As most of my clients realize by this time, there has been a spate of viruses, worms and the like infecting computers all over the place. Spam is everywhere. Anyone running on a Windows platform is in danger of having his or her operating system hopelessly damaged. Here is what I do to keep viruses and worms at arm’s length.

1. I never open attachments from strangers, and I only open them from friends if I’m expecting the attachment. Often, attachments are sent using a friend’s address.

2. I have a good virus protection program. Norton is excellent, and McAfee also has a good reputation. And I update the virus definitions at least once a week (otherwise, a new virus might slip through). This is automatic unless you have a dial-up, in which case you must insure that you are on-line when the update is scheduled to happen.

3. Once in awhile, I use Panda AntiVirus (http://www.pandasoftware.com), an on-line service that will check your PC without charge. Read their on-line instructions carefully after you click on the link before proceeding. This works only with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, which comes with Windows. If you use AOL, Earthlink or MSN, go on-line and minimize their browser – then open Internet Explorer. Panda spots things Norton misses (and the reverse is true as well), but it is always up to the minute in its definitions. It is an excellent double-check.

4. For spam, I use a program called MailWasher (http://www.mailwasher.net). This allows me to blacklist senders, make friends list, and filter key words from subject lines (like Viagra, and certain words I wouldn’t use on this site). It even spots some viruses (but is no substitute for a good virus protector). After awhile, you’ll build up a list of blacklisted and filtered e-mails which will make your e-mailing a lot more user friendly. It takes some getting used to and you should read the instructions carefully. One piece of advice is that you shouldn't bother bouncing e-mail back since return addresses are phony and it will only come back to you. What I like most about it is that it downloads only the headers and return addresses so you can delete them from the server before they reach your computer – this is real time saver. Pressing their "Process Mail" button then automatically takes you to whatever default mail reader you use.

   The program is free for one e-mail account. If you have more than one, you must purchase their paid version (but you get to try it out for 30 days).

5. If you are one of my clients, I will help you set it up at no cost by telephone.

About Saddam’s nephew: For the sake of fitting the whole picture together, I imagine that Saddam’s nephew is a hacker, and doesn’t much like the West, and that it is he, and his friends, who are spewing all these Internet troubles on us. Of course, it might just be a “script kiddie” (non-programmers who use scripts available at underground hacker sites) from the hinterlands who, in lieu of chasing girls, anonymously destroy other people’s computers.

Regrettably, these are angry times, and many folks have an ax to grind. All you can do is protect yourself. Passing laws make us feel good and puts feathers in the bonnets of politicians. But the most effective measures are those we take for ourselves. You lock your doors knowing full well that 99 percent of the people who pass your house wouldn’t dream of stealing even if they were sure you weren’t home and had the door unlocked. But there is that one percent. Safeguard your computer as you would your children.

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Sites of Note (Designed by Yves Barbero)

Acorn Wildlife Control, Relocating wildlife back to the wild, this Denver, Colorado company insures that both the wildlife and your family live peacefully in their own habitat..

The Hardwood Floor Connection: The Hardwood Floor Connection of Charlotte, North Carolina designs and skillfully installs hardwood floors for businesses and fine homes using the finest materials available.

My Rosegarden Guest Rooms: A premier San Francisco Bed and Breakfast located in an historic private home in a quiet neighborhood within walking distance of golf courses, Golden Gate Park and the Presidio. Affordable.

DinnerDeck: A new gift item consisting of heart healthy easy to read recipes and menus complete with a recipe stand and beautiful graphics. Easy to clean. "Healthy eating and exercise celebrate a healthy heart." Judith Levine, R.D., M.S., American Heart Association.

MasterCoach: Learn Guerrilla Marketing techniques from experts. Effective but cheap promotion of your business or interests.

Lawrence Associates: Irene Lawrence, EA, provides complete tax services: tax preparation, consultation, and representation, for individuals and small businesses. Irene also specializes in expatriate tax issues.

California Radomes California Radomes is a leader in Radome repair and overhaul. They have the finest selection of Aircraft Radome Accessories in the world and can ship anywhere.

Bay Area Skeptics: For those who are tired of all the feel-good New Age garbage. Not for the intellectual faint-hearted.

Bay Area Roofing & Waterproofing Apprenticeship Program

Nancy Wakeman: Poet and Author.

WEN Planning Services, Inc.: Specializing in tax preparation and Financial Planning. Walter E. Nygaard, EA, CFP, prop.

The Textbook League: Critical evaluations of textbooks that publishers are selling to our public schools (and that your kids are using). This web page is one of my projects.

Vanguard Capital. A variety of financial services for California residents. Joey Thomas, Registered Principal.

Your web master is...
Yves Barbero
Computer Consulting
1073 Dolores Street
San Francisco, CA 94110-2924

(415) 285-4358
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