MalekTips: 07-27-2005
 
Welcome to the latest issue of the MalekTips newsletter, providing computer and technology help and tips. We appreciate your subscription!
 
We have *60* new anti-spyware tips found below in the latest issue of MalekTips.
 
* This newsletter includes more spyware-related terminology you should be aware of as spyware and other malware can cost you time and money. What is a dialer? Are startup tasks problematic? What problems can a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) cause?
 
* Fight back against spyware. We have new tips on downloading, customizing, and using more anti-spyware applications to help increase your security and privacy. Programs discussed include CounterSpy, McAfee AntiSpyware, Spyware Doctor, and Trend Micro Anti-Spyware.
 
* To assist your anti-spyware needs, we also have links to other useful software. Some malware can knock you off the Internet; LSP-Fix may get you back online. HijackThis is a powerful application that can help remove browser hijackers but it must be used wisely. We have tips on downloading this software and services that can help interpret its sometimes-cryptic results.
 
Remember - if you have a computer question, be sure to visit the MalekTips forums at http://www.malektips.com/forums
 
Andrew Malek MalekTips.Com
 
* Tell a Friend! *
 
Don't keep all these great tips to yourself - be sure to tell a friend about what's available, at no cost, on MalekTips.Com, and please pass this newsletter along! Let them know they can sign up to receive notifications regarding new tips added to the site.
 
Point them to the following web address to sign up and read past newsletters online: http://malektips.com/maillist
 
* Recent MalekTips Front Page Stories *
 
7-26-2005: Andrew Malek Will be on Photo Talk Radio
 
I will be a featured guest on Photo Talk Radio, "The Worldwide Voice of Photography", again this Saturday, July 30, 2005 at 11a-noon EST (8a-9a PST) (click here for other appearances).
 
Topics will include composition, cropping, how to find natural frames, and scouting for unique angles and much more. Plus, Dave Etchells, Publisher of Imaging-Resource.com will have his round-up of the current crop of point and shoot cameras.
 
You can call-in and ask questions during the LIVE show free in the United States and Canada at 888-514-2100, or (toll call) 001-858-268-3068 from all other communities worldwide.
 
If you can't listen in live, an archive of the show will be available.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.worldtalkradio.com/archive.asp?aid=4568
 
Link: http://malektips.com/phototalkradio.html
 
7-26-2005: Mozilla Firefox Reaches 75 Million Downloads
 
The Spread Firefox website has reported that the Mozilla Firefox web browser has now been downloaded over 75 million times. No doubt the rapid increase is in part due to the recent 1.05 and 1.06 upgrades, but this is still an impressive number.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.spreadfirefox.com/?q=node/view/17221
 
Link: http://malektips.com/mozilla_firefox_help_and_tips
.html
 
7-26-2005: Google Updates Personalized Home Page
 
According to a Google Blog entry, Google has updated their personalized homepage feature so that it now supports RSS feeds. This way you can get MalekTips featured tips on your personalized page! :)
 
To do this:
 
1. Visit the Google Personalized Homepage.
 
2. Click "Personalize your Google homepage".
 
3. Click "Create a Section".
 
4. Enter "MalekTips" and press "Go".
 
5. Next to "Featured Computer and Technology Help and Tips - MalekTips.Com", click "Add".
 
That's it! To save your personalized settings, create a Google account by clicking "Sign in".
 
Link (External Site): http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2005/07/more-of-wha
t-i-want.html
 
Link (External Site): http://www.google.com/ig
 
7-26-2005: Google Maps Hybrid Feature
 
Like viewing satellite imagery with Google Maps, but wish road names were superimposed over the image? Try the new hybrid feature!
 
Link: http://malektips.com/google_maps_0004.html
 
Link (External Site): http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h
 
7-26-2005: Space Shuttle Blasts Off
 
NASA space shuttle Discovery blasted off this morning towards the international space station, the first shuttle launch in 2 1/2 years. Details and pictures can be found on several news web sites.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/07/26/space.shu
ttle/index.html
 
Link (External Site): http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/space_shuttle
 
Link (External Site): http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,163629,00.html
 
Link (External Site): http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8562942/
 
7-25-2005: Virtual Earth Beta
 
According to a Microsoft press release, Microsoft has released a beta version of MSN Virtual Earth, a Google Maps competitor. Features include aerial photos with labels, links to Yellow page directories, zooming and panning features, and more.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/jul0
5/07-24VirtualEarthBetaPR.mspx
 
Link (External Site): http://virtualearth.msn.com/
 
Link (External Site): http://maps.google.com/
 
7-25-2005: Internet Term Knowledge
 
The Pew Internet and American Life Project has issued a report on the average American Internet user's knowledge of many technical terms including "spam", "firewall", "spyware", "adware", and "RSS feeds". Interesting reading. 39% of those polled said they are not really sure what "adware" means, and 9% have never heard of the term. If you fall into this group, we have some adware and spyware definitions.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/161/report_displa
y.asp
 
Link: http://malektips.com/spyware_adware_0001.html
 
7-22-2005: Longhorn is Longhorn no More
 
According to an article on BetaNews, Microsoft has changed the name of its next-generation Windows operating system from Longhorn to Vista. This is probably due to the fact that one of the new OS's top selling points is its updated graphics and user-interface, since features such as WinFS have been pushed back to updates or later versions of Windows.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.betanews.com/article/Longhorn_Gets_a_Na
me_Windows_Vista/1122002477
 
* Tips! *
 
These tips are NOT available to the general public yet! You can find them here first in the MalekTips newsletter! Thanks for subscribing.
 
