From bert at iphouse.com Mon May 1 00:34:08 2006 From: bert at iphouse.com (Bert Hyman) Date: Sun Apr 30 20:48:40 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: running DOS programs - failure References: Message-ID: In news:e33bsq$2ma$1@news.spamcop.net "anon" wrote: > Now I read that PM Pro if good for hdds up to 8 GB (way too small.) > > Is there something that will do the same thing that PM did but on a much > larger hdd? Current version of Partition Magic claims to work on partitions of up to 300GB. -- Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN bert@iphouse.com From not at home.today Mon May 1 02:24:40 2006 From: not at home.today (Ant) Date: Sun Apr 30 20:48:53 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: running DOS programs - failure References: Message-ID: "anon" wrote: > > "Ant" wrote: >> You could try a decent DOS emulator. DOSBox was designed to run old >> games, but it may be suitable for your apps. >> >> http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/ > > I downloaded this (and the Browser-Appliance) - I am not sure what to do > next in order to run the DOS programs. Presumably you need to install it first. Read the FAQ link. > How do I browse to MY files/programs on the hard disk and launch a program? Forget about the Windows way of doing things. > Does dosbox include DOS automatically? It emulates MS-DOS. You can run your programs from its "DOS-like command prompt" just as you would from a normal DOS prompt. Note that I haven't used DOSBox myself, but others say it works well. From nobody at spamcop.net Mon May 1 11:09:02 2006 From: nobody at spamcop.net (indigo) Date: Mon May 1 10:10:02 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: running DOS programs - failure References: Message-ID: anon wrote: > I have tried to run a couple of DOS programs on a wXP computer. > > I get an error message (similar to) "ERROR CM AT IP FFFDH" > > I think the hex addresses may be different. > > Why did this run ok on w98se but fails in wxp? > > Any cure for this as I need the data and output which is stored and > produced by the programs. > > These programs don't have a windows version, only the DOS version. > > In addition, there are no web pages for these programs (mostly the > programmers and companies are long gone.) > > Also is there any way to install DOS and have it run those DOS > programs??? I had the same problems with some Lahey fortran programs I wrote back in the 90's. Worked on all M$ platforms until we went to XP. Have you looked into using Microsoft Virtual PC? That worked, IIRC, but it was too difficult to make the software portable so we ended up re-writing the code in C++ (thank $diety I had retained the source code, being a packrat actually has it's advantages some times!). From nobody at spamcop.net Mon May 1 11:16:37 2006 From: nobody at spamcop.net (indigo) Date: Mon May 1 10:20:06 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: running DOS programs - failure References: Message-ID: anon wrote: > > How do I browse to MY files/programs on the hard disk and launch a > program? > Download the utility "DosShell" from that website, it's a old DOS style Windows Explorer type utility, works great. From not at home.today Mon May 1 17:21:16 2006 From: not at home.today (Ant) Date: Mon May 1 11:25:02 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: running DOS programs - failure References: Message-ID: "anon" wrote: > Sorry - I forgot to mention that I installed both the dosbox and the browser > per the instructions. I've just downloaded and installed DOSBox v0.65. I didn't notice any browser. > I get a window-like screen with the menubar but nothing in the menus allows > me to access MY files, the only things listed look like something in the > doxbox operating system - nothing in the root directory of my hdd (the list > of MY folders.) If you run DOSBox, it gives you a DOS-like-prompt (shell). You should see the prompt "Z:\>". Before you can run your progs, you need to mount the directory where they live as a drive letter within DOSBox. So if your old program files are in c:\myoldprogs, and you want to use "c" as a drive letter, you would type: mount c c:\myoldprogs\ or if the path contains spaces, use quotes. e.g: mount c "c:\program files\myoldprogs\" Then type "c:" (without the quotes) to change to that virtual drive, and run the program as you normally would by typing its name. If "myoldprogs" is a top-level directory, and your program executable file is in a subdirectory of that, then "cd" to the subdirectory and run the executable from there. Your old program may require other configuration settings like a path or environment variables. I suggest you RTFM for DOSBox and the program you're trying to run if it doesn't work first time. From vxpy7do02 at sneakemail.com Mon May 1 15:06:38 2006 From: vxpy7do02 at sneakemail.com (anon) Date: Mon May 1 17:10:02 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: running DOS programs - failure References: Message-ID: "indigo" wrote in message news:e35585$3ff$1@news.spamcop.net... > > > anon wrote: >> >> How do I browse to MY files/programs on the hard disk and launch a >> program? >> > > Download the utility "DosShell" from that website, it's a old DOS style > Windows Explorer type utility, works great. > > Thanks - that is the best of both worlds. On my DOS computer, I used a menu program that allowed me to type in a letter (equivalent to clicking the mouse on the title) and the menu program executed the command lines to launch the program. -- A SpamCop user and forum reader, Not Admin From vxpy7do02 at sneakemail.com Mon May 1 17:28:57 2006 From: vxpy7do02 at sneakemail.com (anon) Date: Mon May 1 19:30:07 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: running DOS programs - failure References: Message-ID: "indigo" wrote in message news:e354pu$38h$1@news.spamcop.net... > > > anon wrote: >> I have tried to run a couple of DOS programs on a wXP computer. >> >> I get an error message (similar to) "ERROR CM AT IP FFFDH" >> >> I think the hex addresses may be different. >> >> Why did this run ok on w98se but fails in wxp? >> >> Any cure for this as I need the data and output which is stored and >> produced by the programs. >> >> These programs don't have a windows version, only the DOS version. >> >> In addition, there are no web pages for these programs (mostly the >> programmers and companies are long gone.) >> >> Also is there any way to install DOS and have it run those DOS >> programs??? > > I had the same problems with some Lahey fortran programs I wrote back in > the > 90's. Worked on all M$ platforms until we went to XP. Have you looked into > using Microsoft Virtual PC? That worked, IIRC, but it was too difficult to > make the software portable so we ended up re-writing the code in C++ > (thank > $diety I had retained the source code, being a packrat actually has it's > advantages some times!). > > Couldn't it have been modified for Basic (there seems to be little difference [I/O, maybe nested loops]) easier than essentially rewriting in C++? XP's lack of DOS is sc****ing up some of my legacy programs - they won't run in XPs emulation mode. I remember changing the source code in a FORTRAN 0 compiler in the punch card era to change the output device (actually I changed the machine code in the compiler. -- A SpamCop user and forum reader, Not Admin From nobody at spamcop.net Tue May 2 08:50:47 2006 From: nobody at spamcop.net (indigo) Date: Tue May 2 07:55:04 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: running DOS programs - failure References: Message-ID: anon wrote: > Couldn't it have been modified for Basic (there seems to be little > difference [I/O, maybe nested loops]) easier than essentially > rewriting in C++? Dunno, the software guy was given his choice on what language to port it too and that's what he picked. I do have another program written in basic, haven't tried to run it on XP so I don't know if it'll work or not. > > XP's lack of DOS is sc****ing up some of my legacy programs - they > won't run in XPs emulation mode. Welcome to my world! From user at domain.invalid Tue May 2 08:58:01 2006 From: user at domain.invalid (User) Date: Tue May 2 09:00:04 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: SpamCop Issues - Just Curious In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On 30.04.2006 19:00, Mike Easter wrote: --- Original Message --- >> xxx.xxx.xxx is an "open relay" Dummy me !!!! The message in the report is: xxx.xxx.xxx. is an "open proxy", not "relay". Sorry ... :-( From vxpy7do02 at sneakemail.com Tue May 2 09:26:52 2006 From: vxpy7do02 at sneakemail.com (anon) Date: Tue May 2 11:30:09 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: running DOS programs - failure References: Message-ID: "indigo" wrote in message news:e37h2o$mb2$1@news.spamcop.net... > > > anon wrote: >> Couldn't it have been modified for Basic (there seems to be little >> difference [I/O, maybe nested loops]) easier than essentially >> rewriting in C++? > > Dunno, the software guy was given his choice on what language to port it > too > and that's what he picked. I do have another program written in basic, > haven't tried to run it on XP so I don't know if it'll work or not. > Gees, I had not thought of that - I just tested my old basic program and it worked perfectly! Thank goodness. -- A SpamCop user and forum reader, Not Admin >> >> XP's lack of DOS is sc****ing up some of my legacy programs - they >> won't run in XPs emulation mode. > > Welcome to my world! > > From MikeE at ster.invalid Tue May 2 09:33:19 2006 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Tue May 2 11:35:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: SpamCop Issues - Just Curious References: Message-ID: User wrote: >>> xxx.xxx.xxx is an "open relay" > > > Dummy me !!!! > > The message in the report is: > > xxx.xxx.xxx. is an "open proxy", not "relay". Now that makes sense. The vast majority of spams are being injected by proxified trojan user IPs which are very often listed, most often in CBL which gets them into XBL of spamhaus. The parser's verbose informs about the proxy database listing like that. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From nobody at devnull.spamcop.net Tue May 2 12:23:36 2006 From: nobody at devnull.spamcop.net (G|_|Y |\/|AC0|\|) Date: Tue May 2 14:25:08 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: running DOS programs - failure References: Message-ID: "indigo" wrote in message news:e37h2o$mb2$1@news.spamcop.net... > > > anon wrote: >> Couldn't it have been modified for Basic (there seems to be little >> difference [I/O, maybe nested loops]) easier than essentially >> rewriting in C++? > > Dunno, the software guy was given his choice on what language to port it > too > and that's what he picked. When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail... > I do have another program written in basic, > haven't tried to run it on XP so I don't know if it'll work or not. Get a copy of QBASICc (came with 9X, NT) and GWBASIC (came with MS-DOS). They both run fine on XP and will run most old PC BASIC programs. Or, if you need to modernize it, buy a copy of PowerBASIC Console Compiler. Note that QBASIC is *not* the same as QuickBasic, despite the thousands of web pages that incorrectly call QuickBasic QBASIC. From vxpy7do02 at sneakemail.com Tue May 2 14:19:50 2006 From: vxpy7do02 at sneakemail.com (anon) Date: Tue May 2 16:20:02 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: running DOS programs - failure References: Message-ID: "anon" wrote in message news:e37tnv$uhg$1@news.spamcop.net... > > "indigo" wrote in message > news:e37h2o$mb2$1@news.spamcop.net... >> >> >> anon wrote: >>> Couldn't it have been modified for Basic (there seems to be little >>> difference [I/O, maybe nested loops]) easier than essentially >>> rewriting in C++? >> >> Dunno, the software guy was given his choice on what language to port it >> too >> and that's what he picked. I do have another program written in basic, >> haven't tried to run it on XP so I don't know if it'll work or not. >> > > Gees, I had not thought of that - I just tested my old basic program and > it worked perfectly! Thank goodness. > The basic program I have is QBASIC - and it does run fine. Another poster mentioned QuickBasic vs.: qbasic. I think I tried QuickBasic on w95/w98 computers and it did not run satisfactorily. -- A SpamCop user and forum reader, Not Admin > -- > A SpamCop user and forum reader, > Not Admin > > > >>> >>> XP's lack of DOS is sc****ing up some of my legacy programs - they >>> won't run in XPs emulation mode. >> >> Welcome to my world! >> >> > From kenbrody at spamcop.net Wed May 3 18:35:30 2006 From: kenbrody at spamcop.net (Kenneth Brody) Date: Wed May 3 17:45:04 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: SpamCop Issues - Just Curious References: Message-ID: <44592222.E347738F@spamcop.net> Mike Easter wrote: > > User wrote: > > >>> xxx.xxx.xxx is an "open relay" > > > > > > Dummy me !!!! > > > > The message in the report is: > > > > xxx.xxx.xxx. is an "open proxy", not "relay". > > Now that makes sense. The vast majority of spams are being injected by > proxified trojan user IPs which are very often listed, most often in CBL > which gets them into XBL of spamhaus. [...] BTDTGML[1], due to a misconfigured router, which allowed anyone to use its winsock proxy, not just local IPs. It took me a while to figure out why all those outgoing SMTP connections were appearing in the status window. Of course, when you come here for help, with the "I screwed up, how do I unscrew it?" attitude (as opposed to the "how dare you call me a spammer" attitude), people here are more than happy to help you fix it. It still amazes me how many people come here with the "how dare you" attitude, and refuse to help others help them fix their problem, and simply want to get SpamCop to stop listing them. [1] "BTDT Got Myself Listed". -- +-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------------+ | Kenneth J. Brody | www.hvcomputer.com | | | kenbrody/at\spamcop.net | www.fptech.com | #include | +-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------------+ Don't e-mail me at: From me at privacy.net Mon May 8 10:02:05 2006 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Mon May 8 09:05:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Need