SPAUG Newsletter April 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Notes from the Prez
by Jim Dinkey
While there are lots of programs out there that will assist you in finding Malware, there is precious little that will tell you about the programs running at any one time on your computer – and evaluate all of the programs running on your computer at any one instant.
Until now.
A program called HiJackThis will allow you to take a snapshot of your computer programs executing and then allow you to submit the resultant report to a program called Help2Go.
If you Google: “Help2Go Detective” and take the top item [which should be www.help2go.com/modules.php?name=HJTDetective], you will find a place where the information creation of HiJackThis can be inserted into the Help2Go Detective and get an instant review of your computer's malware and more importantly, a review of the programs that don't need to be there at all.
I would like each of you to e-mail to me the results of what you find and your reaction to this set of programs.
There is a new program available (LogMeOn) that purports to permit two computers to link to each other in such a manner that one computer can be used to operate a remote computer for the purposes of remotely repairing the remote computer.
As a research project, I would like you to try out the program where possible and to let me know what you find. One point of interest is that there seems to be a division interpreting whether the service is free for the first 30 days or free indefinitely with certain functions crippled and whether the program is usable in crippled mode.
A lot of the SPAUG users who have WinXP or Win2000 are set up to run their computers in Administrator Mode. The problem with this is that lots of the malware entering onto your computer depends on the presence of Administrator Mode in order to execute. If you are running routinely on an account that has lesser privileges, the malware will not be able to infect your computer.
So the action is clear: Set up another account not having a high or powerful privilege and use the new account or continue to be at the mercy of the malware people. This applies to all WinXP and Win2000 users. I suggest an account privilege of Power User which lets you do almost anything except install programs - unless you like installing malware.
Please let me know how you come out on this project.
The final project is to download a copy of the Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware Beta rather than just waiting for the product to be downloaded once a month…
The way this particular program works is that it is downloaded onto your computer once a month with the 2nd Tuesday Microsoft patch release. The program runs once and then erases itself from your computer. Thus, a month must pass before your computer is cleaned up again - and that is too long.
My copy of Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware Beta is set to run daily at 2 a.m. How do I get away with this?
Because I went to the effort of downloading my own copy that stays permanently on my computer - not the one submitted to you monthly.
Thus there is a copy that may be set to run as you so choose and that will not go away at the end of the day.
In this manner, my computer is constantly checking itself because the Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware Beta runs at 2 a.m., SpyBot at 7:30 a.m. and AdAware at 8 a.m. - all automatically. With the immunizing by SpyBot, very little gets onto the computer because the SpyBot immunization takes care of it. You might think about whether you want to set up your computer the same way.
One last thought is that the use of Outlook Express and Internet Explorer is inimical to your computer's health. Switch over to Thunderbird or Eudora or some such, and use Firefox to avoid much of the malware and virus attacks so prevalent. I haven't been bothered for quite some time.
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General Meeting Notes
by John Sleeman
There was an exceptionally good turnout for this meeting, and we were not disappointed.
Bob White presented Suse Linux, compared to Windows
Continuing the newly established tradition of a short presentation on Linux at each meeting, Bob White (mailto:computer-bob@mindspring.com) compared the Suse distribution to Windows. Bob has used Linux as his main OS for several years. Here are some points.
- The way partitions are handled is very different between the two OSs. Linux will allow up to four physical partitions, and requires at least two - a swap partition and another to hold the filesystems.
- Linux can "see" Windows partitions, but not vice-versa.
- Browser-based mail, such as Netscape, works the same way in both OSs.
- Linux has no defrag function, because it is not necessary.
- Bob uses an "open look" file manager rather than KDE (one of the two standard GUIs with most Linux distributions.)
- The Linux process manager shows all running processes, unlike Windows.
- The DVD player works fine under Linux - we saw a few seconds film clip.
- Bob thinks the Suse distribution is better than the Novell, although Novell has bought Suse. They remain distinct "distros"
Dick Delp added a few comments:
- He showed Knoppix 3.8 Linux on a CD. This is a bootable CD that does not need the Linux OS to be installed.
- This could be useful to try a new OS without installing it.
- He rates Knoppix top in versatility of hardware suported.
Administrivia
CrossTalk/Random Access
- Q: What firewall should one use?
