Saturday, November 8, 2008

Pure Networks Security Scan

I tried the Pure Networks Security Scan on one of my computers...some of my results are below. You must enable Active Scripting to run test...

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Pure Networks Security Scan

Redirected Websites
"...File and Printer Sharing settings...you might have problems due to the guest account being disabled. This can cause problems if you are trying to connect to shares on this computer from older Windows systems like Microsoft Windows 98 or Windows ME. It can also cause problems if you don't have exactly the same user names and passwords on all of your PCs."

Software Firewall
"The 'Microsoft Windows Firewall' firewall is enabled on your system...to get file and printer sharing working between computers, you need to open some ports in the software firewall...If you are interested in easily sharing files and printers on your network, download the free version of Network Magic - it takes care of everything for you. If you are having problems getting the most out of your network, download the free version of Network Magic. It will even show you a Network Map and tell you which PCs have a firewall installed and which ones don't."

[I DID NOT FIND A "FREE" VERSION ON THEIR WEBSITE...maybe they mean that there are some free features available in the trial version... - SLICK]

Antivirus Software
"No enabled antivirus software was found."

Windows Update Not Automatic
"Windows Update is not set to automatically download and install updates."

Internet Connection
"Not connected to the Internet."

Dynamic IP Address
"Your computer is configured to automatically receive an IP address...The IP address that this computer is using is..."

Router Present
"Found router (make, model, and IP address)...We found a hardware firewall inside the...router which is protecting your network."

Router Password
"Your router has the default password set. The password for your router is currently set to the well-known factory default. All routers from a given manufacturer ship with a well-known default password. Having a default password is a bad thing because hackers can then use this to access your router..."

[The router doesn't belong to me...I am not the subscriber of the internet service provider...it is a DSL router... - SLICK]

Multiple Router Check
"Your router is connected normally to the Internet. You are connected normally to the Internet through one router."

Router Firmware Version
"Firmware version...is possibly out of date."

Default Network Name (SSID)
"Your network name...has been changed from the factory default. Your wireless network name (SSID) has been changed from the router's factory default SSID. Excellent work. Having your SSID set to the factory default can be bad for two reasons: 1) if your network isn't encrypted, other users are more likely to connect to your network unexpectedly and 2) if you use your computer outside of your home, it is more likely to unexpectedly connect to other networks using that same default SSID."

Signal Strength
"Your wireless network signal strength is 'good'..."

Secure Wireless Connection
"You are connected to a secure, encrypted wireless network...using the 802.11 WEP standard. The wireless network you're connected to is using an encryption method called WEP."

Wireless Network Name (SSID) Conflict
"Your wireless network is the only one in range with the network name..."

Wireless Encryption
"You have 802.11 WEP enabled, but your router supports 802.11 WPA encryption which is stronger encryption. Your router is correctly configured to use an encryption method called WEP...Your router also supports the more secure WPA encryption method. WEP has a number of security flaws that make it easy for hackers to crack. We recommend you consult your router vendor's manual about configuring your wireless router to use WPA instead. (Note that there are some devices that support WEP but not WPA, so you should check all devices that connect wirelessly to your network to verify they support WPA.)

[See my statement below about my experience with modifying Qwest DSL modems... - SLICK]

Network Magic Wireless Protection Compatible
"Your router is fully compatible with Network Magic Wireless Protection. Your...router is on the list of routers that are fully supported by Network Magic Wireless Protection..."

MAC Address Filtering
"Your router is not using MAC address filtering...We recommend that you enable MAC address filtering..."

SSID Broadcast
"Your router is broadcasting its SSID."

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I've had trouble attempting to configure Qwest DSL modems: changes I made, that I consider to be simple, had disabled wireless internet access. So, I refuse to try to make any adjustments for this Qwest DSL subscriber unless: I have a full day to devote to it, and I have a Qwest technical support person on the phone with me.

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Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Comcast internet service to get faster

According to DSLreports.com...

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Comcast will be shaking up their speed tiers as they deploy DOCSIS 3.0 upgrades...

