C C C C N E W S L E T T E R
CENTRAL COAST COMPUTER CLUB
Santa Maria, California
VOLUME XXI: NUMBER 7 JULY, 2006
Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month at the Knollwood
Village Clubhouse 4012 S. Bradley Dr., Santa Maria.
General meeting at 7:00 PM. System Special Interest Group session is at
5:45pm. Guests are welcome.
Check out our web site: http//member.apcug.org/fourseas for the latest
program schedule information.
Membership is $15 for twelve months for individuals, $20 for families.
For this you receive: Monthly newsletters, EXTRA4C E-mail Messages,
Help-line support, Monthly presentations, Valuable door prizes, Question
and answer sessions.
NEXT MEETING: July 18, 2006 KNOLLWOOD VILLAGE 4012 S. BRADLEY
PRESENTATION: The July meeting presentation will be: Ray Isenson on
Office Suite Comparisons.
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******** JULY COOKIE PROVIDERS ARE THE TUCKERS *********
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| CONTENTS |
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(1) OFFICERS, HELPLINES, S.I.G.S
(2) PRESIDENT'S CORNER Ray Isenson
(3) EDITOR'S COMMENTS Dick Trissel
(4) WEB WANDERINGS
(5) SYSTEMS S.I.G.(REGISTRY MANAGEMENT) Dick Trissel
(6) INTERNET EXPLORER WARNING MESSAGE Dick Trissel
(7) RECOVER COMPUTER SPEED G. Gerstenberg
(8) CRIMEWARE CRIMEWAVE Kirk Kirksey
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OFFICERS HELPLINES
President Juno
Ray Isenson 937-6938 Dick Trissel 937-7572
risenson@juno.com rtrissel@juno.com
Vice President Windows 95/98/ME/XP & VoiceControl
Spence Stimler 938-0217 Amy Malicki 925-5780
SPENCE923@msn.com savvyforseniors@juno.com
Secretary Hardware and Windows XP
Barbara Godwin 934-9885 Ray Isenson 937-6938
yung.bag@verizon.net risenson@juno.com
Treasurer AOL
Gerry Miller 934-1396 Frank Maciel 922-2318
2741 Banyan Way frm8198@aol.com
Santa Maria CA 93455
gandamiller@verizon.net
Publicity Visual Basic and Genealogy
Bill Corning 934-0775 Gerald Miller 934-1396
foster95@impulse.net gandamiller@verizon.net
Newsletter Editor Help With Any Problem
Dick Trissel 937-7572 Ray Isenson 937-6938
rtrissel@juno.com risenson@juno.com
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (S.I.G.)
Systems (5:45pm)
Dick Trissel
rtrissel@juno.com
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CCCC Page 2 July 2006
PRESIDENT'S CORNER by Ray Isenson
Our thanks, again, to Pat and Ken Keith of the ComputerWorks for their
interesting and educational presentation at our June general meeting. Until
one has gone through a similar exercise, he or she can't begin to understand
the amount of work Pat and Ken had done to assemble the collection of
freebies or shareware utilities on the Utility CDs that were distributed.
By the way, to those members who missed Pat's comment, those disks, if
presented at the time work is done at the ComputerWorks, are worth a
significant discount in the bill. Also, for the members not attending the
meeting, those present agreed that the Christmas prize computer, this year,
will be a Microsoft Windows Vista capable laptop.
Changing subject; the July presentation will consider the principal working
software with which we equip our computers for day to day general
utilization. At one time or another each of us makes use of one application
or another that is part of a suite of office programs. For the main, I
suspect that the most commonly used applications are Microsoft's Word or
Excel, taken from Microsoft's Office.
Despite the overwhelming dominance of the Microsoft suite, there are a
number of other office suites available, each made up of a number of
applications that might better serve the users' requirements. The spread of
retail costs for the various Suites runs from free to over $300. The
included applications run the gamut from simple text editing to photo
editing, chart making and publications, and greeting cards.
