What "little" program could you simply not do without?

I had someone attempt to do this to me just last week. They posed as Ebay and put a link to what looked almost exactly like Ebay's login page. There were just a couple of subtle differences between the actual page and this one.

The bad thing about it is that with a lot of web-based email systems they will open the link on your email as a frame and so if you're not tech-savvy you don't even know what the actual address you're looking at is. This is really bad if the link in your email is just a word instead of the typed-out address.

One thing to always remember:

NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, FOLLOW A LINK FROM AN EMAIL TO LOG-IN TO A SITE THAT HAS TO DO WITH YOUR FINANCIAL INFORMATION.

When I received the email (some c**p about my records not being up-to-date) I was extremely suspicious to begin with. Instead of following the link in the actual email I logged out of my email, went to Ebay on my own, logged in there, and of course didn't have any problem with my records.

I submitted the email to Ebay and they emailed me back saying it was, in fact, a phishing email.

Stay safe out there and always be suspicious of every email.

By the way, there was a really good article about this in Maxium PC magazine this past month (July 2004, page 24) by the Watchdog. If you get the chance check it out. They also had a great article about Firefox and some awesome things you can do with it. I love Firefox also and have been using it for quite some time now. I recommend it to everyone out there.

Later,
Web

Good reminder there to ALL of us. My practice is---I don't give any private info, and especially financial, to ANYONE ANYWHERE ANYTIME!! Period.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by MPTech
EARLE, great article! In fact, G4TECHTV just had a show segment on that subject last weekend. link: Phishing Protection

I found your article and the TechTV segment to be very informative, I only have 2 observations:
1. I haven't installed the anti-phishing software yet, but my understanding is that unfortunately is does consume some desktop real-estate (small price for Safe Surfin')
2. My second issue is more philosophical. It's a real shame that so much of our time & resources are now consumed with protecting ourselves, that could be used more constructively or for relaxation. I created an email for my less-computer literate friends and family, that educates them on Adware and SpyWare, gives them links to download sites, and tells them how to install and run them. Too bad that they are learning how to protect their computers, rather than how to get more out of them or use them to a greater extent! The resource issue deals with running all of this protection software. Let's see, I'm running Norton Antivirus (always consuming resources and fighting it occasionally), Ad-Aware, Spy-Bot, SpyGuard, SpyBlaster, MailWasher, Email SpamBlockers / Filters, CW Shredder, Hi-Jack This, etc, etc and constantly checking for "updates" for all of this.
Seems that Terrorism is in issue in the Real World and CyberSpace. Anyone for Capital Punishment for both of these crimes!?!?!?!?!?!?!

BTW, I received a Phish from an "eBay" email last week before I saw the TV segment or read this post. I also recieved one over a month ago and sent it to eBay to ask them if it was legit. That's when I first learned of "phishing" (do a Google on it, WOW!). BTW, I also sent a warning email to my friends & family on that subject too. (They probably all think I'm a paranoid PC-Nerd).

Be SAFE out there! :D

---

using mozilla,i can close the toolbar after the page loads and is identified as safe.

thank you,thank you. i put together a little newsletter i call THIS N THAT daily from over 90 resources on the web and it was 1 of those resources i got the details from. including the software.
these are the precautions i take and found they keep me safe from those scum.

this is what i now have installed and in use everyday. as with all freeware,you must update it before you run after installing.

Creating A Shortcut To Internet Options:
There are a number of different options you can configure from the Internet Options window for Internet Explorer, such as LAN and security settings. You can access the dialog box by opening the Internet Options applet within the Control Panel or by clicking Tools then Internet Options within Internet Explorer.If you find yourself frequently accessing the Internet Options dialog box, you may want to place a shortcut to it on your desktop. You can do so by opening the Control Panel, right clicking the Internet Options applet, and clicking Create Shortcut. Click Yes to have a shortcut placed on the desktop. Now all you have to do is click the shortcut to access the Internet options.From the Internet Options dialog box, you can use the Security tab to adjust your security settings. Now you can access this tab using the methods described above. Or, if you are in Internet Explorer, you can access this tab more quickly by clicking on the small globe icon in the right hand corner of the browser. A dialog box containing only the Security tab will appear.

re;cookies,
set your cookie permissions to;
allow session,allow or prompt 1st party and block 3rd party cookies.
re;activex settings;
set for,
download signeed enable
download unsigned disable
run activex enable
script marked unsafe disable.

