Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter
November 22, 2009
Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter
http://www.terryscomputertips.com
A computer tips newsletter for users of PC's.
Volume 5, Number 24 — Sunday, November 22, 2009
IN THIS ON-LINE ISSUE:
1. How Do I Set Up a New User Account in Windows XP?
2. The Lighter Side of Technology
3. How Do I Set Up a New User Account in Windows 7?
4. How Do I Log In Automatically to Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7?
5. My Computer Security Software Recommendations
6. Recommend my Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter to Your Friends
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1. How Do I Set Up a New User Account in Windows XP?
Why should you have multiple accounts in Windows XP?
Windows XP will provide some security control — access control — that gives each user their own My Documents, My Music, etc. folders. This means that separate passwords will keep the children out of the parents' files and folders (as long as they're stored in the My Documents folder and the children don't have have Administrator accounts).
Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 all have very similar functions that enable you to create new user accounts on your computer.
Let's look at how to add a new user in Windows XP...
First, we need to get to the screen that allows us to add a new user.
There are two ways to get to the same place User Accounts menu in Windows XP. The quickest is to use the Start Button, then Control Panel, and select User Accounts.
At first glance, it would appear that the quickest way to add a new user account is to click on the link "Create a new account" which is below the Pick a task... heading.
Actually, that selection simply takes you to the same place that as clicking on the "User Accounts" link below "or pick a Control Panel icon" would take you. You are taken to the screen where you click on a link to create a user account or select which account you want to change.
(click on the image for a larger version)
First, we need to click on the link labelled "Create a new account".
That will open the second dialog box. Our only choices on this screen are to pick a user name and click Next, or to click Cancel.
(click on the image for a larger version)
The final step is to pick whether the new account will be an Administrator on this computer, or whether it will be a Limited User. Note that you can change this later, if you wish.
If you intend to protect the My Documents folders, in order to prevent others from seeing the contents — or deleting or changing them — then you need the Limited User choice. A computer administrator can access anyone's files.
(click on the image for a larger version)
Now, we are returned to the User Accounts "Pick a Task" dialog box again. You can see that a new user account "terry2" has been added to the display.
(click on the image for a larger version)
At this point, if you want to add a password, change the icon, or change Limited to Administrator, you can do that by clicking on the icon for the user account you want to change.
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2. The Lighter Side of Technology
This week's technology cartoon at Terry's Computer Tips!
3. How Do I Set Up a New User Account in Windows 7?
Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 all have very similar functions that enable you to create new user accounts on your computer.
Let's look at how to add a new user in Windows 7...
First, we need to get to the screen that allows us to add a new user.
There are two ways to get to the same place User Accounts menu in Windows 7. The quickest is to use the Start Button, then Control Panel, and select User Accounts.
At first glance, it would appear that the quickest way to add a new user account is to click on the link "Add or remove user account" which is below the User Accounts heading (which is also a link).
Actually, that selection simply takes you to the same place that as clicking on the header "User Accounts" would take you. You are taken to the screen where you select which account you want to change, or click on a link to create a user account.
(click on the image for a larger version)
Now, we're on the page where we can choose to change the settings on an existing account. It's also the same place where we can click on the link to "Create a new account".
Click on the link "Create a new account".
(click on the image for a larger version)
Now, you need to fill in the userID that you've chosen for the new user. I decided to use "terry" for that user.
Your other step at this point is to decide if the new user is to be a Standard User or to be an Administrator on the computer system. A Standard User is more restricted in what they can do within Windows.
An Administrator may have to input his password at certain points to confirm that they want to do a specific function, or Windows 7 may simply require that the click on a button to confirm the intent to do that Administrator action.
(click on the image for a larger version)
After you click the Create Account button, you wil see that the new user account has been created.
(click on the image for a larger version)
In order to set a password for the new account or change the picture tied to this account, select the account from the screen. Then, click on the corresponding link.
(click on the image for a larger version)
4. How Do I Log In Automatically to Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7?
There's a question that I'm often asked. It usually goes like this: "I'm the only user of my computer. How can I make Windows log me in automatically, so I don't have to click on my user icon or enter my password?"
First, let me say that doing this bypasses some of the security of Windows, and opens your computer to anyone trying to log in remotely (assuming they can get past your router's firewall function or the firewall software running on your computer).
Tech Tip
I'm sure you trust your family members and may not feel the need to protect your computer's files from them. You probably have your firewall (Windows Firewall or other) set to "trust" the other computers on your network.
But, what about your spouse's or the children's computer, where they just clicked on the link that infected them — and gave remote control of their computer to the bad guy?
By providing automatic log-in on your computer, you've given them control of your computer, too!
Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 all have very similar functions that enable you to allow an automatic log-in to your computer.
We'll use Windows 7 as the example, but the screens are similar for Windows XP and Vista.
First, let's consider the Users Accounts functions in the Control Panel. This is where you can create user accounts, change their pictures (icons), set their passwords, set the type account (administrator or limited user), and delete user accounts.
There are two ways to get to the same place. First, we can go the usual route via Control Panel, to User Accounts. We can also jump there directly by running that particular program.
First, click on the Start Button. The next step differs by operating system.
In Windows XP, click on Run. This will open a dialog box, into which you type control userpasswords and press enter.
In Windows 7, type run in the search box and wait. Then, at the top of the search results, you will find the program names that include the word "run". Click on the one that simply says "Run". Type control userpasswords
(click on the image for a larger version)
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5. My Computer Security Software Recommendations
I review my security software recommendations and update them for each weekly newsletter issue, if I think they need to change.
My Philosophy: Many people want to pick their most economical solution and prefer an all-in-one anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall solution. In concept, that's a great idea. In actual practice, I don' think that this type of package is likely to be the best in all the protection categories you need.
