MikesWhatsNews 28, 01, 2005
in today's issue #765

2 RAM, Virtual Memory, PageFile and All That Stuff
3 Windows Grep
4 IE & OE Security Settings
5 Outsmart Spyware
6 Test the security of your email system
7 Feeding Frenzy 1.0
8 CCC Graphic Garden
9 Changing The Order of Your Quick-Launch Icons
10 Picasa 2
11 Stop Microsoft Messenger Popups
HackFix Updates
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NOTE: Any time you see the " ++ ", it means there is more
of the article, or story, on the linked site. Mike
____________________________________________________________

There is a complete archive of past MikesWhatsNews newsletters
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___________________________________________________________
2
RAM, Virtual Memory, PageFile and all that stuff
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/WindowsGeneralWeb/RAMVirtualMemoryPageFileEtc
.htm

This article explains some aspects of the Virtual Memory implementation in
Windows 2000, XP, 2003 Server etc. It is intended for a general audience
that has an interest in the relationship between RAM (Random Access Memory),
Address Spaces, Virtual Memory and pagefile in those systems. An
abbreviated version of this article is available at
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=555223.

The article is arranged with basic information covering the scope of the
article in 1. Basic Concepts with more details in 2. Additional Detail.
This should enable the casual reader to get basic information without
getting buried in detail, but those interested in a greater understanding
can read the detailed material further down in the article.

This article is mainly concerned with 32 bit Windows versions, but most of
the discussion is equally applicable to 64 bit versions. See 3. 64 Bit
Processors and Address Spaces for some information specifically about 64 bit
versions.
++
____________________________________________________________
3
Windows Grep text searching tool
http://www.wingrep.com/
The premier text searching tool for Windows 9x and NT - the choice of
software developers the world over.
Don't take our word for it - download a fully functioning non-time expiring
copy today!
Windows Grep is a tool for searching files on your disks for occurrences of
text strings that you specify. Although Windows and many other programs have
file searching capabilities built-in, none can match the power and
versatility of Windows Grep. The program combines the power and flexibility
of traditional command line grep utilities available on DOS, UNIX and other
platforms with the ease of use of Microsoft Windows.

In addition to searching, Windows Grep can also perform global replacing in
your files, with complete safety.

Windows Grep is designed for searching plain-ASCII text files, such as
program source, HTML, RTF and batch files, but it can also search binary
files such as word processor documents, databases, spreadsheets and
executables.
++
Grep FAQ;
http://bulba.sdsu.edu/grephelp.html
____________________________________________________________
4
IE & OE Security Settings

IE & OE Settings
http://members.accessbee.com/mitch/IE_OEsettings.html
Hi, you are reading this because

(1) you are trying to get rid of some nasty things on your computer or
(2) you are worried about your settings, or both.

GOOD, that is the first step.

When Microsoft ships it's system they are trying to make it "easy" for you
to surf the web, NOT SAFE!
You are responsible for the security of your computer, not Norton,
Microsoft, Zone Alarm, but you.
You need both a good Firewall and Anti-virus software.
You need to make sure you are current in all patches and reference file
updates.
(If you need either a Firewall or Anti-virus software, check
here:Newbie/oldie Info List .)

Now that that is done, lets look at Outlook Express first:
NOTE: Outlook Express is part of Internet Explorer so the settings for one
can affect the other.
++
____________________________________________________________
5
Outsmart Spyware
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10165_7-5601335-1.html?tag=nl.e729
Tip 1: Save yourself with System Restore
Tip 2: Manage browser add-ons with Service Pack 2
Tip 3: Harness paranoia to avoid spyware infections
++
Thanks to Sean at; mycomuterheadaches
MCH - http://shorterlink.com/?PBFUJ5
SMB - http://savemybutt.com
____________________________________________________________
6
Test the security of your email system!
http://www.emailsecuritytest.com/
Is your email system secure against email viruses and attacks?
The most deadly viruses, able to cripple your email system and corporate
network in minutes, are being distributed worldwide via email in a matter of
hours (for example, the LoveLetter virus). Email worms and viruses can reach
your system and infect your users through harmful attachments. But that's
not all! Some viruses are transmitted through harmless-looking email
messages and can run automatically without the need for user intervention
(like the Nimda virus). Are you covered against such threats?

Find out now by doing a vulnerability check on your email system!
Sign up to test for these real world threats by entering your name and email
address below. You will receive an email asking you to confirm your request
by clicking on a URL, after which we will perform a vulnerability check of
your email system. You will receive the results by email.

