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July 2005

By Cliff Millward, Editor cliffm@xmission.com

Our Magazine is Read my Many Others

I received an e-mail from Joe Durham of the Quad Cities Computer Society about GeoWorks which was in last months edition. The following are the contents:

I am Joe Durham from the Quad Cities Computer Society. www.qcs.org. I am also a co-editor of our magazine QBITS.

I saw your musings on the web about technology and its direction.

I was pleased to see you mention Geoworks.

“A DOS shell called Geoworks was reputed to be better than Windows, but IBM refused to bundle it on their systems, so it also died.”

They haven’t died, they are still around. I have been using it since 1990, still use it. And do our newsletter with it. The current manifestation of the Geos motif can be found at www.breadbox.com. A yahoo group is devoted to it Geos-talk.

I have recently converted two public domain ebooks to the Bookreader format in Ensemble (the new name for GeoWorks.)

Like your group, we struggle with membership issues, printing costs and the budget.

Good luck with your club’s activities and outreach. Have a good week ahead.

I have attached a PDF version of our newsletter for your convenience. Yes, one can produce a PDF version from Geos. The page order is not consecutive due to our printer’s needs. I purchased a Ghostscript driver for Geos from Germany .

Joe Durham

From the above, you can see that our magazine has a large distribution. If you write an article, it will be read by many people outside of Utah . Therefore, I encourage you to obtain one of the products for review and write a review on it so that we can publish it. You never know; you could be the next Mark Twain!

The Government

XM radio might be used by the government. XM and Raytheon Co. have jointly built a communications system that would use XM’s satellites to relay information to soldiers and emergency responders during a crisis.

The Mobile Enhanced Situational Awareness Network, known as MESA , would get a dedicated channel on XM’s satellites that would be accessible only on devices given to emergency personnel. The receivers would be the same as the portable ones available to consumers, with slight modifications to make them more rugged.

Commercial satellite radio receivers are lightweight, battery-powered and cost as little as $99. Their digital transmissions have enough bandwidth to carry maps and other imagery, which would be displayed on portable computers that plug into the satellite receivers. The system can be programmed to relay information just to specific devices so individual users can get messages appropriate to their regions

In time of war, all methods of communication must be explored in case some of them fail.

Adobe Premiere Elements Here in August

Adobe Premiere will be the feature presentation in August. Adobe is mostly know for their flagship program PhotoShop. They also produce PageMaker and InDesign. InDesign is what is used to produce this magazine.

Adobe has long been a supporter of user groups and has been quite generous with review materials.

Don’t miss this presentation of one or their best photo editing programs. Who knows; perhaps you might even win a copy with a red ticket or a blue “Double your Pleasure” ticket.

Finé

Index

Presidents Corner

To encourage word-of-mouth recruitment of new members, an incentive/reward program may be used. One incentive would be the waiving of membership dues for one year of any member who recruits a new, paid membership. Suggested guidelines include a limit of one waiver per year, no waiver of multiple years for multiple new memberships, and some method of formally attributing credit for the new membership.

Use of flyers at community events could raise awareness of the organization. Key features of the flyer are use of the word “free,” “no experience necessary,” and no mention of any need for commitment, such as annual membership dues. A related method, using posters would combine these features with artwork to catch a person’s attention and multicolored ink on heavy stock. Plastering an area within a half-hour drive of the meeting location in the days prior to a meeting requires coordination of members to come up with the most effective and efficient advertising.

Some organizations have “open houses” to attract new members. One variation on that for a computer group would be to hold “Computer Tune-Ups” for free. The tune-ups could include virus and spyware scans, disk defragmentation, and perhaps even a selective backup to CD-R. Whether these tune-ups could be held at community events probably depends on the personal contacts available via current members.

Expand the use of free newspaper and magazine items to promote these “Tune-Ups.” Creation of a press release, both printed and electronic, for distribution to calendar editors in a timely manner is essential. Local community radio stations often provide assistance with the creation of Public Service Announcements and may reach an entirely new audience. Local community access cable channels sometimes have scrolling calendars of local events. Whether assistance with creation of a promotional video or 15-minute infomercial is available probably depends on the local franchise agreement. Lawn signs at high traffic locations with the monthly program feature may be effective if the message is concise enough to be read quickly from a distance.

All of these suggestions have common requirements: Consistency, Dedication, and Lots of Hard Work. All members must be involved in these activities, not just the Board or a single volunteer. It’s a case of many hands making light work. The purpose of this advertising is to create awareness and kindle interest. It requires Repetition and Saturation to build credibility and the appearance of solidarity.

Although a Board may be able to oversee this operation, a Recruiting Coordinator is strongly recommended. This person would also maintain the list of potential members or the “Master Recruiting List.”

My thanks to Pete Wex and Chris Pinkham for the articles from which these suggestions were adapted.

