Running Windows Applications in Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy) Using VirtualBox

VirtualBox is a virtual machine that's available in Ubuntu 7.10 and that will allow you to run those stubborn Windows applications that you can't get read of. Watch the video to learn how to make one of your system's workspaces a Windows XP one.
Running Windows Applications in Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy) Using VirtualBox (Click for Large Version).

Uninstalling iTunes and Wine

I recently saw a problem where a new user installed Wine (a Windows compatability layer) so he could run iTunes. If you want to do it, too, you can foolow the directions for iTunes on Ubuntu just to spite Vista. In the end, though, he didn't have working sound and didn't want to take up space on his hard drive.

Removing iTunes via the uninstaller didn't work for him, either, and removing the Wine application didn't clean up his menu. He was understandably frustrated, and thought his only choice was to go in and manually remove system files. Here's my advice to him (or you, if you're in this position).

Before you delete files manually in the system area (always a bad idea for a new user), go to System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package manager.

Supply your password In the left pane, click to view packages by "Status" and choose the "Not installed (residual config)" section. You'll find Wine in there.

Click on the square next to the wine package and choose "Mark for Complete Removal." This will remove all the configuration files which aren't removed by default (so you don't have to set everything up again if you reinstall). You won't have those system files anymore.

Next, for your menu, open Places -> Home and in the View menu, choose to "Show hidden files." Enter the .config/menus/applications-merged area and delete anything that starts with "wine." Your wine menu entry should be gone now.

This basic procedure will work for any stubborn application which refuses to disappear from your system and your menu.

p.s. Rhythmbox is a good replacement for iTunes and has the bonus of being the default player in Ubuntu. If you don't like RB, I understand Songbird is excellent.

Something About This Seems Ironic

The big news today for Linux users is that new iPods won't work under any of the available Linux software due to a new security method Apple implemented. They will Only work with iTunes. Hmm. Bad news for Linux, eh?

It is bad news, and seems insurmountable until you look at the changelog for the verion of Wine released today (Wine assists users in running Windows apps on Linux and other Unix-type systems). Right there at the top -- "Many improvements to the crypto dlls (should make iTunes work)."

Update: The database was cracked within a week. The new library is equipped to handle the new iPods.

The Storm Worm ... Again!!!

Well, the Storm worm (actually a trojan) is making its rounds again,
this time using blogs and youtube.com as a phishing front.

The victim reads a blog and sees a link to a funny YouTube video. Who
wouldn't click that, right? The link leads not to youtube, but to a
phishing site which hand-crafts a page based on the browser and
version, putting an exploit right in there with the HTML.

How to get infected in Windows:
See an interesting blog, click the link. Presto! You've got Storm!

How to get infected in Ubuntu:
Quoted from http://www.gnu.org/fun/jokes/evilmalware.html
1. Put the attachment into the appropriate directory eg. /usr/src

2. Type `tar xvzf evilmalware.tar.gz' to extract the source files for
this virus.

3. `cd' to the directory containing the virus's source code and type
`./configure' to configure the virus for your system. If you're
using `csh' on an old version of System V, you might need to type
`sh ./configure' instead to prevent `csh' from trying to execute
`configure' itself.

4. Type `make' to compile the package. You may need to be logged in as
root to do this.

5. Optionally, type `make check_payable' to run any self-tests that come
with the virus, and send a large donation to an unnumbered Swiss bank
account.

6. Type `make install' to install the virus and any spyware, trojans
pornography, penis enlargement adverts and DDoS attacks that
come with it.

7. You may now configure your preferred malware behaviour in
/etc/evilmalware.conf .

Sometimes ease of use is not what you want...