Malvern Landlines August newsletter

MCC
Landlines


Malvern Computer Club
August 2008

First Steps Meeting.
28th August 7.30 p.m. at the Primary School Library.
Club Membership includes Club CD.
Casuals $5/night students $2. Yearly subs are $25 for a family. Students $10.
Also the use of the CD Writer is free and $1 for a CD/R.
Phone Marcel 3188232 or Audrey 3181512
Any enquiries email to
landlines@xtra.co.nz
website;
http://www.geocities.com/malverncc/

Hello,

Early newsletter this month because I will be at a mapping conference in Sydney. I could come back early and make the meeting but I thought it might be a nice idea to spend a few days looking around there. A busy week this week with a few computer problems popping up, AntivirusXP2008, animals eating network cables, iPods’ not working, emails not being received. Just had a first for me, I used System Restore and it worked. I tried XP service pack 3 on a laptop and I did not work at all. I had to go back one day and it worked. The person will just have to do without the software the need SP3.

Agenda
Welcome
Apologies
Matters arising from the Newsletter & last meeting
Any problems
The Blog
Ubuntu anyone tried it?

Antivirus XP 2008 Description

AntivirusXP 2008, also known as also known as XP Antivirus 2008, Antivirus 2008 XP or AntiVirXP08, is a rogue anti-spyware program that performs fake system scans and displays warning messages to lure you to purchase AntivirusXP 2008's full version. AntivirusXP 2008 is usually downloaded and installed via a trojan called Zlob found on a media codecs that are downloaded from adult websites. AntivirusXP 2008 prompts users with warning messages and popups that state that you are infected with spyware in an attempt to get you to buy AntivirusXP 2008's commercial version. Another attempt used by AntivirusXP 2008 is to perform system scans that show false positives. AntivirusXP 2008 is not a legitimate spyware removal tool. AntivirusXP 2008 is clone of Xp Antivirus, XPAntivirus2008 and Antivirus 2008.
How can I get rid of Antivirus XP 2008?
The most common spyware removal tactic is to uninstall Antivirus XP 2008 by using the "Add/Remove Programs" utility. However, as there may still be hidden Antivirus XP 2008 files, it's possible that Antivirus XP 2008 will reappear after reboot. Follow the

Antivirus XP 2008 detection and removal methods below.
Antivirus XP 2008 is a type of Spyware.
Spyware is any malware or software used to spy or track your computer activity. While some spyware is not malicious and is intentionally installed by parents or employers to monitor Internet activity, spyware may be installed maliciously. Often spyware can come bundled with downloads of free software, and may track your Internet activity or may steal usernames and passwords, credit card numbers, and other personal financial information.
Antivirus XP 2008 Prevention Rules
Protect your computer from Antivirus XP 2008 and other spyware by following these four easy prevention rules.

Rule #1: Keep your Windows Security up-to-date
Microsoft provides updates weekly and can always be downloaded manually from the Microsoft website.
Tip: Regularly visit Windows Update and set your computer to receive security & critical updates automatically.
Go get Microsoft Update, go to IE > Tools > Windows Update > Product Updates, and select "ALL High-Priority Security Updates" from the list.
Then open IE and go to Internet Options > Security > Internet, then press "Default Level", then OK. Now press "Custom Level."

Rule #2: Download and install reliable anti-spyware software
A good anti-spyware software that recognizes current Antivirus XP 2008 spyware as well as other forms of spyware can be the answer to all your security issues.


Rule #3: Install and keep your firewall turned on
A firewall is essential for a complete protection of your PC. Make sure that your firewall is always turned on. A firewall can prevent unwanted software like Antivirus XP 2008 from infecting your computer.

Rule #4: Keep your anti-spyware definitions up-to-date
Since new Antivirus XP 2008 files can be created every day, it is important to keep your anti-spyware program up-to-date. Your anti-spyware scanner should have an update feature where with a click of a button you can get new spyware definitions instantly. Often, an anti-spyware software will open an update window reminding you that there are new updates available.

The Landlines Blog

I must say I really like the new Landlines Blog it is a good way for members to communicate between meetings and exchange ideas and problems. A number of members have already joined up and are contributing. A few are still only readers but as soon as they have their Gmail email address I can add them to the list so they stick their own items on.
Keep in touch.

https://www.blogger.com/


This is verbatim from Gizmo Richards

"Gizmo, could you tell me what security products you use to protect your computer? You must be using the very best packages available and I'd like to use them as well."

Today I'm going to tell you the security products I use but I'm going to start by telling you they are not all that important. That's because the main way I protect my PC is not with good security products but rather with good security practices.

