Here are two stories from the Nov. 24th Issue of Spyware Weekly written by Mike (James) Healan at SpywareInfo.com that are Must Reads!! 1) Hacked Web Sites Used To Install Parasites: Security researchers are warning of a new method of installing unwanted parasitic software onto the computers of unsuspecting victims who use Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE).* & 2) AOL Requiring Aluria To Target WhenU: I wrote a few weeks ago about Aluria Software becoming a partner with the WhenU adware company. Aluria considers WhenU to have reformed their behavior and no longer considers their software to be spyware. They have even become a business partner with WhenU, to the point that they are developing software together. Beyond the obvious, another more interesting conflict of interest has arisen as a result of this cozy arrangement between Aluria and WhenU.*. This is also a MUST READ newsletter!! So, Sign-Up Here.
There is also another article about the new...ummm...relationship between Aluria and WhenU on eWeek titled Anti-Spyware Vendor Takes Heat Over Adware Deal. (GRRR...STUPID POP-UPS!! This one loads as you leave eWeek. Idiots!! When will they ever learn!!??)
Created a new page called Phishing: What To Do! after I was told about a new Phishing Scam Involving SmithBarney. I figure it's about time to write something about phishing scams since this happens so frequently involving many different well-known companies, including a Bank or Credit Card company you personally use.
Added a link to VideoHelp.com on How Do I...?
Added a link to ComputerHaven.info on Windows Help & How-To.
Added links to an article that Sandi Hardmeier wrote and one that Tom Koch wrote for the MS IE Community on Windows Help & How-To.
Added a link to PHP.net on Web Help & How-To.
Added a link to another one of Eric C. Vogel's web sites, the Computer Talk Shop Mailing List, on Windows Help & How-To.
Added a new page, Raves & Notices, to go along with my Warnings & Rants page so that I can have some positive along with the negative. :-)
The first entry for the R&N page is for a Linux Book I recently read.
Added a link to VideoHelp.com on How Do I...?
Jim Eshelman's The Parasite Fight article and the AumHa Forums and Robear Dyer were mentioned in the LA Times November 26, 2004 edition, Column One. (It's a subscription based web site. You can use BugMeNot for an account log-in.)
DW and I both were Beta Testers for AVG v7.0. It has now been released in the full Free Version. I highly suggest you update your AVG to v7.0.
I also updated ZoneAlarm this past weekend and chose to "save my previous settings" and it's causing me some grief. I will re-install ZA and this time tell it to "completely remove the previous version" and see what happens this time. *sigh*
Added a link to smartmontools on Hardware Help.
Added a link to MSKB 307545 - How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting on How Do I?
Added links to Booting into Safe Mode for Win 95, 98, ME, 2k, and XP on How Do I?
Added a link to Microsoft DirectX on Microsoft Windows.
Added a link to Eric C. Vogel's instructions on How-To Remove Hidden/Un-wanted Programs in Win XP and JSI's FAQ on How do I get Add/Remove Programs to display 'optional' components in Windows 2000? on How Do I?
Added a link to Eric C. Vogel's Knowledge Base on Windows Help & How-To.
Added a link to a PCWorld article called Biography of a Worm on Windows Security.
Updated and cleaned up My Personal Security Instructions since the page was getting messy.
Added a few links to MS Money on Microsoft Office.
Added a link to Firefox Extensions on Alternative Browsers.
Added a link to JMF's Win XP SP2 links on Windows XP.
Added a link to What Are The $Uninstall Folders?
and Can I Delete Them? on What Is?
Added a link to another Build Your Own PC tutorial web site on How Do I?
Added a link to another pictorial tutorial for Installing a HDD on Hardware Help & How-To.
Added a link to EasyCleaner on Windows Tools & Add-Ons.
Added a link to the Free The Hops effort in AL on Misc. Links.
Added a link to BugMeNot.com on Hoaxes, Scams & Spam Info.
