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Summaries
Get an exclusive excerpt by Fake Steve Jobs
There are only a few more days for our readers to get an exclusive excerpt from the new paperback edition of Options: The Secret Life of Steve Jobs. Written under the pseudonym of Fake Steve Jobs (who's been revealed as Forbes editor Daniel Lyons), the book is an uncensored fantasy inside the mind of one of the world's showiest CEOs.
Time for a summer break — see you on Sept. 4
Introduction by Brian Livingston
To give our writers and staff a rest, we skip publication during the last two weeks of August. That means this is the last newsletter you'll see until Sept. 4, but if anything important comes up, we can always send out a short news update.
You'll get a new Windows Update, like it or not
Top Story by Scott Dunn
Microsoft will soon install a new version of Windows Update on your computer, even if you've set your PC not to download and install any updates. With such a potential for confusion, it's a good idea for you to know what's going to be done to your machine by this important but often misunderstood tool.
The true tech challenge: keeping it simple
Known Issues by Dennis O'Reilly
Every significant Windows patch is accompanied by a string of conflicts with this or that product or function. A reader asks whether there's still room for an uncomplicated approach to everyday PC care and feeding.
Groove is in the history books
Wacky Web Week by Katy Chenoweth
Most of us remember John Travolta's dynamite disco routine in Saturday Night Fever, and who could forget Michael Jackson's epic moonwalk? Elvis and his gyrating hips simultaneously scandalized and captivated his audiences, and the Brady Bunch's family-friendly fandangos charmed viewers worldwide.
Best alternatives to Microsoft Outlook, part II 
Best Software by Scott Spanbauer
A free, open-source app and a low-cost commercial program give Outlook, Microsoft's personal information manager (PIM), a run for its money. They may not be practical for organizations that rely on Microsoft Exchange Server, Outlook's back end, but these two programs have much to offer typical PC users.
Bootable rescue CDs can fix your damaged Windows
Pc Tune-up by Mark Joseph Edwards
When your system is so corrupt with malware that it becomes unstable or won't even boot, a bootable rescue CD can give it the scrubbing it needs. The free anti-malware rescue CDs I describe today have all the tools you need to remove viruses and restore Windows' health.
IE security holes lead Microsoft's patch parade
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
As usual, patching the browser could lead to conflicts with third-party security programs. Still, now that malware can be found on legitimate Web sites, you need to install the latest Internet Explorer patches right away.
Get an exclusive excerpt by Fake Steve Jobs
We've obtained for our readers an exclusive excerpt from the new paperback edition of Options: The Secret Life of Steve Jobs. Written under the pseudonym of Fake Steve Jobs (who's been revealed as Forbes editor Daniel Lyons), the book is an uncensored fantasy inside the mind of one of the world's showiest CEOs.
Find any Support Alert article from your browser
Introduction by Brian Livingston
If you remember reading an article from the Support Alert Newsletter — but you can't recall the date — there's a better way than random browsing to find what you seek. You can now download our free browser plug-in, which adds Support Alert as a database you can query from the search bar of IE 7 and Firefox.
Free tools deactivate unsafe ActiveX controls
Top Story by Scott Dunn
Don't count on Microsoft to shut down ActiveX vulnerabilities when they arise, as Microsoft Access users learned last Patch Tuesday when the company had no fix to offer for a leaky ActiveX plug-in. ActiveX security holes appear all the time, so you need these tips and tools to keep your system safe from flawed or malicious Internet Explorer add-ins.
Product reviews are a change for the better
Known Issues by Dennis O'Reilly
The integration of Windows Secrets and Support Alert puts more in-depth hardware and software evaluations at your fingertips. Expect the prime categories in our Software Sidebar to be updated every few months with reviews of the newest versions of the programs you rely on.
There's nothing subliminal about this message
Wacky Web Week by Katy Chenoweth
Throughout history, many great scientific minds have worked to unravel the male psyche. Freud and his ilk devoted entire lifetimes to understanding what goes on inside the mind of the common man... yet with one fell swoop, this hilarious commercial spoof has captured the very essence of the male attention span.
The two most useful utilities on my PC
Best Software by Ian "Gizmo" Richards
I have dozens of utilities installed on my PC — but I'd like to tell you about two that are not well known, yet top the list of my favorites. These specialist tools are not for everybody, but if they apply to you, discovering them is going to make your day.
E-mail form letters save you time and trouble
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
Do you find yourself sending out the same basic kind of e-mail message every day — or worse, many times a day? A nifty-but-little-known feature in Windows XP and Vista lets you generate a "form letter" message with just one click.
'Tis the season for emerging PC threats
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
It's the middle of summer in the northern latitudes, and in the security field that means new exploit techniques. As several key security conferences get under way and students have extra time for research, the pace of threat innovations picks up.
Get an exclusive excerpt by Fake Steve Jobs
We've obtained for our readers an exclusive excerpt from the new paperback edition of Options: The Secret Life of Steve Jobs. Written under the pseudonym of Fake Steve Jobs (who's been revealed as Forbes editor Daniel Lyons), the book is an uncensored fantasy inside the mind of one of the world's showiest CEOs.
Get the most out of your subscription
Introduction by Brian Livingston
Since the merger of the Support Alert Newsletter and the Windows Secrets Newsletter on July 24, we've received a lot of great feedback from our readers. To give you as much value as we can, we've put together today's special "news update," although Windows Secrets doesn't normally publish a newsletter on the 5th Thursday of the month.
