Re: [MBZ] Vista hits therecyclers-hijackedtoMSOffice/Outlookreplacement
Bill, I don't remember you mentioning a virus earlier. Viruses can cause all kinds of damage and depending on how it was removed, you may still have some code in place. Thanks, Tom Hargrave www.kegkits.com 256-656-1924 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of BillR Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 7:53 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] Vista hits therecyclers-hijackedtoMSOffice/Outlookreplacement Already tried that, with no luck. Did an uninstall and then a full reinstall of Outlook - nothing changed. I use a wireless router, but the one time I really got hit was over that. I was experimenting with my hand held while it was connected to my computer and the virus got in that way. I now have Semantic 10 antivirus [supplied by my wife's employer], but she didn't know we needed it when the virus struck. BillR - Original Message - From: Tom Hargrave [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'Mercedes Discussion List' mercedes@okiebenz.com; 'Mercedes Discussion List' mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 7:53 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Vista hits the recyclers-hijackedtoMSOffice/Outlookreplacement Bill, I recommend uninstalling the application. If uninstalliing resolves the issue then I'd push for a full refund or a solution. One real issue with Windows is the continued poor quality of some software vendors. Another real issue with Windows is computer owners installing multiple anti-virus firewall programs. Neither of these issues are Mocrosoft or Windows fault. By the way, if you have a router installed then you don't need a firewall, not even Windows firewall because a properly configured hardware router is the best firewall you can buy. Why? Because the bad guys can't reach through the box to your machine. Plus, the firewall is away from your machine. With a software firewall, the bad guys are already inside your machine and you are depending on the firewall to keep them from going further. But Symantec the other software jockeys won't tell you this because they would sell less worthless software. Anti-virus software is a different story. By the way, Windows is attacked so frequently because it's 80% of the install base. Apple is just as vulnerable and Lynux is more vulnerable but the virus writers don't bother. They are much happier attacking the 80% install base. If the roles were reversed and Lunux or Apple were on top then everyone would be bashing that OS for its vulnerabilities. Tom Hargrave www.kegkits.com Original Message From: BillR [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 03/16/07 01:41 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: Re: [MBZ] Vista hits the recyclers -hijackedtoMSOffice/Outlookreplacement -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Tom - I don't believe it is a hardware or memory problem as everything worked perfectly for the 2 years prior to installing XP Repair Pro 2007. I have little doubt that program is the problem. The continuing problem is that neither I nor the tech folks at XP Repair Pro 2007 can figure out how to get Outlook to download and send email. I check for spyware regularly, though I don't expect that is the problem. It remains a mystery, but one that is merely annoying, not a show stopper. BillR - Original Message - From: Tom Hargrave [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'BillR' [EMAIL PROTECTED]; 'Mercedes Discussion List' mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 1:56 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Vista hits the recyclers - hijackedtoMSOffice/Outlookreplacement Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective), I work on a lot of Windows boxes. And over 90 percent of the issues I resolve can be attributed to one of three causes. 1. Hardware not up the task, usually not enough memory. 2. Poorly written or incorrectly configured aftermarket application. For example, aftermarket firewall and Windows firewall turned on. 3. A rogue application (spyware, etc) running, usually downloaded from a porn or gambling site. Of the systems I manage, I have zero issues with Windows. And the systems run a mix of 98, 2000 and XP. 2000 was my favorite OS but XP SR2 is rock solid. I'm doing trial Vista installs now and I don't have an opinion of the OS yet. Office 2000 is excellent, Office XP is terrible and Office 2003 is even better than 2000. Most who experience Office issues either don't have adequate hardware or are experiencing issues with aftermarket software. Neither of these are Microsoft's fault. Tom -Original Message- From: BillR [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: 3/16/07 8:32 AM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Vista hits the recyclers - hijacked toMSOffice/Outlookreplacement Thanks Tom - I have been getting that feeling. The only real issue I have at the moment is that a recently installed system cleaner [XP Repair Pro 2007] has
