CONSTANTLY UPDATED COMPUTER, INTERNET VIRUS AND HOAX DATA
TOGETHER WITH ITEMS OF INTEREST TO LOCAL COMPUTER USERS

People just don't like Microsoft Vista! See this on the BBC web site.

(By the way we totally agree with them!)

AVG Free Upgrade
May 2008

The free anti virus program that many in the village are running has been updated to version 8. This means that it will require reinstalling sometime in the next few weeks but the programme plus regular updates REMAINS TOTALLY FREE.

When you have a few minutes to spare and are happy that a restart won't get in the way you should download the new version direct from http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe it really isn't difficult.

We suggest that you untick the box to install the AVG toolbar. It doesn't do any good and is a nuisance. Please note you will have to do a restart during the update, and Windows will stick its nose in to tell you that you are reinstalling the anti-virus program - but you already knew that didn't you? ;-)

If you are still not happy doing this update then provided you are fairly flexible on time so that we can fit it in when passing, we can come round and install it for your for a reduced fee. All payments go towards running the Horsted Keynes web site.

January 8th. 2008 - New type of virus found in Horsted Keynes Computer!

We often find that once a virus infects one village computer it finds its way on to other local machines very quickly. We therefore urge villagers to keep their Windows update current. Whilst anti-virus software is always needed this particular new type of virus works on unpatched machines - even those that run Vista!

Take a look at this BBC web site for more details.

Replacement for Vista "out in Beta inside 18 months"

If you, like us are still waiting to upgrade to Windows Vista we thought that you might be interested to hear what is the latest on the rumour mill. It is that Vista is "so popular" that the replacement (called Windows 7" by the designers - the single " is correct and is probably rude) is to be released in Beta form "within 18 months"!

Now even if this is not true it certainly does seem to confirm that Vista is a huge problem for Microsoft, and that's not forgetting their customers too! The main problems are the security which does not work as expected and which actually prevents people using their computers as they would like. Try putting a Vista computer into an existing XP network. It will work - until you try to use it in earnest when it fails. Then there is the continuing lack of support for accessories such as printers and scanners that are only just over one year old.

If we hear more we will pass it on here but we aren't rushing out to obtain 9 copies of Vista for the computers in our home - we are sticking with Vista for the immediate future and we recommend that you do the same. That's even at the latest price of £40 for the Premium edition! Yup, Microsoft it seems have stopped checking and it seems that just about anyone can obtain and install the reduced price educational version of Vista even if the nearest they come to learning is watching "Play School" on TV!

If you have children, or even know a child then you are fully entitled to this discount anyway. Drop us an email if you need help with this.

Find this interesting? Then please click one of our Google ads to help with our costs - thanks.

Want some anti-virus software that actually works and costs you nothing?

No it's not a scam and this isn't a trick. At HorstedKeynes.Com we have been advising local villagers about their computer problems for ages and we have found that many people who had Norton anti-virus have been unhappy with the way it slows down their computers. Our research found a programme called AVG Free Edition which is a compact, quick and FREE anti-virus programme!

AVG Free works, and works well, we have it running on all our computers and servers here in the village. Try it for yourself but please heed this one warning. When you look on the internet you will find sites that look as though they are genuine AVG sites but in fact contain viruses or try to sell you software. They are NOT to be recommended!

If you are looking for the free version of AVG anti-virus please download it from here and only here http://free.grisoft.com/ . This is the site run but the software authors and it contains no nasties.

HARD TO FIND MODEM EXTENSION LEADS
NOW IN STOCK NOW IN THE VILLAGE
We have a supply of hard to obtain broadband extension leads right here in the village. If you need to put your broadband modem more than 2 metres from the telephone socket we have the parts to make it work!
Also Filters, Routers, and Modems and other parts.
Give us a ring on 791624.
p.s. If you ask nicely we'll even plug it all in and set it up for you too!

WOULD YOU LIKE US TO WIPE YOUR OLD HARD DRIVE?

If you are worried about disposing of the old hard drive in your computer then we are happy to help you wipe it clean. Just give us a ring. Incidentally the recent BBC report was (as usual) didn't tell the whole story. They didn't mange to get hold of bank log in details, did they?

DON'T INSTALL SPYAXE! READ ON...
December 13th 2005 (updated 10 February 2006) when the BBC caught on to the problem!)

