Trucker Tech

Ask Leo!

What's a browser cache, how do I "clear" it, and why would I want to?

The browser cache comes up a lot in answers, more than questions, but in doing so it probably causes even more questions. Even when following instructions to clear it, it's not at all clear what this piece of magic really is, and why clearing it would do anything at all.

Let's review the browser cache; what it is, and why it exists. Along the way we'll review the steps to clear it, in both Internet Explorer and Firefox, and try to dream up some reasons why that sometimes helps.

Continue reading: "What's a browser cache, how do I "clear" it, and why would I want to?"

How do I find a file on my computer in Windows XP?

This is actually a composite of many questions I get where people are unable to locate a file on their computer. Most common is Microsoft Outlook's PST file, which can be buried in a non-obvious place, but I also get this question relating to everything from downloads to pictures do documents that took hours of work, were saved and then apparently vanished.

In many cases, the tools you use can tell you where the files were placed (for example, you can use Outlook to tell you where its PST file is located). On the other hand, for various reasons, you can't and just want to locate the file yourself.

So, we'll search.

Continue reading: "How do I find a file on my computer in Windows XP?"

Ask Leo!

How do I stop my computer from being a zombie?

My computer is a zombie. My IP has been blacklisted as a spammer. I am not and never have been a spammer. I don't know how to liberate my computer. The spammy network grabs control for 48 to 72 hours at a time, and won't let me log on to the internet. My ISP is unfamiliar with zombies.

Unfortunately, while your visible symptoms are more severe than most, what you're experiencing is frighteningly common. It seems like every day there's another study out showing that some incredibly high percentage of machines are infected with malware that can turn them into zombies at a moment's notice.

I'll look at exactly what we mean when we say "zombie", how to tell if your machine is one, how to prevent it and how to try to recover if your machine has been taken over.

Continue reading: "How do I stop my computer from being a zombie?"

I thought I deleted these files, how were they recovered?

My son brought up some files in my computer that I had deleted such as emails on my yahoo account, deleted photos and deleted conversations on yahoo messenger. How is this possible and where do I go in my computer to get rid of that information and how do I prevent this from happening again?

I usually get the reverse of this question: "how do I recover files I deleted?". But it's absolutely worth looking at how things can be recovered, so that if you actually want something to be deleted and stay deleted you can take appropriate steps.

Continue reading: "I thought I deleted these files, how were they recovered?"

Ask Leo!

How do I gain administrative access to a secondhand computer?

My dad bought a computer from a yard sale. The problem is that they forgot to take off the password. I'm logged in as a user but not an administrator so I don't have admin privileges. How do I become an administrator.

"This is frightening for a couple of reasons.

"It's not you who should be scared, though, and we'll get you into the computer quite easily.

"It's the previous owner that should be concerned, since it's clear they didn't take a few important steps prior to giving away their computer."

Continue reading: "How do I gain administrative access to a secondhand computer?"

Are password safes secure?

Leo, do programs (I'm thinking of browser helpers in particular) which memorize and play back passwords/personal information really provide added security along with the their obvious convenience? Will a key logging program just record mouse clicks if I use the program to input my credit card info? Are there programs that will sniff (the credit card info) as it put into the order form? Does having the stored password personal information on my computer put me at risk (even though I assume it is encrypted)?

"There is risk in everything, even getting out of bed in the morning.

"The challenge is to choose those tools, techniques and habits that minimize your exposure to risk.

"Using a password safe, using it in the right way, and using it in conjunction with habits you should already have to stay safe, is in my opinion much, much more secure than the alternatives."

Continue reading: "Are password safes secure?"

Ask Leo!

As I mentioned last Tuesday, Leo Notenboom runs the Ask Leo! web site and publishes a newsletter that's delivered to my inbox every Tuesday morning. Since he's been a huge help to me over the last several years, and entertaining to boot, I thought I'd share a bit of his wisdom with my readers.

After last week's post, I shot off an email to Mr. Notenboom and he graciously consented to allowing me to run this weekly piece. Cool. So here it is. The first question and answer pertain to the continued support of Windows XP, important to many of us displaying little desire to make the switch to Vista, and the second question and answer references the safety of online banking; something I do on a regular basis and one of the primary reasons I believe every trucker should carry a connected laptop!

What will happen when Microsoft stops supporting Windows XP?

"When Microsoft discontinues support for XP, what will happen if I need to reformat? Will I still be able to get all the updates?"

"It depend on exactly when you're thinking of. Microsoft won't just stop supporting XP, they'll phase out support. Where in that phase out you happen to be will make a lot of difference.

"Fortunately, we have examples of what they've done in the past to make some guesses as to how they'll handle XP."

Continue reading: "What will happen when Microsoft stops supporting Windows XP?"

Is online banking safe?

"I would think that no PC would be immune from malicious threats if they landed on some corrupt site that then installed malware or key-capture software. Is there any reasonable way to continue to safely do online banking?"

"Sure.

"Avoid getting infected.

"That sounds trite and flippant, and I don't mean it to be so. Ultimately, though, all the advice boils down to exactly that: do what it takes so that you don't get infected, and you'll be safe.

"I regularly bank online. In fact, I much prefer it over the alternatives."

Continue reading: "Is online banking safe?"

That's it!

When you visit Leo's site for the conclusion of his answers make sure you sign up for the weekly newsletter. I'll keep posting a couple of questions and answers here, every week but you owe it to yourself to get his advice showing up in your email inbox every week! You can sign up at http://newsletter.ask-leo.com.

Ask Leo!

For quite some time, now, I've been subscribed to a newsletter published by Leo Notenboom. He's become my guru. If I have a question about something...well...something computer related...the first thing I do is visit the Ask Leo! website. His newsletter arrives promptly Tuesday morning and it's always filled with lots of interesting stuff. Some stuff more interesting, to me, than others but, always, there's at least one interesting tidbit that I find useful. Here's a question from today's edition:

I can't pass a firewall test, what should I do?

How important is it to test your firewall with a firewall test? I've read about many firewall tests like Shields Up, and I've thought about using them. I know that firewall tests check for open ports, so how do ports become open and vulnerable in the first place? Is there really any way to avoid that? I do not use my computer for much other than simple surfing and I never download anything. I have my firewall set on learning mode. Would a firewall test be more important for someone who downloads, plays games, etc?

I read that many of these tests are easy to fail for reasons most casuals users would not understand. I do not understand very much about firewalls and do not understand some settings enough to change them. I would not want to take a firewall test for it to tell me I've failed, and then spent days trying to figure out why, when in truth my firewall is fine.

Leo's Answer:

"I love Steve Gibson, and his firewall testing utility Shields Up, I really do. Unfortunately Steve's taken a rather extreme position in how he reports your firewall's status - anything less that total invisibility is labeled with a big red "FAILED".

"In my opinion that's both impractical, and unnecessarily alarming for the average user.

"But the test itself, which I FAILED right here at home, returns some very valuable information nonetheless.

"Continue reading: "I can't pass a firewall test, what should I do?""

Final Thoughts

Because I know his newsletter always has at least one, and usually more, interesting questions and answers I'm planning on making this little entry a weekly thing (assuming it's okay with Leo!). I'll only be posting one or two bits from the newsletter, though, and I'd urge you to subscribe. You can sign up at http://newsletter.ask-leo.com.