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TidBITS#935/30-Jun-08

Are you concerned about the safety and security of your data? We are, and this week’s issue proves it. First, defense: Rich Mogull tells you how to protect yourself from new Mac OS X Trojan horses that have recently appeared. Next, offense: Joe Kissell, having just released major updates to his best-selling “Take Control of Mac OS X Backups” and “Take Control of Easy Backups in Leopard” ebooks, looks at the surprisingly robust state of backup software – 90-plus programs! – and discovers first-hand how that preparation is useful after his MacBook Pro dies. In other news, we cover the appearance of Mac OS X 10.5.4, critical updates for Microsoft Office 2008 and Office 2004, and the release of Mac configuration software for Linksys gateways. In the TidBITS Watchlist, we note the releases of Apple’s Pro Applications Update 2008-02 and Final Cut Server Update 1.1, Mars Edit 2.1.4, Keyboard Maestro 3.2, Dejal Simon 2.4.1, and Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro. Lastly, Adam and Tonya decide to try this “vacation” thing their friends have been raving about, so our next issue will be 14-Jul-08, though we’ll keep publishing on our Web site.

Adam Engst No comments

Critical Updates for Microsoft Office 2008 and 2004

If you're using Microsoft Office 2008, run, don't walk, to download and install the 12.1.1 update, which fixes the problem with downloaded or attached Word and Excel documents not opening when double-clicked, along with other troublesome bugs in Word, Excel, and Entourage. Office 2004 also receives some important fixes for crashing bugs and interoperability with Office 2008 applications.

Adam Engst No comments

Bonus Stories for 30-Jun-08

Our issue is full up, but we have plenty of other great stories for you, including Glenn's look at new top-level domain names and a call for Microsoft to throw Windows out and start over like Apple did, Joe's explanation of sparse bundle disk images, Ted Landau's coverage of text messaging on the iPhone, and how to print a picture on an M&M.

Jeff Carlson No comments

Hot Topics in TidBITS Talk/30-Jun-08

In this week's TidBITS Talk discussions, readers share their experiences with Firefox 3, debate the merits of AppleCare, examine the latest Mac OS X Trojan vulnerability, solicit suggestions for hands-free Bluetooth speaker systems for cars, and query about an unresolved PowerPoint 2008 bug.