CounterSpy - Enable / Disable Automatic Definition and Program Updates
Configure CounterSpy's automatic spyware definition and program update notification service depending on your needs.
 
CounterSpy - Disable Alerts from Popping Up
Prevent CounterSpy from nagging you with malware alerts - have it protect your machine silently.
 
CounterSpy - Completely Erase Files
Use CounterSpy's Secure File Eraser to make it very difficult for others to retrieve your private information.
 
CounterSpy - Do Not Allow Scripts to Run
Have CounterSpy automatically prevent potentially-malicious VBS, REG, and other script files from running.
 
CounterSpy - Clear Your Computer's History
Use CounterSpy to help prevent others from seeing what documents you open, webpages you view, and files that you search for.
 
CounterSpy - Restart the Wizard
Restart CounterSpy's step-by-step wizard if you want to adjust configuration settings in a hurry.
 
CounterSpy - Securely Erase Files Through Windows Explorer
Add an option in Windows Explorer to securely erase files from your hard drive.
 
HijackThis - Download HijackThis to Help Determine if Malware is On Your Machine
HijackThis is a powerful utility that can help determine if you have spyware, adware, or other malware on your machine.
 
HijackThis - Be Careful Where you Download HijackThis
Make sure you download HijackThis from the source.
 
HijackThis - Create a Logfile
Create a log file of possible malware with HijackThis so professionals can analyze the results.
 
HijackThis - What if I want to Fix Items?
If you know what you're doing, HijackThis can remove registry, startup, browser helper objects, and other entries related to malware.
 
HijackThis - Download Updates to HijackThis
Keep HijackThis up-to-date to better fight against malware.
 
HijackThis - Log Analysis
The following websites provide automated and community-based HijackThis log file analysis.
 
HijackThis - Edit your Hosts File
HijackThis includes a Hosts file editor that can help prevent your web browser from being re-routed to undesirable websites.
 
HijackThis - Delete a Suspicious File When Your System Reboots
Having trouble removing a file from your system? HijackThis may help.
 
HijackThis - View a Process Manager
View the list of running processes on your machine and export the information to a text file.
 
McAfee AntiSpyware - Download a Trial of McAfee AntiSpyware
Download McAfee AntiSpyware, an application that can help prevent malware from being installed on your machine.
 
McAfee AntiSpyware - Change the Type of Scan to Perform
Customize the drives McAfee AntiSpyware scans for malware.
 
McAfee AntiSpyware - Perform a Scan
Performing malware scans with McAfee AntiSpyware and removing or ignoring found items.
 
McAfee AntiSpyware - View a Log of Recent Activity
Display a report of recent spyware and update activity in McAfee AntiSpyware.
 
McAfee AntiSpyware - Remove Previously Trusted Programs
Force McAfee AntiSpyware to once again detect programs you once trusted.
 
McAfee AntiSpyware - Disable AutoProtect
Keep McAfee AntiSpyware's AutoProtect from taking up valuable CPU time and draining your laptop's battery.
 
McAfee AntiSpyware - Update McAfee AntiSpyware Manually
Keep McAfee AntiSpyware up-to-date so it can better handle new malware threats.
 
McAfee AntiSpyware - Remove Recent Events Sooner
Keep an extended log of McAfee AntiSpyware events, or virtually eliminate it for privacy reasons.
 
McAfee AntiSpyware - Schedule a Spyware Scan
Schedule automatic malware scans with McAfee AntiSpyware. Scan every day, whenever there is idle computing time, once a month, or choose other options.
 
McAfee AntiSpyware - Restore an Item Accidentally Removed
Recover programs and settings accidentally changed by McAfee AntiSpyware.
 
Microsoft AntiSpyware - Manually Check for Updates
Update Microsoft AntiSpyware so it can better handle recent malware threats.
 
Spyware and Adware - False Alarms Occur
Anti-spyware software is not perfect. Always review found entries before removing them or unintended consequences may occur!
 
Spyware and Adware - What is a Remote Access Trojan / Backdoor Software?
Remote access Trojan Horses and backdoor software defined. This can compromise your privacy and system stability.
 
Spyware and Adware - What is a Drive-By Download?
Drive-by downloads defined. How these can harm your privacy and security.
 
Spyware and Adware - Remove CoolWebSearch Hijacker with CWShredder
Help remove CoolWebSearch browser hijacker attacks with CWShredder.
 
Spyware and Adware - Visit the Anti-Spyware Coalition
View the home page of a coalition dedicated to getting the word out about spyware and malware.
 
Spyware and Adware - What are Startup Entries and Can They be Spyware?
Windows startup entries defined, and whether or not they are malicious.
 
