E-Mail Problems

[Joe L.]

It seems that I am currently having serious e-mail problems. I think that the problem is related to the "gradual deterioration" of my Windows NT operating system and software. About 4 weeks ago I found that I could no longer send e-mail from my @yahoo address, although I could still receive e-mail. About 2 weeks ago I found that I could no longer send e-mail via one of the 2 "routes" available from my @comcast address. Yesterday, I found that I could no longer send from EITHER "route" of my @comcast address. So far, I can still receive mail (I think).

It so happens I have a brand new Dell 4600 with Windows XP sitting in boxes right behind me. It arrived here about 3 weeks ago. However, I promised someone that I wouldn't set it up until I have my "ZL-1" engine-build project complete (this is supposed to be an incentive for me to finish the project and keep me from getting involved and "distracted" with a new "toy" before I get the engine done).

Anyway, for those of you that have/will send me e-mail understand that I will not be able to respond until I get this computer out of here and the new one set up.

I guess I'm going to have to get that engine done now. Otherwise, my new computer will be obsolete before I ever get it out of the box!

[Joe L.]

Addendum

By the way, so far I can still post to the NDB (obviously). Tomorrow-----who knows? It sems like a "little piece" of what I can do with this computer "goes away" every day.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Addendum

Realize that you can have that Dell up and running in under 2 hours, INCLUDING all the updates you'll have to download. Setting up your printer and everything else may take longer, but at least you could get your e-mail going.

Then again, you could just take 2 days and finish the ZL-1 first.
And say Hi to her for Jan and me. It's nice to hear she keeps you motivated on the project.

Patrick

[Mike Cobine]

Re: E-Mail Problems

Joe, go out and download Spybot S&D and Ad-aware 6.0 by LavaSoft. Both are free and trusted spyware tools. You could just be suffering like all of us.

Also, needless to say, be sure your virus protection has the latest signatures.

There is a software called Ad-ware, which is not free and is not the good guy stuff, so don't hit their site by accident.

[Larry P.]

Re: E-Mail Problems

I've been having similar problems for over a year. I have installed McAfee virus protection and it's working well. The Spam-killer has gotten rid of all the garbage emails.
Larry

[Dick W.]

Re: E-Mail Problems

There is another version of AdAware from Lavasoft. I believe that a subscription costs about $40.00 It will catch a lot of adware, tracking, and malware that the free versions do not

[Michael H.]

Re: E-Mail Problems

Mike/Joe,

Agree, the problem of this spyware is getting worse by the day. I've been using Ad-Aware for quite a while and it's amazing how much better and faster my system runs. I run at least one of these programs every few days. Been fixing computers all over the neighborhood and almost every one has the spyware problem and nothing else wrong.

Joe,

I emailed you earlier. I may have an extra GM/Chevrolet I.D. number to part number conversion book for you. I have one that was printed in 1970 that I use and also a spare (somewhere) that was printed in 1974. Will convert part I.D. numbers to GM and GM to I.D. Has everything from Bendix, Carter, Delco, Eaton and Holley to Wagner. Too many pages to scan and send, about 150. Covers part numbers from about 1952 to 1974.

Michael

[Mike Cobine]

For those "Always On" connections

You give the hackers a nice long time to hack in on you. If you have an always on connection, like DSL or cable (or T1 if you are that lucky or any others), disconnect from the network when you are not using it. Just shut off the modem. It will keep you from being a steady target. Also, if you do not have a static IP (you have to pay so you'd know if you did), then your IP address changes each time you connect to your ISP so it is harder for someone to find you.

You should also run a router, even if you have only one computer, and a firewall, even if only software. There are several good free ones, but the one I am running on the personal computers is the McAfee firewall. It collected practically everything, in or out, and was most annoying, but it saved my hide many times. It was included in the McAfee Virus Scan CD. You also knew when it was catching something.