A new and very nasty programme type called Hijackware

In the notes that follow we have tried vary hard not to swear or be abusive to the "people" who write the sort of programme that we are about to discuss but from our attitude you may gather that we don't think much of them.

So what is "hijackware"?

Quite simply you download what seems like a helpful free programme like SpyAxe which purports to scan your computer for nasties and then remove them - do NOT at any time even visit the SpyAxe page by the way!

You install this programme and suddenly your computer slows to a crawl, your internet home page is fixed on some very odd site, you get a pop up every 15 seconds often showing a couple of people who are obviously very much in love and when you try to delete the programme you find that you can't!

Well actually you can delete the programme but a second later it reappears in your task bar and the whole sorry state of affairs starts all over again! Your home page is locked, you can't alter any of your internet browser settings, and you can only visit certain internet pages!

Being well versed in internet affairs you do a Google search for something, anything that will help you, and find adverts for one of several programmes that claim they can help you. So in desperation you send off your 49 USD and eventually (if you are lucky) get a removal programme that restores your computer. (But be very careful as the restore programmes often contain spyware themselves!)

The unfortunate thing about this is that the people who write the removal programme are the same people who wrote SpyAxe in the first place! It is a complex scam to separate you from your money and far more worryingly to get hold of your credit card numbers! Be VERY, VERY careful! If you even see anything about SpyAxe KEEP AWAY!

Unless or until the major market players do something about this new internet threat do NOT rely on Norton or AdAware to get you out of trouble!

So, aren't we going to tell you how all this works and how to remove this stuff? We wish that we knew. There ARE ways to remove this stuff without paying out money but they involve hard registry hacking, something that we don't recommend unless you are VERY careful. Even then two of the programme parts are named EXACTLY the same as vital Windows files. Be very, very, VERY careful!

If you feel brave try looking here for impartial help...

http://www.computing.net/security/wwwboard/forum/16942.html

There are rumours that the new version of Microsoft Anti Spyware tool may help stop this nasty. By all means try it if you Windows is 100% legal as you will need to verify your installation before downloading Microsoft Anti Spyware! Look at...

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

More as soon as we have it. Please look back.

BEWARE MoviePass at work!

Following on from the Spyaxe problems (see above) comes another nasty from the American internet this time one called MoviePass. The main trouble with this software is that it is legal - well sort of - and THAT is what causes the problems!

Lets say that you download a movie clip and it says that you require a certain piece of software to make it watchable. No trouble you click the suggested link and install the recommended viewer, in this case one called MoviePass.

On the way through the installation it asks for your name, street and email address, and you then get a page of conditions, never read them do we, and they are in legalese anyway so you press "accept". All very simple, and all very legal, but that is where they have you.

You see the terms and conditions that you just legally accepted allow the programme writers to say that you have 3 days to try out their software and if you don't want to keep it you must delete the installation within that self same 3 days. Not only that you also have to telephone the customer service centre in the USA BEFORE uninstalling the software or it self-reinstalls.

Don't do it in this order, or plain don't bother and the next term or condition is enforced. This says that you have accepted that you owe them nearly $400 for a years' “service”, that they can use ALL of your hard drive for whatever they wish, that they can use ALL of your broadband bandwidth for whatever they wish, that they can take a note of ALL the software on your computer “top prevent conflicts”, PLUS they can keep putting "reminders to pay" on your screen with such rapidity that in the end it effectively makes your computer lock up!

Now, because you have "accepted" all these conditions it appears that you can do nothing to complain, and if you don't pay your $400, and pretty dam quick in the USA anyway they, quite literally, "send the boys round". Debt collectors who demand payment, plus their costs and they also put a mark on your credit rating as a "default" (remember this is a perfectly legal debt!)

I know, I know, you have read these warnings before on all the scam emails except this time it IS true, and at the moment it IS legal (in the USA anyway), and who cares whether it is legal, the programme writers have put at least 5 extra programmes on your computer which ties it in knots anyway!

Before people say that the software can be easily removed or to do a simple system restore then I'm afraid the virus, oops sorry programme writers, have thought of all that. In the second version of their software anyway it's just like SpyAxe very, very hard to remove.

This has now happened to two of my customers, both gentlemen who I introduced to computers and both men have paid up!

This warning IS genuine, try looking here, http://www.schrockinnovations.com/releases/moviepassrelease.pdf and NEVER, EVER download MoviePass!

