FReeper Canteen ~ Technology Tuesday ~ Canteen Computer Resource Center Pt.1 ~ 20 Sep2005

El Gran Salseron;GummyIII;Canteen Crew

[MoJo2001]

Canteen Computer Resource Center
 

 

H E L P D E S K	The Idea	Welcome to the Canteen Help Desk! We hope you are ready for some serious Computer information. For the next month (or however long folks can stand this), we're going to be focusing on Computer/Technology on Tuesdays. There are so many changes that affect how you surf the web, monitor your computer's performance, and viruses that can endanger your fun. We're here to provide information, tools, tips, and hopefully a fun experience. And guess what? You don't have to travel to India to get the information. It's all right here at the click of a mouse. How convenient is that? Cost: Free
	The Experts	MoJo would like to introduce our Canteen Experts. And ignore them if they tell you they aren't experts. MoJo and Ma most certainly believe they're experts. That's all you need, right? El Gran Salseron and GummyIII have been gracious with their time, energy, resources, and knowledge. If you have any questions for our experts, please FReepmail them to MoJo2001. Without them, this wouldn't be possible!! GummyIII gives us a rundown on software that is very useful!! While El Gran answers questions that many folks would like answers to!! Oh! Have I mentioned that MoJo totally (borrowed) these tables from GummyIII? She's totally awesome! Cost: Free (although, you can send them a check if you'd like) Have I mentioned they're located in America? Makes life more convenient, huh?

 

A S K T H E E X P E R T S	El Gran Salseron (Expert on duty) Q. How can I get rid of pop up Ads running Windows 2000?	If the user has WinXP with Service Pack 2 installed then there is a built-in pop-up blocker. In Internet Explorer click on "Tools"/"Pop-Up Blocker" and click "Turn On Pop-Up Blocker" on the drop-down menu. If the user does not have WinXP with Service Pack 2 but Win2K, as indicated, installed then it may be an issue with "Messenger Service" which is separate and apart from MSN Messenger or Windows Messenger Service. Messenger Service is for sys admins on networks but low-down, dirty adware companies exploit the service by sending undesirable pop-ups. The user can right-click My Computer and click on Manage. Click the plus sign in front of Services and Applications. Click Services. Scroll down on the right-hand pane and find "Messenger." Double-click it and click the Stop button. Click the drop-arrow next to Startup Type and click on Disabled. Click Apply. Click OK. Exit the Computer Manager. Otherwise, there has to be a program installed. The best I have found is a freeware program named Pop-Up Stopper at http://www.panicware.com but you have to be sure to get the freeware version of that program and not the other stuff they sell. It is very small and doesn't take much system memory if that is the concern.
	Q. What is the difference between a Trojan and worm?	Actually, a trojan can be a worm and vice-versa but usually not. However, the distinction is that a trojan is a malicious program that is hidden in a supposedly "clean" program or file. A trojan is usually used by hackers. It is used to take control of the computer so that the hacker can "use" that computer to send viruses, or other malware to other computers/sites, etc. Hence the name trojan. A trojan will keep itself hidden because it does not want to be detected and as far as the user is concerned it doesn't exist because it causes no easily apparent ill effects. It is estimated that most unprotected computers have trojans on them and the users are unaware of their existence. When a site unexpectedly goes down it is usually because of a DoS attack or Denial of Service attack. That means that a hacker who has control of 300 computers or so tells the computers to bombard a particular site with info. When a site gets bombarded with so much info it effectively shuts down the site. A DoS attack is done with a trojan installed on hundreds of computers throughout the world, literally. Otherwise, the trojan goes to sleep until the hacker tells it to wake up. A worm is malicious and can "worm" its way throughout the computer and infect many files on the computer. It also usually has the capability to detect the network and infect all of the computers on the network. Hence the name worm. Worms make themselves known because they will cause problems and sometimes make the computer inoperable.

 

S P Y W A R E	Spybot Search and Destroy	CNET says, in it's review:  Once again, Spybot Search and Destroy is our Editors' Choice. It's free, without even an annual subscription for the periodic file updates, and it offers both basic and advanced modes and includes the widest variety of customization of the five anti-spyware products we reviewed. New in this version are automatic updates. In our informal tests, Spybot was thorough, rooting out even obscure spyware. If you're new to the spyware threat, it can't hurt to download a free (no strings attached) copy of Spybot to see whether your system is infected. Cost: Free (donations accepted)
	Spy Sweeper	CNET says, in it's review: If you want to set and forget your antispyware updates and scans, Spy Sweeper's the app for you.Effective, reliable, and swift, this anti-spyware utility stands near the top of its class....Spy Sweeper's Quarantined section will let you restore any components should certain programs cease to function properly after a system scan....Unlike some of its competitors, Spy Sweeper isn't free, but this is definitely a piece of software we consider worth the money...Unlike the free antispyware apps, almost all of Spy Sweeper's functions can be automated. It can scan your system, update spyware definitions, delete quarantined files after a set time frame, and check all incoming files without you having to lift a finger. Cost: Free 30-day trial and $29.95 to buy (This is very easy to use, making it a good choice for new users.)

