Need current copy of Gibson's TIP program

  • Thread starter Thread starter Achim Nolcken Lohse
  • Start date Start date
Nothing to do with the browsers - I downloaded the file with IE,
Firefox and, out of curiosity, a "browser" I wrote quickly so I could
see the actual data flow back and forth. What DIDN'T work was a
couple of download managers. The link isn't to a downloadable file,
it's to an invisible page that autosends the file to you - causing
your browser - if you don't have a download manager screwing things up
- to do what it's set to do with exe files, which is normally to
download them.
Click to expand...

Well, I just disabled browser integration on Star Downloader, and also
unchecked "read URL's from clipboard" . There aren't any options left
to disable.

Then I went to www.grc.com/freepopular.htm, and clicked on the
download button next to Trouble in Paradise, and chose the "save to
disk option". Exactly what I've been describing happened, IE appears
to be downloading the file, showing some variable download speed,
sometimes witha a progress bar and/or KBs downloaded, but in all
cases, never completes the download, and (unlike with real aborted
downloads), there's not even a truncated file called tip.exe in my
target folder.

So - what has this to do with Star Downloader. How has it stopped IE
from downloading TIP.EXE, and why didn't it stop it from downloading
sb.zip, or the pdf file from the same page?
 
(e-mail address removed) (Achim Nolcken Lohse) wrote in
I even tried clicking on the dot that appears where an e-mail address
seems to be announced, but nothing happened. I looked for link button
as well, but couldn't find any, and my e-mail client didn't launch at
any time.

So, if you've got Steve's e-mail address, please forward this post to
him. If he cares at all, he can contact me for details.
Click to expand...

I see now he's using javascript to encrypt the address -- with js
disabled, I also see nothing. The address is
support2006[at]grc[dot]com and his link puts "GRC Support Query" in the
Subject.
 
(e-mail address removed) (Achim Nolcken Lohse) wrote in
I even tried clicking on the dot that appears where an e-mail address
seems to be announced, but nothing happened. I looked for link button
as well, but couldn't find any, and my e-mail client didn't launch at
any time.

So, if you've got Steve's e-mail address, please forward this post to
him. If he cares at all, he can contact me for details.
Click to expand...

I see now he's using javascript to encrypt the address -- with js
disabled, I also see nothing. The address is
support2006[at]grc[dot]com and his link puts "GRC Support Query" in the
Subject.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I had a feeling it was something like that. But on most sites
you get a warning or at least a clue that javascript is required.

Like several posters here, I'm still running Win98SE, so I'm getting
quite antsy about enabling Active Scripting, especially since MS
refuses to release a security patch for the latest exploits. I only
use it now for my banks and a few other official sites I can't avoid
using., It seems particularly churlish of Steve to force Win98 users
to expose themselves to Java Script exploits.

I've previously e-mailed a few messages regarding his programs, but
lately haven't had any response from Steve himself. And the replies
have generally been dismissive and irritable.

I'm trying to think of a good reason why Gibson would force Zip and
Jaz users to get a new copy of TIP every year. His rationale is that
he wants you to have the latest version, but so far as I can tell, he
hasn't changed anything in the program in years, and after all, the
technology is dead in the water now, since you can get a 512MB CF card
for $16, or a 1GB 150X SD card for $50. So he's only inconveniencing
people who have a lot of archival data on Zip or Jaz drives and
haven't gotten around to moving them over to CD or DVD yet. It seems
awfully petulant.

I've gotten good use out of the program, and would gladly pay him $5
or so for a copy without a time bomb, but so far as I know, he's never
offered a version that isn't time limited.


I guess I'll have to hurry up and save all my Zip content to optical
media before he finally shuts the door on TIP altogether.
 
I guess I'll have to hurry up and save all my Zip content to optical
media before he finally shuts the door on TIP altogether.
Click to expand...

I'm sure to start up a riot here but anyway ....

