Tracking Your Internet Usage

You may have heard that one of the nation's largest ISP's, ComCast will begin limiting their customers Internet usage to 250GB per month, including both uploads and downloads. And when I say downloads, that includes everything from just viewing pages to listening to music, getting software, etc.

Personally, I find this abhorrent since bandwidth has become cheaper and cheaper. And while 250GB per month is a lot, I don't like being restricted at all, even though I am probably well under the limit, most of the time. What I am worried about is that other ISP's may start doing the same thing. In fact, I would bet on it.

If this happens to you, you will probably want a program that monitor's your Internet usage so you know how much you are using. In fact, you might just want to see how much you use, just for future reference.

There is a very good program out there for us PC users that does just that...its called "Bitmeter II," from Codebox Software...and it it free. It runs in the background and will provide you all the data you might ever want to know. What is really cool is that you can program in the amount of data limitations from your ISP and it will tell you when you are getting close.

Frankly, I hope this move by Comcast blows up in their face and we never have to deal with it again. If I ever move to an area that is served by Comcast, you can bet I won't use them. Oh, and by the way, if a Comcast customer does go over the limit, they are terminated as a customer, even if they have Comcast cable TV and Comcast IP phone service. Add another greedy corporate bastard to your list.

Re-Evaluating Microsoft OneNote

Back in April, I wrote a blog about EverNote (free) vs Microsoft's OneNote (Not Free). If you forgot, these programs are a new type of software that can best be described as notebooks...where you collect data from everywhere and put them all in one place. At the time, I really liked the possibilities of OneNote, but had problems with the way it imported or copied Web pages.

Recently, I had pause to re-evaluate because of a book I read titled, "Take Back Your Life...Using Microsoft Outlook to Get Organized and Stay Organized," by Sally McGhee. I got a lot out of this book as it approaches organization in a whole new way. I adopted a large portion of her principles in my daily life now and it is working quite well.

The book title is a bit misleading as it really is more about organizational concepts rather than Outlook, although Outlook plays an important part of her plan. However, the book also mentions using OneNote...and being somewhat familiar with OneNote, I decided the program might better fit my needs (and the book's organizational plan), more so than Outlook. I like Outlook, but its inability to share data across computers makes it impractical for me (there is a way to do it, but it costs $10 a month.).

So, I decided to stick to my Thunderbird e-mail software, continue using my current Lotus Organizer...and try out OneNote for augmentation. I downloaded a 60 day trial copy from Microsoft and began using it and learning more about it.

Without getting into too many details, I found OneNote to be just what I needed to better organize my life and keep it all in one place. In less than 30 days, I decided to go ahead and purchase the program (about $58 for the Home and Student Version).

OneNote is organized like a Notebook, even on your screen. First you have a notebook with a title...and using my examples, I have two notebooks...one for my personal life and one for my professional life. Inside each notebook is a subsection (shown by tabs at the top of the screen). I have a subsection for photography, weddings, portraits, Web site, plus others for projects I am currently working on.

Inside each subsection are individual pages on subjects relating to each subsection (shown as tabs on the right of the screen). For instance, under Weddings, I have individual pages on each wedding I am doing it with my notes and e-mail's from each client. I also created a to-do list at the top of each page to remind me what has to be done for each one.

Creating new pages is simple and the program offers many templates for this purpose. I created a couple of templates for my own use...but there are many templates included for college students, businesses, meetings, to-do lists and many decorative blank pages. Creating notes on new pages couldn't be easier as they can be inserted anywhere on a page.

I have created many to-do lists for both personal and business projects that I use everyday and can check off those items after they are completed.

Now back in April, I did write that bringing Web pages into OneNote is a bit disconcerting as it doesn't put in the paragraph spacing that is present in the original page. I still have to work around that, but this nuisance is more than offset by OneNote's other assets.

I could write a great deal more, but if what I have written here sounds like it might be helpful for you, I suggest you give it a try, by downloading the 60 day trial version from Microsoft. There is an excellent tutorial that comes with the download to help get you started.

I also suggest you might want to read Sally McGhee's book. I purchased an almost new copy from an online used bookstore for about $2.50. It has been extremely helpful.

Free Movies from IMDB

For almost as long as I have been on the Net, I've been a frequent user of IMDB.com, the best movie and TV show database anywhere. If a movie or TV show was ever made anywhere in the world, IMBD (Internet Movie Data Base) has all the info about it. I don't know how many times I've watched a movie and wanted to know where I might have seen an actor or actress before. With IMDB I can enter the movie, scan the character's name, see the actor's name who is playing the part, then click on the name to see what other films they have been in.

IMBD has amazing cross-referenced names and many other features that allow you explore in depth. And it is interactive as you can review films and even submit errors and omissions you may find.

For several years, they have carried movie clips and trailer, but now they have finally taken the final evolutionary step...they now have over 6,000 films and TV shows that you can watch for free. For instance, as I write these words I am watching "Master and Commander," the action film with Russell Crowe. It is a little dark, but I could adjust my screen if I so desired.

