ZoneAlarm: The World's Best Free Firewall

For the best protection, get this firewall that's far superior to XP's Internet Connection Firewall, and keeps you safe from Trojan horses and other dangers.
The Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) that ships with XP has one very serious deficiency: it can't monitor and block outbound traffic from your PC to the Internet. Many Trojan horses do their damage by installing themselves on your system and then allowing others to take control of your PC, or using your PC to attack web sites, servers, and other computers. The ICF won't offer you protection against these types of Trojans; it won't be able to tell when a Trojan is making an outbound connection, so the Trojan will be able to do its damage without your knowledge.







Other firewalls, however, will offer that protection. The best of them is ZoneAlarm (http://www.zonealarm.com). There are three versions of the program, a free version and two for-pay versions with differing levels of protection. The free version offers excellent protection against inbound threats as well as against Trojans. It also tells you whenever someone is probing your computer for security holes and gives information about the prober, often including his IP address, and the nature of the probe.
ZoneAlarm Plus, which sells for $39.95, also protects you against email-borne worms and viruses and does better tracking and reporting about those who may have tried to attack your PC. ZoneAlarm Pro, which sells for $49.95, does all that and gives you control over cookies, stops pop-up ads, and controls rogue ActiveX Controls and JavaScript applets. At a minimum, try ZoneAlarm, because, well, because it's free. If you feel you need more protection, you can go with a for-pay version. I've been using the free version for several years and have never felt the need to go to the paid version. Figure 5-14 shows a record of activity that ZoneAlarm Pro has monitored and blocked.












5.8.1 Configuring ZoneAlarm to Block Trojans
The most important feature of ZoneAlarm is its ability to block outgoing traffic from your PC. That way, you can be sure that a Trojan hasn't infected your PC and can't "call out" to make contact with someone malicious, or be used to attack others from your PC. All versions of ZoneAlarm, the free as well as the for-pay, offer this protection. Since that's the most important feature, that's what's covered in most of this hack.
After you install ZoneAlarm, click on Firewall in the left panel, and you'll get to choose the level of protection (from Low to High) you want for the Internet Zone and the Trusted Security Zone (for computers on your network, or that you trust for some other reason). The settings are self-explanatory.
When you start using ZoneAlarm, alerts (such as the one shown in Figure 5-15) will start popping up every time a program attempts to make a connection to the Internet. It will most likely be a program you are familiar with, such as Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, or a similar program. If it's a program you're familiar with and you want the program to always be able to access the Internet, click on the box that reads "Remember this answer the next time I use this program," and then click Yes to let the program access the Internet.

SanDisk 32GB SSD

SanDisk introduces a 32GB Solid State Drive aiming to replace your lame notebook hard-drive. The 1.8 inch SSD drive achieves a sustained read rate of 62MB per second and a random read rate of 7,000 inputs/outputs per second (IOPS) for a 512-byte transfer. This means that the SanDisk SSD drive is more than 100 times faster than most hard disk drives.

Seagate Confirms 1TB 3.5'' HDD

Seagate has confirmed to DailyTech that they will be launching a 1TB HDD in the first half of 2007. The new 1TB drive will use the perpendicular recording technology Seagate pioneered with the 750 GB drive.
The new drive however will utilize fewer platters and less heads meaning the platters will hold more data than the ones in the current 750GB drive. This move leaves the other big hard drive manufacturers in the dust as no one else has matched the 750 GB HDD from Seagate to date.

Compare Yahoo! and Google Search Results

Pit Yahoo! and Google against each other and find more search results in the process.

If you've ever searched for the same phrase at both Yahoo! and Google, you've probably noticed that the results can be surprisingly different. That's because Yahoo! and Google have different ways of determining which sites are relevant for a particular phrase. Though both companies keep the exact way that they determine the rank of results a secretto thwart people who would take advantage of itboth Yahoo! and Google provide some clues about what goes into their respective ranking systems.

Here's the official word from Yahoo!:

Yahoo! Search ranks results according to their relevance to a particular query by analyzing the web page text, title, and description accuracy as well as its source, associated links, and other unique document characteristics.

At the heart of Google's ranking system is a proprietary method called PageRank, and Google doesn't give detailed information about it. But Google does say this:

Google's order of results is automatically determined by more than 100 factors, including our PageRank algorithm.