1. I can get the program via FireFox - no scripting, no java.

2. This is the site address which I presume you're using.
It's the one I posted originally and it still works.
http://www.grc.com/files/tip.exe

3. It's been pointed out that you're unlikely to get a personal
reply because he's a busy guy and he has others to deal
with his business correspondence. Best thing is to stop trying

4. If you really insist on having some personal attention, instead
of making attacks on him in this NG, why not do something
constructive for yourself and see if there actually _IS_ something
amiss. As already pointed out this will be at news.grc.techtalk or
his web site will also allow readership.
http://www.grc.com/discussions.htm

NB: You will need a passphrase to post a message so, perhaps, read the
groups first or access http://www.imilly.com/noregrets.htm#guide
to find out how.
 
I'm sure to start up a riot here but anyway ....

1. I can get the program via FireFox - no scripting, no java.

2. This is the site address which I presume you're using.
It's the one I posted originally and it still works.
http://www.grc.com/files/tip.exe

3. It's been pointed out that you're unlikely to get a personal
reply because he's a busy guy and he has others to deal
with his business correspondence. Best thing is to stop trying

4. If you really insist on having some personal attention, instead
of making attacks on him in this NG, why not do something
constructive for yourself and see if there actually _IS_ something
amiss. As already pointed out this will be at news.grc.techtalk or
his web site will also allow readership.
http://www.grc.com/discussions.htm

NB: You will need a passphrase to post a message so, perhaps, read the
groups first or access http://www.imilly.com/noregrets.htm#guide
to find out how.
Click to expand...
As I made fairly plain in a previous post, I don't see much point in
trying to get personal attention from Gibson, or his staff. What I've
gotten in the past has been generally desultory, dismissive brush
offs.

I didn't post here to badmounth Steve or his site, just to get some
help. But since there appeared to be an interest in the details, I
elaborated.

BTW - I DO think that consideration of the changing state of mind and
quality of work of someone widely trusted as a security guru and
general "good guy" is a valid and worthwhile topic of discussion.

As for registering on his site to participate in his forums - frankly,
I don't know why a security expert needs employ this kind of
communication road bump. I'm not hiding behind any anonymizing sites
or programs.

And, as I also reported previously, had he made a commentary link
accessible to me on his site, I would have reported my problem there
first as a courtesy, despite the expectation from previous experience
that I'd be wasting my time.
 
(e-mail address removed) (Achim Nolcken Lohse) wrote in
As for registering on his site to participate in his forums -
frankly, I don't know why a security expert needs employ this kind
of communication road bump.
Click to expand...

No registration is needed.
 
(e-mail address removed) (Achim Nolcken Lohse) wrote in


No registration is needed.
Click to expand...
Thanks for pointing that out. I was assuming Bazza's comment was
accurate:


.....
NB: You will need a passphrase to post a message so, perhaps, read the
groups first or access http://www.imilly.com/noregrets.htm#guide
to find out how.
--
Click to expand...
I went back just now to have a third look, and really don't see the
point of reading through reams of discussion group postings to find
the right group, then describe my simple download problem (ad
nauseam), and then go back to read and respond to the replies.

No doubt there are plenty of simpletons in any of those forums ready
to call me a fool or a liar because THEIR browser and/or download
manager doesn't have any problems downloading Gibson's .exe files. Why
should I go to the trouble of shopping elsewhere, when I can get all
that here, as well as the help I was actually looking for?
 
(e-mail address removed) (Achim Nolcken Lohse) wrote in
Thanks for pointing that out. I was assuming Bazza's comment was
accurate:
Click to expand...

Bazza was correct. You do need a userid/password, but you don't have
to register. You just make one up. There's more info at the url Bazza
posted.
I went back just now to have a third look, and really don't see
the point of reading through reams of discussion group postings to
find the right group, then describe my simple download problem (ad
nauseam), and then go back to read and respond to the replies.
Click to expand...

I'd think the grc.feedback group would be the right one for something
like this.
No doubt there are plenty of simpletons in any of those forums
ready to call me a fool or a liar because THEIR browser and/or
download manager doesn't have any problems downloading Gibson's
.exe files.
Click to expand...

I have a very hard time imagining them responding that way unless you
opened by calling them simpletons.
 
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