Wayne's PC World

Windows 7 Ultimate RTM Cracked

2009-07-29T16:26:00.001-04:00

Windows 7 Ultimate RTM Cracked, Fully Validated (Already?)

David Murphy

Jul 29, 2009 1:50 pm

That didn't take long. It has only been a week since the official Windows 7 RTM announcement by Microsoft, but crackers have already managed to activate and validate the tricked-out Ultimate version of the OS. The hack is nothing new, as it borrows the same techniques used to bypass activation and verification of previous Vista editions.

According to Softpedia, crackers somehow obtained a copy of an OEM Windows 7 Ultimate disc from Lenovo. From there, they were able to extract two critical bits of information: Windows 7's OEM-SLP (system-locked pre-installation) product key and the OEM certificate for Windows 7 Ultimate.

But before these can be of any value, one first has to modify a system's BIOS to fool the operating system into believing that the PC is an authentic OEM machine. This is done by tweaking the values found in the Software Licensing Description Table (SLIC) that is stored in the system's memory during boot-up.

Once a person has disguised a system as a legitimate OEM machine, the OEM-SLP and OEM certificate allow for permanent, validated activation of the operating system. To Microsoft, the PC is no different from a functional OEM machine--and the "OEM machine," in turn, has no need to call back to Microsoft's activation servers for any kind of additional verification. That would defeat the convenient basis behind the creation of SLIC-based OEM activations in the first place.

Just because the OEM disc and keys came from Lenovo doesn't mean that the crack is exclusive to that brand. According to Softpedia, the crack has proven successful on Dell, HP, and MSI machines as well.

Apple iPod Sales Slow but iPhone Makes up for It

2009-07-22T20:22:00.001-04:00

Apple beat analyst expectations and appears nearly untouched by the economic downturn, reporting its best non-holiday quarterly revenue and earnings in the company's history on Tuesday.

For its third quarter ending June 27, Apple posted net profit of US$1.23 billion and $1.35 per share, up from $1.07 billion and $1.19 per share in the same quarter last year. Revenue reached $8.34 billion.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were expecting $8.20 billion in revenue and $1.17 per share.

One low point in Apple's report is the declining iPod business, with unit sales dropping 7 percent compared to last year to 10.2 million iPods. But iPhone sales more than make up for that. In the quarter, Apple sold 5.2 million iPhones, 626 percent more than the same period last year.

Apple had projected the decline in iPod sales, which was "one of the original reasons we developed the iPhone and Touch," said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple's chief financial officer, during a conference call to discuss the results. "We suspected the traditional MP3 category to decline over time as we cannibalized ourselves with the Touch and the iPhone."

Unit sales of the iPod Touch grew 130 percent in the quarter compared to last year, he said.

Revenue from iPhones, iPhone accessories and mobile carriers was $1.69 billion, an increase of more than 300 percent over the same quarter last year.

iPhone Audience Expands

While the iPhone initially targeted the consumer mass market, it's making headway among business users, said Tim Cook, chief operating officer. Almost 20 percent of Fortune 100 companies have purchased 10,000 units or more, and multiple government agencies and other organizations have bought more than 25,000 iPhones each, he said.

"The iPhone is particularly doing well with small businesses and larger organizations that allow (employees) to purchase phones for individual use, both in corporate and government settings," he said.

Analysts have wondered what effect the introduction of the new iPhone 3GS and the price drop for the original iPhone 3G would have on the mix of sales of the devices. But Apple executives didn't shed much light on the issue. They declined to reveal how many of the 5.2 million iPhones that sold in the quarter were 3GSes and 3Gs.

"I think it's too early to tell what the ultimate mix of those products will be," Cook said. That's because currently Apple isn't able to keep up with demand for the 3GS, and it's only available in 18 of the more than 80 countries where the iPhone is on sale. In addition, many iPhone 3GS buyers probably are upgrading from the iPhone 3G, he said.

AppStore, Yes; Netbook, No

Apple expects to maintain the lead among mobile application stores, even as new stores go live. The App Store is now available in 77 countries, has 65,000 applications and serves an installed base of 45 million iPhone users, Cook noted. His research shows that Research In Motion and Nokia each have between 1,000 and 2,000 applications in their stores and Android has fewer than 5,000, he said.

"We feel extremely good about our competitive position and believe we're years ahead of other people," he said.

Apple sold 2.6 million Macs during the quarter, a 4 percent increase from last year. Portable Mac shipments were up 13 percent over that same period. That means Apple is beating the industry, which was expected to contract by 3 percent during the quarter, according to IDC research.

Cook echoed comments he's made in the past about a lack of interest at Apple in the netbook category, despite the growth in sales of the devices from other vendors. "At this point, we don't see a way to build a great product for $399, $499, this kind of price point," he said. He predicted that people who are buying netbooks may become disappointed and disenchanted.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who has only just returned to work after taking a sick leave, was quoted in the earnings report saying he's thrilled at the number of iPhones sold. He also confirmed that users have downloaded more than 1.5 billion applications from the iPhone App Store in its first year.

There were no questions about or mention of Jobs or his health on the phone call.

For its fourth quarter, Apple projects revenue in the range of $8.7 billion to $8.9 billion, with earnings per share of $1.18 to $1.23

Nancy Gohring, IDG News Service

Jul 21, 2009 8:31 pm

Firefox 3.5 Security Bug

2009-07-15T15:43:00.001-04:00

ozilla yesterday confirmed the first security vulnerability in Firefox 3.5, and said that the bug could be used to hijack a machine running the company's newest browser.

Artwork: Chip Taylor

A noted Firefox contributor called the situation "self-inflicted," and said it was likely that the hacker who posted public exploit code Monday became aware of the flaw by rooting through Bugzilla, Mozilla's bug- and change-tracking database. (See our introduction to the new version.)

The vulnerability is in the TraceMonkey JavaScript engine that debuted with Firefox 3.5, said Mozilla. "[It] can be exploited by an attacker who tricks a victim into viewing a malicious Web page containing the exploit code," the company's security blog reported Tuesday.

Secunia, a Danish security company, rated the bug "highly critical," the second-highest threat ranking in its five-step system, and added that the vulnerability is in TraceMonkey's processing of JavaScript code handling "font" HTML tags.

Older versions of Firefox, including Firefox 3.0, are not vulnerable, according to a message posted by Asa Dotzler, Mozilla's director of community development, in a comment to the company's blog.

"Mozilla developers are working on a fix for this issue and a Firefox security update will be sent out as soon as the fix is completed and tested," said that same blog.

In lieu of a patch, users can protect themselves by disabling the "just-in-time" component of the TraceMonkey engine. To do that, users should enter "about:config" in Firefox's address bar, type "jit" in the filter box, then double-click the "javascript.options.jit.content" entry to set the value to "false." The popular NoScript add-on will also ward off attacks.

The hacker who published exploit code on the milw0rm.com malware site Monday was not the first to uncover the vulnerability: Mozilla developers first noted the flaw last Thursday, and were in the middle of working on it when the attack code appeared.

"Looking at the exploit code and our test cases, I think this is self-inflicted and we should have hidden the bug earlier," argued Andreas Gal on Bugzilla. Gal is a project scientist at the University of California, Irvine, where the technique called "trace trees" was developed. Firefox 3.5's TraceMonkey engine is based on that technique, and builds on code and ideas shared with the open-source Tamarin Tracing project.

Another contributor agreed. "It would seem that the milw0rm exploit code is based on the test cases for this bug," said someone identified only as "WD" in the same Bugzilla thread. "When you look at the crash details in a debugger, it's pretty clear that it's exploitable with a heap spray to the access violation address in question."

The fix has been slated for Firefox 3.5.1, a fast-track update originally scheduled to release in the last two weeks of this month.

That update will be accelerated to plug the just-gone-public hole, said Daniel Veditz, a security lead at Mozilla. "[The bug] was checked in yesterday, a few hours before we learned of the milw0rm posting," Veditz said Tuesday night in a comment on the Mozilla security blog. "This fix was going to be in the 3.5.x update we had scheduled for the end of July, but obviously now we have moved up the schedule for release."