LiveWire: Outfoxing the Phishers and Other Scammers:
. Over the past year or so, some crafty fraudsters have ditched the tear-jerker prose for the straightforward instruction."Quick. Your bank details need updating," the message now reads. "Click on this link to submit them."Each month, billions of such e-mails, masquerading as official messages from banks and online retailers, arrive in in-boxes. The scam is known as "phishing."They work with surprising effectiveness, as many come with a link to an authentic-looking bank or retailer site. The e-mail directs the user to input his bank or credit card details, and again, just one party -- the fraudster -- walks away happy.
In Web parlance, you've just been "phished."British police recently estimated that phishing scams cost UK banks an estimated 60 million pounds last year. The economic toll of phishing in the United States is much worse, costing American banks and credit card companies $1.2 billion in 2003, according to Gartner Research.Gartner estimates that 1.78 million Americans fell foul of the scam [stupid itiots!], each responding to the e-mail and revealing their personal details. The list of spoofed, or fake, sites is an impressive one. It includes eBay, just about every commercial bank in the UK, U.S. and Australia, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (news - web sites).
CALL IN THE CAVALRY
Help may be on the way in the form of a variety of computer programs -- some from universities, others from major technology outfits -- that aim to unmask the fraudsters.
The mission of the programs is to harpoon the problem by developing Web browsing toolbars that sniff out the fake sites and expose the phishers for the swindlers they are.
The idea is to take the Web link in a suspicious e-mail and type it into the toolbar and press return. Within moments you will know if you've landed on the real McCoy or an impostor's site posing as your bank.To help detect the fakers, CoreStreet Ltd., a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based technology outfit, last month introduced a free product called SpoofStick at http://www.corestreet.com/spoofstick/.
When entering a site, like say eBay, via the SpoofStick browser extension (it works with Microsoft Internet (news - web sites) Explorer and Mozilla FireFox browsers), the surfer is greeted with a clear message saying "you are on eBay."If you type in what turns out to be a spoofed Web site address, the message will be very different, likely revealing the IP, or Internet Protocol (news - web sites), number -- a confusing, but telltale sign you want nothing to do with this site.Every computer that is connected to the Internet has a unique IP number consisting of 4 digits -- each between 0 and 255 and separated by periods.A similar detection tool comes from SpoofGuard (http://crypto.stanford.edu/SpoofGuard/), a California technology start-up.And, eBay and Internet service provider EarthLink have been hit with so many phishing attacks they've decided to develop their own spoof detection toolbars. EarthLink's is available at http://www.earthlink.net/home/software/toolbar/; eBay's is at http://pages.ebay.com/ebay_toolbar/.Computer security experts warn, however, that the toolbars should not lull users into a false sense of security."It's the most sophisticated defense we have at the moment, but it's not foolproof," said Pete Simpson, network security specialist at Clearswift, a British network security firm.
CoreStreet admits as much, saying on the SpoofStick site: "It's not a comprehensive solution, but it's a good start."The spoof-proof browsers are viewed as the first line of defense in a novel new area of criminality."The next stage will see the scammers spoofing the toolbars. Then, a new technology will spring up to put an end to that," Simpson said.Quoting a recent Nigerian e-mail scam: "You can take it to the bank."


