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Featuring CNET Editor Seth Rosenblatt

Freeware, DRM, and torrents Session has ended.

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Latest questions and answers

A: Just a few more minutes...

by srosenblatt - 8/23/07 11:57 AM

Last round for questions. Any takers?

Q: Google + XSS vulnerability, your thoughts?

by jalongoria - 8/23/07 11:50 AM

Seth,

What is your take on Google and their incapability or lack of intrepidation to plug a serious XSS vulnerability that Robert Hansen (RSnake - ha.ackers.org found)? I wrote a brief on it here: http://www.thereformed.org/2007/08/21/google-xss-destruction-of-mankind .

I am concerned with their lack of validation and universal code-injection allowance in their gmodules.com website.

A: so...

by srosenblatt - 8/23/07 11:57 AM

I wonder if it's Google's inability to patch these holes, or if its a lack of will since only a serious breach that has severe real-world consequences will get the average user upset. Excellent post, though.

Q: Google + XSS vulnerability, your thoughts?

by jalongoria - 8/23/07 11:50 AM

Seth,

What is your take on Google and their incapability or lack of intrepidation to plug a serious XSS vulnerability that Robert Hansen (RSnake - ha.ackers.org found)? I wrote a brief on it here: http://www.thereformed.org/2007/08/21/google-xss-destruction-of-mankind .

I am concerned with their lack of validation and universal code-injection allowance in their gmodules.com website.

A: just read your post

by srosenblatt - 8/23/07 11:55 AM

I think Google's in a fairly precarious position regarding user privacy and security. I doubt the average user will see this beyond the occasional GMail crashes, but people have definitely been conditioned to accept these more serious breaches as a consequence of modern life.

Q: Seth can you explain exactly what bit torrent is?

by sbaxter - 8/23/07 11:35 AM

And how it works? I'm just learning this stuff now and I want to know. Is it similar to Limewire and such? Also how can I tell what is legal and not legal to download?

A: legally speaking

by srosenblatt - 8/23/07 11:39 AM

Legal issues, though, are quite difficult. I recommend erring on the cautious side of fair use, so if you don't think you have a legal right to distribute something, even for free, you shouldn't. That being said, there are lots of legal torrents floating around.

http://www.legaltorrents.com/index.htm is a good place to start.

Q: Seth can you explain exactly what bit torrent is?

by sbaxter - 8/23/07 11:35 AM

And how it works? I'm just learning this stuff now and I want to know. Is it similar to Limewire and such? Also how can I tell what is legal and not legal to download?

A: wiki knows all

by srosenblatt - 8/23/07 11:37 AM

This Wikipedia entry does a very good jobs of explaining how torrents work, and why they're different and better than centralized P2P:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bit_torrent#Operation

Q: bittorrent

by link500 - 8/23/07 11:29 AM

how do i use bittorrent?

A: verrrry carefully

by srosenblatt - 8/23/07 11:32 AM

Once you've downloaded and installed the Bit Torrent application, you have to go out and find a torrent to download. Download the torrent, drop it into the main window, and the program will automatically start downloading the file the torrent is associated with, assuming that other people are sharing it.

Q: Golf Software

by caddychick - 8/23/07 11:26 AM

Hi Seth, I am looking for some software for a golf handicap. I can only put in the total scores and the date and course rating/slope. Most of everything I have looked at, you have to put the rounds in also. I don't have that info. Do you have any suggestions?

A: fore!

by srosenblatt - 8/23/07 11:28 AM

Sorry, the closest I've come to golf is Caddyshack. Any golfers lurking today?

Q: MAME ROMs

by pacvol - 8/23/07 11:15 AM

What are the legalities behind MAME ROMs? I've read that because many of the games are no longer commercially available, the copyright is muddled.

A: any lawyers here today?

by srosenblatt - 8/23/07 11:23 AM

Offhand, I don't know much about that, but Wikipedia has turned up something useful:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAME#Legal_status_of_MAME

Q: Security Freeware(cont..)

by ODglock19 - 8/23/07 11:16 AM

Those were just examples I could think of off the top of my head...So do you really think any of it actually gets rid of ALL of the problems? or is it just smart to have a good combination of them to try and get rid of/look for as much as possible? And also what do you think are the best programs rightnow for viruses and spyware?

A: combo platter

by srosenblatt - 8/23/07 11:22 AM

I use a combination of different programs. Currently, A-Squared Free for malware and AVG for anti-virus. I also use the built-in Windows firewall, with some tweaked settings, and I regularly cross my fingers.

Q: Best free image editor

by ark4str - 8/23/07 11:16 AM

Hi Seth,

I used to use GIMP quite a bit, but I haven't used an image editor regularly in some time. Is GIMP still the best option out there in terms of free photo-editing apps?

