Similarity - detect and eliminate duplicate music

Using Similarity to detect and eliminate duplicate music on your computer is really easy. Simply define the source folder, click the Start button and after several minutes you’ll have the list of duplicate music files right before your eyes. And believe me - the list will be much longer than you probably think! Similarity considers three factors when it checks if music files are duplicates. Similarity can compare music files basing on the sound content (regardless of the audio format of each file), on tags (ID3v1, ID3v2, APEv2, WMA, Vorbis are supported), and on the precise analysis. Unlike the simple byte-by-byte comparison which is useless with media files, the acoustic fingerprint method utilized by Similarity provides utterly accurate results.

The advanced sound analysis implemented in

Vulnerability in Windows Shell

Microsoft Security Advisory: Vulnerability in Windows Shell could allow remote code execution

Apparently 10 years of Windows are vulnerable.  XP through to Windows 7.

I tried the fix on the site, it works, but it makes my system harder to use, waiting for text bubble to see what I'm doing in the task bar.

 

Burning a copy of Ubuntu as a worst case but I'm uninstalling this Microsoft "Fix"... not much of a fix if the system doesn't get used because of it.

 

Also getting a copy of Wubi to install inside of Windows 7 64 bit; see how that goes.

 Hope the 2nd week of August brings a better solution to this problem from Microsoft.

UPDATE:

Temporary fix from Sophos

Another recommended security add-on

AVG LinkScanner

Download (Direct)
Download (from Download.com)

Free
Windows Vista, Windows 2000, Windows XP
* Additional Requirements:
Firefox or Internet Explorer

Publisher's description of AVG LinkScanner
From AVG Technologies USA:

There are millions of poisoned web pages out there. Let AVG LinkScanner check them out first. AVG LinkScanner looks for threats on every link you click in real time, before you get there. If a link is dangerous, you'll be protected. And it runs alongside other security software.

Been Awhile

Long time No post... Here's 5 free games:

Neverball

It's like: Marble Madness

Download it here!

OpenArena

It's like: Quake III Arena (duh)

Download it here!

Guardian of Paradise

It's like: The Legend of Zelda

Download it here!

Truecombat Elite

It's like: Counter-Strike

Download it here!

Pingus

It's like: Lemmings

Download it here!

Nothing wrong with Vista

Top 10 browser-based vulnerabilities on XP:

And the top 10 browser-based vulnerabilities on Vista (click to enlarge):

The tale: RealPlayer, Apple QuickTime, various toolbars and other tag-along applications are vulnerable.

Aside from the heavy resources Vista needs, it seems pretty sweet.

Vista, Threatfire, Secunia PSI and NoScript & Perspectives = good clean security.

Get the whole Tech Report HERE

Microsoft AutoCollage 2008 (30 day free trial)

Pick a folder, press a button, and in a few minutes AutoCollage presents you with a unique memento to print or email to your family and friends.

Download AutoCollage 2008 and start creating your own collages within minutes.

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Final
positioning

Collage display

Gmail or Yahoo! Mail as default e-mail

gAttach is a free program that integrates Gmail as your default e-mail service instead of a local client (eg Outlook) when you send e-mail or attach files from the desktop, the browser, or any local applications.

yAttach allows you to easily attach files to new messages in Yahoo! Mail. All the features available in Windows that were once only available to your desktop mail-using friends are now available to all Yahoo! Mail users.

Free PC Power Management

Edison was developed by Verdiem,
a company that has helped enterprises
the world over reduce energy waste from IT devices.
Now Verdiem is bringing Edison into your home
—at no cost whatsoever.
Download Edison and start saving energy today!






Download Edison, an easy-to-use energy-monitoring application.
Use the Edison efficiency slider
to choose the level of energy savings you want to achieve.

Perspectives - Firefox 3 Extension

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science and College of Engineering say they have devised a low-cost system that aims to protect user privacy and improve the security of private online communications. The system, dubbed Perspectives, targets man in the middle attacks by employing the help of friendly sites or "notaries" that aid in authenticating websites used in secure transactions.

See the list of all known issues. By default Firefox blocks installation with a warning at the top of your window. You must override that warning. This extension works only with Firefox 3.0 or newer.

The following link installs Perspective on Linux (32-bit/64-bit), Windows, and OS X (Intel/PPC):

Install Perspectives

[Choose "open with" Mozilla Firefox]

Note: All software on this page is provided "as-is", without warranty of any kind. In no event shall the authors or Carnegie Mellon be liable for any claim arising from use of this software.
The source code is freely available.

Five Free Security Tools

Virus Total
A place you can upload individual files
and have them scanned by
several anti virus and security programs.
---------------------------------------------------------

Secunia Personal Software Inspector
is the free security tool that is designed
with the sole purpose of helping you secure
your computer from software vulnerabilities.
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ThreatFire's
patent-pending ActiveDefense technology
offers protection against all types of internet threats
- both known and unknown -
spy ware, ad ware, key loggers, viruses, worms,
Trojans, root kits, buffer overflows, and other malware.
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CCleaner
is a freeware system optimization,
privacy and cleaning tool.
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GRC
the ultimate security resource center.
Be sure to check out Shields Up.

The first link under the Services tab.