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Ask.Dad.Com - Isle of Man- COMPUTER "MUST HAVE" DOWNLOADS -Do you have the time? Want to take the risk? Able to afford a new computer by disregarding all this?Did you update recently? |
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Those who get overwhelmed with unsolicited spam/junk/virus mail, who need their computer to run at proper ADSL/Broadband speed or who have once had a virus know perfectly well what is addressed here.
Some consider all this bothersome, some consider it paranoia but some value a fast running computer that is not reaping statistical data behind their backs or plying them with ads.
It all takes a short, easy time to download and to update daily and a couple of FREE programmes that run at the end of your computer day whilst you are fixing dinner or tea, really can't be regarded as consumption of time. Once updated, the control programmes can run with your router/modem connection turned off and all you have to do is close the programmes before turning off your machine for the night.
Below are the links to the "must have" downloads to protect your computer. Remember, that a protection is only as good as its updates so daily update checks are recommended. Automatic updates are usually only available with the "pay" versions.
Top - Back - Spyware,Ads,Cookies,Tracking Registers
If you do not have the FIREWALL feature, you are highly recommended to install:
ZONE ALARM - Super firewall. Install the FREE issue by hitting name above.
Top - Back - SpywareBlaster
A particularly bad one is imrworldwide.com (The Red Sheriff) which may be good for the companies that like to collect data about your activities, preferences, interests and anything to form a basis for email, snail mail and general bother sales promotion. Even some banks place this cookie.
You can install all three of the following FREE downloads without any known conflicts.
I personally check them ALL DAILY for updates and run Spybot and Ad-Aware before turning off my machine in order to have a clean start next day. You can run them at anytime during the day too.
Check daily for updates (is fast) Programme runs in background if 'pinned to start menu'.. Hit "Enable full protection" in any cases where unprotected files indicated. Check for updates daily at end of your session. {To pin to start menu, check desktop icon with R mouse)
Interesting are the other two items offered by JavaCool, that I never personally tried:
1. EULAlyzer 1.2 released! (Jan 9, 2007) License agreements can be a pain and a bore. Analyze license agreements for interesting words and phrases! and
2. PDF MailTo Vulnerability Fix Tool released! (Oct 9, 2007) Help secure your system and implement the security workaround recommended by Adobe with this easy-to-use tool for the critical Adobe Security Vulnerability (APSA07-04).
Top - Back - Other Handy Freeware
Top - Back - Pay Installations
Yahoo Companion Toolbar EXCELLENT with Search, Mini-Popup blocker and mini (but fast) ANTI-SPY facility. However, the Anti-Spy facility occupies a massive amount of disk space.
Where services are only available with the US Yahoo.com opening, you can achieve this by allocating a US state when opening your Yahoo ID giving 5 zeros for the postcode and changing to what you want after the .com address has been assigned. After that, your choice of language determines where your account is kept and I find that speaking Australian-English has freed me from lots of spam and given me Address-Guard for free. Any adds that appear with $ signs are, of course, in AUD or A$
Yahoo messenger 7.0 with Voice - online live messaging with friends - quicker than emails and can be used as a free phone worldwide if both users have microphones installed and running. Your language location will determine which news you get.
ADDRESS-GUARD Once you have Yahoo Messenger, think of opening a Yahoo Email Account and setting your language option to English-Australian. This will have your account kept downunder BUT it gives you for FREE the OPTION DISPOSABLE ADDRESSES
Disposable addresses are used for all sign ups and commercial institutions that could sell or misuse your email address resulting in spam mail. You select a unique first part (e.g. TTMarshal-) and insert the company name or abbreviation when signing up. This is then available in the COMPOSE function. Should the address be misused then you only need to hit SPAM and the address is blocked and neither the company nor its friends can contact you again. Somehow, the companies seem to realize this.
TTMarshal- is only an example but would result in email addresses like TTMarshal-Hertz@yahoo.com, TTMarshal-BestWestern@yahoo.com etc etc. All replies go to your regular Yahoo email account with the advantage of them being disposable/blockable if misused for spam. Nowadays I get to see no more than 4 or 5 junk mails on any day, thanks to Address-Guard and some Filters that I created.
Top - Back - Protecting Yourself-Keeping Viruses Out
PAY ANTI-VIRUS:
ProtectorPlus - Paid Anti-Virus. U$30 install + U$12 per annum.
No big cost for an effective anti-virus. www.pspl.com supply free fix-it kits too. You can contact them by email if you have a question instead of spending 1/2 a day roaming round FAQs
Programme automatically checks daily for updates.
Also offers SpamChoke anti-spam protector
Norton/Symantec Anti-Virus -U$50 initial fee. Appears to incorporate firewall
Comments:
I was with Norton/Symantec which came with the machine. A download update was called "Re-direct Norton" or similar and I wanted to ask them if this was a bona fide file. There is no way to ask them without paying or reporting a programme fault and going round and round in circles for hours. I went back to ProtectorPlus. I prefer to have the pay AV at U$12 per annum than be satisfied with the FREE issue.