On the work computer, I have Cisco Security Agent. It works silently so I never know what it has caught, but the price is such you could buy a couple of computers for its price tag, so you know it must do a lot.

[Michael H.]

Re: For those "Always On" connections

Mike,

I have amazingly little trash coming into my system and it's on 24/7. I use it at night and the girlfriend uses it during the day. One advantage is the fact that it's Road Runner cable instead of DSL. Seems RR weeds out most of the garbage before it ever gets to their users. It's worth the extra money. I was at a friends house last week, trying to clean up their system but they had so much garbage in their puter, it took two hours to find it all. Finally got it going enough to DL Ad-Aware and that took care of the rest. As soon as I was able to get it online, trash started coming in again.

Problem with all the anti-virus systems is, they have to know what the latest virus is before they can come up with a patch for it. I've never had ANY anti virus programs in any of my systems and I've never had a virus in about 10 years. Seems like every time someone's puter goes wacko, they immediately blame it on some virus. The girl down the street gets about three a week and I go unload a ton of adware from her system. The girl a few more houses down gets so much trash in her system that it sometimes requires a total dump/refill. Problem is, she has that cheap $10. WalMart dialup connection and they live off of spyware and ad's. This adware thing is getting worse by the day.

[Tom M.]

Re: E-Mail Problems

Joe,

I had a simular problem in the last couple of months, went through it online with a tech from Roadrunner, and it was a problem with my idenity, created a new idenity, and everything is fine now.

You might try that if you don't want to open up the boxes yet.

Tom McCabe

[Rick A.]

Re: E-Mail Problems

actually, if you download the "FREE" AD-AWARE SE version, you get almost the same functionality of the "pay" version that Dick mentioned

[Michael H.]

Re: E-Mail Problems

I agree, especially if you select the "use custom scanning options", then hard drive. I do the normal "perform smart system search" every few days and then the custom search at least once a week.

One thing you may want to do first is delete all cookies as they will come up on the Ad-aware search and slow down the process.

[Dick W.]

Re: E-Mail Problems

I ran the free version then imediately purchased the upgrade. When I ran it there was over 100 new data miners, tracking software, and malware

[Rick A.]

Re: E-Mail Problems

Dick,

thanks - may have to do the upgrade myself! besides Ad-Aware SE, I run SpyBot and PestPatrol. I have them all "running in the background REAL TIME". In addition, the "software suite" that I run, also has a "malware" package that alerts me on EVERYTHING. Can you tell, I am just a little paranoid!

[Jack H.]

Don't forget the firewall!!!

Since Joe has an account with Comcast, that suggests he's connected via wide band and essentially on-line continuously. Comcast has a program to give a free, 1-year subscription to McAfee's Firewall to their customers (just log on and navigate to your account page for the link).

In addition to virus bad guys (usually attached to email/files downloaded) and hostile cookies (usually picked up by visiting certain websites, chat rooms, clicking on pop-up spam), there are folks out there 'mapping' the internet by randomly 'pinging' specific ISP addresses (Did I get an acknowledgement?) and probing the responding site (Who is this? What capabilities does this site recepient have? Is this a secret back door to NORAD or just a simple PC?).

Not all of these 'mappers' are friendly and some look for ways to get into your PC (Can I open the monkey port? Etc.) to probe further. Top drawer firewall utilities work from a data base that knows who the bad guys are and denies them external access to your computer automatically. Plus, they work in reverse not allowing any software resident on your PC to reach out to the internet unless you specifically authorize outbound access.

So, if you've been running 'naked' in terms of security, you may already have been breached. Running a good quality anti-virus utility is 'part' of the solution, but also having a decent firewall and cookie supervisor (SpyBot is a free download) rounds out the picture....

The latest Service Pack released for Win XP provides an improved firewall utility, but you have to take the time to visit MSoft's knowledge base and know how to properly configure it. Last, it's inbound vs. inbound/outbound focused, so short of a complete system rebuild it's not a full solution for those computers who've already been reached/breached....