The good news is that it works on Firefox. The Netflix movie machine only works on Internet Explorer. There was a short commercial for Honda at the beginning of the film, but that is OK.

I'd still rather watch a movie on my large screen TV with 5.1 surround, but still it is a step in the right direction, especially for IMDB. Check it out.

XP SP3...The Curse Continues

Maybe you have run into the same situation as me: Microsoft is insisting (via the Automatic Update program) that I install Windows XP Service Pack 3 on all my computers and keeps reminding me that I need to do it. I've stated here in the recent past that it is a risky proposition and isn't really necessary.

Microsoft claims that all the issues with XP3 are fixed. Not true. I must admit that I recently decided to try it on one of my computers. Guess what...it didn't work. Fortunately, it stopped the installation in mid-stream and nothing bad happened. Whew!

But the question remains...should you do it? Very recently, the Windows Secret newsletter published an interesting article by Scott Dunn on this very topic. I am republishing it here as I think it is very relevant.

_______________________________________

Don't let XP Service Pack 3 hose your system

by Scott Dunn

From the moment Microsoft released it, Service Pack 3 for Windows XP has been the subject of almost daily reports of bugs, incompatibilities, and general headaches.

You can install SP3 with confidence — providing you take certain precautions — or, if you prefer, use Windows' Automatic Update settings to keep the service pack off your system.

Multiple problems plague SP3 adopters

Windows Secrets has been reporting problems with Windows XP's Service Pack 3 almost from the instant the patch collection was first distributed. In fact, so many readers have contacted us with questions or complaints about SP3 — the last major update to Windows XP — that we've synthesized everything you need to know about this update in a single column.
Here are the most glaring SP3-related problems:
• Internet connectivity fails when using black hole routers, which drop packets (see Susan Bradley's May 1 column in our paid content and Microsoft's Knowledge Base article 314825).
• False positives are generated by Norton Internet Security and other security applications (see my May 2 Top Story).
• Device Manager settings go missing, especially in connection with using Norton Antivirus (see Susan Bradley's column in the May 29 newsletter as well as KB 953791).
• Repeated rebooting occurs on machines using an AMD processor (see Susan Bradley's May 22 column and KB 953356).
• You can't install any new updates (see KB 943144).
• Third-party visual styles encounter problems (see the Support Alert Newsletter of June 19).

Making an upgrade decision that works for you

In light of these and other problems, you may wonder whether you ever want SP3 at all, especially given that many of its enhancements focus on networking and IT-level administration. Here's the case for SP3:
Think security: In addition to new features, SP3 — like most service packs — includes numerous security updates that were available individually in the past.
Consider support: If you think you might require Microsoft's assistance to install SP3, you need to add the service pack before April 2009, when the company will end such support. And because overall support for SP2 expires in early 2010, you'll need to have SP3 installed by that date if you want general support for XP.
Be prepared: Before you install SP3, take a few precautions. First and foremost, perform a full system backup. Microsoft has digested all recommended pre-install steps in KB 950717, which also includes troubleshooting information if all does not go well.

How to remove SP3 from your Automatic Updates

If you decide you don't want SP3, Microsoft offers a tool for suppressing the automatic installation of the service pack. The Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit won't prevent you from downloading SP3 manually from the company's site, nor will it stop you from installing the patches from a CD or DVD. All it does is stop the service pack from being installed via Windows' Automatic Updates.
In addition, the Service Pack Blocker postpones the installation for only a year from SP3's release date last April.
Surf over to Microsoft's Service Pack Blocker download page and click the Download button for SPBlockerTools.exe. Click Yes to accept the license agreement and type in the path to the folder where the files will be stored (click the Browse button and navigate to the folder if you want to avoid typing).
Now open the folder containing the extracted files and double-click SPBlockingTool.exe. A command prompt window appears for a few moments and displays the statement "Action successfully completed." Unfortunately, that doesn't tell you very much. The action the message refers to is the addition of a Registry entry instructing Windows Update not to send you SP3. (The same setting on Vista blocks SP1.)
If you want to see the code that is added, do the following:
Step 1. Choose Start, Run. Type regedit and press Enter.
Step 2. In the Registry Editor, navigate in the left pane to this entry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Windows \ WindowsUpdate
Step 3. With the WindowsUpdate icon selected in the left pane, look in the right pane for a key named DoNotAllowSP.
If you later decide you want Automatic Updates to offer you Service Pack 3, simply select the DoNotAllowSP key and press Delete (or click Edit, Delete).
If you're concerned about editing the Registry (which involves risks of its own), the Service Pack Blocker can also undo the block:
Step 1. Choose Start, Run. Type cmd and press Enter.
Step 2. At the command prompt, either type the path to the SPBlockingTool.exe file, or drag the file into the command prompt window and let Windows do the typing for you.
Step 3. At the end of this command, type a space followed by /U and press Enter.
Once again, you'll see the "Action successfully completed" message and Windows Automatic Update will no longer be blocked from installing the service pack on your system.
The other tool included with the download, SPreg.cmd, is a batch file useful for administrators who want to block the service pack on remote computers; this utility requires that the machine name be specified in the command line.
Even though most of SP3's problems should now be in the past, these precautions can help ensure that you aren't one of the service pack's installation victims.

