Your Community Link to the Web.
 Email is really taking off in our area. However, quite a few people are using Outlook express or similar “lite” programs. Outlook express is a “lite version” of Outlook. An email program bundled with Microsoft Office. Lite versions do not have all the features that the “full versions” will have like being able to backup emails, export and import files and addresses. I especially like being able to use a word program for email. Other features would be the use of the “send to” button, and being able to “drag and drop” for “file transfer” and “inserting”. With the full versions, you can create folders for every occasion, and save them anywhere on your computer. Some email programs have access to other programs features. For example, “PocketKnife Peek”, is neat little free program, that will let you look at an email from behind to see what is supposed to happen when it is opened. It is wise to read the help files. A full email program will cost money, but it is not as much as you think, and you only buy it once. In addition, if you support them they will look after you. You will be disappointed in the long run if you expect too much from the express or lite programs.
Many people are getting separate credit cards, with low limits, ($500.00-$1,000.00), to be used just for online purchases. A trend, that should give more confidence to the shoppers and sellers who are benefiting from the world wide yard sales and auctions.
Backing up your files is one of the most important parts of maintaining your computer’s integrity. It sometimes becomes necessary to reload your operating system. Traditionally I have reloaded once a year. This is the ultimate “refresh”. Even Windows is not infallible. When you have backups of your information, your can reload in short order. The best way to back up your data, in my opinion, is to burn it onto a CD. CD Burners are very affordable now and are very easy to use. The newer “Operating Systems” are able to backup onto their “hard disk”, and can even use a “Restore” function to restore their machine to the last known good configuration. Sweet.
Windows users should regularly go to “Windows Update”. Look for it on your “start menu”. The first Service Package for Windows XP has just been released, as well as a security update for Internet Explorer.
The following kernel32.dli article has been getting a lot of hits lately, so I am adding the following links to try and help.
Go to; http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/backdoor.netdevil.html
or;
http://www.freddys-utilities.co.uk/netdevil.txt
both give you good information on how to remove the intruder.
If you have zonealarm, see if it is in the program list. Don't remove it just block it. (if you don't know what a program accessing the net is, you can block it to see what it affects)
If you do not have zonealarm, you can download it at www.zonelabs.com  Try Adaware. At www.lavasoft.com  this will check your registry for spyware. If you can't find it and remove it, you will need to reload your operating system Actually, it would not be a bad idea to reload (setup) your OS anyway
Take care, and good luck
George