I regard protecting your PC from infection to be analogous to crossing a busy road unharmed. Stepping onto the road is like logging on to the internet. Crossing safely is like avoiding infection; you don't want to get hit. Now there are two ways of crossing that road the first way is to be very careful about where you cross and to be watchful and aware of the dangers. In other words, make sure you don't get hit. Another approach is to protect yourself with something like an army tank and cross anywhere, anytime. If you get hit, you rely on the tank to protect you.
Now no sensible person would adopt the latter approach to crossing a road, yet when it comes to computer security that's exactly what most folks do.

"Hey man, I'm using the latest McNortsky Super Security suite and nine other security scanners. I can do anything I want on the net and I'm invincible"
Sorry baby, you are not. You are the guy in the tank crossing the road who's about to get trashed by a big interstate semi. I know. I've witnessed that accident many times.
If you want real computer security, you need to adopt safe computing practices. Like the rules of road safety we teach our kids, these practices are simple and well known. You can find them here:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/how-to-secure-your-pc.php
So, apart from safe computing practices, how do I defend my PC? Quite sparsely compared to some users. On all my computers I always surf in a sandbox using Sandboxie and Firefox.
My firewall and AV scanners vary across different computers because I like to get hands-on experience with different products. Of course, each PC has only one firewall and one AV scanner. The firewalls I'm using at the moment include Comodo, ZoneAlarm Pro and lately, the full version of Online Armor.
All have inbuilt HIPS capability. The only AV scanners I use are the paid version of Avira Personal and NOD32.
I don't have any anti-spyware or anti-trojan programs running, though I do carry out regular on-demand scans using WebRoot SpySweeper and CounterSpy.
I never find anything.
For rootkit detection I do regular on-demand scans using GMER, Panda Anti-rootkit and DarkSpy. Again, I never find anything but I still consider it a good practice to do these regular on-demand scans.
Are these products the very best available? I can't say. What I can say is they are among the top contenders. I can also say there are other equally good products, including Kaspersky AV and Spyware Doctor that I'm not using just now.

In fact, I don't want to get into the whole "this is the best security product" game. It's like discussing the best tank to be in when crossing the road. Folks, instead of playing the "best product" game, put your time and energy into better security practices. If you do, your computer will end up a lot safer, a lot faster and your wallet will end up a lot fatter as well.
For more excellent advice visit the website above.

From an anonymous but harassed IT technician

Customer: "I got this problem. You people sent me this install disk, and now my A: drive won't work."Tech Support: "Your A drive won't work?"Customer: "That's what I said. You sent me a bad disk; it got stuck in my drive, now it won't work at all."Tech Support: "Did it not install properly? What kind of error messages did you get?"Customer: "I didn't get any error message. The disk got stuck in the drive and wouldn't come out. So I got these pliers and tried to get it out. That didn't work either."Tech Support: "You did what sir?"Customer: "I got these pliers, and tried to get the disk out, but it wouldn't budge. I just ended up cracking the plastic stuff a bit."Tech Support: "I don't understand sir, did you push the eject button?"Customer: "No, so then I got a stick of butter and melted it and used a turkey baster and put the butter in the drive, around the disk, and that got it loose. Then I used the pliers and it came out fine. I can't believe you would send me a disk that was broken and defective."Tech Support: "Let me get this clear. You put melted butter in your A: drive and used pliers to pull the disk out?" At this point, I put the call on the speaker phone and motioned to the other technicians to listen.Tech Support: "Just so I am absolutely clear on this, can you repeat what you just said?"Customer: "I said I put butter in my A: drive to get your crappy disk out, then I had to use pliers to pull it out."Tech Support: "Did you push that little button that was sticking out when the disk was in the drive, you know, the thing called the disk eject button?"
Silence.
Tech Support: "Sir?"Customer: "Yes."Tech Support: "Sir, did you push the eject button?"Customer: "No, but you people are going to fix my computer, or I am going to sue you for breaking my computer!"Tech Support: "Let me get this straight. You are going to sue our company because you put the disk in the A: drive, didn't follow the instructions we sent you, didn't actually seek professional advice, didn't consult your user's manual on how to use your computer properly, instead proceeding to pour butter into the drive and physically rip the disk out?"Customer: "Ummmm."Tech Support: "Do you really think you stand a chance, since we do record every call and have it on tape?"Customer: "But you're supposed to help!"Tech Support: "I am sorry sir, but there is nothing we can do for you. Have a nice day."



SUBS

Still have not sorted the subs out but promise to do it for the September newsletter

Hope the weather stay good enough to see some members arrive at the meeting. Support has been good even on the cold rainy nights.


Marcel landlines@xtra.co.nz