[MikesWhatsNews] MWN #762 HackFix
- From: "Mike" <mikebike@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: mikeswhatsnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2005 16:53:06 -0800
MikesWhatsNews 07, 01, 2005
in today's issue #762
2 WIZMO Remote-Control Open/Close CD Trays
3 StartupRun v1.22
4 Adobe Reader 7
5 Tux Paint
6 Mcheck 2.0
7 Beauregard's Browser Security
8 CCC Back4Win
9 Troubleshooting Autorun
10 Make Firefox Faster
11 Floppy Drives
12 Microsoft Ships Public AntiSpyware Beta
HackFix Updates
____________________________________________________________
NOTE: Any time you see the " ++ ", it means there is more
of the article, or story, on the linked site. Mike
____________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________
2
WIZMO Remote-Control Open/Close CD Trays
http://www.grc.com/wizmo/wizmo.htm
DRIVE OPEN (EJECT) and CLOSE (LOAD)
open ? opens the system's default CDROM drive tray.
Example: wizmo open
close ? closes the system's default CDROM drive tray.
Example: wizmo close
open={drive:} ? open or eject specific removable drive media.
On systems with multiple CDROM or other removable drives (e.g. Iomega Zip
and Jaz) this opens or ejects the media from the specified drive.
Example: wizmo open=w:
close={drive:} ? close or load specific removable drive media.
(NT/2000/XP only) On systems with multiple CDROM or other removable drives
(e.g. Iomega Zip and Jaz) this closes or loads the media on the specified
drive. This function is not available under Windows 95/98/ME. On those
systems it will behave like the "close" function above.
Example: wizmo close=r:
++
____________________________________________________________
3
StartupRun v1.22
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/strun.html
This free utility can work in all 32-bit Windows operating systems:
Windows 9x, Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP.
The StartupRun utility displays the list of all applications that are loaded
automatically
when Windows boots. For each application, additional information is
displayed
(Product Name, File Version, Description, and Company Name), in order to
allow you
to easily identify the applications that are loaded at Windows startup. if
StartupRun
identifies a spyware or adware program that runs at startup, it
automatically paints it
in pink color. In addition, you are allowed to Edit, disable, enable and
delete the selected
startup entries. You can also save the list of startup items into a text or
html files, and
even add a new startup entry to the Registry.
++
____________________________________________________________
4
Adobe Reader 7 Available free
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html
Free software to enhance information exchange using Adobe PDF files
Adobe=AE Reader=AE 7.0 is free software that enables business
professionals and home
users to reliably share information using intelligent PDF files.
With Adobe Reader 7.0, you can easily view, print, and search PDF files
using a variety of
platforms and devices.
With a growing list of rich features, this new version of familiar Adobe
Reader software:
Provides better overall performance for faster launch times and real-time
zooming and panning
Enables you to fill out and submit PDF forms from a variety of devices
Helps you download and organize digital editions (formerly known as eBooks)
on a variety of
devices, with full support for portrait or landscape viewing
++ There is more on the web site.
____________________________________________________________
5
Tux Paint
http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/tuxpaint/
Open Source Drawing Software for Children
Tux Paint is a free drawing program designed for young children (kids ages 3
and up).
It has a simple, easy-to-use interface, fun sound effects, and an
encouraging cartoon
mascot who helps guide children as they use the program.
(See the full list of features.)
It provides a blank canvas and a variety of drawing tools to help your child
be creative.
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6
Mcheck 2.0 (beta)
http://www.rnowicki.neostrada.pl/mcheck.html
Windows 95/98/ME/NT4/2000/XP FREEWARE
Mcheck is a notification program that can check multiple POP3 accounts for
new mail.
You can simply integrate it with your E-mail client to receive mail
automatically.
____________________________________________________________
7
Beauregard's Browser Security
http://bshagnasty.home.att.net/browsersettings.htm
Stop those annoying popup/popunder ads
Welcome to Beauregard's personal way to save twenty bucks!
That seems to be the going rate for some popup stopping third party
software.
What you see here is the opinion of me and me alone, so remember YMMV 1.
Further, the time and space allotted is not sufficient for a complete
tutorial for all
versions of operating systems and browsers.
If you do nothing else here, go read Section 3. It is an EASY modification.
So, the rest of this stuff is mainly for the world's most common browser:
Internet Explorer.
Most of my non-geek friends use IE, and Version 6.0 is featured here.
IE 5.5 has a lesser set of options similar to these described below; you
figure it out.
If you are using IE less than 5.5, you should upgrade, and Outhouse Distress
2 of course comes with that.
++ There is more on the web site.