At the July meeting I will present an overview of the better known Suites,
their included applications, where they are to be acquired and street costs.
I promise to offer some surprises.
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CCCC Page 3 July 2006
EDITOR'S COMMENTS by Dick Trissel
If you have been watching the computer store ads lately, you may have
noticed the extremely low computer prices. Well, it's that old gimmick they
were using about 5 years ago where you get a $200 discount IF you subscribe
to AOL for a year.
I guess that may be of value if you don't already have AOL or another ISP
you are happy with, and are willing to pay the high subscription fees for
AOL. I'm not going to quote these fees here, because they change
frequently. But be sure to investigate the actual cost of a computer if you
are in the market for one.
Those members that attended the last two meetings know I had cables for sale
for a $1 each--USB A/A extension cables and RJ45e Ethernet cables. I got
these cables at the local 99cent store (Betteravia and Miller). The reason
I brought them is that the store doesn't always have them in stock. If you
need USB cables (A/A extension or A/B peripheral) or Ethernet crossover or
straight, or some other cable, checkout the 99cent store cable rack just
inside the door (or check in the hardware section).
The USB extension cables (A/A) are useful for extending USB ports that are
not conveniently located on your computer (sometimes in the back of the
tower). They also make thumbdrive protective adapters to save wear and tear
on the delicate thumbdrive sockets.
Those cables are priced at $15 to $25 in the computer stores. And most of
them are the new flat cable design which is much more flexible.
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CCCC Page 4 July 2006
WEB WANDERINGS
411 FOR FREE
Information is power. The people who have information often charge you for
it. Now, you can get directory assistance free!
Free411.com has the same information as pay directories, but costs you
nothing. The information can be accessed via phone with an easy-to-remember
1-800 number. If you prefer, you can save call time by using the Web
interface. Both have the same information.
There is no signing up. You never have to give any private information. And
the phone number from which you call is not sold to telemarketers.
There is a catch, as always. When you call, you might hear ads while you're
on hold. This is why you don't pay. Also, paid sponsors will be recommended
first, if applicable. Remember, the call will count as minutes from your
cell plan.
Nonetheless, this is a decent deal. You'll never want to pay for directory
assistance again.
www.free411.com
CAN YOU SPEAK UP?
If you place a high value on your hearing, keep the volume on your iPod at a
reasonable level. Also avoid places with excessive noise.
But If you still worry that your hearing might fail, go to the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association Web site. It contains a trove of
information on hearing loss.
First, take the self-test. This will help you determine if you're
experiencing hearing loss. Then, you can read about hearing disorders and
treatment. And if you need one, you can locate an audiologist.
But most importantly, you'll find tips and advice for protecting your
hearing.
www.asha.org/public/hearing/disorders/Self-Test.htm
WINDOWS LIVE
There are billions and billions of Web pages on the Internet. Some are good,
and others are, well, lacking something.
You're bound to have your own ideas about what makes a great site. So how
would your ideal Web page look?
Well, Microsoft's Windows Live gives you the opportunity to build your own
home page. You can add news, sports, horoscopes and a variety of other
elements.
You'll be surprised by how easy it is to get started. It's just a matter of
selecting what you want. Then you simply drag and drop it where you want it
to appear on the page. The setup is saved automatically, so when you come
back, things are as you left them!
www.live.com
THE GOOD EARTH
Sometimes, it can be easy to forget Earth's beauty. This is particularly
true if you live in a large city. You may not get to see much of nature.
If this sounds like you, take a few minutes today to watch the Good Earth.
This quick Flash slide show will give you new appreciation for our world.
The slide show gathers a series of satellite images of Earth. There is also
background music. But for me, the attraction is the images. They're amazing!
You probably won't recognize anything. Most of them are abstract. But the
slides are labeled to help you out. Once you're done looking at the Earth,
click on the Space link. It opens a similar slide show, but this one focuses
on outer space.
You'll need the free Flash player to watch the slide shows. If you don't
have it, you'll be directed to download it.
hwww.frontiermultimedia.com/the-good-earth.htm
HOW MUCH IS THAT HOME?