Don't get burned by driver-update scams
Top Story by Scott Dunn
Although you can find free tools to help keep Windows and your other software up-to-date, you'll have to pay to get the best tool for scanning your system's drivers and downloading the updates you need. I found some good driver updaters but also one full-on scam — Prosoft3D's Driver Update 5 — that simply points you to Windows' Device Manager and tells you to do the job yourself.
Get the best firewall, then scan your PC — free
Best Software by Ian "Gizmo" Richards
Firewalls play a vital role in defending your computer from attack and form an essential part of your computer's security setup. But is your firewall actually doing its job? Are you sure it's effective?
Best alternatives to Microsoft Outlook, part I
Best Software by Scott Spanbauer
If you're longing to leave Outlook, alternative e-mail and calendar programs could lighten the load on your wallet — and on your PC. At least one free personal information manager replicates most of Outlook's features and adds some handy tricks users of Microsoft's PIM can only dream of.
There's always gotta be a way out!
Wacky Web Week by Katy Chenoweth
Have you ever gotten yourself stuck in a tight spot? Never fear! As this hilarious commercial illustrates, if you look hard enough, you're bound to find a backdoor! This fly gives us all an inspirational (if a bit irregular) look at the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel."
Support Alert has merged with Windows Secrets
Ian "Gizmo" Richards, left, the former editor of the Support Alert Newsletter, is the new senior editor of a larger, combined publication: Windows Secrets & Support Alert. (This unwieldly name will be shortened after a transitional period.) Merging the two publications into a single effort gives us more free time to write new stuff for you, our readers. All of the old Support Alert articles are now posted at WindowsSecrets.com. See today's Introduction for details.
New ways to access all Support Alert information
Introduction by Brian Livingston
The Support Alert Newsletter merges today with the Windows Secrets Newsletter, creating an e-mail publication with a combined circulation of more than 400,000. For you, the best part is that all the great tips, reviews, and news items from the old Support Alert are now posted in one place at WindowsSecrets.com — and we've worked hard to make our entire library of content easy for you to browse and search.
Yahoo Mail's makeover gives it the webmail edge
Top Story by Scott Dunn
As free Web-based e-mail services get better and better, you may soon be able to leave your desktop e-mail apps behind. But which of the Big Three webmail services — Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo Mail — has the features that meet your needs?
Yes, there is life after e-mail newsletters
Langalist Tips by Fred Langa
After more than 30 years of battling tech-writing deadlines, I found last May that it was time for something completely different. A hair-raising encounter with a tornado is just one of the adventures I've experienced since then.
Schwinn Lake? Gears-elle? Ballet on a bicycle
Wacky Web Week by Katy Chenoweth
The X Games have nothing on this woman! Watch as she tears up the hardwood on her bicycle, which at times seems to be an extension of her body. This incredible clip will leave you in awe of the sheer strength, balance, and skill required for these feats of two-wheeled wonder.
Reduce spam using free software
Best Software by Ian "Gizmo" Richards
Today I'm going to show you a way to reduce to almost nothing the quantity of spam e-mail you receive using free products and services. The technique I'll outline will not only zap your spam but will let your real mail pass unhindered while imposing a minimal processing load on your PC.
New tactics to keep mail servers spam-free
Pc Tune-up by Mark Joseph Edwards
Quirks in the mailer programs spammers use to deliver mail can be turned against the senders. This week, I share with you a little-known technique you can use to block a lot of spam before it ever reaches your mail server.
Ill effects of Microsoft's DNS patch linger on
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
The new version of Check Point's ZoneAlarm firewall solves one problem, but Windows Small Business Server 2003 still needs a patch for the DNS patch. A change in how Windows' DNS client chooses ports caught ZoneAlarm's developers — and users — by surprise.
Support Alert is merging with Windows Secrets
The Support Alert Newsletter will merge with the Windows Secrets Newsletter on July 24, creating a combined readership of more than 400,000 (see my Introduction column). The editor of Support Alert, Ian "Gizmo" Richards, has prepared for us a special get-acquainted gift: 9 Free Programs Every PC Should Have, an all-new e-book.
New readers join us from Support Alert on July 24
Introduction by Brian Livingston
It's not every day that we welcome 50% more readers to our ranks, but that's what we'll be doing on July 24 when 150,000 Support Alert Newsletter subscribers join us. As I announced on July 9, our new newsletters are merging, and the combined audience will exceed 400,000 active Windows users, with even more great tips that we can pass along to you.
Protect yourself from software-vendor 'snarketing'
Top Story by Scott Dunn
These days, even the software we like often comes with hidden annoyances designed to help the vendor at the expense of us poor customers. Here are five examples of sneaky marketing — snarketing, as I call it — and what you can do to mitigate the practice's ill effects.
SAN + WS = the info Windows users need
Known Issues by Dennis O'Reilly
Adding Ian "Gizmo" Richards to the top of the Windows Secrets roster puts the Web's best software reviews, tips, and Windows news in a single spot. Whether you subscribe for free or for pay, this is the place to look each week for the information you need to keep your PC humming.
So that's why they're called flip-flops!
Wacky Web Week
Summer is here! But you may want to think twice before jumping into your favorite pair of sandals. Check out this hilarious clip of a friendly prank gone terribly, well... right!
