest capability of printout (eg good grey scale and pictures). Another tip for HP printers: To print the lines from the IBM character set enter the code (27)10U in the initialisation sequence of the OA printer driver (from the Dec 96 Newletter, see also HP Support tips).
The HP website also has new drivers for running the Officejet LX fax/scanner/printer under Windows 95. Do not try to install the old driver - it will cause WIN95 to crash if you try to set up the printer (speed dial list etc). When you install the updated driver ignore the message about inserting your old installation disk just click on OK several times. If you insert the old disk the installation will fail!
Open Access still prints in DOS mode when running under WIN95 (but you might be able set WIN95 to "capture" the output and add it to a queue instead of interfering with other print jobs). This means you still need the appropriate printer parameters in your OA configuration (see downloads - please send us your custom printer configurations to add to the list). We repeat the warning that many "budget" laser printers on the market only work with Windows programs - they cannot be used with Open Access.

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Other OA User Groups:

Spain - Asociacion USUARIOS OPEN ACCESS

UK - apparently no longer active

Michael Paine

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Books on Windowbase

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Open Access 4

Open Access evolved to a powerful application development system with 4GL programming language, compiler and runtime kit. It still has many powerful features not found in more recent, flashy software. That is one of the reasons it still has a strong user-base around the world.

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Windowbase

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