help with accessing a MSN dial up account. Message-ID: On April 22, my best friend died of a massive heart attack. We can access part of his MSN account from his computer but not all of the data we need can be reached by that method. Despite legal papers giving us access to his estate and all records MSN is stone walling. As the pass word is on his computer is there any practical way to access that pass word and bypass the MSN nightmare? Regards FP brother_rabbit @ hotmail.com From MikeE at ster.invalid Mon May 8 07:19:34 2006 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Mon May 8 09:20:02 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need help with accessing a MSN dial up account. References: Message-ID: Frog Prince wrote: > As the pass word is on his computer is there any practical way to > access that pass word and bypass the MSN nightmare? The one in social won't do XP. This one sez it will and also hotmail as well as msn. http://www.alpinesnow.com/msnpassword.shtml Hotmail & MSN Password Recovery -- but maybe that is just for msn messenger -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From me at privacy.net Mon May 8 11:33:55 2006 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Mon May 8 11:00:02 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need help with accessing a MSN dial up account. References: Message-ID: "Mike Easter" wrote in message news:e3nggk$uiv$1@news.spamcop.net... | Frog Prince wrote: | > As the pass word is on his computer is there any practical way to | > access that pass word and bypass the MSN nightmare? | | The one in social won't do XP. This one sez it will and also hotmail as | well as msn. | | http://www.alpinesnow.com/msnpassword.shtml Hotmail & MSN Password | Recovery -- but maybe that is just for msn messenger | | -- | Mike Easter | kibitzer, not SC admin Thanks, I'll spring for the $18 bucks if need be but as I only need this for one application (based on the hassle I've gotten from MSN I plan to avoid them like the plague) I'm hoping to find a free program. From MikeE at ster.invalid Mon May 8 09:01:33 2006 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Mon May 8 11:05:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need help with accessing a MSN dial up account. References: Message-ID: Frog Prince wrote: > Thanks, I'll spring for the $18 bucks if need be but as I only need > this for one application (based on the hassle I've gotten from MSN I > plan to avoid them like the plague) I'm hoping to find a free program. I also saw a faq about getting a msn password from msn's 'lost password' system, where if you are able to provide enough information about the account, they will give it to you -- not on the basis of an estate management issue, but on the basis of the common problem of msn users losing passwords. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From MikeE at ster.invalid Mon May 8 09:04:01 2006 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Mon May 8 11:05:04 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need help with accessing a MSN dial up account. References: Message-ID: Mike Easter wrote: > I also saw a faq about getting a msn password from msn's 'lost > password' system, This isn't the one I saw, but it does the same job http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_change_my_msn_hotmail_password_if_i_forgot_it.html How do I change my MSN Hotmail password if I forgot it? -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From me at privacy.net Mon May 8 17:03:16 2006 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Mon May 8 16:15:02 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need help with accessing a MSN dial up account. References: Message-ID: "Mike Easter" wrote in message news:e3nmfq$21i$1@news.spamcop.net... | Frog Prince wrote: | | > Thanks, I'll spring for the $18 bucks if need be but as I only need | > this for one application (based on the hassle I've gotten from MSN I | > plan to avoid them like the plague) I'm hoping to find a free program. | | I also saw a faq about getting a msn password from msn's 'lost password' | system, where if you are able to provide enough information about the | account, they will give it to you -- not on the basis of an estate | management issue, but on the basis of the common problem of msn users | losing passwords. | They want the last four digits of the credit card used to set up the account which was four years ago. From nobody at devnull.spamcop.net Mon May 8 17:49:46 2006 From: nobody at devnull.spamcop.net (POP) Date: Mon May 8 16:50:06 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Mailing lists Q Message-ID: Sorry; posted this in the wrong group (.mail) first; I have cancelled that message and reposted it here. This is a result of the REMOVE ME thread over in .mail. --------------- Huh, hadn't thought about mail lists in eons, I think; at least years. They almost always seem to unleash almost a ddos attack on one's inbox and many unsuspecting newbies seem to still get caught in them, no matter how well the descrips warn people about the possible onslaught of messages. Which brings me to my question/s: What purpose and what kind of person would subscribe to a full blown mailing list? What use could they be? I've thought about databases; no, way too much crud to pick thru. A very lonely person? Maybe; if they like to read. To learn? Suppose that's a possibility. A mailing list could help one cull out the misfits ahead of time I suppose, and there is a lot of good information hidden away in the many mails, but ... sheesh, a couple days/weeks of lurking will do the same thing, and probably a lot quicker. Anyone got any responses that might make me feel like I have one less ignorance-area in my life? Regards, Pop From MikeE at ster.invalid Mon May 8 14:59:19 2006 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Mon May 8 17:00:04 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Mailing lists Q References: Message-ID: POP wrote: > What purpose and what kind of person would subscribe to a full > blown mailing list? What use could they be? There are many many different kinds of mailing lists and mailing lists function 'similarly' to web based forums and nntp based newsgroups; so, the same 'kind of' people who would participate in any electronic community forum would participate in a mailing list. It is relatively simple to setup and manage. Each of the methods, webforum, mailing list, nntp newsgroup - has its own advantages and disadvantages and very often they completely overlap. Examples are gmane for overlapping newsgroups, webforum, and mailing lists and grc for overlapping webforum and nntp news. Googlegroups is another example of overlapping a web interface and a mailing list. Some support systems provide the support only in the form of mailing lists, not nntp or web based. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From joegill at removethis Mon May 8 21:27:38 2006 From: joegill at removethis (Joe Gill) Date: Mon May 8 20:30:10 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need help with accessing a MSN dial up account. References: Message-ID: "Frog Prince" wrote in message news:e3o8j2$c7q$1@news.spamcop.net... > > "Mike Easter" wrote in message > news:e3nmfq$21i$1@news.spamcop.net... > | Frog Prince wrote: > | > | > Thanks, I'll spring for the $18 bucks if need be but as I only need > | > this for one application (based on the hassle I've gotten from MSN I > | > plan to avoid them like the plague) I'm hoping to find a free program. > | > | I also saw a faq about getting a msn password from msn's 'lost password' > | system, where if you are able to provide enough information about the > | account, they will give it to you -- not on the basis of an estate > | management issue, but on the basis of the common problem of msn users > | losing passwords. > | > They want the last four digits of the credit card used to set up the > account > which was four years ago. > > It also should be the one currently being billed under.... If someone has access to his current person info, look at his current cards. Also, if you have the proper 'paperwork' your just need a bigger 'hammer' @ MSN. I would try Microsoft PR dept... From jg at coks.net Mon May 8 18:45:03 2006 From: jg at coks.net (jg) Date: Mon May 8 20:45:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Mailing lists Q In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On 5/8/2006 1:49 PM POP scribbled: > Huh, hadn't thought about mail lists in eons, I think; at least > years. They almost always seem to unleash almost a ddos attack > on one's inbox and many unsuspecting newbies seem to still get > caught in them, no matter how well the descrips warn people about > the possible onslaught of messages. I don't understand the ddos attack bit. What onslaught of messages are you referring to? Which brings me to my > question/s: > > What purpose and what kind of person would subscribe to a full > blown mailing list? What use could they be? They are very useful for specific topics of interest to you > > I've thought about databases; no, way too much crud to pick thru. > A very lonely person? Maybe; if they like to read. To learn? > Suppose that's a possibility. absolutely A mailing list could help one cull > out the misfits ahead of time I suppose, and there is a lot of > good information hidden away in the many mails, but ... sheesh, a > couple days/weeks of lurking will do the same thing, and probably > a lot quicker. You have a point, to a point. But by lurking you have to sift through a lot of posts to separate the noise.. > > Anyone got any responses that might make me feel like I have one > less ignorance-area in my life? > > Regards, > > Pop > > > From me at privacy.net Mon May 8 22:36:21 2006 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Tue May 9 08:40:12 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need help with accessing a MSN dial up account. References: Message-ID: "Joe Gill" | > | | > | > Thanks, I'll spring for the $18 bucks if need be but as I only need | > | > this for one application (based on the hassle I've gotten from MSN I | > | > plan to avoid them like the plague) I'm hoping to find a free program. | > | | > | I also saw a faq about getting a msn password from msn's 'lost password' | > | system, where if you are able to provide enough information about the | > | account, they will give it to you -- not on the basis of an estate | > | management issue, but on the basis of the common problem of msn users | > | losing passwords. | > | | > They want the last four digits of the credit card used to set up the | > account | > which was four years ago. | > | > | | It also should be the one currently being billed under.... | If someone has access to his current person info, look at his current cards. | | Also, if you have the proper 'paperwork' your just need a bigger 'hammer' @ | MSN. I would try Microsoft PR dept... I've got a call into their legal department. If that doesn't work a local judge will issue a court order and if that doesn't work there will be a bench warrant with a show cause for their agent of service. I hope it does not come to that as I've a lot more on my plate than a desire to hassle with msn. From user at domain.invalid Tue May 9 12:30:25 2006 From: user at domain.invalid (User) Date: Tue May 9 12:30:02 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Mailing lists Q In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: > What purpose and what kind of person would subscribe to a full > blown mailing list? What use could they be? Umm, welll, let's see ... For one, my Wife a retired IRS Collections Attorney on the West Law Mailing List. Likes to keep up with case precedents. In her retirement she raises and trains (obedience) Australian Shepherd dogs. The Aussie mailing list comes in quite handy and is quite enjoyable keeping up with friends and fellow breeder/trainers around the globe. Anything else? I can provide a whole lot more. From pantheus at spamcop.net Tue May 9 10:41:45 2006 From: pantheus at spamcop.net (ken) Date: Tue May 9 12:45:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Mailing lists Q References: Message-ID: On Mon, 08 May 2006 16:49:46 -0400, POP wrote: > What purpose and what kind of person would subscribe to a full > blown mailing list? What use could they be? > Anyone got any responses that might make me feel like I have one > less ignorance-area in my life? I use a 'full-blown' Mailman list as an announce-only (one way) to notify hundreds of members that a particular Emagazine has published another issue. There are hundreds of others that are for industry-specific topics. Some I subscribe to are related to web design, web publication, data bases. Many mailing lists have been very active for ten or more years. Ken From geary at eris.io.com Tue May 9 21:12:23 2006 From: geary at eris.io.com (Mark Geary) Date: Tue May 9 16:15:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Mailing lists Q References: Message-ID: In article , POP wrote: < A mailing list could help one cull out the misfits ahead of time I < suppose, and there is a lot of good information hidden away in the < many mails, but ... sheesh, a couple days/weeks of lurking will do < the same thing, and probably a lot quicker. Lurking where? Sometimes a mailing list will have archives of past messages available on a web or ftp site, but not always. Often the only way to see the messages posted to the mailing list is to subscribe. Mark Geary -- "It's going to be a tough one Sam...Ziggy hasn't got a clue and the guy in the waiting room keeps asking me if I want a jelly baby." From nobody at devnull.spamcop.net Tue May 9 17:32:53 2006 From: nobody at devnull.spamcop.net (POP) Date: Tue May 9 16:35:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Mailing lists Q References: Message-ID: "Mark Geary" wrote in message news:e3qt37$v8c$1@news.spamcop.net... > In article , > POP wrote: > > < A mailing list could help one cull out the misfits ahead of > time I > < suppose, and there is a lot of good information hidden away > in the > < many mails, but ... sheesh, a couple days/weeks of lurking > will do > < the same thing, and probably a lot quicker. > > Lurking where? Sometimes a mailing list will have archives of > past ... Lurking on a newsgroup, not a list. Interesting bunch of responses; and reasonable