Tech for the Timid

Google's Gmail Not All It's Cracked Up to Be

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:49:00 +0000

Millions of people use free email services like Hotmail or Gmail. Have you ever considered the downsides of using these types of free email services? This article takes a brief look at Gmail.

Earlier this year I was going to write an article about Google's free email service, Gmail, after some members of an online group I administer had problems. Yesterday a Digg story caught my attention about Gmail. It was about hundreds of users getting their accounts disabled for no apparent reason. These problems aren't limited to Gmail, as I'm aware of other free email services that suffer their users with similar fates.

Not Receiving Email

For the past few years I have had a Gmail account. For most intents and purposes, it works just fine. However, earlier this year I had a high number of Gmail users, which are members of an online board game community that I administer, that did not receive their emails from our site. (Here's a little plug for Carcassonne Central, for fans of the board game Carcassonne).

There were also a number of Hotmail users that did not get their emails as well, but by far the largest number were Gmail users. I checked to make sure we weren't on any known spammer blackhole lists by mistake, which we weren't. Just for good measure, I created an "SPF record" for our site, which is an open standard that helps prevent sender forgery, which is a way of guaranteeing that we are who we say we are. Once this was done, and since we weren't on any blacklists, there should have been no problem at all for anyone to receive our emails. However, Gmail (and Hotmail) users still more often than not, did not. It's not that they received them in their Spam folder; our emails never showed up at all.

This was very frustrating for our users, and for the admin team. The problem wasn't on our end, we did everything we were supposed to do. People who never had a problem with their Gmail accounts were now upset at us, when in reality it was their own free email provider that was filtering our emails out for some unknown reason. A quick search netted an interesting article by Roger Johansson from October 9, 2006, entitled appropriately enough, "Want to receive email? Stop using Gmail." After about 50 comments were posted, Roger closed the comments.

Your Account Has Been Disabled

Not receiving email is just one problem. Another is having your account disabled for no apparent reason. There have been two major instances that I'm aware of. The first was in 2005, and the most recent one a few days ago where hundreds of people had their accounts disabled (see Gmail Help Discussion) I say hundreds only because it is usually a minority who will go to the effort of posting on a help forum. Given the short time ago that this happened, there are probably many more people who haven't checked their email lately but will discover this problem in a week or two. Google explained the problem in the thread with this:

Thanks for everyone's patience and effort in seeing this through to resolution. As some of you now know, this situation has been resolved. Our efforts to prevent breaches of our Terms of Use caused a number of users to be incorrectly identified. I know this had to have been frustrating for those of you that were affected.

Privacy Issues

Most people skip right by software and web site license agreements, privacy policies and usage agreements without first reading the fine print. A site called "Gmail Is Too Creepy" outlines four major issues with using Google as your email provider. Some might call it alarmist but it is certainly food for thought.

Account Hijacking - added 28 Dec 2007

I came across a couple of downloadsquad articles on Gmail account hijacking here and here. Gmail is not the only email application that is vulnerable to this and other types of malicious acts. Any email server or client could potentially be compromised.

Personal Help

When you have a problem with Gmail, there usually isn't a friendly voice at the other end of the telephone to help you. No one will show up the next morning to demonstrate how a particular feature works, or what you might have done with that email that you swore was in your inbox. Outsourcing your business email makes good sense for the support aspect, although Google does have a corporate email service as part of their Google Apps Premier package that offers telephone support.

Your Professional Image

I know a number of individuals who use free email services as their main professional email account. While the cost can't be beat, this article points out some considerations you should be aware of if you choose this route. Most business people I know can ill-afford to have their email account shut down for no apparent reason or fail to receive some emails from what could be an important customer. If your professional image is at stake, consider a hosted email package from a reputable provider. (At PDS, we have inexpensive hosted email plans starting at $50 per year including a web site. Including a real person at the other end of the phone for when things aren't working the way you expect!)

Should You Use Gmail?

Gmail has its place, and I will still continue to maintain my own Gmail account. Gmail has some incredibly powerful features and unbeatable storage space. However, give some considerations to what it is you are using the service for, and hopefully this article will help you decide if it is appropriate for your usage!

PowerLine Networking: An Alternative to Wireless

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:51:00 +0000

If the promise of wireless networking in the home or small office hasn't lived up to your expectations, and wiring Ethernet cables is costly or difficult, then consider using your existing electrical wiring to run network signals throughout your location.

I've tested and installed a number of wireless technologies (wireless A, G and Linksys-N) in home and business locations, but there are situations where, because of interference or concern over security, wireless is not a desirable choice. D-Link's DHP-301 PowerLine HD network starter kit uses your existing electrical wiring to connect computers, routers and switches, eliminating the need to run or install separate Ethernet wiring.

Although the theoretical maximum data rate is 200Mbps, you'll get lower, but unlike wireless, the connection will be consistent and fast, at regular wired Ethernet speeds. This means for home users, it is great for gaming, streaming music and video, while business users can run VoIP, large file transfers or other high-bandwidth traffic consistently. It also includes a Quality-of-Service (QoS) engine so you can prioritize data packets to improve streaming.

What you get in the kit is 2 identical adapters that are similar in size and shape to an electical wall timer, but instead of a clock it has one standard 10/100 Base-TX Ethernet connector on it, as well as 3 diagnostic LEDs. You also get two 4-foot Cat5 Ethernet cables, which are a bit short for 10/100 cables; six- or eight-footers would have been more useful. The diagnostic LEDs are for power, Ethernet network connectivity, and a useful light that shows if another PowerLine device has been detected.

Out of the box, simply installing the PowerLine devices and connecting your switch with a computer will work. However, you'll want to use the included setup CD to secure your DHP-300s, especially in situations where your location shares power with other offices or residences. Effectively, your breaker panel acts like a firewall, preventing network signals from leaving the premises, but without a guarantee of how a multi-unit location is wired you'll want to secure the connection between the two PowerLine devices.

