Tech Tips & Virus Protection
Quick links
BE SAFE. Read your email, while it's still on the server.
If you go to www.mail2web.com and type in your email address and password,
it will pull up your email while it's still the server (except for hotmail and Yahoo, which already are online).
Webmail (as it's sometimes called) is accessed while it's on your ISP's (Internet Service Provider) server. You can then read through it online before
downloading it to your computer. Infected emails looked garbled or if there's attachment that's infected, you can see the
actual file name and you can then delete the infected ones before you download the rest of your email.
Attachments that end with the .vbs extension (Visual Basic script) or the .exe extension (program files) pose a real danger and are often how viruses are spread.
They may be addressed to you, but your sixth sense will help you spot the bad ones.
For Cox.net subscribers, you can access you're email online at webmail.cox.net.
For others check with you're Service Provider. They may offer free webmail, as well.
Secondly, check your Norton or McAfee settings or whatever antivirus program you have.
Browser Protection needs to be enabled.
To enable web protection in Norton antivirus:ight click on the Norton icon in the system tray (lower right icons by the clock).
Then, left click on "Configure Norton Antivirus" and then click on "Web Protection" and put a check mark on "Enable Browser Protection."
(link to)Viruses and How to Avoid Them
How to do a free Online Virus Scan
Another way to check for viruses is to run a scan from the web. It's also a way to get rid of viruses.
If your computer gets infected and your Norton or McAfee antivirus program gets corrupted or disabled it may not find the culprit file. But if you're still able to get online,
you can get a free virus scan online at: housecall.antivirus.com
To download the free scan utility, go to housecall.antivirus.com and click on "scan without registering."
On the next page, use the pull-down - select your country and hit GO. It will then start downloading an application to your computer
(a security warning will pop up - accept it) and the directions to continue will be displayed on that page.
For Netscape users, at least for this utility, it's easier to use the Internet Explorer browser. Netscape users will have to download a patch before running the program.
If you do get a virus that crashes your computer and you can't even get it to boot up, all is not lost.
One trick is to have a friend with a computer (or keep an old spare on hand)
update their virus protection, then install the bad hard drive as a slave drive and scan your drive and zap the offending program
(though, don't open anything or click on any folders on the infected drive until after you do the scan).
You'll then be able to move the files you want to save to a folder on the other computer
(or zip, floppy or burn them on a cd). Next, reinstall your drive, wipe everything out and then reload
the operating system and move your saved stuff back when done. You may even be able to save your address book and email, as well.
As a side note to saving or backing up email and address books. In order to do that you either have to
export your email and address books to another folder
or make a copy of the program files and place them in another folder. With Outlook, Outlook Express
and Juno, etc., exporting and importing can be a time consuming hassle.
This is another good reason to dump those programs and try another one.
I prefer Netscape because of it's simplicity. You only need to save a copy of just one folder
and you're all set. Plus, viruses are rarely written to mass email from Netscape email.
Probably because virus writers want to hit the highest common denominator. The most popular email program
is Outlook Express and AOL is the biggest service provider, so they're frequently targeted.
Tips for users of Netscape Communicator version 4.79.
Netscape lost ground to the Microsoft juggernaught and was bought by AOL. Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape are both free downloads from their parent sites.
The newest Netscape is version 7 - if you go to Netscape downloads, you'll be led to version 7.
Netscape released version 4.79 without advertising it. Communicator 4.79 complete includes Netscape mail, the Netscape browser, Real Player 8 and Winamp.
To download Netscape 4.79 "GO HERE"
and click on the link at the bottom of the page where it says "Download without SmartDownload."
Save it to a folder or disk and you'll always have it to reinstall in case you ever need to reload your operating system
Also, never choose quick install when loading a program (any program, unless your familiar with it - or don't care).
It takes control of the installation process away from the user. Choose custom install and read carefully.
For Netscape mail users: for detailed instructions on how to backup and save a copy of all
your email and address books - CLICK HERE
Using Search Engines for tech advice.
Search Engines come in a variety of flavors. If you like ads then use whichever one you prefer.
If you hate ads like I do (and snooping on your surfing habits) then use the Google search engine.
Some folks may not know, but the Federal Trade Commission has threatened legal action against 7 commercial search engine companies after a consumer watchdog group
complained that they engaged in deceptive advertising (read an article on issue).
The complaint was raised against AltaVista, AOL Time Warner, Direct Hit, iWon, LookSmart, Microsoft, and Terra Lycos.
Google was not part of the complaint, and has garnered praise by not engaging in "business as usual."
Google is a good search engine for tech ailments (and it's not cluttered w/ ads). If you're getting missing file errors,
crashes, etc., just type in the name of the missing file or the first part of the error code and you'll be linked to sites with answers, or at least clues to your problem.
But remember, there's a zillion files out there and some answers are easy to find, while others are not. You have to just keep at it.
Turn off and/or manage unnecessary startup programs
The link's below contain extensive lists of programs that are always running in the background on your computer - you may not know it. They're managed in the System Configuration Utility.
Some, but not all, show themselves in the System Tray (area in lower right corner of screen by the clock).
Whatever you have running in the System Tray uses RAM memory and too many things will rob you of resources and slow your computer.
Some of these programs you do not want to turn off - the System Tray for one, your antivirus, etc. And some are better turned off within the programs
preferences or options menu. The links below are lists that not only will tell you if you need them or not, but what they're for and whether to turn them off there or from within it's own program options.
For example: most folks if you use the Real Player - the Real Player icon is in the sys tray at startup.
If you close it out, it will return the next time you reboot your computer. It's better to turn this one off from the real player options menu
(on the real player 8 toolbar, click on "View" then preferences. On the general tab find "StartCenter" and
click on "Settings." Uncheck "Enable StartCenter").
Some programs though never give that option and the only way to turn them off is in the System Configuration Utility (also referred to as msconfig, since that's the actual file name).
Windows 95 and 2000 do not have this program, but you can download the Windows XP msconfig and use it on Win2000 (do a Google search).
To open the System Configuration Utility > Go to Start, then Run > type in "msconfig" & click ok.
Go to the startup tab and uncheck what you don't want to start at boot.
The list will guide you along. After restarting it will tell you you're using selective startup, click ok.
Also, msconfig can be used to troubleshoot problems with the operating system, as well. Especially, if you can only boot to Safe Mode.
Msconfig startup Lists
The BIG list of startup Items
CLSID List - Browser Helper Objects, IE Toolbars or Code Storage Databases
Additional Help Sites
Microsoft Knowledge Base
The Microsoft Knowledge is the Big Daddy of Microsoft fixes and problem solvers. If you can find your problem here, you'll probably be able to solve it, as well.
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