PCIN, The PC Improvement News logo

Issue 288 - April 21, 2004

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 2178 Subscribers in 60 Countries ====

Welcome to the 288th 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

CONTENTS

Opening Thoughts

I've posted a few new galleries to the Wing Family web site:

20040123-20040318 - Mixed Andrew
20040414 - Andrew Playing Basketball
20040417 - Picnic at Ball's Falls (nice pictures of Andrew)
20040421 - Andrew's New Room

The weather has been a lot nicer lately as you can see by the pictures above. We have been getting a lot of rain, but the grass is green and the flowers are growing. When it's dry, it is fun taking Andrew out to play.

Graham editor@pcin.net and Chris chris@pcin.net

The NEWS

Passwords revealed by sweet deal

"More than 70% of people would reveal their computer password in exchange for a bar of chocolate, a survey has found.
It also showed that 34% of respondents volunteered their password when asked without even needing to be bribed.
A second survey found that 79% of people unwittingly gave away information that could be used to steal their identity when questioned.
Security firms predict that the lax security practices will fuel a British boom in online identity theft."

For more info:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3639679.stm
http://www.securitypipeline.com/news/18902074

Spray-on electronics move closer to reality

"If recent research projects bear fruit, it won't be too many years before magazines play videos and semiconductors roll out of inkjet printers.
Workers at Xerox and TDA Research independently unveiled methods this week for making transistors out of plastic rather than silicon, in ways that could be commercially viable.
Such a shift in materials could drastically reduce the cost of computer displays because chipmakers would not have to build multibillion dollar factories to make semiconductors to power these devices."

For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-7337_3-5193442.html
http://www.infoworld.com/article/04/04/16/HNxeroxink_1.html

Internet driving hate site surge

"The net is being used by racist and extremist groups trying to recruit new members and spread their message.
A report detailing 200 of the websites monitored by the Wiesenthal Center shows how sites have become key fund-raising and marketing outlets.
Some sites feature games that let visitors 'shoot' illegal immigrants, Jews and black people, said the report.
In 2004 websites seeking to recruit youngsters to join holy wars and become suicide bombers have surged, it said."

For more info:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3641895.stm

Internet speed record set

"Researchers have set a data transmission record over the Internet2's high-speed backbone.
The record, announced Tuesday at the Spring 2004 Internet2 member meeting in Arlington, Va., was for transmitting data over nearly 11,000 kilometers at an average speed of 6.25 gigabits per second. This is nearly 10,000 times faster than a typical home broadband connection. The network link used to set the record reaches from Los Angeles to Geneva, Switzerland.
Internet2 is a consortium of more than 200 universities working with industry and government to develop next-generation Internet technology. The Internet2's contest, which began in 2000, is open and ongoing, and it tests researchers' ability to build the highest-bandwidth, end-to-end Internet Protocol network."

For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1032_3-5195614.html
http://www.infoworld.com/article/04/04/20/HNinternetspeed_1.html

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POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

Do you have any internet-enabled appliances?

Yes 15.73 % (14)
No, I didn't know they had such a thing 11.24 % (10)
No, why would anyone want that? 58.43 % (52)
What does that mean? 14.61 % (13)
Total votes: 89

This Week's Poll

Are you or have you ever been a member of an online dating service?

I am currently a member
I was previously a member, but not anymore
I plan to join a service soon
Never

You can also vote online at http://PCIN.net/polls/

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PCIN.net UPDATE

Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:

Updated Windows Registry Tips and Tweaks Article
http://PCIN.net/help/articles/registry_tips.php

MySlideShow 2.3 by Anix Software Software Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/myslideshow.php

Anyplace Control by Anyplace Control Software Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/anyplacecontrol.php

Inboxer 1.1 by Audiotrieve, LLC Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/inboxer.php

Microsoft Outlook Add-Ins by MAPILab Ltd. Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/mapilab.php

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THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

What you should know about spyware

"We've all heard the cliche, 'There's no such thing as a free lunch.' This is as true on the Internet as anywhere else. Whether it's through advertising, or through the use of your personal information, you're going to have to pay somehow. The key is to understand what you're agreeing to and what you're willing to pay for something that claims to be free.
There's a new type of software out there that you may have heard about. It's called spyware and the most common way it gets on your computer is when you are downloading something else that claims to be free."
Check out this article from the Microsoft Security web site at http://www.microsoft.com/security/articles/spyware.asp

Benchmarks and Scoring Tool

"The Benchmarks are compilations of security configuration actions and settings that "harden" Windows 2000, NT and XP operating systems.
The CIS Scoring Tool provides a quick and easy way to evaluate your host systems and compare their level of security against the Benchmarks. Tool reports guide system administrators to harden both new installations and active production systems. The tool is also effective for monitoring systems to assure that security settings continuously conform with the Benchmark."
Compare your system at http://www.cisecurity.org/bench_win2000.html

Excel Add-in

I received this email recently from subscriber Prasanta Das Gupta:
" am a regular reader of your e-news letter. I have developed an Addin for Excel which contains 76 utils and is called powerutils. The earlier version was voted "Best Software of the Month" by PCQuest India (feb04) and also featured in IC Chip(feb04) & Think Digit (apr04). The current version is 1.8 beta stage. My website is http://www.powerutilsnet.com. If you feel the utils are useful you may please share my web address with your readers so that they can use my addin for free and save some of their valuable time."
I haven't tried the utilities, but they sounded good. Check it out at http://www.powerutilsnet.com/

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PCIN.net AFFILIATED SITES

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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DISCLAIMER and OTHER STUFF

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.

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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.

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