uses, too. Color me a little surprised but hey, what do I know? Pop From geary at eris.io.com Wed May 10 18:22:44 2006 From: geary at eris.io.com (Mark Geary) Date: Wed May 10 13:25:10 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Mailing lists Q References: Message-ID: In article , POP wrote: < < "Mark Geary" wrote in message < news:e3qt37$v8c$1@news.spamcop.net... < > In article , < > POP wrote: < > < > < A mailing list could help one cull out the misfits ahead of time I < > < suppose, and there is a lot of good information hidden away in the < > < many mails, but ... sheesh, a couple days/weeks of lurking will do < > < the same thing, and probably a lot quicker. < > < > Lurking where? Sometimes a mailing list will have archives of < > past < ... < < Lurking on a newsgroup, not a list. < < Interesting bunch of responses; and reasonable uses, too. Color < me a little surprised but hey, what do I know? Ah, you were referring specifically to the Spamcop newsgroups as gatewayed to mailing lists? There I agree. Dicussions on a newsgroup are easier for me to follow than on a mailing list. However, generally speaking, many useful mailing lists are not gatewayed to newsgroups and when they are, the gatewaying is sometimes imperfect. (For example, the gmane newsgroups, gatewayed from a number of mailing lists, do funny things when I read them with trn.) Mark Geary -- "It's going to be a tough one Sam...Ziggy hasn't got a clue and the guy in the waiting room keeps asking me if I want a jelly baby." From me at privacy.net Wed May 10 22:19:36 2006 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Wed May 10 21:20:08 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Need recommendations on security Message-ID: I've a neighbor lady that has been using zone alarm (free_ and AVG (free) without incident for some time but is wants her system set up so that updates etc are done automatically. She does not mind paying for the software but I don;t know what to recommend. (FWIW She tried Norton and McAfee and was not pleased) She's on Charter Cable broadband and has a high end HP computer and XP. She also has a 15" lap top accessing via a wireless AP. Suggestions please and I'm open to up grades and other options as may be appropriate. TIA FP From MikeE at ster.invalid Thu May 11 07:23:19 2006 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Thu May 11 09:25:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: Frog Prince wrote: > I've a neighbor lady that has been using zone alarm (free_ and AVG > (free) without incident for some time but is wants her system set up > so that updates etc are done automatically. I'm not getting the picture completely clearly. The subject says security. AVG free AV .dat updates are done automatically. ZA free personal software 'firewall' provides outbound as well as inbound intrusion detection. ZoneLabs has a number of other products and suites re viruses and spyware. The various malwares of adware spyware have a variety of defenses some of which involve browser choice and configuration. The term 'updates' can refer to anything from the .dat/s to the upgrade/update paths of security apps. The ZA free has numerous 'branches' of versions each with their separate update history http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/free/information/znalm/zaReleaseHistory.html ZoneAlarm? Release History ... but the point I'm suggesting is that what happens automatically isn't always enough. The user has to continually 'touch bases' with their security considerations and bring themselves up to speed on what should be done 'now', the same or differently than before. For example, you haven't mentioned anything about the browser issue/problem and its insecurities and what she is doing to be more secure in that department -- in terms of which version of which browser. The same is true about Windows updates. Many say she shouldn't be using IE for her browser surfing because of its insecurities and because it is antiquated in its functionalities and compliances. Nothing is going to 'automatically' help with that evaluation or configuration. If you are more security aware than she is and she trusts your evaluation of her setup, maybe she should have you periodically check on her system's 'status' vis such as spyware, cookie management, and update status and needs for revisions. That is, a human can oversee updating and upgrading better than automation. And automation is worthwhile too. > She does not mind > paying for the software but I don;t know what to recommend. (FWIW > She tried Norton and McAfee and was not pleased) > > She's on Charter Cable broadband and has a high end HP computer and > XP. She also has a 15" lap top accessing via a wireless AP. I would say there definitely needs to be a hardware switchrouter in there. The broad subject of wireless insecurity in such a network is a whole 'nuther problem. The switch router could have a logger like WallWatcher to monitor. > Suggestions please and I'm open to up grades and other options as may > be appropriate. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From jg at coks.net Thu May 11 08:59:33 2006 From: jg at coks.net (jg) Date: Thu May 11 11:00:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: On 5/10/2006 6:19 PM Frog Prince scribbled: > I've a neighbor lady that has been using zone alarm (free_ and AVG (free) > without incident for some time but is wants her system set up so that > updates etc are done automatically. Can't respond on ZA, but the free AVG s/w updates daily and runs daily automagically, which for /me/ is a little pita but it keeps one alert. Are you saying hers doesn't? FWICT, AVG gives you no choice to turn this off with the free edition... She does not mind paying for the > software but I don;t know what to recommend. (FWIW She tried Norton and > McAfee and was not pleased) > > She's on Charter Cable broadband and has a high end HP computer and XP. She > also has a 15" lap top accessing via a wireless AP. > > Suggestions please and I'm open to up grades and other options as may be > appropriate. > > TIA > > FP > > From me at privacy.net Thu May 11 12:45:26 2006 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Thu May 11 11:55:20 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Mike Easter" wrote in message news:e3vds7$fld$1@news.spamcop.net... | Frog Prince wrote: | > I've a neighbor lady that has been using zone alarm (free_ and AVG | > (free) without incident for some time but is wants her system set up | > so that updates etc are done automatically. | | I'm not getting the picture completely clearly. The subject says | security. | | AVG free AV .dat updates are done automatically. ZA free personal | software 'firewall' provides outbound as well as inbound intrusion | detection. ZoneLabs has a number of other products and suites re | viruses and spyware. The various malwares of adware spyware have a | variety of defenses some of which involve browser choice and | configuration. | | The term 'updates' can refer to anything from the .dat/s to the | upgrade/update paths of security apps. The ZA free has numerous | 'branches' of versions each with their separate update history | http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/free/information/znalm/zaReleaseHistory.html | ZoneAlarmŽ Release History | | ... but the point I'm suggesting is that what happens automatically | isn't always enough. The user has to continually 'touch bases' with | their security considerations and bring themselves up to speed on what | should be done 'now', the same or differently than before. For example, | you haven't mentioned anything about the browser issue/problem and its | insecurities and what she is doing to be more secure in that | department -- in terms of which version of which browser. The same is | true about Windows updates. Many say she shouldn't be using IE for her | browser surfing because of its insecurities and because it is antiquated | in its functionalities and compliances. Nothing is going to | 'automatically' help with that evaluation or configuration. | | If you are more security aware than she is and she trusts your | evaluation of her setup, maybe she should have you periodically check on | her system's 'status' vis such as spyware, cookie management, and update | status and needs for revisions. That is, a human can oversee updating | and upgrading better than automation. And automation is worthwhile too. I've been doing her updates, system and spy checks on a weekly basis. For whatever reason she's set on having some functions as fully automatic. I'm only using the free software with my 'clients' as they are all low income and often disabled. She OTOH has the money (she often purchases stuff my clients need but cannot afford) and apparently wants to have something for which she has purchased rights. BTW she's gone through Norton and McAfee software leaving me to clean up the mess. (not that I mind as she is a good baker and we visit over there several times a week) For the time being she is using my WIFI connection and has asked me to install one for her system. Something I've not gotten around to quite yet. From BNRAGMAOKKXT at spammotel.com Thu May 11 16:55:38 2006 From: BNRAGMAOKKXT at spammotel.com (Canopus) Date: Thu May 11 12:00:13 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Running Programs on USB Flash Drives Message-ID: I need to get an USB Flash Drive so that I can take a couple of portable programs with me when travelling. I'll be needing to access my GPS device to save and load data to/from it using a stand alone program run direct from an exe and also run the portable Filezilla as an ftp client. Is there any basic difference between the USB Flash Drives except for size and read/write speed? I've seen one, Busbi 1GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive - with new U3 Technology http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000BND4GI/ref=pd_ys_pym_a_2/026-1878821-0030858?%5Fencoding=UTF8 which claims, quote: "Includes the new U3 Smart Drive from Clever-stuff. Clever-Stuff U3 Smart Drives are the second generation in USB Flash Drives technology and bring a new level of intelligence to the device. It is now possible to install programs to USB Flash Drives and the Launchpad acts as a one-click gateway to the installed applications or software portals. "All 1GB and 2GB busbi USB keys carry the U3 platform, which offers the following attributes as well as mentioned above ? user does not need admin rights (as software is run from the device). The user leaves no traces on the host PC that they were ever there and the entire key can be password protected." but, can you not run stand alone applications from any Flash Drive and not leave traces to boot? Is there anything particularly different with this drive to any other or is this just marketing blurb? -- Rob http://www.flickr.com/photos/canopus_archives/ From not at here.invalid Thu May 11 10:03:33 2006 From: not at here.invalid (Ellen) Date: Thu May 11 12:15:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Frog Prince" wrote in message news:e3u3fj$nva$1@news.spamcop.net... > I've a neighbor lady that has been using zone alarm (free_ and AVG (free) > without incident for some time but is wants her system set up so that > updates etc are done automatically. She does not mind paying for the > software but I don;t know what to recommend. (FWIW She tried Norton and > McAfee and was not pleased) > > She's on Charter Cable broadband and has a high end HP computer and XP. > She > also has a 15" lap top accessing via a wireless AP. > > Suggestions please and I'm open to up grades and other options as may be > appropriate. > Don't know about zone alarm but you can set up AVG to update the virus defs automatically once a day. Just go to the AVG Control Center and click Sceduler and then scheduled tasks and either update the second item "update plan in basic mode" to set the time you want the auto update to run daily and also click update when goes online. In update manager properties you can set some other options regarding auto reboot and ending tasks automatically. Ellen From MikeE at ster.invalid Thu May 11 10:17:23 2006 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Thu May 11 12:20:04 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: Frog Prince wrote: > I've been doing her updates, system and spy checks on a weekly basis. > For whatever reason she's set on having some functions as fully > automatic. I'm interpreting that as saying, "Altho' your human oversight is simply fantastic, I would rather there be some equally fantastic automated system so that you won't be sticking your nose in my system on a regular basis." The fact is, that you won't be able to come up with an automatic system which is the equivalent of your or something security conscious human oversight. Maybe she should hire a different human which she doesn't mind that overseer sticking hir nose into the system. > I'm only using the free software with my 'clients' as they are all low > income and often disabled. She OTOH has the money (she often > purchases stuff my clients need but cannot afford) and apparently > wants to have something for which she has purchased rights. I'm hearing that it is her impression that bought ware is better than freeware -- when in fact, freeware in the hands of the competent security manager is far far better than bought ware only in the hands of the security incompetent. She is progressively convincing me that she is trying to make bad decisions about her security management, perhaps for good reasons, but with a poor idea of how to execute her notions. I'm also feeling that she isn't being entirely honest about what her concerns are because you are a good friend, helper and baked goods eater. > BTW > she's gone through Norton and McAfee software leaving me to clean up > the mess. That's telling me that she isn't at all competent to be managing her security issues entirely on her own or 'automatically'. > (not that I mind as she is a good baker and we visit over > there several times a week) > > For the time being she is using my WIFI connection and has asked me to > install one for her system. Something I've not gotten around to > quite yet. If she is insecure within her own system, she is going to be way insecure with improperly managed wifi insecurities. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From nobody at devnull.spamcop.net Thu May 11 15:02:14 2006 From: nobody at devnull.spamcop.net (POP) Date: Thu May 11 14:05:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Ellen" wrote in message news:e3vnm1$n5e$1@news.spamcop.net... > > "Frog Prince" wrote in message > news:e3u3fj$nva$1@news.spamcop.net... >> I've a neighbor lady that has been using zone alarm (free_ and >> AVG (free) >> without incident for some time but is wants her system set up >> so that >> updates etc are done automatically. She does not mind paying >> for the >> software but I don;t know what to recommend. (FWIW She tried >> Norton and >> McAfee and was not pleased) >> >> She's on Charter Cable broadband and has a high end HP >> computer and XP. She >> also has a 15" lap top accessing via a wireless AP. >> >> Suggestions please and I'm open to up grades and other options >> as may be >> appropriate. >> > > > Don't know about zone alarm but you can set up AVG to update > the virus defs automatically once a day. Just go to the AVG > Control Center and click ... Zone Alarm too, sort of: IF this pastes readable, here's the Help page text: Setting update options When you purchase Zone Labs security software you receive a year of free updates. You can check for updates manually, or set Zone Labs security software to check automatically. To set check for update settings: Select Overview|Preferences. In the Check for Updates area, choose an update option. Automatically- Zone Labs security software automatically -notifies - you when an update is available. Manually -You monitor the Status tab for updates. To invoke an update check immediately, click Check for Update. From me at privacy.net Thu May 11 15:24:06 2006 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Thu May 11 14:30:02 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Mike Easter" | > I've been doing her updates, system and spy checks on a weekly basis. | > For whatever reason she's set on having some functions as fully | > automatic. | | I'm interpreting that as saying, "Altho' your human oversight is simply | fantastic, I would rather there be some equally fantastic automated | system so that you won't be sticking your nose in my system on a regular | basis." The fact is, that you won't be able to come up with an | automatic system which is the equivalent of your or something security | conscious human oversight. Maybe she should hire a different human | which she doesn't mind that overseer sticking their nose into the system. Not a problem with respect to access to her private data as I've power of attorney for her bills, her health care and designated executor of her estate. Like I said she is accustom to paying for whatever she gets (took us a long time to convince her that we WOULD NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE accept payment for anything we might do under the color of our friendship.) You are probably correct in the desire for an automated system which is clear from her purchases of Norton and McAfee. | > I'm only using the free software with my 'clients' as they are all low | > income and often disabled. She OTOH has the money (she often | > purchases stuff my clients need but cannot afford) and apparently | > wants to have something for which she has purchased rights. | | I'm hearing that it is her impression that bought ware is better than | freeware -- when in fact, freeware in the hands of the competent | security manager is far far better than bought ware only in the hands of | the security incompetent. She is progressively convincing me that she | is trying to make bad decisions about her security management, perhaps | for good reasons, but with a poor idea of how to execute her notions. See above on power of attorney etc. | I'm also feeling that she isn't being entirely honest about what her | concerns are because you are a good friend, helper and baked goods | eater. | | > BTW | > she's gone through Norton and McAfee software leaving me to clean up | > the mess. | | That's telling me that she isn't at all competent to be managing her | security issues entirely on her own or 'automatically'. She has ZERO clue when it comes to computer, the internet and security. | | > (not that I mind as she is a good baker and we visit over | > there several times a week) | > | > For the time being she is using my WIFI connection and has asked me to | > install one for her system. Something I've not gotten around to | > quite yet. | | If she is insecure within her own system, she is going to be way | insecure with improperly managed wifi insecurities. There is zero personal information on her computers (I've made sure of that early on) that would be even a minor concern if the machines were compromised except for the damage a compromised computer might do to the rest of the net. FWIW she gets a few spam emails and the occasional offensive porn email on the account I've set up for her to use in the 'wild' but nothing more. She does pay attention and while she sends more than an occasional joke/cartoon to her circle of friends she does so with UNDISCLOSED RECIPIENTS in the TO: field and the personal addresses in the BCC. >From post in .geeks it seems that the free stuff is more than adequate and I've now a task to convince her of that eventuality. If I'm wrong I presume someone here will correct me. From me at privacy.net Thu May 11 15:26:45 2006 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Thu May 11 14:30:04 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "POP" wrote in message news:e3vu6u$r43$1@news.spamcop.net... | | "Ellen" wrote in message | news:e3vnm1$n5e$1@news.spamcop.net... | > | > "Frog Prince" wrote in message | > news:e3u3fj$nva$1@news.spamcop.net... | >> I've a neighbor lady that has been using zone alarm (free_ and | >> AVG (free) | >> without incident for some time but is wants her system set up | >> so that | >> updates etc are done automatically. She does not mind paying | >> for the | >> software but I don;t know what to recommend. (FWIW She tried | >> Norton and | >> McAfee and was not pleased) | >> | >> She's on Charter Cable broadband and has a high end HP | >> computer and XP. She | >> also has a 15" lap top accessing via a wireless AP. | >> | >> Suggestions please and I'm open to up grades and other options | >> as may be | >> appropriate. | >> | > | > | > Don't know about zone alarm but you can set up AVG to update | > the virus defs automatically once a day. Just go to the AVG | > Control Center and click | ... | | Zone Alarm too, sort of: IF this pastes readable, here's the | Help page text: | | Setting update options | | When you purchase Zone Labs security software you receive a year | of free updates. You can check for updates manually, or set Zone | Labs security software to check automatically. | | To set check for update settings: | Select Overview|Preferences. | In the Check for Updates area, choose an update option. | Automatically- Zone Labs security software | automatically -notifies - you when an update is available. | | Manually -You monitor the Status tab for updates. To invoke an | update check immediately, click Check for Update. Does the pro version contain the option to 'check as soon as the system is on line?' I ask as she does not use the system often and there is no practical way to predict a fixed time when an up date should be skeducled. Which rases a question is there another program that would do the up date task for every think base on say once a week whereever she might be on line? From MikeE at ster.invalid Thu May 11 13:11:54 2006 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Thu May 11 15:15:09 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: Frog Prince wrote: > "Mike Easter" >> so that you won't be sticking your nose in my >> system on a regular basis." Okay, that tack was wrong. > Not a problem with respect to access to her private data as I've > power of attorney for her bills, her health care and designated > executor of her estate. How about 'so that I won't be so much trouble to you all the time' ? >> That's telling me that she isn't at all competent to be managing her >> security issues entirely on her own or 'automatically'. > > She has ZERO clue when it comes to computer, the internet and > security. > FWIW she gets a few spam emails and the occasional offensive porn > email on the account I've set up for her to use in the 'wild' but > nothing more. She does pay attention and while she sends more than an > occasional joke/cartoon to her circle of friends she does so with > UNDISCLOSED RECIPIENTS in the TO: field and the personal addresses in > the BCC. Good for bcc. > From post in .geeks it seems that the free stuff is more than > adequate and I've now a task to convince her of that eventuality. If > I'm wrong I presume someone here will correct me. I still think that if she has a network of her desk computer and her laptop which you intend to put on her own system instead of yours, that she would be better off with a hardware NAT device switchrouter rather than just the software personal intrusionextrusion socalled firewall. That is also the case for the single computer connected 'always on' facing the internet on a cable modem which is not networked to the laptop. The address translation of the NAT device is a very powerful feature aiding in the security of the box compared to just the software personal 'firewall'. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From me at privacy.net Thu May 11 16:24:39 2006 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Thu May 11 15:40:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Mike Easter" | >> so that you won't be sticking your nose in my | >> system on a regular basis." | | Okay, that tack was wrong. | | > Not a problem with respect to access to her private data as I've | > power of attorney for her bills, her health care and designated | > executor of her estate. | | How about 'so that I won't be so much trouble to you all the time' ? That's a possibility but we're over there on the slightest whim regardless. If she sees my light on early in the morning I'll get a phone call 'biscuits are just coming out of the oven and coffee is hot' | >> That's telling me that she isn't at all competent to be managing her | >> security issues entirely on her own or 'automatically'. | > | > She has ZERO clue when it comes to computer, the internet and | > security. | | > FWIW she gets a few spam emails and the occasional offensive porn | > email on the account I've set up for her to use in the 'wild' but | > nothing more. She does pay attention and while she sends more than an | > occasional joke/cartoon to her circle of friends she does so with | > UNDISCLOSED RECIPIENTS in the TO: field and the personal addresses in | > the BCC. | | Good for bcc. | | > From post in .geeks it seems that the free stuff is more than | > adequate and I've now a task to convince her of that eventuality. If | > I'm wrong I presume someone here will correct me. | | I still think that if she has a network of her desk computer and her | laptop which you intend to put on her own system instead of yours, that | she would be better off with a hardware NAT device switchrouter rather | than just the software personal intrusionextrusion socalled firewall. | | That is also the case for the single computer connected 'always on' | facing the internet on a cable modem which is not networked to the | laptop. The address translation of the NAT device is a very powerful | feature aiding in the security of the box compared to just the software | personal 'firewall'. What do you recommend in this regard. BTW there is no such thing as 'ALWAYS ON' as this lady is a product of the Depression and waste nothing. As example she will often gift us with homemade preserves etc (did I mention she is a terrific scratch cook?) but if I don't bring back the Kerr Jars in a timely fashion I'm put on 'allocation'. From MikeE at ster.invalid Thu May 11 13:59:25 2006 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Thu May 11 16:00:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: Frog Prince wrote: > "Mike Easter" >> How about 'so that I won't be so much trouble to you all the time' ? > > That's a possibility but we're over there on the slightest whim > regardless. If she sees my light on early in the morning I'll get a > phone call 'biscuits are just coming out of the oven and coffee is > hot' That's not at all the same thing as not wanting to be any trouble. Just the opposite. Payback. >> That is also the case for the single computer connected 'always on' >> facing the internet on a cable modem which is not networked to the >> laptop. The address translation of the NAT device is a very powerful >> feature aiding in the security of the box compared to just the >> software personal 'firewall'. > > What do you recommend in this regard. Well, I'm not a serious firewaller like the dudes in comp.security.firewalls -- they nitpick the deficiencies of the weak NAT devices and talk about how to get a good deal and install 3rd party firmware to some mass market device and all that. The NAT device I bought was on sale at Fry's. :-) > BTW there is no such thing as 'ALWAYS ON' as this lady is a product > of the Depression and waste nothing. Well, the cable modem folks would kinda like to be able to update cable modem firmware in the wee hours of the morning whenever they feel like it and they rather prefer that the cable modem be on all the time. Their suggestion is that if the cable modem owner doesn't feel comfortable with the 'exposure' that they should push the standby button if they have one - which effectively disconnects the modem from the computer while leaving the modem in the cableco's network and accessible to updating. > As example she will often gift > us with homemade preserves etc (did I mention she is a terrific > scratch cook?) but if I don't bring back the Kerr Jars in a timely > fashion I'm put on 'allocation'. I completely understand that position and support it wholeheartedly. What are you going to be doing with *her* Mason jars and tops after you're done with the goodies inside anyway? ;-) -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From me at privacy.net Thu May 11 18:42:56 2006 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Thu May 11 17:50:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Mike