[ham] [Rhodes22-list] Dummy with computer needs help--badly

Thu Nov 27 01:24:49 EST 2003

sound like the right mix, just have to maintain them, BTW I read slow so please do not type to fast :-)

MJM

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Todd Tavares" <sprocket80 at mail.com>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2003 1:20 AM
Subject: Re: [ham] [Rhodes22-list] Dummy with computer needs help--badly


> Michael,
>
>    Yeah,  this computer has probably exceeded its useful life.  It is 3+ years old.  I have Norton systems works 2001, McAfee
firewall, virus scan professional, and a group of other McAfee products, ie instant updater, guardian, clean sweep,shreader, safe &
sound, and visual trace.
>
>    The problem is that I have not enough time or knowledge to configure them efficiently.  The firewall for instance, if I use it
to block much at all, I cannot get pages like msn.com to load even.  If I set it to filter, I get 20 windows a second asking do you
want to allow this program access, and I cant even read my e-mails.
>
>   I will probably take the dumb guy approach with the next computer and save all of my personal files to cd.  So when it gets too
bad, I can reformat the hard drive and go from there.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Michael Meltzer <mjm at michaelmeltzer.com>
> Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2003 00:30:28 -0500
> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Subject: Re: [ham] [Rhodes22-list] Dummy with computer needs help--badly
>
> > you got hit by a porn dialer(that what they call it, they started the trick), what is does is highjack your modem line and call
> > 1-900 number or a oversea call, it is called fraud.
> >
> > 1)call the phone company, they will take it off the bill, you might have to ask to speck to a supervisor, SOP is they will let
you
> > off the hook for the first time(check the current bill while you at it), if nice is not working get pushy, you might have to
remind
> > them that this is a fraud, from other complaints they should have know it was a fraud, you did not knowingly make the call, by
them
> > billing you they are a party to the fraud, willing to go to the state attorney general. ask them to place the "blocks" on your
line.
> > If you need help with the scream job, I do it for a living, conference call :-)
> >
> > 2)now for the computer, the problem you have is that any Microsoft product that is not absolutely current is not fit to be
connected
> > to the internet, frankly I think bill gates should loss a class action law suit, their is really no reason for it.
> >
> > Hopefully http://www.safer-networking.org has removed the dialer by now.
> >
> > the problem you have window98Se, is End of life, MS is no longer suporting it, then next step for you is upgrading to
windows98me,
> > but ms is going to EOL that soon also, you could upgrade to windowsXP but most like any computer that started out with windows
SE
> > does not have the power to run XP (skip win2000 in your case), for about 400$ you can upgrade to alot better assuming you can
reuse
> > the monitor, witch will include 100$ your would have to pay to upgrade the OS, might want to think about it.
> >
> > For DSL or Cable modem you beed a hardware firewall, they will also allow you to share the line with outer computers in the
house,
> > linksys, dlink, smc, etc, thay cost about 100-150$, look for the words "statefull packet filtering fallwall", zone-alarm will
alway
> > be second best to a real firewall(the virus disable zone-alarm but donot touch the hardware firewall)
> >
> > zone is ok for dialup, if no other resion that thier is nothing else.
> >
> > I like Mcaffe for my anit-virus on the decktop pc, Norton has been slipping over the years(my option).
> >
> > bottom line, must be always up to date on the OS, must be running antivirus, have a firewall. should be sueing MS or get linux
:-)
> >
> > MJM
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Todd Tavares" <sprocket80 at mail.com>
> > To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 2:39 PM
> > Subject: [ham] [Rhodes22-list] Dummy with computer needs help--badly
> >
> >
> > > HELP MJM, Mark, Will, Steve, Rik, or any of you smart computer guys, HELP!
> > >
> > >    I am ready to trash my computer and start over and do not want this particular problem to reoccur with a new computer.
> > >
> > > I have been having problems with my computer for about a month now.  I use win98SE and have slow dial-up service.
> > >
> > >    About a month ago I started getting pop-up ads trying to connect to the internet, even when I was sitting down watching TV
and
> > not near the computer.  I had no idea where they were coming from. Deleting the history, cookies, changing my security settings
> > didn't stop them.  I brought the task window and viewed the properties for the files running, but when I did a search in the
> > directies named...these files did not exist...not hidden, archive..nothing.
> > >
> > >    I have a Norton 2000 maintenance software package (Norton Works 2000?) that monitors, cleans, defrags etc.  Half or more of
the
> > Norton items wouldn't run.
> > >
> > >    I deleted all unfamiliar downloaded programs and items.....still the pop-ups came.   They only stopped after I went through
> > windows explorer and deleted or uninstalled unfamiliar files/directories.
> > >
> > >    I thought I was a genius until I opened my telephone bill and today found a $398.00 internet charge.  It seems that I had
> > picked some sort of downloaded software that dialed up and connected to the internet at 2:00 AM while I was sleeping and went to
a
> > pay site somewhere in the Camoros Islands off the coast of West Africa.  I know it wasn't wifey or the kids.
> > >
> > >    This charge was an add on from ATT.  I do not use ATT.  ATT CSR said this is happening with increasing frequency, but
refused
> > to remove the charges from my bill.
> > >
> > >    So my questions are  (yes there is a question in here somewhere) what can I do to stop this from happening again?  How can
I be
> > sure this software is not still in my computer hiding? Is there software that I can buy to prevent this?  Can my McAfee Virus or
> > Norton firewall software be configured to catch it?   Short of trashing the computer and getting a non-telephone internet
> > service...what should I do.
> > >
> > >     And a second subject,  my windows defrag keeps restarting because a file is trying to write to disk.  How can I stop this?
> > Are these two problems related? (hopefully this is an easy fix)
> > >
> > >
> > > Todd
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -- 
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> > >
> >
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> >
>
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