Free Software Takes You Around the Universe

It isn't often that you get something free from Microsoft (with a few very notable exceptions), but if you have even the faintest interest in astronomy, solar system, our galaxy, or our universe, Microsoft has released a wonderful free product that brings it all to life.

World Wide Telescope - Microsoft's free software for exploring the universe uses images from the Hubble Space Telescope, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, and other prestigious space and ground-based telescopes to offer unparalleled views of the planets and stars. You can even take guided tours from real astrophysicists.

I've been using the software for only a very short time...and let me tell you, it is pretty amazing. There is so much to it that it is impossible to describe it all. One of the most impressive things is that you can enter your location, date, and time, and the program will show you your sky exactly as it is now. Then, let us say, you click on the planet Mars, it shows you the exact location of Mars at this moment in time in your sky, then brings up an image of the planet. You can zoom in and out.

One of the first things I noticed, especially when looking at "local" planets like Venus and Mars, is that they are moving on your screen. The more you zoom in, the faster they move. Of course they do in real time because the earth is rotating.

In another mode, you can bring up planets like Mars and use your mouse to zoom in and out and rotate the planet any way you desire as well as get more info on the planet.

The program has hundreds, if not thousands of images, from a variety of land-based and orbiting telescopes. For instance, you can request images of the Crab Nebula and see images of it taken with different telescopes (plus also see where it is in your sky).

As it is a free program, it deserves a look-see. And it is a lot of fun and will keep you interested for hours.

More on DNS Poisoning

In July I wrote a couple of blogs about the giant security flaw found in DNS servers. As a reminder, DNS is the Directory of Named Services...the very first place your computer goes when on the Internet to pull up the page you wish to see. It's like a phone book for Web sites. That makes it a crucial part of your Internet service.

Since my first blogs, I've learned a bit more about how this DNS security flaw works. While I won't go into excruciatingly boring details, I will give you the gist of it...a DNS server can be hacked so that when you request a certain site, you are taken to a phony site pretending to be the one you want. It is called DNS poisoning.

A hacker, in around 15 seconds, can attack a particular unpatched DNS server and change a Web site's pointer so it goes to a phony web site. Now, the vast majority of Web addresses on this one server's site are not affected...only one or a few sites are changed, which is why it is referred to as poisoning. And, of course, these sites always have something to do with money or identity theft.

Let's say a hacker attacks the the DNS server of your local ISP. In less than a minute, he changes the pointer for, lets say your bank, to point to a fake Web site that he has already created. You type in your bank's Web address and you are taken to this fake site and you put in your name and password. You have just had your identity and bank account hijacked without your knowledge.

Your ISP has no idea this is going on because the hacking method looks like nothing more than a normal request for a Web site id. Only the most sophisticated tracking methodology can be used to alert the ISP that a hack has taken place.

The good news is that there is a fix for this DNS poisoning flaw. That bad news is that the majority of folks running DNS servers (including some of the biggest ISP's like Comcast) have not applied the patch.

If you want to check if your ISP has fixed their DNS server, check out this Web site (DNS Operations, Analysis, and Research Center) recommended by CNet...or...go to the DoxPara Web site. If your test comes up bad, immediately to the OpenDNS Web site and follow their easy instructions on how to change your DNS server from your ISP's to OpenDNS. It is worth it.

I know I am repeating myself here from my previous posts on the DNS security flaw, but I cannot stress how important it is to follow these recommendations.

Two Browsers Making Headlines

There are two new browsers, both in beta, that are now the talk of the tech world...and surprise, Firefox is not one of them.

The first is Chrome, a brand new browser from the folks at Google. Yes, Google will now have their own browser. Chrome was a deep, dark secret for quite awhile, but news leaked out last week and Google decided to release a beta version to the general public. Just go to the main Google Web page and you will see a link to it.

How is it? I have not tried it yet, but early reports say that it shows a lot of promise. It's fast (almost as fast as Firefox) but does take up quite a bit more memory than Firefox. The bad news is that they have already found security flaws in it that can lead to a Denial-of-Service attack. I am sure that will be fixed soon. Remember, it is only in beta.

To learn more about it and even download it, head over to Google and watch their videos. You can also read an in-depth hands-on report on the PC Magazine Web site. The one thing you should know is that Google has the ability to track your keystrokes for everything you type in the address bar. The good news is that you can change the privacy settings and stop that from happening.

The other "new" browser making news is Microsoft's Internet Explorer, V.8, which is now in its second beta version, and is also available for download. Everything I read about says that it is not worth knowing about right now...its is horrendously slower than Firefox and is a memory hog. One Windows experts says that it does not render many Web pages correctly yet, including G-Mail.

If you would like some unbiased info about it, check out Ed Bott's in-depth report, on the ZDNet Web site.

After all my reading and research, I am sticking with Firefox.