Though we might never know exactly why results are different between the two search engines, at least we can have some fun spotting the differences and end up with more search results than either one of the sites would have offered on its own.

One way to compare results is to simply open each site in a separate browser window and manually scan for differences.







If you search for your favorite dog breedsay, australian shepherdyou'll find that the top few sites are the same across both Yahoo! and Google, but the two search engines quickly diverge into different results. At the time of this writing, both sites estimate exactly 1,030,000 total results for this particular query, but estimated result counts are sometimes a way to spot differences between the sites.

Viewing both sets of results in different windows is a bit tedious, and a clever Norwegian developer named Asgeir S. Nilsen has made the task easier at a site called Twingine.

1.10.1. Twingine

The Twingine site (http://twingine.com/) contains a blank search form into which you can type any search query. When you click Search, the site brings up the results pages for that query from both Yahoo! and Google, side by side. For fairness, Twingine randomly changes the sides that Google and Yahoo! come up on, so people who prefer one side of the screen over the other won't be biased. Plugging australian shepherd into Twingine yields a page like the one shown below

Clicking Next or Previous in the top frame at Twingine takes you to the next or previous page in the search results at both sites.






Surfing the pages in the search results at Twingine at can be a bit tricky. You'll probably want to open linked search results in a new window or tab, so that you can keep your place in the search results at both Yahoo! and Google. You can open links in a new window by right-clicking the link (Ctrlclick on a Mac) and choosing "Open Link in New Window" from the menu. You can also set your Yahoo! Search preference to automatically open links in a new window when you're clicking a Yahoo! Search result.

Samsung YEPP T9 music player

Samsung updates its T9 music player to sport 8GB of flash memory. In October Samsung released new color versions of the YEPP T9 to target female buyers. The Samsung YEPP T9 is available in 2GB and 4GB versions in the US

Walletex Wallet MP3 Player

If the iPod Nano is just too portly for your tastes Walletex has the rail thin Paris Hilton of MP3 players dubbed the Walletex Wallet MP3 Player. The player is about the size of a credit card and appears to be the same size as the Walletex Flash drives currently on the market.
Storage capacities of 128MB to 2GB will be available and the players can also be produced with custom graphics for use as promotional give aways. The headphones attach to the player via a USB adapter and it appears that you directly plug the player into your PC for music transfer.

Cool Digital Clock T-shirt

This black T-Shirt shows the time in big green digits made from EL. What more would you want from a T-shirt? The digital clock can also be used as a stop watch. There are tons of uses for this shirt and if somebody asks you for the time, just smile. It is powered by 4 AAA batteries.

Google easter eggs

Here is a fun trick for you to try go to google home page and in the search box type in google easter eggs
instead of clicking on enter click on im felling lucky .
having done this you should find yourself a quirky surprise game.
have fun!

Speed up your slow PC, 10 things you can do

Is your PC slower than the day it was born?
A new PC is a joy because it is fast and efficient which makes it fun to use. Over time, that PC gets slower, and slower and can eventually become a chore to operate. There are steps you can take to restore some of that "new PC" performance.
Get Organized
Print these steps for a checklist. Make notes as you go; it'll be easier to get assistance if you need it. Reserve enough time. Review the Related Links for more details on some of these steps. Follow these steps in order, where practical. {Click sequences are shown for Windows XP Professional and are only meant to be a general guide}.
Make some backups!
You need a fall back position in case bad things happen. Create an XP restore point. Consider saving: Email files and account settings, desktop and favorites, My Documents, other files? You've been meaning to back up anyhow, haven't you?
Curious about your PC memory?
Add Memory
New programs are larger and tax the memory of an older PC. To effectively operate today you need at least 512 MB to 1 GB of RAM. Check your RAM size and consider an upgrade. {Start -> Control Panel -> System, to see RAM installed}
Eliminate Malware
Malware includes adware (sometimes, but not often helpful), and spyware (never a good thing). Malware has decreased somewhat as a public nuisance, but is still a likely suspect when your PC slows down or acts strangely. The average malware can be removed by the average user.