The top Firefox security and privacy add-ons
Best Software by Becky Waring
Stay safe and protect your privacy when you're on the Web by using these top-notch browser extensions. Block malicious Web sites, stop annoying ads, control your cookies, cover your tracks, and manage your passwords securely with this collection of free Firefox add-ons.
Microsoft presents: Attack of the Killer Updates
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
Microsoft set the standard for poorly implemented, intrusive, duplicitous, and all-too-frequently destructive updates disguised as security patches. Be of good cheer: Several software heavyweights are following in the footsteps of the 'Softies, peddling snake oil and snoopers dressed up in security-patch clothes.
Block a serious threat to your DNS servers
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
A new vulnerability has been discovered in the basic design of the Web's Domain Name System, prompting almost all of the DNS software vendors in the world to release a patch. There are a couple of different ways to determine whether your DNS servers are vulnerable to this widespread problem.
Support Alert is merging with Windows Secrets
The Support Alert Newsletter, a highly useful e-mail periodical, will soon merge with the Windows Secrets Newsletter to create a much larger publication, as I explain today in my Introduction column. The editor of Support Alert, Ian "Gizmo" Richards, has created for us a special get-acquainted gift: 9 Free Programs Every PC Should Have, an all-new e-book.
Say 'hi' to 150,000 new Support Alert readers
Introduction by Brian Livingston
As I announced in a special bulletin on July 9, the Windows Secrets Newsletter will grow tremendously when the Support Alert Newsletter merges with us on July 24. The 150,000-strong readership of Support Alert, when merged with our existing subscriber base, will increase our circulation to more than 400,000 — and you can get a fantastic freebie if you act now.
TechSpot battles Google for best PC support info
Top Story by Scott Dunn
When your computer is behaving strangely, you want answers and you want them in a hurry. My hands-on tests evaluated a dozen searchable sites to find the ones that get you the answers you need.
AVG antivirus program garbles HTML e-mails
Known Issues by Dennis O'Reilly
You can change a single setting in AVG's free antivirus program to keep it from making the Windows Secrets Newsletter and other HTML e-mail appear as garbled text. Readers lead us to the source of a glitch that prevented Outlook, Thunderbird, and other e-mail clients from displaying Web mail.
Even Death Stars can't find good kitchen help
Wacky Web Week
If you've already seen it — it's been viewed more than 4 million times on YouTube — it's worth watching again: Eddie Izzard's take on Darth Vader trying to grab a bite for lunch qualifies as a true YouTube classic.
The best browser for safe and speedy surfing
Best Software by Scott Spanbauer
If you spend much time on the Web, you need more protection and better performance than you get from Internet Explorer 7. You have several alternatives to choose from, but only one offers the top rendering speed, the best compatibility with major sites, and the most customization options.
Weave a more powerful Web experience
Pc Tune-up by Mark Joseph Edwards
Firefox is powerful, and thanks to interesting new technologies under development by the Mozilla Foundation, it's slated to become even more potent. Take a peek at the future of browsing via a new tool that'll let you and others get more out of hosted services — and possibly develop Web services of your own.
Latest security patch knocks out ZoneAlarm
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
Check Point's security software conflicts with a new Microsoft DNS patch, necessitating a workaround to get your Internet connection operating again. Resetting ZoneAlarm's firewall database or reinstalling the application will get your PC back online.
A bigger, better newsletter with Support Alert
by Brian Livingston
I'm extremely proud to say that Windows Secrets is joining together with the Support Alert Newsletter, a major tech publication. When our two newsletters merge on July 24, we'll reach over 400,000 subscribers in total and add new content from one of the world's best sources of Windows software reviews.
The DIY guide to PC troubleshooting and repair
Top Story by Scott Dunn
The next time your computer acts up, drop the mouse, put down the phone, and use this troubleshooting checklist to find and fix the problem. Whether it's a slowdown, some strange behavior, or a total crash, a few basic troubleshooting tricks and tools may be all you need to get your PC back to peak performance.
Outlook corrupts HTML to text for some readers
Known Issues by Dennis O'Reilly
If you're unable to view the newsletter in HTML format, a fix is in the works. We've received reports from a handful of readers that Microsoft Outlook has spontaneously converted our HTML content into an unreadable form of plain text, and we're on the trail of a solution.
A suit you can recycle for spare change
Wacky Web Week
Most people return their used cans to the recycle center for pocket change. This guy uses them to enhance his wardrobe.
From paper to searchable PDF on the cheap
Best Software by Becky Waring
You don't have to shell out $500 for software that converts scanned paper documents into searchable PDF or Office files. One of the three programs I tested is the clear winner in turning all your scanned images into fully indexed documents.
Seven uncommon keyboard shortcuts you'll love
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
I have used Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+X, and other standard shortcut-key combinations for so long they now live in my subconscious. Recently, I discovered a handful of obscure-yet-useful keyboard shortcuts that I now use on a daily basis, and while you may already know about one or two of 'em, I bet a few of my favorites will come as a surprise to you.
Free tool identifies unsecure ActiveX controls
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
If you use Internet Explorer 7, some of your ActiveX controls may make your system susceptible to a drive-by browser attack. Now you can find and disable these unsecured controls by running a free program, though you may not want to disable all of them.