AVG ANTI-VIRUS:
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php

ZONE ALARM-FREE FIREWALL:
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/conten...id=zadb_button
AD-AWARE:
spyware remover,
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
SpywareGuard :
provides a real-time protection solution against spyware that is a great addition to SpywareBlaster's protection method.
If you are worried about potential compatibility issues with SpywareGuard, we recommend you download SpywareBlaster instead.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html
SpywareBlaster 3.1 released! (April 7th, 2004):
Keep spyware from installing in the first place!
Download the latest SpywareBlaster version and you'll be secured by the most powerful anti-spyware protection solution anywhere!
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/
Browser Hijack Blaster v1.0:
Your browser is just that: yours. The last thing you want is to have someone else take it over. This program watches several components of Internet Explorer to make sure no one hijacks your browser or tries to slip spyware into it. If an invader does attempt to change your IE's home page, default Page, or Search Page, Browser Hijack Blaster will let you know. The program also keeps a database of known values common to spyware programs; when possible, it gives details and specialized instructions for shaking loose the leeches.
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/fil...d,22955,00.asp
Old RegCleaner:
[I USE THIS AS STATED AS WELL AS TO CONTROL WHAT STARTS UP WITH WINDOWS-SEE STARTUP TAB]
You've found that your favourite program is an older version, and you want to download the latest whiz-bang version. The program, however, doesn't provide any uninstall utility, so you simply destroy its files and cross your fingers. But, as fate would have it, when you try to install the latest version, you see a dialog box such as this: "Please uninstall the old version of this program before attempting to run this installation." Great, now what?Hang on; you simply remove the old program's registry entries with RegClean! Now you can continue installing the newer program version that you wanted to have originally (I'm using the word "programs", but most of these examples will apply equally to games and other software as well).
http://www.docsdownloads.com/regclean.htm
Trojan scan:
Note: Once you click the "Scan my computer for Trojans!" button, a dialog box will appear asking you if you would like to download and install TrojanScan. Click "Yes" to run this test on your machine.
http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/

AdFree v3.1:
Are you sick of slow-loading and animated banner ads? AdFree is a program that removes banner ads from Web sites. AdFree filters your Web connections as you surf and blocks ads you don't want. Unlike other ad-blockers that use proxies, AdFree looks in your Windows HOSTS file for a Web server's IP address. When a page calls an ad, AdFree edits the HOSTS file and substitutes a dummy file for the banner ad. You selectively choose which banners you don't want to view in the future by right clicking it and specifying the server you want to block. AdFree also lets you block out entire sites from being visible to your browser.
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/fil...d,22475,00.asp

Last week, we showed you how to put URLs into the trusted zone to
exempt them from security settings. Microsoft Explorer also has the built-in
capability of putting web sites into a restricted high security zone,
which by default has scripting and ActiveX use disabled. Uncovering
spyware serving sites on your own is difficult, at best. The good news is
that IE-SpyAd has done the work for you. This is a collection of known spyware purveying web site URLs bundled into a .REG registry entries file. When this file is merged with the registry, it loads the list of sites into IE's restricted site security zone. Loading these URLs into the restricted zone does not block them from appearing, but keeps them from downloading ActiveX or running malicious scripts on your system. The
file is maintained by author Eric L. Howes and is built from information culled from anti-spyware vendors and web sites.You can download
IE-SPYAD as a self extracting executable or as a zip file. To use the file, run the .exe or extract the files to a folder. Close any open Internet Explorer windows. Navigate with Windows explorer or My computer to the IE-SPYAD folder where you extracted the files into. The IE-SPYAD setup
comes with a command-line batch file that you can run, or you can just double click on the main "ie-ads.reg" file. This will automatically load the file into the registry. To check whether the file uploaded correctly (it's quick and doesn't give a lot of feedback), open Internet Explorer, click on Tools/Internet Options and select Security. Click on the Restricted Sites icon and click on the Sites button. You should see a
full list. If there are any URLs that you don't want to be in the
restricted zone, then select the URL and click the Remove button.
The archive is free under the GPL license and also comes with a readme file that explains, in depth, how to use the files.. While it won't
block pages completely, it does help prevent a rogue site from downloading some spyware to your system.
https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/res/ie-spyad.exe

SpySites includes a database of over 1,500 known Spy/Sleaze sites
and guides you through the simple process of including them in Internet Explorer's Restricted Zone and setting policies to prevent them from performing intrusive acts on your PC. By setting the policies for the Restricted sites zone to a very high level of security, you can be assured
that any web sites added to the Restricted sites zone cannot do certain things which could compromise your privacy and security such as installing and/or running:
http://www.softpile.com/Internet/Mis...770_index.html

StartupMonitor:
StartupMonitor is a small utility that runs transparently (it doesn't even use a tray icon) and notifies you when any program registers itself to run at system startup. It prevents those utterly useless tray applications from registering themselves behind your back, and it acts as a security tool against trojans like BackOrifice or Netbus.
http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml

Panda ActiveScan:
It scans, disinfects and eliminates viruses from all parts of your system, hard disks, compressed files and all your e-mail.
http://www.pandasoftware.com/actives..._principal.htm

Mozilla Browser
Eprompter
Group Mail Free
Webkey
Quick Shutdown
Ad-Aware
Registry Cleaner
Ad-Free
Start up Monitor
Winkey
Enewsbar

this is what i now have installed and in use everyday. as with all freeware,you must update it before you run after installing.

