Security

Infopackets Reader Dorothy L. writes: " Hi Dennis, I am very interested in the PopUp Stopper Professional program, but would first like to ask you a question regarding some despicable emails I've recently been receiving. I am a senior citizen and a ... grandmother, and would like to eliminate male-oriented offers before I turn 81. Is this possible to do? I have been a long-time subscriber to Smart Computing and the earlier PC Novice... I wish I had known about you earlier! I just happened upon it. Terrific stuff!!" Dorothy emailed me again today: " In checking my e-mail this a.m., ... (view more)

Recall -- A few days ago, I wrote about the latest virus threat which is currently clogging up email mailboxes around the world. In short, the "SoBig worm arrives via email as an attachment; once the attachment has been executed, the worm attempts ... to propagate itself by mass-mailing the contacts it has collected from the host computer [especially through the use of email Address Books / Contact Lists]." SoBig Email Worm Virus The SoBig worm has been an especially dreadful problem for me, since I receive email daily from folks around the world. Whenever someone decides to drop me a ... (view more)

Candice W. writes: " Dear Dennis, I was hoping that maybe you could help me: I found your website though a search. Lately, I've been getting a bunch of returned emails from people I don't even know, and most of these emails contain viruses ... I ... have written to Hotmail's tech support, but all I get is automated responses telling me that it doesn't pertain to my hotmail account. But, I beg to differ because it is my account, and it's a huge problem! Can you tell me what I can do to get this to stop? " My Response: The problem Candice is experiencing is due to a Virus called SoBig, ... (view more)

I'd like to discuss a security threat which was recently discovered in Internet Explorer. Mike Healan of Spywareinfo.com forwarded an article to me today. The article urges all Windows users to take the necessary precautions to secure their browsers ... from a nasty exploit recently discovered in Internet Explorer. The exploit allows hackers to gain control of a system and execute harmful code. http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/htasploit/ Without further adieu, here is the article by Mike Healan (edited): -- Members of the SWI support forums have uncovered a very nasty flaw in Internet Explorer ... (view more)

... Continued . Reminder: What is Adware and Spyware? Spyware is software which silently records a users' Internet activity, and then reports the data to a central computer (which is also connected to the Internet). After data is collected from ... millions of online users, statistical forecasts are made for the purpose of targeted online marketing (IE: which search engine queries are used, buying habits based on pages visited, etc). On the other hand, Adware is software which sends advertisements (usually PopUps) to your computer -- even if you're not connected to the Internet. Quite often, ... (view more)

In yesterday's issue of the Infopackets Gazette, Jerry D. asked if there was a way to erase the history which contains the names of all previously loaded files in Windows Media Player. The feature is also known as the "Most Recently Used", or MRU ... file history. Unfortunately, there is a downside to the MRU feature. Although MRU saves time by allowing users access to recently used data, it also compromises privacy: anyone who can gain access to a shared PC can also see what files have been accessed recently. I personally did not know the answer to Jerry's dilemma, so I used searched ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Jerry D. writes: " Dear Dennis, I hope you can help me! I [would like to know how to] delete the 'Play List' from my Windows Media Player. I think I have version 9. Do you know how can I delete it? " My Response: I wasn't sure how ... to go about doing this, so I did some research using Google and found 2 viable solutions. Both suggestions I found came from reputable sources. Solution #1: Modify values the Windows Registry Close Windows Media Player (if it's running). Click Start -> Run, and type in: regedit.exe Open up the branch HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ ... (view more)

Carol G. from Arkansas writes: " Dear Dennis, Lately I've had instant Messenger popups [*not* MSN Messenger], mostly to advertise a site called ByeByeAds.com, telling me that: 'if they can breach my pc's security, anyone can'. I've searched, and ... don't have instant messenger ON my pc, or messenger, and am wondering just how these things are getting through? Yesterday a porn site advertisement came through the same way. Is the ByeByeAds.com 'service' valid? Do I need it? They are annoying grey popups in the middle of my screen, which come through when I'm working on line. Hope you can help ... (view more)

Jordan H. writes: " I would be ever so grateful to know the secret to removing those annoying arrows on shortcuts which are sent to the Desktop ... is there a simple way to undo the arrows? I would be very interested to know how. " My response: ... Microsoft's TweakUI can remove the shortcut arrows. Once you have downloaded and installed it on your machine, launch TweakUI (details below) and click on the Explorer tab. Uncheck the box next to "Prefix 'Shortcut to' on new shortcuts" and click OK. Microsoft's TweakUI (which is also bundled with PowerToys), may be downloaded from ... (view more)

Today I received well over 200 virus-infected emails, courtesy of the W32.sobig.b@mm.html and Friendship Screensaver worm / virus. So, why do I get bombarded with email viruses more than the average Joe? The answer to my dilemma is compound. Since ... literally thousands of users have emailed me in the past ... and because mail programs such as Outlook / Outlook Express automatically save contacts [email addresses] once mail has been replied to, ... and and because most email viruses propagate through email Contact Lists: my email addresses have been become exceptionally targeted by email worms. ... (view more)