Dumitrache.net

…Last fall, sometime in October…

The first part of my journey did not last long but it gave me plenty of time to fully wake up and by the time the bus finally reached the A2 highway, I was already doing the final test in my TOEFL book. That book, a set of clothes, a bottle of Cola and a pack of parlies were the only things that I was carrying with me in my back pack. I don’t remember ever packing so light for a journey to the other side of the country. (continue reading…)

An account alias is another name that you can register with Yahoo and attach to your existent account. You will be able to log in to the instant messaging application using either an alias that you have created or the actual account name in combination with your main password. You don’t need to set up a different password for your aliases since you’re actually using the same account, but with a different name.

That means, your contact list is the same whether you log in with your alias or with your account name. You will be able to receive IMs directed to both your main account and your alias. If you have an ID that you don’t like anymore but have a lot of contacts associated with it, you don’t need to abandon it. You can just create an alias for it and pass that as your contact information for future friends.

Now, the procedure…. (continue reading…)

Have you ever noticed how people, after visiting a particular pub for the first time, tend to sit at the same table when they return another day? This happened to me a few times. I wonder… could you tell a person by the table he/she occupies?

No doubt, you can have a small glimpse of someone’s personality by knowing his favourite places for hanging out. Each bar has its own decorations, its own playlist, a stable client base and a certain theme that does not usually change (at least in my city).

The two pubs where I hang out the most are both decorated with paintings, guitars and various objects. Each table is framed by a different set and hides its own story. You just have to see it. So call your best friends, head over to your favourite pub, grab some beer and some smokes and while you’re relaxing and having a good time, take a look around you! What do you see?

Now, where do you sit?

First of all, I would like to highlight the importance of having a good antivirus installed with a regularly updated virus database. The method that I’m about to describe should only be used as a last resort in case your antivirus software has failed to remove a computer virus/worm/trojan. Please note that I am not taking any responsability for any negative consequences that might occur after applying the described method.

(continue reading…)

For every PHP programmer who publishes web scripts there usually comes a time when he/she is forced to think of a solution for protecting their intellectual property. After you submit your work to a specilized web directory such as HotScripts,  that ingenious algorithm that makes your script 3 times faster than that of a competitor is suddenly available in plain text to thousands of people, available not only for personal use, but for copying and redistributing.

There is a solution to this problem and it won’t cost you hundreds. (continue reading…)

I first listened to this yesterday on VH1′s Hard Rock Countdown. I think it captures the spirit of the 80′s pretty good.

18 and life…

This tip is for those of you that want to be connected with friends over Yahoo or MSN Messenger while working at a computer that hasn’t got these programs installed and installing them is restricted due to various reasons. This could be the case of your computers at school, work or any other facility where the administrator might choose to set up software such as DeepFreeze to prevent you from installing your own applications.
(continue reading…)

The fear that inspired Microsoft in the recent years has come true. Google, initially only the largest search engine in the world, now plans to take on the market of operating systems dominated by Microsoft since the release of the first version of Windows.
(continue reading…)

Earlier this week, Google announced that a series of cyber attacks have been directed at their servers in mid-December, 2009. The attacks, considered highly sophisticated even by Google standards originated in the People’s Republic of China and could influence Google to adopt a new strategy in this country, or so they say.

According to Google sources, there were two types attacks targeting their network. One attack was internal and consisted in intellectual property being stolen from the company. Most likely, the theft consisted in source code and technology. Some of you might laugh at how sophisticated this attack really was.

Various voices on the Internet, including Wired.com, described how the attackers infiltrated the Google network by sending e-mails with a malicious PDF attachment to the GMail accounts of a few Google employees that had access to the network! The attackers took advantage of a Zero Day Vulnerability in Adobe Reader to install a trojan on the victim’s computer in the form of a DLL. The sad thing is that although this happened in December, Adobe only recently published a patch. By the way, I highly recommend that you upgrade you Adobe Reader application, or use Foxit PDF as a replacement which is more lightweight than the Adobe application.

The internal attack also targeted several GMail accounts of human rights activists. According to Google sources, only two accounts have been breached. However, the attackers only got access to information about the accounts such as date of creation and to the subject names of several e-mails. The content of the e-mails remained undisclosed.

The external attack was not performed explicitly on the Google network but was directed against it and its users. Several GMail users have been targeted and tricked into revealing their login data by means of phishing. The attackers also took advantage of yet another vulnerability in Internet Explorer. Microsoft said that it only affects IE6 but Elinor Mills says IE7 and 8 are also affected. My advice to all Internet Explorer users: switch to Chrome.

According to Google, these attacks targeted over 30 companies, the main objective being source code theft. Among these companies there are notable names such as Yahoo, Adobe or the antivirus producer – Symantec.

As a response to these attacks, the Internet Giant announced that it will stop censoring search results as required by the communist regime and will discuss the issue with the Chinese Government in the context of the recent attacks. The authorities clearly stated that anyone is welcome to trade in the country but within the restrictions of the law. Considering this fact, I am almost certain that negotiations on the matter of displaying uncensored results will be pointless.

If they won’t reach a consensus with the Chinese authorities, Google even considers the possibility of closing their offices in China and cease to operate in the country. Allow me to laugh at that. Currently holding over 360 million Internet users, China represents a highly attractive market for Internet companies and Google works with money, just like any other corporation and China, with its flourishing economy and huge population is one country than can afford to remain in the communist era.