A N T I V I R U S	AVG	According to Grisoft:   AVG Free Edition is the well-known antivirus protection tool [which] is available free of charge to home users for the life of the product. Rapid virus database updates are available for the lifetime of the product, thereby providing the high level of detection capability that millions of users around the world trust to protect their computers. AVG Free is easy to use and will not slow your system down (low system resource requirements). Highlights include automatic update functionality, the AVG Resident Shield, which provides real-time protection as files are opened and programs are run, free Virus Database Updates for the lifetime of the product, and AVG Virus Vault for safe handling of infected file Cost: Free
	HouseCall (Online only)	TrendMicro says:  Give your PC a health-check while you surf the Web! HouseCall is a real-life demonstration of the power of the web-based technologies that Trend Micro is developing to make deployment and management of virus protection fast and easy. An innovative tool for scanning & cleaning viruses and checking your system for other security issues, HouseCall is based on Java Technologie that allows to support almost every platform, for which Trend Micro builds Security Solutions. Cost: Free, but online use only.  These will not prevent viruses and spyware from gaining access to your computer, but they are great for cleaning those which aren't "cleanable" with other software programs.  Boot into "Safe Mode with Networking" by hitting F8 as you boot up, then surf to these sites to use them.

F I R E W A L L

Zone Alarm

ZoneAlarm is free for individual and not-for-profit charitable entity use (exluding governmental entities and educational institutions). Using this in conjunction with a good anti-virus and a good anti-spyware will give your computer maximum protection for minimum cost.  Download.com says:  ZoneAlarm is designed to protect your DSL- or cable-connected PC from hackers. This program includes four interlocking security services: a firewall, an application control, an Internet lock, and Zones. The firewall controls the door to your computer and allows only traffic you understand and initiate. The application control allows you to decide which applications can and cannot use the Internet. The Internet lock blocks Internet traffic while your computer is unattended or while you're not using the Internet, and it can be activated automatically with your computer's screensaver or after a set period of inactivity. Zones monitor all activity on your computer and alert you when a new application attempts to access the Internet. Cost: Free (For other versions, which are good and include various suites, see reviews and links.)

 

Misc Items
 

To get a complete rundown on how to fix your computer issues and external links that El Gran Salseron has provided, please click here to view it. Thank you El Gran Salseron for all the hardwork. By the way, absolutely ignore the Disclaimer section that mentions Mojo by name. Thank you!

As issues arise or interest steadily comes in, El Gran Salseron will probably update the website with further links. In order to do so, you must sign your life savings over to him. (hehe! Just kidding!)

Here's a few things to look forward to next week!

O N T A P	Computer Lingo Are you down with all the computer lingo used at FR and elsewhere? Software Check in to see what other programs GummyIII suggests!	Ask The Experts For those of you that sent in questions, we'll provide the answers if we can. Have all questions in by Friday of this week please! Best Places Online For Shopping and Deals! Everyone likes to save money! Tune in next week!
D O Y O U K N O W	Before we meet again next week, here's some assignments. We'll provide answers next week. Q. What is the difference between malware and adware? Or is there a difference? Q. The best selling software program of 2004 was?	Q. What is a binary? Q. What is a data bus? Q. Which is bigger a terrabyte or a gigabyte?

 

Disclaimer:
Do you ever wonder why companies always put disclaimers at the bottom of their pages? And then they expect you to read the *fine print* as well? Well, this is done for a reason. It allows them to make up a bunch of unecessary rules and BS that no one will read nor thinks about reading. As a matter of fact, the disclaimers are really *Dating Ads* that those anonymous computer geeks put out to the general public. It's a way to get them a date via their disclaimers. It's risk free and also a sure way to ensure that their name will appear in the ad somewhere. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then you totally understand the ideas about disclaimers. They're useless for the most part.

[Brad’s Gramma]

As a bull in a china shop I ask....should she have her anti-virus turned off when she installs whatever it is she's installing?