Added a link to How Do I Repair the Winsock/TCP Stack? on How Do I...?
Added a link to "How and Why to Clear Your Cache" for Internet Explorer on Microsoft Office.
Added a link to "The Windows Installer service could not be accessed" error message when you try to install Office on Microsoft Office.
Added a link to Win XP Remote Desktop Connection Software on Windows XP.
Added a new heading "Networking" on MS Knowledge Base Articles.
Added several links to Win XP Pro Documentation on Windows XP.
Added a new heading "How Do I Surf The Internet?" along with Tutorials for both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.
Added a new heading "How Do I Build a PC?" on How Do I...?
Added a link to the new Win XP SP2 Security Guide on Windows XP.
Added a few links for Using the Recovery Console in Win XP on Windows XP.
Added a link to The TCP/IP Guide on Networking Help & How-To.
Removed the Feedback Page since it seems to work one day and not another. *sigh*
Added a link to Austrumi, a Bootable Linux CD, on Bootable Diagnostic Tools.
Added a link to Winternals ERD Commander on Bootable Diagnostic Tools.
Added a link to NTAccess, a Password Reset Tool, on How Do I Recover Lost Files and Passwords?
Added a new heading for DVDs on Hardware Help.
Added a link to Windows XP Tips, Illustrations and Registry Edits on Windows XP.
Updated info about Windows XP SP2.
Added a link to Wi-FiHotSpotList.com on Networking Help & How-To.
Added a link to WordPerfect for DOS under Windows on Other OSes.
Added a link to FILExt for What Is a File Extension?
Added a Pictorial How-To by Crucial on Installing Memory in your Desktop PC on Hardware Help.
Added another link for a URL Shortening web site that also has an awesome comparison of several of the most popular tools.
Updated the Repair, Recover, and Restore Win 2k heading.
Added a link to Keir.net, a nice collection of small freeware programs on Software Help and his K9 Pop3 Bayesian E-mail Filtering program.
Added links to Samsung HDDs and Samsung HDD Utilities on Hardware Help
Added another link to Jim Eshelman's Windows Support Center Web Site's Help & How-To Links page.
Updated info about Windows XP SP2.
Updated "How Do I Clean Install Windows?" by adding Win 98, Win 2k, and OEM Recovery/Restore Disks (For Advent, Compaq, Dell, HP, and Time PCs.) Step-By-Step Guides.
Added a link for another "How Do I Find a Lost Windows Product Key?"
Added a new heading "How Do I Change a Windows Product Key?"
Added a link to Words Connect on Misc. Links.
Added a new page for Robear's Instructions on Getting Ready for WinXP SP2.
Added a link to Threaded Web on Misc. Links.
Added a link to Zero's Realm on Pop-Ups & Spyware.
Added a link to EchoEcho, web designing and tutorials, on Web Help & How-To.
Added a link to CSS Zen Garden on Web Help & How-To.
Added a link to PC Help Mobile on Windows Help & How-To.
Added a link to Michael Horowitz's Instructions for Removing Spyware on Pop-Ups & Spyware.
Added a link to a freeware program for backing up your HDD called SyncBack on Cloning a HDD.
Added several links for Windows OSes and Windows XP SP2 on various pages...too many too list.
Added a link to Digital Web Magazine on Web Help & How-To.
Added a link to About:Buster on Hijacked Browsers.
Added a link to StopIE on Alternative Browsers.
Added a link to McAfee's Virus Removal Tool Stinger on Windows Security.
Added a link to LabMice.net's Laptop Security Guidelines on Hardware Help.
Added a link to Explanation of Error Codes Generated by Device Manager on Windows Help & How-To.
Added a link to Numion's YourSpeed Test on Networking Help & How-To.
Added a link to Numion's SiteSpeed Test on Web Help & How-To.
Added a link to Sysinternals' PageDefrag Tool on Windows Tools.
