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

Canteen Computer Resource Center

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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?

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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.

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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.)

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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