Easter" wrote in message news:e4052r$vf4$1@news.spamcop.net... | Frog Prince wrote: | | >> How about 'so that I won't be so much trouble to you all the time' ? | > | > That's a possibility but we're over there on the slightest whim | > regardless. If she sees my light on early in the morning I'll get a | > phone call 'biscuits are just coming out of the oven and coffee is | > hot' | | That's not at all the same thing as not wanting to be any trouble. Just | the opposite. Payback. And a chance to bend my ear about the 'way back times'. Like how she kept cows during WWII and traded home made butter (not really black market) for other stuff that was in short supply. | >> That is also the case for the single computer connected 'always on' | >> facing the internet on a cable modem which is not networked to the | >> laptop. The address translation of the NAT device is a very powerful | >> feature aiding in the security of the box compared to just the | >> software personal 'firewall'. | > | > What do you recommend in this regard. | | Well, I'm not a serious firewaller like the dudes in | comp.security.firewalls -- they nitpick the deficiencies of the weak NAT | devices and talk about how to get a good deal and install 3rd party | firmware to some mass market device and all that. The NAT device I | bought was on sale at Fry's. :-) | | > BTW there is no such thing as 'ALWAYS ON' as this lady is a product | > of the Depression and waste nothing. | | Well, the cable modem folks would kinda like to be able to update cable | modem firmware in the wee hours of the morning whenever they feel like | it and they rather prefer that the cable modem be on all the time. | Their suggestion is that if the cable modem owner doesn't feel | comfortable with the 'exposure' that they should push the standby button | if they have one - which effectively disconnects the modem from the | computer while leaving the modem in the cableco's network and accessible | to updating. In that regard I've managed to hide the cable modem where she does not notice that it's on 24/7 but not for the benifit of the cable company just that I don't want to have to deal with the inevatable resets required from on/off cycling. | | > As example she will often gift | > us with homemade preserves etc (did I mention she is a terrific | > scratch cook?) but if I don't bring back the Kerr Jars in a timely | > fashion I'm put on 'allocation'. | | I completely understand that position and support it wholeheartedly. | What are you going to be doing with *her* Mason jars and tops after | you're done with the goodies inside anyway? ;-) I do as she ask (I'm also the son of depression era parents/grandparents) but mention that only by way of explanation. From post.please.this.email.is.not.valid at example.com Thu May 11 17:53:20 2006 From: post.please.this.email.is.not.valid at example.com (DougW) Date: Thu May 11 17:55:02 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Running Programs on USB Flash Drives References: Message-ID: Canopus did pass the time by typing: > I need to get an USB Flash Drive so that I can take a couple of portable > programs with me when travelling. I'll be needing to access my GPS device > to save and load data to/from it using a stand alone program run direct > from an exe and also run the portable Filezilla as an ftp client. Is > there any basic difference between the USB Flash Drives except for size > and read/write speed? I've seen one, Busbi 1GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive - with > new U3 Technology > http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000BND4GI/ref=pd_ys_pym_a_2/026-1878821-0030858?%5Fencoding=UTF8 > which claims, quote: > > "Includes the new U3 Smart Drive from Clever-stuff. Clever-Stuff U3 Smart > Drives are the second generation in USB Flash Drives technology and bring > a new level of intelligence to the device. It is now possible to install > programs to USB Flash Drives and the Launchpad acts as a one-click gateway > to the installed applications or software portals. This leads me to believe they have some sort of "middleware" installed on the key that acts as a proxy for applications. > "All 1GB and 2GB busbi USB keys carry the U3 platform, which offers the > following attributes as well as mentioned above - user does not need admin > rights (as software is run from the device). ... That simply means if the software does not require installation (i.e. registry information or dll's) then you can run it from the flash drive. (or the middleware on the key takes care of this) > ...The user leaves no traces on > the host PC that they were ever there and the entire key can be password > protected." Erm.. that's bull. Our monitoring software at work records and examines processes that are running. Now if your application doesn't write anything to the hard drive then that might be true. > but, can you not run stand alone applications from any Flash Drive and not > leave traces to boot? Is there anything particularly different with this > drive to any other or is this just marketing blurb? I would suspect market droid drool. But then again I haven't examined this product. -- DougW From BNRAGMAOKKXT at spammotel.com Thu May 11 23:18:43 2006 From: BNRAGMAOKKXT at spammotel.com (Canopus) Date: Thu May 11 18:20:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Running Programs on USB Flash Drives References: Message-ID: DougW on 11/05/2006 wrote: >Canopus did pass the time by typing: > >> >>"Includes the new U3 Smart Drive from Clever-stuff. Clever-Stuff U3 Smart >>Drives are the second generation in USB Flash Drives technology and bring >>a new level of intelligence to the device. It is now possible to install >>programs to USB Flash Drives and the Launchpad acts as a one-click gateway >>to the installed applications or software portals. > >This leads me to believe they have some sort of "middleware" installed on >the key that acts as a proxy for applications. > >>"All 1GB and 2GB busbi USB keys carry the U3 platform, which offers the >>following attributes as well as mentioned above - user does not need admin >>rights (as software is run from the device). ... > >That simply means if the software does not require installation (i.e. >registry >information or dll's) then you can run it from the flash drive. >(or the middleware on the key takes care of this) > >>...The user leaves no traces on >>the host PC that they were ever there and the entire key can be password >>protected." > >Erm.. that's bull. Our monitoring software at work records and examines >processes that are running. Now if your application doesn't write anything >to the hard drive then that might be true. > >>but, can you not run stand alone applications from any Flash Drive and not >>leave traces to boot? Is there anything particularly different with this >>drive to any other or is this just marketing blurb? > >I would suspect market droid drool. But then again I haven't examined this >product. So in other words a cheaper less gimmicky flash drive would probably be just as good as all one would have to do is double click the stand alone applications exe to launch it and you don't need Admin privileges for that if it doesn't write to registry. The strange thing is that when I actually look up that flash drive on the Busbi web site http://www.busbi.net/products-detail.php?category=&manufacturer=&products_id=720 it has no mention of any of those marketing blurbs found on Amazon. -- Rob http://www.flickr.com/photos/canopus_archives/ From MikeE at ster.invalid Thu May 11 16:45:02 2006 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Thu May 11 18:45:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: Frog Prince wrote: > "Mike Easter" >>>but if I don't bring back the Kerr Jars in a timely >>> fashion I'm put on 'allocation'. >> What are you going to be doing with *her* Mason jars and tops after >> you're done with the goodies inside anyway? ;-) I was wondering why you called Mason jars Kerr [altho' I've seen that name, including 'Kerr Mason'] and I call them mason. So I went looking around and found this history article. http://www.pickyourown.org/canningjars.htm A Brief History of Common Home Canning Jars - Until 1858, canning jars used a glass jar, a tin flat lid, and sealing wax, which was not reusable and messy! - John L. Mason, invented the mason jar.- a glass container with a thread molded into its top and a zinc lid with a rubber ring. The rubber created the seal, and the threaded lid maintained it. - Clamped Glass-Lid Jars (Lightning Jars) - Atlas Jars - Ball Jars - Kerr Jars - Mr. Kerr later (1915) invented a smaller, flat metal disk with the same permanent composition gasket. The lid sealed on the top of a mason jar; a threaded metal ring held the lid down during the hot water processing. The jar we know today was born! I'm a big pressure cooker cooking dude/fan, but I don't do any pressure cooker canning. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From nobody at devnull.spamcop.net Thu May 11 20:47:07 2006 From: nobody at devnull.spamcop.net (POP) Date: Thu May 11 19:50:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Topic Slant: Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Frog Prince" wrote in message news:e40bc7$3k2$1@news.spamcop.net... > "Mike Easter" wrote in message > news:e4052r$vf4$1@news.spamcop.net... > | Frog Prince wrote: > | ... > > And a chance to bend my ear about the 'way back times'. Like > how she kept > cows during WWII and traded home made butter (not really black > market) for > other stuff that was in short supply. > ... Frog Prince, your experiences are making me relive some wonderful memories of three fantastic people in my life. My Mother, which needs no explanation, and my b-i-w's Mother Myrtle, and my wife's Uncle Junior. Myrtle and Uncle Junior were a lot like your friend sounds. Only, they were dairy farmers in upstate NY, full of "probly" and 'couldov", washing the nipples, & treating teats, all that kind of thing; decidedly poor and depression era folks who brought it forward with them, and tough as nails when it counted. Things were so different in those days, and so much easier it seems, even though we know better! Or at least I do. I spent some of Myrtle's last hours at her bedside, looking out the window at the "men" out working in the fields, and all they were doing wrong, how they should have done it, and discussing what to do for tomorrow's dinner since tonight's was almost cooked, and even some talk of her own Mother whom she insisted she was going to see soon. Of course, outside that window was nothing but the hosipital parking lot, but it was one of the warmest times of my life. Uncle Junior was just one of those types that actually DID seem to know everything, and if he didn't he had nothing to say on the subject. At 87 he was still able to climb the silo and the hay bales to get into the mow, and could beat me up there every time! He died fixing fences, just like he said he wanted to do! Hang onto that friend and appreciate every second you can spend with her. She sounds like the kind you could spend a lifetime with and still not get to know half of what she knew, or live half of what she lived. They just don't make 'em like that anymore. They leave/left legacies they had no idea they were leaving us. Pop From porpoise1954 at yahoo.co.uk Fri May 12 02:06:30 2006 From: porpoise1954 at yahoo.co.uk (Porpoise) Date: Thu May 11 20:10:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Frog Prince" wrote in message news:e3vvla$rvt$2@news.spamcop.net... > > "POP" wrote in message > news:e3vu6u$r43$1@news.spamcop.net... > | > | Manually -You monitor the Status tab for updates. To invoke an > | update check immediately, click Check for Update. > > > Does the pro version contain the option to 'check as soon as the system is > on line?' I ask as she does not use the system often and there is no > practical way to predict a fixed time when an up date should be skeducled. > Which rases a question is there another program that would do the up date > task for every think base on say once a week whereever she might be on > line? I run ZoneAlarm on my system and it checks to see if there is an update by;- polling the server when the client connects, periodically polling the server if the connection is "always-on" ADSL, or manually by clicking the button. From nobody at devnull.spamcop.net Thu May 11 21:29:58 2006 From: nobody at devnull.spamcop.net (POP) Date: Thu May 11 20:30:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Frog Prince" wrote in message news:e3vvla$rvt$2@news.spamcop.net... > > "POP" wrote in message > news:e3vu6u$r43$1@news.spamcop.net... > | ... > | > > | > > | > Don't know about zone alarm but you can set up AVG to > update > | > the virus defs automatically once a day. Just go to the AVG > | > Control Center and click > | ... > | > | Zone Alarm too, sort of: IF this pastes readable, here's the > | Help page text: > | > | Setting update options > | > | When you purchase Zone Labs security software you receive a > year > | of free updates. You can check for updates manually, or set > Zone > | Labs security software to check automatically. > | > | To set check for update settings: > | Select Overview|Preferences. > | In the Check for Updates area, choose an update option. > | Automatically- Zone Labs security software > | automatically -notifies - you when an update is available. > | > | Manually -You monitor the Status tab for updates. To invoke > an > | update check immediately, click Check for Update. > > > Does the pro version contain the option to 'check as soon as > the system is > on line?' I ask as she does not use the system often and there > is no > practical way to predict a fixed time when an up date should be > skeducled. > Which rases a question is there another program that would do > the up date > task for every think base on say once a week whereever she > might be on line? > > No, I don't think ZA will fit that exact description. Not with total non-intervention as you're looking for anyway. If you really want to find out what could be done, check out their forums; seems to be a good bunch there the few times I've visited, mostly out of curiousity before I paid for ZA. I like to get dirty laundry before I spend my bucks whenever I can . Norton would, sort of, I'm pretty sure, but you've already ruled