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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2004-01-19

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) Free "Bazooka" Aims At Spyware

Fred, Been a subscriber for a couple of years... Just spent the last week disinfecting my son's computer from those pesky "searchbar" spyware programs.  Most of the time I was flying blind and I got rid of most of the problems by manually using the Windows Task Manager (XP Pro) and Windows Explorer to delete files.  I also used Lavasoft's Ad-Aware which really helped.  But I kept getting popups now and then.  Enter a great piece of software from Keyphr Software (Sweden) called Bazooka http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/ .  Not only did it identify things that I thought I had eliminated but best of all told me how to clean things up in clear, understandable language.  For doing the cleanup, plan on using Regedit; so for those that are not comfortable in going and changing Registry values, don't get this software. Two home machines down and one to go. Keep up the great work. Best, Scott Rutherford

I hadn't seen "Bazooka" before---thanks for the tip!

The software seems capable and full of promise, but still only detects a relative handful of nasties--- 300 or so. (AdAware and Spybot both detect something north of 10,000, Pest Patrol something over 30,000....)

Raw numbers aren't the whole story, of course, and--- as you found--- no one product always detects all threats. I think Bazooka's worth running, and worth keeping an eye on:  From the Bazooka update list, it looks like they're cranking on it all the time, with lots of additions and updates. But I wouldn't rely on it, yet, as a primary defense.

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2) Reader's Collection Of Free and Trialware Tools

Hi Fred, I was reading a newsletter (Plus subscriber) and I noticed a small section regarding a system cleaner. If it comes down to system cleaning I have always used Toni Harts excellent Easycleaner. Now in it's 2nd transition this program has been given a total makeover and removes virtually anything from defunct registry entries to internet temp files, it also removes programs via the add/remove button and lots more besides, plus it is FREE!

To keep my system clean: 2.66ghz P4, 1024mb 2700 ram, windowsXP professional etc I use these programs;

--BPS Spyware/adware remover (running spy watch in the system tray to catch the little blighters when they arrive!)
--EasyCleaner to remove junk files, dead registry entries
--POP3Scan mailbox, I simply set the email addresses that I receive from friends, relatives etc and then create a rule to delete all others = NO SPAM!
--Trend internet security, An excellent virus checker plus firewall too, a great all-in-one product.

The above programs can be found at:

--Easycleaner - http://www.toniarts.com/dwnloads.htm FREE!
--BPS Spyware/Adware remover - http://www.bulletproofsoft.com/  (You can download a 30 day trial)
--POP3Scan mailbox - http://langa.com/u/2w.htm FREE!
--Trend internet security - http://langa.com/u/2x.htm (30 day trial)

With all these programs plus updates from microsoft my PC is locked down tighter than the actual processor in its socket!

To run POP3Scan mailbox you may need the VB40032.dll file, it can be found http://langa.com/u/2y.htm simply download it and run it, the self-extracting archive will place 3 files on your desktop (if that is the place you downloaded it to) copy all 3 files and paste them in your C:\Windows\system Directory.

I hope this helps other fellow readers out. ---Dave Leversidge

Thanks, Dave. My main caution here would be using Pop3Scan to auto-delete all mail from unknown addresses: This is dangerous, and almost certainly will cause you to lose valid emails. See next item.

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3) Reader's Real-Life Spam Filtering Example

Although this reader's scope and volume of email are at the higher end of the range, his experience clearly shows the fundamental problem with the "delete all unfamiliar addresses/subjects" approach to handling spam--- a problem that exists (albeit on a smaller scale) even in personal and family/friend email accounts:

Fred, Just a quick note in support of your anti Sp*m tests.
 
Colin Campbell states ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2004/2004-01-15.htm#2 ) that he feels what you sent out did amount to sp*m as it was from a person or address he had no knowledge of, and about a subject field that he did not relate to.
 
Mmmm.  Interesting.  Because you see, over here in England, I am a local Councillor (Councilman I believe you call us over there).  I am a member of the Council (Local Government Authority), for the area where I live, and my role also involves responding to communication from local people over complaints they might have about some service being delivered poorly, or road repairs taking too long etc - indeed any conceivable subject you might imagine.
 
