So there's this tiny unpatched bug in VBScript that lets sneaky websites run malicious code on machines running Internet Explorer on Windows XP. It's triggered when you try to access the help menu by hitting the F1 key. Whoops.

According to a recent Microsoft security advisory:

The vulnerability exists in the way that VBScript interacts with Windows Help files when using Internet Explorer. If a malicious Web site displayed a specially crafted dialog box and a user pressed the F1 key, arbitrary code could be executed in the security context of the currently logged-on user.

This means that all someone with ill intentions needs to do is create a website which has a somewhat convincing popup prompt to coax you into hitting F1. And tada! You've allowed him or her to run some kind of code on your machine.

It'll be a while before a patch is available for this bug, but in the meantime Microsoft suggests that you protect yourself by not pressing the F1 key if a Web site tells you to. [Microsoft via Computer World via Slashdot]

Picture by Karl Alvin

Continue reading Researchers shows off self-contained, 9mm solar power system

Researchers shows off self-contained, 9mm solar power system originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

newVideoPlayer( {"type":"video","player":"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/i0nxEr62so0&hl=en&fs=1&fmt=22","customParams":[],"width":500,"height":412,"ratio":0.824,"flashData":"","embedName":null,"objectId":null,"noEmbed":false,"source":"youtube"} ); The Nvidia Optimus seamlessly switches between GPUs based on need. And based on this fellow being able to yank out a GPU while the rest of a system is running, it works rather well too.

Sure, it would've been funny if something had gone wrong at that 1:40 mark, but the fact that this little demonstration worked just the way it should is great news. By switching between integrated and discrete graphics, Optimus could one day double our laptop batteries' lives. And that's more exciting than any bit of sparks and smoke could've been. [nTersect Blog]

Continue reading Averatec outs light as air 10-inch netbook, can move move move any mountain

Averatec outs light as air 10-inch netbook, can move move move any mountain originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Around 600 million metric tons of water ice were discovered in shadowy craters at the moon's north pole. How much is that, in terms that mean something to you? Possibly enough to sustain a mother-F-ing moon base, that's how much.

A piece of NASA radar equipment hitching a ride on an Indian probe made the discovery, which was reported earlier today. It was only last September that water ice was confirmed to exist on the moon's south pole, but these significant deposits bring us that much closer to the ultimate space nerd dream of a base on the moon.

"The new discoveries show the moon is an even more interesting and attractive scientific, exploration and operational destination than people had previously thought," said Paul Spudis, a NASA engineer who works with the Mini-SAR radar equipment.

Scientists say the water, which may be more readily available than that found at the south pole, could be mined for fuel and oxygen or distilled into drinking water for lunar dwellers.

Sure, there's that whole issue with the budget and how its steering our space program away from the moon. But 600 million tons is a lot of water, especially for a nation thirsty for some new space adventures. [Space.com via PopSci]

Nothing says happy birthday like a good old fashion droid head on a platter ;) Collaborative effort with my other friend for ~Jasmeralda's birthday. I'm glad she talked me into the fondant, I was a little hesitant at first, but it came out nice and without too terribly much fuss. Metallic shine is edible glitter, silver 'eye' pieces I sculpted out of marzipan and my friend covered with the glitter. Big box/lens is painted box (painted by her roommate) with plastic painted package piece to make the lens. Light is chopped off ring from party supply store. I added blue food coloring to the yellow part of the cake so his inside was themed, too ;)

You've been skimming credit cards and the cops know—they've already executed a search warrant and found a flash drive full of evidence against you. If you're Florin Necula, this means that it's time to swallow.

After being arrested, Necula decided that it was a good idea to snatch up one of the pieces of evidence against him, shove it into his mouth, and swallow. Hard. Youch.

Not only will the poor guy probably wind up in jail with a tummy ache, but he's being charged with obstruction of justice because of his attempt to destroy evidence. [Smoking Gun via The Loop via Jim Dalrymple]

The X-Ray pictured obviously isn't this guy's. It's of some dog who swallowed a fork instead of a flash drive and was found at Mental Floss