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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2001-04-02

A Free Email Newsletter from Fred Langa
That Helps You Get More From Your Hardware, 
Software, and Time Online

Please visit our sponsors and help keep the LangaList S.E. free!

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1) Patch Released For Fake Microsoft Security Certificates

It didn't take long, after all: Microsoft already has released patches for the "Erroneous VeriSign-Issued Digital Certificates." You'll recall that the problem was that VeriSign issued fraudulent digital security certificates to a malicious hacker posing as a Microsoft employee.

The patch to correct this kind of problem is fully described in the  Microsoft  Security Bulletin at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-017.asp

Relatedly, reader Peter Kronenberg explained the confusion about the dates that were on the bogus certificates:

Fred, I read that the certificates were indeed issued on January 30 and 31, but since they use GMT time, the actual dates on the certificate are January 29 and 30. Love the newsletter.---Peter

Aha. A PC in Redmond set to UT/GMT time would experience a date change eight hours before a PC right next to it that's set to local Redmond time: If one machine created the patch but the other created the certificate--- well, no wonder there's confusion! 8-)

But that doesn't explain it all: Microsoft says no valid MS certificates were issued during that timeframe--- but several readers (Ian Loxton was the first) discovered an apparently legitimate MSN Messenger update whose digital certificate is indeed dated "30/01/01." Go figure.

But time-stamping weirdness aside, the patch is out, and it's probably worth grabbing right away: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS01-017.asp

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2) And Speaking Of Security Patches...

Microsoft has been quietly refining their security site of late and now has added "a search function that will let you view all of the security patches available for a particular product according to the service packs you've installed on your system."

This is the first of a number of changes, as suggested by a security site essay at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/thrdwave.asp . Man, I welcome *anything* that makes it easier to keep up with security patches. 8-)

The new patch-search function can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/current.asp , and there's a FAQ at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/srchfaq.asp

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3) Free: Jason Levine's "Cookie Jar"

Jason Levin, a fellow former WinMagger and author of the WinMag "Watchdog" tool, writes

Hi Fred, I'm still hard at work trying to find another job after the fallout of the Winmag.com shutdown, but I've been using my newfound free time to polish up my Toolbox site ( http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/ ). Currently only one program is up there, but I plan on releasing more as I finish them.

That program is "Cookie Jar" ( http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/cookiejar.asp )

Cookie Jar lets you keep the cookies you want and delete the cookies you don't want. Simply sort cookies into Allowed and Banned (or Undecided) jars. Cookie Jar can then be set to run when Windows starts up and delete all Banned and/or Undecided cookies, leaving the Allowed ones alone.

It's free--- check it out! (And thanks, Jason!)

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4) WinProxy 4

Long-time readers know I'm a major proponent of sharing a single Internet connection among several computers in small- and home-offices, and previously have recommended the early versions of Sygate: an ultra-simple but highly-effective connection-sharing utility (technically: a network address translator) that also functiones as a superb software firewall.

Unfortunately, after version 3, the Sygate company seemed to lose their way somewhat: The products became more confusing and harder to use, and they lost some of the "Wow" factor that the early, simple, powerful, and inexpensive versions had.

My second-choice had always been WinProxy, and it was second mainly due to the additional complexity of setting it up. But WinProxy has been getting better and better.

In fact, I just got a beta of WinProxy 4, and it looks awesome so far. It appears to be an extremely polished product combining Internet sharing with a stealth firewall, built-in virus protection, site filtering, custom alerts, mail-virus scanning, *outbound* virus protection (to keep you from accidentally infecting others) and lots more.

WinProxy 3 ( http://www.ositis.com ) is good and offers most of the above, but 4 looks like it just may be the next "Wow" Internet-sharing tool. Stay tuned.

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5) Is All Adware Spyware?

Reader Loyd Fleming was concerned about the actions of the free version of  SurfSaver, the web-page capture/database tool mentioned a couple issues ago. ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-03-26.htm#2 )

Having read several or your reports on Surfsave, I downloaded it. But before installing it, I ran spycheck to to determine if it had spyware on it. The report was yes, so I surfed to the program producers site and read their Privacy? statement. The part that bothered me was that they said that use of the program would allow them to use my ISP. They didn't say how they were going to use it either. Do you have any explaination for what they would use my/anyone's ISP?

Similarly, reader George Tullius wrote

In reference to [ICQ replacement Odigo]... I would like to say that I had downloaded Odigo then immediately run Ad-Aware only to find that it contains SPY WARE and once this spy ware is removed it does not operate, I would caution users against using it.

Almost all adware periodically fetches new ads from the vendor's server; this happens while you're online, via your connection to your ISP. In most cases, this accounts for the extra software plumbing and the activity over your ISP connection.

The extra plumbing is often loosely referred to as "spyware" because it *can* be used for other purposes besides fetching ads. For example, if a malicious application is set up to track your surfing, then in theory, the collected data could be sent back to some central database under the guise of fetching ads.

