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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2002-10-28

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!

1) More On Using Firewalls For Selective Blocking

Everyone knows that desktop firewalls can generally help protect you from outside hack attacks, but we've recently discussed how they also can be used very selectively to block specific threats such as Word's and Excel's "phone home" fields ( http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20021017S0016 ) or Messenger-based popup spam ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2002/2002-10-24.htm#2 ).

Those narrower discussions have led to some questions from readers. For example:

I have a cable/dsl wireless router with a built-in NAT firewall. I can't block internet access with one or two clicks like you can with a software firewall. What can I do, short of pulling the plug on the cable modem or router, to temporarily block internet access while I check out a Word file? --Blossom8

A NAT or router or other external device that either is, or acts as, a hardware/firmware firewall is a very good thing. But the hidden-field and Messenger-based spam issues are examples that show why external hardware firewalls are NOT enough in themselves. In fact, no single line of defense is enough. For lots more information, see "How Much Protection Is Enough?" at http://www.informationweek.com/840/langa.htm .

Fred mentioned how easy it is to block all Internet Activity with most Firewalls. I have not found an easy way with Win XP Firewall, as a matter of fact, I have not found any way, period. --- Corren

Indeed, the built-in XP firewall is lame. It's better than nothing, but even the free versions of ZoneAlarm or Sygate leave XP's built-in firewall in the dust.

Alas, some users have no choice: For example, many people work in corporate settings where unenlightened IT policies may prohibit use of a desktop/personal firewall. (If you want to try to change the minds of the Powers That Be, the article mentioned above, http://www.informationweek.com/840/langa.htm , may provide you with some ammunition, especially the part about "Protecting the Back Channel.") But in cases where you're simply not allowed to use a desktop firewall, you may be limited to using tools the OS provides.

Win2k and XP have an easy way to rapidly disable/enable any network connection: Right-click on "My Network Places," and select Properties. You'll see a list of connections: Right click and select Properties for each connection you want to be able to rapidly enable/disable, and select "Make Shortcut." Place the shortcut on your desktop. If you ever need to disable that connection in a hurry, right click on the desktop icon and simply select Disable. When you're ready to restart the connection, right click the icon and select Enable--- simple as that.

Note that you also can rapidly disable a connection by right clicking on the connection icons that may appear by the system clock. But the icons then disappear, giving you no easy way to re-enable the connection until you drill down through the My Network Connections/Properties dialogs again. The desktop icon method gives you an easier way both to disable AND re-enable a connection.

XP is the only version of Windows to ship with a built-in firewall: You can get complete information on enabling and using it via XP's Start/Help menu; simply use "firewall" as the search term. Although the XP firewall is basic, it does allow port-level blocking, so you could (for example) use its "Advanced" controls to block TCP/UDP ports 135, 137, and 139 to prevent Messenger-based popup ads from reaching your PC. The article at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q320855#6 also contains additional information.

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2) Find Those Space-Hogging Files And Folders

In past issues (especially in the Plus! editions) we've covered several tools that help you easily see what's taking up the most space on your hard drive. And I do mean "see:" These tools present their results as easy-to-digest charts, "cushion maps" or other visual aids that let you identify the space hogs with just a glance.

But here's one I'd never heard of, until now:

Hi, Fred, I thought you might be interested in a cool program I have been using for a long time: Drive Scanner. This program, after scanning your hard drive, gives you a multilevel pie chart to quickly see what folders or files are taking up the most space on your drive. When you click on a folder, it then gives you a new piechart with subfolders and files.

I have found this tool to be invaluable for people that are running out of space on multi-gigabyte hard drives. I can usually clean out a small drive, but those big ones have a lot more folders in them! http://www.steffengerlach.de/freeware Keep up the good work.... Adam Ross

Thanks, Adam. There actually are four different freeware programs offered on the site. Although the Drive Scanner is probably the most useful, check out the others while you're there, too!

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3) Free Scripting Info, Version Check, and More

Fred, I am a current subscriber of your PLUS addition and find it to be both a good read and provider of great support for my old Pentium 200MX Windows98SE machine at home.

I thought your readers might want a great resource site on programming ASP,CSS2, HTML, JavaScript, VBScript, WML,WSH etc.... I have never seen you reference this site before so here it is http://www.devguru.com . I find the Quick Reference sections to be invaluable in my day to day Web development and I have had a great time with the Window Scripting Host.

People that like to dabble in WSH should be certain that they have the most current version of the WSH scripting engine. I found that some of the operations were unreliable in some of the older versions or just did not plain work. To download the newest version from Microsoft here is the monster URL:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/downloads/default.asp?url=/downloads/sample.asp?url=/MSDN-FILES/027/001/733/msdncompositedoc.xml&frame=true .

[Note: That URL may be unclickable if your browser/viewer has done something weird with the line-wrap. If necessary, cut and paste the URL into one long line in your browser's address bar.]