Mozilla launched Firefox 3.5 on June 30.

ISO Verifier

2009-07-06T18:56:00.002-04:00

Windows 7 ISO Verifier Ensures Your Downloads Are Legit
Lifehacker - San Diego,CA,USA
Windows only: The final RTM release of Windows 7 should be released later this month, and blogger and developer Long Zheng has created a small application ...
See all stories on this topic

Windows 7 Family Pack?

2009-07-05T09:01:00.002-04:00

Microsoft to sell Windows 7 Family Pack? - VISTA.BLORGE
By Dave Parrack
Microsoft to sell Windows 7 Family Pack? Microsoft has been accused of overcharging its loyal customers for years now, with Vista being the ultimate kick in the teeth. The pricing of Windows 7 has gone some way to helping address this ...
VISTA.BLORGE - http://vista.blorge.com

Windows 7 Release To Manufacturing On July 13th

2009-07-03T20:09:00.001-04:00

Windows 7 Release To Manufacturing On July 13th
Hard OCP - Plano,TX,USA
According to this article, Windows 7 release to manufacturing is reportedly on track for July 13th. Thanks to everyone that sent this one in. ...

How True it is

2009-07-02T21:17:00.001-04:00

A Doctor was addressing a large audience in Tampa.

'The material we put into our stomachs is enough to have killed most
of us sitting here, years ago. Red meat is awful. Soft drinks
corrode your stomach lining. Chinese food is loaded with MSG. High
fat diets can be disastrous, and none of us realizes the long-term
harm caused by the germs in our drinking water. But there is one
thing that is the most dangerous of all and we all have, or will,
eat it. Can anyone here tell me what food it is that causes the most
grief and suffering for years after eating it?'

After several seconds of quiet, a 75-year-old man in the front row
raised his hand, and softly said, 'Wedding Cake?'

Priceless . . . .

Save money on Windows 7 Upgrade

2009-07-01T04:37:00.000-04:00

Save $100 on Windows 7 Professional Upgrade | Chris Pirillo
By Chris
The Windows 7 Professional Upgrade will not be available until October 22, 2009. However, if you want to pre-order now, Amazon has a great deal, which saves you.
Chris Pirillo - http://chris.pirillo.com/

Windows 7 Upgrade Limitations

2009-06-30T20:56:00.001-04:00

Uproar over Windows 7 upgrade limitations
FierceCIO - Washington,DC,USA
Microsoft has announced that Windows 7 upgrades will be limited to just 25 machines per company for those that purchased new computers between now and the ...
See all stories on this topic

Windows 7 Minimun Requirements

2009-05-16T10:07:00.001-04:00

Windows 7 News, Features, Downloads, FAQ
Here are the minimum hardware requirements of Windows 7 RC. If your computer doesn't have the minimum specs, don't even try to install it to your computer. ...

Windows 7 Expected to kill Vista

2009-05-15T20:13:00.001-04:00

Windows 7 Blog » Windows 7 Expected To Kill Vista
By Nick
By Paul McDougall The arrival of Windows 7 should put the final nail in the coffin for Windows Vista, one of the most disappointing products in software maker Microsoft's recent history. That's the opinion of researchers at IT ...

Windows 7 Blog - http://windows7blog.net

Windows 7:small Improvemts make a big splash

2009-05-15T16:34:00.003-04:00

Microsoft has all but admitted that Windows Vista was a flop. So why not start using its successor right now? You can, simply by downloading the free release candidate of Windows 7

Windows 7

Fully functioning, robust and stable, Windows 7 RC (release candidate) has been available for a week now, and its usage has already jumped 22 percent, according to Microsoft.

2009-05-12T06:57:00.001-04:00

Harmful Software Threatens Computers

COLUMBIA - Macs are becoming a big hit on college campuses, making them an even larger target for computer bad guys.

A harmful program called "iBotnet" is being used to attack Mac computers. Users catch the virus by illegally downloading faulty versions of popular Mac programs like "iWork" and "iLife". Worms enter the computer, copy passwords and other important information, allowing the program administrator to control the computer from another network.

Many mac users believe that their computers are immune to harmful programs such as this, but Mitch Racket of the MU Division of IT says any hardware connected to the Internet is at risk of harm.

2009-05-12T06:41:00.001-04:00

Microsoft: Windows 7 on track for holiday sales - Tech and gadgets ...
Microsoft Corp. says the next version of Windows will go on sale in time for the holiday shopping season.

The Wayne Show on Mevio

2009-05-08T19:24:00.002-04:00

The Wayne Show on Mevio.com (formally Podshow.com) will resume shortly after more than a years hiatus.

You can find past episode at Http://wayne_show.mevio.com

Microsoft Claim Windows 7 Will Be More Secure Than Linux

2009-04-15T19:33:00.001-04:00

Microsoft Claim Windows 7 Will Be More Secure Than Linux And ...
Will Windows 7 be the most secure operating system ever? Microsoft seem to think so. Microsoft's Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner made the following bold.
Windows 7 News - http://windows7news.com/

The Return of the "Wayne Show" to Podcast.com

2008-03-14T13:25:00.003-04:00

The Wayne Show on Podshow.com

After a four month hiatus, the "Wayne Show" podcast will finally return to the newly redesigned Podshow.com If you haven't listen to it I'd like to invite you to give a try. The format of the podcast is tech tips done in a radio broadcast style format complete with music.

-Wayne

IE8 Balks at Windows Update

2008-03-12T11:45:00.001-04:00

I just read this article and just had to pass it on as it is so typical Microsoft.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Users who try to reach Windows Update with Internet Explorer 8
(IE8) Beta 1 are greeted with a message stating, "To use this site, you
must be running Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or later."

IE8 Beta 1 was released last week after an unveiling at MIX08, the Web developer conference Microsoft hosted last week in Las Vegas. The preliminary version runs on Windows XP , Vista, Server 2003 and Server 2008.

Users
were understandably confused when IE8 refused to call up Windows
Update. "After updating my IE7 to IE8 today, I tried to update my Windows Vista by visiting the Windows Update Web site, but then I was redirected to an error page," said a user identified as zkyboy on a Microsoft support newsgroups. "Why? IS IE8 not the latest version browser?"

How to Rectify

To
reach Windows Update, IE8 Beta 1 users must click on the "Emulate IE7"
button, which switches the new browser into IE7 mode. That requires a
restart of IE8, however.

"Windows Update is updating their site to support IE8," said a Microsoft employee named Eric Law in a comment to an IE development team blog
post last Thursday. "For now, click the Emulate IE7 Button, restart all
IE windows, and visit [Windows Update]. Sorry for the inconvenience."

Computerworld confirmed that the IE7 emulation mode within IE8 allowed access to Windows Update.

Podcasting

2007-07-22T17:16:00.001-04:00

The Wayne Show

I started a podcast on 7/13/07 (Friday the 13th) which is a natural progression to this site. The show is entitled "The Wayne Show". The theme of the podcast is: Computer related discussion, product reviews, tech tips and recommendations done with humor in a radio broadcast format complete with music. This site is hosted by Podshow.com and can be accessed by going clicking here.

It can also be accessed with Itunes by inserting the following feed when prompted: http://pricecomputersupport.info/blog/?feed=podcast.

I'm very pleased with the show and invite you to give it a listen.

-Wayne

Back from Vegas

2007-06-30T23:21:00.001-04:00

I'm back from Vegas and none the richer. It's been awhile since I have traveled to Vegas so I thought I'd leave a short list of things not to do.

Don't go without eating as it's a 5 hr flight!
Don't keep the 1 qt plastic bag holding your 3oz liquids in your bags!
Don't sit in the row forward an exit row as you can't recline your seats!

I made all those mistakes

Wayne

Off to Vegas

2007-06-17T22:48:00.000-04:00

It's time for me to make my annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas chasing dreams of striking it rich. But before I go, I though I'd test out Bloggers new video upload feature. This is me Sunday night before the trip.