-- Rick Gregory

Index

Spy Sweeper 4.0
Block Spyware to Your Computer

Reviewed by Don Nendell

Manufacturer:
Webroot Software, Inc.
P.O. Box 19816
2560 55th Street
Boulder , Colorado 80308-2816 USA
Ph: Toll Free (800) 772.9383
Web Site: <http://www.webroot.com>
FAX: (303) 442.3846
Outside the USA +1 (303) 442.3823
E-mail Tech Support: <http://www.webroot.com/support>
Corporate Sales & Support:
Ph: (800) 870.8102
One year of updates and support for only $29.95
Minimum System Requirements:
Windows 98SE, 2K, ME or XP
300 Mhz Processor
25 MB Hard Drive Space
Supports Internet Explorer

Last month I did a very favorable review on Panda’s TruPrevent Personal 2005 (See June 2005 UBC Magazine Archives at <www.ucs.org>), where I wrote:

“Some Opening ‘Eye-Opening’ Thoughts on the Subject [of Spyware]

Almost everyone has anti-virus and anti-spyware software installed on their PC, network and ISP, or they definitely should. Shame on anyone, if they haven’t! Regardless, malicious software, viruses, spyware and hacker attempts continue to slip through all too easily. Why? Why indeed!”

This month through the auspices of Webroot, and their first quarterly STATE OF SPYWARE : Q1 2005 report to the world, I will share with you their phenomenally accurate, and timely, answer to my above proposed question: “Why indeed!” I strongly suggest you get, “and share with everyone,” your own FREE copy of this fabulous, eye-opening 75-page expose immediately, if not sooner. You can get it by going to <http://www.webroot.com/stateofspyware>. It is chocked full of startling facts of the - all-to-soon to reach your computer - up and coming invasion and full-blown epidemic (my words) of insidious Spyware. A great many of those facts I share with you herein, and now.

I met the wonderful folks of Webroot at the Networld + Interop 2005 ShowStoppers Media event, and boy, am I glad I did - I think you will be too! Later in the review (before I install Spy Sweeper) I want to go to their web site with this very machine (a Toshiba Satellite A75-S229, connected to the Internet through my ever-faithful D-Link WiFi Access Point), while sitting comfortably in my living room, and test it with their voluntary Webroot Consumer SpyAudit. FYI My Laptop has only Panda’s wonderful Platinum 2005 Internet Security Suite installed on it. This machine will, thenceforth, become another statistic for their quarterly report information gathering through their SpyAudit program and subsequent reporting. Very Interesting! But first things first.

STATE OF SPYWARE : Q1 2005 Report (SOS)

The report is a concise, hard-hitting, eye-opening, in-depth review and analysis of the impact of spyware, adware and unwanted software on consumers and corporations. Here are a few important extracts:

“In the late winter and early spring of 2004, a series of events hastened the public awareness of spyware as a clear and present danger to both consumers and enterprises. In February, the New York Times used its editorial page to call for legislation against an emerging software threat called spyware. In March, PC Magazine published the first comprehensive overview of anti-spyware software and featured the growing scourge on its cover, pulling this new security issue out of the chat rooms and into the bright light of mainstream technology media. Finally, in April the Federal Trade Commission hosted a workshop on spyware, attracting industry leaders, opinion makers and even apologists to Washington to debate the legislative implications of tiny pieces of software infiltrating unwitting computers and transmitting data to third parties without the consent of the information’s owner. Spyware had officially arrived.

. . . By year’s end, we knew that 90% of consumer computers had some form of spyware. . . . Rest assured that, if 2004 was the year we discovered spyware, then in 2005 we are going to find out how hard it is to beat. But we can also be sure that the more we all know[,] the better equipped we are to fight [what] we know we have ahead of us.”

During Q1 2005 the Webroot SpyAudit found more than 25 instances of spyware in each “infected consumer machine” they tested. With cookies excluded, the number of infections averaged out at 7.2 per machine. This is a significant statistic, as it actually turns out, because the subtle distinctions between the various forms of spyware are lost on most consumers and businesses.

By now, we need a clear definition of what we mean by “spyware” because, currently, the term spyware is broken up into four (4) broad categories: System Monitors, Trojan Horses, Adware and Cookies. The SOS report obligingly defines spyware thusly:

“. . . The definition of spyware is all programs installing themselves onto a user’s computer by stealth, subterfuge, and/or social engineering and whose purpose is to redirect a user’s activities or record those activities in a way that reduces a user’s privacy, protection or peace of mind. Adware is often labeled as a subcategory of spyware, mainly due to the overt ways that adware vendors initially used to install their software on end user’s machines with little regard for the user. As the spyware definition debate heats up, several industry groups, including one spon­sored by the Center for Democracy and Technology, are forming to address this issue.”

