New Release December 2006

I have just released new program major release. ShixxNOTE 6.net (Released December 2006) Build 125. This new version is now available on program homepage site under Download section.

• Critical security bug is now fixed. Parsing network message is improved and now possible attacker can not cause buffer overflow. This bug was discovered by Luigi Auremma.
• Important bug fixed. All received notes will be visible after computer or program restart. Problem with disappearance of received notes is now fixed. In previous version, received notes sometimes were lost after program restart. Now in this new release you will always see all your received notes and no more lost notes.

Luigi Auremma discoverer of security bug was informed and he changed his ShixxNOTE program change log file with new update that bug is fixed and that new release is now available on his site. Check now ShixxNOTE program info on his official security site.

UPDATE 27 Dec 2006: The author has released a patched version (build 125)

Also I have to inform you that ShixxNOTE 6.net is ready for Windows Vista, check program homepage under section What’s New or Awards to see more.

Ozren Sirola
ShixxNOTE Program Developer
http://www.shixxnote.com

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Windows Firewall and ShixxNOTE

If you have Windows Firewall activated on your computer and it is “On”, after ShixxNOTE program first start you will probably get Windows Security Alert dialog. If you have Windows 7 installed then you will get dialog (first picture above) asking you to allow access to ShixxNOTE program ; if you have Windows XP then dialog (second picture) will appear asking you to unblock program (check the picture above). This is normal because ShixxNOTE is multi-thread client/server application (LAN messenger). You can send note and receive notes to others in your LAN. For sending and receiving notes ShixxNOTE program communication port must be open. So if you get this dialog you have to click on Unblock or Allow access button to enable sending and receiving note(s) feature. After you click Allow access (Windows Vista/7) or Unblock (Windows XP) ShixxNOTE program will be added in Windows Firewall – Exceptions dialog and will work properly in your network.

If you have Windows 7 installed then you can open Windows Firewall with Advanced Security dialog and if you allowed access to program you will get dialog like picture bellow.

Windows 7 Firewall Advanced Settings

If you click Cancel or Keep Blocking button then you will not be able to receive notes from others. Because Windows Firewall will block incoming note data for ShixxNOTE program.

Also you can always open ShixxNOTE communication port “2000” manually in “Local area connections” – “Advanced tab”. If you don’t know how write me and I will help you.If you have any problems with sending or receiving notes in program, check your firewall settings first. If you didn’t fix the problem ask your network administrator to help you.

And finally write me if you have any problem regarding sending and receiving notes, or any other problems with program.

Ozren Sirola

ShixxNOTE Program Developer
admin@shixxnote.com

 

Security and Firewall

ShixxNOTE 6.net is multi thread client (you can create note, write text and send note to others) and server (one program thread is always listening and waiting on default program port 2000 for incoming note) application. If you have program installed and you can send and receive note(s) normally then everything is OK, but if you have problems with communication, then check your firewall settings. Firewall programs like Zone Alarm or Windows Firewall will block all traffic for programs which are not in list.

For example if you install ShixxNOTE 6.net and you have Zone Alarm installed also, you will get message “ShixxNOTE is trying to act as server 127.0.0.0 will you allow it ?”. This is normal, because ShixxNOTE is really server, so if you want to receive note(s) from others you must allow ShixxNOTE to act like server.

If you have Windows Firewall on, and you are having problems with sending or receiving note(s), you must open TCP port 2000 and name it for example “ShixxNOTE Port”. If you block that port ShixxNOTE will not work properly, sending and receiving of note(s) will be blocked. If you ever get this dialog bellow you must click button Unblock, then ShixxNOTE program will work properly and you don’t need to open port manually.

If you don’t know how to change network settings ask your network administrator for help. If some other application is using port 2000 you can change ShixxNOTE port on “Network Settings” dialog (right mouse click on ShixxNOTE tray icon located in your task bar and select “Settings” option).

In “Network Settings” dialog change port to some other if you need. But then all other computers in your LAN or Intranet which have program installed must do the same (change port to new one) to receive note(s).

If you have any problem or question regarding this article please write me on mail admin@shixxnote.com

Kind regards

Ozren Sirola
ShixxNOTE Program Developer
admin@shixxnote.com