Friday sort-of funnies: a new Vista security hole

Subject: Friday sort-of funnies: a new Vista security hole
From: Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>
To: TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2007 10:14:58 -0500

This just in from Woody's Office Watch (www.office-watch.com) about a clever -- and very funny, at least if you're using a Mac -- new security hole in Vista*. Apparently, it's possible to set up a Web site so that it automatically runs an MP3 file that (if properly designed) can trigger Vista's voice recognition system if you're unfortuante enough to have the speakers and microphone in the right/ wrong positions, so that the mike picks up the spoken commands embedded in the MP3. I can see the black hats hacking the official Beatles fan site: "Paul is dead. By the way: Computer, Format C:. You are the walrus." <g>

* Though strictly speaking, it's not a Vista problem; this could affect anyone using any speech recognition software, even on a Mac or Linux box. I can hardly wait for the bad guys to hack the handwriting recognition engine. <g>


----------------------------------------------------
-- Geoff Hart
ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca / geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com
www.geoff-hart.com
--------------------------------------------------
Coming soon: _Effective onscreen editing_ (http://www.geoff-hart.com/ home/onscreen-book.htm)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or printed documentation. Features include single source authoring, team authoring,
Web-based technology, and PDF output. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

Now shipping: Help &amp; Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
to 106 languages with Help &amp; Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- infoinfocus -dot- com -dot-
To unsubscribe send a blank email to techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40infoinfocus.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


Previous by Author: Need a word!
Next by Author: Misc: Technical writers have always had problems with product design
Previous by Thread: RE: Displaying TOC/Index/Search in Help System
Next by Thread: Book about salary negotiations


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads