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"Free Software that Everyone Should Have on Their Computer" Frank Crua gave an overview of 4 freeware utilities: Avast!, Zone Alarm, WinPatrol 2007 and A-square. Avast is a full-featured antivirus package. Zone Alarm by Check Point is a firewall that shuts your computer’s “door” to hackers. Check Point offers a free version as well as a cost version. Downloading Zone Alarm can be challenging. Frank reviewed the download process. A discussion ensued whether you need a software firewall if you have a router. Dick Curry mentioned some websites, which provide information on this topic. Dean Steichen reported that Check Point recommends both. A router firewall protects against incoming while a software firewall protects both ways. WinPatrol 2007 alerts you to malware attacks, hijackings and attempted program changes to your computer. www.winpatrol.com is the site to get WinPatrol. Frank also covered the following 3 programs: AVG-Antivirus program, Spyware Blaster, an anti spyware & adware program and Lady the Task Catcher, which automatically restarts, programs that fail, close or crash. Phil Goff followed Frank and gave an overview of Google Pack, MediaFire.com and Belarc Advisor. Google Pack consists of several free programs offered by Google. Phil reviewed the list of Google Pack programs, and then demonstrated how Google Pack looks on your desktop. Belarc Advisor is a utility that reports “everything” about the status of hardware and software on your computer. Phil also mentioned 3 additional programs: Spybot, an old favorite anti-spyware free program, Adaware which removes unwanted advertising and Moxy which provides free online backup for up to 2 GB of data. (For $5 unlimited). Dean Steichen reviewed the new Elks Lodge wireless network. You can now bring your laptop to the meeting and use the network. Dean then gave an overview of: EasyCleaner which is a good utility for cleaning Registry and unused files, etc. You can get the program from ToniArts. Bulk Rename Utility which is a good utility for renaming files. System Info Windows which details all sorts of system information on your computer.
Q and A Session by Dick Curry Q: What are Trojan Horses? A: Probably one of the most dangerous of spyware. They are programs that collect information such as passwords, keyboard strokes, etc. Q: System Info for Windows, when you download the program what do you get? Q: Do you recommend doing a System Restore before downloading any of these programs? Q: In Windows XP when tried to start up in the Safe Mode, the computer locks up. Why? A: Dick suggested a program bug. Phil suggested booting from WINXP CD & use the Recovery Command.Q: When running XPO with Outlook Express gets a note saying “authorizing” then the system goes “dead”. A: Floyd said he had a similar problem. To fix it he had to delete his Outlook Express e-mail account and re-establish the account. This is only viable if copies of e-mails are retained on the host server. Dick also suggested calling Comcast tech support.
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Computer and Technology |
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