WinSite : safe or suspicious?

Y'all;
I'm doing what is turning out to be a 'literature
review' just trying to find a way to restore the preview
option for 'My Documents' after losing it during the
Security Update fiasco,(Feb 04) for w98/6.1; a casualty of
friendly fire, maybe. It appears that something called a
W/Excel might be involved.
Being a newbie with oldie s/ware and after yanking on
about an hundred MSNG threads, I'm no longer a borderline
paranoiac; (at least, that's what the nice man down here
at the clinic wants me to believe). My 'review' led me
to "Winsite" and before my eyes came a compendium of stuff
which looked good to me; eg. "PC Booster", "PC Security
Upgrades", etc., all attended by an array of pop-ups
which accurately subsumed what platforms I use, which I
found to be a little creepy... like somebody told me what
colour underwear I had on, and got it right! My question
is; am I in a relatively safe area there or am I asking
for trouble if take their (its) word and load up on all
their nifty stuff?
I don't need to decide right away. Besides, I've
still got to figure out how to give peace of mind to that
concerned citizen who came to my door this morning and
wanted to know if I realized how badly the cledes in my
chimney needed reburnishing.

rooster
boundary bay bc

Forget Winsite....... give the following a try instead;

www.freewarearena.org
www.freewarehome.com
www.webgrid.co.uk
www.pricelessware.org
www.filetransit.com
www.jumbo.com


--

Regards

Steven Burn
Ur I.T. Mate Group
www.it-mate.co.uk

Keeping it FREE!


"rooster" wrote in message
...
Y'all;
I'm doing what is turning out to be a 'literature
review' just trying to find a way to restore the preview
option for 'My Documents' after losing it during the
Security Update fiasco,(Feb 04) for w98/6.1; a casualty of
friendly fire, maybe. It appears that something called a
W/Excel might be involved.
Being a newbie with oldie s/ware and after yanking on
about an hundred MSNG threads, I'm no longer a borderline
paranoiac; (at least, that's what the nice man down here
at the clinic wants me to believe). My 'review' led me
to "Winsite" and before my eyes came a compendium of stuff
which looked good to me; eg. "PC Booster", "PC Security
Upgrades", etc., all attended by an array of pop-ups
which accurately subsumed what platforms I use, which I
found to be a little creepy... like somebody told me what
colour underwear I had on, and got it right! My question
is; am I in a relatively safe area there or am I asking
for trouble if take their (its) word and load up on all
their nifty stuff?
I don't need to decide right away. Besides, I've
still got to figure out how to give peace of mind to that
concerned citizen who came to my door this morning and
wanted to know if I realized how badly the cledes in my
chimney needed reburnishing.

rooster
boundary bay bc

Start with these if you do not already have them:
**It is pertinent to run the update for each program before running to be sure you
have the latest definitions.**
Download/run Cool Web Shredder from:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

For Info on Cool Web Search Variants:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Then download/install/run Ad-Aware to detect/rid of any other parasites/spyware that
may be installed. It can be obtained free from:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
After installing Ad-Aware, open it and click on the ref update to get the latest
up-to-date ref file, then run Ad-Aware and delete everything it finds.

And/or download/install/run:
Spybot - Search & Destroy:
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?l...&page=download
Run it at it's default settings until you learn an know more about it. Spybot S&D is
more of an advanced users tool and changing from the default settings can be
dangerous to the novice user. Items found in the default settings that are RED can
usually be safely removed. If you are unsure of a found item, do not remove it and
ask for help.

If you still have problems, download/run HijackThis from:
http://www.merijn.org/

Do not remove anything with it until you get advice on what to remove, HJThis will
list many apps that are needed along with the bad ones. Removing items listed
hap-hazardly without knowing what they are can/will create a royal mess. Read the
quick start here on how to create a log file that can be copied/pasted into a forum
that can provide assistance on removal of unwanted pests.
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/#quick

Then post the logs to an appropriate NG here where they specialize in
spyware/hijacker removal:
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/

It's also a good idea to have a HOSTS file to block bad sites, scroll to HOSTS File
Manager he
http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Software.htm

Another good app is SpywareBlaster which stops the badboys before they even get a
chance to install:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

As for security updates, use the above along with a good AV app and firewall, and
stick with Windows updates along with keeping the above apps updated.

