Tuesday, November 15, 2005

November Meeting

MCCC November 2005

Types of Spyware

The term “spyware” covers a wide range of malicious software (sometimes called malware). Your anti-spyware tool will find all sorts of things that it considers spyware to be removed. Here is a small field guide to what you might find.

COOKIES
These are small text files placed on your computer via your browser by a web site. They are used to track website usage, remember settings, track ad views and make ecommerce shopping carts work. Cookies can’t crash your computer and don’t slow it down at all. Don’t be concerned if cookies are detected. They are a normal result of using the web. If you are concerned about privacy, you can have them deleted.

ALEXA
This is an Amazon.com owned web browser plug-in that gives you data about site popularity. However it also tracks your web usage and reports it back to a central server. It declares what it does and is not really a spyware threat. You don’t have to remove it if detected. If concerned you can uninstall it with the included uninstaller that comes with Alexa.

GATOR/CLARIA
Gator (renamed Claria) almost invented spyware. It has made efforts over the years to legitimize it business, by declaring what info it gathers on your computer as you use its software. Microsoft AntiSpyware is recommending that it be ignored. If you get utility out of Claria and are ok with your web habits being anonymously reported then leave it.

AD SUPPORTED
Some companies - like Claria - release software that is free in return for allowing information to be gathered about you. It explicitly states this upfront in the user agreement. Even though it is painful, scan user agreements of free software that you download to see if they are going to install other programs to show ads. Just about all free programs offer a paid version that has no ads. Removing the ad software may cause the free software to stop working.

BROWSER HIJACK
Also called Browser Helper Objects, these are the nastiest pieces of spyware going. They install on a browser either locking the homepage so it can’t be changed from the one it is set to by the hijacker or installs an un-removable toolbar. Sometimes browser helpers are truly helpful, so keep ones that you actually use. It certainly needs to be removed if your homepage is set to something inappropriate. It is sometimes very hard to do and often requires the use of the program Hijack This. Users of Windows XP with Service Pack 2 installed can see what browser helpers are installed and can turn them off.

More Spyware tips:

  • It has been shown time and again that no one anti-spyware program finds and removes everything. Try using more than one program to detect and clean out a heavily-infected computer.
  • Some anti-spyware programs, like the free version of Ad-Aware, don’t have a part that tries to prevent you from getting infected. It only detects and removes infections.

Free Anti-Spyware

More Shortcut Keys

Did you ever get a window stuck where the title bar was off the top edge of the screen so you couldn’t reach it with your mouse to move? Use the keyboard to move your window, even if you can’t get to the system menu with your mouse:

  • Hold down Alt and the Spacebar and then release. You’ll see the system menu appear.
  • Press the M key to select Move from the menu
  • Use the arrow keys to move the window.
  • Press Enter when you are finished moving the window.

Make your own shortcut keys! You can assign shortcut keys to your favorite programs so you can start them quickly without having to go to the Start menu.

  • For example, let’s make a shortcut key for the Calculator. Find the Calculator on the start menu (it’s under accessories) and right-click it.
  • Choose Properties from the pop-up menu
  • Click once in the Shortcut Key box, and press the C key. You’ll note that “Ctrl + Alt + C” appears in the box. All of these shortcuts will start with Ctrl + Alt.
  • Click OK to save your change.
  • You can press the combination Ctrl + Alt + C and the Calculator appears.

Free Programming Tools

Ever wonder were programs come from? You can make your own programs using free tools from Microsoft. They recently released free versions of their Visual Studio product called Visual Studio Express. Go to http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express for more information and downloads.

Now that you’ve got some free tools, what should you program? Get some ideas and guidance from the Coding4Fun site at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/coding4fun.

October Meeting

MCCC October 2005

What is Windows Update? http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

Windows Update is a Microsoft web site that provides updates for Windows operating system software and Windows-based hardware. Updates address known issues and help protect against known security threats.

How does it work?

  1. Connect to the internet.
  2. Open Internet Explorer.
  3. In the Address box type: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and press Enter.
  4. The web site changes from time to time, so follow the instructions on the screen.

When you visit the web site, Windows Update scans your computer and tells you which updates apply to your software and hardware. You choose the updates that you want to and how to install them.

What types of updates can I get?

Windows Update uses these categories:

  • High Priority: Critical updates, security updates, service packs, and update rollups that should be installed as soon as they become available and before you install any other updates.
  • Software (optional): Non-critical fixes for Windows programs, such as Windows Media Player and Windows Journal Viewer.
  • Hardware (optional): Non-critical fixes for drivers and other hardware devices, such as video cards, sound cards, scanners, printers, and cameras.

What’s the difference between Express and Custom?

  • Express (recommended) displays all high priority updates for your computer so that you can install them with one click. This is the quickest and easiest way to keep your computer up to date.
  • Custom displays high priority and optional updates for your computer. You review and select the updates that you want to install, one by one.

Using Security Zones in Internet Explorer

  1. Go to the web site you want to add to a zone
  2. Press Alt-D to select the web address, and press Ctrl-C to copy it to the Windows Clipboard. This saves you from having to type it in later.
  3. On the Internet Explorer Tools menu, click Internet Options.
  4. Click the Security tab, and then click the security zone where you want to add the site: Local Intranet, Trusted sites, or Restricted sites.
  5. Click the Sites button.
  6. In the Add this Web site to the zone box, press Ctrl-V to paste in the web address.
  7. Click the Add button.
  8. If you want to add more sites to this zone now, you can go back to step 6 and type any additional web addresses into the Add this Web site to the zone box, and then click the Add button.
  9. Click OK twice.

Change the Security Level of a Zone

  1. On the Internet Explorer Tools menu, click Internet Options.
  2. Click the Security tab, and then click the zone for which you want to change the security level.
  3. Drag the slider to set the security level to High, Medium, Medium-low, or Low.
  4. When you’ve finished, click OK.

Helpful Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Ctrl-C Copy
  • Ctrl-X Cut
  • Ctrl-V Paste
  • Ctrl-Z Undo
  • Ctrl-A Select All
  • F2 Rename
  • Windows Key Opens the Start menu
  • Windows Key, U, S, S, Enter Shuts down the computer
  • Windows Key-E Opens My Documents
  • Windows Key-D Shows Desktop
  • Windows Key-L Locks computer (at work) or switch users (at home)