MOZILLA:
finest web browser anywhere! reccomended by the U.S. Goverment for our goverment agencies.comes with pop-up blocker. can also be configured to use pop3 e-mail.
http://www.mozilla.org
download the latest build.

EPROMPTER:
ePrompter automatically and simultaneously checks and retrieves your email messages from up to sixteen password protected email accounts such as AOL, Hotmail, Yahoo, Earthlink, Email.com, iName, Juno, Lycos, Mail.com, Mindspring, MSN, Netscape, POP3, OneBox, Rediffmail, SBC Yahoo, Switchboard, USA.net and hundreds of other email domains.
http://www.eprompter.com/

GROUP MAIL FREE;
http://www.infacta.com/download.asp?a=nav#Free
for outgoing e-mail only. GREAT for mailing newsletters by the hundred.

WebKey2000 Version 1.2:
WebKey2000 allows you to visit your favorite websites at the touch of a keyboard button. With one-touch access, you can also launch your default email client using an email template, execute any applications (even with shortcuts), open any registered documents, and a whole lot more. With the new features added to version 1.2, WebKey2000 can be an extremely useful utility. Now you can do things such as hide or show a series of active windows on your desktop, execute an action command from the clipboard buffer, and open a default browser with an url using the existing opened window. WebKey2000 has a very nice GUI interface to let you define a hotkey and the action associated with it. Using modifiers like Ctrl, Alt and Shift, you can specify a variety of hotkeys and duplicate entries will be detected. The program runs as a convenient icon in the system-tray area of the windows taskbar and can automatically run at windows startup. A context menu can easily be accessed from this tray-icon to allow you to enable or disable all the hotkeys quickly. This simple freeware program is easy to use and could be a great time-saver if you have a handful of websites that you frequently visit, program or files that you constantly open, or even friends that you often send emails to.
http://www.geocities.com/viperucla/webkey.html

Quick ShutDown™ v.2.6 (freeware): - fast Windows shutdown tool allowing to shutdown or reboot Windows with the one mouse click. When Quick ShutDown is running, an accurate miniature icon appears on the taskbar on the end opposite the "Start" button. Quick ShutDown allows you to define your own icon to be displayed. When you click the icon with the left mouse button, it shutdowns or reboots your computer. You can set a keyboard shortcut for any action - shutdown, reboot, hibernate, standby, lock, logoff and media eject. Also, Quick ShutDown can automatically terminate applications if they are not responding and can be used to schedule shutdown or reboot using standard Windows.
http://www.winutility.com/?from=prog_qsd

AD-AWARE:
spyware remover,
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/











Old RegCleaner:
[I USE THIS AS STATED AS WELL AS TO CONTROL WHAT STARTS UP WITH WINDOWS-SEE STARTUP TAB]
You've found that your favourite program is an older version, and you want to download the latest whiz-bang version. The program, however, doesn't provide any uninstall utility, so you simply destroy its files and cross your fingers. But, as fate would have it, when you try to install the latest version, you see a dialog box such as this: "Please uninstall the old version of this program before attempting to run this installation." Great, now what?Hang on; you simply remove the old program's registry entries with RegClean! Now you can continue installing the newer program version that you wanted to have originally (I'm using the word "programs", but most of these examples will apply equally to games and other software as well).
http://www.docsdownloads.com/regclean.htm

AdFree v3.1:
Are you sick of slow-loading and animated banner ads? AdFree is a program that removes banner ads from Web sites. AdFree filters your Web connections as you surf and blocks ads you don't want. Unlike other ad-blockers that use proxies, AdFree looks in your Windows HOSTS file for a Web server's IP address. When a page calls an ad, AdFree edits the HOSTS file and substitutes a dummy file for the banner ad. You selectively choose which banners you don't want to view in the future by right clicking it and specifying the server you want to block. AdFree also lets you block out entire sites from being visible to your browser.
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/fil...d,22475,00.asp

StartupMonitor:
StartupMonitor is a small utility that runs transparently (it doesn't even use a tray icon) and notifies you when any program registers itself to run at system startup. It prevents those utterly useless tray applications from registering themselves behind your back, and it acts as a security tool against trojans like BackOrifice or Netbus.
http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml

Winkey:
Many of us don't like our mouses: Not only can they cause repetitive strain injury, but they can slow us down. This program returns you to the "old school" of computer operation by helping you create keyboard shortcuts to access your favorite programs, documents, and files. Once you've made a shortcut, simply press your desired key combination to launch your program. This tool supports up to 200 key assignments, giving you lots of choices and room to grow.
[very much like and copies Webkey].
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/fil...id,5506,00.asp

Enewsbar for your desktop:
http://www.enewsbar.com/

I went through my freeware progs that I use a lot, and was amazed at the number that now came up "page not available". Here are a few still in operation, many more for which I'll check the links (a lot of shell extensions for Win 98) and post again:

EscapeClose 1.41
http://www.sanapesoft.com/

NetLaunch
http://www.blackcastlesoft.com/

Keynote, PhoneDeck, Visit URL, and Inject URL (Automatically "injects" URL address and last-visited date into documents downloaded from the Web - very handy)
http://www.tranglos.com/index.html

Skwyrul PRO (PIM, built-in e-mail, scratchpad, launch anything)
http://www.pebble-software.com/skwyrul.htm

I think the AnalogX site has been mentioned: http://www.analogx.com/contents/download.htm
some totally cool, unintrusive software that does what it says it will.

I think Son of Spy freeware also has been mentioned; but do check it out. Ad and spyware free.
http://www.sover.net/%7Ewysiwygx/Sofffffffware.html

and http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/7833/my-tops.htm is rather...eclectic.

Chas

I am looking for a freeware program where I could compare a webpage with either an archived webpage or a Word file to identify any changes.

I think that this type of software was mentioned in this thread, but I don't remember the name.

I am doing work for a non-profit and I need to monitor the webpages and any changes made to them.

Any help that anyone can provide is greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Linda

:D :rolleyes: :D

Is there software that will identify everything that runs at startup (from run\msconfig\startup) and tell me what all of those programs are?

I know I can go into the msconfig\startup and copy\paste it to Google and de a search to see what I've got, but that is pretty tedouis.

What I'm trying to do: I've had several people approach me in the last couple months to fix their computers that are just riddled with Adware & Spyware. Once those are taken care of with the 3 wisemen (AdAware, SpyBot S&D, and SpySweeper), the next challenge is too cleanup the junk they have probably loaded over time that runs at startup (QTtask, AIM, MSmsgs, etc etc etc). It's very hard to tell what they need and what junk. Any suggestions would be appreciated. (Can someone tell me what startups to never delete? (I think: Symtray is the only one I must have (is it different for W98?))

Thanks

Quote:

---

Originally posted by MPTech
Is there software that will identify everything that runs at startup (from run\msconfig\startup) and tell me what all of those programs are?

I know I can go into the msconfig\startup and copy\paste it to Google and de a search to see what I've got, but that is pretty tedouis.

What I'm trying to do: I've had several people approach me in the last couple months to fix their computers that are just riddled with Adware & Spyware. Once those are taken care of with the 3 wisemen (AdAware, SpyBot S&D, and SpySweeper), the next challenge is too cleanup the junk they have probably loaded over time that runs at startup (QTtask, AIM, MSmsgs, etc etc etc). It's very hard to tell what they need and what junk. Any suggestions would be appreciated. (Can someone tell me what startups to never delete? (I think: Symtray is the only one I must have (is it different for W98?))

Hi,MPTech try out EasyCleaner byT oni Artis it's [free ] Donations welcome,and does alot more, check startup items, clean reg , clean files etc.. = link at bottom of post Also very good info on running msconfig is provided by patick crispen at netsquirrel, link at bottom also first item on the top left = how to use msconfig.

Thanks

---

EasyCleaner

netsquirrel

Newme, thanks for the links. I've tried EasyCleaner before, and I really don't remember why I stopped using it. I'll dust it off (actually download a new one) and try it again.

I also looked at the netsquirrel site and I'm familiar with the MSConfig, but never realized there was more things running in the services tab. There are A LOT of things running from this tab!! Only a couple are "Essential", so how do I know what I can turn off, the names don't always help and I'll be here all day doing Google lookups.

Suggestions for trimming down?

Hi MPTech and anyone interested,

I've had a look around the forum and I haven't noticed this being mentioned anywhere.

I've been using Startup Inspector for the past month or so and I quite like it. Take a look, it's here.