Lately the housing market has gone through the roof. In some areas, prices
of houses have increased by thousands of dollars a month.
So if you're buying or selling a house, it makes sense to do some research.
That way, you won't get a raw deal. And Zillow is a great place to start.
Just enter an address in the search box. You'll get a current estimate of
the home's value. A map will show you the values of the neighboring houses.
Need more information? You can find additional details about the quality of
construction, square footage and heating system. And a chart will show the
change in value over the past year. Happy house hunting!
zillow.com
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CCCC Page 5 July 2006
SYSTEMS S.I.G. by Dick Trissel
We talked briefly about Windows registry management and the programs
involved. To further elaborate on this subject I wrote this article:
REGISTRY MANAGEMENT
Your computer has a section called the "registry". The registry gets
changed with almost every function you do on your computer. In Windows 95-
ME it was in two files and relatively easily managed. In Windows XP it is
in many files in various locations, and not easily managed.
There are two types of programs that pretty well manages the registry. One
is a program that cleans out unnecessary registry keys (a key is an entry in
the registry). The other program is one that "optimizes" the registry.
Optimizing usually means defraging the registry because the system defrag
operation doesn't defrag the registry files (they are hidden, system files).
The program I recommend for cleaning the registry for any Windows system is
a program from ToniArts called EasyCleaner or Easyclea.exe. version 2.0.6.
at:
http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts
To optimize a Windows 98-ME there is the Windows utility called
Scanreg /opt. First do a defrag operation. Then, do Start / Shutdown /
Restart in MS-DOS mode. At the DOS prompt type scanreg /opt, and press
Enter. Then at the DOS prompt type exit, and press Enter. Go to C:\Windows
\Sysbckup and delete the file Rbbad.cab (the uncompressed registry backup
that was made by Scanreg--it's there to recover if there is a problem.)
Since there is no Scanreg utility in Windows XP, you need the free 489KB
program NTREGOPT-SETUP.EXE. It can be downloaded at:
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/ntregopt.html
After it is installed, just double-click the icon on the desktop. This will
make an optimized copy of the registry that WILL get used the next time XP
boots. So, it's a good idea to do a Restart immediately after running
NTREGOPT, because any registry changes made between running the program and
a reboot will be lost.
Notice: This can be a tricky way to test a program that you don't want to
permanently modify the registry. After you test the program, if you don't
like it, reboot, and all the registry changes will be discarded. If you do
like it, be sure to run NTREGOPT again and reboot.
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CCCC Page 6 July 2006
INTERNET EXPLORER WARNING MESSAGE by Dick Trissel
I suddenly encountered a message banner in Windows XP SP2 while opening an
e-mail message. It read:
"To help protect your security, Internet Explorer has restricted this
file from showing active content that could access your computer."
It said to click on the message for more information. It then gave me the
option to open the e-mail anyway. That option gave me a blank message page
where I knew there was a message to display (the person that sent it was
looking over my shoulder).
After hours of research and experimentation I found the culprit. By
comparing my Internet Explorer with SP2 to a version without SP2, I found 14
differences in the Internet Options Security tab and the Advanced tab. By
the process of elimination, I found the actual item that was causing the
problem viewing HTML files.
The culprit was in the Tools / Advanced tab section of Internet
Options (not the Security tab section). The Advanced tab Security section
has an item called:
"Allow active content to run in files on My Computer"
This should be changed from unchecked to checked.
Of course, this allows active content that may be harmful to run on your
computer. So, use this fix with diligence.
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CCCC Page 7 July 2006
RECOVER COMPUTER SPEED
By Gerry Gerstenberg, 1st Vice President, Broward Personal Computer
Association, Inc., Florida
Here are some suggestions to get your computer back up to speed.
Viruses
Check your system for viruses and Trojans, make sure that your anti-virus
definitions are up to date. Viruses, worms, and Trojan Horses can all create
serious system slowdowns.
