As far as spyware goes, hope this helps, Gretchen. I've been taking "The Internet Tourbus" pretty much since I've been on the 'net (over 10 years) and find it's the single best resource for getting savvy about the 'net. I recommend it to you and everybody on the list.
Their slogan is "why surf when you can ride the bus?" It comes out semi- weekly, and is nice and bite-sized so you can get hold of one or two ideas really well. My advice to everybody on the list--GET ON THE BUS! Bob's advice on Ad-Aware and Spybot-Search & Destroy is right on the mark. Get 'em both (they're both free) and put any spyware you have in the crossfire. HTH, Mike Webb aka MUGWump ------- Forwarded message follows ------- Date sent: Fri, 3 Dec 2004 13:44:30 -0500 Send reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: Bob Rankin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: TOURBUS - 02 DEC 2004 - Spyware To: TOURBUS@LISTSERV.AOL.COM ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TOURBUS Volume 10, Number 38 -- 02 Dec 2004 [ For best results view this with a monospace font like Courier. ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- _________ ____________ ________ __________ _____________ ___ _ / | / | | / | \ | SIX YEAR ANNIVERSARY JAMBOREE SPECIAL: InkJetsRus / | \ |__________|__________/__________|__________|___________/_____| \ / |----\ | Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, hang on to |////| | your hat! We are NOW offering you "3 for the price of 1" on |////| | all NEW equivalent EPSON and CANON Inkjet Cartridges. Prices |////| | from $6.75 for 3 black and $10.50 for 3 color. |////| | ---> http://www.InkJetsRus.net/tourbus <--- |////| | NEW FREE CANON PRINTER. Three Models to Choose. Phone toll |////| | free for details 888-429-9373 (M-F 8:30 to 5:00) |////| \_______________________________________________________________|____| / \ / \ / \ \___/ \___/ T h e I n t e r n e t T o u r B u s \___/ Visit the Tourbus Home Page at http://www.TOURBUS.com ! TODAY'S TOURBUS TOPIC: Dealing with Spyware Is your computer running slower than usual? Has your browser's start page been hijacked? Having trouble reaching your favorite search engine? Popups driving you crazy? Most likely your computer is infested with spyware, the cockroaches of the digital age. Read on to learn how to detect and remove these unwelcome pests. ------------------ Spy, Counter-spy ------------------ A recent audit of 4000 UK firms found the average office PC contains 20 pieces of spyware, including system monitors and trojan horses, that could put confidential data at risk. And according to Webroot, the company that performed the testing, consumers are even worse off, with an average of 26 potentially malicious pieces of malware. MORE INFO - http://www.tourbus.com/spyware-news.html Chances are, you ARE affected. So what can you do? Start with a good anti-virus package such as Norton, McAfee, AVG or EZ-Armor. But before you *buy* anything, check with your service provider -- some of them are offering anti-virus software for free. McAfee virus protection is now included with AOL membership, and Road Runner offers their users the EZ-Armor package at no charge. If your ISP isn't offering any freebies, check out the free AVG package from Grisoft at [ http://free.grisoft.com/ ]. RELATED NEWS - http://www.tourbus.com/computer-virus-news.html Next, make sure your operating system is regularly receiving security fixes and updates. If you use Windows, click on Start->WindowsUpdate to scan your system for critical fixes. Mac users can stay up to date by clicking on Apple->Software Update. RELATED NEWS - http://www.tourbus.com/windows-xp-news.html RELATED NEWS - http://www.tourbus.com/apple-macintosh-news.html --------- Zzzzap! --------- Even with good anti-virus protection, system updates and careful attention to those annoying "Do you want to run and install such-and-such" popups, you can still get hit with spyware. Some programs (most notably peer-to-peer file/music sharing) install others surreptitiously. Toolbars, download helpers, screen savers and email icon packages are often bearers of these nasty pests. And if you have kids, just resign yourself to the onslaught. My favorite spyware zapper is a free tool called X-RAYPC, which examines all the processes running on your system and rates them as Good, Bad or Unknown. (X-RAYPC was designed as a more functional replacement for the popular HijackThis! system analyzer.) You can kill the nasties and delete them with just a few clicks. I recommend X-RAYPC only for more savvy PC users because it's a very powerful tool and you could delete something important if you're not careful. Check it out at [ http://www.x-raypc.com/ ]. For everyday users, the smartest people I know claim that there is no single spyware detection and removal program that does the job. But if you use both of these tools, you should catch most or all of them: Spybot Search & Destroy - http://www.safer-networking.org/ AdAware - http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ RELATED LINKS: http://www.tourbus.com/best_privacy.html ----------------------- Share Your Experience ----------------------- Join the folks who are discussing spyware and viruses in the Tourbus Reader Forums right now. I've been very impressed with the way folks are helping each other and sharing ideas in the forums. Reader Forums - http://forums.tourbus.com/ That's all for now, I'll see you next time! --Bob Rankin =====================[ Tourbus Rider Information ]=================== The Internet Tourbus - U.S. Library of Congress ISSN #1094-2238 Copyright 1995-2004, Rankin & Crispen - All rights reserved Subscribe, Signoff, Archives, Free Stuff and More at the Tourbus Website - http://www.TOURBUS.com ==================================================================== -- I'm a MUGWump: My "MUG" is on the Mac side of the fence (since mid-2002), and my "Wump" is on the PC side (since 1989). I've been on the trailing edge of computer technology since 1987 and love it! [P.S.] Due to limitations on this account, please send binaries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> and a confirmation note here. -- Mac-N-DOS is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... / Buy books, CDs, videos, and more from Amazon.com \ / <http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/lowendmac> \ Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> Mac-N-DOS list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/mac-n-dos.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:" Send list messages to: <mailto:mac-n-dos@mail.maclaunch.com> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/mac-n-dos%40mail.maclaunch.com/> iPod Accessories for Less at 1-800-iPOD.COM Fast Delivery, Low Price, Good Deal www.1800ipod.com