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Top - Back - Outlook Express, Firefox
Top - Back - Internet Explorer & Firefox
6. OUTLOOK EXPRESS
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I no longer use Outlook Express as it downloads mail to your machine. Of course it checks for viruses at the same time but I have another story on that someplace else. My tip = Forget OE
For those who just can't tear themselves away, then download the FREE Spamfighter here.
Top - Back - Protecting against cookies
7. INTERNET EXPLORER AND FIREFOX/MOZILLA
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You will no doubt have opted for the MS updating service and that will no doubt have informed you of the latest IE version. If not, go to Help then About on your browser and ascertain which exact version you have (write down the full reference as it cannot be mouse copied). Check out at whether this is the up to date version for your equipment.
You can download the latest version at " Get it here " at that site.
[Resist playing the CO2 quiz as they want to remind you weekly to get all manner of things fixed. Do not give them a valid email address if you don't like junk mail.]
Those who have downloaded FIREFOX/MOZILLA wouldn't go back to Internet Explorer. Free download and no more Kernel and page freezing drop outs. The only disadvantage is that you can't search within a textbox which continues down the screen. This means that html webpage writers will need to use IE.
Top - Back - Scheduled Tasks
8. PROTECTING AGAINST AND GETTING RID OF COOKIES
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-UNDERSTANDING COOKIES
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You reach the cookie settings via TOOLS > INTERNET OPTIONS > PRIVACY > ADVANCED where you can set to ACCEPT, BLOCK, PROMPT. Computers are normally set to accept all cookies (session cookies and permanent cookies) but you can re-set to PROMPT and be asked each time a cookie is to be placed. Where you trust the main site you can check "Apply my decision to all cookies from this website" and hit "Allow". The same applies to "Deny".
If I allow all cookies from http://www.bmibaby.com and apply the decision to all cookies from bmibaby, I won't be pestered again unless they also want to set "stats" or "ads" cookies or cookies from one of their partner companies (to which I reply No and Remember as a matter of principle).
Sites which continue to request cookie setting after I have said "ALLOW" three times (but without remember) are checked "DENY" and "REMEMBER". If this results in the page not opening, a small eye with a red diagonal line appears at the bottom of your page frame and you can DOUBLE CLICK this and reset any pages that are not ads or stats and select other pages and reset to "USE DEFAULT BEHAVIOUR" using a right mouse click.
As I personally spend a long time on the computer and enter many sites when investigating travel information or airline news, I am liable to cookie setting (and thus statistic collecting and ads) and have BOTH my Cookie settings set to PROMPT (see below) so that I can deny all "ads" and "stats" cookies. Don't worry, the sites will open without cookies. Without banners and ad material and without photographs perhaps but the essential information you require will open. Sites that insist on cookies are those which want to set activity information reapers such as The Red Sheriff (imrworldwide.com) and you can exclude this at PRIVACY > SITES specifically. This will allow your computer to run a lot faster. You can reclassify the secure pages of your bank/s or trusted sites to "TRUSTED" at "SECURITY" if they have an https:// webpage.
Clearing your Cache regularly of cookies and temporary files is something you can do whilst working several times during the day. See TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES/COOKIES below regarding this simply hoovering operation.
A text file gives an insight into the various kinds of cookies and how you can and why you should protect against many of them.
Click UNDERSTANDING COOKIES here
Top - Back - Disk Clean
-SCHEDULED TASKS
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Also via Control Panel or under System Tools (Start button> Programmes> Accessories> System Tools) you will find DISK CLEAN UP (if you click it, it will clean) and you will also find SCHEDULED TASKS which you can open and ADD Scheduled Task so that it cleans automatically. You should have your Anti-Virus scan set there at least once per day and also the Anti-Virus Updates check too.
Top - Back - Temporary Net Files/Cookies
-DISK CLEAN UP
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With ADD you can use the Task Wizard to set Disk Clean Up. I have it there twice - Once with autocheck if my computer is inactive for 10 mins and once to autocheck every 3 hrs. When the check lists the options of what I can throw out, I check all (don't worry it will keep what is necessary) and throw all away.
If the check auto-runs after you have made a download but not yet installed, CANCEL the action until the installation is complete as the downloaded files will be in TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES and will get thrown out. After the installation (which might need a re-boot), it doesn't matter if the files are thrown out.
Top -
Back -
Cookie Popups
-TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES/COOKIES
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-Easy way
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On an Internet Browser page under TOOLS, you have the button DELETE BROWSING HISTORY which offers you 5 actions. If you want your computer to remember the names that you regularly type into mail and other files on opening, only DELETE COOKIES and then DELETE FILES in that order as the latter takes longer. After each, hit YES if you are asked if you are sure. Wait for the clearing indicator "Deleting Browsing History" to show and complete. This is called "clearing your cache" (i.e. browser cookies and temporary internet files).