Over the years, I have received hundreds and hundreds of Emails therefore, from people I have never met before, heard of, or know anything about, and thus not 'known to me in advance'.  Additionally, these people often have the most interesting, or generic looking, email addresses.  Finally, the subject fields of the Emails they send are wide ranging and imaginative.
 
On the basis of what Colin prescribes to constitute a Sp*m message, almost all of these emails would fit his description.
 
Given that not one single such email was actually sp*m however, I therefore have to offer that his overly general description of what constitutes sp*m is completely incorrect.
 
The type of message that you sent, in the manner of how you sent it as part of your test, is EXACTLY the criteria that matches all my own REAL 'client' based Emails.
 
I absolutely shudder to think what action would be taken against me if these emails I receive did not get through, and the people sending them felt I was being negligent in Public Office.
 
And whilst I fit a specific occupational role, I have to offer there must be millions of people simply in the same sort of email pattern in the UK alone.
 
No Fred - I agree with you wholeheartedly.  If your test Email amounted to sp*m, as per Colin's description, then this means almost 100% of my REAL work based queries, would also be deemed sp*m - and they are not by any stretch of the imagination.
 
Kind regards, Councillor Patrick Rice, Gateshead, England

Thank you, Patrick.

Indeed, if your filters (or you) treat all unrecognized email as spam, than you will never hear from anyone you don't already know. You won't hear from friends or coworkers who change email addresses, or who write to you from secondary accounts. In fact, you'll never be able to be contacted by *anyone* whom you haven't already heard from and approved.

"Delete all unrecognized mail" is actually a form of blacklist, which is the crudest and least-reliable form of anti-spam tool. The more and broader the blacklists you use, the more valid mail you'll lose.

All filters make mistakes, but Bayesian filters and sophisticated rule-based systems are far, far better than blacklists.

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4) Changing The "Splash" And Other Screens

Hi Fred, I was wondering if there was any way of personalising the Windows XP Pro logon box (classic) on my stand-alone computer workstation. I have been searching the net to see if there are any applications or utilities, or even just little windows tweaks to personalise the box.

I know that it can be done somehow, because I saw a computer running an XP system with it's own personalised box when I was out and about somewhere.

Do you have any idea if you can personalise the box easily, because I think it looks quite nice without the Windows logo on the top, and with your own on there!

Thank you for your time. Matthew Huxtable

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5) What's Everyone *Else* Using?

Our previous discussions on the phase-out of Win98 included mention that about 19% of LangaLIst readers--- at least those who visit the Langa.Com site--- are still using Win98. Several readers wondered how that compared to other sites, or to the world in general, and did some digging:

Thanks, Tim. The Zeitgeist ("spirit of the times") page is ever-changing and interesting; often worth a quick look.

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7) Reader Tips For Linux

Fred: I was motivated by your quoting of operating systems reported by browsers of visitors and the Linux number being 10% of windows. [See item #5, above.] I was surprised it was this high as your newsletter is pretty windows centric (this is not a criticism - 90% of the desktop market deserves at least 70% of the space!)

I installed Mandrake Linux 9.1 as I knew from your letter that Win 98 was for the chop. I feel that the preponderance of Win visitors to a windows centric site is not reflective of the penetration of Linux, or the viability of replacing Win 98 with a Linux distro (but one with the latest kernel) provided you have mainstream soundcard, printer and scanner and external modem. You can check hardware compatibility at http://www.linuxquestions.org/hcl/index.php .

There is a whole new world out there in Linux/Open source world that unfortunately your readers aren't getting a good look at from you. Things like:

phpnuke http://www.phpnuke.org/
phpwiki http://phpwiki.sourceforge.net/
phpbb http://www.phpbb.com/
noahs classifieds http://classifieds.phpoutsourcing.com/
sourceforge http://sourceforge.net/
and savannah http://savannah.gnu.org/

(although Sourceforge and Savannah have both had their problems recently, like the Linux kernel).

Some computer shops have 3 disk Linux distros for AUD$10 =USD$7 and that includes all the software you are likely to need. One of our main Australian Computer Magazines had a 3 cd distro on the cover for no extra cost on a AUD$10 magazine and Red Hat was available from a Newsagent with an instructional booklet for AUD$19. And NO Activation problems with either!