Tips:

(1) create a restore point;

(2) turn off System Restore;

(3) run at least two removal programs;

(4) run the removal programs while in Safe Mode;

(5) turn on System Restore.
I recommend three spyware removal programs:

(1) Microsoft Defender;

(2) Spybot Search and Destroy;

(3) Ad-Aware. Pick one (and only one) to leave running as a safeguard (I usually use Defender).
Is your security suite screwing you up?
Consider disabling or uninstalling security suite software. Some security controls can choke the performance out of a PC, while safeguarding it. Try disabling the features, one at a time to see if your PC performance improves. MacAfee makes it's suite difficult to uninstall! Try uninstalling in Safe Mode.
Consider an alternative approach, such as a good antivirus program and a separate anti-spyware program. I use AVG; they have a free and a Pro version.
De-program
Uninstall unneeded programs.

A new PC comes with demo software and freebies that are seldom used. Then we add programs that we end up not using. Sometimes a desired installation slips in other software we don't need/want. Yahoo, Adobe, and others often slip things past the casual installer.
Uninstalling programs will recover space, and as a bonus, may also free up some operating resources and speed things up. {Start -> Control Panel -> Add or remove Programs}
Clean up your browser
Delete stored cache files. Reduce the amount of space set aside for browser files. Your browser will perform better and you recover lost space. {Internet Explorer -> Tools -> Internet Options -> General Tab -> Settings, to reduce the space allocated, and delete Files} Also, consider reducing the amount of history you retain; enter zero (0) if you don't use the browsing history.
Clean out file debris
Windows has a disk cleanup function to empty recycle bin, delete temporary and working files, etc. {My Computer -> C Drive Properties -> Disk Cleanup -> Check all boxes, OK and Yes}
Scan your hard drive
Windows has a tool to scan hard drives. This can resolve file location errors and other disk management issues. {My Computer -> C Drive Properties -> Tools -> Check Now -> check to "automatically fix..." and to "scan for...", then Start} This test requires you to restart your PC. This can take a while on a large hard drive so it's a good task to run overnight.
De-fragment your hard drive
Over time, the files on your hard drive become fragmented. The files are still there and usable, but they are scattered all over the hard drive and become inefficient for the operating system to access and move around. Think of it as a messy drawer - everything is there; it just takes longer to locate things. Windows has a tool to regroup your file pieces and reorganize the hard drive. {My Computer -> C Drive Properties -> Tools -> De-fragment Now -> select the C drive -> De-fragment} This can take a while so it's a good task to run overnight.
Check hard drive capacity (after you do all the cleanup steps)
When you bought the PC, that hard drive seemed big enough and it probably was. In the last couple of years, data file sizes (e.g. pictures and audio/video clips) have exploded. New programs also take more space. You need a minimum of 15% free space, and should really have more (25-50%) to operate efficiently. Open "My Computer" to see the capacity and free space on your C drive.
PC Recommendations
Recommendations for your PC
This lens looks at computer systems needs and at solutions that stand out from the others.
Stop unnecessary services
Many programs install and run services for their convenience. Sometimes these services are running unnecessarily and can slow things down. Places to check for unnecessary services: System Icon Tray (lower right of Start line where time is shown), the Startup Folder {All Programs, Startup) and run MSCONFIG to see all services and programs started by the operating system for you when you start your PC (you will probably be surprised at the things that are running).
Repeat these steps periodically
Accumulated digital debris caused your PC to slow down in the first place. Don't wait so long before doing a good cleanup on your PC. It will pay off in better performance and you will get to know your PC a little better. Pick a schedule (monthly? quarterly?) that you are comfortable with.
Consider a new PC
Try these steps first and you should get back some of the missing speed and performance. It may not be enough. Consider carefully the cost of additional memory, new hard drive and service costs, versus the cost of a new PC system.
Warnings!
-Back up! You should be doing backups anyhow. This is a perfect time to catch up.
-Be sure you know what program you are dealing with before uninstalling any program. Research it if you are not completely sure.
-Be sure you know what service you are disabling in MSCONFIG before disabling any startup operation or service. Research it if you are not completely sure.
-Be sure you know what files you are dealing with before deleting any files. Research it if you are not completely sure.
-Unplug your PC from the electrical outlet before opening the PC case to add memory or clean it out. Be properly grounded. Be careful what and where you touch. Follow the manufacturer's instructions, which might involve reading the manuals.
Tips
-For Windows XP, create a restore point before making any changes to your PC.
-Use this HubPage as a guide. The steps are independent. Skip a step if you don't get it.
-Be organized - have a checklist and take notes at each step. This will give you more control over the process.
-If you need more detailed information on the steps suggested, refer to the External Links.
-Allow enough time - don't rush and you'll make fewer mistakes. Some steps can take an hour or more and will be ok to run overnight.
-Pay attention. The computer jargon and procedure steps can seem confusing
and sometimes intimidating. However, the average user can work through most
of this and get the desired result by staying focused.
Things you'll need
Time - set aside enough time. Some procedures like de-fragmenting can take quite a while. Tinkering with your system should not be rushed.
Lifeline - it's a good idea to have a PC professional on-call or within reach in case you need advice.
Manuals - the original computer manuals and any literature provided with upgrades.