--
Brian A.

Jack of all trades, Master of none.
One can never truly be a master as there is always more to learn.


"rooster" wrote in message
...
Y'all;
I'm doing what is turning out to be a 'literature
review' just trying to find a way to restore the preview
option for 'My Documents' after losing it during the
Security Update fiasco,(Feb 04) for w98/6.1; a casualty of
friendly fire, maybe. It appears that something called a
W/Excel might be involved.
Being a newbie with oldie s/ware and after yanking on
about an hundred MSNG threads, I'm no longer a borderline
paranoiac; (at least, that's what the nice man down here
at the clinic wants me to believe). My 'review' led me
to "Winsite" and before my eyes came a compendium of stuff
which looked good to me; eg. "PC Booster", "PC Security
Upgrades", etc., all attended by an array of pop-ups
which accurately subsumed what platforms I use, which I
found to be a little creepy... like somebody told me what
colour underwear I had on, and got it right! My question
is; am I in a relatively safe area there or am I asking
for trouble if take their (its) word and load up on all
their nifty stuff?
I don't need to decide right away. Besides, I've
still got to figure out how to give peace of mind to that
concerned citizen who came to my door this morning and
wanted to know if I realized how badly the cledes in my
chimney needed reburnishing.

rooster
boundary bay bc

Thanks Brian;
Thanks to advice from some of the other nobs at MSNG,
I am running Ad-aware, S.S&D (Advanced),& HJThis/Winzip. I
also have WinPatrol which I find to be quite effective and
Newbie friendly.
I'll tackle Coolwhip Shredder and Spyware Blaster
tomorrow. I've seen references to Hosts files a number of
times but I'm not clear as to what it means yet.

Quick Start; is your reference below independant of
Quick Start in HJThis?

Regards,
rooster



-----Original Message-----
Start with these if you do not already have them:
**It is pertinent to run the update for each program
before running to be sure you
have the latest definitions.**
Download/run Cool Web Shredder from:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

For Info on Cool Web Search Variants:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Then download/install/run Ad-Aware to detect/rid of any
other parasites/spyware that
may be installed. It can be obtained free from:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
After installing Ad-Aware, open it and click on the ref
update to get the latest
up-to-date ref file, then run Ad-Aware and delete
everything it finds.

And/or download/install/run:
Spybot - Search & Destroy:
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?l...&page=download
Run it at it's default settings until you learn an know
more about it. Spybot S&D is
more of an advanced users tool and changing from the
default settings can be
dangerous to the novice user. Items found in the default
settings that are RED can
usually be safely removed. If you are unsure of a found
item, do not remove it and
ask for help.

If you still have problems, download/run HijackThis from:
http://www.merijn.org/

Do not remove anything with it until you get advice on
what to remove, HJThis will
list many apps that are needed along with the bad ones.
Removing items listed
hap-hazardly without knowing what they are can/will
create a royal mess. Read the
quick start here on how to create a log file that can be
copied/pasted into a forum
that can provide assistance on removal of unwanted pests.
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/#quick

Then post the logs to an appropriate NG here where they
specialize in
spyware/hijacker removal:
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/

It's also a good idea to have a HOSTS file to block bad
sites, scroll to HOSTS File
Manager he
http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Software.htm

Another good app is SpywareBlaster which stops the
badboys before they even get a
chance to install:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

As for security updates, use the above along with a good
AV app and firewall, and
stick with Windows updates along with keeping the above
apps updated.

--
Brian A.

Jack of all trades, Master of none.
One can never truly be a master as there is always more
to learn.