The State of Spyware 2005

The SOS reports that an annual $2 Billion(US) - and growing rapidly - industry feeds off spyware infestations. 2004 appears to be the year that concerns over spyware began to exceed anxiety over any other cyber security threat. Stories of lost data and stolen accounts became more prevalent as more hackers sought quick profit. And these events are not anomalies, SOS reports. The SOS goes on to tell us that in Q4 2004 alone, in more than 90 percent of the Webroot Consumer SpyAudit scans, they uncovered at least one instance of the four major categories for which it scanned. At the same time, the National Cyber Security Alliance and AOL found that 89 percent of participants had no idea that they even had spyware on their PC. The SOS goes on to warn us, “. . . it is clear that the problem of spyware is neither abating nor is its impact well understood by PC users. . . . [and then goes on to add,] the first quarter of 2005 saw an increase in high-severity security incidents involving spyware.”

And, right on cue, as if the SOS was portending such a dark future ahead of us, on June 20, 2005 we were shocked with the “40 million credit cards exposed” headlines on MSNBC.com. This breach of security, with spyware most certainly at its core, will most certainly join the vaunted pages of The Guinness Book of Records, it’s that big.

Note. Webroot intends to update the SOS quarterly. Please visit Webroot’s web site to view (and obtain) the SOS for yourself.

A Few Facts About Spyware:

1) Spyware programs can be easily installed on your computer without your knowledge; 2) Spyware can result in identity theft, data corruption, personal profiling and more; 3) Your computer can get spyware when you download files, view an unsolicited email, visit Web pages that activate a ‘drive-by download’ or via other means; 4) 90% of Internet-connected computers are infected with spyware; and, 5) You can easily remove spyware from your computer with Spy Sweeper, Webroot’s award-winning spyware protection tool.

Now, Let’s Investigate Spy Sweeper!

After quickly and effortlessly loading my award-winning copy of Spy Sweeper 3.5, let’s live dangerously and see what’s out there in the cruel, cruel world of spyware! “A surf’en we will go! A surf’en we will go! Hi Ho, a dairio, a Surf’en we go!” While out on Webroot’s web site you will find “Spy Audit.” Simply click on the link: “Quickly scan your PC for spyware - It’s free!”

How Spy Audit on Their Web Site Works

At no cost or obligation to you, Spy Audit will scan your system registry and hard drive space for thousands of known spyware programs. Spy Audit will show you what spyware is actually on your system. Rest easy, it will not remove or modify any files, and Spy Audit will take only seconds to run. Note. Webroot Software respects your privacy - after all, that’s their business. They say, “Running Spy Audit will not add cookies or harm your computer in any way.”

I followed the directions religiously. They were:

1. Click the start spy audit button. The Download Dialog will open.

2. To run a Spy Audit on your computer now, click “Run” or “Open.” To save Spy Audit to your computer, click “Save.”

Awk! Not expecting anything, because I have Panda’s Platinum 2005 Internet Security Suite “installed,” I got the IE Warning: The Problem That Showed Up On My Laptop:

“Adware and/or Adware cookies were found on your system.

Adware presence indicates a third-party is monitoring your online activities, and most often results in increased exposure to advertising and pop-up ads.

The presence of adware indicates a vulnerability to infection and the risk of more devastating consequences in the future.”

Reading from the Spyware Risk Meter I Got:

“Your risk assessment is calculated using the following formula based on potential consequences and frequency of occurrence across all users:

1 or more adware cookies = Low Risk. Risk rating increases within low category with each additional adware cookie. The presence of any spyware illustrates vulnerability to infection.

1 or more adware programs = Medium Risk. Adware is moderately intrusive and not as pervasive as adware cookies. Infection is generally associated with more high-risk online activities. Risk rating increases within medium category with each additional adware identified.

1 or more Trojans or System Monitors = High Risk. These are the most malicious forms of spyware and can cause catastrophic consequences. They should be removed immediately.”

Note. I never did actually find out what the offending adware program was, seems I had a little trouble with the Java Script download???

Benefits of Spy Sweeper: Sales Speak

1) Better Computer Performance:
Spyware can cause inferior computer performance, slower internet connections, and strange behavior. One quick sweep by Spy Sweeper returns your PC to normal.

2) Fewer Annoying Pop-up Ads:
Spyware is notorious for inundating computer users with pop-up ads. Spy Sweeper eliminates these programs to let you enjoy surfing the web again.

3) Greater Personal Privacy:
Once spyware gets on your machine, it can track your computer activities, putting your personal privacy at risk. Spy Sweeper lets you wipe out these programs and files so you enjoy the privacy you deserve.

4) Increased PC Security:
Some spyware is used to steal personal data including credit card data, social security numbers, account numbers, and more. Spy Sweeper helps protect you from fraud and identify theft by finding and removing these malicious programs.

