IN THIS WEEK'S ON-LINE ISSUE:
   1.   "Drawing on the Web", my Web Design Blog
   2.   Updates Last Week
   3.   CounterSpy Review
   4.   PC Repair Site .info
   5.   XP Privacy Pro - an early look
   6.   My Computer Security Software Recommendations
   7.   Transfering MIDI Audio Files to Audio CDs
   8.   Recommend my Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter to Your Friends

Welcome to the on-line edition of my Terry's Computer Tips newsletter.

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1.  "Drawing on the Web", my Web Design Blog

I've been working on a couple new blogs this week. If you haven't been paying attention to the Internet at all the last couple years, you might not know that "blog" is an abbreviation for "web log" & and a very growing style of site.

Why is it becoming so important?

People who want a web site, but don't know how to do it, can easily create their own blog at one of the free blog sites.

The number one free blog site is Blogger (www.blogger.com), which is owned by Google. A much more flexible system that is free is WordPress. If you want to get a free WordPress account, just go to www.wordpress.com.

People who have their own web hosting accounts, or want to have their blog's life in their own hands or want flexibility not available at the blog sites, simply download the blog system software and install it themselves.

Two very common blog software systems are both free to download and use on your own site.

WordPress is available for download from www.wordpress.org (note the .org), and is released under the GNU Public License (GPL).

Serendipity is available for download from www.s9y.org. While not released under the GPL (which could cause authors to lose control of their creations), Serendipity is released under a custom license that allows free use. And, if you like, you can also find sites that provide free Serendipity blog hosting.

If you download either one, setup is extremely easy. Blogs usually have multiple options for templates, which can dramatically change the look of a site (see my Terry's Computer Tips blog and The Next Window,my general blog, which both use Serendipity. These are just two of the many templates that are available and customizable, too.).

My new web design blog is called Drawing on the Web, which is a slight pun on the concept of web design. Drawing on the Web is my first blog using the WordPress software.

My article Serendipity vs WordPress, day 1 relates my comparison of the two at the end of my first day with a WordPress blog.

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2.  Updates Last Week

Microsoft (operating systems, email, web browser, office suites):
Microsoft releases almost all updates once per month, on the second Tuesday. Patch Tuesday was last week.

Microsoft Windows XP

Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool - September 2006 (KB890830)
After the download, this tool runs once to check your computer for infection by specific, prevalent malicious software (including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom) and helps to remove any infection found. If an infection is found, the tool will display a status report the next time you start your computer. A new version of the tool will be offered every month. If you want to manually run the tool on your computer, you can download a copy from the Microsoft Download Center or run an online version from microsoft.com. This tool is not a replacement for an anti-virus product. To help protect your computer, you should use an anti-virus product.

Update for Windows XP (KB922582)
A problem has been identified in Filter Manager that can prevent you from installing updates from Windows update. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

Security Update for Windows XP (KB919007)
A security issue has been identified in Reliable Multicast Program (PGM) for Microsoft Windows XP-based systems that could result in a denial of service. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

Security Update for Windows XP (KB920685)
A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise your Windows-based system and gain access to restricted data. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

Update for Windows XP (KB920872)
This is a reliability update for Windows XP machines. Install this audio component update to prevent memory corruption issues which may cause an unstable state on a computer that is running Windows XP Service Pack 2. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

Microsoft Office 2003

Update for Outlook 2003 Junk Email Filter (KB921580)
This update provides the Junk E-mail Filter in Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 with a more current definition of which e-mail messages should be considered junk e-mail. This update was released in September 2006.

Security Update for Publisher 2003 (KB894542)
A security vulnerability exists in Microsoft Office Publisher 2003 that could allow arbitrary code to run when you open a maliciously modified document. This update resolves the vulnerability so that Publisher 2003 documents are handled appropriately.

Microsoft Office 2002/XP

Security Update for Publisher 2002 (KB894541)
A security vulnerability exists in Microsoft Publisher 2002 that could allow arbitrary code to run when you open a maliciously modified document. This update resolves the vulnerability so that Publisher 2002 documents are handled appropriately.

Firefox (web browser, http://www.mozilla.com, free):
Firefox v1.5.0.7 was released on September 15th. The Firefox update notes say:

Firefox 1.5.0.7 is a security and stability update that is part of our ongoing program to provide a safe Internet experience for our customers. We recommend that all users upgrade to this latest version.

Opera (web browser, http://www.opera.com, free):
No new release of Opera last week. Version 9.01 was released on August 2, 2006.

Netscape (web browser, http://browser.netscape.com, free):
No update last week. Current version 8.1.

SeaMonkey (web browser, email, HTML editor, newsreader; http://www.mozilla.org/projects/seamonkey; free): New update last week. Version 1.0.4 was released on August 2 and includes stability and several security fixes.

Eudora (email, http://www.eudora.com, options: paid, sponsored or free/lite):
No update last week. Current version 7.0.1.0, released 12/21/05.

Mozilla Thunderbird (email, http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird, free):
Thunderbird version 1.5.0.5 was released July 27th.

OpenOffice (office suite — spreadsheet, word processor, presentations, graphics, web design; http://www.openoffice.org; free):
Version 2.03 was released during late June.

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Part 1  | Part 2  | Part 3 | Part 4

Volume 2, Number 14 — Sunday, September 17, 2006

Copyright © 2006 Terry A. Stockdale.  All rights reserved.