"rooster" wrote in
message
...
Y'all;
I'm doing what is turning out to be a 'literature
review' just trying to find a way to restore the preview
option for 'My Documents' after losing it during the
Security Update fiasco,(Feb 04) for w98/6.1; a casualty
of
friendly fire, maybe. It appears that something called
a
W/Excel might be involved.
Being a newbie with oldie s/ware and after yanking
on
about an hundred MSNG threads, I'm no longer a
borderline
paranoiac; (at least, that's what the nice man down here
at the clinic wants me to believe). My 'review' led me
to "Winsite" and before my eyes came a compendium of
stuff
which looked good to me; eg. "PC Booster", "PC Security
Upgrades", etc., all attended by an array of pop-ups
which accurately subsumed what platforms I use, which I
found to be a little creepy... like somebody told me
what
colour underwear I had on, and got it right! My
question
is; am I in a relatively safe area there or am I asking
for trouble if take their (its) word and load up on all
their nifty stuff?
I don't need to decide right away. Besides, I've
still got to figure out how to give peace of mind to
that
concerned citizen who came to my door this morning and
wanted to know if I realized how badly the cledes in my
chimney needed reburnishing.

rooster
boundary bay bc

.

Thanks Steve;
Not that I trust my own judgement, but something
about the Winsite site made me suspicious enough to ask.
Thanks to all the help y'all at MSNG I've been able to
begin a few KB
files of my own. I've already added your contribution per
this thread.

Nanu nanu,
rooster

-----Original Message-----
Forget Winsite....... give the following a try instead;

www.freewarearena.org
www.freewarehome.com
www.webgrid.co.uk
www.pricelessware.org
www.filetransit.com
www.jumbo.com


--

Regards

Steven Burn
Ur I.T. Mate Group
www.it-mate.co.uk

Keeping it FREE!


"rooster" wrote in
message
...
Y'all;
I'm doing what is turning out to be a 'literature
review' just trying to find a way to restore the preview
option for 'My Documents' after losing it during the
Security Update fiasco,(Feb 04) for w98/6.1; a casualty
of
friendly fire, maybe. It appears that something called
a
W/Excel might be involved.
Being a newbie with oldie s/ware and after yanking
on
about an hundred MSNG threads, I'm no longer a
borderline
paranoiac; (at least, that's what the nice man down here
at the clinic wants me to believe). My 'review' led me
to "Winsite" and before my eyes came a compendium of
stuff
which looked good to me; eg. "PC Booster", "PC Security
Upgrades", etc., all attended by an array of pop-ups
which accurately subsumed what platforms I use, which I
found to be a little creepy... like somebody told me
what
colour underwear I had on, and got it right! My
question
is; am I in a relatively safe area there or am I asking
for trouble if take their (its) word and load up on all
their nifty stuff?
I don't need to decide right away. Besides, I've
still got to figure out how to give peace of mind to
that
concerned citizen who came to my door this morning and
wanted to know if I realized how badly the cledes in my
chimney needed reburnishing.

rooster
boundary bay bc


.

In what context is WinSite a problem for you?


Find out about HOSTS file. This is the one I use.
The best way is to block the server from tracking you in the first place
Under the Security Tab download the hosts.zip file.
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

If you ever use HighjackThis, make sure you install the program in C:\HJT or
c:\Hijackthis folder. Do not install to your desktop or a TEMP folder .

Do not remove any entries from the log unless you know WHY you are doing it.

HijackThis Quick Start Help
http://www.tomcoyote.org/hjt/

The Tutorial if you want to know more about the results or the .log file.
http://www.merijn.org/htlogtutorial.html
--

Henri Leboeuf
Web page: http://www.colba.net/~hlebo49/index.htm
===

"rooster" wrote in message
...
Thanks Brian;
Thanks to advice from some of the other nobs at MSNG,
I am running Ad-aware, S.S&D (Advanced),& HJThis/Winzip. I
also have WinPatrol which I find to be quite effective and
Newbie friendly.
I'll tackle Coolwhip Shredder and Spyware Blaster
tomorrow. I've seen references to Hosts files a number of
times but I'm not clear as to what it means yet.