Six days left to get secret Internet history
On the Way to the Web: The Secret History of the Internet and Its Founders (photo, left) won't be available in stores for weeks. But Windows Secrets readers can get the best chapters now, until July 2. —Brian Livingston, editorial director
Save time by creating folders in bunches
Top Story by Scott Dunn
Simplify file management by generating new folders from your right-click menu that automatically have the current date in the folder name. Run a four-line batch file from your context menu that creates whole hierarchies of folders that you name from the Command Prompt.
Readers reach out to help other readers
Known Issues by Dennis O'Reilly
Troubleshoot Windows glitches, show menus in Vista's Explorer, and supercharge your OS with a low-cost shareware tool. There's lots of support for development of a true Windows Secrets reader-to-reader forum, as shown by your reaction to last week's report on Brian's meeting with readers in China.
The only thing I think about more often than beer
Wacky Web Week
First impressions are always important. It's easy to be judged based on the brand of your shoes, the style of your clothes, or the scent of your cologne. According to this video, men now have one more thing to be judged on.
Get top-flight antivirus without spending a dime
Best Software by Scott Spanbauer
Protect yourself from viruses and other online threats while skipping the annual subscription fees. These three antivirus freebies may lack some of the costly bells and whistles (and associated system slowdowns) of commercial alternatives, but they stop malware unobtrusively.
Strengthen your privacy in Firefox 3
Pc Tune-up by Mark Joseph Edwards
Firefox does a good job of protecting your privacy online, but at least one of the new features in Firefox 3 might leave you exposed. A simple configuration tweak lets you browse in private, and a few great add-ons give the browser even more power.
The clock is ticking for service-pack testers
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
If you're using the release candidates for Vista SP1 and XP SP3, you face a June 30 deadline to convert to the final versions. For most beta testers, the transition is seamless, but some Vista SP1 testers may not be able to uninstall the service pack.
Get the secret history of the Internet
On the Way to the Web: The Secret History of the Internet and Its Founders (photo, left) won't be available in stores for weeks. But Windows Secrets readers can get the best chapters now.
Dig deeper to reveal the secrets of Firefox 3
Top Story by Scott Dunn
The latest version of the leading IE alternative is fresh off the assembly line, with revved-up performance and handy new features. Firefox 3's about:config settings let you fine-tune the browser to the perfect mix of speed and security.
There's more than one way to transfer big files
Known Issues by Dennis O'Reilly
Readers respond to Becky Waring's review of file-transfer services in her inaugural Best Software column with their own favorite transfer methods. File-splitting programs and alternative file-transfer services take the sting out of moving multi-gigabyte media files.
These chocolate eggs are definitely on a roll
Wacky Web Week
Who doesn't love a Cadbury Creme Egg? With their rich, chocolate shells and their caramel centers, they are a true seasonal classic.
The best deals for sending faxes online
Best Software by Becky Waring
Online fax services let you ditch your landline and fax machine and fax from anywhere via e-mail or the Web. The paperless office is not quite here, but three services in particular offer low-cost solutions that save a forest full of trees.
Help shape the future of the Windows interface
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
Windows guru Long Zheng has undertaken an important project that may bring some consistency to the user interface in the next version of Windows. You can contribute by voting on the most egregious problems in the current Windows user interface in hopes that Windows 7 shows some improvements. Maybe.
The WS Security Baseline: your hardware firewall
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
Your hardware firewall is your primary security defense, but today's products are also differentiated by their performance and functionality as wireless access points. I'll be updating the Windows Secrets Security Baseline over my next few columns, and today I focus on your first line of defense: the hardware firewall.
Get the secret history of the Internet
On the Way to the Web: The Secret History of the Internet and Its Founders (photo, left) won't be available in stores for weeks. But Windows Secrets readers can get the best chapters now.
Get our free search add-ins for Firefox and IE 7
Introduction by Brian Livingston
We're doing our part to make it easy for you to get the technical info you need about Microsoft Windows. We've developed for your use, absolutely free, two browser search add-ins that let you fetch articles not just from WindowsSecrets.com but also from an expert set of Windows-specific sites on the Web.
Free add-ons teach Windows Explorer new tricks
Top Story by Scott Dunn
You can choose from dozens of file managers to replace Windows Explorer — some of them are even free — but only the original is so closely integrated into the OS. Before you give Explorer the boot, check out some first-rate add-ons that turn Windows' tired file browser into the information manager of the future.
'Hi, I'm popping corn — can I call you back?'
Wacky Web Week
Microwaves have long been the standard appliance for popping popcorn. But what if you want to avoid those harmful rays that supposedly shrink your head if you stand too close? Or you may be somewhere with no access to a microwave and absolutely need your popcorn fix right this minute.
Two top defraggers speed your disk accesses
Best Software by Scott Spanbauer
Free, easy-to-use disk defragmenters and optimizers let you consolidate scattered files to maximize the performance of Windows XP and Vista. One program lets you select for yourself which files to reunite and move to the fastest areas of your drive, while the other utility makes the disk-optimization choices for you.
How reliable are antivirus lab tests?
Pc Tune-up by Mark Joseph Edwards
Several different labs conduct tests that pit antivirus solutions against various sets of malware circulating in the wilds of the Internet. Now questions are being raised about the effectiveness of the tests in representing real-world PC threats and how accurately they reflect an antivirus program's ability to prevent infections.
Windows XP Service Pack 3 gets official fixes
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
The repeating reboots caused by XP SP3 on non-Intel systems have been quelled, but there's still no rush to install the OS's last service pack. Symantec's FAQ addresses concerns with both XP SP3 and Vista SP1, while Microsoft's Knowledge Base article avoids singling out AMD processors.
