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Just a few "Golden Nuggets" of info that I've mined from the internet
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1) Free software and services
2) Articles
3) Search engines
4) 37211 EZ-board forums:
5) Hardware:
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https://www.quickbase.com/db/main?a=home
http://pcusers.org/pcebiz#asp
QuickBase is a new the Web-based database from Intuit, that allows you to
easily setup and use databases that are available to anyone with web access.
The free starter plan allows you to have up to 3 databases with a 3 MB
storage limit. The site also has several templates and ideas on how to use
an online database. The below link is a ZDnet review of Quickbase.
http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/stories/reviews/0,6755,2682081,00.html
Shareable Databases In a Snap.
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http://www.winmag.com/windows/features/merunbetter/02.htm
http://pcusers.org/pcreference.html#resources
Ten Ways to Make Windows ME Run Better.
http://www.zdnet.com/computershopper/edit/howtobuy/
http://pcusers.org/pcreference.html#resources
ZD-Net How to Buy guides. These guides give you the information you need
before buying that piece of hardware. Current guides include those on
Desktops, Notebooks, CD-ROM/DVD-ROM Drives, Digital Cameras, Game Hardware, Graphics Cards, Handhelds, Hard Drives, Modems, Monitors,
Motherboards, Printers, Removable Storage and Scanners
http://www.zdnet.com/zdhelp/stories/main/0,5594,2690111,00.html
http://pcusers.org/pcreference.html#resources
Windows and Office keyboard shortcuts. This guide not only tells you what
the keyboard shortcuts do, but it also gives you mneumonic devices to help
you to remember them
http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/guides/home_lan_guide/
http://pcusers.org/pcreference.html#resources
Simple Guide to Building a Home LAN
http://familyinternet.about.com/parenting/familyinternet/library/weekly/aa030401a.htm
http://pcusers.org/pcreference.html#resources
Set Up Your Computer For More Than One User
http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2692472,00.html?chkpt=zdnn030501
http://pcusers.org/pcreference.html#articles
Reversal of fortune--tracking Web trackers. The use of web bugs.
http://www.securityspace.com/s_survey/data/man.200102/webbug.html
"The Web Bug Report documents the usage of web bugs on the internet. What are web bugs? They are objects (images, iframes, etc.) that are imbedded on a web site that cause part of the web page to be retrieved from a completely different web site. In the process, this second web site gets to know that you visited the original web site. The most common web bugs are banner ads. Advertising agencies that have banner ads placed on a web site know pretty much all traffic that the web site gets."
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http://www.hotsheet.com/
http://pcusers.org/pcreference.html#search
Hotsheet.com. Tired of looking for those Favorites, Then this combination
search engine/portal puts it all on one page. If you don't like the looks
of of the default Hotsheet page then you can create a "My Hotsheet" to which
you can easily add any of your favorite links and bookmarks, or quickly add
sites from the HotSheet directory. The "My Hotsheet" feature also allows you
to Auto-Enter zip code and ticker symbols for fast Stock Quotes, Weather,
and Local searches. This could become the default page for my browser.
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The following discussion can be read in full at the PC Security and Virus Issues Forum at http://pub7.ezboard.com/f37211pcusersgroupfrm4
--- "Do you know anything about this alleged virus?? Also, do you know Symantec's tech support e-mail address?
Topic: TWO new viruses discovered by Microsoft & McAfee A new virus has just been discovered that has been classified by Microsoftand by McAfee as the most destructive virus ever! This virus was discovered yesterday afternoon by McAfee and No vaccine has yet been developed. This virus simply destroys Sector Zero from the hard disk, where vital information for its functioning are stored. This virus acts in the following manner: It sends itself automatically to all contacts on your list with the title "A Virtual Card for You". As soon as the supposed virtual card is opened, the computer freezes so that the user has to reboot. When the ctrl+alt+del keys or the reset button are pressed, the virus destroys Sector Zero, thus permanently destroying the hard disk. Yesterday, in just a few hours, this virus caused panic in New York, according to news broadcast by CNN ( www.cnn.com www.cnn.com> ). An employee of Microsoft itself received this alert. So don't open any mails with the subject "A Virtual Card for You". As soon as you get the mail, delete it. Please pass on this mail to all your friends. Forward this to everyone in your address book. I would rather receive this 25 times than not at all. Also, Intel announced that a new and very destructive virus as discovered recently. If you receive an e-mail called "An Internet Flower For You" do not open it. Delete it right away! This virus removes all dynamic link libraries (.dll files) from your computer."
