Security

Side note: I have been extremely busy for the last 3 weeks making adjustments to the web site. I haven't had much time to work on newsletters this week, so I'm reposting some 'best of' Infopackets Gazette. Without further adieu, please enjoy this ... previously posted article on "How to visually trace a hacker". -- Wouldn't it be great if you could visually trace back the path of a hacker? A little while back, I received an email from Infopackets Reader 'J. Noway' who provided me a link to two freeware programs that do just that. J. writes: " Dear Dennis, I recently came across a ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Frances D. writes: " Dear Dennis, I have a problem getting my home page as well as other web pages to pull up. My email pulls up, and sends fine. Sometimes, when I access Internet explorer, it tries to connect, but then reports an ... error message. Other times it will slowly pull up and stop at the half way mark. It tells me it is connecting to site 127.0.0.1. What the heck is site 127.0.0.1? I have contacted my Internet Service Provider and they have told me a number of things to try, but nothing has worked. Is this my computer or is it an Internet problem? " My ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader 'Tom' asks: " Somewhere, someone told me about a website that allowed users to download a windows 98 Second Edition full CD that included all the critical updates. I also heard that you needed to use the original CD key to use ... this install. Do you happen to know if this is true, and if so, what is the web site? " My response: As far as I understand, it would be illegal to distribute any Microsoft product that is normally for sale (I.E.: the Windows Operating System itself -- Service Packs , on the other hand, are free). On that note, I happened to stumble across ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Vicki S. writes: " I've been reading up on next major release from Microsoft (Windows XP Service Pack 2). From what I understand -- and, as with all Service Pack releases -- there are major security issues addressed in the ... upcoming release. I'm a bit confused: I understand the Service Pack 2 is not due to be released for a while yet, however, Microsoft is offering 'Release Candidate 2' [RC2] of Service Pack 2. My question is, do you think RC2 will work for me? I have Windows XP home edition, a cable modem, and Norton Internet Security 2004, not to mention all the other ... (view more)

I don't normally talk about my personal life when composing articles on the web, but my latest eBook hits very close to home... and that's because, on June 6, 2004 (this Sunday), I'm getting married! In addition to spending the rest of my life with ... the future Mrs. Robin Ludington, I'm also taking on the responsibility of being a father to Robin's 2 year old son, Wyatt. The fundamentals of Toddler Temptation Adjusting to the curiosity of a two-year-old required some drastic rethinking of how my home office is set up. At the time I met Robin, I hadn't really planned on small children spending ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader 'SweetImage' writes: " Dennis is there any way to get rid of the Mirar toolbar once and for all? I have searched sites where I have found loads of people having the same problem. I have used at least 8 different Adware-blocking ... programs to remove the toolbar from my system, but none of them can get rid of this rotten thing! Mirar support has not answered my emails and I am going absolutely crazy trying to remove it from my system. I cannot use the Windows System Restore because it won't allow me to roll back (except for today's date) -- and furthermore, Dell can't help ... (view more)

Recall -- Last week, Infopackets Reader Justin S. asked if there was a way to make Windows Explorer remember the Most Recently Used (MRU) folder: " Every time I open windows explorer, the folder window displays the same directory. I always end up ... having to click on 'My computer', then navigate to C drive, then to Program files, then to the folder I finally need to get to. Is there any way to make Windows remember the folder I was recently visiting so that I don't have to go through this torment? " Unfortunately, I couldn't find any freeware programs capable of injecting MRU folders ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Justin S. writes: " Dear Dennis, Every time I open windows explorer, the folder window displays the same directory. I always end up having to click on 'My computer', then navigate to C drive, then to Program files, then to the ... folder I finally need to get to. Is there any way to make Windows remember the folder I was recently visiting so that I don't have to go through this torment? " My response: I know exactly what you mean. When I compile this newsletter, I typically bounce from one application to the next. By doing so, I save files in different directories -- ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Guillaume G. from Melbourne, Florida writes: " Dear Dennis, I recently stumbled upon an article that claims to cease the propagation of email viruses if a certain entry is added to your address book (contact list). The original ... article was written in French, and roughly translates to the following: ' In your address book, create a new contact with the name 0000 or 000*0 or 0_00 without letters, without an address and without any other details. This contact will be installed as the first on your list. If a virus should attempt to send a message to all addresses on your ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Pat M. writes: " Dennis, how do I get rid of the 'iSearch toolbar' which has attached itself to my Internet Explorer web browser? I have attempted to use the automated uninstaller from the isearch web site, but my computer refuses ... to download the software. I have also tried the Add / Remove Programs in Control Panel, but have had no luck. Any ideas?" My response: Although many would disagree , the iSearch web site claims that their toolbar is not Spyware because it "in no way tracks you or the web sites that you visit." (Source: iSearch.com FAQ ). ... (view more)