Microsoft Internet Explorer's Security Hole

Princeton University researchers discovered a potentially serious security flaw in Microsoft's latest 3.0 Web browser, which has been downloaded over 1 million times since its release Aug. 12. The good news -- you can download a patch file that plugs the hole from the Microsoft Internet site: http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/iepatch.htm.

Are Your Kids College-Bound?

A couple of interesting Internet sites: http://www.finaid.org is a comprehensive guide to financial-aid resources. Want admission information? Check out Yahoo!'s http://www.yahoo.com/Education/College_Entrance/Admissions_Offices/ for a list of several hundred hotlinks to colleges and universities. Some even provide applications via the Web.

Free Speech or Free Spam?

Many AOL users have complained about receiving "junk" E-mail. AOL has taken the unprecedented step of blocking unsolicited mail from five major "bulk-mail" companies. Also, AOL is offering its members the ability to selectively block E-mail from specific addresses. Naturally, bulk-mailers aren't happy. "We've been sending messages for a year and a half, and we're not about to stop unless there's a court order telling us to stop," responds one bulk mailer. On his next mailing he simply used a different mailing address effectively bypassing AOL's lockout. Well, AOL is engaged in a legal battle over the mailings. Will other providers follow AOL's lead? Late-breaking news: As we go to press, AOL lost the first round when it was ordered NOT to block E-mail from commercial junk mail sites. AOL vows to appeal the restraining order.

Track Your Own Documents

There are many search engines on the Internet designed to help you quickly locate information, but what about your own computer? Had any trouble locating documents lately? AltaVista, which has an Internet search engine, is offering a free preview version of their AltaVista Search My Computer Private eXtension software. It builds a full word index of all HTML documents and over 140 popular file types on your computer and/or local area network. Get your copy from http://altavista.software.digital.com/. NOTE: You are required to join their "club" (asks for your name and E-mail address), it runs only on Windows '95 or NT, and the beta software (3 Mb) will expire 9/30/96, unless AltaVista decides to extend the beta period.

Personalized Internet Launcher From Apple

Apple's new personalized Internet Launcher service makes finding a new web resource a breeze. Available as a free service to customers, it provides users with a personalized "launcher" page: hot links to the web sites most likely to be of interest to the customer, automatically searching a database of thousands of net sites -- creating a personalized listing of sites for each customer. Support for multiple users, marking of favorite sites, and detailed customization all make the Personalized Internet. Launcher one cool service. Best of all, the personalized launcher page is updated daily! Just pop over to the Personalized Internet Launcher web site at http://myhome.apple.com/ and register. (From NetNotify, http://www.netcent.com/netnotify/).

Lycos Adds Image Search

The Lycos search engine on the Web recently added a new capability: searching the Web for graphic images. And, you can
search for E-mail addresses from Lycos as well! For info on how it works: http://www.lycos.com

Back to PhotoSource International Home Page