Added a link to Sysinternals' Web Site on Software Help.
Changed the link for HijackThis! since they're still under attack and the older link doesn't work again. *sigh*
Added a link to Intel's Hotspot Finder on Networking Help & How-To.
Added a new page titled My Personal Security Instructions since the list is getting to be so large!
Added a link to AnalogX's Script Defender on Security Instructions.
Added a link to Tech Support Guy on Windows Help & How-To.
Added a link to The Office Experts on Windows Help & How-To.
Added a link to an article about Lost Windows Product Key and two helpful programs on How Do I?
Added a link to Chilling Effects Clearinghouse on Web Help & How-To.
Added instructions on how to Identify what "Programs and Services on your PC are listening for data on Open Ports" on Windows Security, Pop-Ups & Spyware, and Hijacked Browsers.
Updated my Personal Instructions on Windows Security, Pop-Ups & Spyware, and Hijacked Browsers.
Added a link to Steve Gould's CleanUp! program on Windows Tools & Add-Ons.
Added some more links to Digital Cameras on Hardware Help.
Added a link to SidewalkMystic on Misc Sites.
Added a link to a Wired News article about spyware tools that was recently posted on TMF's HWTSC Board by Doc, and his opinion about the article, on my Windows Security, Spyware and Hijacked Browsers pages.
Added a quote (From an AumHa Forum Thread) by Robear Dyer, AH-VSOP & MS-MVP, "HOW TO: Run a Full System Anti-Virus Scan in Safe Mode" on Windows Security, Pop-Ups & Spyware, and Hijacked Browsers.
Added a couple of new links and live feeds for Panda Software on Windows Security and Online Scanners. And, in order to explain why you may "see" a cookie request on any of these pages from Panda, I'm including Panda's Legal Notice Agreement for Webmaster's who use their Live Feeds;
"11. SECURITY: USE OF COOKIES AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT
Panda Software may on occasions use cookies on its website. These will be used to personalize pages on the website or to remind you to register products or services. If you do not want Panda Software to use cookies in this way on your browser, you should configure your browser to reject them or to notify you when a website tries to insert a cookie on your browser. If you opt to reject cookies, this may affect the use of some of the products and services on the website.
Panda Software uses the latest technology on its website to guarantee the protection of information. Panda Software guarantees that the contracting of products and services will be carried out in a secure environment.
A secure environment is indicated by a padlock symbol in the browser status bar or the letter “s” after http in the address field of the browser.
Panda may store and make use of the IP addresses of users of this website in order to analyze trends, administer the website and monitor the use of the entire website. Panda does not associate IP addresses with personally identifiable information."*
Added a link to Trackday Online on Misc Sites.
Added a new page for Internet Explorer Alternative Browsers with additions for Mozilla and Opera.
Added a link to BleepingComputer.com Tutorial Center, Eric Howes' Privacy & Security Page, and Spyware Warrior's Forums and Weblog on Pop-Ups & Spyware.
Added a link to Spy Sweeper on Pop-Ups & Spyware.
Added a link to How to Burn an ISO File on How Do I?
Added a new heading for How Do I Work Without a Mouse on How Do I?
Added a link to Win XP Formatting and Partitioning on How Do I?
Added a link to DistroWatch, a Linux Distro Web Site, on Other OSes.
Added a link to the ElderGeek's Win XP Repair Options on Windows XP.
Added a link to SystemRescueCD on Other OSes.
Added a link to the Digital Image Sensor article by Technology Review on Hardware Help.
Updated my Personal Security Instructions for preventing or removing spyware.
Added a link to another MS MVP Windows XP web site on Windows Help.
Been working on updating various Links to web sites that keep changing.
Added a new page for Ad-aware How-To's.
Added a link to Partition Saving on How Do I? and Cloning a HDD.
Added a link to Kerio Personal Firewall on Windows Security.
Added a link to BHODemon on Hijacked Browsers.
