system. Next, the scientists demonstrated the ability to interlace two
parallel arrays of the thicker
microbeams at a 90-degree angle to
form a solid beam at a small target
volume in the rats’ brains and then
measured the effects of varying doses
of radiation on the targeted and
surrounding tissue using magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) scans. For
interlacing, the gaps between the
beams in each array were chosen
to be the same as the thickness of
each beam, so the beams from one
array would fill the gaps in the other
to produce the equivalent of an
unsegmented beam in the target
volume only. The MRI scans showed
that, at a particular dose of radiation,
the new configuration could produce
major damage to the target volume,
but virtually no damage beyond the
target range. Neither the original nor
the improved MRT technique has
been tested in humans, but is appears
to have a great deal of promise.
virus signature files, install the latest
patches, and implement a multilayered approach to detecting and blocking attacks. For more information on
this subject — including a specific
breakdown of growth rates by type of
threat — or to learn more about
cutting-edge security research and
opinions, you can visit the McAfee
Avert Labs Security Blog at www.avert
labs.com/research/blog/?p= 49.
INTERNET FAX SERVICE
ENHANCED
If you’re ready to dump the fax
machine and start sending all your
faxes via the Internet, you might be
interested in a service called MyFax®
( www.myfax.com), which is actually
provided by Protus IP Solutions, Inc.
For $10 per month, you can send and
receive faxes using existing email
accounts, and the base rate includes
100 sent and 200 received pages.
Inbound faxes are stored for 31 days
on a secure server. The latest news
from the company is that MyFax now
is integrated with Microsoft® Office
2003 and Lotus Notes®, so you can
send a fax directly from Word®,
Excel®, or PowerPoint® using a single
button with no need to open
Outlook® first. The upgraded service
also provides increased file support
for outbound faxing, including Visio,
Snapshot, and MHT files.
cuts on its full line of miniStack V2
FireWire/USB 2.0 combination
storage devices. Prices now range
from $124.99 for the 80 GB unit
to $559 for a 750 GB model. A
nice mid-range selection is the
500 GB miniStack, which has
dropped in price from $419.99 to
$299. All models 160 GB or higher
feature the latest Seagate Barracuda
7200.9 and 7200.10 mechanisms,
which carry a five-year warranty. The
80 GB model is based on Hitachi
hard disk mechanisms with a
three-year warranty. The overall
package is warranted by NewerTech
for two years and takes up only 6. 5
by 6. 5 by 1.5 inches. It works with
any Mac, Intel Mac, PC, or Linux
computer with an available FireWire
or USB port. For details, visit
www.newertech.com.
COMPUTERS AND
NETWORKING
COMPUTER SECURITY
THREATS DOUBLE
CIRCUITS AND
DEVICES
IPOD® TO CAR STEREO
CONNECTION
If you have a feeling that threats to
computer security are getting worse,
you’re right. McAfee, Inc. (www.
mcafee.com), has announced that it
now has 200,000 definitions in its
threat database, which contained only
half that number in September 2004.
It took 18 years for the database to
reach 100,000, so we’re looking at a
60 percent decrease in the amount of
time it took to double in size.
Furthermore, McAfee predicts that the
number will reach 400,000 in less
than two more years. According to
the company, while bots are still the
leading cause of this dramatic growth,
exploits and downloaders are a close
second. Email threats, which made up
a large percentage of the number of
threats in 2004, saw smaller growth
over the last two years as compared to
other categories of “malware.” The
company warns that to stay protected,
both enterprises and consumers must
constantly stay updated with the latest
LOWER PRICES FOR
HARD DRIVES
Continuing the traditional industry
trend toward more storage for less
money, Newer Technology, Inc.
(NewerTech), has announced price
Assuming that the piece of junk
you’re driving around is old
enough to sport a
cassette player
instead of a CD
changer, Belkin has
a deal for you. The
TuneDeck™ for
iPod nano (model
F8Z064) is a complete in-car device
PHOTO COURTESY OF BELKIN CORP.
■ The TuneDeck for
iPod nano.
■ The miniStack V2, showing rear and
side ports.
PHOTO COUR TES Y OF NE WER TECH.
September 2006 9