The install CD was fairly straightforward, although they refer to a "PLC" and "ETH" node but don't specifically say which unit is which. The two units are identical and interchangeable as I discovered by trial and error. The PLC node is the unit that attaches to your switch while the ETH node is the one that attaches to your PC. As the installation and manual warns you, set up your PLC node first, otherwise you won't be able to connect to the ETH node and you'll have to reset the devices. All you need to do is set the Net ID and 3DES Encryption Key the same on both and they'll communicate. Write them down somewhere secure, because if you decide to add more nodes you'll need to assign it with these values. The setup is generally quicker and simpler than setting up a wireless router, and there are far fewer variables to worry about. Presumably, you could also segment your network using different Net IDs but sticking to the IP addressing side for this is probably a better solution. You could also use it to locate a wireless access point to increase your wireless coverage.

D-Link's PowerLine kit comes with 2 units, but as of this writing they do not sell single units. I installed a kit to replace a faltering wireless-N connection and it has worked flawlessly, without the usual concerns that a wireless installation brings. Highly recommended.

Online Virus Multi-Scanners

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 09:28:00 +0000

If your computer's antivirus software reports a virus in a program that you're sure isn't a virus, there is an easy way to confirm if it is infected or not. Two web sites can give you a second opinion by scanning your file with multiple antivirus programs and report back to you the results.

Jotti's Malware Scan and Virustotal are free services that let you upload a suspect file, and they will run it through multiple antivirus engines and report back to you. Just remember not to upload anything confidential or important because if it is infected, the file gets forwarded to antivirus companies for analysis of the virus.

Use common sense, if both sites report that most of the scanners report a virus, then it's probably infected. But if few or no other engines report a virus, it may be a false positive, and you should do some research just to make sure.

Should Consumer Reports Do Anti-Spyware Testing?

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 14:23:00 +0000

Consider this sentence from an article in Information Week from Randy Abrams, the person responsible for making sure Microsoft products are malware-free: "I was livid about the testing [Consumer Reports] did. They tested anti-spyware software without ever testing how it detected and removed spyware." Should Consumer Reports be trusted for testing anything?

Consumer Reports have been under fire recently for their blatantly poor job of testing anti-virus and anti-spyware software. If their tests are irresponsibly ineffective, can Consumer Reports be trusted for testing other things, like medications, foods, or life-saving equipment? The article can be found here.

Finding More Free Software From Microsoft

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 20:56:00 +0000

This July, I had read about a free little utility that Microsoft released free of charge to people who went to their web site and validated their copy of Windows. The program was called "My Private Folder" which allowed you to create a private folder on your desktop and protect the contents with a password. However, when I went to the Microsoft Windows Validation web page and successfully validated, the program did not appear for me. The reason behind this led me to discover hidden programs available for download.

After validating, it goes to the Special Offers page and asks you to pick what country you are from, and being from Canada I naturally picked it from the drop-down, then the site displayed the free software available to me. My Private Folder wasn't there, so I went back and chose the United States, then lo and behold it a couple of other downloads appeared. I went through the list of countries and it seems as though Microsoft is determining that some countries are not suitable to be offering some free programs. So if you want to look at their full list, choose United States and you should see the full listing of all available free software!

To test this, just compare the software list from the USA (10 items) vs the list that appears when you select Afghanistan (5 items)! Interestingly, there is no Iran or Iraq in that list. Also, Microsoft quietly removed My Private Folders reportedly due to many people forgetting passwords and not being able to recover their files, as well as some instances where it caused high CPU usage.

Politics aside, if like me you are not American, you can now see and obtain the full list of free software in the special offers for Windows Genuine Advantage customers.

Rootkit Resources

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 19:28:00 +0000

Most people know little about the danger of rootkits, which is yet another thing that needs to be guarded against on your computer. In this article you will find some resources to free tools that can help you detect and remove rootkits.

Sophos just released a free anti-rootkit tool available for public download, which reminded me that I haven't yet written an article on rootkits. Like viruses, the subject is long, technical and dry but suffice to say if your computer has been cleaned of nasty viruses but still seems to be acting strangely, you should look into these trusted resources.

I'll only mention my favourites that I have in my own toolkit, but there are others out there. The first is Sysinternal's RootkitRevealer, available here. It detects all sorts of rootkits but alas it is up to the user to interpret and clean the rootkit.

F-Secure's Blacklight tool is only available as a download for a short time longer, after which it is believed to be included in their Internet Security Suite. You can get more information here.

The last one is Sophos' Anti-Rootkit, which not only finds them but cleans them as well. It was just released. You can get it here.

If you want to read more detail on rootkits, the links above will lead you to more information, or you can read the wikipedia page on rootkits.

Windows 98 Users Abandoned

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 16:40:00 +0000

If you are using Windows 98, 98SE (Second Edition), or Windows ME (Millenium Edition), July 11, 2006 marks the end of support from Microsoft. I will outline some options for you if you are using any of those operating systems.

Microsoft will be ending support for those products, which means that they are no longer offering telephone support nor will they be releasing security updates. A lack of security updates is a critical issue because your computer is open to potential attacks. All new exploits will not be patched by Microsoft meaning your computer will be an easy target. What can you do?

Upgrade

This is the recommended solution. Upgrade your computer or purchase a new one with Windows XP (make sure it's capable of running the new Windows Vista if you really want to future-proof it), and donate the old one to your local school or computer recycling program. Giving your old PC to your church or the kids only passes on the problem, it doesn't solve it! If you do, give them a link to this article.

If you are really adventurous, consider an Apple Mac or using the Linux operating system, which are both less vulnerable to exploits in general than Windows.

Do Nothing

If you are one of the 70+ million people running one of the Windows 98-era operating systems, you are likely running it on an older computer, probably a Pentium II, III or early Pentium 4. If the cost of buying a new system or upgrading is prohibitive, you might consider simply continuing to use your existing system and take your chances. Not recommended, but if there is no alternative then there are some steps you can take to protect yourself.

First, make sure you have up-to-date antivirus that supports your operating system. Go to your antivirus company's web site and make sure that the antivirus software you are using is listed as supporting Windows 98/98SE/ME.