To find out what version you currently have installed place the following line into a text file:

WScript.Echo WScript.Version

Save the file with a .vbs extension and double click the file and it will respond with the version you have currently installed on your machine.--- Ron Marek

Thanks, Ron!

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4) Messenger PopUps Followup; Minor Rant

Over the course of a year, I publish about 6000 URLs in this newsletter, with an average accuracy of better than 99%. Of the 1% or so of URLs that are inaccurate, the overwhelming majority are caused by sites that *were* good when I wrote the newsletter, but that went bad when at a later time, often when the influx of LangaList readers exceeds the site's data-transfer limits, or simply causes the server to crash. Absent some ability to be clairvoyant, there's no way for me to avoid these problems--- there's no way to know that a site will go dark for technical reasons AFTER I publish a working URL.

A smaller percentage of sites go bad for purely human reasons: The site owner simply pulls the plug. That's the case with the "DirectAdvertiser" site I mentioned in the last issue--- the guy selling the tool for Messenger-based popup advertising. (See http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2002/2002-10-24.htm#2 .) I guess the bad publicity made him pull his site, at least for now. Again, the URL was fine and working when I listed it; it went bad AFTER the issue was posted. There is absolutely no way to predict or prevent this from happening.

The (fortunately) smallest percentage of bad links in this newsletter are caused by typos or simple errors on my part. I always feel bad when this happens, but it's a tiny, tiny fraction--- much less than 1%.

You might think that a 99%+ accuracy would be OK, but each time a bad link appears, I get hostile emails accusing me of laziness, maliciousness, or worse. Maybe it was the full moon, but I got an unusual number of such nastygrams about the DirectAdvertiser/Messenger link that went bad *after* the last newsletter was published.

If you were inconvenienced in trying to find how to disable Messenger on your system, I'm truly sorry. But (1) I don't know how I could have foreseen that the link would go bad; and (2) there's nothing unique about disabling Messenger in the first place--- this information is readily available from many sources. For example, a simple Google search ( http://www.google.com/search?q=disable+messenger ) turns up literally *thousands* of sites with information on how to disable or otherwise control Messenger.

What's more, the "dead" link was and is still viewable in the Google cache. This, too, isn't unique; the Google cache is a public function, freely available to anyone who'll take the time to use it:
http://216.239.53.100/search?q=cache:mYW864P-k1gJ:www.directadvertiser.com/optout.html+www.directadvertiser+optout&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 .

Please note that the above link is working *right now,* as I write this. But I can't predict whether or not it will be working when you click it. Please also note that the long URL will probably line-wrap, and that you may have to un-wrap it to make it clickable in your email reader; I can't control that either.

Even with 99% accuracy, some 60-ish links I publish each year are going to be bad by the time you get them. I apologize for this; I wish I could be 100% accurate, but it's not going to happen, especially when most link problems are caused by circumstances totally beyond my control.

When you encounter a bad link from that 1%, please remember that you usually can find the same or similar information just by taking a minute to search on your own, as the above example shows.

I'll do my best to deliver known-good links to you, but I'm sorry that I can't and don't promise 100% accuracy. I don't see how anyone could.

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5) More MS-Word Tips From A Pro

I'm a tech writer and have written and collaborated on several books on Word for the past 10 or 11 years. I agree that the hoopla [about Word's "hidden fields" problem] is exactly that--hoopla--and for the reasons you stated: It would take WAY too much cooperation on the user's part to pull this one off. Thought, though, that's I'd add a few pieces of info...

A couple of other tidbits on the Word fields:

You can also see field codes easily ... by setting a couple of check boxes on the General tab of the Options box. [Note: Some versions of Word place the Field Code options on a different tab, such as "Options/View." Poke around to see where they are on your version.]

1. At the top, check the Field Codes in the Show section (there's a Field Shading box that you can set to highlight them when they appear, making them TOTALLY obvious).

2. As an added bonus, check the Bookmarks box in the Show section-- most field results are stored in Bookmarks, so you see the names of the storage locations for the info-- and DELETE them (the bookmarks) if you view them.

3. Ctrl+Shift+F9 converts field code information to raw text so that the fields no longer update. By selecting the entire document (Ctrl+A) and then pressing Ctrl+Shift+F9, you've effectively "deleted" the ALL field codes and created plain text.

Keep up the fabulous job on the newsletter. I love that I learn something from every issue. --- Elaine Marmel

Thanks, Elaine! Between the many ways you can control Word, and control your Internet connection, there's absolutely no reason for anyone ever to lose information via a malicious hidden field.

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6) Last Week To Enter October's FREE Drawing

On Oct 31, 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):
http://www.recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=143182

Either way, thank you, and good luck!