Webroot Spy Sweeper Specifics

1) Webroot Spy Sweeper safeguards your identity and restores system performance through fast, smart and powerful anti-spyware protection; 2) Comprehensive sweeps eliminate spyware in minutes; 3) Smart shields conveniently block spyware before it installs on your PC; 4) One-of-a-kind research system uncovers spyware threats faster for better protection; 5) Unparalleled protection with the most frequently updated threat database; and, 6) 30-day satisfaction guarantee - no questions asked.

And, New in Webroot Spy Sweeper 4.0

FYI The new changes in the brand new Spy Sweeper 4.0 are: 1) Enhanced scan engine for sweeps that are up to 4-times faster; 2) Automated definition downloads for better protection; 3) Improved scheduling features for greater flexibility; and, 4) New Smart Shields for increased blocking protection.

So, I downloaded the 4.0 upgrade, and then went through the complete process once again, just to see what would show up?

Awk! Not actually expecting anything, once again, and now because I have both Panda’s Platinum 2005 Internet Security Suite and Spy Sweeper 4.0 “installed,” I got the ominous IE Warning:

(Ed. Note: The above is what we found on Cliff’s computer and he has AdAware, SpyBot and SpyWare Blaster installed.) AWK! (;-(

So, What’s It All About Alfie?

Having been very graphically shown that, just as all Virus protection programs do not eliminate every known virus infection - some do get through the net - so it seems, the parallel runs equally true with Spyware programs.

Ever so confident that I was completely protected with my precious Panda Platinum 2005 Internet Security Suite, I got a very rude shock when I saw that some adware infection was still in there, even up until I upgraded Spy Sweeper to the new 4.0 version. Granted the number of “Traces” – Spy Sweeper “spyware” footprints - increased from 36K to 96K with the upgrade to 4.0, I was still shocked, never-the-less. Boy, I still am! I can truthfully share with you, “Am I ever glad I have both programs on my Laptop now, as well as, on all my other (test) computers in my home P2P network, too!” ;-}

Thanks Webroot for a real eye-opening. I can only sincerely hope this review will be seen - and seriously be taken to heart - by many other such fortunate readers.

Ciao!

Index

CounterSpy Home
Detect and Protect Yourself Against Spyware Detect and Protect Yourself Against Spyware

Reviewed by Don Nendell

Manufacturer:
Sunbelt Software USA
( Americas / Asia / Pacific Rim )
101 North Garden Avenue
Clearwater , Florida , USA 33755
Tel: 727-562-0101
Tel: 888-688-8457
Fax: 727-562-5199
Sales: sales@sunbelt-software.com
Credit Card Tel: 800-336-3166
URL: http://www.sunbelt-software.com/buy.cfrn
Cost: $19.95 per machine (includes a one year subscription with updates, upgrades and real, live human technical support)
Software Support:
support@sunbelt-software.com <or visit website>
On-Line Knowledge Base:
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/Support-HomeOffice.cfrn
Tel: 877-673-1153
Minimum System Requirements:
Windows 98SE/ME/XP/2K
Pentium 11 Processor with 64MB
24MB Hard Drive Space
Internet Explorer 5 or Higher

Why choose CounterSpy™?

CounterSpy is a powerful anti-spyware tool that detects, deletes and protects your personal computer against recurring spyware threats from a broad range of malicious software. Sunbelt Software claims: “You can think of it as a ‘spy-wall’ that protects you in real-time . .. [with] the best spyware database in the industry and the fastest scan times.” They go on to state that CounterSpy is the only anti-spyware that gets its regular spyware threat database updates from three different sources: 1) Sunbelt’s own Spyware Research Team; 2) CounterSpy users that are volunteer members of Counterspy’s ThreatNet Community, and from, 3) Microsoft’s Spyware Research Group.

In order to effectively fight spyware, you need a “counterspy,” they say. And, possibly by sheer coincidence(?), their flagship consumer product, CounterSpy, just might seem to fill that bill nicely, now wouldn’t it

Note. There are two versions of CounterSpy currently available through Sunbelt Software: 1) CounterSpy for home users that works to protect a single computer, and, 2) CounterSpy Enterprise which protects computers across an entire network. Both can be ordered through their website and downloaded over an Internet connection, which will allow you to have advanced protection installed and running on your PC within just a few minutes. And also worthy of note, each product comes with one year’s worth of free maintenance upgrades and live tech support.

According to PC World, CounterSpy has the best spyware database in the industry! It was chosen as both PC WORLD “WORLD CLASS 2005” and “2005 BEST BUY.”

Counterspy Flexibility

Spyware is a vicious, fast-growing malignancy that can no longer be ignored. It used to be that viruses received more publicity than spyware because viruses move over the Internet so quickly throughout the world. But Spyware is actually the more dangerous of the two, and sadly, the world is only just now really waking up to this plague! Here’s the bottom line. If you value your personal data at all - and protecting that data is of any importance to you - then you absolutely must, repeat must, use current and up-to-date versions of: 1) An anti-virus software; 2) A firewall; and equally as importantly, 3) An anti-spyware utility.