If you're already running anti-virus software, make sure the virus
definitions are up-to-date. I use AVG from http://www.Grisoft.com. It is
free as is Avast at http://www.Avast.com. Only run one Virus Checker at a
time.
Spyware/Malware
Second, check your system for spyware and malware.
This can be done by using a spyware detector like AdAware found at
http://www.Lavasoft.com and/or Spybot Search and Destroy, found at
http://spybot.com/en/index.html.
Keep them up to date.
I also use Microsoft Antispyware. It can be downloaded from
http://www.Microsoft.com.
Improve Online Security
Install and configure a firewall.
Turn off unnecessary networking software.
Download and install Windows updates on a regular basis.
Secure your Web browser by using such options as setting its "security
zones."
Remove System Clutter
Delete any unneeded icons from the Windows desktop and Start menu tree.
Each one requires a little time to process when the system is booting up,
and each one eats a little bit of system memory. Right click on Start then
Properties then the Start Menu Tab.
Uninstall any software you will never use.
Examples are the AOL and other ISP installations preloaded at the factory
and any other preinstalled software. Access the Control Panel, select
Add/Remove Programs (Add/Remove Programs in Win98 and WinMe), and
systematically remove anything that isn't absolutely necessary. You need to
decide what is necessary to you. Reboot after each uninstall for the best
results.
Run MSCONFIG
Go to Start then Run. Type in msconfig and click on the startup tab. Then
uncheck any program you do not want to start when the computer starts. These
programs take time to run when the system starts up, and they take up
precious system memory. This will keep the icons from appearing in the
Windows Navigation Tray on the right side of the task bar.
Defragment the hard drive.
A full hard drive isn't your only potential problem. Even with plenty of
free space on a drive, the file system can become so fragmented that Windows
can't efficiently access and store data. Run Windows Disk Defragmenter tool
to rearrange files in the most optimal way.
You may have to reboot and defrag several times to get the hard drive
defragmented and the files compacted completely. From the Start menu, open
Programs, Accessories, and then System Tools.
Open the Disk Defragmenter utility. In WinXP, let the utility analyze each
drive to assess its level of fragmentation and determine whether it's worth
defragging.
Do you have any running processes that don't need to be running?
Check this by doing Ctrl, Alt, Delete, choose Process tab, make sure that
everything that is running is necessary. You can also try this to see what
is pre-loading: Start > Run, type in "msconfig" (without the quotes) Click
the Boot.ini tab and then select the /SOS switch. Now instead of seeing that
black and white progress bar you will now see in real time what files are
being loaded. This can give you a clue where it is hanging up.
Keep it simple.
WinXP's default set of animations and transitions is pleasing to the eye.
But it doesn't do your PC any favors, especially if your hardware is a
couple years old. You can customize which effects to use or let Windows
handle the decisions. Access your System Properties from the Control Panel
(or by right clicking My Computer and selecting Properties). Select Advanced
then select Settings under Performance. Select Adjust for best performance.
All entries will be unchecked. You can then selectively check any animations
and transitions that you would like to keep. Click apply and OK.
Make room.
A full hard drive will bog down your system on all fronts. First, empty the
Recycle bin. Then, run Microsoft's Disk Cleanup utility. From the Start
menu, you will need to go to Programs, Accessories, and System Tools. Open
Disk Cleanup, select the drive, and click OK. The utility will analyze the
system and offer suggestions. Check each box and click OK. Next, uninstall
unused applications. From Windows' Control Panel, select Add/ Remove
Programs. Remove any programs you don't use, especially applications
preinstalled by the manufacturer. Finally, archive infrequently used data to
removable storage.
Remove temporary files.
Open Windows' Search tool (called Find in Win98) from the Start menu. Find
all files beginning with a tilde (~) (search for "~*.*") and all files with
a .TMP file extension (search for "*.tmp"). Remove any that aren't
immediately associated with an open file or application.
Perform regular maintenance.
Don't make Disk Cleanup, temporary file removal, Disk Defragmenter, and
anti-virus scanning onetime activities.
