[MikesWhatsNews] MWN #644 HackFix

MikesWhatsNews, 31, 01, 2003
in today's issue #643
HackFix Updates
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-004
What Is That Thingie Called, Anyway?
Jungle Chess
____________________________________________________________

NOTE: Any time you see the "  ++ ",  it means there is more 
          of the article, or story, on the linked site. Mike
____________________________________________________________

There is a complete archive of past MikesWhatsNews newsletters 
available to members on the Yahoo page, it is searchable by word 
or issue #.  Here is the address direct to the messages;
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MikesWhatsNews/messages
and; http://www.freelists.org/archives/mikeswhatsnews/
____________________________________________________________

  HackFix updates, thanks to Christy;
staff@xxxxxxxxxxx
Http://www.hackfix.org

This weeks Virus Pattern Updates (02/06/2003)


All Software listed Alphabetically by Company name as some 
companies manufacture more then one product.


Aladdin Knowledge Systems

Esafe Desktop/Gateway/Enterprise
Last Updated Feb 05/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.esafe.com/esafe/downloads/virusig.asp
Or
From the Esafe folder in your Start Menu select Download Updates
~~~~~

AlWil Software

Avast Antivirus
Last Updated Feb 04/2003
To update your software:
Visit: http://www.avast.com/latest.htm
Or
Right click on the AVAST icon in the system tray, Select iAVS Update, 
AVAST will check for updates and download the appropriate files as needed.
~~~~~

Command Software Systems

Command antivirus/Fprot
Last Updated Feb 06/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.complex.is/f-prot/Download.html (F-Prot)
http://www.commandcom.com/downloads/virus_definition_updates.html (Command)
Or
Open Command antivirus click Update Deffiles
~~~~~

Computer Associates

E-Trust
Last updated Feb 06/2003
To update your software
http://support.cai.com/Download/virussig.html
Or
From the Respective folder in your Start Menu select Autodownload

For Vet Anti virus
http://www.vet.com.au/html/software/update.html

Be sure to have your Customer ID and your registered email address 
handy for verification.

**Note**

We knew this time would come eventually, that Computer Associates would 
not continue to support/update the older program 
https://www2.my-etrust.com/services/ipe_support??
~~~~~~


GeCad Software

Rav (Reliable AntiVirus)
Last Updated:  Feb 06/2003
To update your software:
Visit: http://www.ravantivirus.com/pages/dldupdate.php?type=Daily
Or
Open Rav and select Rav Update from the toolbar
~~~~~

Grisoft Inc.

AVG 
Last updated Jan 28/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.grisoft.com/html/us_updt.php
Or 
Open AVG and click Virus Database to check for updates
Or
Open AVG control centre and click Update Manager/update now

**Note:  To help speed up AVG updates you can set your program to use 
an alternate download site.  
Open AVG control centre->update manager->download from server.  The 
drop downbox should have listed www.grisoft.com (default)  and 
www.grisoft.cz. (be sure to select "apply" when done to save the changes) 
The default site is most often used so can at times become temporarily 
unavailable.  By using the secondary site (www.grisoft.cz) helps to ease 
the server and makes your update go quicker as most don't use it!
~~~~~

H+Bedv

AntiVir
Last updated Feb 052003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.free-av.com/antivirus/allinonen.html
Or
Open AntiVir, from the top toolbar select Tools->
start internet update and follow the on screen prompts.


Vexira 
Last updated Feb 05/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.centralcommand.com/updates.html
Or
Open Vexira, from the top toolbar select Tools->
start internet update and follow the on screen prompts.

