| Dave "Bytes" Please remember to use your thinker, before you tinker! | Where's That Music Coming From? (Turn off the volume if it gets annoying!!) |
A Periodic Newsletter for the
Members of the Sarasota PC User Group and the World!!
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Here's A
Windows Tip
How to Remove the Speaker Icon
There is
a little speaker icon that lives in the lower-right of your screen right next
to the clock. This icon enables you to adjust the Volume on your computer by
clicking on it. If you want to remove this
icon:
Click on
"Start", point to "Settings" and click on "Control
Panel".
Double
click to open the "Multimedia" or "Sounds & Multimedia"
window.
Click to
remove the check mark from "Show Volume Control on the Taskbar".
If you
want to put the speaker back, just follow the directions and click to put a
check mark back in the box.
WinZip offers fix for security flaw
A fix is now available for a critical security flaw in the popular
WinZip file compression tool.
WinZip
Computing warned last month of a flaw in WinZip, its tool for
compressing and decompressing files that runs on the Windows operating
system. WinZip versions 3.x, 6.x, 7.x, 8.x and 9.x contain vulnerabilities that
could allow a remote attacker to execute malicious code and cause a buffer
overflow.
The
problem is caused by a flaw in the way WinZip handles command line inputs.
Security software company Secunia has just rated the flaw "highly critical," the fourth highest out of
its five severity levels.
WinZip
has released a patch for version 9 of the software.
The
fix is contained in WinZip
9.0 Service Release 1. That update also gives the software the capability
to issue warning messages for some problems. For example, if a user
double-clicks on an .exe file compressed within a Zip file, WinZip will warn
that the compressed file could contain a virus.
Vanquish
Spyware
Often called the Trojan horse of technology, spyware can enter your system via
free software that you install on your computer.
Once in your system, not only does spyware make a detailed check of your
browser history, it can even install other programs without your knowledge, and
send (or receive) cookies to other spyware programs, literally inviting them
into your computer (even if you have cookies disabled). It's like leaving a
back door open for hackers to enter your computer and get your personal data.
Spyware secretly gathers information and profile-browsing habits, allowing
advertisers to build up information about what you do and where you go on the
Web. Advertisers then use this information and target their ads accordingly.
Not only can this be annoying, but the spyware can actually degrade your
computer's performance.
To top it off, these programs are not easy to delete from your system by normal
methods and often leave components behind to continue to monitor your behavior
and reinstall themselves.
Some symptoms caused by spyware include:
• Poor system performance (especially while browsing the Internet)
• Your computer is frequently unresponsive
• It takes longer to open the Windows desktop
• Your Internet browser closes unexpectedly
• The homepage of your browser changes and cannot be reset
• Pop-up ads appear when your browser isn't open
• Additional toolbars are added to your browser
• Web pages are automatically added to your list of favorites
• Desktop icons are automatically added to your desktop
You can manually remove most adware by uninstalling the software that it came
with or removing the adware using Windows Add/Remove Programs. Aggressive
spyware can be extremely difficult to remove. Don't attempt to remove these
kinds of software without spyware removal software such as SpyBot Search &
Destroy and Ad-Aware which can both be found at www.davebytes.com
BITS |
| BYTES |
|
Clicking on
Dave will take you to the
"Bits &
Bytes"
site where you
can listen to the most recent broadcast
While Wandering
The Web
Lunch Slots
So your hungry, and you have a group of people, and you just can't figure out
which restaurant to go to. No problem. Use lunch slots. Lunch Slots will
randomly choose from both local restaurants and global chains like Olive
Garden, and Chili's.
It will then present you with three choices on a place to go eat.