Other people want to pick the best of each type program. I'm one of the these folks.
My choice of software that I am willing to recommend is driven by my search for software for me to use. I only recommend programs that I like and that I use. I will sometimes suggest alternatives to my recommendations, but I clearly note if I no longer use them.
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..."
From 2003 through mid-2008, my personal choice was ESET's small, fast NOD32 anti-virus program, which offers a FREE 30-day evaluation license. I still consider NOD32 to be one of the best in anti-virus protection — and it continues to get recognition and awards. Unlike some of its competitors, ESET offers multiple-year licenses also, and includes program updates in the multiple-year license.
However, I've changed from my long-time choices NOD32 (antivirus) and Sunbelt's 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. Sunbelt Software offers multi-year licenses and home site licenses on its software, both of which include program updates as well as signature updates.
My anti-virus and anti-spyware choice for my computers and those of my family's computers is VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware
I'm often asked for alternatives to the programs that I recommend, especially by people who want to buy one package (a "suite") to do everything.
As a result, I tried a couple security suites in the last few months to pick a suite to recommend. ESET Smart Security 4 is my recommended suite alternative. Smart Security 4 has gotten great ratings and includes antivirus and antispyware, both from their current NOD32 v4 version, and antispam and firewall. I no longer use it and have returned to Sunbelt's VIPRE, but for a suite choice, that's what I would use.
Tech Tip
Many antivirus programs will offer you an anti-virus signature subscription renewal when your subscription renews. I strongly recommend against this option — buy the full program or make sure you get program updates with the subscription renewal. Both NOD32 and VIPRE purchases include both program updates/upgrades AND antivirus signature updates.
Vendors routinely improve the capabilities and speed of the programs, too. If you update only the signatures, you miss any program improvements.
Related articles:
- VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Review
- A Look at ESET Smart Security 4
- Anti-Virus Programs and Online Scanners
- Free Online Antivirus Scan
- NOD32 Anti-Virus Review - A Look at NOD32
Firewall Software
While the Windows XP firewall is much better than no firewall at all, but 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. However, Microsoft built in pre-authorization for many programs. Windows 7's firewall is also two-way, and again has pre-cleared many programs to communicate outbound to the Internet — some to go where you want to go, and some to "call home."
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 flagged 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.
Tip: Be sure to read my review of SPF for the settings I recommend.
At this time, the Sunbelt Personal Firewall works with Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista, in 32-bit versions only. Recently, Sunbelt announced that SPF should be available for 64-bit computers in the first quarter of 2010, including Windows 7 support. I can't wait.
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. A unlimited Home Site License is $39.95 for a year.
Related articles:
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 — and there's an even newer version about to be released. Nicely, Sunbelt 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.
I changed from my long-time programs NOD32 (antivirus) and CounterSpy (antispyware) to Sunbelt's 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:
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 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:
Backup Software
When we think of security software, we usually think of antivirus, firewall, antispyware and antispam software. But, what other kind of software is security software? Backup software, of course.
We need to make backup copies of our important data. That data may be financial, such as your checkbook in Quicken, or your spreadsheet tracking your investmants. Or, it may be personal, non-financial data such as digital family photos.
What if your hard drive won't start one day? What will you lose? What if your computer is stolen (let's ignore, for now, whether you should encrypt data on your hard drive to protect it from others — let's just think about the inconvenience and loss to us!)?
There are two basic types of backups you should do.
You need to regularly back up your individual data files to another computer, to an external hard drive, or even to an online repository (but realize, if you have to rebuild the data on your computer, it may have to be downloaded for days and days). An external hard drive is the best choice if you don't have a home network where you could copy to another computer.
If you have a home network, use Karen's Replicator (free for personal, non-business use) to back up the files that change. I have it scheduled to copy my data files every evening from my notebook to another computer at my home. You should also get an external hard drive (or two, so you can alternate them) and make occasional backup copies to it. Preferably store it at a relative's house or your safe deposit box.
If you don't have a home network, get an external hard drive (or two, so you can alternate them) and make regularly scheduled backup copies to it. Use Karen's Replicator (free for personal, non-business use) to back up the files that change to your external drive. Preferably, store one external drive at a relative's house or your safe deposit box, so that if the worst happens, you haven't lost irreplaceable photos and other information.
The other type of backup is an image backup. This gives the ultimate in quick restore capability. Just plug in the external drive, boot the cdrom, and restore the image back to your hard drive. I use Acronis True Image Home 2009 (they also have discounts for upgrades)to make backups across my network every three days. Once a month, I make a full backup image. Every three days, it makes an incremental backup — copying only those files that have changed.
Acronis True Image Home 2009 (and later) allow you to recover individual files and folders from the image files, so you don't have to restore everything. The nice thing about making my backup across the network is that I can restore individual files across the network from those images. Sometimes that's the easiest thing to do.
Why Replicator and Acronis True Image Home, if we can restore individual files from both? Replicator will always have the latest version it backed up — but not any earlier ones. With Acronis True Image, we can have multiple versions of the files to choose among. We can restore one that's months old, if we like, and not just the latest version.
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 still recommend the Linksys WRT54G
If you don't want wireless, I recommend the Linksys BEFSR41
Tech Tip
By the way, the new "802.11n" wireless specification was approved in September 2009. It had been expected to be approved in January 2010.
If you're shopping, look for some indication that the model meets the final, approved standard. The "n" routers sold in the last couple years were based on different drafts of the standard.
I'm planning to switch from 802.11g to 802.11n, but not until January or February. I want the router manufacturers to have a chance to get their firmware upgrades done for 802.11n compliance, or to release new models in case they need to.
See these related articles:
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Volume 5, Number 24 — Sunday, November 22, 2009
Copyright © 2009 Terry A. Stockdale. All rights reserved.
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