Get the secret history of the Internet
Bonus Download
On the Way to the Web: The Secret History of the Internet and Its Founders (photo, left) won't be available in stores for weeks. But Windows Secrets readers can get the best chapters now.
Hong Kong readers: meet with me on June 15
Introduction by Brian Livingston
For many moons, I've wanted to hold a series of free seminars for Windows Secrets readers in various cities of the world. I don't really have an entire series worked out yet, but I'm doing kind of a trial run by offering a meeting with newsletter subscribers on June 15 in a single city: Hong Kong.
Outlook Web Access corrupts HTML attachments
Top Story by Scott Dunn
The "Safe HTML" filter in Microsoft's Outlook Web Access for Exchange Server deletes code from HTML attachments without warning. Microsoft claims the filtering protects users by removing malicious elements, but the deletions can ruin a collaborative project and the "feature" isn't present in any other Microsoft mail products.
XP Service Pack 3: not yet ready for prime time
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
The growing list of XP SP3-related glitches being encountered by users should give pause to anyone thinking of downloading and installing the update. If you've kept XP patched from week to week, there's presently no clear advantage to implementing the OS's latest service pack, though you'll want to do so eventually.
You want me to spell what?
Wacky Web Week
As exciting television goes, spelling bees aren't more than a notch or two above watching Congressional debates on CSPAN. They may lack the grimaces of mixed-martial-arts contestants, but in recent years the pre-teen contestants of the Scripps National Spelling Bee have supplied some high-level drama — and hilarious bloopers.
Transfer mammoth files reliably for free
Best Software by Becky Waring
File-transfer services make it easy and relatively reliable to exchange multi-gigabyte files with family, friends, or co-workers. Xdrive and TransferBigFiles top the list of free file-transfer services, though each of the two imposes some limitations.
The hardware way to boost your productivity
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
You might think that my favorite PC timesaver would be a souped-up computer, a super-secret utility, or a settings tweak that makes Windows run at warp speed. Nope. The tool that speeds my workday like no other is my ancient, indestructible Northgate keyboard — and while these babies have been out of production for years, I know how you can get your hands on a close approximation.
Take the mystery out of network-traffic analysis
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
The free TCPView utility shows which programs are responsible for which network connections. Free up bandwidth and stay safe by identifying the network links that you don't need or that jeopardize your security.
XP Service Pack 3 problems require a news update
Introduction by Brian Livingston
We usually skip publication on any 5th Thursdays that come around (such as May 29), but serious problems involving Service Pack 3 for Windows XP have made us work overtime to bring you today's special report. Contributing editor Susan Bradley has written an out-of-cycle Patch Watch column specifically designed to bring you the facts. She encourages you today (as she's stated in previous columns) to wait on installing XP SP3 if you don't have some urgent need for it.
Norton software conflicts with Windows XP SP3
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
Antivirus software from Symantec Corp. may cause the installation of Service Pack 3 for XP to corrupt the Windows Registry by adding unnecessary keys. Symantec advises users to disable the SymProtect security feature of its products before applying XP SP3.
A numbers game set to a catchy tune
Wacky Web Week
Math. For some, it's nothing but numbers and endless frustration. For others, it's a universal language. And for a few gifted individuals, math is a reason to sing.
All readers are eligible for our bonus download
Bonus Download
You have only until June 4 to get our exclusive, FREE, 20-page excerpt from the hilarious new book Delete This At Your Peril (left). Maxim magazine says the author's e-mail exchanges with Nigerian spammers are "brilliantly deranged."
XP SP3 triggers false positives in security apps
Top Story by Scott Dunn
Installing Windows XP Service Pack 3 can cause your anti-malware programs to report the presence of Trojans and keyloggers that aren't there. The false positives have blocked important system files in some cases, and in others they have misled users into reinstalling XP.
Readers offer more ways to keep XP fresh
Known Issues by Dennis O'Reilly
A better way to clear out temp folders, a great all-purpose Windows cleaner, and more free online storage top your suggestions for giving XP a new lease on life. The question remains: Who benefits when Microsoft's only real competition is with itself?
Mobile phones have come a long, long way
Wacky Web Week
Who hasn't rummaged through their pants pocket or purse looking for their ultra-sleek, super-tiny cell phone and longed for a return to the days when using a mobile phone meant lugging around a 2-pound battery pack and holding a brick to your face?
Top free tools for rooting out rootkit spies
Best Software by Scott Spanbauer
An easy-to-use rootkit detector and cleaner makes trapping this sneaky spyware a snap. Whether you're comfortable sorting through your PC's processes and Registry keys manually or you prefer to have someone else do the sleuthing, there's a rootkit detector for you.
Testing the effectiveness of rootkit removers
PC Tune-Up by Mark Joseph Edwards
Several new anti-rootkit tools have been released recently, and existing security tools have been enhanced to protect your PC from rootkit infection. Now third-party tests reveal which rootkit removers do the best job of protecting your system.
HP recommends against installing Windows XP SP3
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
Both HP and Microsoft are working to fix problems causing AMD-based PCs to reboot repeatedly after XP Service Pack 3 is loaded. In the meantime, security expert Dr. Jesper Johansson has beaten the companies to the punch by devising a tool that ensures AMD machines can be patched.