Vista Verdict - 18 Months Later

Is Vista a good operating system or not? A year and a half after its release, the opinions about Microsoft's current operating system are as varied as they could possibly be. Now, before I go any further, I must tell you that I have never used Vista, so I can't give you my opinion. But that is not my point here. I only want to talk about perception and reality...perception being what the majority of people think, and the reality being what might really be the truth.

First...perception. In general, Vista has the perception of being too slow, too buggy and not much of an upgrade over Windows XP . So who's fault is that? I blame Microsoft. They sat back for well over a year and let critics and Apple hammer them without really fighting back. For many early adopters of Vista, it was buggy, slow and not user friendly. To this day, many new computer buyers who are forced to use Vista, still purchase and downstep to Windows XP to get back what they are used to...and they get the majority of the publicity. Let's face it, we live in a time when negativity gets far more ink than any positive stories.

And, of course, Apple has been running ads featuring Mac vs PC, strongly implying that Mac is better. While these ads are cute, they are, in fact, hit pieces against Microsoft. Combine that with the strongly implied perception that Vista is not very good, the majority of us come away with the opinion that Vista is not a good upgrade....and Microsoft has done almost nothing to change our minds.

Mostly, Microsoft's reaction has been nothing but standard public relations output saying how great it is and how many millions of product they have sold. Tech reporters and, indeed most of the public, can spot standard PR statements and take them with a grain of salt.

Now, finally Microsoft is starting to fight back. They have budgeted $300 million for an ad and PR campaign to promote the values of Vista and reclaim their reputation in the world of operating systems. They have even hired comedian Jerry Seinfeld to be their spokesman (who, by the way, formerly did some ads for Apple and used a MAC on his long-running TV show). Look for these new ads coming soon to your TV soon.

So the bottom line for perception is that Vista has too many problems to be considered a good choice for an operating system. And, as well all know, perception today is reality.

But, now, let's look at the real reality (if there is such a thing). Many, many people in the tech media, whose opinion I trust, say that Vista is a good operating system...and some of these folks are avid Mac users. They also report that while Vista looks the same as XP, what is under the hood is so much better, especially in the area of security. Their change of opinion came after the release of Service Pack 1, which fixed a lot of Vista's negative issues. But SP1 took a year to get to market...far too long. And many software manufacturers took a long time to upgrade their products to run on Vista...as did many hardware manufacturers who needed to write new drivers for Vista. So again, Vista took a perception hit.

But all tech journalists (including me) agree on one point: do not upgrade your current computer running XP to Vista. For me, his has been the rule of thumb for quite some time...upgrading do a new operating system will not only cause you problems, you will notice a slowdown of you computing performance.

But, if I ordered a new computer today, I would not be afraid if it came with Vista...as long as my new system came with a dual core processor and about 3Gb of RAM. The sad thing is that I probably would not see a much of a performance improvement over my current dual core computer. I have always said that Intel and AMD are always inventing faster processors and Microsoft always finds a way to slow them down. That is reality.

The bottom line may be that Vista is a good product today, as long as its running on a new high speed computer with lots of memory. But, I honestly believe that Microsoft will never get its reputation back until possibly the release of Windows 7, their new operating system scheduled for next year. If Microsoft puts in a super-human effort to make it good, they will again reclaim their reputation...because most of us really want them to. After all, most of us are running PC's and we want better.

The other thing they should, but won't, is come out with two very different versions of Windows, one for consumers and one for business. They claim to do that with Vista, but the differences between the two are extremely minimal. There is so much stuff they could take out for business users to make it a slimmer (and perhaps a faster) operating system.

A Better Uninstaller

Sorry that my art show schedule prevents me from keeping up with my blogging. These days I am home for two nights and on the road for five. Lately, I have been in Leavenworth where there is no Wi-Fi to get on line. But, I managed to find a few minutes to write this one for you.

Some time ago, I wrote about some of my favorite free utilities. One of them was ZSoft Uninstaller. And while it is still a very fine piece of software, I believe I have found a better one.

The uninstalling software that I now consider my favorite is the Revo Uninstaller. It also is a free utility program that you can download from either download.com or the Revo Web site. Why do I now recommend Revo?

First, it is a more thorough uninstaller as it even goes out and looks throughout your computer for any bits and pieces that a program may leave behind when it is removed...including the registration files. It then removes those remnants completely. For instance, when I removed an old version of Adobe Reader, it found many, many instances in the registry where it left remnants behind and gave me the option of removing them.

The second reason I like it so much is that it lists on your screen all the programs that are installed...far more than the Zsoft program does. When I ran it on one of my older computers, it found tons of stuff I had forgotten was even there. This makes it so easy when you finally sit down to clean out your computer.

Third, it has what is called a "Hunter Mode." This is a special, innovative feature that, with a single click of the mouse, give you the flexibility to uninstall, stop or delete a program, prevent it from loading at startup, or get information about it. Very handy.

There are also several other tools that are included with the program that you can find out about on the company's Web Site. I give this program my highest rating and suggest you download it ASAP.

Changing Drive Letters

When you add drives to your computer, including extra hard drives, CD/DVD drives, USB drives, and even memory cards from cameras, Windows automatically assigns the next available drive letter. Many times, Windows will retain these drive letters if you unplug, then re-plug in a drive. Sometimes it doesn't.