Infopackets How-To Remove Spyware/Adware Toolbar on Hijacked Browsers.
Added a link to Acronis True Image on Cloning a HDD based on a rec by Fred Langa.
Added a few links to various HDD manufacturer web sites for their Jumper Settings on Hardware Help.
Added a link to the recent release of the Windows Security Update CD on Windows XP.
Added a link to Spyware Guide on Pop-Ups & Spyware.
Added a link to Handy Backup along with two recommendations on How Do I?
Added a link to HTML Photo Gallery Cataloger on Software Help.
Added a link to MoboCop at Motherboards.org on Hardware Help.
Added a new heading, "How Do I Repair a Windows 2000 Installation or the Windows 2000 Registry?", and a bunch of related links on How Do I?
Added a link to a couple of Hard Drive Size Limitations and Barriers articles on Hardware Help.
Added a link to The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse on Stop Unwanted Solicitations.
Added a link to The Priceless List (freeware) on Software Help.
Added some links to various Laptop/Notebook review web sites on Hardware Help.
Added a link to Outlook FAQs on Windows Help.
Added a link to Gizmo's Tech Support Alert (freeware) on Software Help.
Moved the Hoaxes and Urban Legends section over to the Spam Info page since most hoaxes arrive through e-mail anyway.
Added a link to Hoax-Slayer on Spam Info.
Added a link to CAUCE, The Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial Email on Spam.
Added a link to GeekGirls.com's Step by Step Spyware Removal Instructions on Hijacked Browsers.
Added a link to Club Dr-DOS on Other Operating Systems.
Added a link to the OpenDOS Project by FSN on Other Operating Systems.
Added a link to Caldera Opendos on Other Operating Systems.
Added a link to a customized Hit Counter on Web Help & How-To.
Added a link to Microsoft's BootVis.exe Tool for System Manufacturers on Windows Tools.
Added a link to Full Tilt Features (Comics) on PC Humor.
Added links to both the Smithsonian Magazine's Kid's Castle and FamilyFirst.com on Miscellaneous Web Sites.
Added a link to WinXPcentral.com on Windows Help.
Added a registry hack to enable you to "encrypt or decrypt a file or folder using the shortcut menu" on Windows Tips & Tricks.
Added a link to Domain Name Analyzer on Web Help & How-To.
Added a link to the Linuxfest Northwest web site on Other Operating Systems.
Added a link to Xandros Desktop OS (Linux) on Other Operating Systems.
Added a link to the XPde Desktop Environment on Other Operating Systems.
Added an update about Xteq Systems awesome X-Setup program on Windows Tools.
Added a link to Outlook Tips on Windows Help.
Added a registry hack that enables you to minimize Outlook to the Task Bar on Windows Tips & Tricks.
Added a new registry tip for adding the Command Prompt to the Context Menu when you right-click on a folder to get the Command Prompt to open in that particular folder on Windows Tips & Tricks.
Added a link to the Outlook Personal Folders Backup program and several related MSKB Articles on Microsoft Office.
Added a link to PC Pistop on Windows Tweaks.
Added a link to PC Pitsop's Spyware Information Center on Pop-Ups & Spyware.
Added a link to DosHelp.com on Windows Security.
Added a link to the Network Abuse Clearinghouse on Windows Security.
Added a link to Spam.Abuse.net on Spam.
Added a link to WinPatrol on Pop-Ups & Spyware.
Added a link to PestPatrol on Pop-Ups & Spyware.
Added a link to Eric Howes' Protecting Your Privacy & Security on Windows Security.
Added a link to Benjamin Edelman's web site where he discusses Pop-Ups and more on Pop-Ups & Spyware.
Changed the coding for the Top and Bottom Menu Bars to, hopefully, work better with Mac Browsers.
Added a link to DocScrubber on Windows Tools.
Added "How to “remove” a word from Word's main Spelling Dictionary" on How Do I?