With Mandrake you can easily access your files on your windows 98 partitions and open things like MSWord documents, MSExcel spreadsheets, MSPowerPoint presentations, photos, webpages (assuming your modem works under Linux) and work on them and save them in the MS format so it is a very easy transition if you have compatible hardware - internal modems seem to be the biggest problem.

Free databases like mysql and development software from Gnome and KDE and the Open Office suite make Linux a real alternative for many Win98 users, many of whom may well be trying to save a few bucks (otherwise they, like me, wouldn't be using a 5 year old OS, probably on a 3 or 4 year old computer). If you have websites there is also lots of hosting available which is based on Linux and opensource software, and it is often cheaper as a result.

The other thing I have found fascinating has been the Wiki concept, where anyone can make or edit a page. there is even a whole open source, open authored on line Encyclopaedia http://en.wikipedia.org/ Incredible!

By the way, ever thought of an "Openlanga.com" newsletter on Linux and Open source?

Kind regards, Paul Hanly (in Sunny Sydney where the kids have just come in from the beach!)

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8) Reader Sites!

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 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 From Among All Listed
http://www.langa.com/randomlink.htm

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

Introduced species in the British Isles
http://www.introduced-species.co.uk/

Freelance Secretarial Services (UK)
http://www.metoll.co.uk/

Help For Home PC Users (UK)
http://www.domov.co.uk/page14.html

"Nik Naks"
http://www.justniknaks.com/

The Cave
http://www.accesswave.ca/~gfoster/

Susquehanna Trail Genealogy Club
http://www.rootsweb.com/~pastgc/

Computer Services
http://www.your-computer-service.com/

Ratican
http://www.ratican.com/front.html

Broken Axle Stud Remover Kit
http://www.removestuds.com/

"The Mayor"
http://www.joelcomm.com/

Gorelets
http://www.gorelets.com/

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9) DIY ASCII Graphics

This started as a "Just For Grins" in the last issue ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2004/2004-01-15.htm#10 ), with a site that featured movies made entirely of images that used letters, numbers and punctuation as pixels. But a very surprising number of readers responded to the topic. For example:

Hi Fred, Amazing grins this time! Maybe people would be interested in creating their own ASCII-graphics? This is possible with a free little program called the Characterizer. http://www.aolej.com/free.html#Chara  Thanks for the great letter! Jyrki Launes, Finland

Dear Mr. Langa, In response to the "just for grins" section of your last Email Newsletter, regarding an ascii website, you may want to check out the ASCII Generator found at: http://go.to/ascgen/  It will convert any picture into ASCII. You could even have your own image in ascii. Yours truly, Gadish

Fred, Regarding your Just For Grins last issue, check this site out: http://jpg2asc.hierklikken.com/. It converts JPG images to ASCII images, with surprising good quality... I came across that after a tip from TinyApps.Org Newsletter. Regards, Angel Lampreave

Thanks to all who wrote in!

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10) Just For Grins

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11) Plus! Edition Highlights:

• LangaList Complete Archives Updated!

• How To Update Your Current Copy Of The Archives...

• Or Get A Full, Fresh Copy Of The Archives...

• Alternate Way To Get A Full Copy Of The Archives

All the LangaLists ever published (from 1997 through December 2003) are now available for you right at your fingertips, packaged as a space-saving highly-compressed Windows Help File that can be self-searched using the Windows Help Engine's standard (and familiar) interface. No more going online for partial searches of the LangaList's past content: Instead, with the Archives right on your hard drive, it'll take only seconds to find whatever you're looking for, no matter how long ago it was published in any version of  the LangaList!

And again, unlike the online search tools at Langa.Com, the Helpfile Archives contains both the standard and Plus content--- everything--- all in one place!

These archives are available FREE to Plus! edition subscribers, and are updated every 90 days or so--- just one of the many benefits of subscribing.

It's not too late to get your own copy of the archives. And it costs only pennies per issue to join! Sign up today! http://www.langa.com/plus.htm

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Click <a href= " http://langa.com/plus_gift.htm ">here</a>)

See you next issue!

Best,

Fred
( Editor@Langa.Com )

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