..."Performance" 6Mbps/1Mbps subscribers will be upgraded to 12Mbps/2Mbps ($42.95). "Performance Plus" 8Mbps/2Mbps subscribers will be increased to Blast 16Mbps/2Mbps ($52.95). Both upgrades are at no cost. Comcast will continue to offer an "Economy" 768kbps/384kbps tier for $24.95, aimed primarily at light users and used as a retention tool.

...the company plans to offer a new "Ultra" 22Mbps/5Mbps tier for $62.95. Ultra should hit speeds of about 30Mbps when Comcast's Powerboost technology kicks in. The grand daddy of all Comcast tiers will be the "Extreme 50" 50Mbps/10Mbps tier, which some markets will see as low as $139.95. Both new tiers will obviously require new DOCSIS 3.0 modems that won't be available initially at retail, but can be rented for $3 a month.

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Tuesday, September 2, 2008

mobile internet service

Dave called our radio show to get more information about having internet service while he is traveling in his recreational vehicle...

There are many wireless telephone service providers (Sprint, Verizon, etcetera) that have it available. And, there are satellite dish internet service providers (WildBlue, HughesNet, etcetera).

You need to ask about: service areas, service speed, and price.

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Friday, October 19, 2007

Comcast interferes with Net traffic

...The Associated Press confirmed through nationwide tests...

...uploads of complete files are blocked or delayed by the company, as indicated by AP tests.

Each PC gets a message invisible to the user that looks like it comes from the other computer, telling it to stop communicating. But neither message originated from the other computer — it comes from Comcast. If it were a telephone conversation, it would be like the operator breaking into the conversation, telling each talker in the voice of the other: "Sorry, I have to hang up. Good bye."

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Friday, September 14, 2007

runtime errors

Brendan called in about "runtime" error messages...based on my research...

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A Runtime Error is an error that occurs during the execution of a program...they indicate possible bugs in the program or problems that the designers had anticipated but could do nothing about (running out of memory can cause a runtime error).

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Reasons runtime errors can occur:

operator error...

bugs in the original program...
the web page author made some programming error....
can be caused by other add-ons, plug-ins, or other extra software that has been installed onto the computer and is associated with the program generating the error. If you have any extra software installed that is associated with the program generating the error make sure there are no available updates for the programs and/or try uninstalling each of them to verify they're not the cause of your issue.

...you are running a pop-up killer that closes pop-up windows so fast that the script on the web page fails.

...you might have some adware or spyware installed on your computer that opens the script error pop-ups.

virus...

resource exhaustion...

Robert, a programmer, called into the show and suggested that there may be a memory problem...based on everything I've read: he's right. It could be "software interfering with hardware", or there may be a problem with hardware.

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To troubleshoot a runtime error you will need additional information, such as:
* An error number
* Where you were in the program with the error occurred
* What you did just before the error occurred
* What you say just before and just after the error occured
* The state of the machine when the error occurred (memory, disk, and cpu usage)

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I found a listing of runtime error codes at http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000380.htm

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"A Runtime Error has occurred" error message when you view Web pages (in Internet Explorer after you install Office 2003)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822521

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To configure Internet Explorer to ignore script and runtime errors:
1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click on Tools, then on Internet Options.
3. Click on the Advanced tab.
4. Look for the "Disable script debugging" line and put a check mark in the box.
5. Now look for the "Display a notification about every script error" line and remove the check mark in the box.

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Also consider:

How to troubleshoot by using the System Configuration utility in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310560


and

How to configure Windows XP to start in a "clean boot" state
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353

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Saturday, July 14, 2007

Best ISPs in America


PC Magazine

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Friday, July 6, 2007

Live Earth concert(s)

Live Earth is a music event that begins July 7 to raise awareness about global warming with 24 hours of music across 7 continents, and performances by more than 150 of the world's top musicians...

It starts 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET, and wil be streamed

The Sundance Channel, NBC, CNBC, and BRAVO will also broadcast some of the shows.

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