Re: [MBZ] Vista hits therecyclers-hijackedtoMSOffice/Outlookreplacement
Larry, Connect to the internet and go to www.myipaddress.com. The site will return your ip address - write it down. Now select Run from the Start menu, type cmd in the box select OK. This will bring up a command line box - us older windows users call it a DOS window. Type ipconfig then hit the enter key. This will return your local IP address. Compare the address to your web address, if very different then your router is doing a IP translation and by default, is also working as a hardware firewall. The router is working like a hardware firewall because only invited traffic can come in. No-one else can resolve to the internal IP address. If they are the same then you do not have a router - you have only a cable or DSL modem your proverbial #ss is hanging out there on the net, waiting for the next bad guy to try take a bite out of it. You definitely need anti-virus software. Oddly enough, most clients I work with sets their virus software to maximum protection. This means that all emails are scanned in out, all web files are scanned, all files are scanned as they are opened they do a daily 100% file scan. Turning everything on causes the system to perform slow. This is yet another user issue, or more correctly a after market software issue that gets blamed on Windows. The blame lies squately on Symantic - they would not sell as much software if everyone knew they did not need 50% of the junk, excuse me, software they sell. Viruses don't pop in out of thin air they aren't caught from nearby computers or from your finger tips. They are delivered by an email or a web page visit. This means that once you know your system is clean, you can back off to filtering only at the sources. Once you know that all of the files in your system are safe, you can turn off your real time file scan only scan incoming files. You can also turn off outbound scans - why scan outbound files that you know are clean? Just don't forget to leave incoming web email scanning turned on. You need to leave your scheduled system scan turned on set the start time for something like 4:00 AM every Sunday morning - just as sanity check. My development systems are set up this way and my system scans have not found a virus yet (6 years running). I've caught disposed of plenty of incoming virus email attachments. Tom www.kegkits.com Original Message From: LarryT [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 03/17/07 03:58 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: Re: [MBZ] Vista hits therecyclers-hijackedtoMSOffice/Outlookreplacement -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Tom wrote:a properly configured hardware router is the best firewall you can buy Hi Tom, I need a little more explanation please - I have a ethernet router feeding my desktop and laptop. The Belkin router was configured by Comcast - aalthough we used it straight out of the box for the most part - What more should have been done to be a a properly configured router ? Since I shouldn't need a firewall, do I need an Anti-virus? Can a virus get thru? Eliminating those 2 programs would speed up my systems quite a bit IMO. I kinda understand what you're saying about a router - but if the broadband gets thru why not a hacker? Thanks - Larry T (67 MGB, 74 911, 78 240D, 91 300D) www.youroil.net for Oil Analysis and Weber Parts Test Results http://members.rennlist.com/oil PORSCHE POSTERS! youroil.net Weber Carb Info http://members.rennlist.com/webercarbs Porsche Road Test http://members.rennlist.com/roadtest/ . - Original Message - From: Tom Hargrave [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'Mercedes Discussion List' mercedes@okiebenz.com; 'Mercedes Discussion List' mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 7:53 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Vista hits the recyclers-hijackedtoMSOffice/Outlookreplacement Bill, I recommend uninstalling the application. If uninstalliing resolves the issue then I'd push for a full refund or a solution. One real issue with Windows is the continued poor quality of some software vendors. Another real issue with Windows is computer owners installing multiple anti-virus firewall programs. Neither of these issues are Mocrosoft or Windows fault. By the way, if you have a router installed then you don't need a firewall, not even Windows firewall because a properly configured hardware router is the best firewall you can buy. Why? Because the bad guys can't reach through the box to your machine. Plus, the firewall is away from your machine. With a software firewall, the bad guys are already inside your machine and you are depending on the firewall to keep them from going further. But Symantec the other software jockeys won't tell you this because they would sell less worthless software. Anti-virus software is a different story. By the way, Windows is attacked so frequently because it's 80% of the install base. Apple is just as vulnerable and Lynux is more vulnerable but the virus writers don't bother
