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July 25, 2004

Random thought:

Undelete that

Windows comes with its own recycle bin that allows you to recover a file after you've deleted it, so you might wonder why anyone would consider spending an extra $30 to buy somebody else's program that seems to do essentially the same thing. The quick, easy answer is that it does more.

The Windows recycle bin doesn't protect every deleted file, but Executive Software's Undelete 4.0 replaces the recycle bin with its Recovery Bin and makes it possible to get back files that have been deleted.

	This is a directory with a lot of small files that change regularly. Undelete has maintained a store of 1900 files that I could recover in just this one directory. Notice that the file names are frequently duplicated. TO SEE A LARGER VIEW, CLICK THE IMAGE.

Another extra feature helps ensure that files you want to go away are really gone. SecureDelete erases files by overwriting them with procedure designed for the Department of Defense and the National Security Agency. This process is used for some government files, but disk drives that contain top secret files are supposed to be physically shredded. For most of us, overwriting files with a process such as SecureDelete is adequate. Why? When you sell a computer or give it away, it's possible for someone to retrieve files even if you have formatted the disk drive.

Undelete goes far beyond the Windows Recycle Bin by allowing users to recover files that they have deleted from a mapped network drive. There is a condition, though: To be able to recover files on a network drive, the network server must be running the server version of Undelete ($300 per server).

Undelete is compatible with Windows XP, 2000 and NT. Undelete Professional Edition allows you to remotely recover deleted files on your network when Undelete Server Edition is installed on your server. Undelete Home Edition has all the functionality of Undelete Professional Edition but lacks the network file recovery ability, so you need only the Home Edition if you're protecting standalone computers -- either in the office or at home.

Technology corner rating for UNDELETE
	NINE CATS: Executive Software's Undelete adds useful functionality to the Recycle Bin and makes recovering files faster and easier than using the Windows utility. Undelete can often recover earlier versions of files, even if you have edited the file many times. Undelete home ($30) Undelete professional ($40) Undelete server ($300/server)
How the Technology Corner rating system works.

For more information, see the Executive Software website.

WinZip offers service pack 1 (beta) for version 9

WinZip has prepared a service release to update version 9 of its file compression program. It's currently in beta, but users may still download it. WinZip has a history of providing highly stable betas, but you should wait for the final release if you're uncomfortable with using beta software.

The service release includes general improvements to the WinZip code, bug fixes, and updates to error messages and to the Help text.

	The most significant change in this version of WinZip is the (optional) warning when the user double clicks an executable file inside a zip file. TO SEE A LARGER VIEW, CLICK THE IMAGE.

To download the WinZip 9.0 SR-1 Beta, go to the WinZip website.

As usual, WinZip continues to make updates available for free to any registered user of any version. Don't uninstall the previous version; just overwrite the existing version with the service release. In addition to preserving your registration information, this also retains your configuration settings.

Why I'm not an economist

This week, Microsoft announced the largest corporate dividend payout ever and, a few days later, noted that this year's quarterly earnings are up 82% over last year. The result: Microsoft's stock price fell in after-hours trading. Why? The results reported were one cent per share less that analysts' expectations.

While I understand the reasoning behind the price drop, it still doesn't really make sense for a company that's just reported plans to pay out several gadzillion* dollars from cash on hand and that has also reported this year's quarterly sales are almost double last year's to see its stock price drop.

Shares of Microsoft dropped 65 cents in after-hours trading Thursday, to $28.35, after closing during regular market hours at $29.

Microsoft says growth in the PC market is slowing, but Microsoft has been saying that for years. The company expects PC sales revenue for the industry to grow 7% to 9% in the next year. That would be down from 13% last year. As for the company's finances, Microsoft has more than $60 billion in cash on hand or short-term investments.

*OK, they're really not paying out "several gadzillion dollars". They're really paying out only $32 billion. That's all. Just a paltry $32 billion.

Nerdly News

From the Expedia.com newsletter:

Perhaps it's time to profess our love (make that admiration) for the men and women who keep us up and running as July 30 is System Administrator Appreciation Day. Now if you want their admiration in return, always answer "yes" to the question, "Well, did you reboot?"

Microsoft begins fishing for phishers

According to TechWeb News, Microsoft says it will contribute both software and a paid analyst to a forensics organization that's fighting phishing scams. Microsoft will provide $46,000 worth of software and the services of a full-time analyst to the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance (NCFTA).

We've talked about phishing scams in the past. These are usually spams that tell you an organization (bank, merchant, utility) needs you to "verify" information they have on file. You're then taken to a website where you're asked for the kind of information needed for identity theft.

Phishing attacks are doubling (or worse) every month. Most of them are from organized crime in Eastern Europe.

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