Quietly slithering out of the room......

[El Gran Salseron]

*sigh*

There was a time when I was madly in love with Julie London. Or maybe it was just her voice I fell in love with.

*sigh*

I wonder if I'll ever get over it.

Anyway, thanks for posting that song.

[El Gran Salseron]

Nah, anti-virus won't interfere with the pop-up stopper install.

[Soaring Feather]

You're welcome El. I think she is fabulous.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Cool.




Again.

Um.

Slithering out of the room......*gulp*

:)

[radu]

Good morning y'all!

WOW!! That's one dazzling floral arrangement!! Gorgeous!
Thank you (((HUGZ))) Military men and Canteen Guyz!

To all our military men and women past and present, military family members, and to our allies who stand beside us
Thank You!

Many thanks to all who contributed to this idea! Very cool thread. There's so much to learn about computers and one can only get so much out of the "Dummies" books (I have several on hand. LOL!!)
I've found that FReepers rule when it comes to helpful tips and having some compiled here will help many of us. My guess is that I'm not the only one who'll be bookmarking this thread and future ones. hehehe!
I hope everyone's been getting along grandly. It's been a bit crazy here the past couple of weeks and I've sure missed y'all.
(((HUGZ))) all 'round!!

[El Gran Salseron]

Ja'git the pop-up stopper installed?

[Brad’s Gramma]

Hey radu!!!!!!

NEAT thread, isn't it? Hope all's well in your end of the world!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Well, I was going to say that I have it installed and a little white hand in the tray. There is a check mark next to the "block pop up ad windows and a check mark next to play a sound.

As I am typing this, up pops the %&##$&(%^& pop up. d:o(

Do I need to reboot?

[Soaring Feather]

OMG, look what the cat dragged in LOL! HI DU!!

So good to see you getting out and about as it were. Hope things are settling down for you a tad.


*HUGS*

[El Gran Salseron]

No, you shouldn't have to reboot. Let me take a look at it real quick.

[radu]

Hiya BG!!! You bet, this is a NEAT thread! I might actually learn something. LOL!! Got this baby bookmarked.

Things are improving here, slowly but surely. Still a ways to go but I think I'll have a bit more free time to sit down to the computer. I'm sooooooo behind on what's been going on. I'll never catch up so I'll just forge ahead. LOL!

Hope things are going well on your side. *HUGZ*

[BIGLOOK]

Hawaiians want sovereignty returned to the few, exemptions from taxes and licenses and to be accountable only to Hawaiian laws (very murky here...very mutable).
Lilioukalani lost the whole shebang because she couldn't abide with a constitutional monarchy. Having signed on to the Constitution, she broke it and ruled at her whim.
The royalty, A'lii (your Mata'ai) didn't get it.
What Kamehameha started. to become a more modern and evolving nation was lost in Lilioukalani's arrogance.
This will probably set off a storm but Hey, what the hell!
King Kamehameha was of Samoan descent.....from the Big Island of Hawaii.

[radu]

Howdy ms. feather! *HUGZ* It's sure nice to get to stop in for a bit. It's been waaaay too long.
Things are settling a little at last but it'll still be a while til things are back to normal. One day at a time. :-)

How are things up your way these days?

(Isn't Thorn the ugliest cat? ROTFL!!)

[El Gran Salseron]

It is the exact same pop-up every time or from the same site?

If so, which site is it?

If pop-up stopper isn't working for it then it is installed on your computer as opposed to being sent to your computer from an external site which probably means that adware has been installed on your computer.

Pop-up Stopper is designed to stop pop-ups that originate on a site. Adware/spyware installs on your computer and tells your computer to go to a particular site.

If that is the case then you'll have to download and install programs that are designed to prevent spyware.

Click the link at the top of the thread to read about adware/spyware.

[BIGLOOK]

We'll be talking.....this piece of hardware staring at me need a tune up and a lube job.

I really appreciate this thread's potential.....and I won't call you Bubblehead anymore...OK, Bubblehead?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hey, a little window came up out of the tray and said a pop up had been blocked!!!

Maybe it's working!!!

[El Gran Salseron]

And it's time for me to go to sleep. We can see what your prob is tomorrow unless the pinger that I just heard is telling me that you have sent a new message.

[Soaring Feather]

~Jackie Gleason~I'm In the Mood for Love~

Good night, dear Colonel, have a good sleep.
Dream a little ~ Love a lot!
Troops Stay Safe!

[El Gran Salseron]

The word bubblehead doesn't bother boat sailors. :-)

You call yourself spook, don't you? :-)