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Digg for Viruses

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Several weeks ago, a piece of software was on the front page of digg.com. It was the Secondary Click installer – it would allow a MacBook Pro users to “right-click” or “control-click” using two fingers on the trackpad. I installed it on my MBP and it kind of works. It had an installer, it asked for my password and I had no problem installing it on my laptop.

That got me thinking about how digg or sites like digg could be used to spread viruses very easily. Digg allows the users to act as editors and the most popular stories get promoted to the front page. One of the great features of digg is how quickly a story can move from obscurity to the front page. The more interesting the story, the quicker it gets dugg. Since the users are the ones promoting the stories, there isn’t anyone really doing long-term checks and experiments on the software that gets promoted to the front page.

If someone wanted, they could put together a piece of malware that acted as a ticking time bomb. The Secondary Click installer could have easily installed the first real Mac virus by adding some terminal commands to format your hard drive a couple of days later using the password you typed in when you agreed to install Secondary Click. Now, I’m not a virus-writer so I don’t even know if this is possible, but it seems plausible to me.

People would be quite happy with the piece of software for a couple of days and it would have been promoted to the front page of digg. No one would know that anything malicious was involved until days later when the virus gets full blown. By the time anyone felt the effect of the malware it would be too late. A couple of thousand would be infected and the thing that makes sites like digg so great, pushing stories with an immediacy not found in traditional news sites, could cause plenty of problems.

As an aside: I am a big fan of digg and I check the site out several times a day. I am eagerly awaiting Digg version 3 with its new features.

DS Lite in my future?

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The new DS Lite was officially released on June 11th in the U.S. It was available early in some stores, like Target. The other day, I was in Target with my wife and I got to play “New Super Mario Brothers” on the DS Lite.

The Nintendo DS Lite is a slick piece of hardware. I’m not sure I fully appreciate the touchscreen. I own a PSP. I bought it with the hopes that this elegant gaming system would be one of the most hackable and powerful portable computers for a decent price. I have seen Windows 95 run on the PSP and Sony has a web browser that is works with its wi-fi capabilities. The most interesting hack has been the emulators available for the PSP. The idea of playing Nintendo’s Pro Wrestling or Punch Out on a portable machine was a great draw.

When the best games on a PSP are Nintendo’s old 8-bit games or Sega Genesis games – there’s something wrong. If I wanted to play Nintendo games – why not just get a Nintendo system?

When I was playing New Super Mario Brothers it was very fun. I hadn’t played a Mario game in years. It was a new experience with Mario having new moves. My wife was trying to talk to me while I was playing the game, but I was mesmerized by the game. She was trying to ask me if she could get some XBOX 360 game. I was in my own world playing the DS.

I don’t know about how hackable the DS is. I’ve never looked into it. I have seen some of its media player options, but they are very clunky. The new design of the DS Lite makes it look as stylish as an iPod. Plus, the screens are protected by the clamshell design. No need for a special case – although I’m sure some will try to protect that snazzy white case.

$129. Maybe I’ll scrounge that up and also pick up New Super Mario Brothers if I get the DS.

Witch: Alt-Tab for Mac

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When I switched from Windows to Mac, I was pleased with the performance of OS X. I tried Expose and Command-Tab to cycle through windows. However, Expose only shows you open windows (minimized windows are hidden). Command-Tab only lets you go through the open applications. Once again, minimized applications are not brought to the forefront. I got around this by hiding the applications instead of minimizing windows. (And I am aware of the Command-` function to cycle through open windows of one application).

Nonetheless, there was no true Windows-like alt-tab (cycle through every damn window, minimized or not) function built into Mac OS X. So I stumbled onto a piece of software called Witch. It lets you cycle through every open window – plus, you can map it to alt-tab (or option-tab if you want to call it that). Plus, I’m a keyboard junkie. I hate taking my hands off the keyboard to use the mouse to find things in Expose. Witch gives me back some of the functionality I have become used to in Windows.

It works very well. I highly suggest it for people who switch from Windows to Mac. I’m also aware that Witch can do more than just alt-tab, so if you’re curious about its functionality check out Macworld’s Article here.

Minor Ethical Dilemma

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I am officially a lawyer now. I am studying for the New York Bar Exam in Connecticut. However, the location where I take this review course only allows their wi-fi to be used by registered law students. I started off my law school career at this school, but graduated from another school, so I am not a registered student.

I know that they don’t broadcast their SSID and they use WEP. However, I met with the ethical dilemma – get the WEP key somehow or just deal without wireless access for four hours per day. I can’t jeopardize my career for wireless internet access. It’s a shame though.

Vista makes me reconsider MS.

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I’m a Mac user. I like the clean look of OS X, the stability, and its great software. Back when I was a Windows user, I enjoyed XP’s stability (compared to 3.1), the customizable look – which I cleaned up – and its tremendous amount of freeware.

So Vista is coming soon. The Aero glass interface is nice and slick; MS’s new alt-tab is very clean. It’s like MS copied some concepts from Apple. In all fairness, I believe that MS has some of the same ideas as Apple, but just gets its ideas out later. I’ve had some ideas for products that ended up becoming real products. I believe that different people can have the same idea at the same time, but one gets it out to the public faster.

I really miss Windows Media Player (“WMP”). That software is like a super-VLC. WMP can play almost anything and can organize so many different files. Plus, the new WMP 11 is great. It did take ideas from iTunes, but it puts iTunes to shame with its picture and video management. Apple sticks with iPhoto and iTunes – however, MS has them beat with a piece of software that does them both. WMP does it all, actually. Videos, pictures, music – WMP can play it. Its video playlist managment destroys Quicktime. Plus with the right plug-ins, WMP is all you need. (Stay tuned for my “Finder stinks” post.)

So Apple hardware is fancy and slick. Big deal. I know I pay premium for the name and software from Apple. Now that Microsoft is catching up to Apple with Vista, it has me thinking. Would I be happier with Vista? I’ve never dealt with a virus other than one on a relative’s computer. I know what I’m doing. I don’t just download anything out there.

The MacBook Pro (“MBP”) should be cheaper than it is currently priced. The new MacBook (“MB”) may be a better value than the MBP. I just wonder if my next laptop will be an Apple or a Lenovo. Let’s see what Vista can do. They may win me back.