MalekTips: 9-24-2004
 
Welcome to the latest issue of the MalekTips newsletter, providing computer and technology help and tips. We appreciate your subscription!
 
Read just some of what you can find by visiting the following web addresses:
 
* Just what is spyware and adware, how can it adversely affect your machine, how can downloading peer-to-peer file tools increase your likelihood of getting infected, what removal tools do you need to rid yourself of these nuisances, and how can the simple act of changing your web browser affect whether or not you become infected? This newsletter helps answer these important questions.
 
* Interested in converting your CD collection to digital music files so you can play them on digital audio players, but find the process too confusing? If you are running Windows XP or later, consider installing Windows Media Player 10 and using its CD ripping features. You can convert music directly to WMA or MP3 format, plus automatically download album art to your machine.
 
* This newsletter also contains tips on fixing Outlook 2003's e-mail autocomplete list (or removing it altogether), why not to scan pictures straight to JPG files, tips on installing Spybot Search and Destroy in case spyware is preventing it from running, removing Winamp 5 Explorer shell extensions, and much more.
 
These tips and more, 30 in total, can be found below in the latest version of MalekTips - just access the links for the full tips. Enjoy! And remember - if you have a computer question, be sure to visit the MalekTips forums at http://www.malektips.com/forums
 
Andrew Malek MalekTips.Com
 
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* Recent MalekTips Front Page Stories *
 
9-23-2004: Vulnerabilities in Symantec VPN/Firewall Products
 
According to security firm Secunia, various vulnerabilities exist in several Symantec Firewall/VPN products. These can result in Denial of Service attacks, the ability for remote users to identify active services, and the ability for remote users to modify firewall configuration settings. Vulnerabiities can affect Symantec Firewall/VPN Appliance 100, 200, and 200R, plus the Symantec Gateway Security 300 Series. This notice is listed as "highly critical" by Secunia, and updates are available via links on their web page.
 
Link (External Site): http://secunia.com/advisories/12635/
 
9-21-2004: New Ask Jeeves Features
 
The Ask Jeeves search engine has added several new features. These include MyJeeves, allowing people to better organize their search engine results into folders. Local search has been improved, supporting queries such as "pizza in chicago" and "maps San Francisco". The Teoma search engine has been improved as well and is now labeled Teoma 3.0. Improvements, according to the press release, include "increased relevance", "increased freshness", an "expanded index", plus features to be launched in Q4 including page cache and related links.
 
Link (External Site): http://www.aj.com/
 
Link (External Site): http://www.irconnect.com/askjinc/pages/news_releas
es.html?d=64162
 
* Tips! *
 
These tips are NOT available to the general public yet! You can find them here first in the MalekTips newsletter! Thanks for subscribing.
 
Outlook 2003 Misc - Send all E-Mail as Plain Text
Send e-mail to Internet forums and mailing lists in plain-text with Outlook 2003.
 
Outlook 2003 Misc - Disable E-Mail Address Autocomplete
Keep Outlook 2003 from automatically completing e-mail addresses.
 
Outlook 2003 Misc - Remove Invalid E-Mail Addresses from Autocomplete List
Remove contacts with invalid e-mail addresses from Outlook 2003's Autocomplete list.
 
Outlook 2003 Misc - Remove Envelope Icon When Mail Arrives
Prevent the envelope icon from appearing on your Windows Taskbar whenever you receive e-mail with Outlook 2003.
 
Outlook 2003 Misc - Mark Mail as Unread
Mark Outlook 2003 e-mail as unread so you remember to scan it later.
 
Scanner - Why Not to Scan Photos to JPG
Scan photos to TIF or PNG formats instead of JPG to help prevent image quality degradation.
 
Scanner - Turn Off When Not in Use
Keep your scanner off when not in use to prevent burning out the lamp and wasting electricity.
 
Scanner - Clean Them Often!
A clean scanner will help ensure the best output.
 
Spybot Search and Destroy - Difficulty Installing Software?
If spyware is preventing Spybot from installing, consider booting to Safe Mode.
 
Spybot Search and Destroy - Immunize After Updates
After updating Spybot, be sure to re-immunize your system against the latest threats.
 
Spybot Search and Destroy - View Threat Statistics
Learn how much spyware and adware Spybot has cleaned from your system.
 
Spybot Search and Destroy - Ignore Products During a Scan
Prevent Spybot from cleaning certain types of potential threats from your system.
 
Spybot Search and Destroy - Keep Certain Cookies from Being Removed
Prevent useful cookies from accidentally getting removed by Spybot.
 
Spyware and Adware - What is Spyware and Adware?
Spyware and Adware defined. What it is and how it can adversely affect your computer.
 
Spyware and Adware - Why Does Adware Crash My Machine?
Why does adware crash your system when its goal is to deliver advertisements you will view?
 
Spyware and Adware - Antivirus Software Is Not Enough - Install Removal Tools
Antivirus software alone will not prevent you from getting infected by spyware and adware.
 
Spyware and Adware - Use at Least Two Removal Tools
Why using just one spyware removal tool is not enough to help prevent against infections.
 
Spyware and Adware - Consider Using Mozilla Firefox Instead of Internet Explorer
Consider switching web browsers to help prevent against spyware and adware infection.
 
Spyware and Adware - Peer-To-Peer Software and Adware
Downloading peer-to-peer file transfer software may introduce adware onto your machine.
 
Winamp 5 - Don't Use Skinned Mouse Cursors for Classic Skins
Prevent classic Winamp skins from using custom mouse cursors.
 
Winamp 5 - Screensavers Appearing When Video Displayed
Prevent the Windows screensaver from appearing when viewing video files with Winamp 5.
 
Winamp 5 - Change Plug-In Directory
Move Winamp 5's plug-in directory to another hard drive or partition.
 
Winamp 5 - Remove Explorer Shell Extensions
Remove Winamp 5's Explorer folder context menu extensions.
 
Winamp 5 - View Song Time Elapsed or Remaining
Toggle the display of your song's elapsed and remaining time in Winamp 5.
 
Windows Media Player CD Ripping - CD Ripping Step-By-Step
Step-by-step how to rip CDs into multimedia files with Windows Media Player 10.
 
Windows Media Player CD Ripping - Rip CDs Automatically
Automatically rip CDs with Windows Media Player 10 just by placing them in the drive.
 
Windows Media Player CD Ripping - Do Not Copy-Protect Music
Prevent Windows Media Player 10 from copy-protecting ripped CDs.
 
Windows Media Player CD Ripping - Change Multimedia Format and Quality
Change the audio quality and file type of ripped CD audio tracks in Windows Media Player 10.
 
Windows Media Player CD Ripping - Rip CDs to a Different Location
Placed audio files ripped from CDs in Windows Media Player 10 in a different location on your hard drive.
 
Windows Media Player CD Ripping - Change the Filenames
Change the details contained in ripped CD filenames with Windows Media Player 10.
 

 

 
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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 2004 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.

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