Is that an IM link or a malware trap?

Posted by Jessica Dolcourt on Oct 1 2007

If an IM link from a friend pops up on your screen, do you click it right away? Most people, like Eivind, do. Most don't end up with a PC-killing worm.

Malicious IM links are a growing threat to users, and Eivind got dished an unpleasant preview of the trend we have to look forward to. Can she warn her friends of the deception before they're compromised too?

Watch the story unfold in this week's tale of Trojan trouble, "Malware's IM hideaway." You can also access the Spyware Horror Story archives for more stories and tips for staying safe online.

Topics: Security & Spyware

Tags: Spyware Horror Story, malware, virus, spyware, instant messenger, IM, link, phish, spoof, worm

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Nero 8: Sneak a peek at brand new features

Posted by Jessica Dolcourt on Sep 28 2007

What's better than Nero 7's suite of multimedia apps, which bursts with tools to record, edit, save, and distribute audio, video, and data CDs and DVDs in a dozen permutations?

The so-new-you-can't-buy-it release of Nero 8. Tune into the First Look video below, and watch this space on Monday for a full review.

Topics: Audio/MP3, Digital Photography, Video, Windows Software

Tags: Nero, burn, rip, share, create, edit, back up, digital media, CD, DVD, audio, video, MP3

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Beyond Microsoft Office: We compare 9 productivity suites

Posted by Elsa Wenzel on Sep 28 2007

Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and their Office allies can be great applications, but not everybody needs everything they offer. How do you know where to start when shopping for alternative software? You'll save money with a different brand, but will it do the trick? Should you buy boxed software, download freebies for your hard drive, access browser-based apps, or juggle all of the above?

We've reviewed nine productivity suites--including downloads and online services--and cooked up a jumbo chart mixing up their gumbo of features and file formats. IBM's release of Lotus Symphony beta added more spice to the stew last week, while continuous updates to the online applications keep us on our toes. All nine products support traditional Microsoft Office files, although not all can read the new Office 2007 formats. And although shunned by Microsoft, the Open Document Format is gaining in popularity. See: Alternatives to Microsoft Office.

Topics: Mac Software, Office Software

Tags: Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, OpenOffice, ODT, OOXML,

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Power Downloader plays a free RTS game

Posted by Jason Parker on Sep 28 2007

After spending the morning hours organizing his documents and case files, Power Downloader decides it's high time for a break. Though he's happy with his organizational progress so far, Power knows that he can't spend all of his time working. After all, a little relaxation and time out from a project often helps to recharge both the body and the mind.

To make the most of his downtime, Power Downloader decides a little gaming is just the thing to help him relax. With nothing new to play on his computer, Power decides to check out the top games at Download.com. After only a few clicks of his mouse, it doesn't take Power long to find Glest an open-source, free real-time strategy game in the vein of Blizzard's older Warcraft-type games. This game lets Power choose between two races, one whose primary ability is magic and the other, which focuses on tech. Once the game has started, the 3D graphics and slow-moving gameplay provide the perfect escape from Power's cleaning tasks. But Power soon realizes that Glest is more than just a relaxing diversion. To build an ultimate fighting force to stave off his computer controlled enemies, Power will need to plan his strategy, secure his resources, and focus on time-management. By the end of his first game, the enemy outmatched Power's abilities, but it only made him want to master the game and come up with a new ... (Read more)

Topics: Games, Power Downloader, Windows Software

Tags: Glest, RTS, real, time, strategy

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Fastest Flickr uploading tool

Posted by Peter Butler on Sep 28 2007

Photo sharing sites like Flickr, Webshots (a CNET affiliate), Zoomr, SmugMug, and others provide a cheap (usually free) and easy way for users to share their digital pics with friends, family, or the site communities at large. There's always a slight delay, however, between downloading pictures from your camera or cell phone and actually getting them published to those sites. If you're a Flickr user, you can eliminate that delay completely with Foldr Monitr, a free utility that automatically uploads images from specified folders on your hard drive to your Flickr account.

