ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
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Welcome to the 318th issue of the PC Improvement News. PCIN consists mainly of news and tips. There is something for everyone, and if this is your first issue, I'm sure there will be something for you. If you give me two or three issues, I know that you will come back for more!
You can reach me at editor@pcin.net with any suggestions or comments.
Recommend PCIN at http://PCIN.net/recommend.php
Support PCIN at http://PCIN.net/donate.php
We are sending out PCIN in a different way this week. We've tried a number of things with our old setup trying to make sure everyone was getting the newsletter, but there must be some problem on the server, and the provider doesn't seem anxious to fix it. We're sending this issue out using Dada Mail, and hopefully you are all receiving it. Remember, if you miss an issue, you can always find them on the PCIN.net web site.
We don't go bowling very often (once or twice a year), but for some reason Andrew is obsessed with bowling. In Canada we have 5-pin bowling which is with a much smaller ball and there are only 5 pins. He was able to do all this himself and had a great time. You can see the pictures at http://wingfamily.ca/lisagraham/Andrew/20041022/
Graham editor@pcin.net and Chris chris@pcin.net
Gates declares death of passwords
"Bill Gates has made .Net the way into Microsoft - literally. Smart cards from Axalto have been commissioned as ID passes for all employees around the world, and the cards will be used to gain access to the buildings, as well as to get into software.
'The move towards smart cards is the way forward,' said Gates in his keynote at IT Forum, in Copenhagen this morning. 'The idea is to have a smart card that connects up in the best way - a .Net based smart card.'
Microsoft partner Axalto 'has done a super job on this', said Gates. 'We will be using their smartcards internally - each employee will use those to get in and out of the buildings as we used to connect to our machines. We're requring them. We will completely replace passwords.'"For more info:
http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?NewsID=2627
Trial shows how spammers operate
"As one of the world's most prolific spammers, Jeremy Jaynes pumped out at least 10 million e-mails a day with the help of 16 high-speed lines, the kind of Internet capacity a 1,000-employee company would need.
Jaynes' business was remarkably lucrative; prosecutors say he grossed up to $750,000 per month. If you have an e-mail account, chances are Jaynes tried to get your attention, pitching software, pornography and work-at-home schemes.
The eight-day trial that ended in his conviction this month shed light on the operations of a 30-year-old former purveyor of physical junk mail who worked with minimal assistance out of a nondescript house in Raleigh, N.C."For more info:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-11-14-spammer-trial_x.htm
Across America, low and slow
"Dean Kamen designed his Segway transporter to serve as a cheap, clean and flexible form of urban transit, not as a platform for traversing national parks and encountering wildlife.
But that hasn't stopped former vacuum cleaner salesman Josh Caldwell, 27, who has put the Segway to perhaps its most grueling test yet by piloting the scooter across the length of the United States."For more info:
http://news.com.com/2008-1041_3-5453177.html
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Let's try this one last time... Since not everyone has received the last several issues of PCIN, I am continuing the previous poll for another week.
This Week's Poll
You can also vote online at http://PCIN.net/polls/
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Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
Micro Solutions RoadStor Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/roadstor.phpAlbum Creator by FirmTools Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/albumcreator.phpMicrosoft® Windows® 2000 Administrator's Pocket Consultant, Second Edition Book Review
http://PCIN.net/help/books/w2kapcse.phpRemote Task Manager by SmartLine Inc. Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/remotetaskmanager.phpFlash File Recover by PanteraSoft Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/flashfilerecovery.php
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All-in-One IM Client
I don't spend much time at all using Instant Messaging, but I have a few friends on a few different networks. I have tried Trillian , but since they started charging, I have no interest in the software. IM2 is a similiar program to Trillian, but this one is free. Also, it appears to have a better user interface. I will see how well it works when those few friends eventually sign on.
SimplyTheBest.net
"Simply the Best Freeware, Shareware, Affiliate programs, Free fonts, Sounds, Hosting."
http://simplythebest.net/
This isn't a fancy site, but they've got lots of interesting links and downloads. There are games, sounds, articles and more. I found the site because I was looking for cell phone ringtones, and they have midi files at http://simplythebest.net/sounds/
By the way... if you are interested in some fun ringtones based on arcade games, check out http://arcadetones.emuunlim.com/
Creating Strong Passwords
Bill Gates might think that passwords or dead (see the headline above), but it will still be years before alphanumeric passwords are extinct. You probably use them on web sites, at work, at an ATM, etc. Some passwords (like at an ATM) can only be a mixture of numbers 0-9, but if you are able to create a more complex password, here are a few tips for you. I've been using some software to "crack" some passwords (I assure this is legitimate) and I've learned some things:
- The longer the better. Have at least 8 characters. 10-12 is better
- Have a mixture of letters (a-z, A-Z), numbers (0-9) and symbols (!,@,#,$,%,^, etc)
- Do not use a word that can be found in the dictionary
- Do not use your first name, last name, or username
- Start the password with a symbol
- Although a software cracking tool won't account for this, do not use data that will identify you (make of your car, street name, pet's name, etc.)
- Change your password often
This may be make it so that the passwords are difficult to remember, but the added security is worth the extra effort. You can still create passwords that you will be able to remember and have them match the criteria I mention above.
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Both of us have other sites other than PCIN.net. These are all sites that we are actively involved in (they aren't client sites). Don't forget to check them out from time to time for updates:
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PCIN is brought to you by Graham Wing. The opinions expressed are those of the Editor, Graham Wing and the Assistant Editor, Chris Empey. Graham Wing and Chris Empey accept no responsibility for the results obtained from trying the tips in this newsletter.
Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net
Copyright 1998-2004, Graham Wing. All rights reserved.
This publication may be reproduced in whole, or in part, as long as the author is notified and the newsletter is presented as is.
Support PCIN by visiting http://PCIN.net/donate.php