The safest course is indeed to avoid all adware (for example, I use the registered commercial versions of several tools--- such as SurfSaver and Eudora--- specifically to avoid the adware components included in their free versions).

But because something *can* be used to snoop doesn't necessarily mean it *must* be used that way. If you like what a specific type of adware does, and no ad-less commercial version is offered, check out the vendor's home pages for a Privacy Statement; do a web search or check out users comments on public BBSs; and then make an informed judgment as to whether the company is trustworthy or not.

So: Not all adware is necessarily evil. Adware does not automatically equate to "spyware." On the other hand, don't use adware that makes you suspicious: When in doubt, leave it out.

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6) Xteq Systems' X-Setup 6.0 Out Of  Beta

The immensely popular, immensely powerful  X-Setup ("the mother of all Windows tweaking tools")  from Xteq is now available in a full, non-beta, final version 6 release at http://www.xteq.com/downloads/xq-xsetup.zip . It's a 3.73 MB download, and the servers there are going nuts trying to keep up with the demand. If you encounter delays, try a mirror site such as http://www.betabites.com/downloads/xq-xsetup.zip or http://pierre.szwarc.free.fr/Files/xq-xset60.zip or http://www.xteq.com/downloads/xq-xsetup.zip .

It's highly recommended. Its complexity may be daunting at first, but the more you come to understand all it does, the more you'll like it.

It's still freeware for individuals, and shareware for businesses. Business users get a 30-day free trial. Regular home users are not required to purchase a user-license.

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7) Fresh Start For Monthly Drawing

It's a new month, and right now your chances in our monthly drawing are the best they'll ever be! To have a shot at winning a no-strings $30 Gift Certificate for any item at Amazon.Com--- books, software, hardware, kitchenware, toys, and more--- just use the following link to recommend the LangaList to a friend. Your friend just may find a new source of useful information; I just may gain a new subscriber; and you just may win a mini-shopping spree! (Full details also available via this link): http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm#2

The more times you make a recommendation, the greater your chances are of winning!

Or, if you'd like to try to win $10,000(really!), try this link (full details also available here): http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm#1

Either way, thank you, and good luck!

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Have You Noticed The Repeat Advertisers In The LangaList?

Many advertisers come back issue after issue
because advertising in the LangaList
is both EFFECTIVE and AFFORDABLE.

Give it a try for your product, service, web site
or organization. It costs less than you think
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See http://www.langa.com/ratecard.htm

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8) Minor Venting From Langa and Pirillo

Sheesh. A reader (I'll withhold his name) read about the Plus! edition and wrote:

I was reading through your recent Langalist, and one of the topics caught me by surprise. In the story, you stated that publishing the Langalist costs you money. Could you please give examples? Are there high quality glossy pics that I am missing? Maybe some high-end paper being used to print these emails and then being shipped by overnight carrier to each subscriber? I do not see how writing one email and sending copies to a list of people can possibly cost you anything.

Man, it's frustrating to get mail like that. Can you imagine trying to send 160,000 emails by hand? Even CCs or BCCs wouldn't help much, as most ISPs cap the number of recipients of any one email.

So I rent time/space on a high-speed mailing list server that can mail all 160,000 newsletters in about 4 hours, and automatically handle the bulk of subscribes and unsubscribes. I also pay for 4 separate professionally-maintained high-capacity web sites (Langa.Com, LangaList.Com, Langa.Org, and Freetune.Com) which collectively pump out something like 12GB of web pages and files to you every month), plus space on a secure server (that's 5 web sites total); all to support the newsletter operations and archives, email, file downloads, mirroring, and so on.

And that's just the external infrastructure. It says nothing for the equipment in my home (9 PCs), nor anything about the time and effort to make it all happen. Free? I wish.

The Plus! edition subscribers (bless them!) understand that sending an email newsletter like this is emphatically not free. (Plus! edition info: http://www.langa.com/plus.htm ) And the relatively small percentage of readers who patronize the advertisers in this Standard Edition (bless them, too!) also "get it."

But some people--- like the unnamed writer above--- just *don't* get it, and think the single issue in their mailbox is the whole thing. Sheesh.

Chris Pirillo, who publishes the "free" LockerGnome newsletter, experienced enough frustration with that kind of attitude to do more than "minor venting." In fact, Chris published what he calls a "manifesto" that "intends to speak for those who provide something online for free." It's drawing a lot of interest and comment. I don't agree with everything that Chris, er, manifests, but a lot of it rings true. Check it out at http://www.lockergnome.com/manifesto.html

OK, venting over. Thanks for listening. 8-)

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9) They Just Keep Coming And Coming and Coming...

