Publication Date: October 28th 2005
ISSN 1445-1360
In this issue you will read:
Editorial: October 28th 2005
Definition: Hacker
Software Review: AVG, ZoneAlarm, Ad-Aware
Quotable: Joe Martin said...
Web site Reviews: Reference Sites
The Great Australian Joke: You know the world is getting weird when...
G'Day Blokes and Sheilas!
Today is my Dad's birthday. So Happy Birthday Dad! Actually I called him yesterday because with the time difference it was his birthday in Australia, during yesterday my time. I use timeanddate.com to track and check times in different cities and time zones. I have a link directly to Melbourne set up on my browser home page. It is very handy!
So this issue's content is prompted by a task I undertook a few days ago. I went over a friends computer to try and speed it up a little. To my dismay and horror it had been left wide open to viruses and the like. After I eventually got some anti-virus software running on it and cleaned it up, it was running well and quick again. Not before the software removed 70 plus viruses though! The computer also had some malicious software that stole the dial-up modem and tried to have it dial adult sites. Ad-Aware took care of that!
With this issue I want to make sure all of my readers get either there current security software up to date and current, or implement the programs I recommend.
There is nothing more annoying than a under-performing computer! Hopefully I help a few of you at least return yours back to good health!
Have a great day!
Nathan Allan
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A hacker is generally someone who uses computers to break in to something electronically that they don't have permission to. It can be anything from a game, to a program that requires a license, a web site, or a computer or server connected to the Internet.
Again generally it is to get something for free that is meant to be paid for. Sometimes hackers simply try to "hack" a security system just to prove or show that it can be done.
The worst type are the ones that exploit the computers or systems they hack for their own benefit.
Hackers even have their own magazine!
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In my humble opinion for home users, Grisoft's AVG Free version continues to be the best free solution for protecting your computer against viruses. When you set it up make sure you have it automatically update the virus definitions, as out of date definitions will make your virus checker almost useless.
Visit and Download: AVG Free
Again this product is free in its basic version for non-business users. In conjunction with a well managed router (for DSL and Cable users) this should do the trick to block out those nasty hackers!
Visit and Download: ZoneAlarm
Not all annoying computer slowdowns are caused by viruses. The free Ad-Aware version for personal users will take care of the malware, data-miners and browser and dial-up stealing software. If you leave your computer on 24/7 have it run every night when your asleep.
Visit and Download: Ad-Aware SE Personal
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The most overlooked advantage to owning a computer is that if they foul up there’s no law against whacking them around a little.
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Rob Rosenberger debunks the spam from the real threats at Vmyths.com. I was lucky enough to meet Rob during my time at Lockergnome. He is a great guy and a very tech oriented geek! (I am pretty sure he wouldn't mind being pigeon-holed as that).
Use his site to see if the urban myths related to computers are real or made up.
Visit: Vmyths.com
Steve Gibson is another developer and guru of the Internet. His Shields Up! service is a quick and easy way to discover the holes in your firewall set-up.
Visit: Shields Up!
Run by some guys out of Seattle, this site aims to provide a simple guide to all manner of potential solutions to firewall and computer security issues. There is enough info here to sink a ship, but you can easily get the basics as well.
Visit: Home PC Firewall Guide
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You know the world is getting weird when...
The best rapper is a white guy,
The best golfer is a black guy,
The tallest guy in the NBA is Chinese,
The Swiss hold the America's Cup,
France is accusing the US of arrogance,
Germany doesn't want to go to war,
The 3 most powerful men in America are named "Bush", "Dick" and "Colon",
And the Prime Minister of Australia is flanked by two senior ministers whose names are Abbott and Costello!
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