PC WORLD ARE LYING AGAIN!

Last year we complained to the Advertising Standards Authority about an advert from PC World where they claimed that their computer would connect to the internet faster when in fact it wouldn't. PC World were made to pull the advert and promised to be more careful in the future. Well they haven't learned much as PC World are at it again. 

In their recent advertisement (September 2005) PC World are advertising a Packard Bell R4 laptop PC with a standard Wi-Fi wireless connection. Nothing wrong in that except that they state that this standard wireless connection computer can connect to the internet ANYWHERE!

Now if you are new to computers you may not understand that you have to have a nearby wireless hotspot access point to actually connect to the outside world. As you may know we run a free wireless access point here in Horsted Keynes but they are few and far between - indeed we know of only half a dozen other free access points in the whole of Sussex!

If you prefer to pay for your internet access then you choice is wider, indeed there are pay as you surf points 5 miles South of Horsted Keynes in Haywards Heath, 6 miles North in East Grinstead, 8 Miles West in Crawley and 11 miles East in Uckfield. These BT Open Zone points have a range of a couple of hundred metres but that isn't what anyone could describe as ANYWHERE! Certainly isn't like a mobile 'phone is it?

So if you are thinking of buying the PC World EasyNote R4 range of notebook computers please be aware that to connect to the internet you will either have to have a wireless network at home or be within range of another wireless network. Without these you simply cannot connect!

By the way these computers are quite good value except for the keyboard which is lousy! If you would like to read a full review please get in touch and we will see what we can do for you.

 APRIL 10th. YET ANOTHER SERIOUS VIRUS OUTBREAK IN THE VILLAGE

Since Saturday afternoon many computer users in Horsted Keynes have been getting masses of emails with viruses attached. When we call the sender "an idiot" we are only quoting from one of the emails that we have received from other residents complaining about the problem - although we agree 100% with their sentiments. EVERYBODY should, no MUST, have an up to date anti-virus tool on their computer and it does seem that SOME villagers consider themselves immune or think that viruses are just what "other people get"! They are NOT!

Yes, we are being strident here. We have received nearly 100 infected emails this afternoon through broadband, narrow band users will be downloading them for hours!

If YOU have a computer make sure that you have a running UP TO DATE anti virus programme on your computer. While there are good free anti virus programmes out there we recommend Norton as being a system that works and costs very little (perhaps 40p a week over the year) to run.

If your computer has just started behaving oddly or seems to be going on line all the time SWITCH IT OFF and ring us (or any other computer repairer if you prefer).

PLEASE do it NOW, don't make us all suffer!

April 8th 2005
This is important for EVERYONE in the village

A fake Windows update is arriving in village inboxes. This leads computer users to a fake Windows update site where the download offered contains a very nasty virus. Why nasty? Because as far as you can see it does nothing to your computer system! Unfortunately it ACTUALLY opens various spy holes in your computer so that your bank and other log in details can be copied, as well as making your computer being hijacked as a repository of spam and porn. Nasty! So be careful and check any update warnings that appear to come from Microsoft over the next few days. More details on this BBC web site http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4425165.stm

March 22nd. 2005
Are you a zombie?
If you doubt our warnings about viruses just read this BBC News Report!
After you have digested it get in touch if your machine is running slow!!

Updating Norton or any other anti-virus program is NO LONGER enough. To protect your computer from viruses and worms you MUST perform a "Windows update" at least every month. So far this year we have visited 7 villagers who have NEVER updated their system since it was new - ALL had a virus or worm (or both) on their computer, one unfortunate local had 11 viruses and 17 processes running - a new village record! *RECORD DECIMATED See here
This information has to brought to the attention of ALL local computer users, which is why this page is here.
If you have no idea what a "Windows update" is or how to perform one, please either visit http://support.microsoft.com
or give us a ring on 791624...we are here to help. If you have installed Windows XP Service Pack 2 then you are much less likely to be affected. Install it (or get us to do it for you) TODAY!

WARNING - INSTALL CHEAP SOFTWARE FROM EMAIL SPAM AND PUT A SPY ON YOUR DESK!

27th July 2005 UPDATE!