Does your computer need fixing?

2007-06-11T21:38:00.001-04:00

Simple steps to follow when it's time to service your PC

Hiring the wrong computer repair service can not only be incredibly frustrating and expensive for you, but you could also end up loosing ALL of your irreplaceable files, photos, music, e-mails, and other important documents!

#1. Demand someone who has a long-standing reputation. Let’s face it; there are a lot of other computer repair technicians out there, but most are new or just getting started. You want to make sure you avoid hiring a fly-by-night technician between jobs that sets up shop one day, and is out of business within a month or a year. Only deal with computer technicians and repair shops that have a proven track record.

#2. Demand that they have specific knowledge or expertise on solving your particular problem. Do NOT let someone practice on your machine. If they have not worked on your problem before, they should TELL you that in advance. There is too much risk involved financially and in your data and equipment.

#3. Demand that your technician backs up your system BEFORE working on it. This is just common sense. Don’t let them touch your machine before your entire system is securely backed up just in case something goes wrong.

#4. Demand that your machine comes back with the same settings, look, preferences, and applications that you had on it prior to dropping it off. There are a lot of second-rate shops with inexperienced technicians who will end up causing you more problems than you bargained for. Very frequently, these inexperienced technicians will recommend that you wipe out your hard drive and re-install Windows to fix a problem. This means you loose all of your settings and preferences, as well as loosing all of the software programs you have installed. This should ONLY be done as a last resort.

#5. If you rely on a one-man-band operation, you might find yourself without any help when they go on vacation, get sick, or when they are simply too busy servicing other customers. Although having multiple technicians on staff is not a guarantee of fast, reliable service, but you are far more likely to have someone to talk to when you have a problem.

Another reason you want a computer service that has multiple technicians is because no one computer guy no matter how good has infinite knowledge about every type of software, hardware, and platform. Multiple technicians mean multiple skill sets and a higher likelihood that your computer problem will get resolved faster.

Following these simple five steps will not 100% guarantee that nothing will go wrong, but to do otherwise will welcome disaster!

Wayne

SPYWARE

2007-06-10T21:50:00.000-04:00

Antivirus and Spyware Utilities currently selling on E-BAY

Windows Registry Blues

2007-06-10T00:45:00.001-04:00

How important is it to keep your windows registry well maintained?

Microsoft designed the Windows operating system with a central system database called the Registry. The Registry keeps track of everything about your system including almost everything that you add to it. By keeping a system database Windows allows all the software in your system to interact and work together to deliver the rewarding and enjoyable experience that you've come to love but it does come at a price.

Designing a system that's as complex and simple to use, as the Windows operating system is an understated achievement despite the criticism it often gets. Microsoft was however unable to eliminate the need for ongoing maintenance. They took the easy way out and built in the need to maintain and repair the system regularly to keep it running at its optimum performance. Fortunately software is available to perform this ongoing maintenance for you. Maintaining your Registry is easy if you have the right tools.

Microsoft knew that they would have to provide some way to edit the Registry so they provide a utility called Regedit that allows you to change almost every piece of data stored in the Registry.

In the wrong hands this tool can be a nightmare. It comes with no docs and its use is not straight forward and in some cases irreversible. My advise: If your not a computer geek or professional do not use regedit!! Even if you don't, over time your computer may start to slow down and start acting sluggish.

There are many factors that can reduce your computer to a crawl. Viruses, Trojans, worms and spyware are amongst the better known causes. Prevention and cure software for these kind of threats are now installed on most computers and most users appreciate that steps should be taken to avoid them. There are also some lesser known and understood causes of failing performance.

Installing software, not liking it and deleting it. (fragmenting your hard drive)
Software that didn't uninstall properly.
When uninstalling programs deleting files common to other programs thus making them unstable and not run properly.
failing to defrag your hard drive on a regular basis.

Fortunately there are tools to automate this process some of which are free like Spybot and Ad_aware. There are also reputable sites that will scan your computer for free. Naturally they are hoping you will buy their product once you see what a good job it does. But what the heck it's a freebie. To visit one of these sights click here.

I'll review some of my favorite cleaners in a future post.

Click on my name below to see my other site.

Wayne

MM3E

2007-06-08T09:28:00.000-04:00

Do you know what MM3E is? If you're into online selling it's Undoubtedly the best script run selling "all inclusive" package I've ever seen! This program has modules for everything.

That's what makes it so great! It's module based. There are modules for web design, shopping carts, email management, member management selling tools and many many more! And as new modules comes out you just plug them in instead of having to buy a whole new program.

So why am I mentioning this? A business associate of mine (and close friend) Robert Goulet is an affiliate of this program. I understand he is giving back to his buyers almost all of his commission as a bonus incentive to buy from him. But if your seriously interested in this package you need to act fast as there is only about 5 days left to the feeding frenzy.

This is a screen shot of the main control center:

This is what Rob had to say in an email to me:

WHAT’S ALL THIS MM3E Hype??
If you’re on anyone whos anyone’s Internet Marketing mailing list, you no doubtedly have been inundated with every level of hype, gimmick and promise to purchase the MM3E product!

Hey, I’ll give you some money back…

read more here:

Thanks,Rob

My First Video Blog

2007-05-31T20:46:00.000-04:00

Windows Media

This is my very first Video Blog so don't laugh! It certainly will not be my last. You now can put a face and voice on my Blog. In future posts I'll discuss the mechanics behind creating and uploading a video blog. It isn't as straight foward as I had thought but there are lots of helpfull folks out there if you know where to look.

Wayne

Yoggie Pico

2007-05-30T09:17:00.000-04:00

Searching the web today I found the following article of interest. Yoggie Pico, "A complete security antivirus utility on a pen USB device that has its own built in processor." Pretty neat.

Wayne

I've posted the article below.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Yoggie has announced the unveiling of its new Pico USB stick used to protect your PC from incoming data through mediums such as your wireless adapter, LAN or Bluetooth. Similar to the Gatekeeper series, Pico is a Linux based software running on the small thumb-sized device with a built-in 520MHz processor and 128MB of RAM to keep those protection-processing resources out of your computer and in the device.

In an enterprise network, most of the protection for computers is provided by separate appliances protecting the whole network. At home any type of spam protection or firewall software usually runs directly on the computer, taking up memory and processing power. With the Pico this is all taken care of within the stick which simply plugs into your USB port.
The Yoggie Pico runs 13 different applications providing protection from hacks, viruses, malware, worms and other attacks while frequently checking for updates to protect against new vulnerabilities. There is also no complicated installation and by simply plugging it in, it will automatically start filtering traffic.

The device comes in two versions; the Yoggie Pico Personal and the Yoggie Pico Pro. Both have the same protection features but the Pro version targets enterprises with a VPN client to remotely manage notebooks on the road. We expect to see the Yoggie Pico available in September of this year, with the Personal retailing for $179 and the Pro for $199 each. Both come with 2 years of licensing and can be extended for $30 (Personal) and $40 (Pro) per year.
The Yoggie Pico is available for pre-order from the Yoggie website

<http://www.yoggie.com/node/40> now with orders shipping June 10th, and will be available through other retailers sometime in September.

Google Software Packs

2007-05-29T10:54:00.000-04:00

THERE is probably no technology company around (except perhaps for Microsoft) that gets more attention than Google. There are good reasons for this. The Internet has become an indispensable part of our business and personal lives. Google makes the Internet easier to use by offering great productivity tools that are free of charge.

What most folks don't know is that Google offers free software packs for download that can really enhance your daily computer life.

The three that I find most usefull are:

Google Desktop: Helps you find something your looking for on your computer by indexing all your data, including word docs, e-mail, photos, online articles and other Web pages. Then all you have to do is type in a keyword.

Norton Security Scan & Spyware Doctor Starter Edition: includes a special edition of Norton Security Scan, as well as another program, Spyware Doctor, to help you evaluate your computer's vulnerability to security risks. The two apps combined will detect and remove viruses, worms and Trojans; detect, remove and blocks all types of Spyware; run and schedule scans to keep your system healthy. This is not the full-featured version of security and anti-spyware software which you'd have to pay for, but this is certainly a good place to start, especially if you have a small-business or home-office operation.

