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LangaList 2001-11-29 Please visit our sponsors and help keep the LangaList S.E. free!
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 1) Trojan/Worm Attack!Hundreds and hundreds (and hundreds!) of you have your systems infected with a trojan/worm, I'm sorry to say. The worm installs a keystroke-logger into your system directory, so it can capture what you type--- your passwords, account numbers, and the like. It also takes over your email account on the sly, and mails itself--- disguised as any of several email attachments--- to anyone whose name is in your email client or address book. I know this because, when Monday's newsletter issue went out, I immediately got an astonishing number of infected emails in return. I wasn't infected--- I use ZoneAlarm, which automatically deactivates nasty email attachments of this sort. (Any good antivirus tool also can catch and delete or quarantine these bad attachments, as well.) But from the flood of automatically-generated infected emails I got, it's clear that this particular trojan/worm is widespread. You may be mail-bombing your friends and colleagues without realizing it; and a keystroke logger may be snooping everything you type, even right now. Ironically, this worm is one of the easiest to prevent, or cure, if you're already infected. For the full scoop, please go to http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/ look for "w 3 2 . b a d t r a n s . B @ m m" (I've spaced out the letters so as not to trigger email filters with the name of the worm). Then, please make sure you have some kind of antivirus tool installed, updated, and running properly on your system. Click to email this item to a
friend 2) Reader Backup ResponseWow, thanks for all the great input regarding backup ideas. I'll have lots more in an upcoming issue, but for now, here's a sample:
Many readers asked the same question; some about simply using a second drive (or a second partition on a single very large drive) as a destination for backup files, others suggesting more active "RAID" -based approaches. The problem with using "live" disk-based space for permanent storage of backups is that anything that can eat the data on the first disk--- or partition--- can eat the data on the other. It could be a worm or virus, a software error, or a bad hardware problem that causes both disks to crash. Even outside-the-box problems can ruin this kind of backup: fire, flood, a sprinkler malfunction, lightning or power spike, etc etc etc: For that matter, there's also theft: If someone walks off with your system, you're completely out of luck because they get the backups, too. Yes, these are low-probability events, so it all boils down to "how safe do you want to be?" If you keep essential business records on your PC, or use your PC for taxes, online banking and the like, I think the best answer is "as safe as possible." To be *really* safe, you need to get your backups out of the same box where your live, in-use data resides--- preferably moved to a completely separate location, so anything that takes out the PC won't affect the backups, and vice versa. Of course, if there's nothing valuable on your system, and you don't mind spending the time it takes to rebuild your PC after a major problem, then the extra-safe backup method may not be needed. But I find that most people have at least *some* things on their PCs they'd hate to lose, or have to recreate. That's why I think a reliable, safe backup system that's physically and logically separate from your PC is really the best approach. Stay tuned for ways to make backups incredibly simple and painless! Click to email this item to a
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 3) Powerful Freeware Email ClientWe've discussed Pegasus Mail before--- it's a free email client that's evolving rapidly. It's now up to version 4:
If you'd like more info, see http://www.pmail.com/v4_release.htm Click to email this item to a
friend 4) Thanks For The Memory (Chips)This is one of those dicey issues, because I'm about to discuss an advertiser. But this isn't an ad--- it's an experience I had with them as a regular customer, just like you: You see, RAM prices are cyclical: RAM is a commodity that goes through boom and bust cycles. Right now, with the slowdown in PC shipments, there's a RAM glut, and it's a buyer's market--- especially if you avoid your system vendor's additional markup and deal directly with a memory manufacturer. For example, I was looking for a 256MB memory module to add to a Dell system I have here. I checked Dell's site first: They wanted $50, plus shipping. But Crucial--- a company that makes memory chips for many vendors--- sells the same module for $31 with free second-day shipping. That's a savings of over $20 on a single stick of RAM! Plus, Crucial guarantees compatibility, has a good return policy, and has excellent online instructions for how to install RAM, if you don't already know how. (RAM upgrades are simple; in most modern PCs, you need no tools at all--- just your fingers!) When I realized how cheaply I could get RAM from Crucial, I went and upgraded *all* my primary PCs here, and ended up spending less than half of what I'd imagined it'd cost. The whole process