Terry's Computer Tips - Newsletter
August 12, 2007
Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter
http://www.terryscomputertips.com
A computer tips newsletter for users of PC's.
Volume 3, Number 9 — Sunday, August 12, 2007
Part 1 | Part 2
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IN THIS WEEK'S ON-LINE ISSUE:
1. Windows XP Local Users and Groups
2. Updates Last Week
3. Computers used to be BIG
4. To Use a Password or Not
5. My Computer Security Software Recommendations
6. Updated Replicator Version
7. Feedback from Readers
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. Windows XP Local Users and Groups
Subscriber Beth Peacock wrote with a number of simple questions. Of course, the answers to simple questions are not always so simple...
Hi Terry,
I went to My Computer > computer management > (local) users & groups > guests.
I saw that the guest[s] had the same access as I do as the administrator. My password is saved on my pc, so I don't have to key it in every time. How can I make access by anyone else impossible?
Also, under System Summary, I noticed that my total physical memory us 261,616KB; available is 107,856KB. Total Virtual memory is 894,296 KB; available is 592,152KB. Page File Space is 632,680.
Should I be thinking of more memory yet?
Thank YOU, Terry!!!
Beth Peacock
Beth has some really good questions that make us look at the way Windows handles user ID's and memory. First, let's take a look at the different types of user groups — Guests versus Administrators user groups.
Windows XP actually has a couple more types of users, but the only additional user type that is enabled by default is the Limited User profile.
My initial challenge, though, was to figure out how Beth had gotten to this dialog box she mentioned (there are several ways). She gave me the route but not the starting point.
I quickly found it:
- Click on the Start Menu
- Right-click on My Computer
- Select "Manage", which will open the Computer Management dialog box
- Click on Local Users and Groups. Actually, I prefer to click on the + expansion box just to the left of Local Users and Groups. This will also show me the entries for Users and for Groups, but it will allow me to change between them more easily
Alternatively, I could have gotten to the same window via Control Panel, Performance and Maintenance, Administrative Tools, and finally Computer Management.
After selecting Local Users and Groups, we can see all the different types of user groups (pre-defined classifications of users with different capabilities) that are available in Windows XP Professional. Unfortunately, XP Home doesn't offer the Local Users and Groups option in Computer Management, although the other functions are there.
(click on the image for a larger version)
If we click on Users in the left panel, we see a list of the users that are set up on this computer. You will not see all these users listed on the Windows XP logon screen. If you have Guest disabled, it won't show up. It also will not show up if you have the Guest account turned off, which you can do via Control Panel, User Accounts.
Administrator will only show up on that login screen if you're in Safe Mode (although you can Control-Alt-Delete twice to get a different login screen, where you can type the user name instead of picking an icon).
(click on the image for a larger version)
At this point, double-click on the Guest user, and you should see the Guest Properties dialog box. Be sure that you have "User cannot change password" checked.
(click on the image for a larger version)
The second tab is important for security and is where Beth has a problem. The Guests user should only be a member of the Guests group.
In Beth's case, Guests was a member of Guests but was also a member of Administrators, which could cause (or be a result of) some severe security problems. On this tab, Beth needs to select the Administrators group and then click on the Remove button, followed by Apply.
(click on the image for a larger version)
As a comparison, the following "tas Properties" dialog box is the user dialog box for my normal logon ID. As you can see, a regular user should be able to change their password.
(click on the image for a larger version)
The Member Of tab for tas Properties shows that my ID is a member of the Administrators group and a member of the Debugger Users group. I've forgotten what application I installed that created the Debugger Users group — it doesn't exist on my desktop computer that also has Windows XP Professional.
(click on the image for a larger version)
Unfortunately, the change on the Guest Properties dialog box isn't all that Beth needs, given what she said she wanted to do.
In Article 4 (below), I'll respond to her questiton about passwords and access by others.
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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. This week did not include Patch Tuesday.
Firefox (web browser, http://www.mozilla.com, free):
No new version this week. Version 2.0.0.6 was released on August 1, 2007. This was a security update.
Opera (web browser, http://www.opera.com, free):
No new version this week. Version 9.22 was released on July 19th. This release of a recommended security upgrade, in addition to having several other changes and bug fixes.
Netscape (web browser, http://browser.netscape.com, free):
No new version this week. Version 9.0b2 (beta version) was released during the week ending July 22, 2007.
SeaMonkey (web browser, email, HTML editor, newsreader; http://www.mozilla.org/projects/seamonkey; free): No new version this week. Version 1.1.4 was released on August 3, 2007. This was primarily a security update.