A: Use both a hardware and a software firewall. The hardware is a router which hides the user's PC from the outside world. The software adds protection by checking outgoing traffic. Jim D recommends 2005 PCcillin as now superseding Zone Alarm.
Presentation – Smart Computing
Jen Clausen made a great presentation about the Smart Computing magazine and its siblings, PC Today, CPU (Computer Power User) and PC Novice. The focus was on Smart Computing.
- It is designed for all skill levels, which means it is careful to cater even to novices. Acronyms are always defined.
- They gave out free copies of the May issue, together with a survey and invitation to subscribe.
- The standard format is a cover story plus five or six related articles.
- They are subscriber based rather than advertiser based. There is a strict maximum of 19 pages of ads per issue.
- Reviewers really look at the products, rather than just the accompanying publicity.
- Free technical support – a new feature – is available at 880-368-8304. Go to the web site for more information.
- When one subscribes to one printed magazine, one has access to all four at no extra cost on the Web site. And they are there three or four weeks ahead of the newsstand.
- All old issues are archived and available on the Web site.
- Their publications also include Processor for IT professionals.
- Subscribers can create a "personal library" of articles. It lives on their server, but one can add notes.
- There is an on-line Q&A feature available to subscribers. One can "subscribe to this message" and subsequent answers to the question will be emailed.
- There is a tech support section, where e.g. error messages are explained. There is a solutions knowledge base, and all data is searchable.
- There is a user groups section, of which SPAUG is a member.
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Planning Meeting Notes 20 April 2005
by Maurice Green
- The meeting was held at Bev Altman's house; attendees: Jim Dinkey, Dick Delp, Maurice Green, John Sleeman, Bev Altman Lamont Shadowens, John Buck, Nat Landes, Richard Sweet. The attendees enjoyed the refreshments served.
- Review of finances - Nat Landes was asked to determine when the next rent payment is due to the Elks Lodge
- John Sleeman is to determine the lease term on the post office box and insure that our payments are current.
- Bev Altman reported that we gained 3 new members at the last meeting. Our total is approximately 118 members.
- Jim Dinkey reported that he had forwarded a copy of the SPAUG newsletter to Fred Thompson at SVCS for inclusion on their website. Maury Green was asked to determine if it has appeared and if SPAUG will receive a copy of the SVCS newsletter in return.
- Some SPAUG members have reported that they have not received the DISIG newsletter. Maury stated that the DISIG newsletter is sent to the SPAUG mail list as well as to the DISIG list.
- Jim Dinkey mentioned the free CNET Help courses on the web. Maury stated that he had taken a number of them and found them to be superficial in content. Someone suggested looking at the courses on Virtual University (www.vu.org).
- There was a report of newsletters which were being received in the mail in a damaged condition. Susan Mueller has requested that members notify her of damaged newsletters as soon as possible so she can contact the appropriate post office. There was discussion about the possibility of changing the method of binding or sealing the newsletters to avoid damage.
- It was noted that emails to the SPAUG mail list are being "archived" at Monterey Net and become available, along with the email address and other personal information of the sender, to the general public via a Google search. Jim will contact the owner of Monterey Net to see if this can be stopped.
- Future speakers & pre-meeting dinner location -
11 May - Gary Sasaki will report on the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Publicity material for our next speaker, Gary Sasaki, has been received for the newsletter. Pre-meeting dinner at Armadillo Willy's, 1031 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos
8 Jun - Nancy Blachman/Google, pre-meeting dinner at Celia's Mexican Restaurant, 3740 El Camino Real, Palo Alto
13 Jul - Def Iuupa of Caboodle, pre-meeting dinner at Cibo Bar and Grill, 3398 El Camino Real, Palo Alto
10 Aug - Jan Altman will make a presentation on Excel, pre-meeting dinner at Crowne Plaza Cabaña, 4290 El Camino Real.
14 Sep - Hank Skawinski, pre-meeting dinner at (tbd)
12 Oct - tbd, pre-meeting dinner at (tbd)
9 Nov - tbd, pre-meeting dinner at (tbd)
Possibilities - Acronis, Dan Gillmor, Mike Langberg, Electronic Freedom Foundation, a presentation on genealogy
- Clinic activities and changes - Jim reported that he has 4 volunteers to help him with the Saturday morning clinics.
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