Terry's Computer Tips - Newsletter
January 6, 2007

Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter
http://www.terryscomputertips.com
A computer tips newsletter for users of PC's.

Volume 2, Number 30 — Sunday, January 6, 2007

Part 1  | Part 2  | Part 3 | Part 4

IN THIS WEEK'S ON-LINE ISSUE:
   1.   Popup Fake Warning Messages
   2.   Updates Last Week
   3.   USB Flash Drives and Windows 98
   4.   Webcam Installation Not Recognized
   5.   Feedback from Ivan Tadej
   6.   My Computer Security Software Recommendations
   7.   Microsoft Updates Question
   8.   Recommend my Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter to Your Friends

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1.  Popup Fake Warning Messages

Regular readers of Terry's Computter Tips know that I like to get emails and questions from my subscribers. Of course, since it's a free computer tips newsletter, that's hardly a deal you can refuse...

Subscriber Valerie Mitchell wrote me this week to ask:

Hello Terry:
Recently I've been getting this pop-up message that says something like this: "your hardrive has traces of adult content tracking. Download Drivecleaner to scan your hardrive (Recommended). Of course when you press OK, it's just a scan then you have to purchase the software to clean your hardrive. I read on some site that it's just an ad, as there's not to my knowledge any porn on my computer. How do I stop this warning from popping up all the time? Also, what is you opinion on a freeware program called CCleaner (which stands for Crap Cleaner)? Thank you for your help.
v. mitchell

In my opinion, she is seeing a popup ad coming from a web site. There is no such warning out of Windows, IE, or any other normal program that I know. It probably only shows up when she visits particular web sites. It might even be an ad that is part of their web page.

If it pops over a web page, that's a good hint which page is generating the popup.

If it pops up BEHIND your web browser windows, it will be harder to figure out which is causing it.

Unfortnately, the detective work is a little more complicated, as a web page can trigger a JavaScript or ActiveScript that downloads the ad, delays for a predetermined time, and then pops up the ad. This means you could be looking at a different page when the popup shows.

Of course, popups can also be caused by adware and spyware.

If you use Firefox to surf the web, turn on the popup blocker. If you don't use Firefox, check out my my Firefox page and then download the free web browser.

If you use Internet Explorer to surf, you should get the Google Toolbar for IE, which has a great popup blocker.. The best way is via Google's free software pack called Google Pack. Read more here:Free Google Pack Software Package.

Regarding CCleaner, I haven't used it although I know some of my friends and subscribers have.

For cleaning history and temporary files on my hard drive, I use WinClear, which is pretty Microsoft-centric, or XP Privacy Pro, which handles Firefox, Opera and Netscape files, too, in addition to the usual Internet Explorer and Windows history lists and temp files. For registry maintenance, I use XP Repair Pro 2006.

 

2.  Updates Last Week

Microsoft (operating systems, email, web browser, office suites):
No updates last week. Microsoft releases almost all updates once per month, on the second Tuesday.

Firefox (web browser, http://www.mozilla.com, free):
Versions 2.0.0.1 and 1.5.0.9 were released on December 19th. These are security fixes.. Current version 2.0.0.1. Latest v1.5 version is 1.5.0.9 -- Mozilla.org urges all users to upgrade to Firefox 2.

Opera (web browser, http://www.opera.com, free):
New version! Version 9.10 was released December 18th. This release of Opera introduces "Fraud Protection" as well as user-interface and stability changes. Read the details.

Netscape (web browser, http://browser.netscape.com, free):
No update this week. Version 8.1.2 was released during the week ending September 30.

US-CERT issued a press-release on November 8th that recommended that Netscape users turn off JavaScript. (Mozilla Firefox, SeaMonkey and Thunderbird were subject to the same issues, but new versions were released on November 8th to solve the problem.) AOL has not updated Netscape to the new version of the underlying "Gecko" browser.

SeaMonkey (web browser, email, HTML editor, newsreader; http://www.mozilla.org/projects/seamonkey; free): Version 1.0.7 was released on December 19th.

Eudora (email, http://www.eudora.com, options: paid, sponsored or free/lite):
No update last week. Version 7.1.0.9 was released October 11, 2006. This was announced as to be the last commercial version before Eudora becomes open-source in the first half of 2007.

Mozilla Thunderbird (email, http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird, free):
Thunderbird version 1.5.0.9 was released December 19th.

OpenOffice (office suite — spreadsheet, word processor, presentations, graphics, web design; http://www.openoffice.org; free):
Version 2.1 was released during the week ending December 24th.

Part 1  | Part 2  | Part 3 | Part 4

Volume 2, Number 30 — Sunday, January 6, 2007

Copyright © 2007 Terry A. Stockdale.  All rights reserved.