Second, make sure you are connected to the Internet using a firewall - either a software or hardware firewall. It is important to note that the most popular software firewalls, Zonealarm and Kerio, do NOT support these operating systems! With a little digging I discovered Freedom Firewall (98SE/ME but not 98), BlackIce Defender (98/98SE/ME), Outpost Free v1.0.1804 (98/98SE/ME, the newer version does not support ME), and Soft4Ever's Look'n'Stop (98/98SE/ME). Please note that I do not endorse any of these products nor have I tested all of them; I am familiar with Outpost and BlackIce Defender which in the past have been decent products.

Third, make sure you protect yourself against spyware, malware and other threats, especially through email. Regularly use free products such as SpywareBlaster, Spybot, and Ad-Aware - they all support Windows 98/98SE/ME.

Just remember that if you do nothing and continue to use Windows 98/98SE/ME, I leave you with this clip from BBC News:

According to computer security firm Secure Science, at least one hi-tech crime gang based in Eastern Europe specialises in Windows 98 and produces viruses that prey on the software's weaknesses.

This is because users of it tend to have little knowledge of potential dangers - and are older, so are more likely to have substantial financial assets worth stealing.

GroupBar from Microsoft Research

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 06:39:00 +0000

With all the recent articles about the Windows Vista Sidebar, I thought I would mention a little tool for jealous XP users made by Microsoft Research called "GroupBar".

From the GroupBar site:

GroupBar is lightweight desktop tool created by the VIBE group that offers enhanced window management capabilities in a Windows taskbar-like setting. The basic concept is that through simple drag-and-drop operations on window tiles within the bar, users can create lightweight, transient grouping relationships that allow them to perform certain higher-level window layout functions on multiple windows at once. In addition, windows and groups in the GroupBar can be persisted in a "Snapshot" which attempts to remember the position and contents of each window in a way that allows the Snapshot to be recreated at a later time, even if the windows have been rearranged or closed.

There are a few minor presentation bugs that are clearly outlined on the site but nothing that should interfere with any other programs. The nice thing about playing with GroupBar is that it requires no installation, simply run the executable file. Likewise, just delete the file to uninstall it.

Windows Vista Sidebar Gadget Sites

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Wed, 31 May 2006 23:14:00 +0000

The next version of Microsoft's flagship operating system, Windows Vista, is not news, but the sidebar gadgets are cool enough to warrant a mention.

Having used OS/2 Warp, Linux & Unix desktops, and various incarnations of Mac OS', I cannot say gadgets are a new idea, but as far as I am concerned they are a welcome addition to the functionality of Windows Vista. I expect a lot more gadget sites and blogs to appear in the next while.

Windows Vista Gallery - only a few gadgets, but sure to grow. Info for developers, too.

Microsoft Gadgets - another official Microsoft gadget site, this one with a lot more than the Vista Gallery.

More on the new Sidebar and Gadgets here.

Microsoft Office Genuine Advantage

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Thu, 25 May 2006 21:39:00 +0000

Users of Microsoft Office have validation tools similar to that of Microsoft Windows. If you are a Microsoft Office user, you can follow these steps to make sure your copy is genuine.

In my "Tools for Windows Genuine Advantage" article, I showed some tools that are available for validation issues in Microsoft Windows. Microsoft Office users can also validate their software to make sure it is a legitimate copy by running the Office Validation Assistant on the Microsoft Office "How to Tell" site. Not having a legitimate copy of Office XP or 2003 and above means that among other things, eventually the Save commands will no longer work, effectively making Office useless.

For a refresher on what "validation" means, check out my article, "Microsoft Registration, Activation and Validation Explained".

Mastering your Windows XP Quick Launch Toolbar

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Thu, 25 May 2006 19:46:00 +0000

Do you get tired of a desktop cluttered with icons? Do you hate digging through your Start, Programs menu to find what you want? Does your most recently used programs list in the Start menu leave a lot to be desired? Are freeware and shareware application launchers a pain to configure? If so, in this article I will show you how to master your Quick Launch toolbar!

Introducing Quick Launch

The Quick Launch toolbar sits on your Windows taskbar, ready to provide you with a handy categorized list of your favourite programs:

Why not just use the Start, Programs menu you may ask? Even if you reorganize the Programs menu, over time it tends to get cluttered when new programs are added and removed. Other, often useless or rarely used icons are put into the Programs menu. Quick Launch always looks the same for each user until edited, and it only includes the icons you need to run the programs.

Features

Quick Launch features:

an almost unlimited number of categories and links to programs, files or folders
low system resources that allow it to work on any computer running Windows XP
very simple method to add or remove links
built into Windows XP, so there is nothing to buy
each computer user has his or her own personalized Quick Launch toolbar

Setting up Quick Launch

The first thing you need to do when you are setting up or editing the Quick Launch toolbar is to unlock the Windows taskbar. To do this, move your mouse pointer to an empty area of the taskbar and right-click, then de-select Lock the Taskbar:

If you do not see the Quick Launch toolbar on your taskbar, it may be hidden. To make it visible, move your mouse pointer to an empty area of the taskbar and right-click. Go to Toolbars, and click Quick Launch so that it has a checkmark next to it:

To position it, you can drag it around by selecting the dotted vertical line, clicking then dragging it into position. Be careful not to drag it off, onto the desktop. If this happens you can always close the one on the desktop, then re-enable it on the taskbar to get it back. Remember, you can only position it when the taskbar is unlocked.

Add & Remove Items

In working with Quick Launch, there are two things you should remember. The first is that you want to add only shortcuts to your Quick Launch bar, not the actual programs themselves. If you move a program's icon from its folder onto the Quick Launch toolbar, the application will likely not work. If this happens you should move it back to where it came from.

The second thing you should remember is that the Quick Launch toolbar is actually a folder on your computer. As such, it becomes much easier to visualize how it works, and how you can use it.

The default Quick Launch toolbar usually includes a few standard icons such as Internet Explorer and Show Desktop. If you let your mouse pointer sit on the icon for a few seconds, the description will appear above it:

The most straightforward way to get a program into Quick Launch is to create a shortcut to it on the desktop, then drag the shortcut onto the Quick Launch toolbar. Removing a shortcut is equally simple, just right-click on the shortcut and choose Delete.