The onset of any perceived trouble can be insidious, and may actually be unobserved, but when your computer finally does slow down, or seems ultra-sluggish, or it may seem like it has suddenly become possessed by pop-up advertisements, et al., odds are excellent that spyware has infiltrated your system. Anti-spyware utilities like CounterSpy will identify spyware on your hard disk, help you remove it and protect your computer against new infections. CounterSpy allows users to remove, or even keep, if desired, spyware programs and/or utilities on a case-by-case basis.

More CounterSpy Defense Mechanisms

CounterSpy searches for 36 categories of spyware. Some examples are Trojans, spyware, adware, malware, hacker tools, keyloggers and hijacker components. Without anti-spyware utilities, like CounterSpy, spyware can lurk in the background waiting to be triggered by a user. When triggered, the spyware can steal passwords, financial data and personal information, and literally anything it wants. It can also open up backdoor entrances that hackers can use to manipulate your computer directly. Which brings us face-to-face with my biggest problem, and greatest fear of any of the spyware imfection(s). . .?

Keyloggers

Sunbelt Software warns us: “If you think spyware is just a nuisance then you are not familiar with the keylogger programs that have made their way from the Internet to many people’s home computers in the last few years. When people think about spyware, they usually envision those programs that lurk behind the scenes and post popup advertisements while users surf the Internet. This type of spyware is annoying, but keylogger spyware is downright dangerous.

“Keylogger spyware monitors every stroke of the keyboard you make on your computer. That information is transmitted back to the spyware creator where hackers can analyze keystrokes for any information that they can use for nefarious purposes. Passwords, credit card numbers, banking information, and much more can be found buried within keylogger messages back to its creator.”

Such is the case with the Desktop computer I am presently using to review CounterSpy. In my initial CounterSpy scan it turned up four (4) pieces of spyware, including two (2) very much dreaded Commercial Keyloggers embedded somewhere. This is really scary to me personally, as I have installed on this PC alone, No-Adware, Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE Personal, SpywareBlaster, Panda’s Platinum 2005 Internet Suite (with over 105.8K virus signatures identified and protecting me with TruPrevent (See also my TruPrevent review in BCM, June 2005 issue archives <www.ucs.org>)), and a separate P2P LAN firewall manned by IPCop. Who’da thunk it?

Caveat. I must truthfully admit however, that I hadn’t run any of the spyware programs for approximately 30 days - for some unknown reason. Shame on me for being so slothful and careless.

Also, I had originally intended to run Spy Sweeper on this machine too, but actually got started on this review of CounterSpy before I got to that point. Pretty wide open here, I’d say? But then, all-in-all, it still is really surprising to me to come up with such a sick computer so fast! Live and learn, they say. But, then again, isn’t that why I am supposedly doing these spyware reviews anyway - to help everybody out there in La-La land, plus moi? Truthfully, if this opens even one eye, and saves m/any others, it will have been well worth the effort. Silently, I pray however, it will make a big difference to a great many persons.

Heavens. “Physician Heal Thyself!” I keep scolding myself.

Stopping Keylogger Spyware

The only way to stop keylogger (or any other) spyware is by installing (and maintaining, AND USING) a high-quality anti-spyware program in your PC. Anti-spyware programs scan your hard drive for spyware signatures buried deep within program files, or hidden amongst harmless files on your hard drive. Sunbelt Software advises us: “No spyware is safe if you are running top-notch anti-spyware software.” “CounterSpy,” they say ;-} No doubt about it, I would have to agree wholeheartedly. Remember, “Happiness is a working computer,” I keep saying. Now, I have a whole slew of spyware programs to guard my premises and perimeters. Whew!

Not Surprisingly - Enter Organized CyberCrime Stage Right and Left

Sunbelt Software warns us: “Organized cybercrime has become one of the biggest challenges facing companies that specialize in protecting computers from viruses, spyware, and Trojans. At one time, the viruses that spread across the Internet were created by individuals who were more interested in notoriety than they were in crime. Today’s viruses are of a different breed. Criminals have now realized that viruses can be used for much more than proving computer development skills. Organized criminals can now create networks of ‘bots’ that can be installed on vulnerable PCs and remotely controlled. The word ‘bot’ really means a personal computer owned by an unsuspecting home user that is now in reality owned by a hacker and can be used for their criminal goals. Recent data shows that the number of IP addresses associated with ‘bot’ networks has increased by more than 1,000 percent in just one year!”