For an in-depth explanation of these vulnerabilities and why anti-virus is
not enough, check out our white papers, Protecting your network against
email threats, "One virus engine is not enough: The case for maximizing
network protection with multiple anti-virus scanners" and Why You Need an
Email Exploit Detection Engine. To protect once and for all against current
and future threats, consider GFI MailSecurity.
++ There is more on the web site.
____________________________________________________________
7
Feeding Frenzy 1.0
http://games.softpedia.com/get/Shareware-Games/Feeding%20Frenzy.shtml
It's survival of the biggest in this deep sea challenge. Swim your way from
the safety of the reefs to the depths of the open ocean in your struggle to
reach the top of the food chain. Can you eat enough to get big enough to
face down the Shark King?

Thrilling power-ups will help you get an edge, but it's going to take a
swift tail and some fancy fin work to keep from being someone's lunch.
Stunningly beautiful graphics and hilarious sounds bring the sea to life on
your PC, while two addictive game modes are sure to keep you in a frenzy for
hours and hours.
++
____________________________________________________________
8
'Christy's Computer Corner'
thanks to Christy;
http://www.1stpick.org

Graphic Garden
http://www.graphicgarden.com/

Looking for cute graphics to decorate your cards? Or are you looking for a
picture that you can print out for your grandchild to color? Want some
interesting stationary for that letter to mom? Well you can find all that
and more
at the Graphic Garden. Best of all, it's free.

Please check the FAQ for the rules of usage. Printables include stationary,
coloring pictures, labels, and more.
Plus, for those of you who enjoy cross stitch there are patterns. And, for
those of you who love e-mailing your
friends postcards you can even find those here too. Enjoy the graphics.

~~~~~~~~
9
Changing The Order of Your Quick-Launch Icons

You can move the icons of the Quick Launch toolbar just by dragging them to
a new location on the toolbar and dropping them when the black line appears
between icons.
You can also do this with other toolbars as long as they are folders of
shortcuts.
You won't be able to do it for a My Computer toolbar.
You can do it with a Favorites toolbar.

Was this forwarded to you ?
Get your own subscription here:
<1stpickPCtips-request@...?Subject=subscribe>

____________________________________________________________
10
Picasa 2 free
http://www.picasa.com/
Win 98/ME/2000/XP ~ Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0+
Find and enjoy the pictures on your computer in seconds.
A free software download from Google.
Picasa is software that helps you instantly find, edit and share all the
pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it automatically locates
all your pictures (even ones you forgot you had) and sorts them into visual
albums organized by date with folder names you know. You can drag and drop
to arrange your albums and make labels to create new groups. Picasa makes
sure your pictures are always organized.

Picasa also makes advanced editing simple by putting one-click fixes and
powerful effects at your fingertips. And Picasa makes it a snap to share
your pictures- you can email, print at home, make gift CDs, instantly
share via Hello - and even put pictures on your own blog.
____________________________________________________________
11
Stop Microsoft Messenger Popups

One of the things I did not like about the Windows XPSP2 was the fact that
Microsoft reactivated Microsoft Messenger Service.

This supposedly helpfull utility provided is to allow network administrators
to send messages to users on the
network.

However the spammers have taken to using this service to send out spam and
messages.

Microsoft Messenger is not MSN Messenger the chat program like AOL Instant
Messenger.

1. Open the Start Menu> click on Control Panel.

2. Click on Performance and Maintenance.

3. Click on Administrative Tools.

4. Doubleclick on Services.

5. Scroll down and find the "Messenger" service. Doubleclick on it.

6. Under Startup Type, choose "Disabled."

7. Click OK.

8. Close all of the open windows and reboot your computer.

You should now be free of those annoying Messenger service promps.
____________________________________________________________

HackFix updates, thanks to Christy;
staff@...
Http://www.hackfix.org
This weeks Virus Pattern Updates (01/27/2005)

Updates will now vary in time but remain the same in day. Our
time schedule no longer allows for updates to be sent at a specific
time on any day so we will continue to send them on Thursdays to
help our readers to remember to update before leaving for the
weekend (time away or from work). We apologize if this causes
any confusion.

All Software listed Alphabetically by Company name as some
companies manufacture more then one product.


Aladdin Knowledge Systems

Esafe Desktop/Gateway/Enterprise
Last Updated Jan 27/2005
To update your software
Visit: http://www.esafe.com/esafe/downloads/virusig.asp
Or
>From the Esafe folder in your Start Menu select Download Updates
~~~~~

