Terry's Computer Tips - Newsletter
November 23, 2008

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

Volume 4, Number 24 — Sunday, November 23, 2008

IN THIS ON-LINE ISSUE:

   1.   Remote Access Software Question
   2.   Computer Problems Opening Zip Files
   3.   My Computer Security Software Recommendations
   4.   Subscribers Helping Subscribers
   5.   Recommend my Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter to Your Friends

My emailed newsletter is sent weekly to individuals who have subscribed to my email newsletter.
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Welcome to the on-line edition of my Terry's Computer Tips newsletter. Its articles are not in the email issue — and the email articles aren't in the online issue — subscribe to my email newsletter so you can read both.

 

  

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1.  Remote Access Software Question

Reader Olle wrote to ask a remote access question:

Hi! I read your article about editing videos remotely with GoToMyPC. I\'ve tried doing that but it doesn\' work. I cannot even play a vidoe and see the video remotely. But I can do everything else like trabsfereing files and more. Is it a setting issue? I would Like to ask you kindly to guide me on this issue. I appriciate an response.
Thank You Kind regards Olle

Remote access to your own PC, or to other PC's you manage on your own home network, can be a great way to do many tasks.

On my home network, since I use firewall programs on each PC (all are using Sunbelt Personal Firewall) and the home network is segregated from the Internet by my cable/DSL router (a Linksys BEFSR41), I don't hesitate to use non-encrypted remote control software within my network. I use the free versionn of RealVNC to do this.

On the other hand, for remote access across the Internet, I think you'd have to be crazy to do that with an unencrypted connection (which possibly could be monitored by someone else!). For remote access across the Internet, I'd choose GoToMyPC because of its speed and encryption. You can try a 30 day free trial of GoToMyPC (for one PC) or GoToMyPC Pro (for multiple PC's). There are also paid versions of RealVNC that include encryption, so they're another option.

I edit files occasionall across my home network using RealVNC, and did it remotely once using GoToMyPC to see if it would work. However, I found that both ways are possible but frustratingly slow, compared to editing the files while sitting at that computer. Video editing requires a lot of computer power and video power, so it doesn't do well across a network regardless of speed. GoToMyPC was faster than RealVNC, but it still was not anything like editing in person.

I suspect that Olle's problem is related to his video viewing and video editing software. It might have been possible only with the editing software I use.

The issue he's having is that the software is probably sending the video output via a Windows DirectX routine, directly to the video output on the video card, without going through the graphics processor itself. When that happens, the remote pc software is unable to see it.

I have the same issue when I run RealVNC to my home theater PC. I can control the PC easily enough. But, if I'm connecting from my notebook to my home theater PC and have an mpg (MPEG2) video playinng, I can't see the video on my notebook — just like Olle's problem.

Again, if you're going to remotely control computers on your home network from another computer within your home network and if you have a router installed in your home to isolate your computers from other people's computers, the free version of RealVNC is a great tool. But, if you're going to remotely control a computer that is not on your network, or if you aren't isolated from the Internet by your own router, you need to use remote control software that encrypts the transmissions.

Long-time subscriber Irving wrote to ask:

I have XP SP2. I downloaded a zip file to my desktop. I then clicked the icon and ran into a problem. The screen started to "blink" and I couldn't do anything. CTR-ALT-DEL couldn't do anything. I had to shut down with power switch. Tried again.....same problem. This has also occurred on other downloads and blinking screens when trying to install with a click on icon on desktop. What can cause this?? Irv

I wrote back to Irving to suggest some possibilities.

1) a malware program in the zip file - did you scan it after downloading? what did you scan it with?

2) a program that attempted to change your graphics card resolution or other setting, and couldn't do it right - or didn' want to...

It also could be that his unzip program was corrupted. I don't tknow if he was using the built-in zip/unzip program in Windows XP or using a third party program.

His inabilit to shut down could come from several problems. First, the Windows might simply have crashed, which would require the power-off rather than Control-Alt-Delete or Start > Turn Off Compute.

More likely, having to shut down by using the power switch could be as simple as there being a dialog box that you couldn't see — sometimes they get hidden behind other windows.

The program's developer can use a Windows function that makes their dialog box "modal," which unfortunately means that you have to respond to it before you can do anything else.

Somehow, a modal dialog box will sometimes be hidden behind the program window that created it. The program won't respond, you can't close it, and you can't see the dialog box. Ouch.

