Yesterday it was the turn of Firefox 2.0 to get an update, today it's the turn of Firefox 3.0

Firefox 3.0.1 plugs up the following vulnerabilities:

• MFSA 2008-36 Crash with malformed GIF file on Mac OS X. Where a specially crafted GIF file caused the browser to free an uninitialized pointer. This can crash the browser and allow arbitrary code execution on the victim’s computer.
• MFSA 2008-35 Command-line URLs launch multiple tabs when Firefox not running. Now this one had an easy workaround…. Just always run Firefox! 
• MFSA 2008-34 Remote code execution by overflowing CSS reference counter. This vulnerability affects the CSSValue array data structure.

Release notes for this new version can be found here.

For a while now I've been wondering how to take screenshots with the iPod touch (or iPhone). Today I found out how. It's a one-step process:

Step 1: Briefly hold down the power button on the top of your device. While it's down, press the ... uhh, well, the only other button these things have. The one on the front. And that's all! Your screen should flash momentarily, and your screenshot should be saved in a new folder under Photos.

Simple!

Mozilla have released Firefox 2.0.0.16. This version fixes two serious vulnerabilities:

• MFSA 2008-35 (CVE-2008-2933) Command-line URLs launch multiple tabs when Firefox not running
• MFSA 2008-34 (CVE-2008-2785) Remote code execution by overflowing CSS reference counter

That second bug also affects Thunderbird email client if you have JavaScript enabled for email (something which is best avoided).

Given that Firefox 2.x will only be supported until mid-December, it's probably time to start thinking about upgrading to Firefox 3.0.

Question: On my right-click I have an entry called New, and inside this I have a number of obsolete entries that seem to have hung around from software that I previous installed and then uninstalled. Any ideas how I tidy up this menu? I am using Windows Vista.

This feature, known as ShellNew, is a handy feature that allows you to quickly create a file based on a basic template (a Word document, an Excel spreadsheet or a ZIP file), but errant software can clutter it up, and some software doesn't clean up after itself properly when you uninstall it.

So, how do you take control over ShellNew? Well, you can start messing about in the Windows registry, but that method brings with it a huge number of risks (such as the risk of trashing your OS completely). A safer way to control ShellNew under XP was to use a tool called TweakUI, and as long as you follow my instructions, you should be able to use the exact same tool under Vista. Here's how.

1. First download TweakUI for XP.
2. DO NOT install TweakUI!!! Instead you need to extract the file called TweakUI.exe from the .exe file. You can do this using a program such as 7-Zip (Download 7-Zip, install it and then right-click on the TweakUiPowertoySetup.exe (which I'm assuming is on your Desktop) file and choose 7-Zip > Extract Here).
3. Right-click on TweakUI.exe and choose Properties, then click on the Compatibility tab. Enable the following options:
   - Run this program in compatibility mode for: (choose Windows XP (Service Pack2))
   - Run this program as an administrator
   Click Apply followed by OK.
   
4. Run TweakUI.exe. You will now see a Program Compatibility Assistant warning. Choose Run program.
   
5. Click on Templates. From here you can create and delete ShellNew entries. Remember to click Apply or OK when done.
   

Warning: Don't use TweakUI to make any other OS changes!

I've had a number of people get in touch with me today because they are having problems downloading the latest iTunes 7.7 software. Seems the Apple servers are being hammered and people are instead being given the older versions instead.

If you want iTunes 7.7 NOW, here are links that you can use:

• iTunes 7.7 Windows
• iTunes 7.7 Mac

For more info on what's new in version 7.7, check out this post.