AlWil Software

Avast Antivirus
Last Updated Jan 27/2005
To update your software:
Visit: http://www.avast.com/
Or
Right click on the AVAST icon in the system tray, Select iAVS
Update,
AVAST will check for updates and download the appropriate files as
needed.
~~~~~

Authentium Software Systems

Command antivirus
Last Updated Jan 27/2005
To update your software
Visit
http://www.authentium.com/support/downloads/index.cfm
~~~~~

Center for Antivirus Technologies (CAT)

Quickheal
Last Updated Jan 27/2005
To update your software
Visit: http://207.230.103.11/public/updates/updates.asp
Or
Open Quickheal select Utility from the top toolbar and liveupdate.

Follow the onscreen prompts. Alternately you can select
Liveupdate
directly from the QuickHeal program menu on the startmenu.
~~~~~

Frisk Software Systems

Fprot
Last Updated Jan 26/2005
To update your software
Visit: http://www.f-prot.com/download/home_user/
~~~~~

Computer Associates

E-Trust
Last updated Jan 26/2005
To update your software
http://www3.ca.com/support/vicdownload/
Or
>From the Respective folder in your Start Menu select Autodownload

For Vet Anti virus
http://www.vet.com.au/html/software/update.html

Be sure to have your Customer ID and your registered email address

handy for verification.

**Note**

We knew this time would come eventually, that Computer Associates
would not continue to support/update the older program
https://www2.my-etrust.com/services/ipe_support??
~~~~~~


GeCad Software

Rav (Reliable AntiVirus)
Last Updated: Jan 27/2005
To update your software:
Visit:
http://www.ravantivirus.com/pages/dldupdate.php?type=Daily
Or
Open Rav and select Rav Update from the toolbar
~~~~~

Grisoft Inc.

AVG
Announcing the End of Support for AVG Anti-Virus 6.0 (December 31,
2004)
Read more here: http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_avg6_termination.php
(New update details will be available soon)

Last updated Jan 27/2005
To update your software
Visit: http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php
Or
Open AVG and click Virus Database to check for updates
Or
Open AVG control centre and click Update Manager/update now

**Note: To help speed up AVG updates you can set your program to
use an alternate download site.
Open AVG control centre->update manager->download from server.
The drop downbox should have listed www.grisoft.com (default) and
www.grisoft.cz. (be sure to select "apply" when done to save the
changes)
The default site is most often used so can at times become
temporarily unavailable. By using the secondary site (www.grisoft.cz)
helps to ease the server and makes your update go quicker as most don't use
it!
~~~~~

H+Bedv

AntiVir
Last updated Jan 27/2005
To update your software
Visit: http://www.free-av.com/antivirus/allinonen.html
Or
Open AntiVir, from the top toolbar select Tools->start internet
update and follow the on screen prompts.


Vexira
Last updated Jan 27/2005
To update your software
Visit: http://www.centralcommand.com/updates.html
Or
Open Vexira, from the top toolbar select Tools->start internet
update and follow the on screen prompts.

Vexira Antivirus is marketed by Central Command however it
is the same program as Antivir with only a different name.
~~~~~

Kaspersky

Kaspersky Anti-Virus (formerly AVP)
Last updated Jan 21/2005
To update your software
Visit: http://www.kaspersky.com/updates.asp
Or
Open AVP from the top toolbar click Tools-> Update virus
definition
Or
From the Kaspersky folder in your Start Menu select AVP updater


*Note* Avp now has available a cumulative update and a
daily update with the daily being any important items they
feel shouldn't wait till the next cumulative update. Our
dates here are based on the most recent Major update.