All readers are eligible for our bonus download
Bonus Download
You have only until June 4 to get our exclusive, FREE, 20-page excerpt from the hilarious new book Delete This At Your Peril (left). Maxim magazine says the author's e-mail exchanges with Nigerian spammers are "brilliantly deranged."
Steal our links — no, really, we mean it
Introduction by Brian Livingston
This week, we've made it easier for you to send your friends and associates links to all the topics we publish. You can even send your buddies — who aren't Windows Secrets subscribers at all — links to some of our paid content.
Keep XP fresh until Windows 7 arrives
Top Story by Scott Dunn
When Windows XP was released, wireless routers were rare, few cell phones supported e-mail, and YouTube was just a gleam in some PayPal employees' eyes. But like a fabled perpetual motion machine, XP keeps on going and going — and if you follow some simple guidelines, the OS will keep running in top condition until Vista's successor is ready in 2010.
Windows rocks! The OS plays a Who classic
Wacky Web Week
The next time someone tells you Windows is no fun, point them to this video of the OS's version of a classic by one of the greatest rock bands of all times.
One online notetaker outshines the competition
Best Software by Scott Spanbauer
Whether you just need to do a little brainstorming or you're creating a multimedia scrapbook, one free notebook service makes collecting and sharing ideas a snap. Or keep things super-simple by recording your thoughts in plain text via two other useful Web apps.
More vulnerabilities found in Internet Explorer
PC Tune-Up by Mark Joseph Edwards
There are no patches for two recently discovered Internet Explorer 7 security bugs, but you can defend against them. One of the exploits causes secure information to remain cached, and the other may make Javascript unsafe.
XP Service Pack 3 crashes HP's AMD-based PCs
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
Microsoft's latest — and last — service pack for Windows XP causes some systems that use AMD chipsets to reboot over and over again. The solution involves booting into Safe Mode or using the Recovery Console to disable a problematic driver.
Over 12,000 readers got a bonus — did you?
Bonus Download
We offered last week a 20-page excerpt from the hilarious new book Delete This At Your Peril (left). Maxim magazine calls the work "brilliantly deranged." More than 12,000 Windows Secrets readers took advantage of our bonus download.
Make your PC difficult to steal, easy to recover
Top Story by Scott Dunn
For little or no money, you can lower the chances that your computer will be targeted by thieves. Take a few simple steps now to make your notebook and desktop PCs easier to recover should they ever be lost.
Fred's departure triggers a torrent of 'thanks'
Known Issues by Dennis O'Reilly
A stream of tributes pours in from readers following news of Fred Langa's retirement from tech writing. While we know we'll never be able to replace Fred's honest, reliable, and downright useful advice, we pledge to do our best to live up to the standard he set.
A Japanese take on full-body massages
Wacky Web Week
Who doesn't love a massage chair? These vibrating wonders provide relaxation and stress relief while you watch your favorite TV show. And models with multiple settings give you a variety of rubdown styles: Swedish, deep tissue — and Japanese?
Rearrange your keyboard the free and easy way
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
When was the last time you accidentally hit your Caps Lock key AND SUDDENLY STARTED SHOUTING? Completely disabling the Caps Lock key — indeed, disabling or remapping almost any key on your keyboard — is easy when you use the free SharpKeys Registry editor.
Free tool roots out software vulnerabilities
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
Secunia's Personal Software Inspector identifies the applications on your PC in need of an update or replacement. The new desktop version of the online scanner spots problems in thousands of programs, which is a big step up from the dozens of apps supported by its Secunia Software Inspector predecessor.
Windows Secrets readers get a free e-book bonus
Bonus Download
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.
Tune in May 6 for debate on Microsoft licensing
Introduction by Brian Livingston
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.
Thwart malware attacks by locking out bad sites
Top Story by Scott Dunn
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.
Checking IE7Pro's background gives a reader pause
Known Issues by Dennis O'Reilly
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.
All good things come to an end as Fred reboots
Langalist Plus by Fred Langa
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.
Another reason to keep both hands on the wheel
Wacky Web Week
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.
Five antivirus programs ace the PC-defense test
PC Tune-Up by Mark Joseph Edwards
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.
What you need to know before you install XP SP3
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
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.
Microsoft exec loses his cool on Vista upgrades
Introduction by Brian Livingston
Scott Dunn was the first journalist to reveal on Apr. 3, 2008, that Vista Service Pack 1 allows its "upgrade edition" to be clean-installed just like its "full edition." This is a feature that hasn't changed in Vista since I described it back on Feb. 1, 2007.
Nine must-have freeware apps rise to the top
Top Story by Scott Dunn
The "best freeware" lists published by Web sites and magazines frequently trumpet dozens of programs, but the results reflect the subjective opinions of just one or two testers. To find the best of the best, I compared roundups of "great" freeware conducted recently by four reputable publications to find the programs that were endorsed by at least three of the reviews.
Keep malvertisements from infecting your PC
Known Issues by Scott Dunn
Some of the Flash ads that crowd your browser are serving up more than just another annoying sales pitch. Windows Secrets readers suggest simple and free methods for protecting yourself against an onslaught of malware-toting advertisements.
A new twist on table manners
Wacky Web Week
Mothers spend years teaching their children to keep their elbows off the table, chew their food with their mouths closed, and avoid slurping their drinks.
How Firefox 3 blocks bad sites better
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
With the release of Firefox 3 imminent, your ability to identify and block "bad" Web sites automatically is about to take a giant leap forward. A fascinating new feature in the browser adds near-real-time — and anonymous — checking to stop phishing and other malicious sites in their tracks.
