May 1, 2008
Windows Secrets readers get a free e-book bonus
All subscribers, free and paid, are eligible through June 4 to download a 20-page excerpt from Delete This At Your Peril (left). In this hilarious book, the author replied to notorious Nigerian and Russian get-rich-quick spam, asking the perpetrators for more and more outrageous conditions. Read more »
Tune in May 6 for debate on Microsoft licensing
Craig Crossman's Computer America radio program, which is broadcast in the U.S. and Canada and on the Web, will carry a special program May 6 on the controversy over the clean-install feature in Windows Vista. You can listen in to the show and even submit questions you'd like the host to ask. Read more »
Thwart malware attacks by locking out bad sites
Bolster your antivirus, firewall, and antispyware protection by customizing the IP address manager built into Windows. Redirect ad servers and other undesirable addresses in Windows' Hosts file and update your unwanted-address list automatically for free with the HostsMan utility. Read more »
Checking IE7Pro's background gives a reader pause
It should take more than glowing reviews to convince you that a free program is trustworthy. Suspicions have been raised about the source of one of the free apps a column recently listed, but there appears to be no cause for concern. Read more »
All good things come to an end as Fred reboots
My final Windows Secrets column prompts some reflection and summation. Thirty years after getting my first PC, it's time for me to hang up my mouse. Read more »
Another reason to keep both hands on the wheel
The universe works in mysterious — and often entertaining — ways. There are a few things fate clearly doesn't appreciate: polluters, chemically imbalanced celebrities, and race car drivers who celebrate their victories before they actually cross the finish line. Read more »
Five antivirus programs ace the PC-defense test
Avira Antivir and four commercial programs come out on top in tests of 37 antivirus packages. The big surprise: only one widely known brand made the list of the best protectors. Read more »
What you need to know before you install XP SP3
Windows XP Service Pack 3 will soon be available, but that doesn't mean every IT pro should rush out and install it on all XP systems. My philosophy is that while service packs should always be installed, they don't necessarily need to be added right away. XP SP3 is no different. Read more »