Toolbar for Internet Explorer and Firefox: Has a multitude of cool utilities that will save you time and frustration. Included is a pop-up blocker, a language converter for converting foreign web sites, and a spell checker that works in web based email.

These are only a few of the applications found within the package. Whats really cool is that if you don't want an app you can delete if from the pack before download. And even if you download an app that you already have, if it is older than your present app it will NOT install.

Wayne

Norton 360

2007-05-24T12:07:00.000-04:00

Even though Norton Antivirus programs are the most widely known, I've always shy'd away because of there intrusiveness. They in twine themselves into the registry so much that if they become corrupt it is almost impossible to fix short of reloading the operation system.

I’m happy to report that they have listened and everything I didn’t like has been fixed in there new release which also has a fresh name change. It’s called Norton 360.

Posted below is an article describing all the new features. I plan on purchasing this product and will report my findings in a later blog.

Introducing Norton 360 - All-In-One-Security! Click Here

Wayne
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've been using spyware and other security software for almost two decades but far too often, I have wondered whether the cure was worse than the disease.

Symantec is a case in point. Older versions of its Norton Anti-Virus and Norton Internet Security programs have slowed down my machine and interrupted my work flow by asking me to decide what to do with every suspicious file or email it ran across.

I'm happy to report that the company reformed its ways. Its newest product, Norton 360, has no noticeable impact on system performance and has left me blissfully almost unaware of its presence.

That doesn't mean it's not doing its job. It's just being quiet about it. The software, which costs $69.99 per year for up to 3 household PCs, is designed to protect users from viruses, spyware, phishing attacks and other security threats.

It also has a two-way firewall that blocks incoming threats and outbound threats – malicious software that "phones home" to send personal information to a rogue server. There is also a "PC Tuneup" feature that removes temporary files left behind by Windows or your browser and defragments your disks to speed up drive access.

In addition, there is now a backup feature that allows you to automatically backup to an external drive or to an online server run by Symantec (you get two gigabytes of online backup free and can purchase additional space). I'm a big fan of online and other off-premise backup strategies because they protect you even if the unspeakable happens such as fire, flood, hurricane, earthquake or worse.

Unlike some backup software, this product doesn't try to compress or otherwise alter your files. That leaves you with a backup that you can access from any PC even if it's not running Norton 360.

Because Norton 360 is so unobtrusive, I was wondering if it was even working until I discovered its view statistics option that told me that it had detected and blocked two viruses and one piece of spyware. It also informed me that it had automatically completed 53 security and program updates to make sure my protection isn't out of date.

For Internet Explorer users, the program is able to help protect you from malicious websites by checking against a database of known bad sites and analyzing sites on the fly to see if they contain code that could lead to "drive-by downloads" of malicious software that could jeopardize your security or harm your PC. Unfortunately, this feature doesn't work with Firefox, Opera and other browsers besides Internet Explorer.

I also used the program to defragment my disk drive, which puts all of your files in contiguous areas of the drive so that the drive heads can access your data more quickly. Earlier versions of Norton products used to give you feedback as they defragmented your drives but in the spirit of leaving you alone, this one doesn't tell you anything other than that it did a defrag. Personally, I wouldn't mind having a little more reassurance that it's doing its job as long as that didn't slow down my PC.

Unlike some competitive products from ZoneLabs and TrendMicro, the new Norton product doesn't have wireless network protection. It also lacks features to clean up the Windows registry (which can sometimes slow down a PC) as well as other system performance tweaks you'll find in other packages such as Iolo's System Mechanic.

Parental controls, ad-blocking and anti-spam tools are not included with the product but you can add them by downloading the Norton Add-on pack. Actually, I think this is a pretty good idea. The company kept the product leaner and faster by leaving out features that a lot of users don't need while making them available at no cost for people who do need them. Perhaps Microsoft could learn from this example.

Overall, I give Norton 360 good marks for being easy to install and configure, and knowing when to stay out of your way and not slow you down - which is exactly the kind of progress I like to see when it comes to security.

By Larry Magid © MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Vista makes new strides

2006-06-06T19:25:00.000-04:00

Hi All,

Wayne here. The below article I found of interest. How you all have been doing? It has been a very soggy May and murky June in York Maine. Hope your cellars are dry!

Wayne

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Last month, Microsoft Corp. officially released the second beta version of its much-anticipated Windows Vista operating system. It’s built to be a more polished preview of the OS that will ship for enterprises late this year, and for consumers early next year. There is still work to be done, a fact even Microsoft admits [see GCN Insider, Page 33]. But based on reviews in the GCN Lab, Vista is a compelling product that agencies will want to start evaluating sooner rather than later. Whereas the first beta of Microsoft Windows Vista was more or less a proof of concept [GCN.com, Quickfind 586], the second beta is loaded with features that feel more like a finished product. Microsoft has made significant improvements in two main areas: usability and security.

The overall user interface is a leap ahead of Windows XP. At a recent meeting with GCN, Microsoft officials said one of its development goals with Vista was to “eliminate the bottleneck between the user and his data.” In other words, the more transparent the OS, the better the user experience. Vista pretty well achieves this level of transparency, although its level of flair depends on which of four modes you run it in.

In Windows Classic mode, the screen and menus look pretty much like they did in Windows 2000. If you want to drill down through several menu layers to find the right tool, feel free. There is also a Basic interface, which looks like Classic mode but features easier menus. These two modes are here solely to ease the transition to Vista.

The Standard mode employs Vista’s new Windows Driver Display Model graphics technology, which means windows open quickly and programs generally run smoothly. For example, we opened a large folder of images and the thumbnails displayed almost instantly—a huge improvement over XP running on the same system.

But the way most people will want to experience Vista is through the new Aero interface. Aero is about the best way we’ve seen to manage and display information. A bit of warning, though: The Aero interface is resource-intensive. Your experience will depend on your hardware. Running Vista and Aero on a 1.7-GHz laptop with 512MB of RAM, for instance, the system tended to bog down, a problem we didn’t have running similar programs with XP.

Microsoft is recommending Aero users look for what they’re calling a “Vista Premium Ready PC,” which includes a CPU of at least 1 GHz, 1GB of RAM and an Aero-friendly graphics processor with 128MB of its own memory. We’d say that for Aero, these are definitely minimum requirements.

On a “premium” PC, Aero is a much-improved way to work. Unless you’re overtaxing the processor, thumbnails are everywhere you need them to be. Hovering the mouse over minimized applications will display small high-resolution thumbnails showing exactly what the information looks like. And the thumbnails are live. While burning a CD in a minimized window, we were able to hover over the app in the task bar and see how far it had progressed. This capability works even for minimized videos.

Building on the live thumbnail concept, if you press the Windows and Tab keys, Vista will put all your running applications into a scrollable 3-D view. As you scroll your mouse, the 3-D windows cascade down the screen like a waterfall—just click on the one you want. With 10 windows open, this worked extremely smoothly in the GCN Lab.

Vista definitely makes it easier to find the tools you need, but it also does the same for data. You no longer need one folder for your business presentations and one for your personal records, for example. Vista can help store your data however you want, no matter how your brain works.

Many ways to tag documents

The OS will reference documents based on file type, name and even terms within the documents. Office 2007 programs (also now in beta 2) will let users add metadata describing each document they create. With our beta version of Vista, we could do this tagging by hand.

From there, users can almost live in the Vista search pane, which can be found almost everywhere in the OS. Start typing in the information you’re looking for, not just the file name, and Vista does a good job of finding it. You can also sift through documents by metadata. For example, once you’ve rounded up a bunch of documents using the search tool, you can then use drop-down menus to display according to certain fields, such as author.

For searches you tend to perform over and over, Vista has upscaled XP’s Saved Searches to something called Search Folders (previously known as Virtual Folders). These XML-based folders look like regular data folders, but when you click on them, they launch a saved search and bring back the most up-to-date information.