It can happen to you, me, and any and everybody. Actually, no one is safe. For example, take a gander at this. Here’s the latest update on the subject of spyware. By now we all are quite familiar with The Salt Lake Tribune, Saturday, June 18, 2005 front page story (plus every newspaper, TV newscast, etc., in the world) which highlighted: “Millions at risk as data are hacked, Cardholders: Security is breached at a transaction company, fraud could affect bank customers.” And on June 20, 2005 at MSNBC.com: “40 million credit cards exposed,” as reported by Bob Sullivan, who wrote: “MasterCard spokeswoman Sharon Gamsin said a computer virus was not to blame for the data theft. She said she couldn’t provide details of how the systems were hacked, but did say that ‘an unauthorized entity put a specific code into CardSystems’ network,’ enabling the person or group to gain access to the data.” Which was also dutifully reported in InformationWeek, June 20, 2005 , News Scan, p. 12, “. . . One gets the nagging feeling: We haven’t yet seen the worst of it.” Amen!

Fighting Organized CyberCrime and Spyware

To fight organized cybercrime and spyware both companies and individuals need to utilize the best anti-virus and anti-malware utilities available. Visit Sunbelt Software’s CounterSpy Documents web site to learn more on how we can all get together to fight this crime wave. Their CounterSpy Documents URL is: <http://www.sunbelt-software.com/CounterSpy-docs.cfm>. Also, please visit their Resource Library for additional information on spyware and “Spyware in the News.” The Resource Library URL is: <http://research.sunbelt-software.com/resource_library.cfm>.

Critically Important. Visit Sunbelt Software’s ThreatNet web site to actively participate in the spyware fight. The ThreatNet URL is: <http://research.sunbelt-software.com/threatnet.cfm>.

So, What’s It All About Alfie?

A few outside review comments are in order here:

“Spyware Sneaks In

In a nationally-representative survey of more than 2,000 households with at-home Internet access, CR found that 36 percent reported that their home page had been changed - a common symptom of spyware. Spyware isn’t a single type of software. The term covers a diverse range of applications. Like spam, spyware is often used by third-party marketers associated with reputable companies whose products they are hawking. To avoid spyware, Consumer Reports recommends that consumers:

- Download and install software only from trusted online sources

- Adjust the Web browser’s security settings to the medium or high level

- Use updated antispyware software to scan the hard drive regularly”

- Consumer Reports: Consumer Reports Investigates How to Protect against Spam, Spyware and Phishing; Report Includes Survey Results, Software Ratings and Tips to Avoid Online Hazards Such as ID Theft, dated 8/9/2004

“CounterSpy had the highest detection rate in our tests. The most effective scanner - CounterSpy - was also the fastest, taking only a minute to perform a complete scan of a system with 2.7 GB of data. Sunbelt Software’s CounterSpy proved the most capable of the bunch, finding and stopping 93 percent of all the running processes created by our 45 test programs.”

- PCWorld, April 2005

Last Hooray!

CounterSpy has a couple more features up their sleeves that are really “Knock-Your-Socks-Off” items: System Tools - Secure File Eraser and System Tools - My PC Checkup. The graphics tell it like it is.

Overall Conclusion

Very seriously, I have not actually intended for these two (2) BCM spyware reviews this month to be a “Winner Take All” comparison of two (2) great spyware programs: CounterSpy and Spy Sweeper. They are both simply “Absolutely Superior” companies and programs and they deserve to be evaluated each on their own merits, and by each and everyone of you out there individually. They both are very inexpensive and they each have trialware downloads, so you have absolutely nothing to lose by trying both of them. Besides, you’ll get a “squeaky clean” PC out of the deal, at least once in this, or any other of your lifetimes.

FYI. For further clarification purposes, I would also like to add a comment from an article dated July 29, 2004 I ran across on eWeek.com entitled, Spy/Adware, The New Real Security Problem by Larry Seltzer. He writes: “There are a large number of programs to detect and remove the much larger number of attacks. . . . Since some of the best ones are free (asking for donations) it may be a good idea to run more than one. . . .” To which I would further add: “The ‘free’ ones don’t get all the dirt out either? So, ‘Go for Broke.’ Get’em all, and then, for sure, be sure!”

I am truly beholden to both companies for helping me to “get the word out there, as best I can,” about spyware, spyware problems, pitfalls and dangers, and especially their own wonderful spyware programs. Each company is doing an outstandingly admirable job in performing its part in the new, now and ensuing battles of WWIII: The CyberWar. Thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heart. Job “Well Done!”

Talk about a powerhouse Internet-bound PC; I’ve got it all now. “Happiness, Happiness, Happiness!”

Ciao!

Index

JUNE

The June meeting was called to order by President Rick Gregory.

Announcements and Open Access:

President Gregory began the announcements by talking about the big change by Apple: moving to use Intel chips in their hardware. Evidently the Power PC chip was not available in the quantities that allowed Apple to meet the demand for their desktops and portable equipment.

E911 has been approved by the FCC as a requirement for VoIP. This is generally seen as a move by the mainstream phone companies to roadblock the movement of their customers to a newer phone technology. It requires that VoIP providers develop a way of providing the callers location to a 911 system before they can offer service.

