Does Open Source Security Make Sense?

    I have been thinking about open source software lately, especially security software, and I thought I would share my thoughts with you.

    First of all, let’s define what open source means.  Open source is the idea in technology, especially software, that says everyone should be able to see the source material used to create it.  This means that if a program is written and distributed as open source, anyone can get a hold of the source code that makes it run.  The idea behind this is that people can take this freely available source material and either build upon it to create their own program or merely improve the existing program.

    Okay, now let’s take a look at what open source means for your computer’s security, primarily anti-virus.  If the source code for an anti-virus program is available, it would be child’s play for a dedicated virus creator, who wants to create havoc, to acquire that code and use it to discover and exploit weaknesses in it.  To me, the whole idea seems seem akin to building a wall around your castle to protect you from an outside enemy and then posting the blueprints for that selfsame wall, complete with all the secret passages and weak points marked, where any invader can easily access them.

    I think the majority of people would and do agree with me on this.  Why?  Because almost all of the anti-virus programs on the market are close source, meaning only the company that created it has access to the code that makes it run.  Think about it.  The top anti-virus companies, Norton, McAfee, Panda, Trends Micro and Avira, all keep the source code for their programs under wraps, probably because they understand the risks.

      In fact, there are very few open source.  One of the best known is  ClamAV.  However, I’m not sure how long this will continue.  It appears that a company called Sourcefire has acquired the trademarks and copyrights to ClamAV, so that may change too.

    In closing, don’t trust the security of your computer to a company who posts the blueprint of your castle for all to see.  You might just get bit.

    Please feel free to comment.

Tutorial: Creating and Burning an Image File

    Creating an image file is the best way to copy and backup discs.  (I am talking about discs that you have legal right to copy.")  Here is a quick run through of how to create and burn an image file.

    The first thing you need to do is download a good disc burning software.  The best I know of it call ImgBurn.  You can find and download it here: http://www.imgburn.com/.

    Once you have downloaded and installed ImgBurn, open up the program either from the Start Menu or Desktop.  Once it comes up, it will look a little intimidating for a first timer, but after using it a little while you will get a handle on it.

 

    To start creating an image file, put the disc to be copied in you computer and click “Create image file from disc”.

 

    Once the new screen comes up, check the contents of the “Destination” section to make sure the image file will go where you want it.  (Ideally, you should put it on your C drive in a file names “image files.")  Be sure to check and make sure that you have enough space on your C drive to do this.  The size of the image file is on the right under “size”.

 

    Once you have made sure that you have enough space, click large button on the lower left of the top window.  The copy process will now start.

 

    When it is finished, it will play a tune to let you know.

 

    Now to burn the image file to a disc.  Click “OK”.  Now click “Mode” and select “Ez-Mode Picker”.  This will return you to the main screen.

 

    Now click “Write image to disc”.

 

    In the new window, select the image file by click the file under the “Source” section.

 

    Select and open the image.  Insert the appropriate disc (CD or DVD) and click the button in the lower left of the top screen.  (Make sure that “Verify” has been selected under “Destination”.  This will ensure that you copy is correct."  If it ejects that disc and pulls it back in, don’t worry.  It is verifying the disc.)

    Congratulations!  You have finished burning the disc.  To create another, click “OK”  and click the burn button again after putting in a new disc or you can set how many disc you want to make.

    If you have any questions, please leave a comment below.

Safari Now Has Extensions!!!

    Yesterday at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference, Steve Jobs made several announcements, among them was Safari 5.  While this seems small to most in comparison to the release of the iPhone 4G and other stuff, it is a big deal because it heralds a feature that Safari has been lacking and lagging behind the rest of the browsers.  The big new feature is extensions.  You can download the new version of Safari for Windows here.

    Here is how to activate the extensions feature.  After you have downloaded and installed Safari, click on the gear button on the top far right and click Preferences.  Once the dialog box comes up, click the Advanced tab.  Select the “Show Develop menu in menu bar” checkbox.

    Close the Preference dialog box.  Click the page picture next to the gear.  For the menu click “Develop” and then “Enable Extensions”.

     You now have extensions available.  To see the extensions installed, go back to the preferences dialog box and there will be a tab for “Extensions”.  (The reason that the example shows an extension installed and yours probably does not is because I install it.)

        This extension feature is new and experimental, like I said, so Apple does not have a list of available extensions.  However, you can find a few here.  There are not many available because it is so new.  Let me know in the comments if how know of any other place that has extensions for Safari.  Have fun exploring.

Moving the Blog

I have decided to change the name of this blog.  I have made this decision for several reasons.  First, someone else has a W Report website.  Second, I want this blog to reflect more of a tech bent, instead of mixed topics.  I will announce the new name withing the next couple of weeks.

Great Deal from Seagate

Seagate has a great dealing going.  They are offering an 500GB external drive for $99.99, free shipping included.  That might not seem like a such a big deal, until I tell you that the drive with come with 20 films preloaded, including: GI Joe: The Rise of the Cobra, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Shooter, The Spiderwick Chronicles, and The Italian Job.
Now it really sounds like a deal.  $100/20 films = $5 per film.  If you are interested, you can find the link here: http://bit.ly/ahIqGF.  You’d better hurry, because the sale ends 5/10/10.

Raimi and Maguire Leave Spiderman Series

Here are just a few thoughts that I had when I heard that Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire were leaving the Spiderman series.

Pro:  I’m glad to hear that Tobey Maguire is leaving.  I’ve always disliked the way that Maguire played Peter Parker.  He always came off as a bit too whiney.

Con:  The big problem that I see is loss of continuity.  One of my favorite film series is the Lethal Weapon series.  The reason I like these films is the continuity what exists because the films have all the same actors.  Even Murtaugh’s children are played by the same actors and actresses for all four films.  An example of a film series that is the exact opposite is the Darkman series.  In the Darkman series, Liam Neeson played Peyton Westlake/Darkman.  In the following two films, the character was played by a different actor.

Another downside of Raimi leaving the series is that it mean the end of Bruce Campbell cameos.  They were short, but they added something fun to the film.

 

All this being said, I’m looking forward to see how the new Spiderman series turns out.

Dave Ramsey and Me

    I want to say right off the bat that I respect Dave Ramsey for what he has down and how he has helped many people get out of debt.  However, I have a bone to pick with him.  Dave Ramsey and I do not see eye to eye on the subject of gold.

     Dave Ramsey counsels people to invest in mutual funds.  He tells them to avoid investing in gold.  According to Ramsey, gold does not have a good track record.  In fact, Ramsey is even in several radio ads telling people to sell all the “extra” gold they have laying around.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t have any “extra” gold laying around.

    In my opinion, gold is the smartest investment you can make, especially today.  Today, gold reach an all-time high of $1,038.65 an ounce.  That is a lot of money, especially in this economy.  The dollar could go away tomorrow and gold would still be this valuable.

     Gold has long been seen as a standard of value.  Gold has been used all through history as money and has always been a solid investment.  Why should now be any different today?  Should you invest in an instrument that can fluctuate drastically over time (mutual funds), especially if an economy goes south; or should you invest in a precious metal that you will always own and that will always stay valuable because supply is so limited?

    Please comment.