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7) A Save-Your-Derriere Tool

Hello Fred, I just wanted to thank you for your reference some time ago to DBXtract. It saved my rear big time yesterday when OE crashed and couldn't be revived, taking a tremendous amount of recent work with it. Had to delete identity and create a new one, and that program easily moved my (not lost!) messages into the new identity folders. Can't thank you enough!!

I keep a file of LangaList clips copied-and-pasted into a file I can search with Find. Found this in no time and was up and running after only a minor and temporary heart attack. Thanks for all the great advice over the years - you've been a life-saver more than once, but never more than this time (I sent thank-you to the program developer too)! --- Sally Strawn

Glad it helped, Sally. We originally covered DBXtract at the beginning of the year ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2002/2002-01-28.htm#4 ), so many newer subscribers won't have heard of it.

BTW, there's no need to save your LangaList newsletters locally: All the Standard Edition content--- which comprises about 70% of the information we cover--- is searchable online at http://www.langa.com/search.htm . All the Plus edition content--- 100% of all LangaList information, including everything in the Standard and Plus editions--- is available at http://www.langalist.com/Plus/archives/archives.asp .

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8) New Code Load Success Story

Code-loader Jessie writes:

Fred, I'm a plus subscriber and big fan. I loaded your code some time ago on several of my pages ( http://www.webheadjessie.com ). I got over 2000 hits when I was listed on your newsletter and I continue to get hits from your archives. I even made a webmaster tip page explaining how to get listed on your newsletter. Thanks for helping out us little guys!!! --- Web Head Jessie

Do 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 thousands 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
http://www.langa.com/randomlink.htm

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

OpticalPoptitude
http://www.opticalpoptitude.com/

Pete's PC Works
http://petespcworks.com/

Latrobe Gospel Singers
http://www.lgs.20fr.com/

PentaZip
http://www.pentazip.com/home_e.htm

Internet Chinese Home Page
http://www.internetchinese.com/

CyberKewl's Zone (contains Gator download)
http://mlbl.cjb.net/

AXLE'S ANGLE
http://hometown.aol.com/axleszone/index.html

Schmidt's Bahama Mama
http://www.schmidtsbahamamama.com/

Mears Family
http://www.mearsfamily.org/

Computer Net
http://www.computer-net.co.za/

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9) "Server Rights?"

Dear Fred, I  just read your newsletter where you talk about "Sygate Firewall Caveats" ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2002/2002-10-24.htm#4 ) and I have a very basic question for you.

You mention "client" and "server" rights....on my home computer, why would I need to give it "server rights" for anything ? that is, what is permitted, ( or not permitted ) , when you give a computer "server rights" ? By the same token, what are "client rights ", if there is a such a thing ?--- Ray C

In broad terms: When you connect to a web site or another computer, you initiate the connection--- you're the one making the request to connect, and that makes you the client. When your PC is set up to allow someone else to initiate a connection to you, they're the client; you're then the server. These modes are not mutually exclusive---  you can simultaneously be running some apps in client mode, and others in server mode.

Letting others connect to your PC clearly carries risks because you're (in effect) opening the door to others. If those others play by the rules, everything's OK. But if they don't... well, that's why it's safer not to automatically grant server rights to your software unless you know that the software really needs server rights, and that those who will be connecting to you are trustworthy.

Some software--- web-publishing software, for example--- usually needs server rights to work. Some games, chat programs, etc. also need server rights.. But most software does not. Your browser, for example, does not need server rights (although some versions of Netscape try to set themselves up that way!)

In general, the safest approach is initially to deny server rights to all software, and make exceptions only when a particular piece of software fails to work properly in client mode. Of the major firewalls I'm familiar with, only Zone Alarm defaults are set up in this way--- a major plus for ZA.

Most other firewalls let you manually disable server rights, but you must remember to do so on your own.

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10) Just For Grins

In the last issue, I ran the first half of a long series of quips sent in by ChrisS. Here are the rest:

Duct tape is like 'the force'. It has a light side & a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

If you lend someone $20, and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

Don't squat with your spurs on.

If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

Some days you are the bug, some days you are the windshield.

Don't worry, it only seems kinky the first time.

Good judgment comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

Timing has an awful lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.

Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your mouth is moving.

Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

Never miss a good chance to shut up.

We are born naked, wet, and hungry. Then things get worse.

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11) Plus! Edition Highlights:

• From The Department Of Irony...
• Tech Analysis Of  Built-In Video Performance
• State Of The Art Computing, Circa 1958

Today's LangaList Plus! Edition contains all ten items above, plus about 30% more content including: An example of outrageous behavior by a purveyor of anti-spam services; a very interesting analysis that exactly details how much of your CPU's horsepower may be "stolen" by on-board video systems; and a reader's photo-filled recollection of some of the hardware and software tools that were cutting edge at the very dawn of the computing era.

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

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See you next issue!

Best,

Fred
( Editor@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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