--- This was the excellent response by Roger Imai
"People ask me all the time about virus warnings from unrecognized sources such as the one you forwarded to me. I always say, DON'T FORWARD IT. Let the established authorities take care of warnings. Who are these people anyway? Why does this so-called alert only give the CNN front page URL, and not a URL to a specific article about this "threat"? Forwarding such "alerts" which can't be confirmed only places an unnecessary junk-load on mail servers. Let the real experts issue warnings which can be confirmed by multiple sources. All else is just panic-mongering. And I think this could be one of those. I also think it is suspicious that this report involves Microsoft as an active participant. Microsoft does not "classify viruses," they don't claim to be in the antivirus business, and (they) rarely comment on "new" viruses, except when they issue their own security updates. This letter might even be a SETUP to get you USED to forwarding unevaluated content.
I haven't checked for what was described, but I do know that Symantec released several virus definition updates in close succession this week, when normally the updates occur about once a week. The best thing to do is simply to keep your Norton AntiVirus updated, manually, if necessary, using the LiveUpdate button.
Asking Symantec about this viral strain may not get a definitive answer. Here's why: Virus names are not a reliable way to identify them, because the names they are assigned depend on the virus detection technology that is used. Different antivirus software use different technologies and methods for detection, and so, use different classification methods to name the virus strains. Therefore, the list of viruses will never match from one vendor to another. There has been some attempt to standardize the naming methods, but it will never work.
Since you asked, the Symantec Tech Support URL is right in your Norton AntiVirus control panel, in the Help menu. Double-click on the NAV icon in your System Tray to open the NAV control panel. But I would advise you NOT to send an inquiry to Symantec Tech Support about this, for the reason I gave above. It would only be an annoyance to them, as they will already be aware of it through their information clearinghouse, and probably have it covered under a name different from what McAfee assigns it.
Finally, you should ALWAYS be suspicious of any unannounced attachments in your e-mail. The EXE or VBS or other extension of a malicious executable can be hidden, and the file made to appear to be a harmless JPG. You should always right-click on attachments, and Select "Save To Disk," to allow NAV to scan it first, before you open it in Windows Explorer. YOU MUST HAVE NAV AUTO-PROTECT TURNED ON.
I know mail-forwarding to one another is a popular activity among AOLers, and this in itself is a security risk, because it enables infections to spread rapidly. Virus creators take advantage of the fact that people like to share "fun stuff." I may be a kill-joy, but the nly "fun stuff" I think anyone should share is plain-text messages, not attachments. You should always announce an attachment to the recipient before you send it. Likewise, should be very wary about opening any unannounced attachments. At that point, it would be up to your own NAV to intercept any malicious intent. If you double-click on e-mail attachments indiscriminately, you're putting yourself at risk -- especially with virtual card attachments -- and even when they come from recognized correspondents -- since many viruses propagate themselves by masquerading as people you know, by stealth-mailing themselves to addresses found in the infected user's Address Book.
Years ago, viruses USED to spread slowly enough for antivirus companies to keep up with them. Today, the reason that viruses are so dangerous is that they have the ability to propagate almost instantaneously by rapid automatic re-mailing, before the anti-virus software can be updated. And the reason this happens is, not because the viruses are smarter, but rather, because users today behave stupider, when it comes to instant e-mail gratification. And even smart people often *behave* stupidly with e-mail! No matter how good the antivirus software you have is, fast-spreading viruses always have a chance of beating the virus definitions to the punch, arriving in your mailbox before you've updated. Your FIRST level of security is always your own vigilance and caution. The First Rule of Security is: Remain calm, but ACT PARANOID."
--- Go to the forum to read other responses to this topic.
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http://www.techextreme.com/display.asp?ID=327&Page=1
D-link USB Wireless Network Adapter Review. D-Link has introduced the
DWL-120; a USB wireless adapter that brings very simple wireless networking to anyone with a USB port. The DWL-120 can deliver 11 megabits per second, up to 100 meters away.
http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?82997:108123
Speedy Wireless 'Peerage'. A review of the U.S. Robotics Wireless PCI
Adapter.
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This newsletter is sponsored by the 37211 PC Users Group. All comments,
suggestions or submissions should be sent to david.donoho@pcusers.org.
Guidelines for submission of articles are at http://pcusers.org/articlesubmit.html .
The Dave's Diggins newsletter subscription list is not publicly accessible nor is it provided or sold to anyone for any other purpose.
Disclaimer: The tips and other information provided in the Dave's Diggins' newsletter are believed to be accurate, but we cannot and do not guarantee that all the information listed within or linked from, this publication will work on all systems, for all users, at all times. All information herein is offered as-is and without warranty of any kind. Neither the 37211 PC Users Group, nor its officers and contributors are responsible for any loss, injury, or damage, direct or consequential, resulting from application of any information presented here.
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