Computer Info – July 17, 2002

This Week’s Meeting

Patty has volunteered to bring her computer in and let everyone help solve problems that she has.

Opt-Out of Credit Card Offers

Remember at last week’s meeting, we were discussing whether to give out your social security number if you called the opt-out number for stopping the credit card offers. Clark Howard had it on his radio program the next day. This is the e-mail that we received from one of the computer group.

“I just heard, (at about 2:58 P.M.), Clark Howard reaffirm the use of 1 888 5optout! I was fussing in the garage with the radio on, as is my habit, and listening to the Clark Howard program. I was considering whether I would e-mail or try telephoning to follow thru regarding the use of the number, as I told Wes I would. Well, lo and behold, to my surprise, a lady caller asked the very same question as was raised at the meeting.

That is, should one give their SSN when asked . Clark Howard didn't hesitate. He said that he was aware of the request when one calls that number but pointed out that the Agency that answers the calls is obligated by law to hold and protect your SSN from any access. So, he said, you can be quite confident that no harm or problem will come to you from that step.

To be honest I felt relieved to hear the question and answer, even though it caught me by surprise and I may have missed some part of the conversation. However I am positive of Clark's support of the process.”

To visit the Clark Howard web site ----- http://clarkhoward.com

Palladium – What is it…..

(Info from CBS News web page – dated June 25, 2002)

Microsoft Corp. has disclosed an ambitious new project to improve security by creating within its Windows software a virtual “vault” where customers would conduct electronic transactions and store

sensitive information.

The effort, called “Palladium,” would require consumers to buy new computers and other devices equipped with ultra-secure computer chips from Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc.,

which already are involved in the project, or other companies.

The project's success also depends on broad consumer adoption of such devices, since these highly secure computers could safely exchange information only among themselves.

Supporters said the technology, to be offered as an option in an upcoming version of Windows, would be able to distinguish safe software from data containing viruses or other malicious computer code. The technology could be turned on and turned off. Customers could store within this part of Windows personal details, such as financial or medical records, that is encrypted and otherwise inaccessible even from other software running on the computer.

Microsoft also acknowledged that it hasn't resolved sensitive issues of permitting access by government with a court order to a person's encrypted data. The FBI has indicated it rarely encounters scrambled information during investigations, but making such technology as ubiquitous as Windows could invite use by criminals or terrorists.

Since Palladium will reside on the hardware level, Microsoft has signed up Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) to make Palladium chips. Microsoft also has to convince software makers to buy into the Palladium architecture.

Errors – Moving Desktop Icons

(info from Smart Computing – August 2002)

Problem: When I boot my computer, I can’t click the Desktop icons. When I attempt to position the mouse cursor over an icon, the icon moves away from the cursor, and she can’t click it.

Answer: To check if it is a practical joke – check the Startup folder by clicking Start, Programs, and then Startup. If you see an entry that doesn’t belong there, right-click it and click Delete to get rid of it. This will only remove a shortcut and not the program itself.

If you don’t see anything strange, click Start, then Run, and type msconfig before clicking OK to launch the System Configuration Utility. Select the Startup tab and look for odd entries that seem to indicate a prank program. You can disable entries by taking the check marks out of the boxes next to them or re-enable them by putting the check marks back in before clicking Apply. Reboot the computer after you make any changes and see if that makes the problem go away.

If neither step reveals anything out of the ordinary, it’s time to make sure your antivirus software is up to date. Your computer is likely infected with the Magistr worm. This nasty piece of code goes by many names including I-Worm.Magistr, W32.Magistr@mm, W32/Magistr-A. This one attempts to email itself to everyone in a Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express address book.

It attempts to load other malicious payloads – which can erase your computer’s CMOS memory as well as the BIOS if two conditions are met. Here is the good news. To wreak its havoc, the worm has to send itself to 100 email recipients, and it has to find at least three files with certain legal words or phrases such as “found guilty” or “habeas corpus”. If the worm sits on your computer for two months without fulfilling both conditions, it releases a secondary payload, which makes Desktop icons move away from an approaching cursor.

To get rid of the worm, you have to update your antivirus software and perform a complete system scan to get rid of all infected files.