Here's A
Special Offer From the
Association of Computer User Groups (APCUG)
WebEyesR OFFERS A SPECIAL 20% DISCOUNT FOR ALL APCUG MEMBERS*
Are you tired of reading the tiny type on Web pages? Web Eyes is offering all
APCUG members a 20% discount on a computer software product that makes reading
on the Web much easier. This Internet Explorer toolbar software puts you in
control of reading the web. Web Eyes allows you to easily adjust the text on
any Web page to the size of your choice (up to 144 pt). You can even enlarge
the type of your Web-based email (i.e. Hotmail, MSN, Yahoo and any other Web
based email provider). In addition, Web Eyes eliminates scrolling text by
converting it to a "book format" so you simply turn the pages of your
book. Web Eyes radically reduces eyestrain, provides a natural reading
experience and increases reading efficiency.
This simple, easy-to-use patented software can be purchased by APCUG members at
a 20% discount:* To learn more about Web Eyes and to download a 15-day Free
Trial version - try before you buy - visit www.webeyes.us. The special UG price
is valid through 12/31/04 --- and they ship internationally.
$19.95 downloaded (you save $5.00)
$27.95 CD, plus s/h (you save $7.00)
* THE PROMOTION CODE FOR THIS SPECIAL OFFER IS: APCUG
Countdown to the next SPCUG General Meeting |
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Adobe Debuts New Image Editing/Video
Capture Software
Adobe
Systems recently announced two new products for digital photo and digital
video hobbyists.
Adobe
Photoshop Elements 3.0 software adds new organization and sharing
functionality, as well as the latest image editing tools, to the consumer photo
editing software; and Adobe Premiere Elements software combines simple video
capture, sophisticated editing and quick output to DVD. Available as separate
products, Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 for Windows and Adobe Premiere Elements
also can be purchased together in a single retail package.
Photoshop
Elements 3.0 adds new ways to organize photos and share photos. Customers can
now share photos with friends and family that include framed photos right
within an e-mail; dynamic slideshows that include music and special effect
transitions; and access to photo prints via online print services.
Photoshop Elements 3.0 also adds new editing solutions, including one-click
fixes that quickly enhance photos, as well as more sophisticated editing tools
that allow people to remove imperfections, transform photos with effects and
filters and correct color and lighting.
Adobe
Premiere Elements combines creative control and automation with unprecedented
freedom to capture and edit video, apply special effects, generate professional
titles and credits and burn to DVD, making it easy to watch home videos on
TV.
Adobe
Premiere Elements for Windows XP is available for an estimated street price of
$99.99.
Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 for Windows XP is $99.99 and Adobe Photoshop
Elements 3.0 for Macintosh is $89.99. Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 Plus Adobe
Premiere Elements for Windows also will be available as a bundle in the United
States and Canada at an estimated street price of $149.99.
The "Bytes" Beg, Bargain
& Barter Basement
Got something
"computer related" to sell? Looking for that rare peripheral? If it's
computer related you can submit a short classified ad for exposure in Dave
"Bytes". Be sure to include your name and e-mail address in the ad.
You can also include a picture of the item. Now some would suggest that there
be a charge for this feature but alas, since my bookkeeping skills leave much
to be desired I've determined that this will be a free service to all SPCUG
members in good standing. "Bytes" is currently sent to almost 1500
homes in the area. Ad requests will be included as soon as possible. I assume
absolutely no responsibility as to the accuracy or completeness of supplied
info. All transactions are between consulting adults which leaves me entirely
off the hook. Please let me know by clicking HERE when your merchandise is sold
so that I can remove it from the listing. I will try to run each ad for
a month.
Click Here To Submit Your Ad
What Is A Firewall Anyway?
A
personal firewall is a software application which filters traffic entering or
leaving your computer.
When you're connected to the Internet, information is flowing to and from your
PC in a near-constant stream through your PC's "ports". There are
thousands of "ports" and they are like little gates that let
information in and out.
Some of the information moving through the ports is obvious to you. For
example, when you
send and receive emails ; access a website ; fill in and submit a form on a
website ; download software like MailWasher Pro or Benign. However, a lot of
information flows to and from your PC without you knowing about it. This can
include:
your copy of Windows talking to the Microsoft website to check for security
updates ; software applications talking to their own companies' websites to
check for new versions ; anti-virus software checking for the latest virus
updates. Most of this invisible information flow is good. However, some of it
poses a grave threat to your PC and your privacy.