Next-generation security

Vista beta 2 security is good—and largely unintrusive. From a user’s standpoint, it mostly requires prompts at the right times. For example, when you first connect your computer to a network, the system asks if it’s a public or a private network and explains why it’s important you answer correctly.

A public network might be one you use at work (not exactly what a network admin might call public) or connect to while traveling. A private network would be one you have at home where, for example, you don’t mind if family members share files or resources. The labels are a bit confusing but the OS gives clear examples of what it means by public and private. Once you answer, appropriate security settings are automatically configured. This one-button security configuration can be changed later from within the control panel, or you can search for “network security” from Vista’s search tool.

One of Vista’s most-talked-about security features is User Account Control, which offers fine-grained tools for managing security on user desktops. For example, admins can set a minimum security standard that must be met before a system is allowed to connect to a network. They can also control how Vista systems handle key drives from the group policy settings.

What Microsoft said it still needs to fine-tune in UAC—and we agree—is the end-user experience. When a new program needs to run, even if the user did not specifically launch it, the screen will darken and a window will pop up identifying the program and what it’s trying to do. You could say you don’t recognize that program and not allow it to run, or let it continue, which gives it a green flag in the future. If the application’s behavior changes in any way, such as trying to send data over the Internet, UAC will prompt you again.

Frankly, and Microsoft acknowledges this, UAC is currently too quick to pop up a security alert. You can train it over time, but before Vista ships, it will have to discern the difference between a potentially harmful user action and a routine, user-initiated task.

Vista allows more control over security than ever and, for the most part, the features are powerful. Remote administrators have basic access to programs but can elevate their security status and downgrade normal users as necessary. Moreover, every change to the OS made either by users or administrators is logged in great detail. This should go a long way toward audit compliance for government organizations and will really speed up the work of auditors trying to figure out who changed a system and when a change took place.

More to explore

Microsoft says millions of users will be able to test drive Vista beta 2 in the coming months. It’s definitely worth spending time with, because there are a slew of other new features.

For example, Microsoft put Vista’s accessibility tools (magnifier, speech recognition, etc.) in a central location called the Ease of Access Center. It’s a powerful addition for agencies striving to adhere to Section 508 accessibility requirements. We were especially impressed with the improved Narrator function, which reads menu items in a pleasing, natural voice.

The BitLocker Drive Encryption utility is also ready to roll in beta 2 (and is one of those programs that generates a UAC alert), but keep in mind it will only be available in Vista Ultimate and Enterprise Editions.

The OS intuitively walks you through preparing a drive to be encrypted. It needs at least two partitions, both formatted in NTFS. You then turn on BitLocker and a wizard helps you set up your drive encryption. BitLocker can also work with the Trusted Platform Module 1.2 on many of today’s PCs as an added measure of security. For non-TPM systems, BitLocker can run in a mode that requires a security key on a USB key drive in order to boot.

Bottom line: Vista beta 2 shows great promise. Predictably, it’s not yet ready for prime time, but in all the time we ran it, the OS was stable, secure and responsive. System requirements are an issue. Agencies will have to look hard at whether they want to time a PC refresh with the Vista release, or perhaps scale back some of Vista’s whiz-bang features to get the added security in place right away.

Is Vista worth the upgrade, especially now that XP has evolved into a more secure, stable OS platform? Based on our first look, we think so.

GCN chief technology editor Brad Grimes contributed to this review.

Easy PC fixes

2006-06-05T00:10:00.000-04:00

Easy PC fixes

Does this sound familiar? Your PC malfunctions, you wait (seemingly endlessly) on the phone to get help from the manufacturer's tech-support service, only to find it can't help you fix the problem. Finally, you do what you considered doing first anyway: You call your computer-savvy child, who calmly fixes things and then shows you how to fix it should it ever happen again.

Our latest Computer Tech Support Survey, by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, found experiences like this unnervingly common. Only 55 percent of those who contacted free support had their problem solved. Roughly 15 percent of users with problems didn't even bother contacting the manufacturer's support because of past bad experiences.

But when we asked more than 20,000 subscribers with computer trouble how they solved their problems with and without the manufacturer's help, we found hope. Here are some of the highlights:

You might be more computer-capable than you know. Fifty percent of our survey participants who tried solving their own problem, after free tech support failed them, were able to solve it.
Outside help can be very effective. More than 90 percent of those who skipped tech support entirely and called an independent service at their own expense had their problem solved. Those services could typically solve problems that tech support had failed to fix.
You should indeed think of calling the kids first next time. More than 60 percent of those who turned to family and friends after free support failed had their computer problem fixed.

Drawing on those survey experiences and the expertise of the computing experts at Consumer Reports, here's a step-by-step guide to help you solve common computer problems yourself, get the most from free manufacturer support, use an outside support service if necessary, and keep your PC in top running shape.

Step 1

TRY TO FIX IT Yourself

Consider these first. When trouble strikes, one of these four all-purpose computer fixes might do the trick:

Turn off the computer and any misbehaving peripherals for a minute and restart them.
If a printer or other device isn't working, turn it off, then disconnect and reconnect all cables securely to their proper ports. Check the power plug, too.
For trouble with sound, video, or printing, review the device's settings (usually in Windows' Control Panel).
Remove recently installed hardware or software. If you are running Windows XP, use System Restore to reinstate the computer's previous settings.

Consult guides here and online. The computer manufacturers offer online guides, but our survey showed that they helped only about a third of the time. You might instead want to check the 11 problems and solutions in our June 2006 report on how to fix computer problems yourself.

Next, if you're a do-it-yourselfer, try the free diagnostics at PC Pitstop ( www .pcpitstop.com ), which also runs a user-forum site and offers for-pay support.

For problems with a particular piece of software or hardware, check the FAQ and knowledge base at its manufacturer's site.

User forums and newsgroups provide a wealth of free information, often from volunteer experts who scour such sites and answer questions. Access them from groups.google.com or groups.yahoo.com. You can also use the newsreader program in applications such as Microsoft Outlook Express for access to the tens of thousands of free online discussion groups known collectively as Usenet.

Step 2

maximize free TECH Support

If you've exhausted your own expertise and that of family and friends, it's time to consider calling tech support. But before you do, check your coverage. At least a year's free tech support is the norm, but see whether on-site support is for hardware repair only or includes diagnostic help. Apple offers 90 days of free phone support, after which it charges $49 per incident. (Support is always free in person at the Genius Bars in Apple retail stores.)

If you're covered, follow these steps:

Consider the manufacturer's track record. In our June 2006 report on laptops and desktops, satisfaction with tech support varies widely by manufacturer. Calling tech support is more likely to pay off with Apple Computer, or IBM (Lenovo) for laptops, which solved, respectively, 76 and 64 percent, of problems than with low-scoring Compaq, which solved just 38 percent of problems and typically kept customers waiting a long time before getting help.

Decide how to reach support. Phoning isn't the only way to get free support, but we found that it offered better results than the other ways. Most manufacturers also offer help through e-mail, online chat, their Web site, or sometimes via remote control of your computer. Unfortunately, as our survey shows, none of them worked very well. For example, half of respondents had at least one problem with phone service; most common were a long wait and being bumped from technician to technician. Of those who e-mailed the manufacturer, 29 percent either waited more than 48 hours for a reply or received none at all.

We also found that those we surveyed used the phone for support more frequently than they used e-mail or the Web.

Organize system information. Write down important information about your computer, such as the service code, model, and serial number, ahead of time. Keep your receipts in the same place. Also jot down all pertinent specifications, such as the amount of memory, processor type, and anything you've installed since you purchased the system. Keep handy all the system discs, backup discs, and software that came with your computer.

Record what happened. Be able to tell the technician what the exact problem is, when it occurred, and what you were doing when it began. Record error messages and what you were doing when they appeared.

Get identification. As soon as you're in touch with a technician, get his or her name or ID number, or an incident number. That way, if you're cut off and call back, you can ask for the same person. Also immediately provide your name and phone number so that the technician can get back to you if necessary. Keep a log of calls made, dates, and resolutions.

