September 2006

Danger Will Robinson.
Posted Wednesday, September 27, 2006 by RL Hawk

Well here's a few little things some may find insteresting.

1st.... Got a email from Comcast with it's official logo saying I needed to click a link because as part of it's normal security it has to update their customers information.
Lol, I sent in on to comcast abuse... sure 'nuff Comcast had not send it (geeee go figure;-) Just another "phishing" scam.....
While chatting with the guy across the street I memtioned it and he said he went to the link and updated his information (I told him to contact Comcast 'fast')
His free web page (he never used it) had already been taken over by a program that Comcast suspects may be a denail of service program.
All this was within 4 hours.
He's lucky it was someone with a grudge against some company or a illegal porn site (whatever) rather then someone trying to get info like soc number, etc..... Sheesh!

2nd.... Well due to pressure MS has/is releasing a critical patch 2 weeks early (then it's second tues of every month patch release)
Any one doing the manual updates, really needs to download it now ;-)

5 FREE! Security programs.
Posted Saturday, September 16, 2006 by RL Hawk

Here’s a list of 5 FREE! Security applications that Cnet sent in one of the news letters I get.

I know there are some that just can’t afford to pay out big bucks for software to make your PC safe and secure.

Well now you don’t have any excuse, although these are not all the best on the market, they will go a long way to protect you. I do recommend #3 & #5 on my site(s) I do not know much about Windows defender, but if you are using mostly free security software, it might be worth your while to check it out.

Just remember run only 1 malware program at a time for auto spyware blocking and only 1 anti-virus at a time as well. So if Zone Alarm comes with AV use that rather than running Zone alarm’s firewall and AVG (less configuring and they both are about the same in the AV department)

Now the only reason to have a completely insecure PC, is you. These will do you until you either get the hang of securing your computer better or can afford to upgrade to paid versions.

My suggestions are: #2 Zone Alarm/ #3 Adaware/ #5 WinPatrol And if #2 does not come with AV, then #1

If you try out #4 use that for the auto detect and just run Adaware manually about once a month.

And whatever you do remember any of these kinds of programs are only as good as the updates.

So remember before you manually run a check, see if there is an update option to get the latest free signatures.

1. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=10044824-dd86778ed3658bdff1393c583f651723-bf&s=5&fs=0

2. ZoneAlarm

http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=10044825-dd86778ed3658bdff1393c583f651723-bf&s=5&fs=0

3. Ad-Aware

http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=10044826-dd86778ed3658bdff1393c583f651723-bf&s=5&fs=0

4. Microsoft Windows Defender beta

http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=10044827-dd86778ed3658bdff1393c583f651723-bf&s=5&fs=0

5. WinPatrol

http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=10044828-dd86778ed3658bdff1393c583f651723-bf&s=5&fs=0

6. HijackThis

http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=10044829-dd86778ed3658bdff1393c583f651723-bf&s=5&fs=0

Windows critical patch.
Posted Friday, September 8, 2006 by RL Hawk

For those that do manual Windows updates....READ! For those using auto update.... Hopefully it works ;-)

Microsoft plans to release a "critical" security update for Office next week, one of three bulletins it will distribute as part of its monthly patch cycle.

The other two updates are for Windows and are rated as "important," its second-highest ranking, the software giant said in an advisory Thursday. The brief advisory is designed to give IT administrators advance notice to prepare for the patches once they are distributed.

Further details on the flaws will be posted on Microsoft's security Web site, once the bulletins are issued Tuesday morning.

Microsoft has had its share of zero-day exploits, or malicious software released the same day a flaw is made public, in applications in Office. Earlier this week, Microsoft's Word 2000, which is part of the productivity suite, was hit with a zero-day attack that could compromise systems remotely. The vulnerability can be exploited by the user opening a malicious document.

And in June, an Excel vulnerability was the target of a zero-day attack. In that case, a system was at risk if a user opened a malicious Excel database document.

Free boot screen program.
Posted Sunday, September 3, 2006 by RL Hawk

Tired of seeing that old Windows 2000 or XP boot up screen?
Here’s a little program called “Bootskin” you’ll have to try out. And it’s FREE!
The download is from Cnet:
http://www.download.com/BootSkin/3000-2105_4-10257781.html

Or if you prefer you can go to the ‘Stardock’ web site:
http://www.stardock.com/products/bootskin/

Once you download, install and open it, look down the list of thumbnail screens and find the thumbnail for the ‘Browse boot screen library’. This takes you to the Stardock library and you can download your choice from a hundred or so boot screens people have made (about the 3rd or 4th page there is one called “Monster Hunter…. My new boot screen… WOW!)
You can even ‘preview your images first.

I ran virus checks on the software and the screens I downloaded and all checked out ok. Running XP, I found no problems so far (I tried several before deciding on this one)
And if you tire of whatever you decide on, do as I did, download a few so you can change them at a later date. And it’s as easy as opening Bootskin again and a few clicks later…. A brand new boot up screen.

For those of you that want to, there even is a link (in the ‘help’ menu) for creating your own boot screen images.