Added a link to "Programming from the Ground Up Book" for Assembly on Other Operating Systems & Languages.
Added a link to FileZilla on Software Help.
Added a link to CWShredder on Hijacked Browsers, Spyware Info, and Windows Security.
Added a link to Digital Photography Review and Imaging Resource on Hardware Help.
Added a link to Drive SnapShot 1.3 on How Do I?
Added a link to HD Tune on Hardware Help.
Added a link to MozBackup, a backup utility for Mozilla and Netscape profiles on How Do I?
Added a link to T-Utils, a collection of utilities for DOS, and The Useful Site for DOS on Other OSes.
Added a quite a few links to various Hardware Audit and Indentification Software/Web Sites on Hardware Help.
Added a link to AEFDISK on How Do I Partition a HDD?
Added a link to DiskPart.exe for Win XP on How Do I Partition a HDD?
Added a link to IE Restrictions on Hijacked Browsers.
Created a new page for both Spam Info and Pop-Ups & Spyware Info to separate them from each other as they were all on the old Pop-Ups, Spam & Spyware Info page together and the page was getting too big. I've removed the old page from the links bar structure, but left it on the server because it's been cached by search engines like Google. Hopefully I've found and updated all links to the proper pages, but...
Added a link to The Internet SOCiety (ISOC) on Information Sites & Search Engines.
Added a few links to MS Outlook Express Sites, How-To's and Articles on Microsoft Office.
Added a new heading for Digital Cameras on Hardware Help.
Added a link to "What is this ~ file?" on What is...?
Added a link back to PCStat's HDD Installation Guide on Hardware Help. I complained on 03/15/2004 that I could not access their web site after I blocked a download of an "Avenue A, Inc." cookie, but I have continuously run into this problem on numerous web sites. I finally realized that the blocking of this cookie itself isn't the full problem, it's also partially related to a bad URL being offered by the advertising company itself. The most recent bad URL error I've received is "A bad URL http://view.atdmt.com/VON/iview/ntshlvon00700326von/direct/01?click=http://netshelter.adtrix.com/click.cgi?c=VON336X2". The damn thing doesn't show an error message in the Blocked Cookie Window, but it does in the Status Bar in the lower portion of IE, and you'll see this IF you have the Status Bar enabled. I wonder how many of these web sites realize that their web sites aren't loading properly because of this problem...every single one of them caused by Avenue A, Inc.!!??
Added a link to SpamBayes on Windows Tools.
Added a link to ZoneAlarm's Online Security Scanner on Windows Security, Hijacked Browsers and Pop-Ups & Spyware Info.
Added a bunch new links for Windows XP.
Added a link to BlackViper's web site on both Windows XP and Windows Tweaks.
Added a link to DTS-L.org on Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office and Windows Help.
Added a new heading How Do I Clean Install Win XP?
Added some more USB links on Hardware Help.
Added another How-To Build a Computer on Hardware Help and PC Humor.
Added another Partitioning Article link on How Do I?
Added a new page for Online Virus Scanners.
Added another How to Backup Outlook Express link by iOpus Software on How Do I?
Added numerous links on FrontPage.
Added a new page, Bootable CDs & Diagnostic Tools.
Added a link to the Ultimate Boot CD, a collection of diagnostic and repairs tools, on Windows Tools.
Removed the link to PCstats web site from Hardware Help because they were trying to download Avenue A cookies when accessing their web site and the web site would not load when denying these cookies! Spybot S&D caught and stopped the download and I highly suggest using this program along with several others to stop this kind of crap!!
Added a link to VersionTracker on Software Help.
Added links to Media Codecs 101 and Troubleshooting Windows Media Player Error Messages on Microsoft Windows.
Added a review of Pyrogon's NingPo Mahjong game on Software Help.
Added info and links about Win XP SP 2 (possible release date of July 2004) on Windows XP.