____________________________________________________________
8
'Christy's Computer Corner'
thanks to Christy;
http://www.1stpick.org
Back4Win Freeware
http://www.alistairgeorge.com/b4win/
Losing Data (computer files) is at least disconcerting, at most potential
failure of your business!.
Backup software used regularly, insures your computer against these losses
by storing copies of
your data in a safe place. Back4Win is free, and is highly regarded by
thousands of users as a
no-cost solution for data integrity. Business users should seriously
consider the very low cost of
$24.95 for Back4WinXP which, along with many other features, automatically
keeps all versions
of critical files, so you can go back to any version. This 'Stealth' mode
makes Back4WinXP
tremendously more secure than regular backups.
~~~~~~~~
9
Troubleshooting Autorun
If you've ever placed a CD in your Windows computer's CD-ROM drive and then
had to launch it
from within Windows Explorer or My Computer because the CD won't play
automatically, you'll be
pleased to know that there's an easy registry-edit you can perform to
correct the AutoRun problem.
There's a Registry value that prevents Autorun from working on certain drive
types because incorrect
data in this Registry value has disabled the ability for Windows to
automatically run a CD placed in
the CD-ROM drive.
To fix the problem, launch Registry Editor and navigate to the
key HKEY_ CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current
Version\Policies\Explorer subkey.
Then, in the right-hand pane, double-click the NoDriveTypeAutoRun value.
Its data most likely reads 0000 FF 00 00 00. Delete FF 00 00 00 and enter 95
00 00 00,
and then click OK.
You may need to restart Windows , but the Autorun feature for your CD-ROM
drive will be enabled.
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____________________________________________________________
10
Make Firefox Faster
http://forevergeek.com/open_source/make_firefox_faster.php
After you get past the beginner
<http://forevergeek.com/open_source/a_beginners_guide_to_firefox.php> stage
with Firefox, try this "power-user" trick to make it download pages faster
by allowing multiple connections so it can download more than one file at a
time. It's only useful for broadband users, so if you're still on dial-up
you can just skip this one for now.
Here's something for broadband people that will really speed Firefox up:
1. Type "about:config" into the address bar and hit Enter on the keyboard.
2. Scroll down and look for the following entries & modify them as
instructed:
- change "network.http.pipelining" to "true": rightclick it then choose
Toggle
- change "network.http.proxy.pipelining" to "true": rightclick it then
choose Toggle
- change "network.http.pipelining.maxrequests" to 30 (original value is 4),
meaning it will be able to make 30 requests at once: rightclick it then
choose Modify, overwrite the original value & enter 30.
Normally the browser will make one request to a web page at a time. When you
enable pipelining it will make several at once, which really speeds up page
loading.
3. Lastly right-click anywhere and select New-> Integer. Name it
"nglayout.initialpaint.delay" and set its value to "0". This value is the
amount of time the browser waits before it acts on information it receives.
If you're using a broadband connection you'll load pages MUCH faster now!
I was also reading somewhere (I don't remember where now.. I restarted
Firefox to check out the above changes) that you shouldn't make the last
"nglayout" change on OSX for some reason. But give it a try-- you'll like
it! Of course this also increases the load on a given webserver as it gets
more simultaneous requests per browser, but I'd say that the the speed
improvement is worth it.
For Beginner's Firefox Guide:
http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~conberj/fx_guide.html
Thanks to Sean at; mycomuterheadaches
MCH - http://shorterlink.com/?PBFUJ5
SMB - http://savemybutt.com
____________________________________________________________
11
Floppy Drives
a lot of the newer computer are coming out with no floppy drives.
This cost saving tactic by the manufactures may render a lot of your backed
up data unaccessible.
Many of us have programs and utilities of other data saved on floppy disks,
When I go out to help someone with their computer problems I take 10 or more
floppy disks with me of recovery and utility programs which would be
unaccessible without a floppy drive.
My new Toshiba laptop came without a floppy drive, so I purchased a USB
external floppy drive for around $40.
It now goes with me on trouble calls.
Don't be caught with out one, if you are purchasing a new computer they can
often be added for less than $20.
____________________________________________________________
Microsoft Ships Public AntiSpyware Beta
http://www.windowsitpro.com/articles/articleid/45026/45026.html
Late Wednesday night, Microsoft shipped its public beta of
Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware, which is based on the antispyware
application that Giant Company Software previously sold. Microsoft
purchased Giant in December. Additionally, Microsoft announced that it
will soon ship the first monthly installment of a malicious software
removal tool that will help customers remove malware such as worms and
viruses. The first version of that tool will appear January 11, the
same day Microsoft issues its monthly security bulletins.