If you want some consistency in your drive lettering scheme, OR you use more than one computer and would like the same drive lettering consistency across all your computers (assuming you move portable hard drives or USB drives from one computer to another), Windows offers you a way to manage your drive letters on each computer. Here is how you do it:

1. Click on Start, then Right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.

2. Under Computer Management, click Disk Management. In the right pane, you’ll see your drives listed. CD-ROM drives are listed at the bottom of the pane.

3. Right-click the drive or device you want to change, and then click Change Drive Letter and Paths.

4. Click Change, click Assign the following drive letter, click the drive letter you want to assign, and then click OK.

I have found that once you do this, your lettering scheme will not change as Windows recognizes the name of the drive and consistently assigns the same drive letter that you have chosen. It goes without saying that you should never change the lettering of your main hard drive (C:). And, in fact, Windows will not let you do it.

As I use three computers on a regular basis, I've found that having the same drive letters assigned to my portable devices is a great help in getting my work done.

Two Important Legal Rulings

Just a brief blog today on two very important legal rulings that may affect all of us.

First, the FCC has rules that Internet Service Provider Comcast can no longer prevent users from using BiTorrent for downloading. Until recently when they reversed their policy, Comcast had blocked all access to BiTorrent downloads, which, in some cases, is used for downloading copyrighted materials like music, movies, software and other items. Comcast did not tell its subscribers that it was doing this.

Comcast had said that BitTorrent downloaders were eating up far to much of its bandwidth. The Federal Communications Commission handed Comcast a cease-and-desist order and required the company to disclose to subscribers in the future how it plans to manage traffic. This marks the first time that the Federal government has stepped in to regulate so-called Net Neutrality, which is a nice way of saying that ISP's cannot pick and choose what sites they will let their users see and how much bandwidth certain sites get.

Even though the FCC imposed no penalty on Comcast, they are going to appeal the decision.

The second ruling comes from a California judge who has ruled that Sprint cannot charge a $200 penalty fee for early termination of a cell phone contract. In addition, the judge ruled that the wireless operator should pay back $18.2 million in collected fees to consumers, a decision that could help sway decisions on similar cases throughout the country.

The preliminary decision released earlier this week is a major blow to Sprint and to other phone companies in their battle to defend themselves against angry consumers who say the fees imposed on them when they leave the companies' services are unlawful.

Verizon Wireless, which was also being sued in California, has already settled its case, agreeing to pay $21 million to settle all claims against the company. And after the decision against Sprint, there's a chance that cases against T-Mobile and AT&T could also be settled. Look for the Sprint case to be appealed.

All this comes at a time when the Federal Communications Commission is enduring intense lobbying over how best to handle the fees. Telecommunications companies have asked the FCC to regulate the fees and shield wireless companies from class action lawsuits in state courts, such as the one Sprint just lost.

Huge Yard Sale

This is one of those times I use my blog for personal gain. If you live in the vicinity of Ephrata, you may want to come to our huge yard/moving sale that we are holding today and tomorrow. We are selling a large majority of our belongings including computer equipment, stereo equipment, tons of books, furniture movies, dishes, pictures, frames, and much much more.

We have a lot of stuff to sell, so come early and often.

Our address is 238 D St. SW in Ephrata.

I promise a good high tech blog as soon as I get my computer equipment back up and running. I am selling the desk that it sits on.

Satellite Radio Merger Approved

The proposed merger between Sirius and XM, the two competing satellite radio services, has been approved by the Federal Communications Commission. Over 17 months ago, when the proposed merger was first proposed, it was predicted that the FCC would never approve this merger because of its obvious monopoly considerations. But, the two companies made several proposals that made the merger more palatable to government officials. The vote was 3-2 and was split along party lines with the Democrats in opposition.

Among the concessions made by the two companies was a 3 year price freeze, the creation of over 20 new channels dedicated to non-commercial and minority interests and a la carte pricing that will happen within three months of the final merger.

The two companies are also proposing a 50 channel a la carte package that will sell for $6.95 a month. This would work for me, and frankly, I would be pressed to find that many channels that have music, news, and sports that I would find interesting. But there are enough really good channels that make this a very viable option for me.

The a la carte packages will require a new type of receiver that is not yet on the market, so if these packages sound interesting to you, hold off for little while

The merger was rigorously opposed by the National Association of Broadcasters who fear it will hurt terrestrial radio stations, both AM and FM. The truth is that these stations are already in serious trouble. They have been hurt by the Internet, iPod-type devices, and the fact that most independent radio stations have been bought out by major broadcasting giants like Clear Channel and others. Their programming has become just plain boring and not worth listening to. Just turn on your radio and you will see what I mean. There are far more interesting radio stations on the Net and on both Sirius and XM.

As part of of my satellite TV packages, I have experienced both XM and Sirius. There is no doubt in my mind that XM offers a superior product, less talk and more music and information. Also, audiophile journalists report that XM's sound quality is definitely superior and I agree.