Using Categories

Remembering that Quick Launch is a folder, this allows us to get fancy and create sub-folders which act as categories, so you could have something that looks like this:

If fact, if you prefer, you can work with Quick Launch as a regular folder view. To do this, right-click on an empty area of the Quick Launch toolbar and choose Open Folder:

What you should see is the folder view:

The location shown in the address line tells you that it is located in that particular user's Documents area. Also note the two circled items that show the typical contents, shortcuts and folders. You can simply create new folders for any types of categories you want, then drag shortcuts into those category folders.

Expert Tips

Open a Web Site - You can make a shortcut to a web site easily. Just right-click anywhere on your desktop and choose New, Shortcut. Type in the address, such as www.techforthetimid.com, click next, give it a title and choose Finish. Now drag it to your Quick Launch and it will start your web browser with that web site.

Restore the Show Desktop icon - If you ever accidentally delete the Show Desktop icon, you can re-create it easily by the following. Open Notepad and entter the following into it:

[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop

Save it to your desktop as Show Desktop.scf then drag it from the desktop onto your Quick Launch toolbar.

Create a New Email - You can make a shortcut to start up your email client and begin a new email easily. Just right-click anywhere on your desktop and choose New, Shortcut. Type in mailto: and click Next, then enter "New Email" and choose Finish. Drag it onto your Quick Launch and test it out. Your email program doesn't even have to be running to use this quick shortcut!

Quick Launch Documents - In addition to programs, you can also put shortcuts to frequently-used documents in your Quick Launch toolbar. When you select the shortcut, it will open the file in the application it was created in.

The Windows XP Quick Launch toolbar is not difficult to use, but I still see people struggling with dozens of icons on their desktops and hunting for programs among sometimes hundreds of Start programs. Mastering the Quick Launch toolbar can save a lot of time and keep you organized!

Tools for Windows Genuine Advantage

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Wed, 24 May 2006 16:38:00 +0000

Recently I spent three long hours on the telephone with a Microsoft support person regarding an issue replacing a Windows XP product key (also known as a CD key). I want to share with you some things I learned to make it easier for you in case it happens to you!

Over a year ago I had done a staff purchase of Windows XP from the local university. It was brand new, fully shrink-wrapped. Over time I had been using the computer only occasionally for business accounting. In early April 2006, I decided to switch from Windows Update to Microsoft Update, and as a matter of course, Microsoft tests your computer during this process to see if you are using a genuine copy of Windows XP. Surprisingly, the validation failed and reported that I had a locked Volume License Key (VLK). Microsoft locked my product key (rendering it useless) because someone somewhere had used the product key on another computer.

Of course I had not used it on another computer nor lent it to anyone, I have always been conscious of and compliant with software licensing. So I brought XP and my receipt back to the university, and they gave me a fresh copy. When I arrived home I called Microsoft's technical support and he had me attempt to change the product key by changing a Windows registry value, but it didn't work. Three hours later, the defeated support technicial conceded that the only thing left was to reformat my hard drive!

This did not sit well with me. I did not believe that there was nothing else that could be done. So I called back, spoke to a different support technician, who promptly agreed and solved my problem for me. In the end, I used the Windows Product Key Update Tool from Microsoft to change the key, and it worked.

Product Key Tools

There are a few names that Microsoft uses that refer directly or indirectly to the authenticity of your Microsoft software: Windows Genuine Advantage, WGA, Genuine Microsoft Software, Genuine Software Initiative, GSI, COA and others. The goal is to make sure that the copy of Windows that you are running is legitimate. There are some useful utilities that can help diagnose and fix Windows product key problems which I've listed below.

Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder - When you need to know what your existing product key is, this is the tool that most people use (including Microsoft tech support).

Windows Activation - To start Windows Activation, the easiest way is just to run the application on your own system. The program is called msoobe.exe, which incidentally stands for "Microsoft Out of Box Experience". To use this, go to Start, Run, and type %systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a and click Ok.

Windows Product Key Update Tool - This application is what is used to actually change the product key in the registry without having to run regedit.exe and change it yourself, which could be dangerous if you make a mistake.

Regedit.exe - You should be relatively familiar with regedit and what damage it can do to your system before you start playing with it. I recommend that unless you are a professional, don't touch it! Start, Run, and type regedit and click Ok. You can manually deactivate Windows and cause it to re-activate by changing a key as described in this MS support article.

Microsoft Registration, Activation & Validation Explained

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Tue, 23 May 2006 23:14:00 +0000

What is the difference between Microsoft Registration, Activation, and Validation?

Registration

Windows registration is when you send Microsoft your personal contact information (name, email address, phone number, etc). This allows them to contact you with information about upgrades and new versions. Registration is completely voluntary. Expect to receive email and mail from Microsoft.

Activation

Windows activation is a system they use to prevent piracy. Windows XP comes un-activated and works for 30 to 90 days. To have it work beyond the limited time, you must activate it by a process that sends a listing of your computer hardware to Microsoft along with your product key (also known as a CD key). Your product key and your hardware is now tied together. Microsoft sends back a code to activate Windows. If you change a number of parts on your computer you may need to call a toll-free number to have it re-activated.

Validation

Validation happens when you attempt to download Windows updates and tools from the Microsoft web site. Before downloading, the validation process compares your activation code with your hardware profile. If it matches, you can download, if they don’t match, you either have a pirated copy of Windows XP or you will have to re-activate your legitimate copy of Windows XP again.

File Sharing Review - Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Sat, 13 May 2006 20:00:00 +0000

Thus begins my multi-part review of various file sharing applications and services. These reviews will interest you if you have a want to share files between a laptop and a desktop, if you want to share files between computers on your home or small office, or between groups of people over the Internet for whatever reason. Most are free but there are some commercial ones included as well.

I have an atypical home office network, and as time has gone by I have explored many different types of file sharing applications, and still use some. Perhaps I should consider eliminating them in favour of the one perfect product that fills all of my needs, but as of yet there is no one perfect solution, at least for me. Each of the products fill a niche. They are also known by the terms file synchronization, replication or mirroring, but they work in different ways and have different advantages.

