(847) 201-6416

Patch available for animated cursor exploit

Microsoft today issued a security patch for a recently discovered vulnerability that can affect users of Internet Explorer 6 or 7 and Outlook 2002 (also called Outlook XP) on Windows XP.

By embedding a hacked animated cursor (.ani) file in an HTML e-mail message or Web page, a malicious individual can potentially take control of your PC. All you have to do is view the infected e-mail message or Web site. This security advisory from Microsoft has all the details.

This is not a widespread problem, but Microsoft considers the exploit potential to be serious enough that it issued a patch outside of its normal security update cycle.

Make sure you have this patch installed. Even if you have automatic updates enabled, there can be a delay before the patch is downloaded. I suggest you run Windows Update (or Microsoft Update, if installed) from your Start menu at your earliest convenience. Select the “Express” option to install critical updates. You will have to reboot your system after the patch is installed.

While we’re on the subject, there’s also a nasty virus being distributed via e-mail messages with a subject line of “Internet Explorer 7 Downloads.” Details are here. As always, common sense applies. If you don’t recognize the sender, don’t open the message.

CompUSA leaving Chicago market

Computer equipment and electronics retailer CompUSA has announced a major restructuring that will result in the closing of half of their retail stores nationwide, including all five in the Chicago area. The CompUSA stores in Chicago, Highland Park, Schaumburg, Skokie, and Geneva will be shut down within the next 90 days.

Details are in this WLS-TV posting.

I’m sorry to see them go. Their prices were almost always higher than what I could get on the Internet, but they were useful if I needed to get something quickly. Thankfully, we still have Fry’s Electronics in Downers Grove, which stocks practically everything computer-related. Here’s a map.

The good news, according to this article, is that there are bargains to be had if you move quickly.

Fare thee well, P.C. Modem. We’ll miss you.

Daylight Savings Time changes: Is your computer ready?

By now you’re probably aware that Daylight Savings Time starts three weeks earlier this year and ends one week later. DST starts March 11, 2007 and ends on November 4.

Windows Vista is already set up to handle this new schedule, but older versions of Windows (and all versions of Microsoft Outlook) need to be patched to handle the new DST schedule.

If you have Windows XP and automatic updates are enabled, you probably already have the DST patch installed. In any case, you should definitely visit Microsoft’s special Daylight Savings Time update page by clicking here. The site will help you identify the necessary patches for both Windows and Outlook, and allow you to download and install them.

When you run the Windows patcher, it will either complete normally or give you an error message stating that the update is already installed.

The Outlook patcher will install a time zone update and optionally shift any appointments or meetings you have scheduled in the new three and one week DST periods. When I ran it, I did not allow it to shift my meetings. If I had a meeting scheduled for 2 PM on March 21, it’s still going to be at 2 PM regardless of DST.

The site has complete step-by-step instructions for installing these patches.

The updates are available for Windows and Outlook versions 2000 and newer. Updates are not available for older versions. Microsoft no longer supports Office 97, Windows 98, and Windows Me.