Welcome to Volume 1, No. 5 of Presidio Computer's
Newsletter.
1. Computer Security
A. KLEZ
It may come as no surprise to you that another feature of
Internet Explorer [IE] (aka problem, or bug) has been identified by malicious
computer users. These malicious people have written a virus called KLEZ
[W32.KLEZ]. There are many KLEZ variants. We are now up to "I" [I as
in Indiana]. A feature of Outlook and Outlook Express [OE] is additionally
utilized.
For information regarding the IE issue, and a solution, see:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-027.asp
.
Which version of IE do you have? Open IE, left click
"help", left click "about Internet Explorer". Look for
"version". Note the numbers. To determine which version of IE is on
your PC, compare these numbers with the information located at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q164539&
. This site also provides links to sites at which you download a patch [a
software program designed to fix a program's defect(s).]
For information regarding the O & OE issue, see: http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,81968,00.asp
.
Before those of you who use Netscape, instead of IE begin to
gloat, please read about a new hole in Netscape, at: http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,81968,pg,2,00.asp
, which mentions a patch.
If you use Outlook 2000 [part of Microsoft's Office 2000],
see: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/virus/alerts/klez-e.asp
. This article discusses a patch available for some versions of Outlook 2000.
B. Spyware
Some websites which we visit, place programs on our
computers, to monitor our internet browsing. After you searched for information
about a foreign country, have you ever noticed ads about travel? It should come
as no surprise to you that these are not random events.
There are many computer programs available, to help us
maintain our privacy. One such program is "Ad-Aware", available, for
free, from www.lavasoftusa.com. I am
reasonably satisfied with Ad-Aware. When we surf the internet, we can view the
web page that is displayed because the files are transferred from the computer
that houses a web site, to our computer. Those files are usually stored in our
hard drive, in a folder called "windows", in a sub folder called
"temporary internet files". Today, I tired to rid my hard drive of
some of those files. Some would NOT go away. I tried every trick I know.
Finally, I located a program called "Disk
Cleaner". It did an excellent job of cleaning up my hard drive. I run
Windows 2000. I don't know if Disk Cleaner is compatible with Windows XP. For
more information about Disk Cleaner, see: http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,20100,00.asp
and http://diskcleaner.tripod.com/
. If you decide to use Disk Cleaner, please read the FAQ @ http://diskcleaner.tripod.com/ .
Remember, the information contained in this newsletter is
provided for informational purposes only. No guarantees nor warranties are
expressly given nor implicitly implied.
2. Windows XP
ARGH!! I have a customer who cannot read web pages. The PC
can connect to the ISP [Internet Service Provider], but we receive the dreaded
"Page cannot be displayed" error. The PC uses Windows XP. I tried
every trick I know. I called Microsoft tech support. The technician tried every
maneuver known. We were not successful. It is possible that a virus may be the
culprit. I'm going to scan the PC, for viruses, later this week.
Some of the troubleshooting techniques involve replacing
files. XP utilizes "file protection", which prohibits the replacement
of files. Another technique involves editing of the registry [the registry is a
database of EVERY software setting on your computer. Do NOT edit the registry
unless: 1. you have backed up the entire contents of your hard drive; 2. you
know how to fix registry problems; and 3. you know exactly what you are
doing!!!!
Remember, the information contained in this newsletter is
provided for informational purposes only. No guarantees nor warranties are
expressly given nor implicitly implied.
I have Windows XP installed on one of my hard drives, which
I can use on of my computers. On this hard drive, I edited the registry, per
standard troubleshooting techniques. The result was that I broke a part of
Windows. I was not able to connect to the internet. Fortunately, I was able to
recover from this problem. The lesson: Microsoft's "latest and
greatest" operating system still has a ways to go before computer
technicians are out of jobs.
3. High speed internet connections.
I have recently configured DSL [digital subscriber line]
connections for a couple of customers. In these instances, DSL is provided by
Qwest. Qwest is not the ISP. FastTucson and MSN are the ISPs. I was impressed
with the download speed.
Another recent customer [commerical], chose Tucson BroadBand
[a local company that provides high speed internet connectivity via
microwaves]. Their tech support is top notch. Their speed is blazing. They are
pricey for the residential user, but for commercial customers, they may be
quite competitive.
My success with Comcast and Cox cable continues. Reaching
Comcast tech support is much easier than reaching Cox tech support.
I think we are very fortunate to have such a variety of high
speed internet options.
AOL high speed internet connectivity [using DSL] is
available in some parts of Tucson. At the present time, I am not aware that I
have any AOL/DSL customers. I have a customer in Saddle Brooke who uses Saddle
Brooke's local high speed connection, with AOL. The results are positive.
4. Viruses
For a time line of computer viruses, see: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/virustime1.html
. Note that Apple viruses hit the world as early as 1981.
This week, Office Depot is selling Norton's AntiVirus [AV]
and Personal Firewall for $5 each after rebates. Caution: some of the rebate
amount is based on proof of prior ownership of a similar Norton product [or one
Norton's competitors]. See the packages for details.
5. PDAs
Personal Data Assistants [hand held computer type devices]
are becoming increasingly common and complex. Some even allow the user to
connect to the internet. With progress comes malicious behavior. AV programs
and firewall programs are now available for PDAs. One vendor is Symantec, which
sells "Norton Internet Security". See: http://www.symantecstore.com/dr/sat/ec_MAIN.Entry10?V1=336931&PN=1&SP=10023&xid=27674&DSP=&CUR=840&PGRP=0&CACHE_ID=0
. This product includes NAV 2002.
Presidio Computers, LLC is not an authorized/licensed vendor
for any Norton product.
6. Wireless technology.
At home, we use a high speed internet connection. Via wires,
we have connected our computers to a "router" made by Linksys. I am
very satisfied with its perfomance. One of my customers uses a Linksys wireless
router. [The PCs do not connect to the router via cables. Instead the computers
have special network cards that send and receive "radio waves" to and
from a "wireless router". I'm not excited about Linksys's wireless
router. My customer's PC connects to the network, only when the PC and router
are in "line of sight".
I have found success using D-Link's products. www.dlink.com . For a diagram, see: http://www.dlink.com/products/DigitalHome/Wireless/WirelessSampleSetup.htm
.
For more information about wireless technology, see: http://www.pcworld.com/features/article/0,aid,86935,00.asp
. If you decide to use wireless, be aware that, potentially, your privacy has
gone down the tubes. If you are signing onto the internet, your user name[s]
and password[s] can be easily intercepted, as can be any information your PC
receives from the internet [your bank account information, airline flight
schedule, the books you have ordered from a web site, etc.]. Most high quality
wireless systems use WEP [wired equivalence privacy see: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/WEP.html
].
It looks like another storm is brewing, so I'll shut down
and disconnect.
As always, Presidio Computers, is available to assist you
with any of the computer issues described above.
If you want your name removed from this mailing list, please let me know. Your name is not kept in an address book. Your name is neither shared with nor sold to anyone.
The information contained in this newsletter is provided for
informational purposes only. No guarantees nor warranties are expressly given
nor implicitly implied.
Best of success.
Sincerely,
Ed Sloup
Presidio Computers, LLC
520 731 6446
www.presidiocomputers.com