Lastly, today's malware delivery by email is usually accomplished by hiding the malware in a zip file. Be careful when you open a zip file, if it's arrived by email or downloaded from a suspicious web site (why would you do this?). Finally, be sure you use a good antivirus program and always-running antispyware program to protect you at times like that — I choose Sunbelt's Vipre Antivirus + Antispyware for my PC's and my family's PC's. Sunbelt offers a free fully-functional 15 day trial period of Vipre.

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3.  My Computer Security Software Recommendations

Anti-Virus

I'm often asked about several other popular anti-virus or anti-virus combination packages. Yes, I realize that they are not in my recommendation list. "Enough said..."

For the last five years, until very recently, my personal choice has been ESET's small, fast NOD32 anti-virus program, which offers a FREE 30-day evaluation license. I consider NOD32 one of the best in anti-virus protection. Unlike some of its competitors, ESET offers multiple-year licenses also, and includes program updates in the multiple-year license.

Now, I've changed from my long-time programs NOD32 (antivirus) and CounterSpy (antispyware) to Sunbelt's new VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware.

I've found that VIPRE puts even less load on my computer than the speedy combination of NOD32 and CounterSpy. I've also been impressed with the way its "deep scan" has found and eliminated risks that were stored in zip files, which is one of the latest malware email tricks.

Read more about anti-virus programs on my web site.

Related articles:

• Anti-Virus Programs and Online Scanners
• Free Online Antivirus Scan
• NOD32 Anti-Virus Review - A Look at NOD32
• VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Review

Click here for more information about VIPRE.

Firewall Software

While the Windows XP firewall is much better than no firewall at all, don't count on the Windows XP firewall to meet your needs. You need a two-way firewall, which the Windows XP firewall is not!. Microsoft woke up and supplied a two-way firewall with Windows Vista.

The Windows XP firewall does not control outbound communications originating from your computer — and you should want to have control if adware/trojans/spyware or even commercial products want to talk to the Internet. Whether they are calling home or spewing spam, you want to be able to control your computer.

Do you want Windows Media Player to call home every time you play something? It does! Do you use the Search function in Windows Explorer to find things on your hard drive? Did you know that every time you search, Windows Explorer talks to Microsoft?

I didn't know that when I ran ZoneAlarm, but the Sunbelt Personal Firewall flags that to me, and I can stop it or allow it to happen. Many other programs try to call home when you run them, too.

I recommend my choice for a firewall program, which is Sunbelt Personal Firewall.

You can try the full-featured "paid version" of Sunbelt Personal Firewall free for 30 days — after that, you can register it or, if you're using it on a home non-business computer, you can let it revert to the free, lesser-function license.

Sunbelt Personal Firewall is regularly $19.95 (with discounts for multiple computers and/or multiple years!) for a non-expiring license for the program and includes one year of their updates subscription.

Related articles:

• The Internet Versus You
• Do I Need a Firewall Program?
• My Sunbelt Personal Firewall Review

Anti-Spyware / Anti-Adware Software

CounterSpy, from Sunbelt Software, has received many kudos from the computer press for its always-running and periodic full system scans. It has been my personal choice for my PC's and my family's PC's.

Sunbelt's CounterSpy v2.5, both improved CounterSpy's performance against malware and reduced its impact on system resources and responsiveness when its scanning.

Sunbelt continues to release updated program versions — the current version is v3.1. Nicely, they do NOT install the updated programs automatically. You have to use the Update process in the program, which means that you'll know that something significant has changed.

Now, I've changed from my long-time programs NOD32 (antivirus) and CounterSpy (antispyware) to Sunbelt's new VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware.

I've found that VIPRE puts even less load on my computer than the speedy combination of NOD32 and CounterSpy. My computer seems to have much more pep and power than it had previously. I've also been impressed with the way its "deep scan" has found and eliminated risks that were stored in zip files, which is one of the latest malware email tricks.

Related articles:

• Fighting Against Spyware & Malware
• My CounterSpy Review
• My VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Review

Anti-spam Software

In today's Internet world, the question is not "if" you will get spam, but "how much will you get?"

I use and now I recommend POPFile as my first choice for handling spam. POPFile sits on your computer, between your email program and your ISP mailbox, and handles emial as it downloads.

