Computer Info – October 10, 2001

This Week’s Meeting

        Take a look at Norton AntiVirus and its features and settings. Find where and how to get the latest virus definitions. Take a look at Google, a great search engine.

Norton Anti-Virus 2000

        When you double-click on the Norton icon on the system tray, the first page that opens up is the SYSTEM STATUS. This is where you will find the date that your virus definitions were last updated – when you last did a full system virus scan – how many items are in quarantine – when the last virus was found – and how many days before your update service expires.
        If you click on EMAIL STATUS – it will show what email accounts are protected.
        If you click on SCAN FOR VIRUSES – you will be given your choice as to what you want to scan.
        If you click on REPORTS – you can view and manage what files are in quarantine – view the log of Norton’s activities which will show you which files had contained which virus and the action you took and also when you did a virus scan of your system – and, finally, view the list of viruses (with information about them) that Norton is protecting you against.
        From the top menu choices – OPTIONS – this is where you perform all of your setups for the program.
        Again from the top menu choices – RESCUE – this will allow you to create rescue disks to be used in the event that a virus has made your system unable to boot to your hard drive. It takes about 5 floppy disks to perform this.
        The last choice from the top menu is – LIVE UPDATE – this is where you are connected to the Internet to get your virus definitions updated to protect you again the latest viruses. If you have ENABLED AUTOMATIC LIVEUPDATES in your option menu – you will not have to do this; because whenever you go on the internet, this function will be done in the background while you are checking your email or browsing the internet.

To get to the Norton website, go to http://www.norton.com
        If you click on SERVICE AND SUPPORT, you will find that you can update your virus definitions from that page.
        If you click on DOWNLOADS, you can update your virus definitions from that page – or download a virus removal tool (for certain hard to remove viruses) – and renew your liveupdate subscription.

WINFAX
        Symantec (which owns Norton) seems to own WinFax also. Someone ask me about why they could not get WinFax to show up as one of their printers. If you go to this web address
                   http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/faxprod.nsf/pfdocs/1998101612002104
it talks about how to put the driver in.

Where to get Virus Definitions Updates

        If you go to http://www.download.com and search for virus definitions, you will find the update for many versions of Norton -- McAfee – Kaspersky – Virex – InoculateIt. Just choose the version that you are running.
        Try this at http://www.tucows.com and search for virus definitions, and you will again find the updates for many versions of these programs. Just be sure to choose the one that you are running.

Symantec Upgrade to Norton Anti-Virus

        Norton has added compatibility for Microsoft Windows XP – more security and configuration features to Norton Anti-Virus 2002.
        Just scanning incoming mail for dangerous attachments is no longer enough, so Norton now also scans outgoing mail to prevent your system from sending worms to everyone in your address book.
        Virus definitions are updated automatically (no more annoying reminders) and incrementally, with microdefinition files that supplement existing files and don’t require huge downloads. A pop-up box on the Windows taskbar tray informs you when an update has been completed.

McAfee VirusScan 6.0

        The latest version of McAfee will include a firewall utility. It will include HAWK (for Hostile Activity Watch Kernal) technology, which monitors your system for suspicious activity. For example, if the utility detects files with double extensions or the sending of an e-mail to more than 60 percent of your e-mail address book – both hallmarks of a malicious intruder – it stops the activity and pops up an alert.
        It has added a synchronization scanner to prevent the passing of viruses to or from a PDA, the ability to update virus definitions without user intervention and Microsoft Windows XP support.

PopUp Ad Windows While on the Internet

        I have never tried any of these programs and, at the moment, don’t plan on using one . Someone ask about the annoying extra popup windows that you find have opened when you visit certain websites. How can you get rid of them? There are many of them out there - here are three that I located. I do not know if they are good or bad – but you can go to these sites and check them out for yourself.
Zero Popup 1.3
        This is a shareware program that you can register for $20.00. It works with Internet Explorer 4 and above.
                           http://www.download.com
Pop-Up Stopper 2.4
        This program will eliminate Internet Explorer pop-up and pop-under windows. This one is FREE.
                           http://www.popupstopper.net/product_dpps.html
NoAds 2000.6.30.1
        This program will run with Internet Explorer, Netscape and AOL. It is free.
                           http://www.southbaypc.com/NoAds/

Google

http://www.google.com

WEB -- This is a top notch search engine. It will even look at your spelling and ask if you really meant it spelled a different way.

IMAGE -- This is also a great way to locate photos. Click on the tab for Images, and type in a few words to describe your search.

GROUPS – This will search the news groups for you.