Stay tuned for more info.

Best of the DNS

Today, as promised, I want to tell you about changing the DNS server that your computer uses on the Internet. I will give you the Web site where the fastest, safest and and most secure DNS can be accessed and used by you...for free.

But, first, an important update on yesterday's blog. As I said, it wouldn't be long before hackers try to exploit the current flaw in DNS on servers that have not upgraded. Well, I was right...and my prediction took less than 24 hours. InfoWorld is reporting that a new attack code has been released into the wild that will allow hackers to hijack (or poison, as it is now being called) unpatched DNS servers...and from what I have been able to find out, the large majority of DNS servers in the world have not been patched. Even some of the largest Internet providers in the US have not updated their servers. Unbelievable.

Internet security experts warn that this code may give criminals a way to launch almost undetectable phishing attacks against Internet users whose service providers have not installed the latest DNS server patches. Attackers could also use the code to silently redirect users to fake software update servers in order to install malicious software on their computers...and you won't even know it.

I urge you, as soon as possible to go to the Web site I gave you yesterday, http://www.doxpara.com to see if your DNS server is safe. All it takes is the click of one button and you will find out almost immediately. If you get a bad report (or even a good one), I want you to think strongly about changing your DNS server immediately to one that will be much better...and I can tell you that this company's DNS servers were patched almost immediately.

The Web site where I want you to go is http://www.opendns.com/. This company has been around for a while and has been touted by Internet journalists and security experts as being the best. OpenDNS is easy to set up and will allow you not only replace the DNS server you are now using, but actually add additional levels of security to block phishing sites, pornographic sites, adult-related sites, video sharing sites, and even social networking sites. This means that parents can have much more control on their children's Web browsing...and the kids won't even know what you have done.

There are multiple levels of security and site blocking so you can set the level to suit your situation. You can also get statistics on your family's Web Browsing habits, set up shortcuts so you don't have to type in long web addresses, block specific Web sites, and even allow certain Web sites that might be blocked by the filtering. There are other features to numerous to name here, but you get the idea.

Set up is simple and takes only a couple of minutes. Click on the "Get Started" button on the home page and it will walk you through setting it up for your computer or even your specific router. It could not be easier. Then, you can start customizing your setup to suit your needs. Because it is probably the most up-to-date DNS server out there for blocking bad sites (especially phishing), everyone should be using it.

Now that you have finished reading my blog, get over to doxpara.com NOW!!!

Hijacking Your DNS

A woman called me recently to inquire about some of my photographic services. We talked for a while and I directed her to my Web site. While we were st ill on the phone, she tried to go there but got something else...an advertising page with me and other area photographers listed. That wasn't right, so she tried again and got another advertising page, but I wasn't on that page at all.

After some additional conversation and finding out that her son was using the computer to download music files from illegal sites, I was pretty sure that her computer was infected with a great deal of malware, one or more of which changed her DNS settings to take her to another DNS server.

Just to remind you, a DNS server (DNS stands for Directory of Names Services) is where you are first taken when you type in a Web site address, like www.corkrum.com. The DNS server then finds the IP address for that particular Web site then forwards your request to it. It's a translator of sorts so you don't have to remember those long IP address numbers.

DNS servers are located all around the world. When you signed up with your ISP, you were given a DNS address that is entered into either your computer or in your router. Usually, it is the DNS server used by your ISP. Most people have never changed their DNS settings, although they can. But there is some spyware, viruses, and worms that will change your DNS settings without your knowledge. This new DNS server that you are unknowingly using will take you anywhere it wants to to accomplish its ends...including fake Web sites designed to steal your personal information.

That is what probably happened to my potential customer...another reason why you need to have your computer protected with anti-spyware and anti-virus software designed to stop anyone who tries to hijack your computer. Also, a little common sense is needed, such as not clicking on links in your e-mail, even if it is from a friend.

But, there is another story about DNS hijacking that has made the tech news headlines quite recently. A well known expert in Internet security, Dan Kaminsky, discovered a huge security flaw in the current 20-year-old DNS system. Because of the possible ramifications of such a discovery, this flaw was kept under extremely tight security wraps until it could be fixed. Dan wrote a fix for it, then sent it out secretly to every DNS hosting service.

The problem is that not all DNS hosts have run the update. And, of course, now it is no longer a secret so some bad guys may be writing malware to hijack unpatched DNS servers. You have no control over this process as the DNS server itself would be hijacked, not your computer.

Fortunately, Kaminski has a Web site where you can check to see if your particular DNS server has been fixed. Just go over to http://www.doxpara.com and you can just click a button to see if your DNS server is safe. You can also read Kaminski's blog to read more about his research, although he will not reveal the technical details until July 24th at a major tech conference.

In my next blog, I will talk about an alternate DNS site you should be using for even greater security that will stop you from going to phishing sites, pornography sites and other bad places. Stay tuned.

Do You Trust Your ISP?