Foldr Monitr works nearly as simply and effectively as its description promises. After installing and running the app, you'll need to "authenticate" Foldr Monitr with your Flickr account. Clicking the "Authenticate" button in the Foldr Monitr interface will load the Flickr authorization page, launching your default Web browser if it's not already running. After authenticating Foldr Monitr on the Flickr Web site, you're not finished. Click the "Finish Authentication" button in the Foldr Monitr interface to complete your login. ... (Read more)

Topics: Digital Photography, Utilities & Drivers, Windows Software

Tags: Flickr, Foldr Monitr, digital photography, photo sharing, uploading, backup

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Am-pro Impressionism with Corel's Painter Essentials

Posted by Seth Rosenblatt on Sep 27 2007

Corel Painter Essentials 4, available for both Windows and Mac, combines the resources of a Photoshop with the carte blanche of a art studio program, but without the attitude of either. The end result is something that's more appropriate for people looking to either paint or artistically tweak their photos and to have fun doing it.

... (Read more)

Topics: Digital Photography, Mac Software, Windows Software

Tags: Corel Photo Essentials, Corel, photo editor, image editor, desktop art studio, art studio

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Apple's latest version of Leopard a release candidate?

Posted by Jason Parker on Sep 27 2007

Apple's iPhone has been the source of most of the buzz on tech sites over the past several months, but let's not forget Apple is more than just a sweet touch-screen mobile phone company--Apple made its name with stylish hardware and intuitive software meant to take the complexity out of personal computing.

As a reminder to the iPhone maniacs (myself included), last Friday, Apple released its latest build of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. Early reports say it is a complete version that may be considered release candidate status. Oddly, Friday's release came on the heels of two minor updates to the previous build that fixed issues with the Automatic Software Update features. Just hours after the two minor updates, Apple Developer Connection members were given the release candidate build of Leopard as a 6.5GB download.

Early Leopard adopters shouldn't start draining their savings accounts yet however; those familiar with the new release say this will probably be the first of many release candidates before Apple settles on a final version.

Apple previously announced Leopard would be available in October, so expect to see more release candidates and news about features in coming weeks. If you want to refresh your enthusiasm or acquaint yourself with Apple's new OS, take a look at some of the exciting new features and enhancements at Apple's Web site.

Topics: Mac Software

Tags: Apple, iPhone, OS X, Leopard, 10.5

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LinkScanner Lite exposes malware "surprises" in real time

Posted by Jessica Dolcourt on Sep 27 2007

Those of you who haven't yet installed a link scanning or Web site rating program for your Firefox or IE-based browser should hop to it--and consider using LinkScanner Lite when you do.

I've been using LinkScanner Lite and McAfee Site Adviser on both Firefox and IE browsers. Overkill? No way. Each program serves the greater goal of alerting you to dangerous links but differ in their approaches.... (Read more)

Topics: Browsers & extensions, Security & Spyware

Tags: LinkScanner, link, scan, security, exploit prevention, search results, website, rating

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Widget developers: Put your apps on Facebook

Posted by Jessica Dolcourt on Sep 26 2007

OK, this is a stretch, but we know that CNET Download.com users like to post their work to Facebook too.

That's why, even though Widgetbox's new online tool to publish widgets to Facebook isn't strictly the stuff of downloads, we're bringing you this hands-on review.

Widgetbox's (blandly named) App Accelerator is a step-by-step guide and tool for creating Facebook applications from Widgetbox widgets. Yet it shrewdly connects the community developers of Widgetbox's widget marketplace (this could be you) with Facebook's burgeoning user community. Talk about viral marketing.

The conversion works by adapting Widgetbox's Flash and HTML/JavaScript code for Facebook compatibility. There's a lot of link-swapping involved, and much of App Accelerator's ease-of-use can be attributed to Widgetbox's assumption of several routing URLs.... (Read more)

Topics: Desktop Enhancements, Developer Software

Tags: widgetbox, widget, app accelerator, facebook

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Folder Lock's interface should be locked up

Posted by Seth Rosenblatt on Sep 26 2007

Folder Lock does a lot of things right, but its interface makes me want to rip out my eyes. It's great for 1998, but nearly 10 years on you'd think that since we'd all gotten away from animated icons on Web pages, that the goofy UIs publishers try to foist on us would be gone, too.

But you'd be wrong.

... (Read more)

Topics: Security & Spyware, Utilities & Drivers, Windows Software

Tags: Folder Lock, password protection

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