Computer Info – June 2, 2004

 

This Week’s Meeting

            Download and run the Virus Removal tool from Mcafee named Stinger.  Run the Adware program.  Also look at the Word tips that are listed in this handout.  We should have time for questions and answers also.

                        The next meeting will be June 16th – and John Watkins will be here to host it.  For the July 7th meeting, we have Keith McDonald from Sanford coming in to demonstrate Windows XP’s MovieMaker program.

 

W32.Sasser Worm

            The W32.Sasser worm is spread by exploiting a security hole in the Windows XP operating system.

            A good method of detecting that you have this worm, is to do the CTRL-ALT-DEL and check how much CPU is being used. If the CPU usage is greater than 70 percent, then scroll the list of processes and see if you have a file called AVSERVE or AVSERVE32 running and using a large amount of CPU usage.  If you do, then End the Usage – this will allow you to get on the internet and have things run faster – but the next time that you start your computer, the process will be back and running.  So you should run Mcafee’s free utility program called Stinger or Norton’s free Sasser removal program.

            To patch the security hole, visit this website and download the patch ----

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS04-011.mspx

            Mcafee has a free stand-alone utility used to detect and remove specific viruses – including W32.Sasser.  You can download it at               http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

            Norton has a free removal tool for the Sasser wurm.  You can download it at

                         http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.sasser.removal.tool.html

 

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner

(  http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/index.html  )

            Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner detects a multitude of spyware, adware,  Trojan, keylogger,  and trackware components; sources of irritation that antivirus software does not deal with. The scanning process will only take about two seconds and tell you how to uninstall the invasive threat using simple step-by-step instructions or put you in contact with the vendor for the most up-to-date and safe uninstall instructions.
            Spyware and adware is often bundled with software such as Kazaa, Morpheus, Grokster, Imesh, Xolox, Gnutella and a myriad of other programs, and in many cases installed without your knowledge. Some send information about your surfing habits to ad companies, which target you with popup ads that fit your preferences.

            Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner search for CoolWebSearch, Gator, GAIN, Bargain Buddy, CommonName, FlashTrack, IPInsight and lots of others.

 

            **  Noticed this program during my surfing – have never tried it but it sounds like it is worth looking into.  **

 

Ad-Aware

(  http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/  )

            This is a free program that you can run to detect and remove many of the programs that are installed only for the purpose of checking your browsing habits.

 

Ink Cartridges – LaserMonks

(  http://www.lasermonks.com/  )

            Another place to order your ink cartridges from --- and very cheap --- order them from the monks in Wisconsin.

            Their monastery is part of the 900 year old Cistercian Order; they Abbey was founded over 75 years ago in the United States.  Monasteries are self-supporting.  A part of their day is given to some sort of remunerative work from which they support their modest living needs and then use the rest for charitable work.  They chose for their income project – toner and ink cartridges.

 

Microsoft Word Tips

How to turn off the Office Assistant

            Right click on the Office Assistant and choose HIDE.  Did you also know that if you right click on the Office Assistant, you can strange to a different icon and also animate it.

 

How do I print out a list of keyboard shortcuts to use in Word

            Boy, did they ever hide this one.

            From the TOOLS menu, choose MACRO – then MACROS.  Where it says, MACRO IN – click on the down arrow and choose WORD COMMANDS.  This create a long listing – scroll down until you find LISTCOMMANDS.  Highlight it and then click RUN.  This will then create a document that you can print (or save) that contains all of the shortcut keys that can be used in Word (it is about 10 pages !!)

 

How to delete all ‘end of paragraph’ marks

            From the EDIT menu, choose REPLACE.  Click on the MORE button and then the SPECIAL button.  Here you will find many formatting options that you can replace or delete – one of them is the PARAGRAPH MARK.  Type in what you would want to replace it with – or if you wish to delete it, then do not put anything in the Replace field.