Microsoft is supposed to roll out their new Software Update Service this month. It has the acronym of WSUS.

The Utah Computer Society Summer Picnic is scheduled for July 13 in Murray Park at the same pavilion we have used the last three years. Please go to the UCS website and RSVP. The picnic is free, but donations will be accepted to help defray costs.

Don Nendell talked about a free offering he arranged for the members of UCS. Makau Corporation offers training software to the public on a wide variety of topics. Don arranged for members in attendance to receive a card that would allow the bearer to download and run one training program from their library.

Don also talked about a program called Search Automator which would be shown to members in the main presentation later that evening.

Main Presentation:

The program tonight is Useful Web Sites as identified and presented by several members: Sean Wolsey, Frank Herriott, Rick Gregory and Larry Lamph.

The URL’s of the web sites to be talked about (and several others) were on a sheet passed out to attendees.

Sean began by talking about Gmail. This is a free mail service offered by Google. It is still in a Beta mode so that memberships are by referral only at this time. The amazing thing is that currently they are offering over two Gigabytes of free storage. The principal unique factor is that you do not create subfolders for mail categories but use Google’s search technology on your content to select messages when you need to categorize your messages and find previous content. It has a good spam filter. Attachments are allowed to be up 10 MB in size.

Sean showed a free spyware control program from www.mlin.net. It is called Startup Control Panel 2.8. It has many components that allow you to control your computer system and keep it clean of spyware and secure in operation.

Lastly, Sean showed the AnalogX.com website. This is a site that has many free offerings. There are currently 86 files and programs in the areas of Music, Network, Programming, System and MP3 music files. There are too many to list. Stop by and look them over. The price is right and so is the quality.

Next, Frank Herriott (that would be me), showed a few of his favorite web sites. They are UtahCommuterLink.com and the NOAA graphical weather forecasts site. Commuting to Park City each day means a lot of time on the Interstates. This website allows one to see the roads, read of closures, obtain current accident information and travel time estimates. As well, I can see what Parley’s Summit looks like before I ever leave my home or office. The NOAA graphical forecasts are a different way of looking at weather forecasts and complement the regular weathercast information for me.

Next, I showed two sites that Don Nendell requested of me. The first, SearchAutomator.com is home to a new search engine that reminds me of the meta-search engines that Mike Crawford showed to UCS. This program takes that idea and really improves on it. They have made a real powerful search engine that searches the mainstream search engines (Google, Altavista, Yahoo, and so on). They arrange the results and allow you to select from categories that group the search results in areas of html pages, documents, images, sound clips, and so on. This is a really powerful method of searching the web and winnowing out the chaff. Lastly, we visited the Makau training site. This was to show off the types of training materials they had to offer.

UCS President Rick Gregory, showed the Craigslist website to the group. It started in 1995 in the Bay area and is now localized to most of the large cities in the US . It became available for Salt Lake in September 2004. It is a very rich and complete listing of services such as jobs, events, wishlists, classifieds, public services, and various other topics. It really defies a simple, concise description. Check it out at www.saltlakecity.craigslist.org.

Larry Lamph talked about several of his favorite sites: First was Salt Lake gas prices (www.saltlakegasprices.com) In brief, it is a listing of the cheapest (and highest) places to buy gas and diesel in the Salt Lake metro area. You can also link to other areas in case you are traveling and want to gas up inexpensively on the road. Larry next showed his favorite weather site: www.weather.com, which features many different pieces of weather info. Larry also quickly showed sites for Ghost Towns of Utah, UFO Hunters of Utah, DriverZone (for computer hardware drivers), Repair Clinic (for repair if just about anything), and TerraServer.com, which features pictures of the earth from space. This last service has pictures of your neighborhood, so you can see what your house (or your neighbor’s or any street address) looks like.

MAY

The May meeting was called to order by President Rick Gregory.

Announcements and Open Access:

The meeting began with a message from President Gregory about Freecycle and Salt Lake Recycle. These two organizations both work to exchange or giveaway items you no longer want but do not wish to discard. Search for them in Google to find out more.

COMDEX has been cancelled for the Fall of 2005. This is the second year without a COMDEX show. Show organizers say they are going to offer a show in 2006.

Rick said that Microsoft’s Internet Explorer version 7.0 beta is to be released this summer. Rick also talked about the recent security flaws in the new browser from Mozilla called Firefox. Firefox has been getting patched immediately upon the disclosure of these security bugs.

Rick reminded users again about the office supply store rebate programs. Most purchases at Office Max, Office Depot, and Staples return a portion of the cost of the goods to the Utah Computer Society. This is an easy way for members to support Utah Blue Chips. Contact President Gregory if you have questions about the program.

