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This site was last updated on

15-Sep-2009

General Technical Assistance and Support:

Remote Support (relinquishing control of your PC to us): Occasionally there are times on support when it would be best to be able to take over the user's computer both because the situation could be very technical and the user may be less than confident. However with ever tighter security on network systems this has not been reliable, and products such as VNC seemed to work but not consistently when the user PC is not on a network. However we have now found some software - NTR Connect which seems to get over these difficulties. It works by installing some software which declares the computer is on-line, and available for remote assistance. As the software is free for user, if you would like us to check your computer remotely and carry out any upgrading to our software, then please call on the support line. If your IT people wish to carry out background checks then they can view their website on https://www.ntrconnect.com/web/default.asp  

A Faster Computer:

Here beginneth the lesson:-

To obtain a fast computer we recommend that you get a NEW computer, this is lecturing in the obvious, but when a computer including a 15" TFT monitor can cost less than £270 including VAT and Delivery then it isn't such a daft thing to do. (price as of 17th Jan 2006 on www.ebuyer.com ).

So what we really want to do is get more speed out of the computer we already have, to do this we need to do a number of things, one of which cost money.

• Ensure that you have installed Windows XP, if your computer is too old to do this then: you need a newer computer.

• Ensure that you have at least 512Mb of RAM - I used to recommend 256Mb but it's probably not enough these days. We would recommend http://www.crucial.com This should cost around 40 but don't quote us.

• Remove any programs you don't need, this is especially true for DELL computers who happen to install more than most.

• Remove the extras which came with your digital camera - except the drivers - unless you really like their software. Use Picasa from Google for ALL your photo requirements.

• Remove the contents of C:\WINDOWS\PREFETCH - Don't worry if it doesn't exist though.
  De-Fragment your Hard-Disk - Start, Run Programs, Accessories, System Tools - do this once you have done everything else listed here.

• Run the Windows update routine to put the latest patches and fixes on. These are normally for security (see our security page) but sometimes the software has faster improvements.

• Install the latest drivers for your video adapter and anything else which may apply. This requires internet access and a working knowledge of how to update drivers but who said this is easy?

• Remove the automatic indexing facility on the hard drives by double clicking on 'My Computer' and then right click on the hard drive (normally C: Local Disk) then select properties. Remove the 'tick' against 'Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching'. Click on OK then OK again and leave it to clear indexing. You need to do this for all disks/partitions.

• Change the attributes of the hard disks to use dma when possible. Right Click on My Computer select Properties, select Hardware on the top, select Device Manager button. Open up the 'IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers' then right click on each IDE channel and select properties then advanced and set it to dma if possible.

• Tidy up Internet Explorer by clicking on Start then Control Panel then Internet Options, and click on 'Delete Files' - Include offline files - Do this weekly. (If you install ZoneAlarm Security Suite then use it's Cache cleaning routine).
  Tidy up Windows XP Services: Each Windows XP computer can have certain 'Services' which do not need to be run, to change this you need to click on 'Start'   'Run'   %SystemRoot%\system32\services.msc /s (or \windows\system32\services.msc /s) and then click on OK

Before you continue:- By changing these services some programs may stop running properly, therefore make a note of what the previous setting is and if you have any problems change them back.

Not all services listed will be available.

Change the following to Manual:-
Computer Browser
Distributed Link Tracking Client
Distributed Transaction Coordinator
DNS Client
Indexing Service
Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) / Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

IPSEC Services (Policy Agent)

Messenger NT LM Security Support Provider

Performance Logs and Alerts

QoS RSVP RunAs Service

Routing and Remote Access Security Accounts Manager

Server

Smart Card

Smart Card Helper

TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Workstation
Change the following to Disabled:-
Bluetooth Support Service (Unless you use a bluetooth adaptor)
Error Reporting Service
Remote Registry
Task Scheduler
Telnet
Wireless Zero Configuration (Unless you use a wireless card)

You will need to re-boot for these settings to take effect.
 

Any more modification will be negligible but if you do know of something please email us at mike@formwise.co.uk 

Back to Top

Security Advice

Secure Internet Explorer:-
        Click on Start, Control Panel, Internet Options
        Click on 'Delete Cookies' - Do this just the once. (If you have account details or other details you can't remember which automatically appear when you go onto a site then don't do this).

        Select Security tab and select Default Level
        Click on Privacy tab and select Advanced and ensure that 'Prompt' is set for First and Third Party cookies and 'Always allow session cookies' should be un-ticked.
        Once you have done this Explorer will prompt if you want the Cookie - You decide which looks bad or good though.

        Then put the tick against 'block pop-ups' at the bottom then click on the settings button next to it and select highest from the drop down list for filter.

        OK everything to save all these settings.

Ensure Windows and Office is up to date.

        'Start' 'Programs' 'Windows Update' - it should be at the top.

        On the right hand side if it offers you should upgrade to the latest version of windows update.

         Follow all the prompts.

         Finally Select the Custom button and accept everything including the optional (We always do this - some people don't).

Scams:

Essentially these are money making schemes about which we want you to be aware, so please be aware of the dark side of the internet :-

Here is a quote from a web newsletter which may be of interest:-

Here are details of a scam that someone tried on us recently - The School Book Scam, where they try to say that someone agreed to sponsor some books do not say anything just put the phone down on them as it could cost up to £200. Details of the scam are on the following blog -  
http://www.firetop.co.uk/2007/05/31/school-books-scam-continues/

An Explanation of Spam, Phishing, Virus, Worm,

Trojan, Spyware, Keyloggers and Diallers.

These days you are at risk from any of the above but sometimes it is difficult to know what is what and what does what and how it gets there in the first  place. So we will attempt to generally explain what each is and what is used to stop them.