HISTORY can be cleared if you are absolutely sure that you will not need to check out a particular day that you accessed a website. Clearing history is yet another step to retaining some privacy.
FORM DATA is the regularly used data that conveniently pops up when you start to type in a browser name. If you clear this then it is back to square #1.
PASSWORDS - If you are unsure as to whether you let a 'Save Password' through then clear passwords also. This is important to avoid identity theft. Personally, I never save PWs and use this deletion less frequently.
You can do both but the cookies will be gone probably after you delete files (i.e. Temporary Internet Files). This is called "clearing your cache"
-Easier way for advanced users
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If you are familiar with your computer, you can make a DESKTOP SHORTCUT to Temporary Internet Files which can be found with a search under My Computer > Local Disk (C:\) > Documents & Settings/User/LOCAL SETTINGS (User will be replaced with name of user). You can set a shortcut to Cookies too (separately listed under each user name). The Desktop Shortcuts are created via Right mouse > Send to > Desktop (create shortcut)
If you go Tools > Internet Options > Advanced and scroll down to security, see that you have a tick against "Empty Temporary Internet Files when browser is closed". A couple of places further down that section is the Phishing controls. Ensure that the Automatic Website Checking Phishing Filter is ON. Will only take time in cases of doubt and you will see this displayed next to the System Tray (bottom right of screen and left of the internet sign).
Top - Back - Register Keys
-COOKIES POPUPS
Whilst YOU might only see dots or crosses for your password, the cookie can read them.
If you have Windows XP or higher then do what I do and go via TOOLS> INTERNET OPTIONS> PRIVACY and on that tab you will see ADVANCED. Go there and set COOKIES to PROMPT in both cases. This means that cookies have to ask before being placed and will have to ask again each time you clear your disk or temporary files UNLESS you tick REMEMBER (you can afford to remember for sites that you trust but never "remember" for casual sites you visit when surfing - If they persist in asking then tick remember and reply BLOCK).
Top -
Back -
Yahoogroups
-REGISTRY KEYS
To illustrate what I mean, I stayed at a Bed and Breakfast in England just before Xmas and the owner complained that his computer crashed after 5 mins of running any browser. I installed Spybot and ran it - 1'596 badies it found including all the sites that the guy would have preferred me not to see. Then I installed Ad-Aware and a further 593 sites of ads were removed and blocked
DO NOT FORGET TO CHECK FOR UPDATES DAILY - I check SpywareBlaster daily for updates (it runs automatically in the background otherwise) and I also check Ad-Aware and Spybot for updates daily and run the checks to see what can be removed. Ad-Aware lists at least 5 and sometimes 15 negligible sites daily and I remove them. This means that Microsoft is sent back to square one and their statistics about my movements are destroyed. I simply do not want their sales junk. This all has no effect on automatic updates that you have programmed.
PARANOID? - as a neighbour once said? Well he went on vacation and came home, started up and his Outlook Express which promptly auto-downloaded 56 times of something and crashed his computer. I gave hime the address of the computer doctor and told him to make a back up copy of his Favourites and Addressbook. He didn't do that and refused to pay the computer company as they had "erased alll his addresses and favourites". I guess there's one born every minute and some just HAVE to learn by experience!!
KNOW IT ALL? - this page was not written by a "professional", many of whom tell me in computer jargon how I should leave it to them. However, my complaint on that score is that the "professionals" are not professional enough to tell me in a step by step manner just how I should achieve their recommendations.
"Curiosity killed the computer"
Top -
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Yahoogroups
Back to
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Cookies are place holders for websites outside your machine. They can vary from:
faster access place holders of your bank to get you quicker to their sign in page
to
spyware (which sets up
to
ad and statistical place holders to give you lots to do and to read and even to hackers place holders where they can theoretically store any password or credit card details that you put into the machine.
NEVER think you are safe and private on the internet unless you are on a SECURE WEBSITE (https:// which is so indicated bottom right of the website). Recent news items even question the existence of any form of privacy at all - all in the name of anti-terrorism measure.
You can say no to any cookie from public websites and they will still let you in. If you make a mistake and block your bank then the PRIVACY tab go to SITES where you can block or de-block any site name (double click on red block sign at foot of webpage). Your POPUP blocker should be ticked as blocking popups too.
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If you have installed the "must have" programmes above, you will at least be spared "Registry keys" which monitor your every move and slow down your machine. The worst is imrworldwide.com (The Red Sheriff) which even banks and airlines plant in your machine to follow you bookings etc.
I was taught to report "in such a manner as the reader did not have questions in order to understand the matter" and hope to have achieved at least this. Should there still be any questions, kindly hit the email button at the top of this page and ask privately. Do not change the subject which MUST start with [Protect] to avoid auto-trashing with junk and spam mail.
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