A: GIMP and Paint.NET

by srosenblatt - 8/23/07 11:20 AM

My favorite freebies are GIMP for complex or Photoshop-level editing, and Paint.Net for quick crop jobs and other low-level edits. Not to sound like a shill, but here's an article I wrote on free editors: http://www.download.com/8301-2007_4-9714054-12.html

Q: Security Freeware

by ODglock19 - 8/23/07 11:07 AM

Whats up Seth,

Just curious do you think a lot of the so called high rated freeware for security (Adaware,Spybot etc....) are just as good or better than their costly counterparts??

A: ad-aware?

by srosenblatt - 8/23/07 11:13 AM

Personally, I don't use Ad-Aware 2007.

Q: Security Freeware

by ODglock19 - 8/23/07 11:07 AM

Whats up Seth,

Just curious do you think a lot of the so called high rated freeware for security (Adaware,Spybot etc....) are just as good or better than their costly counterparts??

A: security?

by srosenblatt - 8/23/07 11:12 AM

I think all security-ware is tricky to parse. Some of them seem effective, others are clearly not. For example, I just tested A-Squared Free 3 yesterday, and it kicked up more than 200 positives. But once I turned off the Cookies alert, that went down to less than 20, a far more reasonable number.

A: Hello!

by srosenblatt - 8/23/07 10:54 AM

Welcome to another edition of Ask the Editors. Today I'll be taking your questions on freeware, DRM and torrents, so feel free to hit me with them... starting now!

Incoming questions

video editing software for FREEEE
hey seth i was wondering if you had any recommendations for video editing software that doesn't require any license and won't watermark the final file. ideally i'm looking for a dvd editing software and something simple. thanks
by aadil421 - 8/23/07 12:00 PM
Google + XSS vulnerability, your thoughts?
Seth,

What is your take on Google and their incapability or lack of intrepidation to plug a serious XSS vulnerability that Robert Hansen (RSnake - ha.ackers.org found)? I wrote a brief on it here: http://www.thereformed.org/2007/08/21/google-xss-destruction-of-mankind .

I am concerned with their lack of validation and universal code-injection allowance in their gmodules.com website.
by jalongoria - 8/23/07 11:50 AM
caddychick in regards to golf handicap
Not too sure what you are looking for exactly, but here are some software titles available on CNET Download.com that you can try out:

http://www.download.com/3120-20_4-0.html?tg=dl-20&qt=golf%20handicap

Good luck I hope it helps a bit.

-Lee
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 8/23/07 11:40 AM
Seth can you explain exactly what bit torrent is?
And how it works? I'm just learning this stuff now and I want to know. Is it similar to Limewire and such? Also how can I tell what is legal and not legal to download?
by sbaxter - 8/23/07 11:35 AM
bittorrent
how do i use bittorrent?
by link500 - 8/23/07 11:29 AM
Golf Software
Hi Seth, I am looking for some software for a golf handicap. I can only put in the total scores and the date and course rating/slope. Most of everything I have looked at, you have to put the rounds in also. I don't have that info. Do you have any suggestions?
by caddychick - 8/23/07 11:26 AM
Security Freeware(cont..)
Those were just examples I could think of off the top of my head...So do you really think any of it actually gets rid of ALL of the problems? or is it just smart to have a good combination of them to try and get rid of/look for as much as possible? And also what do you think are the best programs rightnow for viruses and spyware?
by ODglock19 - 8/23/07 11:16 AM
Best free image editor
Hi Seth,

I used to use GIMP quite a bit, but I haven't used an image editor regularly in some time. Is GIMP still the best option out there in terms of free photo-editing apps?
by ark4str - 8/23/07 11:16 AM
MAME ROMs
What are the legalities behind MAME ROMs? I've read that because many of the games are no longer commercially available, the copyright is muddled.
by pacvol - 8/23/07 11:15 AM
Security Freeware
Whats up Seth,

Just curious do you think a lot of the so called high rated freeware for security (Adaware,Spybot etc....) are just as good or better than their costly counterparts??
by ODglock19 - 8/23/07 11:07 AM
Seth Rosenblatt, CNET Download.com editor LIVE!
Ask the Editors Live!

Freeware, DRM, and torrents live chat event with CNET Download.com editor Seth Rosenblatt starts Thursday August 23rd at 11 a.m. to noon Pacific / 2 p.m to 3 p.m Eastern. Where Seth will be answering your questions on freeware, DRM, torrents, and more. Get your questions ready and see you at the event!

Click here for upcoming Ask the Editors Live events and past transcripts of events.
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 8/21/07 5:13 PM