| Breaking Tech News |
 |
Warning: JPEGs may carry PC virus; install patch now!
Computer security experts last week warned of a new virus that can be spread to Windows PCs simply by viewing JPEG images on an infected Web page or in an e-mail message. If your computer is not configured to automatically install Microsoft security patches, you may wish to install this one manually.
The JPEG virus affects only Windows PCs and can affect Windows XP, Internet Explorer 6, Office programs like Word and Excel, as well as Visio, Project, and several other popular Microsoft programs.
Microsoft reports that an attack on a user logged on with administrator privileges could take complete control of an affected system, including installing programs; viewing, changing, or deleting data; or creating new accounts with full privileges. PC users who have less than administrator privileges are at less risk.
A patch for the JPEG virus is available from Microsoft and from anti-virus software publishers. We advise PC users to immediately download and install a patch if automatic updates have not been made.
To learn more about this virus and to download a patch, go to:
Microsoft:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms04-028.mspx
Symantec:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/security/Content/11173.html
McAfee:
http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_128356.htm
New “Digital Negative” spec gaining rapid industry acceptance
Adobe Systems on September 27 unveiled a new digital file specification called Digital Negative (DNG) that may soon become an industry standard for storing, manipulating and transmitting images from digital cameras. Anyone working with digital imagery should be aware of this new format for camera raw files.
Many photographers prefer the raw format for digital capture because raw files include all of the data captured by a camera’s image sensor, prior to any in-camera processing or compression. The versatility of working with raw files is often compared to working with an analog slide or film negative. Most pro photographers archive their raw files.
Raw files differ from JPEGs and TIFFs, which are created from an image’s raw file, and may include less than optimal processing and compression done by software in the camera. Raw files also capture camera metadata, which supports copyright protections.
The problem Adobe is trying to solve is that there is no single standard for raw files. Each digital camera model creates a unique raw file in a format that is incompatible with other manufacturers’ equipment and software. Raw files created by Canon digital cameras, for example, are incompatible with software to process raw files from Nikon digital cameras – each requires separate converter software for editing.
DNG would support an array of imaging devices and software, including cameras, scanners, and the Photoshop imaging software. The standard is free to users and manufacturers, without legal restrictions.
Adobe also released a free software tool for converting raw files from more than 65 different raw formats in use today to the DNG standard. Adobe’s DNG raw file conversion tool can be downloaded for free at http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html
“Adobe has provided an open-source answer to solve the problem of incompatible proprietary raw formats and guarantee the integrity of the intellectual property for future generations,” said Seth Resnick, owner of Seth Resnick Photography and founding president of the Editorial Photographers Group.
DNG, Resnick continued, “preserves all of the needed proprietary metadata from the camera manufacturers, at the same time providing a universal means of archiving the data for all future generations. I would urge all photographers to embrace DNG as a means of preserving the very integrity of digital photography, which can only be beneficial to all photographers and camera manufacturers alike."
Several large companies involved in digital imaging – including Corbis, Getty, Microsoft and Hewlett Packard – issued statements supporting DNG.
William Radcliffe, director of technology development for Corbis, said DNG “will help to move the imaging industry forward and enable more efficient digital imaging workflows. We hope to see DNG adopted widely by all major vendors of digital cameras, equipment and imaging software."
|
|
|