Good Old FTP

File Transfer Protocol, or simply FTP, is one of the oldest and simplest ways to share files. It requires a server application and any number of client applications to access it. Most commercial FTP clients such as SmartFTP are relatively easy to set up and use. FTP settings, such as source and destination folders, can be saved so that each subsequent session is fairly easy to perform over and over. They also allow limited scripting, so file transfers can be automatically performed on files based on such properties as file size, date, or time.

Windows File & Printer Sharing

Microsoft Windows versions have historically included something called "File and Printer Sharing" which allows you to share a folder with other workstations on your network. This has always had a problem with security and performance issues on the network. I generally stay away from this solution, except in limited circumstances.

2BrightSparks SyncBackSE

My first file-sharing task was to quickly and easily synchronize and backup files from my main workstation and laptop to my Windows Server. I was looking for a free solution, so neither FTP nor Windows File Sharing were up to the task. I discovered a freeware version of 2BrightSparks' SyncBackSE, and began using it almost immediately.

SyncBack Freeware can use either FTP or a Windows network share to make the connection, but I found it to be much easier to configure and maintain using FTP. It can do a straight copying of files, or it can even synchronize the files to make sure the newest copy of the file is saved at the destination. I have been using the freeware version to back up a folder full of files to my server as a quick backup for over a year with no problems. The most important feature for me in this case is that it is incredibly fast, it backs up tens and hundreds of megabytes of data in seconds. It is great for when you need to synchronize often-used folders full of files. You can set each one of these up in a "profile". Click here to see a screenshot of the types of profiles you can have it do. Highly recommended.

Microsoft FolderShare

In November of 2005, Microsoft acquired FolderShare from ByteTaxi. The service is going to be included in Windows Live, but it is not yet listed on the Windows Live Ideas web site where they hilight their newest beta products.

I came across FolderShare because I was looking for a product that would do more than just copy the newest version of a file to another computer. I have a handful of files that I use and update on a daily basis, and I wanted the newest version available on my laptop as well as any workstation in the office without any intervention. I also wanted a copy of the latest files available on my laptop even if I was not connected to my home network. This was a demanding requirement to be sure, but SyncBack Freeware required a connection so it was not a solution. I found that FolderShare seemed to fit the bill.

FolderShare works by invitation. You invite other members or your own computers to share a folder securely. (For those with some technical knowledge: All peer-to-peer communication between these computers are authenticated via RSA and encrypted via AES over SSL.)

Once you install the FolderShare client on each of your computers, you will see a small "F" icon on your taskbar. When you open it, you can see a list of your "Libraries" which are actually regular Windows folders, and which computers are sharing them. In this first screenshot, you can see two workstations and a laptop connected, and set to automatically sync the contents of the folder. There are other options available, such as being able to access the files using a web browser over the web.

If one of the computers disconnects from the network or Internet (screenshot 2), that computer will still have access to the latest version of the files. In other words, as long as Toshiba or WK3 do not edit the files, WK1 will have a local up-to-date copy of any files. If I edit those files on WK1, then reconnect to the network, FolderShare will automatically update the files back onto the other computers, all without any intervention on my part.

It is this ability to re-synchronize files that sets FolderShare apart from the previous solutions. There were a few times however, when FolderShare did not seem to be able to connect, and I had to manually shut down the application and restart it myself. A reconnect button would have been useful.

In the upcoming File Sharing Review - Part II, I will be looking at some other file sharing and file syncing products.

Miscellanea

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 04:47:00 +0000

Some interesting things I've come across this weekend: Windows XP's little-known 'Rebuild' command, super Google search page, how to tame your inbox, and more!

When booting into Safe Mode doesn't work - Fred Langa of InformationWeek provides an interesting tip on the Rebuild command, an alternative to pulling out your hair and tossing your malfunctioning PC out the window. Read his article here.

Super Google search page - The good folks at Usability Views are always pushing the boundaries what we see on the web. When the Google Toolbar just won't cut it, the heavy-duty Simply Google site has enough search features to keep you busy for days. Not to be outdone, Microsoft has an experimental search engine that groups results in very useful categories. Test it out and see for yourself!

Microsoft helps budding space travellers - For those times when intergalactic travel just isn't the same in miles, Microsoft put together a support page on how to convert to and from "light years". Unfortunately Star Trek fans are left out in the cold and have to resort to coming up with their own formulas for Warp to miles per hour conversion.

When you are swamped by email - In a recent article in the Financial Times, Marc Smith outlines his advice on how to tame the inbox monster. I used to regularly have over a thousand emails in my inbox (and tens of thousands in folders, all utterly necessary of course!), and following Marc's advice I've managed to keep my inbox down to a more manageable 100 emails. Read about it here.

Upcoming Attractions

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 06:18:00 +0000

Well my Star Tours mug didn't sell on eBay, but I'm not at all disappointed. I received positive remarks about the animated 360-degree picture that I used in my listing for the Picture Cloud review.

I've been testing some interesting file syncing software over the past month, and will have a review of one of them coming up next week. If you aren't sure what file syncing is, think being able to access one set of web browser favourites across more than one computer.

In the meantime, I've been dallying with Microsoft Windows Movie Maker because I need to create a 1 hour DVD out of my 5 hours of digital video I took last year on our trip to the Oregon Coast. Even I can't watch 5 hours of my own vacations! If you need to share your own video clips with family or friends, take a look at DV Guru's Ten Video Sharing Services Compared.

Picturecloud.com Review

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 23:28:00 +0000

If you into selling items on eBay, online classifieds, or sell real estate, you will want to check out Picture Cloud. Picture Cloud is an exciting service that allows you to use your digital camera to create 3D photos of objects that spins and pans up to 360 degrees. No special skills, software or equipment is needed. In my review I'll create an actual eBay ad using a Picture Cloud just to see how the service works!

But first, what does a Picture Cloud look like? To see an example, click HERE (opens in a new window). Click on the picture and see it rotate. You can immediately see how much more useful this is than seeing a simple picture of an item!

Is it Free?

