Archives - What's Hot Articles
In this space, we've archived some of the columns we've written and newsletters we've sent to our clients and friends. Here's the index:
- Smart Computing Checklist
- Beware Spoofed Email Senders
- Be wary of computer advice
- Email warnings are almost always hoaxes
(Jan 2004) Smart Computing Checklist: Over the last few months, the threat from 'bad guys' on the internet has increased dramatically. Here's advice from Positek.net on what anyone with a Windows computer and a connection to the internet (Dial-up or broadband) should have and/or do.
This list changes as the threats to your computing life change, so check this list often. While this list is both long and hard to read, it reflects the nature of the threats these days, which are many and hard to counter.
Get the list here.
Without these tools and practices, it's only a matter of time before your computer becomes non-functional.
(Dec 2003) It is absurdly easy to spoof a return email address that isn't yours. Spammers and those who send computer viruses via email do this all the time. Just because you got a virus-laden email from someone, doesn't mean that person actually sent it to you. It's likely that the real source is not what the email address in the From box says.
If you receive an email with a virus attached (that your antivirus software disabled), you have 2 choices: Ignore it (and delete it), or try to trace the sender and complain to his/her Internet Service Provider (ISP).
To do the latter, you need to look at the message header information (In Outlook, View|Options) so you can find out what ISP initially sent the email, and the local Internet Protocol (IP) address of the sender. Look for numerical address(es) in the format of four sets of 1 to 3 digit numbers separated by periods (ex. 207.69.188.185 which happens to belong to Earthlink).
Copy that number down, and go to http://www.arin.net/whois/ (or another service that does reverse IP lookups). Enter the IP number you copied down and note who owns that IP. Go to the website of that company, and find where to send complaints about spam or email abuse. Send them an email with a copy of what you got, then delete the original email. A pain to do all that, but the only really productive thing you can do.
(Oct 2003) It used to be that you could use your computer any way you want, and not have to worry--much. Those days are pretty much behind us now. You need to be much more careful how you use your computer these days: Uninformed use of a computer puts your personal information at risk. If your computer is connected to the internet (and who's isn't), you also risk the information of your family, your friends, pretty much anyone you've entered information about into your computer. But don't just take my word for it, here's a recent news article that gives fair warning. Follow safe computing practices to protect your personal information and that of people you know. And, help educate the people you know, so they will better safeguard info about you!
Be wary of computer advice from any source (even us!). Always check out advice through another source, esp. before you send that email warning to everyone you know--nearly all email warnings are hoaxes. Verify through an authoritative source--we've got links to many throughout this website.
If you've an issue you don't see addressed on this website, tell us about it so we can let everyone benefit while we help you out! See our Frequently Asked Questions list, and share your knowledge.
(Sept. 2003) Well, let's start with this website! Please note everything is under constant construction, we'll try to keep enhancing the information for you daily. Keep checking back, and if you've an issue you don't see addressed here, tell us about it so we can let everyone benefit while we help you out! See our Frequently Asked Questions list.
Computer viruses such as Blaster and Sobig threaten anyone who doesn't adhere to safe computing practices, such as our Smart Computing Checklist! You can research about these and other viruses at the Symantec Antivirus Center.
Nearly all unsolicited email that warns you of viruses or other computing threats are hoaxes. Before you forward anything like this to all your friends, find out the truth. You can simply do an internet search on terms in the email, or go to authoritative sources like Hoaxbusters and Symantec. Either way, forwarding warnings to others simply adds to the glut of spam. Don't help!
There's a very short list of programs you want to download and use from the internet. Most 'free' programs come with spware or adware. To get rid of these unwanted programs, we like Lavasoft's Ad-aware program. Check it out here.