[aprssig] OT RE: Irfanview and DEP (was APRS Frequency info?)

[Dave Baxter]

Hi...

The problem is fairly well known.  Some (I don't know about any later)
versions of Irfan view, internally executes run time code, read into
data buffers.  In this case it's intentional, and part of the way the
program was written.  I won't go into if it's good/bad practice, but it
was a common thing to do in the past...

Anyway, it's also a common way for unintended visitors to begin to hack
your PC, the so called buffer overrun, resulting in code being executed
in a data area.

"DEP" or Data Execution Protection is one way to prevent that.  Some
high end CPU's can do that if programmed up the correct way, some
versions of Windowz can do something similar (they say) in software.
Either way, Irfanview (an otherwise very versatile image manipulator)
will fail to run, and bring up warning messages etc... 

An alternative (though not free) very good program could be Paint Shop
Pro.  But later versions are mind bogglingly complex!.

73.

Dave G0WBX.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ray Wells [mailto:vk2tv at exemail.com.au] 
> Sent: 07 July 2008 09:28
> To: TAPR APRS Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [aprssig] APRS Frequency info?
> 
> Never had an issue with Irfanview here but then I don't trust 
> Microshaft to protect my computer.
> 
> Ray vk2tv
> 
> Dave Baxter wrote:
> 
> >Hi...
> >
> >Note that Irfanview can seriously "P" off some security/AV system 
> >programs, particularly those that check for programs that 
> run code in 
> >data buffers (DEP).  It's doubtful Irfanview is malicious, but take
> >care.   Some versions of Vista, and later incarnations of XP with all
> >security settings enabled, may complain, or even prevent it running.
> >
> >
> >________________________________
> >
> >From: Stephen H. Smith [mailto:wa8lmf2 at aol.com]
> >Sent: 05 July 2008 06:03
> >To: bruninga at usna.edu; TAPR APRS Mailing List
> >Subject: Re: [aprssig] APRS Frequency info?
> >	 
> >	.
> >	.
> >	.
> >	 
> >Then twiddle the resulting images in Photoshop.  Jack up the 
> contrast, 
> >crop and resize from it's native multi-megapixel resolution to 
> >something like 320x240, reduce the color depth from photographic 
> >high-color to 256 colors (you'll never notice the difference 
> on screen 
> >shots or images of
> >maps) and save as a GIF image.  If you don't have PhotoShop, the 
> >freeware IrfanView program from <http://irfanview.com> 
> ><http://irfanview.com>  can perform these operations just 
> about as well.
> >
> >	
> >     <http://www.nvu.com/>     
> >
> >That sounds nice, I intend to take a good look at that later, What's 
> >the "unoficial bugfix" version (KomPozer) like?
> >
> >73
> >
> >Dave G0WBX
> >  
> >	
> >	  
> >
> >This mail has been scanned by Palmer Cook Computer Services 
> Limited.  
> >www.palmercook.co.uk _______________________________________________
> >aprssig mailing list
> >aprssig at lists.tapr.org
> >https://lists.tapr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aprssig
> >
> >  
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
This mail has been scanned by Palmer Cook Computer Services Limited.  www.palmercook.co.uk