++
___________________________________________________________
HackFix updates, thanks to Christy;
staff@xxxxxxxxxxx
Http://www.hackfix.org
This weeks Virus Pattern Updates (01/06/2005)
Updates will now vary in time but remain the same in day. Our time
schedule no longer allows for updates to be sent at a specific time on any
day so we will continue to send them on Thursdays to help our readers to
remember to update before leaving for the weekend (time away or from
work). We apologize if this causes any confusion.
All Software listed Alphabetically by Company name as some
companies manufacture more then one product.
Aladdin Knowledge Systems
Esafe Desktop/Gateway/Enterprise
Last Updated Jan 01/2005
To update your software
Visit: http://www.esafe.com/esafe/downloads/virusig.asp
Or
>From the Esafe folder in your Start Menu select Download Updates
~~~~~
AlWil Software
Avast Antivirus
Last Updated Jan 04/2005
To update your software:
Visit: http://www.avast.com/
Or
Right click on the AVAST icon in the system tray, Select iAVS Update,
AVAST will check for updates and download the appropriate files as needed.
~~~~~
Authentium Software Systems
Command antivirus
Last Updated Jan 06/2005
To update your software
Visit http://www.authentium.com/support/downloads/index.cfm
~~~~~
Center for Antivirus Technologies (CAT)
Quickheal
Last Updated Jan 06/2005
To update your software
Visit: http://207.230.103.11/public/updates/updates.asp
Or
Open Quickheal select Utility from the top toolbar and liveupdate.
Follow the onscreen prompts. Alternately you can select Liveupdate
directly from the QuickHeal program menu on the startmenu.
~~~~~
Frisk Software Systems
Fprot
Last Updated Jan 03/2005
To update your software
Visit: http://www.f-prot.com/download/home_user/
~~~~~
Computer Associates
E-Trust
Last updated Jan 06/2005
To update your software
http://www3.ca.com/support/vicdownload/
Or
>From the Respective folder in your Start Menu select Autodownload
For Vet Anti virus
http://www.vet.com.au/html/software/update.html
Be sure to have your Customer ID and your registered email address
handy for verification.
**Note**
We knew this time would come eventually, that Computer Associates
would not continue to support/update the older program
https://www2.my-etrust.com/services/ipe_support??
~~~~~~
GeCad Software
Rav (Reliable AntiVirus)
Last Updated: Jan 06/2005
To update your software:
Visit: http://www.ravantivirus.com/pages/dldupdate.php?type=3DDaily
Or
Open Rav and select Rav Update from the toolbar
~~~~~
Grisoft Inc.
AVG
Announcing the End of Support for AVG Anti-Virus 6.0 (December 31, 2004)
Read more here: http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_avg6_termination.php
(New update details will be available soon)
Last updated Jan 06/2005
To update your software
Visit: http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php
Or
Open AVG and click Virus Database to check for updates
Or
Open AVG control centre and click Update Manager/update now
**Note: To help speed up AVG updates you can set your program to use
an alternate download site.
Open AVG control centre->update manager->download from server.
The drop downbox should have listed www.grisoft.com (default) and
www.grisoft.cz. (be sure to select "apply" when done to save the changes)
The default site is most often used so can at times become temporarily
unavailable. By using the secondary site (www.grisoft.cz) helps to ease
the server and makes your update go quicker as most don't use it!
~~~~~
H+Bedv
AntiVir
Last updated Jan 05/2005
To update your software
Visit: http://www.free-av.com/antivirus/allinonen.html
Or
Open AntiVir, from the top toolbar select Tools->start internet update
and follow the on screen prompts.
Vexira
Last updated Jan 05/2005
To update your software
Visit: http://www.centralcommand.com/updates.html
Or
Open Vexira, from the top toolbar select Tools->start internet update
and follow the on screen prompts.
Vexira Antivirus is marketed by Central Command however it is the
same program as Antivir with only a different name.
~~~~~
Kaspersky
Kaspersky Anti-Virus (formerly AVP)
Last updated Dec 31/2004
To update your software
Visit: http://www.kaspersky.com/updates.asp
Or
Open AVP from the top toolbar click Tools-> Update virus definition
Or
>From the Kaspersky folder in your Start Menu select AVP updater
*Note* Avp now has available a cumulative update and a
daily update with the daily being any important items they
feel shouldn't wait till the next cumulative update. Our
dates here are based on the most recent Major update.
**Note: Improved update accessiblity. To ease the update web traffic
Kaspersky labs has additional servers for autoupdating. The program
defaults to use one server but can be altered to check a variety of
servers. Select Kaspersky updater, select update via the internet to
open the drop down box(es) select "location" Check the box labeled
"Use alternate locations from the list" select next and next to update.
