You've probably heard about a particularly nasty trojan horse attack recently which exploited several vulnerabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer and Internet Information Services. While viruses and trojans have been taking advantage of known vulnerabilities for years, this particular attack is new because it uses several vulnerabilities at once, one of them being unpatched by Microsoft at the time of infection, and it doesn't require the user to download or install any programs or visit any malicious websites. Even if you have the latest patches from Microsoft and only visit trusted websites your system is still vulnerable and you're risking your credit card numbers, bank account information, passwords and other sensitive data if you use Internet Explorer. Due to ongoing security concerns, it's time to say goodbye to Internet Explorer forever -- here's how to do it along with a brief explanation of why Internet Explorer is such an abomination before all mankind.

Linspire 5.0 (Five-0) is a Debian GNU/Linux-based distribution with a pretty interface, proprietary video drivers and browser plug-ins, and a pricey desktop software subscription model. If you like Linspire but hate the company's Click N Run pay-as-you-go software service, here's how to disable and circumvent CNR and switch to using standard Debian packages and the Synaptic package manager. I'll also show you how to set up your system for watching DVDs without Linspire's proprietary DVD player software.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 represents a significant step forward for GUI-based enterprise server operating systems. While others are still fiddling with the 2.4 kernel, Novell has jumped up to 2.6, adding several exclusive features that make SLES9 stand above its competition. On its surface SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 looks like a somewhat reduced version of SUSE Linux 9.1 Professional, but its most exciting features are hidden beneath the familiar green and blue GUI. Slackware or BSD servers are unlikely to be replaced by SUSE and its fancy interface, but Windows Server 2003 has no prayer against this production-quality server OS.

The corporate desktop GNU/Linux distribution is a relatively new invention, having begun with SUSE Desktop, then followed by Sun's Java Desktop System and Red Hat Desktop. But with much less fanfare, Mandrivasoft released a Corporate Desktop product last January. It's cheaper, has no minimum purchase requirement, and has support options of from one to five years. Compared to the alternatives, Mandriva Corporate Desktop is suited more for smaller shops that need a cost-effective and reliable desktop platform with corporate support.

Mandrakesoft released its Corporate Server 3.0 product in February. It's a significant upgrade to the older 2.1 edition. With a newer kernel and a competent GUI management utility for its services, Corporate Server 3.0 is a good, inexpensive choice for businesses that need a powerful and secure server operating system with as little overhead as possible.