couldn't have gone more smoothly: The shipment arrived two business days later, as promised; the RAM popped into each system perfectly and ran correctly right from the start. If you're even remotely considering adding RAM to your PC--- or digital camera, MP3 player or any other device--- I strongly recommend you consider making your move now, while prices are this low. If you haven't looked at RAM prices in a while, I can almost guarantee you'll be astonished. Yes, Crucial is an advertiser here (their ad link is http://www.langa.com/sponsors/crucial.htm ). If you use that link, Langa.Com gets credit for the referral. But if you'd rather not use that link, feel free to enter their site via their normal home page: Langa.Com won't get any credit for the referral that way, but you'll still get exactly the same amazing savings. Prices this low are almost too good to pass up. But don't take my word for it--- check for yourself! Click to email this item to a
friend 5) Strange Speed TestReader Eric Shepard writes:
http://www.numion.com/YourSpeed/Checkup.php Hmmm. At first, I though it was just an ad page--- all you see initially are logos for various web sites and companies. But behind the scenes, the speed test is contacting the indicated sites and measuring your throughput as the logos are pulled down. As such, it's measuring real-world throughput--- not the theoretical maximum of your connection. When the test is done, you get an aggregate speed measure, plus a site-by-site breakdown. The whole thing looks very commercial, what with all the logos in your face. But the FAQ says:
And maybe that's true (I hope it is.) In any case, it's a very unusual and interesting approach to measuring surfing speed. Click to email this item to a
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 6) Last Day To Enter November's FREE Book DrawingTomorrow, on Nov 30, I'll choose another monthly winner of a no-strings $30 Gift Certificate for any item at Amazon.Com--- books, software, hardware, kitchenware, toys... To have a shot at winning, 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 $30 shopping spree! (Full details also available via this link): http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm 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(!), try this
link (full details also available here): Either way, thank you, and good luck! Click to email this item to a
friend 7) You Get To Pick The New Langa.Com Graphics!Writing from Argentina, reader Matias Negrotto made me an offer I couldn't refuse: He's a designer, and he offered to re-do the crude Langa.Com logo I created--- in all of about 3 minutes--- some four years ago. I'm no designer, as anyone who's seen the current logo can tell. 8-) But Matias runs "No Zone Design," whose brand-new site (it may still be in flux) is at http://www.nozone.com.ar . Of himself, he writes, "I was born and live in Argentina. I don't live off my designs, but designing is a hobby and a second job for me. I make html and flash designs (interactive designs and web introductions), apart from this I create logos and all kind of designs. I also give advice about designs, html and javascript coding for free." The new logos Matias made for Langa.Com come in several very different visual styles, so I thought it would be best to ask your opinions. I've set up view-and-vote pages at http://www.langa.com/newlogo.htm Please drop by and cast your vote for whichever logo you prefer! I thank you--- and Matias! Click to email this item to a
friend 8) They Loaded The CodeDo you have a home page or website? (It doesn't matter what size.) Please click over to http://www.langa.com/code.htm , and maybe you can join the hundreds and hundreds of LangaList readers who have "Loaded the Code!" (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 Manually Browse All Posted-to-Date Sites
Starting At So's Your Mom (musical band) RustedScissors: The Daily Cut Design Works Robert F. Donahue Consulting & Web/Internet
Services Carolyn's Place Chesebro' Genealogy Michael Haanel's STUDIO Robert Siders Iggy's MetaSite SpyWare Info Click to email this item to a
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 9) A Tweak By Any Other Name...
That's right, Charlie, and thanks,. With TweakIE, Tweaki, TweakUI and maybe others floating around there with very similar names, it's good to stop and keep them straight. 8-) Click to email this item to a
friend 10) Just For GrinsReader Marilynn Dowd sends along this small math trick:
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 11) Plus! Edition Highlights:
Today's LangaList Plus! Edition contains all ten items above, plus about 30% more content including: A lawyer offers his interpretation of what software companies can and cannot do in their end-user license agreements; Fred discusses the pros and cons or two popular free auto-update services for your PC; some amazing statistics on just what ends up inside our keyboards; and a great site that might save your printer a trip to the repair shop. Plus! Edition info: http://www.langa.com/plus.htm Click to email this item to a
friend See you next issue! Best, 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. UNSUBSCRIBE: From the same email account you
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