Originally published at PC Tips Box. Please leave any comments there.

Here are some miscellaneous tips for debugging HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in Mozilla Firefox.

They include references to Firefox extensions (plug-ins) that you will need or want, as well as tips for configuring Firefox, how to actually invoke the debugging procedures, and a few shortcuts to keep in mind. A number of landmines are also pointed out along the way. (Please avoid stepping on those, because it gets messy.)

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Tags: internet, web

Originally published at PC Tips Box. Please leave any comments there.

Every time technology advances to create new business capabilities, opportunities arise for that technology to be used to harm your business. Case in point: intranets and extranets. Networks are invaluable, keeping your employees connected whether they’re in the office or across the country. But networks are also a prime target for hackers, malware, and other threats. So a fundamental item in your security arsenal needs to be a bulletproof, centralized firewall.

The idea, essentially, is that there are bad guys out there, and you need to put something between them and your network. A firewall controls your network traffic, allowing or blocking activities and access based on security policies you set.

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Tags: internet, software, windows

Originally published at PC Tips Box. Please leave any comments there.

Mozilla on Thursday launched Thunderbird 2, the latest version of its free, open-source e-mail client featuring message tagging and customization.

Thunderbird 2, with its enhanced features, is intended to ease the organization of e-mail via message tags, advanced folder viewing, and speedier inbox and message searching. Under its message tagging feature, users can assign single or multiple custom tags to their e-mail, such as “from mom” or “weekend projects.” Users would also be able to assign default tags, as well.

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Tags: internet, software, web

Originally published at PC Tips Box. Please leave any comments there.

I love fonts. I have a fantastic collection of them, ranging from delicate script fonts to ones that look as if they’ve been stenciled. The most wonderful of all, however, are the fonts I made myself. The process is simpler than you might imagine; all you need is a bit of free time, some software (such as High-Logic’s FontCreator, Home edition, $79 direct; www.high-logic.com), and a scanner.

You’ll have to do some fairly tedious writing: all the uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation marks and other symbols you typically use. (Alternatively, depending on what kind of font you want, you could draw the characters in your graphics software.) Then you’ll scan the page into your PC, tweak the characters, and in less time than it would take to chisel the alphabet into granite, you’ll have your very own font. — next: Step By Step

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Tags: computer, internet, software

Originally published at PC Tips Box. Please leave any comments there.

It was a sad day last Friday when I uninstalled Firefox from our terminal servers. At the same time, I upgraded from Internet Explorer 6 to IE 7, which fortunately has most of the spiffy features that we’ve all grown to love about Firefox (especially tabbed browsing).

I had previously been happy to give students the choice of browsers and had even set the default to Firefox, since so many students and staff had adopted the IE alternative (often at my urging). However, our business applications teacher brought a significant problem with Firefox to my attention.

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Tags: internet, software

Originally published at PC Tips Box. Please leave any comments there.

How’s this for a new twist on the old responsible disclosure debate: Hackers are taking advantage of information released in Microsoft’s pre-patch security advisories to create exploits for zero-day vulnerabilities.

The latest zero-day flaw in the Windows DNS Server RPC interface implementation is a perfect example of the tug-o-war within the MSRC (Microsoft Security Response Center) about how much information should be included in the pre-patch advisory.

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Tags: internet, windows

Originally published at PC Tips Box. Please leave any comments there.

Firefox is a great browser which allows almost anyone with minimal coding experience to create plugins and addons to make Firefox even better.

However, sometimes letting someone with basic coding skills near your browser isn’t a good thing, and adding certain firefox addons can actually make the greatest browser worse.

Luckily Computer World have named and shamed some of the worst extensions,

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Tags: internet, software, web

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Google Voice Local Search is Google’s experimental service to make local-business search accessible over the phone. To try this service, just dial 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411) from any phone.

Using this service, you can:
* search for a local business by name or category.
You can say “Giovanni’s Pizzeria” or just “pizza”.
* get connected to the business, free of charge.
* get the details by SMS if you’re using a mobile phone.
Just say “text message”.

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Tags: internet, web

Originally published at PC Tips Box. Please leave any comments there.

Could you cope without the internet? What do you do when your broadband connection goes down? I think I would find it impossible to go a whole day without logging on which is quite sad.

If you’re not sure if your internet usage has reached dangerous levels yet, then you should take this test which measures the level of your addiction. Based on your score you can decide whether or not you need to take drastic action quick!

The higher your score (I’ll tell you my score later!), the greater your addiction level:

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Tags: computer, internet, web

Originally published at PC Tips Box. Please leave any comments there.

Although Internet Explorer 7 doesn’t have as many plugins or addons as Firefox, there are addons for IE7 that will cover off most of the features that users will need covering. Over the last couple of months I’ve been using IE7 as my main browser, because it’s the only one I’m allowed to use at work.

Martin from gHacks has put together a great list of some of the free plugins, which are all available in the Windows Marketplace. He’s even located the Firefox equivalent if you

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Tags: internet, software, windows