This option should stay selected after the first time. This helps
Kaspersky lighten the load for updates and helps you obtain updates
easier.
~~~~~
Network Associates
Mcafee
Last updated Jan 05/2005
To update your software
For Mcafee Visit
http://www.networkassociates.com/us/downloads/updates/superdat.asp
(for Virus and Engine updates)
Drsolomn (Product no longer available for new users however
updates still available for current users): Go to the following
Internet site: http://download.mcafee.com/updates/4x.asp
IMPORTANT: When you get to this site you may notice that it refers
to VirusScan. This update is not only for VirusScan. It also works
with Dr.Solomon's.
Or
Open your respective software virus scan scheduler, double click
Auto update, click Run Now to do a manual live update, or click
Schedule to set up a timed live update.
~~~~~
Norman Data Defence
Norman Virus Control
Last updated Jan 05/2005
To update your software
Visit:
http://www.norman.com/downloads.shtml#definition_files_updates
Be sure to have your Valid Username and password handy for verification.
Or
>From the Norman folder in your Start Menu select Internet Update
**Note Norman Virus Control web updates are only for version prior to
5.0. Norman 5.0 can only be updated via the update in the program itself.
Thunderbyte Anti Virus
Current Version: This product is no longer being supported.
http://www.norman.com/tbav.shtml
~~~~~
Softwin
BitDefender (Previously known as AVX - AntiVirus eXpert as of Nov 06/01)
Last Updated Dec 31/2004
To update your software
Visit:
http://www.bitdefender.com/bd/site/downloads.php?menu_id=3D19&s_id=3D3
Or
Open BitDefender select Protection Options->live upgrade
Or
>From the BitDefender folder in your Start Menu select Bitdefender Live
Press Release on the software change
http://www.bitdefender.com/press/ref1.php
~~~~~
Sophos
Sophos Anti Virus
Last IDE available Jan 06/2005
To obtain the latest IDE files
Visit: http://www.sophos.com/downloads/ide/
**Note: Sophos does not update as other products do. They update
the Engine/software once a month (or so) to include all the previous
IDE files. New IDE files are available with new virus threats and must
be downloaded individually until the next software update is available.
Our update dates reflect the most recent available IDE file.
~~~~~
Symantec
Nortons AntiVirus
Last updated Jan 06/2005
To update your software
Visit: http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/defs.download.html select
your language -> product from the list
Or
Open Nortons software and click the "live update" button
Or
>From the Nortons folder in your Start Menu select LiveUpdate -
Norton Antivirus
~~~~~
Trend Micro
PcCillin
Last updated Jan 04/2005
To update your software
Visit: http://www.antivirus.com/download/pattern.asp
Be sure to have your Registration number handy for verification
Or
Open PcCillin click Update then click Update Now (or Update later
to Schedule a timed update)
~~~~~~~~~
If there is an Anti Virus program that is Not listed here that
you would like to see added to the weekly updates list Please
feel free to let us know.
Remember Your anti virus software is only as good as the user...
If you don't keep it updated it won't provide you with maximum
protection.
This weekly Update will be sent every Thursday on or after
6pm (eastern) to keep you up to date on virus pattern updates
available. Virus patterns are checked for most recent update
date as of 6pm Thursdays.
~~~~
~ Hackfix Project Staff
staff@xxxxxxxxxxx
Http://www.hackfix.org
3017 St Clair Ave #176
Burlington, Ontario
L7R 3L7
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Antivirus software is a good choice to scan your system for possible viruses,
however no virus scanner is 100% effective as manufactures cannot keep up with
the rapid change of viruses that happens daily.
Be sure to update yours regularly.
http://www.hackfix.org/software/antivirus.html
______________________________________________________________________
Please feel free, to offer constructive criticism, as that will help me keep it
interesting.
I also welcome any submissions about new products, web pages, or articles of
interest.
All submissions posted in MWN will be given proper credit.
"MikesWhatsNews" believes in giving credit where credit is due but at times
deadlines and information that is very important to readers we accidentally
misspost an item.
If you believe something to be miscredited, or you know the author of one of
the articles which we have posted as 'unknown', please do let us know so we can
correct the information where applicable.
Many times in a article you may see a click here for more information, or to go
to a link, these often will not work, as the original information, was taken
from a page with HTML links. This is when you will want to go to the webpage
indicated in the article, ++ ,for 'the rest of the story'
***MfM*** indicates that I am adding my own information to a particular
article.
`~*~*~*~*~*~`
Mike ~It's a good day if I learned something new.
You can read a sample of my newsletter on my web page http://www.mwn.ca
My virus pages ~ http://virusinfo.hackfix.org
mytech@xxxxxxxxxxx
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