Re: [MBZ] Vista hits therecyclers-hijackedtoMSOffice/Outlookreplacement
Larry, I should have noted that you are feeding your desk top lap top computers. This means that your router is set up correctly. It would not be providing an IP address for each machine if it were not. Tom Hargrave www.kegkits.com Original Message From: LarryT [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 03/17/07 03:58 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: Re: [MBZ] Vista hits therecyclers-hijackedtoMSOffice/Outlookreplacement -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Tom wrote:a properly configured hardware router is the best firewall you can buy Hi Tom, I need a little more explanation please - I have a ethernet router feeding my desktop and laptop. The Belkin router was configured by Comcast - aalthough we used it straight out of the box for the most part - What more should have been done to be a a properly configured router ? Since I shouldn't need a firewall, do I need an Anti-virus? Can a virus get thru? Eliminating those 2 programs would speed up my systems quite a bit IMO. I kinda understand what you're saying about a router - but if the broadband gets thru why not a hacker? Thanks - Larry T (67 MGB, 74 911, 78 240D, 91 300D) www.youroil.net for Oil Analysis and Weber Parts Test Results http://members.rennlist.com/oil PORSCHE POSTERS! youroil.net Weber Carb Info http://members.rennlist.com/webercarbs Porsche Road Test http://members.rennlist.com/roadtest/ . - Original Message - From: Tom Hargrave [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'Mercedes Discussion List' mercedes@okiebenz.com; 'Mercedes Discussion List' mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 7:53 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Vista hits the recyclers-hijackedtoMSOffice/Outlookreplacement Bill, I recommend uninstalling the application. If uninstalliing resolves the issue then I'd push for a full refund or a solution. One real issue with Windows is the continued poor quality of some software vendors. Another real issue with Windows is computer owners installing multiple anti-virus firewall programs. Neither of these issues are Mocrosoft or Windows fault. By the way, if you have a router installed then you don't need a firewall, not even Windows firewall because a properly configured hardware router is the best firewall you can buy. Why? Because the bad guys can't reach through the box to your machine. Plus, the firewall is away from your machine. With a software firewall, the bad guys are already inside your machine and you are depending on the firewall to keep them from going further. But Symantec the other software jockeys won't tell you this because they would sell less worthless software. Anti-virus software is a different story. By the way, Windows is attacked so frequently because it's 80% of the install base. Apple is just as vulnerable and Lynux is more vulnerable but the virus writers don't bother. They are much happier attacking the 80% install base. If the roles were reversed and Lunux or Apple were on top then everyone would be bashing that OS for its vulnerabilities. Tom Hargrave www.kegkits.com Original Message From: BillR [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 03/16/07 01:41 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: Re: [MBZ] Vista hits the recyclers -hijackedtoMSOffice/Outlookreplacement -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Tom - I don't believe it is a hardware or memory problem as everything worked perfectly for the 2 years prior to installing XP Repair Pro 2007. I have little doubt that program is the problem. The continuing problem is that neither I nor the tech folks at XP Repair Pro 2007 can figure out how to get Outlook to download and send email. I check for spyware regularly, though I don't expect that is the problem. It remains a mystery, but one that is merely annoying, not a show stopper. BillR - Original Message - From: Tom Hargrave [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'BillR' [EMAIL PROTECTED]; 'Mercedes Discussion List' mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 1:56 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Vista hits the recyclers - hijackedtoMSOffice/Outlookreplacement Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective), I work on a lot of Windows boxes. And over 90 percent of the issues I resolve can be attributed to one of three causes. 1. Hardware not up the task, usually not enough memory. 2. Poorly written or incorrectly configured aftermarket application. For example, aftermarket firewall and Windows firewall turned on. 3. A rogue application (spyware, etc) running, usually downloaded from a porn or gambling site. Of the systems I manage, I have zero issues with Windows. And the systems run a mix of 98, 2000 and XP. 2000 was my favorite OS but XP SR2 is rock solid. I'm doing trial Vista installs now and I don't have an opinion of the OS yet. Office 2000 is excellent, Office XP is terrible and Office 2003 is even better than 2000. Most who experience Office issues either don't