Your email isn't the only way bad things can get into your computer. They can
come in through your PC's open ports without you even knowing about them. The
"Blaster" worm of August 2003 was the most widespread example of
this. In case you don't remember, that was the one that caused your PC to shut
down about a minute after you'd started it up!
If you leave your PC's ports open and don't monitor them, you're at extreme
risk of the following nasties :
VIRUSES: Programs or pieces of code that "infect" one or more of the
programs on your PC.
Basically, your programs "get sick" and start performing in weird
ways, which sometimes can lead to a system crash.
WORMS: Malicious programs that propagate over a network, reproducing as they
go. Worms cause the same effects as viruses but they are more dangerous since
they spread by themselves.
PORT SCANNING: Hackers scan the open ports on your PC to figure out if they are
open or exist at all. If your computer reports an open port, a hacker can send
a worm and virus to it. They can even use an open port to take control of your
PC.
COOKIES: Small data files placed on your PC by a website that you've visited. A
cookie can store your personal information after you enter it online. For
example, if you type in your credit card number, a cookie might store it till
you come back next time. This is not a bad idea - most shopping sites use
cookies completely legitimately so you don't need
to keep entering your personal details. But problems can occur when other
people decide to use your credit card too!
TROJANS: Programs that appear legitimate but do something illicit when run.
Just like the wooden horse the Greeks gave Troy as a "gift", users
mistake the Trojan for a useful or interesting program that they choose to
download. Once installed and run, Trojans can secretly open remote access
channels to hackers, relay passwords and credit card data or destroy user
files. It's similar to a virus but generally does not replicate itself.
DENIAL OF SERVICE (DOS) ATTACKS: This kind of attack happens when a hacker
finds a responding port on your PC and sends a huge amount of data to it. The
port is just unable to accept all of the data, the system resources exhaust,
and the system crashes and denies service.
SPYWARE: These are programs secretly placed on your PC that gather information
about you (such as your surfing habits, what other software you have on your
PC, etc.) without your knowledge or consent. Spyware is mostly used by on-line
or software companies for marketing purposes.
So how does a firewall help to stop all of these bad things from happening?
As I said at the start, a firewall controls communications to and from your PC.
It permits or denies communications based on a Security Policy.
According to the security policy you set for it, a firewall can ...
make your PC invisible on the Internet. Your ports don't just appear closed,
they don't even appear at all. This is very good ! automatically block
suspicious incoming traffic ; alert you every time a program on your PC tries
to send information to another computer.
This stops spyware and trojans from sending hackers your confidential
information, such as credit card details and passwords ; do a lot more things
too, but these are the most basic and important functions it carries out. So in
short, if you don't have a firewall installed, then as soon as you connect to
the Web (before you even start your browser or e-mail client) you are open to
attack - because some or all of your ports are open and unmonitored. A firewall
is especially important if you have a high-speed Internet connection. Hackers
love to take over broadband machines because then they can use them to spread
spam even faster!
Now you're probably wondering where to get one of these firewalls, aren't you?
Windows XP has its own rudimentary firewall, and the new Service Pack 2 turns
it on by default. The XP firewall has a major shortcoming, however. It doesn't
monitor outgoing traffic, so it's useless at detecting spyware and trojans
sending data out of your PC to another computer - like your credit card
details!
There are some good firewalls around, including :
Zone Alarm, Norton Personal Firewall & PC-cillin Internet Security
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Just For Fun
Play "Presidential Knockout"
From The "Bytes" Mailbag
| Sure hope you can help me with this problem, I can no longer click on to the icons on my desk top and move them .When I do they zip right back to where they were. |
Here's An
Email Tip
For a lot of us, a day without e-mail is like a day without food
or water. When it's down, not much gets done and we feel out of touch with the
outside world. We've become so comfortable with the medium of e-mail that we
sometimes forget that there are some basic rules to follow for both business
and personal messaging.
Keep business
communications business-like Think of e-mail as a permanent record, just like a
paper memo. Remember that it is also not private. Despite their perceived
disposability, e-mail messages should be kept official and professional:
Start with a
salutation; don't just launch into your message.