There are four account types:

free - saves free Picture Clouds
paid credit - create custom Clouds with higher resolution images, can download your own Clouds
small business - 25 monthly custom Clouds for monthly or annual cost
small business enterprise - unlimited Clouds for monthly or annual cost

I tested both the free and paid credit types. In the following review, I used a paid Picture Cloud credit, which allows a larger size image than the free version. You can buy credits in any quantity using the Paypal service.

My eBay Ad Test!

I thought the best way to review Picture Cloud would be to actually use it in an eBay auction. It took me almost a week of digging around the house for something I was willing to part with, and (in desperation) I finally came up with a "Star Tours" mug I had purchased at Disneyland many years ago:

Normally most eBay ads will show one simple picture like this one, but instead on my ad I will be able to show the mug with a 360-degree rotating 3D view. I also want to mention that I already had an eBay seller's account to use for this. eBay is not affiliated with Picture Cloud, but it works as a great place to test the service on. Picture Cloud should work for any service on the web, and I imaging it should work very well for selling real estate. In addition to making a Picture Cloud of the outside of a home, you could also stand in one spot and make a Picture Cloud of a highlight room in a house for example.

Step 1: Take Your Pictures

Any digital camera that you can use and download the pictures to your computer will do. Even pictures from a PDA or cell phone should work, although the quality will suffer. You will need to take enough pictures to make the image appear to rotate smoothly, anywhere from 10 to 35 but closer to 20 is recommended. I took 12 pictures at 640x480 resolution with my digital camera.

Step 2: Upload Your Pictures

For this review I logged into the Picturecloud.com site, and clicked on "New Cloud". I chose "Custom Picture Cloud" rather than the "Free Picture Cloud". The link under that choice that reads "Choose from 5 sizes" should show you a comparison of the available choices but in this alpha version, the link was a dead end. No matter though because on the next screen it gives you a choice of the 5 sizes and shows you examples of each. I chose the largest size available, 640x480.

Next, there is a small Java applet that it will ask you to download (it only takes a few seconds). Once it finishes you will see the uploader screen:

I selected and dragged my pictures from a folder on my hard drive to that Picture Cloud and it was very quick, taking only about 20 seconds to upload all 12 of them. You will need to upload at least 10 pictures, and it even warns you if the images are not similar. The more pictures you use, the smoother the animation, as this tip suggested to me:

It immediately shows you a preview of your animation, which gives you a chance to retake the pictures if the animation does not turn out very good:

Then below the preview window it gives you a chance to name your Picture Cloud and choose some image options:

Step 3: Save or Download

After you pick a name and click the Next button, you have one final preview before you save it. There is also a feedback form on this page; I suggest that in thanks for providing a free service that you give back by offering any suggestions to the developers.

Step 4: Copy & Paste HTML

Once you have saved your new Picture Cloud, the HTML code is available for you to cut and paste into your eBay or other classified ad. What I did next was copied the code that it gave me for my Star Tours mug picture Cloud, created a new ad on eBay, then pasted the code in.

Finally, here is the paid full-size 640x480 version in my eBay ad:

Click me! (as seen in a real eBay ad) (opens in a new window) - Don't forget to click on the Picture Cloud in the ad to see it rotate! You can even click on the rotating picture and drag it around yourself!

Conclusion

Even though the service is in the "alpha" stage, I think it is already incredibly useful. I am told that within days it will move to "beta". The service was glitch-free for all the tests I ran, despite a few minor presentation issues with spelling and links on the site that will no doubt be cleaned up before the final public release.

I suspect that they will add more functionality during the beta stage. In the "About" pages, it says "We will even give you the option to trace around your images to remove an unsightly background" but I did not see that option. I'd suggest also the ability to adjust the contrast of each picture (either automatically or individually) which would make for a better-looking animation. The colours were very close to the original, and the detail was excellent at the highest resolution. And one final suggestion that I hope they will implement for convenience is to auto-"select all" when you click inside the code window. This saves errors hilighting the code or at least save a CTRL-A (select all) keystroke.

Without a doubt I will be using Picture Cloud from now on for my own personal eBay and online classified ads. The paid version is definitely the way to go and at USD$0.99 or less, it adds a great value to your advertising efforts. Highly recommended service!

Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 15:33:00 +0000

Recently a friend asked me, what is "the 'Malicious Software Removal Tool' that I keep having to download updates for?" and if it was the same thing as Windows Defender.

Microsoft Defender is the new name for Microsoft AntiSpyware, which is designed to combat spyware. The Malicious Software Removal Tool is designed to combat a limited number of viruses, and is not designed to replace your regular antivirus program.

The Malicious Software Removal Tool, also known as MRT, cleans certain prevalent viruses and worms from your computer, such as MyDoom, Netsky, Sober and Sasser, among others.

Microsoft didn't put MRT where it should go: in the Start menu, under Accessories, System Tools. Most people don't know how to run it, but you will. Just click on Start, Run, type "mrt" and hit Enter. It is safe to run at any time, and won't interfere with your current antivirus program. It requires Windows 2000 or above.

For more information on the tool, check MRT's online documentation here.

Windows Update vs Microsoft Update

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 06:31:00 +0000

Windows Update, Microsoft Update, aren't they the same thing? No, and it's important to know the difference.

What's This? Update My Computer?

There are still people that I come across that have never updated their computer with either Windows Update or Microsoft Update. Most adult home users will use their computers for email, home accounting or the occasional web surfing, and never think that because they aren't doing anything "bad" that they don't need to think about security. Eventually they will find out how wrong they are.

It is important for every computer user to make sure their computer's software and operating system is secure and up-to-date. I find that people with older operating systems such as Windows 98 or Windows ME are not as aware of security as Windows XP users, most likely because Windows XP does a better job of informing the user that updates are needed.

The tool that you can use to update your computer is called Windows Update, and it supports the older versions of Windows such as Windows ME, 95, 98, NT and 2000 (as well as the newer versions). Microsoft Update is the newer tool which supports Windows 2000 SP3 or later and Windows XP.

How is Microsoft Update Different?