Eudora (email, http://www.eudora.com):
No update last week. Version 7.1.0.9 was released October 11, 2006. Eudora is now free, with no ads and no "paid mode" option.
Sponsored mode in the earlier versions of Eudora expired on March 31st — and reverted to the less-functional "Lite" mode. Fortunately, Eudora is very nicely designed. Just upgrade to v7.1.0.9 to get back to Sponsored mode.
The current release is the last version for this incarnation of Eudora. Qualcomm has handed the product to the Mozilla Foundatiton. The next time we actually see a new release of Eudora, it is expected to be Eudora features built onto a Thunderbird base.
Mozilla Thunderbird (email, http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird, free):
No new version this week. Thunderbird version 2.0.0.6 was released on August 1, 2007. This is primarily a security update.
OpenOffice (office suite — spreadsheet, word processor, presentations, graphics, web design; http://www.openoffice.org; free): Version 2.2.1 was released during the week ending June 16th. This is a security fix and bug fix release, with no new features.
3. Computers used to be BIG
Subscriber David wrote to tell me about a fascinating, historical computer site;
Hi Terry. Always a pleasure to read the newsletter. There`s usually something of interest lurking in there! Not sure if this is strictly relevant but may be of interest to folk who are in to historic computing. I`m involved with a charity classic car show every year here in the UK www.darlingbudsclassiccarshow.co.uk and the owner of the farm and site where the show is held (together with a small team of enthusiasts) has restored a massive ICT 1301 computer originating from the 1960`s. This beast is a sight to behold, occupying a whole barn and sucking some 13 Kw (that`s KILOWATTS!) from the 440 volt, three phase electricity supply that was especially installed. All discrete components (no chips in those days!) on open circuit boards. The construction owes more to heavy engineering than electronics! There is a dedicated website that documents the history of the restoration, www.ict1301.co.uk, and for UK readers it is on display and working (hopefully) every year at the car show.
Thanks, David. The site is a great look back at the early days of computing and at a computer over 40 years old!
In today's world smaller and smaller computers, a look back to the huge world of 1960's computing makes the capabilities and miniaturization of our own computers, PDA's and mobile phones much more amazing.
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4. To Use a Password or Not
In Article 1, Beth Peacock asked a number of quick questions. Unfortunately, the answers weren't so easy.
One of the questions was:
My password is saved on my pc, so I don't have to key it in every time. How can I make access by anyone else impossible?
In this case, Beth's actions and her goal are diametrically opposed. The password is the tool to keep anyone else from being able to use her machine.
Windows XP uses the password as its access control in allowing a user to log into Windows. If you don't use a password for your ID in Windows, anyone trying to log into your machine using your account will be able to do so.
That might happen when a child starts or reboots the computer. Without a password or a substitute control (like a fingerprint reader), anyone booting the computer will start up Windows just as you do.
Another place that a lack of a password can hurt is on Windows File & Printer Sharing, which uses user ID's and passwords to control who gets to access files and printers.
If you have the Guest User turned off, anyone who does not have a user ID and password on your computer that matches the user ID and password they're using on their computer, won't be able to access your files or printer. If you turn the Guest user account on, they can access the printer as Guest, regardless of what user ID and password they're using.
Protection from the network side of the computer needs to include two major items. First, if you are using anything other than a dialup account (not that it's not needed for dialup, it just doesn't work with dialup!), you need a router to isolate your computer from access initiated from the Internet. If someone can't get to your computer, they can't access it.
Second, you need a good two-way firewall program. A two-way firewall will block or control access to your computer that originates on another computer. It will also block or control access by programs running on your computer when they try to talk to the Internet or another computer on a home network.
That way, if your computer gets compromised by adware, spyware, a worm or other malware, the firewall program will help prevent the problem from getting worse.
Beth's final questions were about memory. She reported that "total physical memory is 261,616KB.". I've written about the need for more memory the last couple of weeks. Beth's computer is another example.
She's only got 256MB (261,616KB) of RAM and is running Windows XP Professional. She would see a tremendous improvement in system performance if she increases to 512MB, 768MB or 1GB of RAM.
Paid Advertisement
Forget Vista, Make Your XP System Run Like New!
In just minutes, discover how you can improve the performance
of your computer without the expense of adding new hardware.
PC Pitstop's Optimize Scan 1.5 is easy to use software
that will automatically diagnose problems with your PC and
give you a custom report detailing issues that are hurting
your PC's performance. Run This Instant Scan Now!
http://terryscomputertips.com/PCPitstop
Part 1 | Part 2
Volume 3, Number 9 — Sunday, August 12, 2007
Copyright © 2007 Terry A. Stockdale. All rights reserved.
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