Wi-Max was discussed briefly. It is a newer implementation of Wireless Networking, which operates in the 2.4 GHz band at roughly twice the speed of 8.2.11G or 108 megabits per second.

SIG’s - UCS members should think about their SIG interests and pass them along to the UCS Board members. At the April SUG meetings, only the presenters showed up for the meetings. If this effort is to be continued, then members need to come to the meetings. Needless to say, it is discouraging for the presenters to prepare the meeting and then have no one show up for the session.

Main Presentation:

Gene Barlow of User Group Relations (www.usergroupstore.com) and his wife Linda came to present to the Utah Blue Chips. Gene said that although he speaks to over one hundred user groups per year, the Utah Computer Society feels like his “home user group” to him. The products that Gene talked about are available at his web site, listed above, at a discount to user group members.

Gene Barlow and Dave Whittle, who spoke to Utah Blue Chips earlier this year, both have products listed at www.usergroupstore.com. Gene has product in the areas of computer organization, security, and backup. Dave Whittle lists products for photo and video editing, text and office editing and accessories for computers and mobile phones.

Gene began with the Disk Director Suite 9.0 , a tool to help you organize your hard disk drive(s). It has similar functionality to Partition Magic. Gene feels that Disk Director has become a better and more useful product.

Optimal Desktop Pro 4.0 is a powerful tool that combines the functions of a web browser (such as Internet Explorer) with the file manager (such as Windows Explorer) and other functionality (RSS feed manager) all into one tool. This lets you use one program to manage your local file system and web information seeking in one self contained package.

Since many people are now upgrading or migrating to newer, more powerful PC systems today, the next tool demonstrated, Spearit Move Me 2.5, is a natural for minimizing the trouble of shifting to a new system. It moves application programs, configuration settings, and data from an old computer to a new computer. The elements moved are completely under your control. This greatly reduces the pain of having to set up your new system all over again to get it set up just the way you like it. The program features an Exclude capability to mark programs that you do not wish to move to your new system. It also allows you to de-install old programs, thereby cleaning up your systems. This program is licensed to one computer, the source machine. It moves information from the source system to another machine, which is running the same version or a newer version of Windows. It does not move to an older version of Windows than the one on the source system.

Gene next talked about security products from White Canyon Software. My Password Vault is a program that allows you to consolidate all your passwords into one encrypted file and just have to remember one password. A “Copy and Paste” process makes simple work of the need to use different passwords for each system. Using one password over and over is a serious security hazard. Secure Clean is a program that performs a selective overwrite of deleted files on your system so they cannot be recovered. White Canyon Wipe Drive/Media Wiper is a program that completely obliterates all data on drives and removable media so you can safely discard them or sell or give them to another person. Powerful data recovery programs exist that can recover data you have merely “deleted.” Wipe Drive allows you to feel confident you have really removed your data from disk drives and removable media (zip drives, LS-120 drives, tapes, CD-RW, etc.)

Acronis Privacy Expert Suite 8.0 is a set of security products that help to keep your system free from spyware, adware, and annoying pop-ups. This suite also includes some disk wiping utilities. It has an update service with an annual subscription charge.

Spearit Associate This is a program that monitors your file associations and prevents them from being hi-jacked by other programs. This approach is used to alter your selections at best and run malware at worst.

Gene took a minute to tell us about his training CD-ROM’s. He has two CD’s which are instructional video’s showing you how to organize you hard disk drive and explains the system backup process and how to set up your backup and recovery process for fast and effective handling.

The second part of Gene’s presentation covered Backup strategies and practices. The frequency of backup all depends upon on how often your data is changed and what would be the “cost” to you of re-entering the data since the last backup. A typical scenario would be to backup your data daily and the full system on a weekly or monthly basis, depending on how often it changed.

CD-ROM’s and DVD-ROM’s were the new backup medium of choice just a few years ago. These were widely believed to have an archival shelf life of 25 years or more. This is coming into serious question in the last year as many disks are failing even before 5 years have elapsed. These are no longer a recommended long-term backup medium. Cartridge tapes are widely used in the computer industry but are considered too expensive for home use.

A new choice has appeared - hard disk drives. These are long term, becoming cheaper by the day and extremely fast when compared to optical or tape. These can take the form of internal storage, network storage or external disk drives.

A backup strategy can take several forms: One can use a file-oriented strategy. This requires the operating system to be working in order to recover the data. One can use a partition based copy utility. This will be faster to write and recover from media. It is a bit by bit copy of the original disk partition.

Lastly, one can use an Imaging program. It can copy data in a full partition format or an incremental approach. This is considered the optimal approach to save time and media (and money!).

Lastly, Gene used Acronis True Image 8.0 to illustrate the process of using imaging software to backup one of his disk partitions and how to recover files from it. This method has the advantage of backing up even Linux disk partitions.

Gene Barlow once again provided Utah Blue Chips with a timely topic and an interesting evening of computer talk.