that out. I know their av works as you described, but only within reason. One thing to keep in mind when you want it to check & d/l install without hesitation like that: NO apps that I know of will do it exactly that way. They all try to work in the background as much as reasonable in order to stay out of the user's way, so use of the computer will lengthen the time it takes to find and download, then install such updates. My Norton av comes close, but even it stays out of my way if I'm busy as soon as I connect. Having DSL helps that, but it's still a process that requires a finite amount of time. That said, I guess you could mess around with the task priorities, but I'd worry about getting complaints that it's slowing things down when she first gets online. Regards, Pop From me at privacy.net Thu May 11 23:54:06 2006 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Thu May 11 23:00:02 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Topic Slant: Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "POP" | > And a chance to bend my ear about the 'way back times'. Like | > how she kept | > cows during WWII and traded home made butter (not really black | > market) for | > other stuff that was in short supply. | | Frog Prince, your experiences are making me relive some wonderful | memories of three fantastic people in my life. My Mother, which | needs no explanation, and my b-i-w's Mother Myrtle, and my wife's | Uncle Junior. | | Myrtle and Uncle Junior were a lot like your friend sounds. | Only, they were dairy farmers in upstate NY, full of "probly" and | 'couldov", washing the nipples, & treating teats, all that kind | of thing; decidedly poor and depression era folks who brought it | forward with them, and tough as nails when it counted. Things | were so different in those days, and so much easier it seems, | even though we know better! Or at least I do. | I spent some of Myrtle's last hours at her bedside, looking | out the window at the "men" out working in the fields, and all | they were doing wrong, how they should have done it, and | discussing what to do for tomorrow's dinner since tonight's was | almost cooked, and even some talk of her own Mother whom she | insisted she was going to see soon. Of course, outside that | window was nothing but the hospital parking lot, but it was one | of the warmest times of my life. | Uncle Junior was just one of those types that actually DID | seem to know everything, and if he didn't he had nothing to say | on the subject. At 87 he was still able to climb the silo and | the hay bales to get into the mow, and could beat me up there | every time! He died fixing fences, just like he said he wanted | to do! | | Hang onto that friend and appreciate every second you can spend | with her. She sounds like the kind you could spend a lifetime | with and still not get to know half of what she knew, or live | half of what she lived. They just don't make 'em like that | anymore. They leave/left legacies they had no idea they were | leaving us. Her husband (I've verified to the extent possible) was on the carrier that launched Doolittle's raid on Tokyo) he was also in charge of the engineering projects that designed/tested the explosive systems that separated the various booster stages in the space program. My wife, my son and I are active Hospice volunteers and get a lot of that sort of 'stuff' so far I've met men who survived Battan (spl), flew with Doolittle on his air raid on Tokyo, more than a few who flew in B17's, women who tested and flew all the war birds with the Woman's air core. Shared confidences with marines from Iwo Jima (spl?), some of the boys (which is what they were) who hit the beach of Normandy in the first wave, members of the paratroops who went in the back way. What I hear are memories filtered through love and lives lost and even if only 50% true well worth my time to visit these folk. Sad part is that while these are such moving stories but I'm under NDA so I can't even so much as discuss anything with anyone else. Hard copy is way out of line but still I must record their musings perhaps after I'm long dead it will not matter. I have been permitted to have my grand kids visit with some of my hospice friends and what THEY tell my grand kids is another matter. Hardest, for me, are the folk from NAM ... these guys are MY age and hurtin' From me at privacy.net Fri May 12 00:11:49 2006 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Thu May 11 23:15:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Mike Easter" wrote in message news:e40epb$5ln$1@news.spamcop.net... | Frog Prince wrote: | > "Mike Easter" | | >>>but if I don't bring back the Kerr Jars in a timely | >>> fashion I'm put on 'allocation'. | | >> What are you going to be doing with *her* Mason jars and tops after | >> you're done with the goodies inside anyway? ;-) | | I was wondering why you called Mason jars Kerr [altho' I've seen that | name, including 'Kerr Mason'] and I call them mason. | | So I went looking around and found this history article. | | http://www.pickyourown.org/canningjars.htm A Brief History of Common | Home Canning Jars - Until 1858, canning jars used a glass jar, a tin | flat lid, and sealing wax, which was not reusable and messy! - John L. | Mason, invented the mason jar.- a glass container with a thread molded | into its top and a zinc lid with a rubber ring. The rubber created the | seal, and the threaded lid maintained it. - Clamped Glass-Lid Jars | (Lightning Jars) - Atlas Jars - Ball Jars - Kerr Jars - Mr. Kerr later | (1915) invented a smaller, flat metal disk with the same permanent | composition gasket. The lid sealed on the top of a mason jar; a threaded | metal ring held the lid down during the hot water processing. The jar we | know today was born! | | | I'm a big pressure cooker cooking dude/fan, but I don't do any pressure | cooker canning. | Might be because there was no pressure needed for canning in a Kerr jar. What suction created was due to the heat expanding the content of the jar which was sealed AFTER the jar and content were brought to thermal equilibrium at the temp of boiling water. From me at privacy.net Fri May 12 00:13:58 2006 From: me at privacy.net (Frog Prince) Date: Thu May 11 23:15:06 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "POP" | > | > Don't know about zone alarm but you can set up AVG to | > update | > | > the virus defs automatically once a day. Just go to the AVG | > | > Control Center and click | > | ... | > | | > | Zone Alarm too, sort of: IF this pastes readable, here's the | > | Help page text: | > | | > | Setting update options | > | | > | When you purchase Zone Labs security software you receive a | > year | > | of free updates. You can check for updates manually, or set | > Zone | > | Labs security software to check automatically. | > | | > | To set check for update settings: | > | Select Overview|Preferences. | > | In the Check for Updates area, choose an update option. | > | Automatically- Zone Labs security software | > | automatically -notifies - you when an update is available. | > | | > | Manually -You monitor the Status tab for updates. To invoke | > an | > | update check immediately, click Check for Update. | > | > | > Does the pro version contain the option to 'check as soon as | > the system is | > on line?' I ask as she does not use the system often and there | > is no | > practical way to predict a fixed time when an up date should be | > skeducled. | > Which rases a question is there another program that would do | > the up date | > task for every think base on say once a week whereever she | > might be on line? | > | > | | No, I don't think ZA will fit that exact description. Not with | total non-intervention as you're looking for anyway. If you | really want to find out what could be done, check out their | forums; seems to be a good bunch there the few times I've | visited, mostly out of curiousity before I paid for ZA. I like | to get dirty laundry before I spend my bucks whenever I can . | Norton would, sort of, I'm pretty sure, but you've already | ruled that out. I know their av works as you described, but only | within reason. | One thing to keep in mind when you want it to check & d/l | install without hesitation like that: NO apps that I know of | will do it exactly that way. They all try to work in the | background as much as reasonable in order to stay out of the | user's way, so use of the computer will lengthen the time it | takes to find and download, then install such updates. My Norton | av comes close, but even it stays out of my way if I'm busy as | soon as I connect. Having DSL helps that, but it's still a | process that requires a finite amount of time. | That said, I guess you could mess around with the task | priorities, but I'd worry about getting complaints that it's | slowing things down when she first gets online. | At one time she though dial up was FAST. Recall she grew up in a time when the post man rode a horse. From none at domain.invalid Thu May 11 21:38:32 2006 From: none at domain.invalid (Anonymous) Date: Thu May 11 23:40:02 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Frog Prince" wrote in message news:e3u3fj$nva$1@news.spamcop.net... > I've a neighbor lady that has been using zone alarm (free_ and AVG > (free) > without incident for some time but is wants her system set up so that > updates etc are done automatically. She does not mind paying for the > software but I don;t know what to recommend. (FWIW She tried Norton and > McAfee and was not pleased) > > She's on Charter Cable broadband and has a high end HP computer and XP. > She > also has a 15" lap top accessing via a wireless AP. > > Suggestions please and I'm open to up grades and other options as may be > appropriate. 1) Set her up behind a NAT router with SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection) firewall. That's the best protection you can give her against unsolicited WAN connections. A software firewall can't even begin to compare with a hardware firewall. I've seen both the Sygate and ZoneAlarm firewalls cracked from the WAN side. I recommend either Hawking or Linksys routers. 2) Tell her the only time she should use Internet Explorer is when she's manually checking for Windows Updates. The rest of the time, she should use Firefox, with the following extensions: AdBlock AdBlock Filterset.G Updater NoScript RefControl Javascript Options Google Safe Browsing SiteAdvisor (get this from SiteAdvisor.com) Set up NoScript so all the sites she regularly visits (and trusts) are allowed to use scripting, if they require it, and instruct her that under NO circumstances should she click the 'Allow Scripts Globally' option. Set up RefControl to spoof the Referrer for all sites. This makes it impossible for sites to track where she surfs, yet still allows sites that do Referer checking to function. Set up Javascript Options to lock down what Javascript is and is not allowed to do. Since running the whole machine as a Normal User, Untrusted User, or Constrained User is nearly impossible in most cases (most software assumes you'll be running in an Administrator context), let her run as Administrator, and drop program privileges for all internet-facing programs (browser, email, IM, etc.) using the following: http://msdn.microsoft.com/security/securecode/columns/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dncode/html/secure11152004.asp It's called DropMyRights, made by Microsoft. You set up internet-facing programs thusly: For instance, for Firefox: Create a duplicate Firefox icon on the desktop. Right-click, select 'Properties' and change the 'Target' line thusly: "C:\Program Files\DropRights\DropMyRights.exe" "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" So: Administrator context: "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" Normal User context: "C:\Program Files\DropRights\DropMyRights.exe" "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" Constrained User context: "C:\Program Files\DropRights\DropMyRights.exe" "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" C I installed DropMyRights to a different directory than the default. I suggest you follow my example when installing DropMyRights, it makes it easier to find DropMyRights and makes for a shorter 'Target' line. The biggest change in program privileges occurs with the change from Administrator to Normal User, and most programs run just fine as Normal User (whereas they may have problems as Constrained User), and that'll prevent drive-by downloads of viruses and spyware. Instruct her that she'll see a black window pop up and disappear just prior to the internet-facing program starting. She shouldn't be alarmed by this... this is the DropMyRights program, stripping privileges from the internet-facing program to protect her machine. If she sees that black window pop up, she knows she's safer than connecting to the 'net as an Administrator. 3) Download the following anti-adware/anti-spyware tools: Windows Defender (from Microsoft) A-Squared (from EmsiSoft) SpyBot Search & Destroy Ad-Aware Windows Defender will scan and update automatically each day. You can set up Spybot Search & Destroy to scan automatically each day and to update automatically, as well. For the other two, set up the Task Scheduler to start them once a week. She'll have to click a few buttons to run them, but she won't have to remember to run them. Conversely, you can skip scheduling them, and run them manually when you visit her. 4) For antivirus, you can't beat AVG. For home users, it's even free. It's got the best virus-detection ratio, it's unobtrusive, light on system resources, easy to use, and just works. 5) Set up her wireless AP with WPA encryption (if her laptop can handle it... 128-bit WEP if it can't handle WPA). This will keep war drivers and bandwidth thieves out of her network, and prevent anyone from hijacking her computers via the wireless connection. I've seen computer hard drives filled with child porn, and set up with web servers... all installed via unsecured wireless connections by spamming scumbags, so it's critical that you secure her wireless connection. 6) Change the WorkGroup name from the default. Set up each computer with the same WorkGroup name, so she can share files between her computers on her network. Set up each computer with log-in passwords and disable the Guest account if it's enabled. If she's averse to having to log in each time she boots, you can set it up to auto-login. 