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CCCC Page 8 July 2006
CRIMEWARE CRIMEWAVE by Kirk Kirksey from ComputorEdge Magazine
Alarmed by a shocking rise in targeted cyber-crime, Peter Cassidy, the
secretary general of the Anti-Phishing Working Group, has coined a new term:
"crimeware". Unlike other forms of software nasties, crimeware has one—and
only one—goal: perpetrate identity theft with the intent to commit a
financial crime. The scam might be to access a victim's bank or brokerage
accounts, or steal information allowing financial transactions to be carried
out in the target's name.
According to the Anti-Phishing Working Group recently published e-crime
statistics for the end of 2005, the number of Web sites distributing
crimeware in December 2005 was 7,197—up nearly twofold from the previous
month. December also saw the largest number of brand hijackings (malicious
e-mail messages or Web sites claiming to represent legitimate
organizations), with the financial industry being the biggest target.
Crimeware has several popular disguises. Sometimes, browser hijackers
secretly alter browser settings, redirecting victims to sites they had no
intention of visiting. In other instances, browser-jackers can add search
pages and additional bookmarks to users' browser settings. The famed CWS
browser hijacker, for example, is notorious for producing porn ad pop-ups,
and adding dozens of porn bookmarks to Internet Explorer's Favorites folder.
Keyloggers, sometimes secretly installed by Trojans, invisibly capture
anything typed on a keyboard (e.g., usernames and passwords to financial
sites), store the information in a log file, and then send the data via e-
mail to the evil mother ship for later exploitation.
So, how do you sniff out a phisher who is looking to steal your information?
Check out these tips straight from the Anti-Phishing Working Group.
BE SUSPICIOUS OF "URGENT" PLEAS
The bad guys typically send messages that are either exciting or disturbing.
Anything that sounds too good to be true usually isn't (true, that is). This
goes for things sounding too bad to be true, as well.
CHECK THE LINK
Before you click on an e-mail link, run your mouse over the URL and check
the real address. Yes—the address may look authentic because an
institution's name is included. The real Web site for PayPal is , not
"www.134.223.3.3.paypal.com." Nine times out of 10, something like this is
camouflage.
DON'T PANIC: SPEAK TO A CARBON-BASED UNIT
Alarm, horror and agitation are common ploys used by phishers. "Your account
has expired. Please log in to reactivate your account." Don't believe it.
NEVER SAY NO
There is one rule to remember about crimeware—assume everything is a lie. If
there is a link to unsubscribe, don't click on it. This simply tells the
scumbags on the other end that they have reached a real, live e-mail
address.
DON'T FALL FOR THIS ONE
I was stranded in an airport and was desperate to check my e-mail. I fired
up my laptop and immediately detected a wireless signal. A click on my
browser brought up a familiar looking subscription page of a big-name
wireless provider. The colors were right, the logo was correct, even the
copyright notice was in place. I entered my credit card number, just as
always, only to discover that nothing happened.
The page was completely bogus. The scammer had lifted all visual details
from the legitimate Web site and created an identical phony site. Someone in
a crowded terminal with a roaming laptop had my credit card number.
DO REGULAR SELF-CHECKS
Don't let your online accounts lay idle. Log on regularly. Check your
balances and transaction history. If anything looks suspicious, get on the
horn and speak with an account representative.
CHANGE IS GOOD
Most businesses that have implemented "best practices" for information
security insist that users change their passwords regularly. A password
change every 90 days is a common standard. A regular password change for no
good reason is a good idea for the rest of us, too.
PATCH YOUR BROWSERS
Some species of crimeware can secretly alter browser settings. Just like
other software vendors, browser makers correct security vulnerabilities as
they are discovered and issue software patches or new versions of their
product.
BE A TATTLETALE
Several organizations track crimeware and phishing scams. If you run across
something fishy, do the world a favor and report the incident. Forward
suspicious e-mails to reportphishing@antiphishing.com or to the Federal
Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov. These addresses receive and catalog
phishing complaints.
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