Hi MPTech,

Earlier in this thread, Windows Startup Inspector freeware program was recommended. I have not had time to try it but here is some of the information.

http://www.windowsstartup.com/

This is from the readme file for Startup Inspector.

"DESCRIPTION
~~~~~~~~~~~
Startup Inspector for Windows is a Windows? platform software that helps Windows? user to manage Windows? startup applications. On www.windowsstartup.com, there are more than 3,400 known programs in the database. It can thus provide a consultative information on the programs that are running at your Windows startup process. Whether a program is necessary to the system, or the program is a spyware.

It scans all programs that are in the Windows Startup Folder,
Registry and provide you with a background information of the program. It removes harmful programs like spyware, virus, dialers, make your system healthier.

It removes unnecessary programs like reminders, monitors, improve your systems performance.

"All startup programs information and WSI idea are from Pacs Portal http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.htm "

Post back what you think of this program.

Cheers,

Linda

;)

Quote:

---

Originally posted by MPTech
EARLE, great article! In fact, G4TECHTV just had a show segment on that subject last weekend. link: Phishing Protection

I found your article and the TechTV segment to be very informative, I only have 2 observations:
1. I haven't installed the anti-phishing software yet, but my understanding is that unfortunately is does consume some desktop real-estate (small price for Safe Surfin')
2. My second issue is more philosophical. It's a real shame that so much of our time & resources are now consumed with protecting ourselves, that could be used more constructively or for relaxation. I created an email for my less-computer literate friends and family, that educates them on Adware and SpyWare, gives them links to download sites, and tells them how to install and run them. Too bad that they are learning how to protect their computers, rather than how to get more out of them or use them to a greater extent! The resource issue deals with running all of this protection software. Let's see, I'm running Norton Antivirus (always consuming resources and fighting it occasionally), Ad-Aware, Spy-Bot, SpyGuard, SpyBlaster, MailWasher, Email SpamBlockers / Filters, CW Shredder, Hi-Jack This, etc, etc and constantly checking for "updates" for all of this.
Seems that Terrorism is in issue in the Real World and CyberSpace. Anyone for Capital Punishment for both of these crimes!?!?!?!?!?!?!

BTW, I received a Phish from an "eBay" email last week before I saw the TV segment or read this post. I also recieved one over a month ago and sent it to eBay to ask them if it was legit. That's when I first learned of "phishing" (do a Google on it, WOW!). BTW, I also sent a warning email to my friends & family on that subject too. (They probably all think I'm a paranoid PC-Nerd).

Be SAFE out there! :D

---

the toolbar is closable so you lose nothing that way.

Made it through about 10 pages of this thread and gave up, I've bookmarked it for later perusal when I have a couple of hours to spare... ;)

These may have been mentioned, but I wanted to give a nod to:

FPort from FoundStone: Small little DOS-based utility that extends netstat functionality by showing the names of the applications that have open TCP/IP ports on your system. I'm a paranoid sort and run this regularly, particularly when I see weird network activity in my ZoneAlarm window.

Crimson Editor: Maybe not for everyone, but I've replaced notepad. Great for text editing, and has syntax hilighting for scripting languages, such as javascript, php or html.

GIMP: Not necessarily a "lite" application, and not the simplest program to use but it is an impressively powerful photo/image editing app and completely free. It's far more flexible (and a little more complex) than the other photo/imaging apps I saw mentioned. I first got introduced to it in Linux, and although it's quirky it's worth a try for anyone that wants strong functionality without shelling out for Photoshop for image editing.

CutePDF: Great little freeware app that installs a "virtual" printer driver, allowing you to create PDF files from almost any application that can print. Not perfect, but for the average MS Word document etc., does a great job.

MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator): An open-source app that "emulates" popular arcade systems so that you can run the original code from popular arcade video games of old. In a world of cutting edge 3D games, I'm more content playing Time Pilot, Battle of Midway, Zaxxon and even Donkey Kong and Pac Man. Complete with chunky 240 x 200 graphics, cheesy sound effects and the same "cheats" that I used on the original machines.

All I can think of for now....

Cheers,
KV

To MPTech:

Black Viper has addressed this issue at http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm.

I've used him to trim down (and sometimes secure) my XP system. Just BE CAREFUL what you do and don't do too much at once.

Terry