FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  354 (11/03/03)

Q

While on line I keep on receiving a message inviting me to visit what appears to be a porn site. Could you please tell me a way of getting rid of this irritating message that keeps on popping at regular intervals?
Harry Baranga

A

You have probably downloaded some sort of  ‘adware’ program. They get into your PC by a variety of means but most are carried inside software downloaded from the Internet, or apparently legitimate message boxes that pop up on web sites, inviting you to update your browser or install ‘tools’ to allow you to view graphics or multimedia content. The best way to get rid of these nuisances is to install a utility like Spybot (http://spybot.safer-networking.de/), which seeks out and destroys adware. Make a point of running it regularly, once a week, say, to keep your PC free of these nasties, and never click ‘OK’ on pop-up message boxes that appear on your screen, no matter how official they look, the chances are that whatever it is you don’t need it!

Q

Each time I open Word, instead of a blank sheet I find a partially completed letter that was subsequently amended and saved. The document in question is OK but I can’t rid myself of the ‘Doc 1’ partially completed letter. I've tried to delete it but each time I open Word, there it is again.
Monty Portman

A

It’s a common problem and somehow or other you’ve managed to get text into your blank ‘Normal.dot’ document template, which is the file that Word uses to create blank formatted documents. The solution is to edit Normal.dot, and remove the rogue text. To do that go to Find on the Start menu and search for Normal.dot; in Windows 98 it should be in the Templates sub folder and in Windows XP it lives in Documents and Settings. When you’ve found it do not double-click on it, as this will just open a new blank document; instead right-click on the icon and select Open, and it will be opened in Word. Delete the text; click Save and normality will be restored…

Q

I have been given the task to compile a newsletter for a social club I belong to. On completion I emailed it to the secretary for printing but it was sent back by Terrapin Multinet stating that it contained an inappropriate word i.e. the slang expression to urinate. As I clearly had not used this word I sought the advice of a more knowledgeable friend who advised me to send it again as a ‘zip’ file. This too was returned stating that it now contained an offensive four-letter word. In desperation I down loaded it onto CD and drove 15 miles each way to deliver it. I emailed Terrapin Multinet asking what was going on but did not get a reply. Who are these people and who gives them the authority to do this?

Jose McVicar

A

It’s not so much a who as a what. Terrapin Multinet is a program a Proxy Server program, installed by companies who want to protect their computer networks against hackers, unauthorised use of resources (like printers…), monitor undesirable emails and stop employees downloading potentially harmful files or viruses. It’s up to the company management and the network administrator how much protection or filtering is applied. Maybe in future you should send your emails to your friend’s home or private email address. 

Q

Much of the work I do as a translator is confidential. Work is archived and, to ensure security, I use Omega Zip disks, which can be password protected. I'd like to upgrade to archiving on CD but so far, cannot find a system for
password-protecting CD's similar to the Iomega system. Economics are a factor. Do you have any suggestions?

David W Murray

A

Password protecting a disc is not a very secure method of safeguarding your files. They can easily be read or copied by other means, which we need not go into here, but suffice it to say it doesn’t take much effort to find out how to do it. It’s far better to encrypt your work, which means that even if the disc is lost or stolen its contents will be unreadable to anyone without the necessary decryption ‘key’. You’ll find a list of freeware encryption programs at www.webattack.com/freeware/

security/fwencrypt.shtml

If you want the Rolls Royce of encryption tools go to http://web.mit.edu/network/pgp.html, where you will find a useful article on PGP or Pretty Good Privacy, which will ensure that your work cannot be read by anyone outside of the CIA!

Q

I am running Windows ME and installed BT Broadband last December.  In the beginning it all went quite well. Recently I have installed a wireless card on the main computer and likewise onto a laptop, which is located about 25m away.  My problem is that I keep on being disconnected. The interval of disconnection is intermittent (sometimes two or three minutes whilst other times it can be over an hour). I have checked all connections and everything seems okay. BT has checked the line and that too is working fine and they are also baffled. 

Derek Taylor

A

If this behaviour only started after you installed the wireless components then I would check to make sure that your Dial Up Connection and Modem settings haven’t been changed. Open Internet Explorer and go to Internet Options on the Tools menu. Select the Connection tab, highlight your broadband modem, then Settings, click the Advanced button under Dial Up settings and make sure the ‘Disconnect if Idle…’ box is unchecked. If it only happens when your laptop is in use check its browser settings as well. Broadband disconnections can also be caused by other activity on the line. Is the phone being used by someone else in the house, if so try another phone as some types can cause problems.

Q

How can I send text messages to a mobile phone from my computer?           

A Preston

A

There are more than 100 web sites (currently 15 in the UK) offering ‘free’ SMS text messaging but needless to say there are plenty of strings attached. You’ll find a comprehensive list and a breakdown of what’s involved at: http://www.textmefree.com/