Confidence - many PC users don't do these simple steps because the technology can seem intimidating. These steps are within the average persons reach. Have confidence.

People Can Steal Your Browser History : Watchout

Jeremiah Grossman tries to prove through a script that your browser history could be captured by websites that you visit. This is done through a CSS hack. This is the only time IE7 RC1 has been more secure than Firefox as IE7 blocks the script where as Firefox shows my entire history. The script it embedded on the page, and it appears that basic technique involves setting the visited link color via CSS on a group of links to common sites, and then getting the computed values of the links and seeing which ones have the visited color. Check out the embeded code.

Tool Generates Fake Searches for Privacy

A tool has been developed by two researchers out of New York University which generates a bunch of fake searches. Since there are a lot of searches, your search would get diluted and lost between these searches. So, that way your search terms are usually lost in the process and hence giving you privacy.
Associated Press reports that the tool comes as AOL revealed it had released the search histories of more than 650,000 subscribers. Although user names were not included, the company admitted that the search terms themselves could contain sensitive information. Two AOL employees were fired and a third resigned over the disclosure.




This tool sends random searches, such as “boston clock” and “croissant,” to the four largest search engines — Google, Yahoo, Microsoft’s MSN and AOL. A fake search is made every 12 seconds under default configurations; the tool can generate millions of unique queries from its list, and users can add their own.
Trackmenot works only under firefox currently. Firefox does not have the user base when compared to internet explorer. According to some surveys, firefox is used by less than 10% of the total browsing population. Hence this tool might not be a big success. Also, by segregating the terms this tool generates, it is possible to eliminate the searches made by this tool and hence negating the tool.

Zippo Lighter with Camera

When cell phones came out with cameras a few years back, it was a big deal. Users were amazed with the technology of incorporating a digital camera in a cell phone. Many developments have preceded like a video camera and a gps receiver. All these enhancements with a phone is understandable and sounds logical. But, think about a zippo lighter with a camera attachment. Zippo and camera!!! Do they blend together is the question for this evening?

Unplug Cell Phones After Charging to Save Energy

It was once believed that leaving the cell phones on charging even after it has been fully charged doesn’t consume energy. It was also believed that the cell phones had an internal automated switch which automatically turns off power being drawn from the power source. But all this is about to change with Nokia revealing that a lot of energy is being wasted by keeping the cell phones on charge even after the cell phones have been charged.

Windows XP Tricks

1. It boasts how long it can stay up. Whereas previous versions of Windows were coy about how long they went between boots, XP is positively proud of its stamina. Go to the Command Prompt in the Accessories menu from the All Programs start button option, and then type ’systeminfo’. The computer will produce a lot of useful info, including the uptime. If you want to keep these, type ’systeminfo > info.txt’. This creates a file called info.txt you can look at later with Notepad. (Professional Edition only).





2.Windows XP can be very insistent about you checking for auto updates, registering a Passport, using Windows Messenger and so on. After a while, the nagging goes away, but if you feel you might slip the bonds of sanity before that point, run Regedit, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Explorer/Advanced and create a DWORD value called EnableBalloonTips with a value of 0.
3.The Start Menu can be leisurely when it decides to appear, but you can speed things along by changing the registry entry HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Control Panel/Desktop/MenuShowDelay from the default 400 to something a little snappier. Like 0.





4.Windows Media Player will display the cover art for albums as it plays the tracks — if it found the picture on the Internet when you copied the tracks from the CD. If it didn’t, or if you have lots of pre-WMP music files, you can put your own copy of the cover art in the same directory as the tracks. Just call it folder.jpg and Windows Media Player will pick it up and display it.





5.Windows key + Break brings up the System Properties dialogue box; Windows key + D brings up the desktop; Windows key + Tab moves through the taskbar buttons.