There is a scary new trend occurring in the Internet world. Some Internet Service Providers, trying to increase their bottom line revenues, are allowing third party companies to install hardware in their facilities that track user's Internet habits. Another word for this would be spying. These companies track your web page habits, search terms, and even your e-mail's looking for key words that allow them to classify you in one of their one-thousand categories. Cookies identifying you are then put on your computer without your knowledge. Then, as you browse the Net, you are targeted for advertisements based on the cookies on your computer. For this, your local ISP gets a commission.

The two biggest companies that are doing this are NebuAd and Phorm. Other companies that are doing this are Front Porch, Adzilla, and Project Rialto. Phorm's use in Britain has caused a firestorm of criticism as some of Britain's largest ISP's use them. Their method of tracking you is insidious as they redirect you to fake Web sites that makes your browser think it is the real web site. Then you get a first party cookie on you computer before you get to the real Web site you requested.

These companies are deploying their equipment to ISP's all over the US, but to whom is a mystery as they refuse to release their customer lists. Charter Communications, CenturyTel, and Wide Open West did have plans to implement these systems, but have backed off recently as this form of spying has now come under Congressional scrutiny. One senator has called it nothing less than illegal wire tapping. Its like having someone standing over your shoulder when you are using your computer and taking copious notes about what you are doing...then selling that info.

The Senate has held hearings to investigate this new intrusive way of spying on you. It turns out that a series of federal laws written back in the 1980s provide some protection for us. Some of those laws restrict deep packet inspection by any broadband provider; the Cable TV Privacy Act singles out cable providers for the most extensive opt-in regulations, meaning they must notify their customers first and let them opt in to be tracked. But today, they are using opt-out tactics meaning the customer has to contact the ISP and tell them they don't want to be tracked.

For their part, these spying companies insist they are not violating any laws...in fact, they say they are providing a useful service so users can get advertisements that fit their lifestyle. NebuAd says that it does not collect or use personally identifiable information and does not store raw data linked to "identifiable individuals." Rather, it says, it creates and continually updates anonymized profiles with information "about the user's level of qualification" for certain types of ad. But, who is to stop them from taking the next step, which is to attach your name to their collected data?

The bottom line is that your ISP, which handles everything you do on the Web, may or may not be allowing third parties to spy on you without your knowledge. To my way of thinking, this is a clear betrayal of trust and violates your right of privacy. Laws should be passed to prevent this.

Until this happens, is there a way to thwart this type of spying? You bet there is! All you need to do is encrypt your Web surfing before it leaves your computer. This is done by installing a special program that encrypts your data, then sends it to a specified proxy server, which then un-encrypts it and sends your request to its final destination. The web page you request is then sent back to you via the same proxy server that encrypts it and sends it to your computer. The data that flows through your ISP is encrypted and can't be tracked or used by anyone except you.

This type of technology does exist and if you use a laptop on public Wi-Fi networks, you should be using it anyway to prevent hijacking of your personal information. I have been experimenting with some of this software while on the road this summer and will shortly write a blog on my results. Until then, just be aware that this new type of spying is happening.

Those Damnable 3rd Party Cookies

One of the new features of Firefox V3 is its ability to reject any 3rd party cookies that some Web sites may try to place on your computer. To be truthful, this feature is not new as it was in Firefox V1.5, but then was removed in Firefox V2. Now it is back and better than ever.

A third party cookie is one that comes from some party other than than the Web page you are currently visiting. As an example, you go to a Yahoo page, for instance, and Yahoo puts a cookie in your computer to help identify you when you return to their site. This can be very handy. But, on the Yahoo page is an ad for some company and it also tries to put a cookie on your page to help track your buying habits. This would be a third party cookie.

Much of the spyware and adware that shows up on your computer when you do a spyware scan come from third party cookies. The ability to reject these cookies is an important part of your safe browsing experience. It was great to see that the feature to reject these cookies is back in Firefox. The problem is that this feature is turned off when you install Firefox 3.0. To turn it on, you need to click on "Tools," then "Options." Then click on the "Privacy" icon and you will see the "Cookies" options. Just uncheck the "Accept third-party cookies" and you are protected. That's it.

Now, every once in a while, you may need to accept a third-party cookie. For instance, Firefox add-on's Foxmarks and Google Reader will not work unless you enable third party cookies. Here is how to handle this situation: In the above mentioned section on cookies, you will see a button titled "Exceptions." Click on that button then enter the Web address of the cookies you wish to accept. For instance, for Foxmarks, you would enter "Foxmarks.com". Then click on the "Accept" button and close the window. That's it.

I strongly recommend that if you are a Firefox user that you do this today. It will really cut down those adware and spyware cookies.

Corporate Updates in the Tech World

Once again, sorry for my lack of blogs lately, but I am on the road a great deal these days, mostly without Internet access. Tomorrow I am off for Whitefish, Mt. for another show and won't be back till next week. I am hoping to get into Glacier National Park for some photo activity as it is only a few miles from Whitefish.

I seldom write about the comings and goings of tech businesses, but there is so much going on right now that I thought I would pass along some of the more interesting tidbits. Thanks to CNet and ZDNet for their help in preparing these stories.