SPAM

This is basically junk email and it gets to you via a number of ways but if you use Zonealarm it should be reduced or at least compartmentalised. The thing to do is delete them before you do anything.

DO NOT UN-SUBSCRIBE. This is the Spammer's way of establishing 'real' email addresses. Also do not view the pictures or click on anything in them - it's just too dangerous.

A form of spam is the SCAM email and this is where you have been invoiced for something you haven't ordered, won the lottery (without buying a ticket!), you have been left money by someone you have never met or some poor bank manager in Africa can't get £25 million pound out of there without your help. There are some very sad stories of people being duped - don't be one of them.

To cut down on SPAM buy an anti-spam program and use outlook 2003. I use a combination of ZoneAlarm Security Suite as my Anti-Spam program and Outlook's Junk email settings.

PHISHING

This is a variation on the above which asks you to confirm your bank details or paypal details for ebay details via an email. Simply delete them and go to the site via your normal favourites and check to see if there really is a need to confirm details - there won't be.

The above programs help cope with these.

VIRUS

This is normally sent to you from another computer via an email and is normally an attachment, although there have been cases where it is incorporated within images on an email. A virus once installed on a computer will replicate itself by sending itself to everyone in your contact list. This means that a virus is likely to come from someone you trust, chances are it will only ever come from someone you know. It will normally be attached to the email and require you to 'double-click' it to run, therefore don't. Unless you know what it is about, remember: the phone is still a good means of communication. and email doesn't mean you can't check what you've received by a simple phone call.

To combat viruses this you can do one of 2 things;-

1. Never open an email attachment and set your email browser to show everything as text.

2. Install an ANTIVIRUS program - we use and recommend ZoneAlarm Security Suite This is also the A-List recommended product of PC-Pro magazine

WORM

A worm is a virus which 'worms' it's way onto your computer without you knowing until it is too late. The technical bits about how it does it is beyond this page, so look it up for more information.

To combat worms you need a FIREWALL. We use ZoneAlarm Security Suite.

TROJANS, SPYWARE and KEYLOGGERS

These programs are normally installed when you install other programs or browse dodgy sites, once installed some will download other programs, your computer becomes slow and totally vulnerable. Examples of these programs are:-

Kazaa, Limewire, Bearshare etc. The only one which 'appears' to be OK is WinMX but in the end if you are after a facility to 'share' files you will always run the risk of getting these programs installed onto your computer.

Trojans install other programs.

Spyware monitors the sites you visit and sends theses statistics back to a marketing company and anyone who is interested.

Keyloggers log all your keystrokes when you type in passwords etc and then send them back to the 'home' system. There is one which has tracked PayPal passwords so if you are in doubt install CounterSpy and scan your system.

Although ZoneAlarm Security Suite has an Anti-Spyware module to remove all of the above I use both CounterSpy and Spy Doctor which are head and shoulders above any 'free' anti-spyware software. This is the belt, braces  and suspenders approach to anti-spyware.

DIALLERS

These programs may wake your computer up in the middle of the night and dial an 090 number (£1.50 or more a minute). If you think you have one check by clicking on Start, Control Panel, Network Connections.

These programs come up when you want to get at some dodgy site or other, they have to be installed, be vigilant it may ask you one thing but install another. The general rule is if you are asked to click on Yes or No click on the x at the top right as both buttons can be programmed to do the same thing.

The rule is NEVER leave your computer's dial-up modem plugged into your line.

INSTANT MESSAGING

(MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, IRC, Jabber etc.)

IM programs are now being targeted by worms, viruses and spyware this way of getting to your computer will become the 'next big thing' when it comes to malicious code writers.

We STRONGLY recommend that you do not use web based email accounts such as Hotmail, MSN or Yahoo! if you want a web based email use Google Mail and you can use Outlook with it when you are at your own computer.

You do not need to set up an email account with hotmail or MSN to use Messenger simply use your own email address as the login, just set up your passport at www.passport.com

We now recommend that you use MSN Messenger Live - this can be used for chatting with Yahoo IDs as well as the normal ones.

Alternatively we recommend that you use a program called Trillian Basic. It combines all IM systems (Yahoo, Messenger etc), this means that if you have contacts using MSN and others using Yahoo! then you have one place of contact for all of them. From what I have found out the only problem is that the Basic version doesn't have Video so if you want to stick with Trillian for this you can pay around £12 for the Pro version.

I personally have paid the money because of the extra security plus Trillian does NOT take over your computer the way MSN or Yahoo! do and the associated problems/limitations these cause.

So here's where you pay for security:-

Buy Zonealarm Security Suite (Approx. £37) which is a Firewall, Anti-Virus, Instant Messenger protector and anti-Spyware. I recommend this because I use it and it works and it doesn't slow your computer down too much.

If you want to know what other people think of it go to:- http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/reviews.aspx?itemId=1417718&stext=zonealarm (this site also lists other ones available so have a browse).

Buy CounterSpy AntiSpyware Software (Approx. £10) , this is the first program I install when it comes to cleaning/speeding up a computer, I use it for active protection.

If you want to know what other people think of it go to:- http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/Reviews.aspx?itemId=1285004 (this site also lists other ones available so have a browse).

Buy Spyware Doctor AntiSpyware Software (Approx. £20) , this is the best on the market but it is more expensive than CounterSpy:- in the end are you buying a Porsche or a Rolls Royce? I use all three packages together as my computer is my job.

If you want to know what other people think of it go to:-  http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/Reviews.aspx?itemId=19662 (this site also lists other ones available so have a browse).

Buy Trillian Pro if you want Video chat (approx £12)  or install Trillian Basic if you just wish to chat.

If you wish to learn more about Malware then go to http://searchexchange.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid43_gci1052780,00.html?Offer=sb0220