7) Set up a Task Scheduler schedule to Process Idle Tasks (Google for it) once a week... that'll start up the defrag, so her drives stay defragged. Also schedule a disk cleanup like so: Start >> Run >> cleanmgr /sageset:1 Click all the options available in the dialog box that comes up. Click OK. Set up a Task Scheduler schedule to run cleanmgr /sagerun:1 That'll clean up junk files on her drive automatically. 8) For the software firewall... you've got a few options. For people who always seem to acquire spyware, I install either Sygate or ZoneAlarm (Sygate if they're computer-clueful, ZoneAlarm otherwise). For those who never seem to acquire spyware, I utilize the built-in WinXP firewall. Since she's behind a hardware firewall, and using a more secure browser, it'll be more difficult for her to acquire malware. If you instruct her on safe computing practices, and she takes your instruction to heart, she'll never see spyware / adware / viruses again. That's about it... that makes her machine more secure, and it pretty much takes care of itself. From MikeE at ster.invalid Thu May 11 23:49:21 2006 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Fri May 12 01:50:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: Frog Prince wrote: > "Mike Easter" >> I'm a big pressure cooker cooking dude/fan, but I don't do any >> pressure cooker canning. >> > > Might be because there was no pressure needed for canning in a Kerr > jar. What suction created was due to the heat expanding the content > of the jar which was sealed AFTER the jar and content were brought to > thermal equilibrium at the temp of boiling water. Here's an article which explains why and how pressure cookers are used for canning. http://frugalliving.about.com/cs/canningfoods/a/082900_3.htm Step by step instructions for pressure cooker canning Actually the article begins back here http://frugalliving.about.com/cs/canningfoods/a/082900.htm Learn to Can - The Basics - Basics of canning foods in a boiling water bath or pressure cooker -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From not at here.invalid Fri May 12 08:11:05 2006 From: not at here.invalid (Ellen) Date: Fri May 12 08:45:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Mike Easter" wrote in message news:e40epb$5ln$1@news.spamcop.net... > > > I'm a big pressure cooker cooking dude/fan, but I don't do any pressure > cooker canning. > Taking the thread and wandering with it .... I got a pressure cooker this year and it really is the neatest thing ... have no idea why it took me this long to get one. I 'put up' stuff once every two years and that would be peach chutney. It never occured to me to use a pressure cooker but rather borrow the canning pot from the gal next door for my bi-annual adventure and when I am done it reminds me of how much fussing around it really takes to do preserves and how hot the kitchen gets while doing it and how I manage to get fruit/sugar/juice/mess from one end of the kitchen to the other and how awed I am at people who do this frequently and then share :-) Dragging the thread back OT -- if she wants to pay for stuff she can pay for AVG it would appear. I also notice that MS Antispyware Scan seems to run automagically on one of my laptops -- anyone have any idea how to turn it off? or on for my other systems? Or if it is any good? (Yeah that laptop was installed by someone else which always annoys me but anyway ....) Ellen From joegill at removethis Fri May 12 10:24:30 2006 From: joegill at removethis (Joe Gill) Date: Fri May 12 09:25:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: > Dragging the thread back OT -- if she wants to pay for stuff she can pay > for > AVG it would appear. I also notice that MS Antispyware Scan seems to run > automagically on one of my laptops -- anyone have any idea how to turn it > off? or on for my other systems? Or if it is any good? (Yeah that laptop > was installed by someone else which always annoys me but anyway ....) > > > Ellen > There are 2 versions running out there (MS Antispyware)... Both have 'Control Panels' ... V1 you can click on from the system tray Later version of V2 you can click from the system tray Earlier version of V2 you have to start the program Rummage around and there all sorts of setting to change.... Curious as to why you want to turn it off? It has been a GREAT tool.... In one instance it did cleaned up a bad situation that a combination of (Norton, Ad*aware, and Spybot) were oblivious too! I install it on all PC I cleanup, touch! By the way, if you are running the product called "Microsoft Antispyware" which is V1, you may like V2 "Windows Defender" even better.... From MikeE at ster.invalid Fri May 12 09:13:39 2006 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Fri May 12 11:15:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: Ellen wrote: > "Mike Easter" >> I'm a big pressure cooker cooking dude/fan, but I don't do any >> pressure cooker canning. >> > > Taking the thread and wandering with it .... I got a pressure cooker > this year and it really is the neatest thing ... have no idea why it > took me this long to get one. You'll find that creating recipes for your pressure cooker is great fun. You start with following the guidelines provided by the recipes which typically come with the cooker or in pressure cookbooks, because almost all cooktimes are drastically reduced, so those adjustments need to be made from your normal and previous cooking experiences. Then you build your own recipe ideas from the 'elements' of how to cook various vegetables or meats or whatever and adjusted for what you like. Some things are greatly reduced in cooking time, like dried beans from scratch, while others, like rice, aren't affected very much. But the 'difficult' rices, like brown or wild [which is actually grass seed] are helped a lot by the cooker. Since I like rice a lot and like different cooking time rices together, I have a technique for two staging my rices in a metal container inside the cooker. Sorta like you would cook rice in the oven. One of the reasons I like to build my own recipes is because I don't like to spend a lot of time with prep or cleanup -- or with the actual cooking for that matter. So I design my recipes to be as painless and lazy as possible. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From vxpy7do02 at sneakemail.com Fri May 12 12:16:37 2006 From: vxpy7do02 at sneakemail.com (anon) Date: Fri May 12 14:20:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Frog Prince" wrote in message news:e40bc7$3k2$1@news.spamcop.net... > "Mike Easter" wrote in message > news:e4052r$vf4$1@news.spamcop.net... > | Frog Prince wrote: > | > | >> How about 'so that I won't be so much trouble to you all the time' ? > | > > | > That's a possibility but we're over there on the slightest whim > | > regardless. If she sees my light on early in the morning I'll get a > | > phone call 'biscuits are just coming out of the oven and coffee is > | > hot' > | > | > | Well, the cable modem folks would kinda like to be able to update cable > | modem firmware in the wee hours of the morning whenever they feel like > | it and they rather prefer that the cable modem be on all the time. > | Their suggestion is that if the cable modem owner doesn't feel > | comfortable with the 'exposure' that they should push the standby button > | if they have one - which effectively disconnects the modem from the > | computer while leaving the modem in the cableco's network and accessible > | to updating. > > In that regard I've managed to hide the cable modem where she does not > notice that it's on 24/7 but not for the benifit of the cable company just > that I don't want to have to deal with the inevatable resets required from > on/off cycling. > | *** Interesting aside re the 'always on' modem and router. There have been several times that the always on router or modem would quit responding - called the ISP and they said that they SHOULD be turned off then on periodically (once every month or so, same as an always on windows computer needs to be reset periodically.) Seems the programs that make them work become corrupted over time and have to be reloaded from the firmware. -- A SpamCop user and forum reader, Not Admin > | > As example she will often gift > | > us with homemade preserves etc (did I mention she is a terrific > | > scratch cook?) but if I don't bring back the Kerr Jars in a timely > | > fashion I'm put on 'allocation'. > | > | I completely understand that position and support it wholeheartedly. > | What are you going to be doing with *her* Mason jars and tops after > | you're done with the goodies inside anyway? ;-) > > I do as she ask (I'm also the son of depression era parents/grandparents) > but mention that only by way of explanation. > > From MikeE at ster.invalid Fri May 12 12:48:05 2006 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Fri May 12 14:50:09 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: anon wrote: >> "Mike Easter" >>> Well, the cable modem folks would kinda like to be able to update >>> cable modem firmware in the wee hours of the morning whenever they >>> feel like it and they rather prefer that the cable modem be on all >>> the time. > Interesting aside re the 'always on' modem and router. > > There have been several times that the always on router or modem > would quit responding - called the ISP and they said that they SHOULD > be turned off then on periodically (once every month or so, same as > an always on windows computer needs to be reset periodically.) > > Seems the programs that make them work become corrupted over time and > have to be reloaded from the firmware. The business of using reset for my cable modem or my switch router is part of my strategy for troubleshooting when something isn't working right, depending upon where I've isolated the problem. My cable modem has a 'tedious' little tiny hole which conceals the reset mechanism, so it is easier to pull its plug and powerdown than push the reset with an unfolded large paperclip. My switchrouter I also use the powerdown technique with its little external powersupply -- and on one occasion so far its firmware has become corrupt and needed to be flashed. Flashing a switchrouter's firmware is kinda 'cute' and a different technique than flashing a BIOS rom. But I've never heard a tech advise routinely resetting either one. Reset it if it needs resetting, not if it doesn't, I would say. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From porpoise1954 at yahoo.co.uk Fri May 12 21:04:39 2006 From: porpoise1954 at yahoo.co.uk (Porpoise) Date: Fri May 12 15:10:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Mike Easter" wrote in message news:e42l93$esc$1@news.spamcop.net... > anon wrote: >>> "Mike Easter" > > My cable modem has a 'tedious' little tiny hole which conceals the reset > mechanism, so it is easier to pull its plug and powerdown than push the > reset with an unfolded large paperclip. > > My switchrouter I also use the powerdown technique with its little > external powersupply -- and on one occasion so far its firmware has > become corrupt and needed to be flashed. Flashing a switchrouter's > firmware is kinda 'cute' and a different technique than flashing a BIOS > rom. > > But I've never heard a tech advise routinely resetting either one. > Reset it if it needs resetting, not if it doesn't, I would say. Hmm... Interestingly, my ADSL modem has an on-off switch but the router it's connected to doesn't - it has one of those horrible push-a-pin-in thingies. I can't actually remember the last time I had to reset either of them though - some time last year at least...... But I *have* had to reset them several times since purchase. :-( From not at here.invalid Fri May 12 14:09:15 2006 From: not at here.invalid (Ellen) Date: Fri May 12 15:45:15 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Joe Gill" wrote in message news:e422a6$2p8$1@news.spamcop.net... > > There are 2 versions running out there (MS Antispyware)... > Both have 'Control Panels' ... > V1 you can click on from the system tray > Later version of V2 you can click from the system tray > Earlier version of V2 you have to start the program > > Rummage around and there all sorts of setting to change.... > > Curious as to why you want to turn it off? > > It has been a GREAT tool.... > > In one instance it did cleaned up a bad situation that a combination of > (Norton, Ad*aware, and Spybot) were oblivious too! > I install it on all PC I cleanup, touch! > > By the way, if you are running the product called "Microsoft Antispyware" > which is V1, you may like V2 "Windows Defender" even better.... > Thanks -- not so much adamant about turning it off exactly as to curious as to where it appeared from and why it was enabled automatically -- and I suppose getting the daily stupid message box that I have to close. The silly thing is that it is running on the one laptop that has no mail app installed and never sightsees the internet while not on my other machines. Which by some random neural pathways reminds me that my daughter's laptop (not on my lan) has managed to acquire sysprotect and she can't seem to get rid of it. Had her do a deinstall; ran adawre, spybot and hijackthis and nothing interesting showed up. She says she is getting random popups -- I haven't seen it personally cause she can't manage to remember to bring the laptop over. So now I am sort of befuddled. I think it is more of a nuisance thing rather than a menace, but I would like to get rid of it for her without resorting to format drive/start all over again. While she is bascially computer ignorant she has learned to follow directions very well and I was able to talk her thru all of the above and she did produce a hijackthis logfile. At this point it has been suggested that I poke around the registry which I really do not want to have to do with her over the phone or via email so before I insist that her laptop appear in front of me, if anyone has any suggestions I am all ears .... Ellen From not at here.invalid Fri May 12 14:25:54 2006 From: not at here.invalid (Ellen) Date: Fri May 12 15:45:17 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] pressure cookers was Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Mike Easter" wrote in message