Justice Dept Investigating Google/Yahoo Partnership

The U.S. Department of Justice plans to gather information from third parties in a probe of the advertising deal struck last month between Google and Yahoo, according to sources familiar with these types of investigations. Yahoo announced the nonexclusive partnership in June under which rival Google would supply it with some search ads, a move that could increase Yahoo search revenue but that also gives Google even more power in the market. The partnership idea came to light during Microsoft's attempt to acquire Yahoo (see below), which put more pressure on the Internet company to improve its financial results.

Microsoft to Go After Yahoo Again?

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Microsoft has been looking for partners in recent days that would help it make a new bid for Yahoo's search business. This would be Microsoft's third attempt to acquire Yahoo. A couple of months ago, Microsoft pulled out of negotiations after Yahoo would not lower their asking price, a price that Microsoft said was way too much. Then Microsoft went after Yahoo again a month or so again, not to buy the whole company but only parts of it. This time, Yahoo pulled out after making the above-mentioned deal with Google.

All this has caused huge turmoil at Yahoo, which is not in very good financial shape. Investor Carl Icahn is waging a huge proxy fight to take over Yahoo and dump its current president and board of directors, whom he accuses of bad management. Microsoft has reportedly met with Icahn recently. Even more pressure is being applied by the stock market as Yahoo share prices have dropped below $20. Microsoft had offered $32 per share when they pulled out (Yahoo wanted $37 a share). They might wind up getting it much cheaper than was originally proposed. Microsoft is trying to increase its Web business as they recognize that their current business model is out-of-date and needs to be more Web-centric.

Blockbuster/Circuit City Deal is Dead

Movie-rental chain Blockbuster has announced that it has withdrawn its $1 billion bid for consumer electronics chain Circuit City. The reason given was unfavorable "market conditions." The original deal was was thought of as one company in trouble trying to buy another company, also in trouble. Blockbuster shares jumped nearly 12 percent, while Circuit City fell 14 percent in after-hours trading following the announcement. I think that says it all. Both companies have struggled in the past year...Circuit City posted a $200 million loss near the end of 2007, and Blockbuster has been fending off Netflix's success in online video rentals, as well as the growing threat of digital movie downloads.

Circuit City to Sell Office Subscription

Microsoft has announced that Circuit City will be the first to offer a new Microsoft Office subscription service, dubbed Equipt. This service bundles a subscription version of Office Home and Student with Microsoft's OneCare antivirus product for $69 a year--just $20 more than the suggested price of OneCare alone. Microsoft is trying to tap into the fact that while many people would rather find a copy of Office that they don't have to pay for (either an older version or a pirated copy) they are willing to pay for security software. This Office version contains Microsoft Excel, Powerpoint, Word, and OneNote (no Outlook, however). Its regular purchase price runs from $100 to $165 on the Web.

Two Good Book Sites

I love to read books, as is evidenced by the number of shelves I have just filled with books. In fact, it may be time for me to get rid of some. But if books are a passion, here are two sites you might find of value.

First is GoodReads.com. If you have always yearned to be a book reviewer, this is your place. At GoodReads, you can rate your reads and write reviews about all the books you have read or are currently reading. And you can follow reviews of people you know or even some strangers whose book tastes are similar to yours. There are lots of good book reviews to read and you can choose who you want to follow. I have just started doing a few reviews and plan to continue when I can find more time. Writing two blogs and traveling makes it a little more difficult, but I am not complaining. Membership is, of course, free.

The second site is BookMooch.com. Quite simply put, this site lets people trade their used books for the only cost of postage. If your book shelves are overflowing, this might be a good way to get rid of some while getting new reads for very little cost. Membership is free. Every time you give someone a book, you earn a point and can get any book you want from anyone else at BookMooch. And remember, you can get a lower postage charge when sending books. Currently, the site has 70,000 members with an inventory of 1/2 million books. You might find something of interest there.

Here is a bonus link for you...the Morton Grove Public Library (wherever that is) has put together a very large list of Web sites for book lovers. It's worth a look.

Mastering your Bookmarks with Firefox 3

I read an interesting article today that I thought I would pass along. It is entitled "Five Ways to Master Bookmarks in Firefox 3" and is on the CNET Web site. I recommend you read it if you use Firefox, and maybe even if you don't as you might find yourself changing browsers. There are some things in the article that I was not aware of. Did you know, for instance that you can click on the star at the far right of the address bar to create an instant bookmark? Pretty cool.

By the way, Mozilla's attempt to set a new Guinness record for the most downloads in a 24 hour period produced almost 8.5 million downloads of the new browser on the day of its release a week ago. It is a record, mainly because there was no record in that category before. So Mozilla set the bar.

And speaking of new browsers, Opera is now out with their latest version, 9.5. It is a very good browser and would be my choice if there wasn't a Firefox. I like many if its features. Both browsers are definitely better than Microsoft's Internet Explorer, and far more secure. Check out the latest version at www.opera.com.

FYI - new blogs will be fewer in number for a while as I have started the Art Show Season. But, as always, I will try. My first show was a tremendous success, which surprised me given the state of our economy and gas prices.