Try to avoid reformatting. Tech-support services often advise reformatting your hard drive when there might be less-drastic solutions. Before taking that advice, try to check it out with a third party, such as a computer-savvy friend or relative, or even a paid professional. If reformatting is necessary, or if you must send in or leave your PC for repairs, back up all your personal files first.

Step 3

PAID HELP Independent tech-support services like this one above solve problems better than most computer makers' support, but they can be expensive.

consider Independent Support

Independent support consultants solved close to 90 percent of the problems that users in our survey brought to them after manufacturers' support could not solve them. Such services cover computers, peripherals, operating systems, and software, so you avoid the runarounds you often encounter with manufacturer's support.

Here's a sampling of the kinds of problems several independent services will solve and how much they charge. We have not assessed their performance.

PlumChoice (www.plumchoice.com) emphasizes remote-control services for hardware and software troubleshooting for $25 per 15 minutes. There's also a subscription option that performs virus scans, spyware cleanup, and Windows Updates for $24.95 per month.
PC Pinpoint (www.pcpinpoint.com) runs a series of diagnostic tests, then lets you solve the problem or gives a technician access via remote-control software. It also offers e-mail, chat, and phone support. Prices are $25 per incident or $75 per year.
Ask Dr. Tech (askdrtech.com) specializes in remote diagnostics. Phone and e-mail support costs $19 per incident, $24 per month, or $89 per year.
PC Pitstop ( www.pcpitstop.com ), which also offers user forums and free tips, sells paid support for fees ranging from $19.95 per incident to $99 per year.
GeeksOnTime ( www.geeksontime.com ) and Geek Squad ( www.geeksquad.com ) send someone to your home to perform any of a variety of tasks such as setup, maintenance, and repairs. You can find Geek Squad at many Best Buy stores. On-site services from Geek Squad range from $129 to $229. GeeksOnTime starts at $89 per hour on-site.

When choosing an independent support service, here's what to look for:

Satisfaction guaranteed. Many of these companies offer warranties for their services. For example, with a one-year subscription, if PC Pinpoint can't solve your problem in 30 days, you'll get a full refund. PlumChoice guarantees its remote services for five days.

Certification. Ask the service provider about the certifications its tech-support personnel have. Some important certifications are CompTIA A+ (an internationally recognized credential sponsored by the Computing Technology Industry Association); MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer); and MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional, which covers any of several specialty Microsoft-certified areas). For network-related jobs, the technician should have a network certification. Also look for certifications for specific manufacturers, such as Dell.

24/7 service. Look for a service provider that is available around the clock, especially if you are subscribing. Odds are you'll never need service at 3 a.m., but it's nice to know that help will be there if you do. The price charged should be the same no matter the time of day.

No minimum times. Some companies charge for a full 15 minutes when you are on the line for less. A subscription service might cost less, especially if you think you'll be needing help again.

No travel charges. Choose an on-site tech-support service that doesn't charge for travel time. The clock should start ticking when the technician arrives.

Step 4

PREVENT future problems

Maintain your computer properly. Detailed instructions are available at ConsumerReports.org. Click on "Electronics & computers," then on "Easy fixes for computer problems."

Empty the Recycle Bin and the temporary Internet files.
Run Microsoft's maintenance tools: ScanDisk, Disk Cleanup, and Disk Defragmenter.
Enable automatic Windows Updates.
Delete unneeded items from the Windows Startup menu.
Back up your data.
Remove dust from vents on the case.
Don't install software you don't need, especially from the Internet.
Install antivirus and antispyware programs, and use a firewall.
Turn your computer off when not in use for long periods, such as at night.
Enable Windows XP's System Restore or install a program such as Norton GoBack from Symantec, which can return your PC to its pre-problem state.

CR Quick Take

Drawing upon the results of our
comprehensive Computer Tech Support Survey of online subscribers and on our staff's expertise, we found that:


•	Free manufacturer support was dismal, except for Apple and IBM (Lenovo) laptops. Extended support plans might not be worth the cost.
•	You might well be able to solve your computer problems on your own. For 11 problem-solving tips, see our June 2006 report on how to fix computer problems yourself.
•	Independent support services were very effective problem solvers. For advice on using them, see consider independent support.

Step 5

weigh extended support

If you're buying a new computer, consider our Ratings of major brands' tech support. Some manufacturers offer an extended warranty that you can buy along with a new computer, which adds premium services. For example, Gateway offers a one-year plan for $60 that includes on-site visits for hardware repair only. Prices for a two-year upgrade from Dell start at $50, depending on the system type. A three-year plan from Sony that includes on-site visits costs $250.

For most brands of computer, such plans aren't worth buying. According to our survey, they didn't reduce many of the hassles people experienced with free support, though they did solve slightly more problems. And 7 percent of those who had bought them ended up paying an independent service to solve their problem. However, IBM (Lenovo) extended laptop support is worth considering because it solved 75 percent of users’ problems. So are Apple's three-year AppleCare plans, since the phone support that comes with a new Mac is free for only 90 days.

What You Need To Know About Web Browser Security

2006-06-04T11:55:00.000-04:00

Surfing on the internet is risky business. Apart from electronic pests like viruses and spyware, the web is increasingly full of criminals hunting for sensitive information left unsecured. Online surfers should be as selective with their browser as real- life surfers are with their surfboards. After all, this is the program that is used to navigate the virtual world. And regardless of which browser is used, one single false setting can expose online surfers to dangerous security leaks.

"The browser is the most dangerous application," says Christoph Fischer, an expert in IT security from Karlsruhe. Browser programs are indispensable for depicting internet pages on the computer, but are anchored deep into the operating system. At the same time they make direct contact with the chaotic realm of the internet. That makes them an inviting target for the ill-intentioned.

Adding to the problem is the increasing complexity of browsers, Fischer notes. All modern browsers include embedded support programs and languages like Java, Java Script, Flash, and ActiveX. This is a result of the trend toward more colourful web sites loaded down with animated "do-dads." Without the corresponding plug-ins, the pages cannot be properly depicted with the browser.

This "featuritis" has made no friends at the German Federal Agency for Information Technology (BSI) in Bonn.

Frank W Felzmann, the division head for IT safety in operating systems, says, "That makes the browser easier to attack." Every program has weak points that can be exploited once they are discovered. Among other problems, this means that market leader Microsoft has "grave security problems with its older browsers," Fischer feels.

Even the Firefox browser from the Mozilla Foundation, developed as a stripped down counterpart to Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE), now features numerous add-ons. These helper programs allow the browser to be customized to meet personal preferences.

BSI expert Felzmann estimates that the current version of IE has more weak spots than Firefox. Yet this has cost IE many users. "That makes Firefox more interesting for attackers, since they react to the market share," Felzmann explains. "Attackers will go after the browser that is most widespread." The new IE 7, expected on the market in the second half of this year, may well become a prime target for so-called malware authors.

Microsoft has recognized, however, that "significant investments in security are a constant necessity," explains Andreas Schoenberger, the company's marketing manager in Munich. Dangers through phishing must be taken just as seriously as viruses and worms. The new IE 7 browser will therefore also offer both an anti-spyware function and a "phishing filter." This involves tests to prevent attacks luring online banking users into revealing their access data.

The first step in the process is a comparison of the web site being visited with a local list of recognized genuine sites. Another step involves checking the site for characteristics typical of phishing sites. Finally a comparison is made against a constantly updated online service from Microsoft, which notes "good" and "bad" sites. If a phishing alarm is triggered, then the surfer is provided a warning or the page is blocked.

BSI expert Felzmann warns against overconfidence. The new IE 7, whose beta version is already available, has not been written completely from scratch. "Parts of earlier versions were used, and these contain some security holes." Moreover, protection based on a list of banned sites is a "cat-and-mouse game," since new phishing sites appear on the web constantly.

