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The firewall debate heats up

After my post yesterday, then my article in the newletter, a few people feel that I am way off base in recommending that most people don't need a firewall.

First, Windows XP has a firewall built-in, if you use DSL or you have your cable Internet running through a Router, then you have a hardware firewall. My comments are pertaining to the extra software firewalls like ZoneAlarm and Sygate.

My cool brother-in-law, Nishan, emailed me with a few comments about my articles. He designs and maintains a huge database for a medical billing company in Oregon. In other words, unlike me, he is a true geek. I merely pretend to understand when people talk about SQL, Linux, and Apache, Nishan understands this stuff.

Count your processes

"My computer is running slow." This complaint tops the list as the number one computer owner complaint over the past few years. Once an infliction for older computers only, slow computer syndrome (SCS) can affect even the newest and most powerful of computers. With Windows XP, there is one quick barometer that you can use to test the health of your computer; the Processes list. Too many processes running automatically at startup can indicate either a poorly configured machine or sign of a serious computer problem related to viruses, spyware or both.

In the Windows world, a process is a program (or part of a program) that is currently running. Microsoft Windows itself starts at least fifteen to twenty processes when we turn our computers on for the day. Over the years, I have developed a mental chart that allows me to quickly assess a computer health just by looking at the processes running upon a fresh boot (start) of a computer:

  • 25-34 Processes – Excellent
  • 34-39 Processes – Good
  • 40-44 Processes – OK
  • 45-49 Processes – Fair
  • More than 49 Processes – Poor

The numbers are purely anecdotal based on my experience with thousands of computers. However, they also offer a good way to quickly get a handle on where to start with a computer.

To view which processes are running on your computer (Windows XP or 2000 only), push Ctrl+Alt+Delete on your keyboard OR RIGHT Click on a blank part of your taskbar then click Task Manager. After the Task Manager appears, Click the Processes tab. In the lower left corner of the Processes tab window, the total number of processes will be shown.

Windows Processes

Use my chart to gauge the health of your machine right at startup before you open any programs. If your system has more than 45 processes running at startup, you should search our site for two different terms: Spyware and MSCONFIG . You can use the tips listed under these topics to reduce the number of processes that start automatically with your system. In some cases, you may need to employ the help of an experienced computer professional to help safely reduce the number of processes (thus increasing the health and speed) of your computer.

For those that like to tinker with their computer and want to know what some of the cryptic names you will find in the Process list are, use the following sites to sleuth out the Processes listed in your Task Manager:

“That’s such old technology”

I was reading a review of smart phones the other day and had to comment on a topic that comes up frequently in technology…old technology. You all know that my philosophy is 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. Too often, I think companies roll out upgrades simply for the sake of upgrading when their original product functioned perfectly. Think about products like Norton AntiVirus, Microsoft Word, McAfee, Acrobat Reader, and others that hit a peak of performance and features about six or seven years ago and did their jobs well. After that, the company's programmers (maybe pushed by managers) continued to roll out product after product with very little extra functionality, but an awful lot of extra junk that was not needed nor is it used. All leading to products that slowed down computers and didn't increase efficiency in any way.

I still think that we are in the infancy of the technology age and many products and technologies need to be continually pushed and improved, but sometimes products perform all the needed functions and need not be over laden with the extra weight of unnecessary code. Microsoft Word worked great in the 1997 version and no

It’s a computer emergency

Lately, I have seen too many real emergencies. Sometimes I get calls that are "emergencies" like the kind where the grandkids have come over and deleted the solitaire icon from the desktop.

But, then I get real emergencies. Lately I had one client whose hard drive motor suddently quit. Today I saw a dentist's office where the server with all of the software kept shutting down suddenly. Then, the worst yet, I am working a little bit with a local financial institution whose server crashed – not a small business either.

In all but one case, the client has complete and current backup, but even having backup doesn't help keep the ship afloat when a major crash happens. Sometimes the entire ship has to be put in drydock for a week or so to get things figured out.

I should have trusted my instincts

I teach my kids to trust their instincts when making decisions, taking tests, and dealing with people. I try to do the same, but sometimes my brain (or maybe ego and curiosity) gets in the way. Over the past few years, we have talked at length about computer security and the dangers of not being secure.  After spending many hours hunkered down over an infected computer and trying to get overwhelmed computers fixed, we have come to a conclusion about fixing some of these problems. In some of the worst cases, it is cheaper and quicker to backup up the necessary user files then format the hard drive and start over with a fresh install of Windows, its updates and the proper security software.

Another reminder

For nearly ten years, I have preached the importance of keeping your anti-virus software up-to-date. Two of my clients today alone were not keeping their software updated and problems arose because of it. Every month more than 500 new viruses are released by hackers and their ilk. If your anti-virus software doesn't know about these new problems (via updates), it can't protect your computer from them.

If you have a high speed Internet connection, chances are very good that your software is staying updated by itself. However, you need to check it at least weekly to make sure the program is updating. When you open any anti-virus program (we recommend AVG and vigorously oppose the use of Norton), you will see a date next to a section marked "Virus definitions or database". This date should never be more than two week old. If it is, initiate an update immediately.

Keep all your disks and documentation

I worked on a computer today which needed reformatting because of massive failure from viruses and spyware. They handn't followed the "Castellini on Computers Approach to Security" so the computer needed my help. When I need to perform a reformat, I need to have all the original software or restore CD's to get everything up and running again. If my customer doesn't have the disks, then I have to search the Internet for their particular system.

The most important disks contain the information that tells Windows how to interact with your attached hardware (drivers). Usually, they are contained on either a restore CD or a CD marked Drivers and Utilities. Keep in mind that you can save time and money by putting all the original documentation and any disks that came with your new system (except for the AOL disk) in a manilla envelope or big zip lock bag. This is all important and vital information to your computer.

Recent spyware surge

Last week Rick and I made a fast trip to Denver and back in a single day (about 7 hours on the road).

During that time we talked about the various computer problems we have seen lately. He noted that spyware seemed to be on the decrease. It is only Wednesday and I have reason to believe that Rick set a jinx upon computer users everywhere.

On Monday night my sister called with a computer problem. I drove to her house and her computer was loaded with spyware and viruses. Earlier that day, I received a call from another client with a computer that wouldn’t even boot up because it has so many viruses (over 1600 infections).

Troubleshoot one step at a time

I have noticed that a small computer problem can quickly become a big computer problem if too much troubleshooting is applied too soon.

Today I saw a client who has been without Internet since late last week. Originally their antivirus had caught a small virus. Soon after that the Internet wasn’t working.

After looking at the situation, I don’t think those two problems had anything to do with each other. Sometimes the Internet provider or connection goes down.

Rather than giving the connection a few hours to come back up, my client disconnected everything.

When I got there today, I noticed that the wiring was all out of whack. Once I rewired the hub everything came back online.

The computer glitch fairy is back on duty

I mentioned in one of my articles last week that my calls had slowed way down. Whether is was due to JUCO (Junior College World Series) or the holiday or just a lack of computer problems, I don’t know.

Whatever the reason was, it seems like people’s computers are going nutz in full force. The number of calls today from people needing me to come by their home and fix their computers was in the double digits.

I am writing this just to let everyone know that the computer glitch fairy is out there and she is placing her wand on systems wherever she goes.

She can be thwarted though. I have found that she avoids computers that are running antivirus and antispyware programs. She also avoids systems that are keep cool with plenty of air circulation. She seems to fear computers that are using Mozilla Firefox but she loves computers with Norton Antivirus and AOL.