Vexira Antivirus is marketed by Central Command however it is 
the same program as Antivir with only a different name.
~~~~~

Kaspersky

Kaspersky Anti-Virus (formerly AVP)
Last updated Jan 31/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.kasperskylabs.com/updates.asp
Or
Open AVP from the top toolbar click Tools-> Update virus definition
Or
From the Kaspersky folder in your Start Menu select AVP updater


*Note*  Avp now has available a cumulative update and a 
daily update with the daily being any important items they 
feel shouldn't wait till the next cumulative update.  Our 
dates here are based on the most recent Major update.

**Note:  Improved update accessiblity.  To ease the update web traffic
Kaspersky labs has additional servers for autoupdating.  The program
defaults to use one server but can be altered to check a variety of 
servers. Select Kaspersky updater, select update via the internet to 
open the drop down box(es) select "location"  Check the box labeled 
"Use alternate locations from the list"  select next and next to update.  
This option should stay selected after the first time.  This helps 
Kaspersky lighten the load for updates and helps you obtain updates 
easier.
~~~~~

Network Associates

Mcafee 
Last updated Feb 05/2003
To update your software 
For Mcafee Visit
http://www.nai.com/naicommon/download/dats/superdat.asp 
(for Virus and Engine updates)
http://www.nai.com/naicommon/download/dats/mcafee_4x.asp 
(for Just virus pattern updates)

Drsolomn (Product no longer available for new users however 
updates still available for current users):  Go to the following 
Internet site: http://download.mcafee.com/updates/4x.asp
IMPORTANT: When you get to this site you may notice that it refers 
to VirusScan. This update is not only for VirusScan. It also works 
with Dr.Solomon's. 

Or
Open your respective software virus scan scheduler, double click 
Auto update, click Run Now to do a manual live update, or click 
Schedule to set up a timed live update.
~~~~~

Norman Data Defence

Norman Virus Control
Last updated Feb 05/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.norman.com/downloads.shtml#definition_files_updates
Be sure to have your Valid Username and password handy for verification.
Or
From the Norman folder in your Start Menu select Internet Update

**Note Norman Virus Control web updates are only for version prior to 
5.0.  Norman 5.0 can only be updated via the update in the program itself.

Thunderbyte Anti Virus
Current Version: This product is no longer being supported.
http://www.norman.com/tbav.shtml
~~~~~

Softwin

BitDefender (Previously known as AVX - AntiVirus eXpert as of Nov 06/01)
Last Updated Jan 31/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.bitdefender.com/html/updates.php
Or
Open BitDefender select Protection Options->live upgrade
Or
From the BitDefender folder in your Start Menu select Bitdefender Live
         
Press Release on the software change 
http://www.bitdefender.com/press/ref1.php
~~~~~

Sophos

Sophos Anti Virus
Last IDE available Feb 05/2003
To obtain the latest IDE files
Visit: http://www.sophos.com/downloads/ide/

**Note:  Sophos does not update as other products do.  They update 
the Engine/software once a month (or so) to include all the previous 
IDE files.  New IDE files are available with new virus threats and must 
be downloaded individually until the next software update is available.  
Our update dates reflect the most recent available IDE file.
~~~~~

Symantec

Nortons AntiVirus
Last updated Feb 05/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/defs.download.html select 
your language -> product from the list
Or
Open Nortons software and click the "live update" button
Or
From the Nortons folder in your Start Menu select LiveUpdate - 
Norton Antivirus
~~~~~

Trend Micro

PcCillin 
Last updated Feb 04/2003
To update your software
Visit: http://www.antivirus.com/download/pattern.asp
Be sure to have your Registration number handy for verification
Or
Open PcCillin click Update then click Update Now (or Update later 
to Schedule a timed update)
~~~~~~~~~

If there is an Anti Virus program that is Not listed here that
you would like to see added to the weekly updates list Please
feel free to let us know.

Remember Your anti virus software is only as good as the user...
If you don't keep it updated it won't provide you with maximum
protection.