*Note: Improved update accessiblity. To ease the update web
traffic Kaspersky labs has additional servers for autoupdating.
The program defaults to use one server but can be altered to
check a variety of servers.
Select Kaspersky updater, select update via the internet to
open the drop down box(es) select "location" Check the box
labeled "Use alternate locations from the list" select next and
next to update. This option should stay selected after the first
time. This helps Kaspersky lighten the load for updates and
helps you obtain updates easier.
~~~~~

Network Associates

Mcafee
Last updated Jan 27/2005
To update your software
For Mcafee Visit
http://www.networkassociates.com/us/downloads/updates/superdat.asp
(for Virus and Engine updates)


Drsolomn (Product no longer available for new users however
updates still available for current users): Go to the following
Internet site: http://download.mcafee.com/updates/4x.asp
IMPORTANT: When you get to this site you may notice that it
refers to VirusScan. This update is not only for VirusScan.
It also works with Dr.Solomon's.

Or
Open your respective software virus scan scheduler, double click
Auto update, click Run Now to do a manual live update, or click
Schedule to set up a timed live update.
~~~~~

Norman Data Defence

Norman Virus Control
Last updated Jan 27/2005
To update your software
Visit:
http://www.norman.com/downloads.shtml#definition_files_updates
Be sure to have your Valid Username and password handy for
verification.
Or From the Norman folder in your Start Menu select Internet
Update

**Note Norman Virus Control web updates are only for version
prior to 5.0. Norman 5.0 can only be updated via the update in
the program itself.

Thunderbyte Anti Virus
Current Version: This product is no longer being supported.
http://www.norman.com/tbav.shtml
~~~~~

Softwin

BitDefender (Previously known as AVX - AntiVirus eXpert as of Nov
06/01)
Last Updated Jan 27/2005
To update your software
Visit:
http://www.bitdefender.com/bd/site/downloads.php?menu_id=19&s_id=3
Or
Open BitDefender select Protection Options->live upgrade
Or From the BitDefender folder in your Start Menu select
Bitdefender Live

Press Release on the software change
http://www.bitdefender.com/press/ref1.php
~~~~~

Sophos

Sophos Anti Virus
Last IDE available Jan 27/2005
To obtain the latest IDE files
Visit: http://www.sophos.com/downloads/ide/

**Note: Sophos does not update as other products do.
They update the Engine/software once a month (or so) to include
all the previous IDE files. New IDE files are available with new
virus threats and must be downloaded individually until the next
software update is available.
Our update dates reflect the most recent available IDE file.
~~~~~

Symantec

Nortons AntiVirus
Last updated Jan 26/2005
To update your software
Visit: http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/defs.download.html
select your language -> product from the list
Or
Open Nortons software and click the "live update" button
Or From the Nortons folder in your Start Menu select LiveUpdate -
Norton Antivirus
~~~~~

Trend Micro

PcCillin
Last updated Jan 26/2005
To update your software
Visit: http://www.antivirus.com/download/pattern.asp
Be sure to have your Registration number handy for verification
Or
Open PcCillin click Update then click Update Now (or Update later
to Schedule a timed update)
~~~~~~~~~

If there is an Anti Virus program that is Not listed here that
you would like to see added to the weekly updates list Please
feel free to let us know.

Remember Your anti virus software is only as good as the user...
If you don't keep it updated it won't provide you with maximum
protection.

This weekly Update will be sent every Thursday on or after
6pm (eastern) to keep you up to date on virus pattern updates
available. Virus patterns are checked for most recent update
date as of 6pm Thursdays.

~~~~

~ Hackfix Project Staff
staff@...
Http://www.hackfix.org

3017 St Clair Ave #176
Burlington, Ontario
L7R 3L7
____________________________________________________________
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Antivirus software is a good choice to scan your system for possible viruses,
however no virus scanner is 100% effective as manufactures cannot keep up with
the rapid change of viruses that happens daily.
Be sure to update yours regularly.
http://www.hackfix.org/software/antivirus.html
______________________________________________________________________
Please feel free, to offer constructive criticism, as that will help me keep it
interesting.
I also welcome any submissions about new products, web pages, or articles of
interest.

All submissions posted in MWN will be given proper credit.
"MikesWhatsNews" believes in giving credit where credit is due but at times
deadlines and information that is very important to readers we accidentally
misspost an item.

If you believe something to be miscredited, or you know the author of one of the
articles which we have posted as 'unknown', please do let us know so we can
correct the information where applicable.

Many times in a article you may see a click here for more information, or to go
to a link, these often will not work, as the original information, was taken
from a page with HTML links. This is when you will want to go to the webpage
indicated in the article, ++ ,for 'the rest of the story'
***MfM*** indicates that I am adding my own information to a particular
article.
`~*~*~*~*~*~`
Mike ~It's a good day if I learned something new.
You can read a sample of my newsletter on my web page http://www.mwn.ca
My virus pages ~ http://virusinfo.hackfix.org
mytech@...
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