Web junk
By George Horton
Just because you have cookies on your computer doesn’t mean it’s hungry.
Cookies are simple text files that identify your machine, much like a barcode. You get cookies when you land on most websites in the course of your browsing. They are useful in letting websites remember who you are and what you did the last time you visited.
Although adware and spyware can make use of cookies, they are not related. Adware (software designed to deliver ads, pop-ups, etc.) and spyware (software designed to monitor your Internet usage and report back to a central computer without your knowledge) generally make their way into your computer inside of other programs. Some software authors generate revenue by making a deal with an adware or spyware companies to silently install their software during the installation of the primary program. For instance, if you install a desktop program that constantly tells you what the weather is, (not only does it use valuable computer resources thereby slowing down your machine), it also installs a program that allows it to send you ads. (The End User License Agreement (EULA) covers what happens when you install the program, but most users simply click on the 'I agree' button and go on with life). Another way developers get you is to use pop-ups that look like error messages that want you to click on the message. It will then give you instructions on how to fix the error and in so doing get you to install an unwanted program.
These sirens of the web can be very confusing to new users, and even power users get caught when they let down their guard. A new and I think unethical method of secretly installing adware, spyware and malware on computers is what they are calling a “drive-by download”. Just by visiting an unscrupulous website with lax security settings on your computer, a program can be installed without your knowledge. Anyone that has a Web site can 'tickle' the visitor's computer to see if it is vulnerable and if so, silently place a program on the unsuspecting visitor's hard drive. Fringe Web sites that deal in illegal music downloads, adult content, gambling, hacking, cracking, or any grey area content, are notorious for drive-by downloads. Please use a firewall. I recommend Free Zonealarm at www.zonelabs.com , and you should make sure that your operating system is up-to-date by going to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/  on a regular basis. Mac users can go to http://apple.com/support/ .
No matter what you do from a security standpoint, your system will pick up adware and spyware programs, so you need a program that can track down and remove these malicious installations. I recommend Free Ad-Aware from www.lavasoft.com . If you are a power user you might try Spybot search and destroy. I do not recommend it for novice users though.
When you buy a new computer you download software like there's no tomorrow, then you notice a lot of icons in your system tray, (bottom right corner of desktop toolbar). These programs start up every time Windows does. There are problems associated with that like; they take up system resources, (RAM, Processor speed, slowing down your computer, etc), and slower boot up time. You can take control however by looking for an option in the program itself that will allow you to turn off the automatic startup, and delete the program shortcut from the Windows Startup folder. (Start-All Programs-Startup-the program)
Want to have your cake and eat it too? Here are some applications that are the equivalent replacements for the Microsoft version of the product. Not only are they free, but they are also better in some areas. Internet Explorer = www.mozilla.org/products/mozilla1.x/  or www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/ , Outlook Express = www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/ , Microsoft Office = www.openoffice.org/ , MSN Messenger = Trillian Basic at www.ceruleanstudios.com/downloads/ . You can also replace Windows by using Linux. Linux is an “open source” operating system that has a couple of different flavors; Mandrake at www.mandrakelinux.com/en-us/  provides an easy-to-use version of Linux, and if you would rather have a copy of Linux on CD to look it over before installing, go to www.Knoppix.net . Look for Lindows coming soon to a screen near you.
You have no doubt been hearing about “Voice over IP (VoIP). Here is a free program called Firefly at http://www.freshtel.net/?show=home/  that integrates instant messaging and VoIP. The program is easy to use and install. After you install Firefly, you register for your own phone number that others can use to call you. You have the option of publishing the number in the firefly directory. On top of this, you also get a fully featured voice mail service. A great program for those who want free worldwide calling.
As always, surf safe out there
George Horton
www.kcnb.ca
www.newbrunswickwebdesign.com
george@kcnb.ca