This weekly Update will be sent every Thursday on or after
6pm (eastern) to keep you up to date on virus pattern updates
available. Virus patterns are checked for most recent update
date as of 6pm Thursdays.

~~~~

~ Hackfix Project Staff
staff@xxxxxxxxxxx
Http://www.hackfix.org

3017 St Clair Ave #176
Burlington, Ontario
L7R 3L7
____________________________________________________________

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-004: Cumulative Patch for Internet Explorer
(810847)

Title:      Cumulative Patch for Internet Explorer (810847)
Date:       05 February 2003
Software:   Microsoft Internet Explorer
Impact:     Allow an attacker to execute commands on a user's 
system. 
Max Risk:   Critical
Bulletin:   MS03-004

Microsoft encourages customers to review the Security Bulletins at: 
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms03-004.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms03-004.asp
- -------------------------------------------------------------------


Issue:
======
This is a cumulative patch that includes the functionality of all 
previously released patches for IE 5.01, 5.5, 6.0. In addition, it 
eliminates two newly discovered vulnerabilities involving Internet 
Explorer's cross-domain security model - which keeps windows of 
different domains from sharing information. These flaws results in 
Internet Explorer because incomplete security checking causes 
Internet Explorer to allow one website to potentially access 
information from another domain when using certain dialog boxes. 

In order to exploit this flaw, an attacker would have to host a 
malicious web site that contained a web page designed to exploit this
particular vulnerability and then persuade a user to visit that site.
Once the user has visited the malicious web site, it would be 
possible for the attacker to run malicious script by misusing a 
dialog box and cause that script to access information in a different
domain. In the worst case, this could enable the web site operator to
load malicious code onto a user's system. In addition, this flaw 
could also enable an attacker to invoke an executable that was 
already present on the local system. 

A related cross-domain vulnerability allows Internet Explorer's 
showHelp() functionality to execute without proper security 
checking. showHelp() is one of the help methods used to display an 
HTML page containing help content. showHelp() allows more types of 
pluggable protocols than necessary, and this could potentially allow 
an attacker to access user information, invoke executables already 
present on a user's local system or load malicious code onto a user's
local system. 

The requirements to exploit this vulnerability are the same as for 
the issue described above: an attacker would have to host and lure a 
user to a malicious web site. In this scenario, the attacker could 
open a showHelp window to a known local file on the visiting user's 
local system and gain access to information from that file by sending
a specially crafted URL to a second showHelp window. The attacker 
could also potentially access user information or run code of 
attacker's choice. 

This cumulative patch will cause window.showHelp( ) to cease to 
function. When the latest HTML Help update - which is being released 
via Windows Update with this patch - is installed, window.showHelp( )
will function again, but with some limitations (see the caveats 
section later in this bulletin). This has been necessary in order to 
block the attack vector that might allow a web site operator to 
invoke an executable that was already present on a user's local 
system. 

Mitigating Factors:
====================
 - The attacker would have to host a web site that contained a web 
page used to exploit either of these cross-domain vulnerabilities. 
 - The attacker would have no way to force users to visit the site. 
Instead, the attacker would need to lure them there, typically by 
getting them to click on a link that would take them to the 
attacker's site. 
 - By default, Outlook Express 6.0 and Outlook 2002 open HTML mail 
in the Restricted Sites Zone. In addition, Outlook 98 and 2000 open 
HTML mail in the Restricted Sites Zone if the Outlook Email Security 
Update has been installed. Customers who use any of these products 
would be at no risk from an e-mail borne attack that attempted to 
exploit this vulnerability unless the user clicked a malicious link 
in the email. 
 - Internet Explorer 5.01 users are not affected by the first 
vulnerability. 
 
Risk Rating:
============
 - Internet Explorer 5.01: Critical
 - Internet Explorer 5.5: Critical
 - Internet Explorer 6.0: Critical

Patch Availability:
===================
 - A patch is available to fix this vulnerability. Please read the 
   Security Bulletins at

   http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms03-004.asp
   http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms03-004.asp
   for information on obtaining this patch.