We hope that you took our advice about not ordering from this truly dreadful company who have today gone into liquidation (for the second time ;-). If you didn't and are stuck with one of their machines then you will be pleased to know that we will service all Tiny and Time Computers. We also have a stock of suitable parts for their Desktop models. If you need help please drop us an email but if your computer is broken simply give us a ring on our dedicated local line  0845 612 8944 - if we are not in please be prepared to leave a message so that we can call you back.

VILLAGERS CONSIDERING BUYING A TINY COMPUTER - PLEASE READ THIS FIRST!

We have just come across a trick that is so blatant, and designed to trick unwary and less technically savvy computer purchasers, that we have decided to issue this warning to anyone who might be considering the purchase of a "Tiny" computer.

A villager bought a new computer from Tiny.Com and asked us to set it up for them after a move of home. One of the things that they wanted was to stop using and paying for the "built in" Internet Service Provider that came with their computer and instead use an ISP that their son had already set up and paid for in their new home. "Simple", we said, "It's your computer, you can use any ISP that you like, we will set it up for you. But if the worst comes to the worst we will reinstall Windows for you, get rid of all the Tiny.Com nonsense and set your computer up afresh. Oh, can we please have your Windows XP recovery disk?". "We don't have it," they replied. "Tiny said that it was £30 extra and that we didn't really need it anyway."

To cut a very long story short we have found that Tiny.Com are far worse that any other supplier (and we thought that PC World were bad enough putting adverts on their new installation screen). Tiny have their own patent operating system which quite simply prevents you installing ANY other Internet Service Provider without their "permission".

Tiny.COM WILL "unlock" one of their computers, but you have to PAY THEM for the privilege by contacting them and asking for "de-optimization" [Nice marketing phrase, that!]!

Not only do Tiny.Com lock their computers so that you can only use THEIR own ISP, they don't even issue a free Windows XP recovery disk.

Looking at the Tiny.Com web site http://www.tiny.com/support.php?id=5 we find the following... [our comments are in blue square brackets].

Q. Why is supanet the only ISP available on TINY.COM ™ Desktop PCs?
A. Supanet is the default ISP on all TINY.COM ™ desktop PCs using an optimised modem. This deal allows TINY.COM ™ to:-
  - Offer a better ISP product
  - Offer lower prices as the relationship subsidises each TINY.COM ™ PC by about £10
  - Reduce service and support calls (and hence we save costs)
  - Offer customers really low cost unmetered and broadband packages. The deal with supanet still allows TINY.COM ™ PC owners to choose any other ISP service if required by requesting de-optimization via technical support. [Our stress]

[So YOU have to contact Tiny and PAY THEM if you want to use a different ISP such as BT Internet or AOL]

Q. Why don’t TINY.COM ™ include a recovery CD FREE with every PC?
A. TINY.COM ™ use a patented recovery process using T-clone software. The cost of this software licence and recovery CD is only £29.99. This is provided as an option to keep prices as low as possible. [FACT The WindowsXP CD costs virtually nothing to buy in quantity, perhaps 60p. each. It's the WINDOWS XP REGISTRATION CODE that costs the money. We consider this the worst kind of smart prectice. Smart for Tiny.Com of course]

Oh, yes. You know all that lovely software that you get "included" with your Tiny.Com computer? The majority of it will STOP WORKING after 60 days. It's DEMO software, the same as comes on the free disks on computer magazines. To keep Word, and Power Point, and Excel etc. working just give Microsoft £250 ON TOP of the price that you paid for the computer. Even the DVD player will stop working if you don't pay up! Nice - we don't think.

UPDATE!

Looking at the popular web site www.ispreview.co.uk we find that the Tiny ISP Supanet are offering appalling connection speeds and service. People are TRYING to leave them in droves EXCEPT they have signed a 12 month contract! This organisation need a BBC Watchdog investigation!
Look at http://www.ispreview.co.uk/talk/showthread.php?t=16708&page=1&pp=10
 

11% of our visitors now use Mozilla browser!

Seems that Microsoft may be worried, as you will see from above more than 9% of our visitors now use the Mozilla browser to view our pages. Another interesting fact, can you guess what is the most popular search term that brings users to our pages? Nope, it's not "Church History", or even "Service Pack 2 information", neither is it a simple "Horsted Keynes". The most popular search term is "Graveyard Pictures". Yup, the internet IS mad!

A quick answer to a quick question *

What is the difference between Windows XP Business and Windows XP Home? This is a question that we are always being  asked and interestingly the answer is nothing to do with what you use the system for; it is all to do with where you run it!