IT expert Christoph Fischer points out that this process also involves certain privacy risks. Microsoft is ultimately being informed about visited web sites in real time, which not all internet users may appreciate. Fischer also complains about the lack of transparency for the browsers. Certain functions can in fact be turned off, but "Which users know about it? They are too complex for normal users to master."

As a result, many simply ignore security issues "because they're annoying." The IT expert also implores surfers to take basic precautionary measures, regardless of which browser they use. This includes switching off browser features like ActiveX and Java Script, which can be used to sneak in spy programs. The automatic downloading of plug-ins should also be deactivated.

Alongside the regular update of the operating system, virus protection program and firewalls, Felzmann also advises surfers to be vigilant about security threats and to approach unknown web sites with caution. The consequences of security gaps are not clear to everyone, Christoph Fischer adds: "Millions of people are spied on every day by spyware. They're standing buck naked on the web."

INFO BOX: Create separate user profile for surfing. Computer users should create a user profile with restricted access rights to be used when web surfing, advises Frank W. Felzmann from the German Federal Agency for Information Technology (BSI) in Bonn. Most users foolishly surf using their administrator account. That allows any malware that sneaks onto the machine to gain full control of it.

By Felix Rehwald,

Outpost Firewall Pro 3.0 Product Review

2006-06-03T16:20:00.000-04:00

Outpost Firewall Pro 3.0
BOTTOM LINE:
Outpost Firewall Pro's plug-in architecture made it easy for Agnitum to add spyware protection to the suite. However, its spyware-fighting ability just doesn't measure up. We suggest you use a best-of-breed standalone instead, or wait for a better plug-in.

PROS:
Detected five of six commercial keyloggers in testing. Firewall module aided in spyware detection.

CONS:
Only removed half the spyware it found. Only blocked half the spyware installations it detected. Very little information about found threats.

COMPANY:
Agnitum Ltd.

SPEC DATA

Price: $39.95 Direct

Type: Personal

By Neil J. Rubenking

Antispyware:
Agnitum's Outpost Firewall Pro is a firewall by nature, but Version 3.0 takes advantage of the product's plug-in architecture to add full-scale spyware removal and prevention. Other plug-ins handle ad blocking, e-mail attachment quarantine, content filtering (based on user-defined lists of unwanted URLs or keywords), and more. We tested its abilities against our standard antispyware regimen.

Outpost detected all but one commercial keylogger and removed three, but didn't successfully block installation of any of them. Although it detected two-thirds of our sample spyware in both tests, it succeeded in blocking or removing less than half of those. In a few cases the firewall element prevented suspicious activity by the installer, effectively halting the installation. Many of the successful removal operations required a reboot.

Outpost was sig-nificantly better at detecting spyware than at either removing it or preventing its initial installation. Future versions may improve the program's performance; until they do, you'd be better off with a best-of-breed standalone antispyware product.

Never delay installing Microsoft security updates

2006-04-01T12:31:00.000-05:00

It is always an on going battle to keep your computer safe, and free of vermin. In an effort to keep everyone on the same page I will pass on articles I think will be of interest

Be safe out there! And if you have a little reminders in the bottom right tray that you have updates ready to apply, PLEASE take the time to do it NOW! Remember by waiting is how the Blaster virus spread!

Wayne

Trojan Dropper Deposits Many Viruses into User Computer
TechWhack (press release) - New Delhi,India
Security Experts at MicroWorld Technologies inform that “Trojan-Dropper.Win32.Agent.alv” is a new addition to the Trojan Dropper family, known to drop various Trojans and Viruses into user computers while working in the system background.

OK, You're Infested with Spyware. Now What?

2006-03-27T20:36:00.000-05:00

When you get Spyware on your computer it is time for a reality check. You’ve got to start thinking “outside the box” and ask yourself how it get there. It goes far beyond whether you have a Spyware program on your computer. It is lifestyle in most cases. ie: Where do you go on the web? Sites that can get you in deep trouble are the ADULT SITES. Do you download “free music” using programs like Kazaa or any other pier to pier program? Just remember when you use a pier to pier program you are actually connecting to the user who’s songs you are downloading. Hence if he is infected you soon will be. Are you starting to catch on?

OK, So what to do:

Arm yourself with some good Reactive Spyware Cleaners.

Get programs like Spybot, Ad_aware, Xcleaner, Hi-Jacks can all be downloaded off the web for free and they update their pattern files often to keep up to date.

Take yourself off the web and your home network if you have one while you’re cleaning.

If you don’t take yourself off the web, or remove yourself from your network you’ll be shoveling against the tide. And if you are connected via a cable modem you are ALWAYS on the web, even if you’re not actively browsing so you must unplug it or remove the cat5 cable from your PC.

Learn how to use the Spyware Cleaners.

These tools are no good to you if you don’t take the time to thoroughly read the instruction. You will also have to update the definition files because these downloaded programs could be weeks or months old. As I have preached before “Spyware and Viruses do not take a holiday…EVER!!”

Run these programs over and over.

In order to be sure you are clean, it is necessary to run these programs more than once until finally you get a scan that produces no new problems. In what order you run your programs doesn’t matter. Since each program finds different type of problems it is always good if you have more than one tool in your arsenal. So run them all. One last thing. The program Hi-Jacks is something best left in the hands of a professional as it can really mess your computer up in the wrong hands. Be forewarned!!

If you have a PC related question that you would like to see answered in this blog click here: Ask Wayne

If you don't want to search the web and download these tools yourself you can get them from me for $0.01 plus postage by clicking on this link: Fix It Yourself Yes I said one Cent!!! This special is not going to last long and will be discontinued without notice so don't snooze. You must enter coupon code "Waynes world" (no quotes) into shopping cart to get this price.

Wayne

Steps to Prevent Spyware

2006-03-26T23:00:00.000-05:00

Spyware and other unwanted software can invade your privacy, bombard you with pop-up windows, slow down your computer, and even make your computer crash. Here are several ways you can help protect your computer against spyware and other unwanted software.

· Use a firewall:

While most spyware and other unwanted software come bundled with other programs or originate from unscrupulous Web sites, a small amount of spyware can actually be placed on your computer remotely by hackers.

If you are using any version of Windows XP make sure you turn the firewall on. I you are using a commercial software internet security package (like Norton Internet Security) It wants to turn off the windows fore wall in favor of its own firewall. This is OK, but take setting it up or you will block yourself out of the internet by having settings too high. I you are behind a router you have a hardware firewall built into it, but you need to set it up properly so it doesn’t block ports needed to get to the internet or make your favorite chat program from working. If you don’t understand what I just said, you probably should see some help in setting this up.

· Update your software

If you use Windows XP, one way to help prevent spyware and other unwanted software is to make sure all your software is updated. Get into the habit of not saying “remind me later” when windows alerts you that an update is ready.

· Adjust Internet Explorer security settings

You can adjust your Internet Explorer Web browser's security settings to determine how much—or how little—information you are willing to accept from a Web site. Microsoft recommends that you set the security settings for the Internet zone to Medium or higher.

· Install antispyware protection

There are two type of spyware software. Proactive (prevents it from getting into your computer) or reactive (trys to remove it once your infested). You need proactive. Examples of proactive programs are Spy Sweeper, Trend Micro Anti-Spyware, Spyware Doctor…etc there are a lot to choose from but get one that PREVENTS spyware from getting into your computer in the first place

Microsoft currently offers antispyware beta software for download; more information is available on their Windows Defender (Beta 2) site.

I’ll discuss what to do if you do get infected with Spyware in one of my next Blogs. If you have any PC Related questions write to me at ask_wayne@pricecomputersupport.com and I’ll try to answer as many as I can in my Blogs

Wayne

BTW: Not too sure what's going on with the formating of this Blog. No matter what I do it keeps getting worse....Gremlins or maybe it's Spyware...(Grin)

Adware Pioneer says it will exit the business

2006-03-25T16:23:00.001-05:00

With all of us trying to block Adware and Popups from getting to us it's hard to believe that there are companies who make a living annoying us. This is one press release I'm proud to reprint.