__________________________________________

Windows Key Finders
http://www.angelfire.com/va3/vic3/winkeys.htm

Here are a few useful utilities, compliments of  WinTips&Tricks;
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WinTips-Tricks/
that can come in handy in the event you lose your Windows Product key and
need to recover it.

 
Windows 95/98/Me

This one reveals your keys for both Windows 95 and 98/Me
Just double click after downloading to see your key.
Download.++

 Windows XP

This one reveals your Windows XP key.
Download.++

Windows 2000

This is the only one here that works with Windows 2000, but actually works
with all Windows systems and even Microsoft Office, except for Office 2000.
Download.++

Using Windows 9x and can't get into Windows to retreive your key?
No problem.  Here's a premade batch file that will get it for you from the
Dos prompt.
Put it on your startup disk, boot to the A:\> prompt and simply type KEY and
press Enter.
Your will see your key after the words  "ProductKey" in 98.
NOTE: For Windows 95, edit the bat file and replace the word ProductKey with
ProductID.

Download Key.bat++

++The Downloads are availible on the web site.

Thanks; to Vic http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WinTips-Tricks/

____________________________________________________

What Is That Thingie Called, Anyway?
by Linda Johnson 
 http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?ID=155
I do a lot of online and phone tech support and I'm constantly asking people
"Are you sure you mean the toolbar? Or do you mean taskbar?" I know that
most non-tech people don't feel a need to know the names of all of the parts
of their operating system or program interfaces, but think of it this
way?if you call tech support and are paying for that call, or if you need
an answer to a problem quickly, you may be wasting time and money just
trying to clarify what it is that you are seeing on your screen. 

So, with this in mind, here's a brief tutorial explaining the names of some
main components of the Office and Windows interfaces. Obviously, I can't
include them all, but this will give both users and tech support staff a
webpage they can use to make sure they are both talking about the same
thing. I would suggest users bookmark this page so they can correctly
identify the part of their screen where they are having a problem. And, I
suggest tech support people bookmark this page so, when they receive a
question that makes no sense to them, they can send the user to this page to
find the correct name for what item they are trying to identify.
 
From; TechTrax, www.mousetrax.com/techtrax/.
__________________________________________________

Jungle Chess by Edmark. (2580Kb) Free Windows 9x
http://www.riverdeep.net/products/downloads/free_downloads.jhtml
A strategy game for two players.  Grades: 4-12 
In three engaging new games, students will learn and apply offensive and
defensive strategies, which help build flexibility and the understanding
that there are multiple ways to achieve a goal. Aggressive players learn
that patience can pay off while cautious players are encouraged to try
bolder moves.

Special features include Challenge levels that automatically advance as
students win or can be adjusted manually to meet individual needs.
_______________________________________________



Antivirus software is a good choice to scan your system for possible viruses, 
however no virus scanner is 100% effective as manufactures cannot keep up with 
the rapid change of viruses that happens daily.
Be sure to update yours regularly.
http://www.hackfix.org/software/antivirus.html
______________________________________________________________________
Please feel free, to offer constructive criticism, as that will help me keep it 
interesting.
I also welcome any submissions about new products, web pages, or articles of 
interest.

All submissions posted in MWN will be given proper credit.
"MikesWhatsNews" believes in giving credit where credit is due but at times 
deadlines and information that is very important to readers we accidentally 
misspost an item.

If you believe something to be miscredited, or you know the author of one of 
the articles which we have posted as 'unknown', please do let us know so we can 
correct the information where applicable.

Many times in a article you may see a click here for more information, or to go 
to a link, these often will not work, as the original information, was taken 
from a page with HTML links. This is when you will want to go to the webpage 
indicated in the article, ++ ,for 'the rest of the story'
***MfM*** indicates that I am adding my own information to a particular    
article.
                         `~*~*~*~*~*~`
Mike ~It's a good day if I learned something new.
You can read a sample of my newsletter on my web page http://www.mwn.ca
My virus pages ~ http://virusinfo.hackfix.org 
mytech@xxxxxxxxxxx
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