Spyware and Adware - What is a Dialer?
Dialers (dialing software) defined. Some are legitimate yet others may cause expensive problems.
 
Spyware and Adware - Download LSP-Fix in Case You're Later Unable to Access the Internet
The LSP-Fix tool can help repair attacks to your Internet connectivity made by some types of spyware and malware.
 
Spyware and Adware - Be Careful Running Two Background Guards Simultaneously
Two background anti-spyware guards can protect against more threats, but they can also show many more popup alerts.
 
Spyware Doctor - Deactive OnGuard Tools
Help prevent Spyware Doctor from using extra CPU cycles or prematurely draining a laptop's battery.
 
Spyware Doctor - Do Not Run Spyware Doctor at System Startup
Only use Spyware Doctor as a malware scanner; don't start it up automatically when you boot Windows.
 
Spyware Doctor - Stop Showing the Disclaimer When Removing Malware
Prevent Spyware Doctor from showing a warning and disclaimer every time you remove malware.
 
Spyware Doctor - View Activity Logs
Help determine if a pattern of found spyware, adware, or other malware exists with Spyware Doctor's logs.
 
Spyware Doctor - Automatically Search for Updates
Configure Spyware Doctor to automatically keep itself up-to-date to better handle newer spyware, adware, and other malware threats.
 
Spyware Doctor - Don't Stop Processes Automatically When Cleaning
Don't have Spyware Doctor automatically stop possible spyware processes.
 
Spyware Doctor - View and Edit Browser Help Objects (BHOs) and Extensions
Display and remove possible Internet Explorer Browser Helper Objects that may be malware.
 
Spyware Doctor - Do Not Quarantine Malware - Remove Immediately!
Learn how to immediately remove malware found by Spyware Doctor from your system without making backups.
 
Spyware Doctor - Automatically Perform Quick Scans
Schedule Spyware Doctor to automatically perform Quick Scans of your system for possible malware.
 
Spyware Doctor - Keep Log Files from Taking Up So Much Space
Prevent Spyware Doctor log files from filling up your hard drive.
 
Trend Micro Anti-Spyware - Download Trend Micro Anti-Spyware to Remove Malware
Learn how to download and install Trend Micro Anti-Spyware to help remove malware from your machine.
 
Trend Micro Anti-Spyware - Check for Definition Updates
Manually check Trend Micro's website to see if updated definitions for Anti-Spyware exist.
 
Trend Micro Anti-Spyware - Disable the Splash Screen
Prevent Trend Micro AntiSpyware from advertising itself when the software starts.
 
Trend Micro Anti-Spyware - Remove CoolWebSearch Variants
Use Trend Micro Anti-Spyware's build in CWShredder tool to help remove CoolWebSearch browser hijackers from your machine.
 
Trend Micro Anti-Spyware - Scan System on Windows Startup
Ask Trend Micro Anti-Spyware to scan for malware every time you boot your machine.
 
Trend Micro Anti-Spyware - Disable Venus Spy Trap
Disable Trend Micro's automatic spyware protection if it interferes with your normal computer activities.
 
Trend Micro Anti-Spyware - Enable or Disable Automatic Definition Updates
Toggle Trend Micro Anti-Spyware's automatic retrieval of definition updates.
 
Trend Micro Anti-Spyware - Play Sounds When Spyware is Found
Hear an alert whenever Trend Micro Anti-Spyware finds pests on your machine.
 
Trend Micro Anti-Spyware - Clear Your Computer's History and Cookies
Remove potential privacy violations with Trend Micro Anti-Spyware.
 
Trend Micro Anti-Spyware - Faster Scanning Regardless of CPU Usage
Configure Trend Micro Anti-Spyware to scan your machine for spyware, adware, and other malware as fast as possible.
 
Trend Micro Anti-Spyware - View Task Log
Display a log of recent Trend Micro Anti-Spyware activity to help determine if a pattern of found spyware exists.
 
Trend Micro Anti-Spyware - Report New Spyware Threats to Trend Micro
Alert Trend Micro of suspicious spyware activity to help improve the quality of the Anti-Spyware product.
 
Trend Micro Anti-Spyware - Restore Deleted Items
Accidentally remove a suspicious piece of software on your computer and need to re-enable it?
 
Trend Micro Anti-Spyware - Perform a Customized Scan
Perform quicker spyware scans by examining only the items on your computer that you think are most susceptible to attacks.
 
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* Copyright Notice *
 
This newsletter can be redistributed, in electronic or print, provided that no changes are made to this document and this notice is left intact. If you wish to redistribute just pieces of this newsletter, such as certain articles, contact Andrew Malek for information.
 
MalekTips is published by Envision Programming:
 
Envision Programming attn: MalekTips PO Box 11592 Knoxville, TN 37939-1592
 
This issue of MalekTips is Copyright 2005 Andrew Malek of Envision Programming. All other copyrights and trademarks are properties of their respective companies.

Note that due to tip recategorization, some of the URLs mentioned in the newsletter may have changed. If you have any problems finding a particular tip, use the MalekTips "Search" feature to conveniently find what you are looking for.