The main difference is that Microsoft Update also updates other Microsoft products, such as Microsoft Office. There have been security updates for MS Office and it is important that you are running the most recent updates. Microsoft is adding other software to Microsoft Update this year so it will be the one-stop shop for getting your updates.

How Do I Get to the Update Site?

It's fairly easy. Assuming you are connected to the Internet, just run Internet Explorer. Go to the Tools menu, and select Windows Update. It will take you to either the Windows Update site or the Microsoft Update site.

Once the page loads, you can tell what tool you have by looking at the blue title bar on the upper left. It will either say "Microsoft Update" or "Windows Update". If you have reached the "Windows Update" page, you might be able to upgrade to Microsoft Update at no cost or effort. You can tell by looking at the right side of the screen in the "News" box.

If it looks like this, you have the older Windows Update:

If it looks like this, you have the newer and more complete Microsoft Update:

Of course if you have the older Windows Update, and it invites you to switch to Microsoft Update, then by all means click on the text in the news box and upgrade right now!

Which Update Should I Pick?

The site will present you with 2 buttons that correspond to 2 types of updates, Express or Custom:

Which one you pick will depend on your comfort level. If you are one of the many "timids" and not very comfortable with technology, I'd suggest clicking on Express. It will automatically get the high-priority updates to keep your system running safe.

If you have some computer knowledge and know your way around, I suggest clicking on Custom, where it presents you with all the updates, and you can pick which ones you really need from a list of high-priority and optional.

Can I Automate This Process?

Yes! On the main Update page on the right side just above the News box, there is the Automatic Updates notification box:

This will open a simple window that asks you some questions about setting up your computer to automatically notify, download and install updates. You can check this yourself without running Microsoft Update. Just go to your Start menu, and run Control Panel, then select Automatic Updates. If you leave your computer on all night, you can set it to download and install early in the morning when you are not using your computer. If you turn your computer off when you are not using it, you can set it to notify you, so you can grab the updates when it is convenient for you.

Business Users

If you are on a business network, usually your IT (information technology) department will have it set up so that user workstations will automatically update. If you are concerned, check your Automatic Updates or contact your tech support person.

Further Information

If you have other concerns or want more information, you can either go to the Microsoft Update main site or Frequently Asked Questions page.

Microsoft AntiSpyware Expired?

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 08:47:00 +0000

If your free Microsoft AntiSpyware has expired (December 31 2005 or July 31 2006), there is good news!

There is a newer version, and it also has a new name: Windows Defender (Beta 2)

Microsoft says this about Windows Defender:

Windows Defender (Beta 2) is a free program that helps protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software. It features Real-Time Protection, a monitoring system that recommends actions against spyware when it's detected, and a new streamlined interface that minimizes interruptions and helps you stay productive.

Some of the improvements that Defender has over AntiSpyware (other than a better name) are:

- improved detection and removal
- a redesigned, simpler interface
- protection for all users on a computer (not just the administrator account)
- definition updates provided through Microsoft's Automatic Updates feature

If you have the old version, you can download Windows Defender here. It will automatically uninstall your old version as well.

Tech for the Timid Switches Subscription Service

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 20:50:00 +0000

This is just a quick note to let my readers know that I'm switching subscription services from Bloglet to FeedBlitz.

If you've previously gotten email updates from Bloglet, you can now expect to receive them from FeedBlitz. This process is automatic, and you don't have to do anything! One of the annoyances about Bloglet was that it sent updates of draft versions as well as the final version, so you got to see incomplete articles. :(

I'll be changing the subscription link shortly (I should have done that first). If you have any problems with the new FeedBlitz service, please drop me a line. Thank you for reading the articles!

Exercise Caution with Google Desktop

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 19:54:00 +0000

Recently I mentioned the Google Desktop search tool in my article on Google Pack. The latest version of Google Desktop has come under some scrutiny from security experts the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

"Unless you configure Google Desktop very carefully, and few people will, Google will have copies of your tax returns, love letters, business records, financial and medical files, and whatever other text-based documents the desktop software can index.

"The government could then demand these personal files with only a subpoena rather than the search warrant it would need to seize the same things from your home or business," said EFF staff attorney Kevin Bankston.

The problem exists specifically with the "Search Across Computers" feature, so be wary if you use it, and especially if you are using it in a business environment. You can read the full article here.

The Malware Removal Forum

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 19:49:00 +0000

This morning a BBC News article pointed out a good resource to visit if you've had an infection by spyware.

The Malware Removal Forum is a grassroots forum where everyday people connect to seek help removing spyware. It is another good resource to check out.

StopBadware.org

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 18:24:00 +0000

I always welcome any progress in the fight against viruses, spyware, malware and other problems. Recently, a new group has formed to help in the battle. What makes them different from the rest of the efforts?

There are other groups attempting to combat various problems of what is normally called "spyware". But this term is used loosely and they have come up with a new word that encompasses them all: badware. I don't think we really need yet another word, what was wrong with malware?

The fight against badware has typically been fought by anti-spyware and anti-virus companies, and on the non-commercial side, by groups such as Castle Cops. A lot of helpful information can also be found with other commercial entities, such as web sites belonging to your Internet Service Provider and your bank and credit card companies. StopBadware.org is a community effort that transcends all of the groups and should eventually be a powerful force in the fight against badware. There is another fairly new group called the Anti-Spyware Coalition that is also aiming to develop standards in helping fight the cause.

Until now, private anti-spyware companies were close-lipped about their research into spyware to maintain market share, unlike anti-virus companies who regularly share information about viruses. Recently, anti-spyware intelligence is starting to become shared, at least with some participants. This is the key to successfully combating the problem of badware. No matter what antivirus program you use, it is almost certain that it will detect, clean or quarantine every virus. Yet currently no such confidence can be placed on any one anti-badware product. We as consumers should be demanding that anti-badware companies share their intelligence and fight them on a united front.

Google Pack Review

noreply@blogger.com (Peter) — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 21:08:00 +0000

Google has recently released the free "Google Pack", which they describe as "a one-stop software package that helps you discover, install, and maintain a wide range of essential PC programs." But is it really a helpful group of software applications or a clever marketing ploy?