Added a link to Microsoft's Next-Generation Secure Computing Base (NGSCB) on Microsoft Windows.
Added a link to the FCC ID Search Page on Hardware Help.
Added a link to the Privacy Rights Clearing House on Fraud & Cybercrime.
Added a link to the Anti-Phishing Working Group on Fraud & Cybercrime.
Added a link to MS MVP Michael Stevens' Windows XP web site on Windows Help.
Added a link to Unknown Devices on Hardware Help. Also added a link to his story about another person ripping off his program and calling it their own on Warnings & Rants.
Added a link to Motherboards Data and More on Hardware Help.
Added a link to Modem Doctor Diagnostics on Hardware Help.
Added a How Do I recover Lost Files and Passwords?
Added two links to Ghost Tutorials under How Do I Backup My Files, Folders or HDD? that I found in a recent TinyApps.org newsletter.
Added a more links and more info about Hijacked Browsers.
Added two links to the EICAR Anti-virus test on Windows Security.
Added a link to a discussion about proper use and care of floppies on Hardware Help.
On 02/20/2004 I complained about FrontPage's Import Feature and how it didn't work as well as expected. Well, there's a better way...Open the Web from the Web Site itself...no more downloading or importing. I can now edit the web site directly on the server and it's updated as soon as I hit Save. Much better! Wish I'd found this sooner.
Added a link to PCStats Harddrive Installation Guide on Hardware Help.
Added a link to Symantec's Security Trace Tool on Web Help & How-To, under DNS Tools, and on Windows Security.
Added a new heading, DNS Tools, on Web Help & How-To.
Added a link to DNSStuff.com on both Web Help & How-To and Spam Info.
Added a How Do I? for Backing Up Outlook Express, Outlook and Internet Explorer files.
"Just for Grins" from Fred Langa's 02/23/04 newsletter. The Paul Bunyan story as told by Microsoft.
Added a link to DBAN on How Do I.
Added a link to Computer Gripes on Windows Help.
Added a link to Microsoft's Security Guidance Center on Microsoft Windows.
Added a link to the Outlook Backup Tool on Office 2000.
Added a new How Do I for Dual Booting.
Added a link to YahooPOPs! on Windows Tools.
Added a link to MSKB 836570 - A new "List of security updates that are included on the Windows Security Update CD (February 2004)" on MSKB Articles.
Added a Rant about my current experience with US Auto Parts on Warnings & Rants.
Added a link to LinuxISO.org on Other Operating Systems.
Added a link to Knoppix.org (Linux Distro) on Other Operating Systems.
Added a link to Knoppix-STD (Security Tools Distribution) on Other Operating Systems.
Added a link to LinuxLinks.com on Other Operating Systems.
Added a link to PCLinuxOS on Other Operating Systems.
Added a link to F.I.R.E. on Windows Security- Tools.
Added a link for MWSnap on Software Help because I can no longer find Grabber 2k Lite.
FrontPage (2002) has an Import feature that allows you to import a web site that you've been working on and might not have access to on your HDD for whatever reason. However, it rots! I've had troubles with it every time I've used it. The last time I did this it messed up the formatting on a bunch of my pages and also broke some links of which I had to fix by hand (and I'm not sure I've fixed them all yet). I've spent way too much time fixing these problems instead of being able to work on my site. I found an FTP program that imported my web site without messing up anything. I should have done this in the first place. Update: I tried to Open the Web from within FrontPage, but it wouldn't allow me to, now that I've imported my web site with WinSCP I can Open the Web from within FrontPage and edit it on the fly. Stupid program! tthhhhpppp!
Added a link for WinSCP (an SFTP & SCP client) on Software Help.
Added a link to Tech Talk with Bill & Donna on Windows Help.
Added a link to Collection of Tips by Karla Embleton on Windows Help.
Created a new Warnings & Rants Page for my own personal use. First entry is about Yahoo Using Web Beacons.
with questions or comments about this web site.
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