Include a
relevant subject line. This will make them much easier for the recipient to
find later.
Gauge the
formality of your salutation by what you would use in paper correspondence
("Dear Ms. Robertson" vs. "Hi Donna!").
Be concise.
Separate paragraphs with a full line instead of an indentation.
Don't use all
caps, UNLESS YOU INTEND TO SHOUT.
Save your
"smileys" for personal notes.
Don't
emphasize your point with extraneous punctuation such as exclamation points.
Don't overuse
abbreviations or acronyms. It really doesn't take much longer to type out
"by the way."
Use humor
carefully (it doesn't translate well unless the person has known you for a
while)
Do not
forward jokes or other chain mail.
When
replying, be careful not to use the "reply all" function
unintentionally. Beware: some e-mail programs will "reply to all"
automatically.
Reread your
messages before hitting the send button. You'll usually find something to
correct; a grammatical error or a missing word. This is also a good time to
revisit the tone of the message (see below).
Always,
always, always use the spellcheck tool.
Choose your
words carefully We've all sent an e-mail or two that we wish we could take back
as soon as it was sent. Whether you're angry with a co-worker or thrilled about
a sales prospect, don't fire your e-mail off right away.
Use your
"queue" function, which lines up your messages but doesn't send them.
This creates one last opportunity to be sure that what you've said is
appropriate, before it's unleashed upon a colleague or customer.
Remember:
Humans also use facial expression, oral inflection, and body language to
communicate. E-mail is many things-- easy, efficient, immediate -- but it lacks
the more human elements of communication. Make sure you aren't sending
something that the reader might misinterpret.
Favor clarity
over complication
Don't send
HTML- or AOL-based text unless you're sure the recipient can support it.
Respond to an
e-mail by pasting enough of the original message into your response to indicate
the issue at hand. If the message was long, just use the relevant section(s).
Most e-mail programs have a setting that automatically includes the original
message in a reply.
Send an
attachment only if the recipient expects and can open it. If you're not sure,
ask first.
While the
pace of communication accelerates, it is tempting to impulsively type what
comes to mind and send it off. But taking this casual approach to serious
business matters could cause you to communicate ideas and attitudes that
confuse (or worse, offend) your co-workers and clients. Taking a few moments to
carefully draft your messages will project
the right
image; that of someone with a deliberate and accurate business sense.
Signatures Using a pre-programmed
signature conveniently communicates all your vital stats without having to
constantly re-key them (and with no risk of misspellings or transposed
numbers). Leave no extra lines between the closing salutation and your name,
unless you have the capability of inserting your actual signature. People
usually include their full name, title, and organization name. You may also add
contact information or a short promotional line or motto.
To program a
signature, look under the "Tools" command in your toolbar. Keep in
mind that your extensive signature might look a little out of place when
sending a short message to a close friend, so you may want disable the
signature in these cases.
Here's The Latest Virus Information
From
Trend Micro & Symantec
| |
Pause For Thought
| If A is success in life, then A=x+y+z. x is work; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut. |
And Now Here's
| Dave's Cool Download |
|
PC WIZARD 2004 is a powerful
utility designed especially for detection of hardware, but also some more
analysis. It's able to identify a large scale of system components and supports
the latest technologies and standards. This tool is periodically updated
(usually once per month) in order to provide most accurate results.
PC WIZARD 2004 is also an utility designed to analyze and benchmark your
computer system. It can analyze and benchmark many kinds of hardware, such as
CPU performance, Cache performance, RAM performance, Hard Disk performance,
CD/DVD-ROM performance, Removable/FLASH Media performance.
1.6mb
Click here for the Dave "Bytes" Archives
P.S. Don't forget to say "Hi"
at the meeting!!
Sarasota Personal Computer User Group, Inc
Phone: 877-SPCUG-HI
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Mentioned In The LangaList Newsletter | As Seen In |
Website: http://www.spcug.org
© 2004. All Rights Reserved.
Last Updated
04/13/2007 07:09 AM