Why Did They Create It?

A couple of "computer guys" who work for Google, a web search engine company, thought that it is a complex and long process to get a new computer set up with all the applications that they feel one needs, such as anti-virus, anti-spyware, a browser, some multimedia players, etc.

One Man's Treasure Is Another Man's Junk

Not everyone uses their computers for the same purpose. Some people simply use it for email and web browsing. Some might use it for music, some for digital pictures, and others might be into budgeting or accounting. Whatever a computer is used for, no two people use it exactly the same way.

The current list of software in the Google Pack includes Google software (of course), and some other utilities. What are these programs and what do they do?

What's in the Box

The following list is what the Google Pack contains as of the date of this article. I'll follow it up with my own rating of appeal to the average person on a scale of 0 to 3, where 0 is a waste of a click, 1 is unnecessary but interesting, 2 is useful, and 3 is must-have. Descriptions are from the Google Pack web site.

Google Desktop: you can use it to search your files, media, email, chats, and webpages you've seen recently. I rate this a 1/3, simply because there isn't likely something that the average person can't already find using the built-in Windows search and their own brain given enough time. And if one is that disorganized, perhaps one should consider an alternate approach: learn to be more organized rather than installing a tool that lets you continue to be disorganized.

Google Earth: A globe that sits inside your PC. You can point and zoom to anyplace on the planet that you want to explore. Satellite images and local facts zoom into view. Rather than install all this software, you can keep your computer less cluttered by visiting Google Maps. Rating: 1/3.

Google Pack Screensaver: The Google Pack Screensaver makes it easy to display your favorite photos when your screen is idle. Almost every digital camera on the market has software with it that allows you to do this. I see no reason to add more unneeded single-purpose software, unless you do not already have the capability. Rating: 0/3.

Google Talk: Google Talk is a downloadable real-time communications application that lets Gmail users call and instant message one another. Right now it only works with Gmail (Google's web-based free email system, a competitor to Hotmail). Rating: 1/3, but only if you are a Gmail user that doesn't already use another chat program like AIM or MSN.

Google Toolbar: Perform a Google search from any site on the web, or to search for specific words on any given page. In addition, the latest version of the Google Toolbar offers users exciting features like the Popup Blocker. I am a big fan of the Google Toolbar. It has many other useful features that make it appeal to a wide range of computer users. Rating: 3/3.

Google Picasa: Picasa is software that helps you instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it automatically locates all your pictures (even ones you forgot you had) and sorts them into visual albums organized by date with folder names you will recognize. Again, most digital cameras come with software that already does this. There are also many good commercial programs that do this as well. Plus, I dislike it when software "automatically" does anything, especially sorts things for me that I prefer to organize myself. Rating: a hesitant 2/3.

Ad-Aware SE Personal: Ad-Aware Personal provides advanced protection from known data-mining, aggressive advertising, Trojans, dialers, malware, browser hijackers, and tracking components. Ad-Aware scans your computer and detects known and unknown variants of malware and removes them. This is a must-have! But as I've said many times before, you should always use at least two different spyware scanners (like those on my Downloads page. If you are interested in the Ad-Aware Professional or Enterprise versions, I am a Lavasoft partner and can provide you with a quote.) Rating: 3/3.

Adobe Reader: Adobe Reader 7 is a PDF viewer that lets you view, print, and search PDF files. Adobe Reader 7 also loads 50% faster than previous versions of Adobe Reader. And it is still slow. Not a big fan of Adobe's pdf reader, but you'll eventually come across a .pdf document along the way. Rating: A begrudging 2/3.

GalleryPlayer HD: The HD images in Google Pack are provided by GalleryPlayer, a company that delivers the world's most famous and beautiful imagery from a wide variety of categories -- including fine art, sports, news, entertainment, travel and more -- to high-resolution displays. More clutter, unless you want to show off your High Def display. Rating: 2/3 if you have an HD display.

Mozilla Firefox: A web browser that allows you to browse the web quickly and securely. Firefox protects you from viruses, spyware, and popups. Firefox also offers tabbed browsing, which helps you switch between pages easily. Other alternatives include Opera or Internet Explorer, the browser that comes with Windows. Firefox is highly recommended but not required. Rating: 2/3.

Norton Antivirus 2005 SE: Norton AntiVirus protects your computer from viruses, worms and Trojans. I am not a big fan of the Norton (also known as Symantec) product. It works, but as a professional I see a number of problems that people have with their products. Also, most new computers already come with a free time-limited antivirus suite. Rating: 2/3, only because you can't do without antivirus.

RealPlayer: RealPlayer is a media player that will play popular media formats as well as organize your music and videos. Try as you might you will find it hard to avoid using this product, as it is a very popular format on the web. I find it intrusive and obnoxious as do many people. Rating: 0/3.

Trillian: Trillian is a fully featured, stand-alone, skinnable chat client that supports AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo Messenger, and IRC. Although I don't use it personally, this chat program is considered mediocre by friends due it trying to be the Swiss Army Knife of chat programs, which is a difficult task. If you don't want separate chat programs, this is the one to use. Rating: 2/3.

Worth It?

I can't answer this one for you. Read my review and decide for yourself if it is worth the effort. I prefer to download and update individual programs on an individual basis, although the Google Updater allows you to omit any of the programs in the Google Pack. Actually I have my own toolkit of programs that I have on a CD, and it's too bad Google doesn't give you the Updater to create your own Packs.

Although the Google Pack does provide some interesting and even essential programs for some, it is no doubt a clever marketing ploy to get you to try Google software. Google is good at searching and providing information, but I've always thought that they do a bad job of listing all their Joe Public software products in one place. For that, Google Pack does the job well with a streamlined interface.

Do-It-Yourself Google Pack

Although they ask for requests for other products to be on the Google Pack list, why not allow individualization? That is, why can't I choose what programs I want in Google Pack (even ones not on their list)? If they published a set of rules that software vendors could use to add their own programs to the list, then anyone could go to Google Pack and see all their programs and see if there is an available update. Think Microsoft's Windows Update but for any applications you choose, all in one place. Now that would be essential!