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Security

Microsoft Says, Don't Press the F1 Key In XP 324

Posted by kdawson from the any-key-but-that-one dept.
Ian Lamont writes "Microsoft has issued a security advisory warning users not to press the F1 key in Windows XP, owing to an unpatched bug in VBScript discovered by Polish researcher Maurycy Prodeus. The security advisory says that the vulnerability relates to the way VBScript interacts with Windows Help files when using Internet Explorer, and could be triggered by a user pressing the F1 key after visiting a malicious Web site using a specially crafted dialog box."
Government

Microsoft VP Suggests 'Net Tax To Clean Computers 577

Posted by kdawson from the sure-to-go-over-well dept.
Ian Lamont writes "Microsoft's Vice President for Trustworthy Computing, Scott Charney, speaking at the RSA conference in San Francisco, has floated an interesting proposal to deal with infected computers: Approach the problem of dealing with malware infections like the healthcare industry, and consider using 'general taxation' to pay for inspection and quarantine. Using taxes to deal with online criminal activity is not a new idea, as demonstrated by last year's Louisiana House vote to levy a monthly surcharge on Internet access to deal with online baddies."

Submission + - Geek Pride: "Soft Skills" Are for Weenies (cio.com)

Submitted by twailgum
twailgum writes: Much has been made of the need for IT professionals to demonstrate soft skills--the ability to communicate, negotiate, and win friends and influence people. But a backlash against their importance is brewing. Observes blogger Meridith Levinson: These IT professionals are rejecting "soft skills" and, instead, measure their worth by their technical prowess. Levinson writes: "To them, the need for soft skills is a sign of technical impotence." Adds one commenter to her blog:

If you have to reach for the soft skills of cajoling and persuasion, maybe you don't have what it takes to hack it in IT. Let us remember that some folks in technical fields like IT pride themselves on NOT having social skills.
Programming

"Logan's Run" Syndrome In Programming 599

Posted by CmdrTaco from the stay-off-my-lawn dept.
Ian Lamont writes "InfoWorld has an interesting analysis of the reasons behind the relative dearth of programmers over the age of 40. While some people may assume that the recession has provided a handy cover for age discrimination, a closer look suggests that it's the nature of IT itself to push its elderly workers out, in what the article describes as a 'Logan's Run'-like marketplace. A bunch of factors are listed as reasons, including management's misunderstanding of the ways in which developers work: 'Any developer can tell you that not all C or PHP or Java programmers are created equal; some are vastly more productive or creative. However, unless or until there is a way to explicitly demonstrate the productivity differential between a good programmer and a mediocre one, inexperienced or nontechnical hiring managers tend to look at resumes with an eye for youth, under the "more bang for the buck" theory. Cheaper young 'uns will work longer hours and produce more code. The very concept of viewing experience as an asset for raising productivity is a non-factor — much to the detriment of the developer workplace.'"
Games

Submission + - Vintage Computer Gift Guide in Pictures (cio.com)

Submitted by bdcny7927
bdcny7927 writes: Got a nostalgic geek on your holiday shopping list? Check out this list of classic PCs and other tech paraphernalia, many available for $10 or less.
Hardware

Submission + - Steampunk Tech Mods (cio.com)

Submitted by bdcny7927
bdcny7927 writes: If Sherlock Holmes--or Jack the Ripper--had owned our technology, his equipment might have looked like this.
Star Wars Prequels

Submission + - What Star Wars Teaches Us About Career Management (cio.com)

Submitted by twailgum
twailgum writes: While Master Yoda himself might have a tough time trying to climb the employment ladder today, the implicit wisdom and shared experiences of those inhabitants of a galaxy far, far away can help you raise your profile and keep your reputation free from coworkers' derogatory "bantha fodder" references.

Star Wars Moment: Several Empire commanders are either choked, threatened or murdered for challenging Imperial authority and/or failing on their respective missions. Real-World Lesson: If your company's chain-of-command allows for the somewhat indiscriminate sacking and/or killing of employees for speaking up or failing on business initiatives, find a job elsewhere.

What else? C-3PO's wisdom for dealing with customers. The Jedi Council's poor succession-planning strategies. And Luke and Leia's lessons on inter-office dating.
Microsoft

Submission + - Windows 7 Launch: Early Adopters Eager to Bid Fare (cio.com)

Submitted by bdcny7927
bdcny7927 writes: At the Windows 7 launch in New York, businesses planning to migrate to Windows 7 discussed cost savings, testing strategies, and security hopes and fears with CIO.com. One consensus: Windows XP is on life support.

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