Detect zombie PCs by sniffing your network
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
If one of the PCs on your network were infected with a botnet, how would you know? Identify the interloper by using the free Wireshark network monitor, which also helps you troubleshoot e-mail and other programs that fail to establish or maintain a network connection.
Finally, here comes XP Service Pack 3
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
On the heels of Vista Service Pack 1 comes the update that far more Windows users have been anticipating. Unfortunately, XP Service Pack 3 is an unremarkable update for everyone except network admins, who will appreciate the additional control over wired and wireless connections offered by SP3's Network Access Protection.
Two search engines help you find Windows info
Introduction by Brian Livingston
How many times have you said to yourself, "I know I saw an article three or four months ago, but now I'm danged if I can find it"? Our site now makes it easier for you to locate the exact trick you're looking for in more than 6,000 articles that our contributors have written in the past few years — or on the entire Web.
Flash ads bearing malware plague popular sites
Top Story by Scott Dunn
A Flash-based advertisement that appeared last week on the USA Today site downloaded malicious code to users' computers, generating erroneous warnings of a malware infestation and offering a phony solution. The Flash vulnerability is so widespread that such "malvertisements" may be present on thousands of sites, but there are measures you can take to reduce your exposure.
The U.S. election process, in a nutshell
Wacky Web Week
For the first time in decades, voters of all stripes are actually paying attention. But just how does the whole U.S. political system work, anyway?
Three fast, thorough, easy-to-use disk cleaners
Langalist Plus by Fred Langa
CCleaner, Cleanup Assistant, and DTweak Pro are powerful, ready-to-run tools that target junk files and more. Along with these best-of-breed, GUI-based disk-cleanup tools, I'll tell you about the most popular choices sent in by your fellow readers — and maybe by you!
The best — and worst — personal firewalls
PC Tune-Up by Mark Joseph Edwards
If you chose the firewall on your PC based on reputation, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise. The Matousec Firewall Challenge answers the million-dollar question: "Is my firewall really protecting me?"
.NET Service Pack 1 creates a tax-season .MESS
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
An unannounced auto-deployment of Microsoft's .NET Service Pack 1 rocked the accounting industry by affecting key applications right before the U.S. tax deadline. This week, I'll help you control the damage by providing you with a primer on .NET patching.
Outages cast doubts on MS online services
Top Story by Scott Dunn
With the recent public betas of Office Live Workspace and Microsoft Online Services, the Redmond company is ratcheting up its efforts to deliver the power of MS Office — or at least a portion of it — to the Internet. But Microsoft's ability to offer software as a service (SaaS) has come under fire due to server outages and bugs that have plagued the company's online services in the last several months.
Article on Vista upgrade trick rattles the cages
Known Issues by Brian Livingston
The lead story in Windows Secrets on Apr. 3 revealed that Vista Service Pack 1 allows the "upgrade edition" of the OS to be clean-installed, something that supposedly requires Vista's more-costly "full edition." The same trick was present in the original release of Vista, as I reported more than one year ago, but the fact that Microsoft executives have allowed the procedure to remain in SP1 sparked yet another round of thrills on the Web.
A new approach for handling telemarketers
Wacky Web Week
Telemarketers. They have an uncanny knack of calling right when you don't want them to. Whether you're just sitting down to dinner, forced to interupt a relaxing shower, or deep in R.E.M., they generally find you at the most inconvenient moment — all so they can try to subscribe you to a magazine you've never heard of.
Beware disk cleaners that can make things worse
Langalist Plus by Fred Langa
My search for the best disk-cleanup program has uncovered some that aren't worth the time and effort, let alone paying a registration fee. One of the utilities I tried even left more unnecessary files on my drive than were there before I ran the program!
Disabling AutoRun still leaves you open to attack
PC Tune-Up by Mark Joseph Edwards
The worst kind of security bug is one that Microsoft probably won't be fixing any time soon. This week, I tell you about an annoying security problem in which Windows Vista fails to disable its AutoRun and AutoPlay features, even though you think you've got these two security risks under control.
Patches for IE should be top priority this week
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
Patches for IE should be our first priority this month, with several vulnerabilities that are ripe for malicious attacks facing us. There's still no sign of Windows XP SP3 in the near future, but Windows Server 2008 is receiving its first patches, and Vista SP1 is subject to a much-needed patch for an earlier patch that's proved troublesome.
It's official: upgrade hack included in Vista SP1
Top Story by Scott Dunn
The new Service Pack 1 version of Windows Vista allows end users to purchase the "upgrade edition" and install it on any PC — with no need to purchase the more expensive "full edition." The same behavior was present when Vista was originally released, but the fact that the trick wasn't removed from SP1 suggests that Microsoft executives approved the back door as a way to make the price of Vista more appealing to sophisticated buyers.
VirtualBox is an impressive VM contender
Known Issues by Scott Dunn
My Mar. 27 lead story described Microsoft's Virtual PC and VMWare's VMWare Player as virtual-machine software that PC users should consider — but there's a great alternative to both. A few readers recommended VirtualBox, and my tests show that this open-source upstart includes the best features of both of its competitors.
Video shows top 10 ways to break your server
Wacky Web Week
The staff of Scalent Systems labor ceaselessly to quell your common computing woes — again and again.