Quick Start; is your reference below independant of
Quick Start in HJThis?

Regards,
rooster



-----Original Message-----
Start with these if you do not already have them:
**It is pertinent to run the update for each program
before running to be sure you
have the latest definitions.**
Download/run Cool Web Shredder from:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

For Info on Cool Web Search Variants:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Then download/install/run Ad-Aware to detect/rid of any
other parasites/spyware that
may be installed. It can be obtained free from:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
After installing Ad-Aware, open it and click on the ref
update to get the latest
up-to-date ref file, then run Ad-Aware and delete
everything it finds.

And/or download/install/run:
Spybot - Search & Destroy:
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?l...&page=download
Run it at it's default settings until you learn an know
more about it. Spybot S&D is
more of an advanced users tool and changing from the
default settings can be
dangerous to the novice user. Items found in the default
settings that are RED can
usually be safely removed. If you are unsure of a found
item, do not remove it and
ask for help.

If you still have problems, download/run HijackThis from:
http://www.merijn.org/

Do not remove anything with it until you get advice on
what to remove, HJThis will
list many apps that are needed along with the bad ones.
Removing items listed
hap-hazardly without knowing what they are can/will
create a royal mess. Read the
quick start here on how to create a log file that can be
copied/pasted into a forum
that can provide assistance on removal of unwanted pests.
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/#quick

Then post the logs to an appropriate NG here where they
specialize in
spyware/hijacker removal:
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/

It's also a good idea to have a HOSTS file to block bad
sites, scroll to HOSTS File
Manager he
http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Software.htm

Another good app is SpywareBlaster which stops the
badboys before they even get a
chance to install:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

As for security updates, use the above along with a good
AV app and firewall, and
stick with Windows updates along with keeping the above
apps updated.

--
Brian A.

Jack of all trades, Master of none.
One can never truly be a master as there is always more
to learn.


"rooster" wrote in
message
...
Y'all;
I'm doing what is turning out to be a 'literature
review' just trying to find a way to restore the preview
option for 'My Documents' after losing it during the
Security Update fiasco,(Feb 04) for w98/6.1; a casualty
of
friendly fire, maybe. It appears that something called
a
W/Excel might be involved.
Being a newbie with oldie s/ware and after yanking
on
about an hundred MSNG threads, I'm no longer a
borderline
paranoiac; (at least, that's what the nice man down here
at the clinic wants me to believe). My 'review' led me
to "Winsite" and before my eyes came a compendium of
stuff
which looked good to me; eg. "PC Booster", "PC Security
Upgrades", etc., all attended by an array of pop-ups
which accurately subsumed what platforms I use, which I
found to be a little creepy... like somebody told me
what
colour underwear I had on, and got it right! My
question
is; am I in a relatively safe area there or am I asking
for trouble if take their (its) word and load up on all
their nifty stuff?
I don't need to decide right away. Besides, I've
still got to figure out how to give peace of mind to
that
concerned citizen who came to my door this morning and
wanted to know if I realized how badly the cledes in my
chimney needed reburnishing.

rooster
boundary bay bc

.

"rooster" wrote in message
...
Thanks Brian;
Thanks to advice from some of the other nobs at MSNG,
I am running Ad-aware, S.S&D (Advanced),& HJThis/Winzip. I
also have WinPatrol which I find to be quite effective and
Newbie friendly.
I'll tackle Coolwhip Shredder

That's CoolWebShredder which is dedicated to ridding of installed very nasty
parasites by CoolWebSearch.

and Spyware Blaster
tomorrow.

SB stops the baddies before they can even install.

I've seen references to Hosts files a number of
times but I'm not clear as to what it means yet.

Host file lists the baddies and redirect them to a false local address 127.0.0.1 so
they will not load.

Quick Start; is your reference below independant of
Quick Start in HJThis?

Not sure what you mean here, but if it's what I think, the link takes you to a page
that explains getting the logs and posting to a support forum.

--
Brian A.

Jack of all trades, Master of none.
One can never truly be a master as there is always more to learn.