Well over a thousand of your fellow readers have "Loaded the code." Please click over to http://www.langa.com/code.htm , and maybe you can join them! (If you've already "Loaded The Code" and are wondering if your site will appear here or on the Langa.Com web site, please see http://www.langa.com/link.txt  )

Speaking of which: Here's another eclectic sample of reader sites--- some professional, some very personal:

View A Randomly-Chosen Reader Site
http://www.langa.com/cgi-local/rand_link.pl

Manually Browse All Posted-to-Date Sites Starting At
http://www.langa.com/readersites.htm

Panhandle Gazette
http://www.gnt.com/~allenr/

Very Nicely Done Family Home Page
http://www.bradandkelliesmith.com/index.html

David's Anime HomePage
http://www.geocities.com/zoltecv/index.html

The Windows Registry
http://www.geocities.com/canconnector/index.htm

Langhorn Family History
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~langhornline/

Gorilla Weather (Winnipeg, Canada)
http://www.videon.wave.ca/~gorilla/gorilla-wx/

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10) Just For Grins

Reader "bronsone" offers these "Rules For Work:"

1. Never give me work in the morning. Always wait until 4:00 and then bring it to me. The challenge of a deadline is refreshing.

2. If it's really a rush job, run in and interrupt me every 10 minutes to inquire how it's going. That helps. Even better, hover behind me, and advise me at every keystroke.

3. Always leave without telling anyone where you're going. It gives me a chance to be creative when someone asks where you are.

4. If my arms are full of papers, boxes, books, or supplies, don't open the door for me. I need to learn how to function as a paraplegic and opening doors with no arms is good training in case I should ever be injured and lose all use of my limbs.

5. If you give me more than one job to do, don't tell me which is priority. I am psychic.

6. Do your best to keep me late. I adore this office and really have nowhere to go or anything to do. I have no life beyond work.

7. If a job I do pleases you, keep it a secret. If that gets out, it could mean a promotion.

8. If you don't like my work, tell everyone. I like my name to be popular in conversations. I was born to be whipped.

9. If you have special instructions for a job, don't write them down. In fact, save them until the job is almost done. No use confusing me with useful information.

10. Never introduce me to the people you're with. I have no right to know anything. In the corporate food chain, I am plankton. When you refer to them later, my shrewd deductions will identify them.

11. Be nice to me only when the job I'm doing for you could really change your life and send you straight to manager's hell.

12. Tell me all your little problems. No one else has any and it's nice to know someone is less fortunate. I especially like the story about having to pay so many taxes on the bonus check you received for being such a good manager.

13. Wait until my yearly review and THEN tell me what my goals SHOULD have been. Give me a mediocre performance rating with a cost of living increase. I'm not here for the money anyway.

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Fred's Reference Shelf--- And Up To 20% Discounts!

Check out computer-related books
personally selected and recommended by Fred Langa
and available at Amazon.COM's deepest discounts!

http://www.langa.com/books.htm

<a href="http://www.langa.com/books.htm">AOL Users Click Here</a>

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11) Free Tool For Clearing Document List, Private Web Site, DCC in Win2k...

Today's LangaList Plus! Edition contains all ten items above, plus about 30% more content including: a free custom tool for clearing your document list; more info on the new private web site for Plus! subscribers; reader tips on using DCC in Windows 2000...

Plus! Edition info: http://www.langa.com/plus.htm 

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See you next issue!

Best,

Fred

(fred@langa.com)

Please recommend the LangaList to a friend! (And maybe win $10,000!I)

An easier-to read formatted HTML version is available in the "Current Issue" section of http://www.langa.com.  (The HTML version of each issue normally is available by 9AM EST [UT-5] of the issue date.) All past LangaList issues are also available at the Langa.Com site.

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Administrivia:

Why are you getting this newsletter? This is a 100% OPT-IN newsletter: There are only three ways to get on the list--- signup via direct email request from you, or signup via the WinMag newsletter page or signup via BrowserTune's email-notification service. If you're getting this newsletter; your name came to me through one of those signup channels. At signup, you also received a confirmation email from my list software---no one is signed up secretly or against their will.

SUBSCRIBE (it's free!): Create and send a new email address it to subscribe-langalist@lyris.dundee.net

For even more content, downloads and special services, check out the LangaList Plus! Edition: http://www.langa.com/plus.htm

UNSUBSCRIBE: From the same address you used to sign up with (it's shown on the first line in the body of each email issue you receive), create and send a new email address to  unsubscribe-langalist@lyris.dundee.net .

CHANGE ADDRESS? LIST TROUBLE? HAVE QUESTIONS? NEED HELP? See http://www.langa.com/help.htm

About the advertisers:  Langa Consulting LLC will never knowingly accept advertising for a fraudulent product, company or service. However, Langa Consulting LLC makes no implied or explicit warranty, recommendation or endorsement of or for the products, companies or services mentioned in the ads.

Disclaimer: (Please see full disclaimer here: http://www.langa.com/legal.htm.) Abbreviated version: The tips and other information given in the newsletter are researched and are believed to be accurate, but we cannot and do not guarantee that all the information here will work on all systems, for all users, all the time. All information herein is offered as-is and without warranty of any kind. Neither Langa Consulting LLC, nor its employees nor contributors are responsible for any loss, injury, or damage, direct or consequential, resulting from application of any information presented here.

This newsletter is a service of Langa Consulting LLC and is Copyright © 1997-2005Langa Consulting LLC. All rights reserved. LangaList: ISSN 1533-1156

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