Wayne

ask_wayne@pricecomputersupport.com

Adware pioneer says it will exit the business over persistent criticism (Canadian Press)
Canadian Press - SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A pioneer of software that delivers pop-up ads based on websites that Internet users browse said Tuesday it will exit that business by June following persistent criticism from online publishers, consumer groups and privacy advocates.

Yahoo

Hackers Get Windows XP on Apple Computers (AP)

2006-03-25T16:23:00.000-05:00

I found an interesting article that I got a kick out of and thought you would too. One things comes to my mind when I read this kind of thing.."What's the Point?)

Hackers Get Windows XP on Apple Computers (AP)
AP - As expected, hackers have found a way to run Microsoft Corp.'s Windows XP operating system on new Macintosh computers, winning an ad hoc contest and a $13,854 cash prize to boot. ]]

Google

MSN

Yahoo

What is spyware?

2006-03-24T23:36:00.000-05:00

Spyware is a general term used for software that performs certain behaviors such as advertising, collecting personal information, or changing the configuration of your computer, generally without appropriately obtaining your consent. You might have spyware or other unwanted software on your computer if:

You see pop-up advertisements even when you're not on the Web. Some unwanted software will bombard you with pop-up ads that aren't related to a particular Web site you're visiting. These ads are often for adult or other Web sites you may find objectionable. If you see pop-up ads as soon as you turn on your computer or when you're not even browsing the Web, you may have spyware or other unwanted software on your computer.
The page your Web browser first opens to (your home page) or your browser search settings have changed without your knowledge. Some unwanted software has the ability to change your home page or search page settings. This means that the page that opens first when you start your Internet browser or the page that appears when you select "search" may be pages that you do not recognize. Even if you know how to adjust these settings, you may find that they revert back every time you restart your computer.
You notice a new toolbar in your browser that you didn't want, and find it difficult to get rid of. Spyware and other unwanted software can add additional toolbars to your Web browser that you don't want or need. Even if you know how to remove these toolbars, they may return each time you restart your computer.
Your computer takes longer than usual to complete certain tasks. Spyware and other unwanted software are not necessarily designed to be efficient. The resources these programs use to track your activities and deliver advertisements can slow down your computer and errors in the software can make your computer crash. If you notice a sudden increase in the number of times a certain program crashes, or if your computer is slower than normal at performing routine tasks, you may have spyware or other unwanted software on your machine.
You experience a sudden rise in computer crashes. If you notice a sudden increase in the number of times a certain program crashes, or if your computer is slower than normal at performing routine tasks, you may have spyware or other unwanted software on your machine.

we'll talk about how to prevent Spyware from getting onto your computer in one of my next blogs. Stay tuned!

Windows Vista delayed

2006-03-24T21:07:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I was really looking forward to the new release of Windows to replace XP. All the talk of more stability, greater security, and a more streamlined interface got my IT juices flowing. Now it looks like we won't be able to wet our appetites until next year. The only saving grace is that Windows Explored 7 which will be in Vista when it is released in going to be released on time. Pheeeeew!! If you'd like to check it out for yourself click on the download link below:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/ie7/ie7betaredirect.mspx

I've included a couple of news release clipping for your information:

No Windows Vista PCs until 2007
Microsoft's OS update to miss the holiday season after all...

By Ina Fried
Published: Wednesday 22 March 2006
Microsoft on Tuesday announced a delay of Windows Vista that will mean PCs with the new operating system won't go on sale until January.
The software maker said it will still wrap up development of the operating system this year and make it available to volume-licensing customers in November. However, Microsoft said a delay of a few weeks in Vista's schedule meant that some PC makers would be able to launch this year and others would not. As a result, Windows chief Jim Allchin said the company is delaying the broad launch of the product until January.

Elizabeth Montalbano, IDG News Service
Friday, March 24, 2006
More delays revealed today in the release schedule for Windows Vista hint that problems with getting the new operating system out the door may be broader than Microsoft has so far allowed.

Welcome to Wayne's PC World

2006-03-23T00:27:00.000-05:00

To blog or not to blog might sound like a silly premise, unless you've never blogged, as is my case. Then it's really scary stuff! To write something that thousands can read, and even comment on, reminds me of the first time I had to get up in front of my fifth grade class and read my oral report. I got so worked up about it I had my Mom call me out sick.

Let me introduce myself to you. My name is Wayne and I live in York, Maine. I have been an IT professional for over 15 years. Specializing in PC repair and virus and spyware removal. I'll discuss the various spyware programs like Spybot, Ad-aware, Xcleaner and a host of others as we go along. What works, what doesn't work. What's free, and how to use them. All of these programs are on my CD

"Fix Your Windows Operating System Yourself"

Most of what I intend to write in my blogs will be:

Tech tips
Computer repair you can do youself
Handy gagets to have
Product reviews
References to useful articles I've read (and links to them if available)
And Oh Yes, my favorite, Answers to tech questions you have e-mailed to me at ask_wayne@pricecomputersupport.com (If your typing this in there is an underscore between ask and Wayne)

I'll try and answer as many questions as I can in my blogs. If you ask a question You’ll be sent a link to a free copy of my latest "fix it yourself" CD. Well almost free. I have to charge $0.01 so my system can keep track of inventory.

Owning a computer is not what it used to be. The internet changed everything. For the good and for the bad. It is no longer enough to keep it clean, defragged and program error free. If you are connected to the internet in any manner you need to keep up with ALL the windows critical updates, have a functional antivirus program, (Like Norton or McAfee or PC Cillin) and you need to keep these programs up to date all all times. But that still is not enough! You'll also need a good spyware program (Like Spysweeper) which also needs to be kept up to date. Virus's and spyware come out with new strains every single day, 365 days a year they never take a holiday. The day you let up your guard will be the day your system starts acting funny, starts getting sloooow. The day you call me.

Wayne's PC World

Windows 7 Ultimate RTM Cracked

Windows 7 Ultimate RTM Cracked, Fully Validated (Already?)

Apple iPod Sales Slow but iPhone Makes up for It

iPhone Audience Expands

AppStore, Yes; Netbook, No

Firefox 3.5 Security Bug

ISO Verifier

Windows 7 Family Pack?

Windows 7 Release To Manufacturing On July 13th

How True it is

Save money on Windows 7 Upgrade

Windows 7 Upgrade Limitations

Windows 7 Minimun Requirements

Windows 7 Expected to kill Vista

Windows 7:small Improvemts make a big splash

The Wayne Show on Mevio

Microsoft Claim Windows 7 Will Be More Secure Than Linux

The Return of the "Wayne Show" to Podcast.com

IE8 Balks at Windows Update

How to Rectify

Other Problems

Gregg Keizer, Computerworld

Podcasting

Back from Vegas

Off to Vegas

Does your computer need fixing?

SPYWARE

Windows Registry Blues

MM3E

My First Video Blog

Yoggie Pico

Google Software Packs

Norton 360

Vista makes new strides

Easy PC fixes

What You Need To Know About Web Browser Security

Outpost Firewall Pro 3.0 Product Review

Never delay installing Microsoft security updates

OK, You're Infested with Spyware. Now What?

Steps to Prevent Spyware

· Use a firewall:

· Update your software

· Adjust Internet Explorer security settings

· Install antispyware protection

Adware Pioneer says it will exit the business

Hackers Get Windows XP on Apple Computers (AP)

I found an interesting article that I got a kick out of and thought you would too. One things comes to my mind when I read this kind of thing.."What's the Point?)

Hackers Get Windows XP on Apple Computers (AP) AP - As expected, hackers have found a way to run Microsoft Corp.'s Windows XP operating system on new Macintosh computers, winning an ad hoc contest and a $13,854 cash prize to boot. ]]Google

MSN

Yahoo

What is spyware?

Windows Vista delayed

Welcome to Wayne's PC World

Hackers Get Windows XP on Apple Computers (AP)
AP - As expected, hackers have found a way to run Microsoft Corp.'s Windows XP operating system on new Macintosh computers, winning an ad hoc contest and a $13,854 cash prize to boot. ]]

Google