If you are at home then you are unlikely to have data that is so secret that it has to be double encoded. The password protection offered by Windows XP Home is plenty good enough. This also applies to a medium to small business. If you have real secrets don't store them on the computer when not in use, burn them to a disk and keep it in a fireproof safe. Remember if you have something on your computer that could cause you embarrassment or worse if discovered, the authorities can get at it no matter how hard you try to protect it - this applies to both Windows versions, business is no safer as far as that goes!

If your computer is installed in a large organisation then it will obviously be connected to a network system for file and letter sharing etc. This is where the Business version comes into its own as it includes lots of extra security devices. These do not protect your system against viruses and worms any better but do protect your data from being looked at by other people on the network.

So if your computer is set up in Microsoft House and you as Bill Gates don't want your staff to see how much you earn use the Business version. Everybody else, even those in business can save money and use the Windows XP Home Edition!

*Please don't use this answer to make business decisions, there are conditions and exceptions to the above, get professional advice.

You are not reading this page, you really should!

Villagers might think us a little forward in pushing Windows updates at every opportunity, but visits to two local families both with teenage daughters have proved our cautions right. Both children were heavy users of the Kazaa song and file sharing service and both had worms and viruses on their system - LOTS OF THEM! The effect was that eventually neither system would connect to the Internet like it used to, cutting out at every opportunity and flashing warnings over every programme at every opportunity. Even typing a simple letter was impossible on one machine.

On investigation one family computer was found to have just over 400 worms, on the other more than 830 nasties were found! Both had more than 50 processes running when ctrl/alt/delete was pressed and it took us a long time to restore their computers to good order.

PLEASE take in what you read this page, we don't get much out of it - in fact it costs us money to run - but you might just save yourself the cost of a new computer ;-).

If we do save you money then contributions to cover our costs are always welcome! (subtle hint) Your webmasters.

You MUST delete it NOW without waiting!

The virus can be cleaned before it deletes the files from your system. In order to eliminate it, it is just necessary to do the following steps:
1. Go to Start, click "Search"
2.- In the "Files or Folders option" write the name jdbgmgr.exe
3.- Be sure that you are searching in the drive "C"
4.- Click "find now"
5.- If the virus is there (it has a little bear-like icon with the name of jdbgmgr.exe DO NOT OPEN IT FOR ANY REASON
6.- Right click and delete it (it will go to the Recycle bin)
7.- Go to the recycle bin and delete it or empty the recycle bin.

IF YOU FIND THE VIRUS IN ALL OF YOUR SYSTEMS SEND THIS MESSAGE TO ALL OF YOUR CONTACTS LOCATED IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK BEFORE IT CAN CAUSE ANY DAMAGE.

Open your system Control Panel and then find the "Phone and Modem Options" button. Click there and look inside for an entry for your NetoDragon modem. You MAY have inadvertently installed the modem with the wrong identification especially if you bought it from PC World who ship a disk containing lots of different drivers and don't tell you which one to use! Now look for a "Modem country" or similar setting. (In these instructions we are assuming that you are in the UK).

If your computer was installed and set up properly your modem will be shown as being in the United Kingdom. Change this setting to the United States of America. (We have NOT gone mad and DO know that the US telephone system is nothing like ours).

Close the control panel and reboot your computer (even if it is running XP).

Now try connecting with your "unreliable" modem! We think that you will be amazed to find a connection speed of at least 48k first time, every time. Not only that, your dial tone will be detected first time, every time!

We believe that a batch of these modems have been sold with wrongly configured firmware. Unfortunately you can't "flash" these troublesome beasts so we have to "lie" to the modem to tell it is in the wrong country to get it to use the correct protocol which is wrongly labelled. (uh? - We know what we mean ;-) If you are not in the UK or if the USA setting doesn't work for you and you have got time on your hands then try setting the modem to each country in turn. You will need to restart each time you change settings (even with Windows XP) to reset the modem internal workings which only looks at its internal settings when it boots up. This procedure WILL take time but it MAY save you having to buy a new modem.

UPDATE

We understand that Spanish and Portuguese telephone system users need to set their modems to "South Africa"! Yes indeed, this IS a strange beast! PLEASE report other countries back to us and we will try to set up a list here of which country works on which setting.