news:e428n0$6q2$1@news.spamcop.net... > > You'll find that creating recipes for your pressure cooker is great fun. > You start with following the guidelines provided by the recipes which > typically come with the cooker or in pressure cookbooks, because almost > all cooktimes are drastically reduced, so those adjustments need to be > made from your normal and previous cooking experiences. nod > > Then you build your own recipe ideas from the 'elements' of how to cook > various vegetables or meats or whatever and adjusted for what you like. > Some things are greatly reduced in cooking time, like dried beans from > scratch, while others, like rice, aren't affected very much. But the > 'difficult' rices, like brown or wild [which is actually grass seed] are > helped a lot by the cooker. Since I like rice a lot and like different > cooking time rices together, I have a technique for two staging my rices > in a metal container inside the cooker. Sorta like you would cook rice > in the oven. I really do like it for dried beans and also because I can have a mad idea to have something for dinner that normally takes a couple or so hours of cooking and start at 6 and have it for dinner before bedtime. Hrmm I always make rice in the rice cooker and somehow we pretty much have only basmati rice 99% of the time. I will try brown rice in the pressure cooker tho cause it doesn't do that well in the rice cooker -- or didn't last time I tried it. > > One of the reasons I like to build my own recipes is because I don't > like to spend a lot of time with prep or cleanup -- or with the actual > cooking for that matter. So I design my recipes to be as painless and > lazy as possible. It's strange -- when I had to drive back and forth to work I was more tolerant of prep and long cooking times. Now that I telecommute and am actually around to theoretically putter around in the kitchen, I hate it. If it takes more than 15 minutes of prep or 45 minutes or an hour to cook or requires more than two dirty pots I'm just not interested ... Intuitively this makes no sense at all. I am a sort of "follow the recipe except when I don't" (which is most of the time) person -- except for cakes and certain breads. But yes, once you use it a few times for various types of foods so that you get an understanding of the timing then doing your own recipes is pretty easy. I made the best corned beef I have ever made using the pressure cooker which means that instead of making it once a year and having the family stare at it and go "oh, corned beef" I can now plan to make it more regularly and they say "OH CORNED BEEF!!!!" For the life of me, I can't figure out why I didn't buy one of these years ago -- I guess some memory of hearing people talk about having the old fashioned ones "blow their gaskets" all over the kitchen. The new models seem to be easier to deal with. I vaguely remembered my mom having one when I was very young and then she stopped using it and so I finally got around to asking her a few months ago why she stopped. She said that the jiggle thing broke or something and she couldn't afford to buy a new one at that time and then somehow never got around to it and still regrets that she never did :-) Ellen From MikeE at ster.invalid Fri May 12 14:10:18 2006 From: MikeE at ster.invalid (Mike Easter) Date: Fri May 12 16:15:09 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: pressure cookers was Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: Ellen wrote: > "Mike Easter" >> rice a lot and like different cooking time rices together, I have a >> technique for two staging my rices in a metal container inside the >> cooker. Sorta like you would cook rice in the oven. That rice 'bowl' is a stainless mixing bowl that fits very nicely into the cooker. The cooker has a little plate with holes in it [cooking rack] which is used for such as canning to get the stainless bowl off the bottom of the cooker. So, I put some water in the cooker with the rack, and I put the dry rice into the stainless bowl with its homemade chicken broth [which I make in the cooker and freeze; that's another story, that stuff is *awesome*] and some rice cooking ingredients. If I were only going to do something like the basmati instead of 2 stage [which technique I may revise, because the white rice stage may be a waste of time] then I would only adjust the cooking time a little tad and the water a little tad. > I really do like it for dried beans and also because I can have a mad > idea to have something for dinner that normally takes a couple or so > hours of cooking and start at 6 and have it for dinner before bedtime. I have this 'pork and bean' recipe I love. Naturally it bears no resemblance to Campbells and there is no tomato or sugar whatsoever. Some dried pinto beans 'imported' from Texas or CO because Texicans and such know great pinto beans and there are wondermous pinto bean farms in Colorado and Tx. The pork roast gets browned on the grill outside briefly before I cut it up for the cooker. Some serious local CA heat with seranos [those slick green guys, slice 'em up, whole thing, a lot] and some other pepper ideas. Yumm. > Hrmm I always make rice in the rice cooker and somehow we pretty much > have only basmati rice 99% of the time. I will try brown rice in the > pressure cooker tho cause it doesn't do that well in the rice cooker > -- or didn't last time I tried it. It cooks slower than the rice cooker thinks it should. I have a rice cooker I never use, as most of the time I just cook white rice in a pot on the stove. Naturally it *must* be made from my personal chicken broth which is so 'viscous' that when it is cold it gels and the floating fat has already been removed. The rice cooking is all about perfect timing with perfect heat and precisely the right amount of water and no peeking or uncertainty about the equation. "Trust me, I'm going to turn out all right." I suppose the rice cooker is supposed to know how to do that, but somewhere along the way I developed my own formula and I don't want to mess with experimenting all over again. > I made the best corned beef I have ever made using the > pressure cooker Oh yeah. The cooker makes that a piece of cake. I've done it with just the corned beef, and with cabbage added [2 stage] and I forget how I did the one with the potatoes. > I guess some memory of hearing people talk about having > the old fashioned ones "blow their gaskets" all over the kitchen. The one we had when I was a kid was 'dangerous' because it didn't have the safety features of the modern ones. Ours had the pressure gizmo _affixed_ to the top and no other releases. If it 'jammed' or failed closed, you were cruisin' for a bruisin' when whatever finally blew, because the top was locked on. My current one the top is just weight. If the hole inside were to get stopped up with something, there's a plastic release hole which will blow out. Also, the way the handle/top works is another safety feature, which can sometimes need some 'manipulating' if the safety feature doesn't want to let you open the top when it should. > She said that the jiggle thing broke or something and she > couldn't afford to buy a new one at that time and then somehow never > got around to it and still regrets that she never did :-) Your mom's was newer than the one we had. Ours didn't 'jiggle' - it was severely attached to the top and designed to leak when a pressure was reached. It could fail open or it could fail closed or it could fail by being inaccurate. Not nearly as nifty as the jigglers. -- Mike Easter kibitzer, not SC admin From not at here.invalid Fri May 12 18:00:43 2006 From: not at here.invalid (Ellen) Date: Fri May 12 17:05:03 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: pressure cookers was Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Mike Easter" wrote in message news:e42q37$ieq$1@news.spamcop.net... > > I have this 'pork and bean' recipe I love. Naturally it bears no > resemblance to Campbells and there is no tomato or sugar whatsoever. > Some dried pinto beans 'imported' from Texas or CO because Texicans and > such know great pinto beans and there are wondermous pinto bean farms in > Colorado and Tx. The pork roast gets browned on the grill outside > briefly before I cut it up for the cooker. Some serious local CA heat > with seranos [those slick green guys, slice 'em up, whole thing, a lot] > and some other pepper ideas. Yumm. sound delish -- the closest supermarket has a pretty large Hispanic population shopping there so I will go get some pinto beans there :-) So you throw in the chunks of browned pork, the beans, some amt of water, spices and then cook for how long? > > It cooks slower than the rice cooker thinks it should. I have a rice > cooker I never use, as most of the time I just cook white rice in a pot > on the stove. Naturally it *must* be made from my personal chicken > broth which is so 'viscous' that when it is cold it gels and the > floating fat has already been removed. love the sound of that chicken broth :-) so you cook it way down? > >> I made the best corned beef I have ever made using the >> pressure cooker > > Oh yeah. The cooker makes that a piece of cake. I've done it with just > the corned beef, and with cabbage added [2 stage] and I forget how I did > the one with the potatoes. Ugh now how did I do that -- I forget when I added the potatoes and carrots but definitely the cabbage was stage 2 (or maybe 3) ... but the bottom line was the corned beef was tender and not stringy and did not shrink up to some little depressing blob of meat and it didn't take half the day ! > > My current one the top is just weight. If the hole inside were to get > stopped up with something, there's a plastic release hole which will > blow out. Also, the way the handle/top works is another safety feature, > which can sometimes need some 'manipulating' if the safety feature > doesn't want to let you open the top when it should. I got the expensive one -- Kuhn Rikon -- was on sale at amazon, and they had an open an amzon CC and get $25 or $30 off so that made sense and then about 2 or 3 mths later sent me a $20 coupon thing so it turned out to be remarkably cheap and no shipping and no tax. Seems to be designed to not blow up all over the kitchen :-) And the cookbook that came with it has some good recipes. Ellen From vxpy7do02 at sneakemail.com Fri May 12 15:25:18 2006 From: vxpy7do02 at sneakemail.com (anon) Date: Fri May 12 17:30:11 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Anonymous" wrote in message news:e40vr4$f5i$1@news.spamcop.net... > "Frog Prince" wrote in message > news:e3u3fj$nva$1@news.spamcop.net... >> I've a neighbor lady that has been using zone alarm (free_ and AVG >> (free) >> without incident for some time but is wants her system set up so that >> updates etc are done automatically. She does not mind paying for the >> software but I don;t know what to recommend. (FWIW She tried Norton and >> McAfee and was not pleased) >> > > 4) For antivirus, you can't beat AVG. For home users, it's even free. It's > got the best virus-detection ratio, it's unobtrusive, light on system > resources, easy to use, and just works. > AVG may be a free download but there is a $20-$30 'signup' fee to be paid at the sites before you can download the program. - There IS a 'free' older version but who wants an older antivirus program? I do not see anything about updating the virus definitions on any of the sites. Again there is an annual or a lifetime fee to enter the site. -- A SpamCop user and forum reader, Not Admin From joegill at removethis Fri May 12 19:04:14 2006 From: joegill at removethis (Joe Gill) Date: Fri May 12 18:05:04 2006 Subject: [SpamCop-Geeks] Re: Need recommendations on security References: Message-ID: "Ellen" wrote in message news:e42oce$hd2$1@news.spamcop.net... > > "Joe Gill" wrote in message > news:e422a6$2p8$1@news.spamcop.net... >> >> There are 2 versions running out there (MS Antispyware)... >> Both have 'Control Panels' ... >> V1 you can click on from the system tray >> Later version of V2 you can click from the system tray >> Earlier version of V2 you have to start the program >> >> Rummage around and there all sorts of setting to change.... >> >> Curious as to why you want to turn it off? >> >> It has been a GREAT tool.... >> >> In one instance it did cleaned up a bad situation that a combination of >> (Norton, Ad*aware, and Spybot) were oblivious too! >> I install it on all PC I cleanup, touch! >> >> By the way, if you are running the product called "Microsoft Antispyware" >> which is V1, you may like V2 "Windows Defender" even better.... >> > > Thanks -- not so much adamant about turning it off exactly as to curious > as to where it appeared from and why it was enabled automatically -- and I > suppose getting the daily stupid message box that I have to close. The > silly thing is that it is running on the one laptop that has no mail app > installed and never sightsees the internet while not on my other machines. > > Which by some random neural pathways reminds me that my daughter's laptop > (not on my lan) has managed to acquire sysprotect and she can't seem to > get rid of it. Had her do a deinstall; ran adawre, spybot and hijackthis > and nothing interesting showed up. She says she is getting random > popups -- I haven't seen it personally cause she can't manage to remember > to bring the laptop over. So now I am sort of befuddled. I think it is > more of a nuisance thing rather than a menace, but I would like to get rid > of it for her without resorting to format drive/start all over again. > While she is bascially computer ignorant she has learned to follow > directions very well and I was able to talk her thru all of the above and > she did produce a hijackthis logfile. > > At this point it has been suggested that I poke around the registry which > I really do not want to have to do with her over the phone or via email so > before I insist that her laptop appear in front of me, if anyone has any > suggestions I am all ears .... > > Ellen > 1) For the 'popup' , no registry change needed, there is an option to run a 'scan' at a specific time. When that 'pop-up' occurs, there is a check-box, something like 'Don't show me this again'..... 2) This proves you are running V1! 3) Since it is in 'beta' status, someone had to take deliberate action to download/install it! 4) Very soon, when it