POPFile uses a different approach to handle spam than some other programs do — it does nothing to reduce spam. It is designed as an email classification tool — you train it to recognize spam and any other type of email that you want to classify. These classifications can help you sort your emails into appropriate folders in your email program.

Sunbelt Software, who makes the anti-spyware program CounterSpy (which I use and recommend) and the firewall that I use and recommend (Sunbelt Personal Firewall) also has a well-regarded, award-winning anti-spam program called iHateSpam for Outlook and Outlook Express. Since I don't use Outlook or Outlook Express for email, I haven't tried iHateSpam.

Mailwasher Pro would be my first choice to handle spam before it ever gets into your computer's Inbox. Mailwasher Pro uses on-line Realtime Black Lists mail servers sending spam recently, "training" by you of what you think is spam, and your own "friends" and "blacklist" lists. Note: I found that PopFile generally meets my needs and stopped using Mailwasher Pro, even though PopFile works AFTER the emails have been downloaded. If I used a dialup connection, I would be more interested in Mailwasher Pro.

Mailwasher Pro can even bounce spam messages, as if your email address was not valid, although the usefulness and appropriateness of this is questionable. There is a free version called "Mailwasher," but it omits the functions that I consider critical for this purpose -- such as safely previewing the emails safely before they ever get to your email inbox.

Related articles:

• Spam Filtering
• Keeping spam out of your Inbox
• Getting Control of Your Inbox
• How Can I Prevent spam?

Cable/DSL Router

If you have a cable modem or a DSL modem, you need to have another layer of inexpensive protection between you and the Internet. A cable/DSL router isolates your computer from direct connection to the Internet. Your computer can easily request your email, web pages, etc. through the router. The responses come back to the router and are smoothly routed to your computer. But, someone on the Internet side of the router can not initiate a connection to your computer — they can only respond to your request.

Even if you only have one computer to connect to your cable or DSL modem, I recommend that you purchase and use a cable/DSL router because of the protection it can give you against attempts to attack through some flaws in Windows itself.

A router isolates your local network, whether it is only one computer or several, from the Internet by actually making it a separate network. The router gets the "public" IP address and handles all your outbound communications and the responses to them. But, it blocks computers on the Internet side from being able to initiate communications with your computer! This will prevent you from falling prey to many worms that try to attack security holes in Windows itself.

For a wireless router, I recommend the Linksys WRT54G wireless router. I'm using the relatively new version 6 of this router.

If you don't want wireless, I recommend the Linksys BEFSR41 wired router, which I also use. Either way, based on my experience, I recommend Linksys routers for price, reliability and Linksys' habit of releasing updated firmware for their products..

See these related articles:

• Wireless Security
• Wi-Fi Hotspots and Computer Security
• Wireless Networking Problems & Wireless Networking Security

In last week's email newsletter, I wrote about a question by a subscriber who was having severe problems with Windows XP. I had some suggestions for John, and I asked my subscribers if they had solutions, too:

For the last several months I've been unable to install any new or updated software on my computer. I\'m running XP. Is there software that will examine my computer and make repairs? This is really frustrating!

Well, the helpful suggestions came rolling in via email and via comments on my Terry's Computer Tips blog.

Here are a few of them:

Reader Clif of the Clif Notes Newsletter wrote:

Hi Terry,

I've used this before to fix system issues without loss of data. No Format Reinstall of XP

Have fun!

Clif

This was a great suggestion that I had forgotten. I've used this trick in the past to handle Windows problems after hardware repairs.

If you use it, be sure to immediately do your Microsoft Updates or Windows Updates — it will change a number of files back to earlier versions, so you'll have all those bugs and security issues again, until you do the updates.

Subscriber James Biddle commented on my blog to say:

I had a similar problem once and I uninstalled (or just deleted) MSInstall. I think MS has a fix on their site. When that is uninstalled go to MS Update and it will update to the newest version.

Subscriber Vinay Nair wrote to suggest:

Hi Terry,

You could suggest running CCleaner for a good wipe out of the system. There is a detailed blog post around on google which will take you through the basic steps of ccleaner and warns you of the outcomes and then lets you make your choices.

My 2 cents.

Vinay

I'm not sure if CCleaner can be installed on a flash drive from another computer and then used to inspect John's computer. I think it has to be installed, and John says he's unable to install programs.

Read the rest of the reader suggestions, for solutions to John's problems, in the comments on my Terry's Computer Tips blog.

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