Use Vista's superior system font in XP
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
My last column explained how to make Vista's all-new application fonts (Calibri, Candara, Corbel, Cambria, Constantia, and Consolas) work for free on your Windows XP or 2000 computer. This week, permit me to show you how to install Vista's new system font, Segoe UI, on your Windows XP computer — yes, legally — and use it as your WinXP system font.
Powerful net monitoring: learn the whys and hows
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
This week, I'll cover some of the benefits of using advanced tools such as Wireshark and give you detailed answers to some of your questions from my previous columns. Wireshark can reveal the stream of attacks your PC faces every day, so you can focus on the priority events you need to deal with.
XP virtual computing avoids dual-boot complexity
Top Story by Scott Dunn
It's possible to have Vista and chow down on your XP cake, too, if you apply a free — for now — virtual machine. If you're stuck with a Vista PC, but you really prefer using XP, I'll show you how to set up XP as a virtual machine on Vista, plus some tricks you can use to get the most out of this setup.
Reader tips on portable computing flow in
Known Issues by Scott Dunn
In my Mar. 20 article, I described techniques for putting an entire Linux OS on a flash drive, which is almost like having a pocket computer that can run many of your favorite applications. I mentioned some limitations and presented a warning, but readers have come to our aid with insights on protecting and using your diminutive computer accessory.
Is that a good spot over there?
Wacky Web Week
It's a vehicular jungle out there, with packed traffic, surly drivers, and a paucity of parking places, all begging the question, "Where the Sam Hill is everyone going to park?"
Get better results deep-cleaning Windows drives
Langalist Plus by Fred Langa
This week, I'll add to my previous comments on free and easy ways to eliminate what the Disk Cleanup tool in Windows leaves behind. You can quickly eliminate megabytes or even gigabytes of hard-to-remove junk and boost your system performance!
Make a bootable thumb drive that runs XP
PC Tune-Up by Mark Joseph Edwards
Some users benefit from having a bootable version of Linux on a USB flash drive — but did you know it's possible to do the same with XP? This week, I'll tell you how and explain a few challenges that stand in your way.
QuickTime, iTunes install Safari — like it or not
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
The auto-update routines for QuickTime and iTunes, two programs that play multimedia files, have quietly begun installing Apple's Safari browser unless PC users are sharp enough to turn off a little-noticed option. This week's abomination makes me question the entire concept of trusting auto-update mechanisms as a way of seeking better security.
We've made our secrets easier to find
Introduction by Brian Livingston
The Windows Secrets Newsletter and the online periodical it merged with in 2006, the LangaList, have published thousands of tips over the years. Now we've made it more convenient for you to browse through our brainstorms and find exactly the article that you've been needing.
Carry an entire operating system in your pocket
Top Story by Scott Dunn
Running applications from a USB flash drive on a public computer is convenient but exposes you to malware and other limitations of the host PC. By installing a Windows-like version of Linux on a flash drive, you can take a complete operating system wherever you go and work in a safe, secure environment, even in an Internet café.
You have another few months to acquire XP
Known Issues by Scott Dunn
In the Mar. 6 issue, I explained how to find a Windows XP system before retail and OEM sales of XP get yanked from the shelves on June 30 of this year. But system builders who cater to small businesses can still get XP until January 2009, which gives users who want to avoid Vista one more way to get their mitts on a Windows XP system.
Would you like mental floss with that?
Wacky Web Week
It's Thursday. You've made it through the week so far without spilling coffee on yourself, calling a co-worker by the wrong name, or sending a scorching e-mail to the whole office by mistake. You're on top of your mental game.
Install Vista's fonts on XP — legally
Woody's Windows by Woody Leonhard
Microsoft introduced a slew of new fonts with Windows Vista and uses one of them, Calibri, as the default font throughout much of Office 2007. So, if someone sends you a document, and it doesn't look quite right in XP, you probably need one or more Vista fonts — and I'll show you a perfectly legal way to get them absolutely free.
More need-to-know about network monitoring
Perimeter Scan by Ryan Russell
Completing my recent series on monitoring file-system and Registry activity, I'd like to add what you need to know about packet capturing. To monitor a program's activity for troubleshooting purposes, you really need to record its file, Registry, and network activity — and today, I'll help you understand my favorite packet-capture tool.
Ready or not, he-e-ere's Vista Service Pack 1
Patch Watch by Susan Bradley
Right on schedule, Vista Service Pack 1 is showing up for people who use Windows Update. You'll be prepared to install SP1 by the time you finish reading today's special Patch Watch column, but the real question is, will your PC be ready?
How to fix that gizmo you dropped in the loo
Top Story by Scott Dunn
It happens to everyone: one moment, you're talking on your cell or dialing up a tune on your MP3 player, and the next, you're staring down at your gadget in a toilet, a puddle, or worse. If your portable electronic device gets dropped or submerged, is there anything you can do? Fortunately, the answer is yes.
OEM licenses for XP are nontransferable
Known Issues by Scott Dunn
My Mar. 6 article on buying systems with XP preinstalled stated that your XP license lets you remove the operating system from one machine and install it on another. But that's only true if you bought a retail copy of Windows XP, not a version that came preinstalled on your PC.
Hey, buddy, can you cc me on that?
Wacky Web Week
Ctrl+C won't copy. Your Tab button won't tab. Ctrl+A selects absolutely nothing. We've all been there, when the simplest of functions just won't function. But what's really going on when we repeatedly punch that Copy button?