I like to try out free security programs. It's not that I'm paranoid, but that I should be.
Trend Micro has made this RUBotted utility freely available. I tried it, but I really don't like the idea of leaving the darned thing run all the time. I personally only run it every now and then, if at all.
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Quote from the website
Malicious software called Bots can secretly take control of computers and make them participate in networks called “Botnets.” These networks can harness massive computing power and Internet bandwidth to relay spam, attack web servers, infect more computers, and perform other illicit activities.
Security experts believe that millions of computers have already joined Botnets without the knowledge of their owners. By using remotely-controlled computers, the criminals in charge of the Botnets try to remain anonymous and elude authorities seeking to prosecute them.
RUBotted monitors your computer for suspicious activities and regularly checks with an online service to identify behavior associated with Bots. Upon discovering a potential infection, RUBotted prompts you to scan and clean your computer.
I've got pretty simple tastes when it comes to making my desktop look good. If you need something a bit fancier, like automatic wallpaper switching, John's Background Switcher is one of the absolute best ... and it's free.
If you'd like to find out a bit more about it, read a little bit of the review from y0himba at donationcoder.
It provides not only the ability to use pictures you select, or entire folders and sub-folder you select, but also allows for random Flickr and Yahoo photos/pictures! You read correctly, you can configure John's Background Switcher to grab the top 100 or whatever user specified number of photos/pictures off Flickr and Yahoo for endless random backgrounds. You can also specify tag/text keywords for Flickr, and search terms for Yahoo ... This switcher surpasses all others in my opinion, and completely leaves comparable commercial products in the dust. The author is very personable, and responds to every feature request and bug report through his forums. While you are on his site, check out his photography. If you enjoy this program as much as I am, please donate.
A few years ago, I was having fun trying out a virtual desktop manager called Sphere. It allowed you to use a desktop that virtually put you in the center of a spherical domain where your opened applications could reside all around you. The application went payware and so my interest in it vaporized.
Recently, I saw the review below from Samer at freewaregenius. 360 Desktop promises to bring back a similar desktop world where your desktop gives you some real freedom of movement.
from Samer:
Imagine a desktop environment that is spread across multiple screens consisting of a single, panoramic wallpaper image, and where you can scroll smoothly across the new desktop and place both icons and applications anywhere you like.
360 Desktop tries to deliver exactly this with some success. It provides a never-ending desktop that scrolls smoothly and creates the feeling of an expansive workspace with a lot of space for your windows, apps, and icons. However, the pre-release beta tested here still has some major kinks that need to be ironed out, high on the list of which is it’s support for embedded internet widgets that still feels rudimentary and left me wishing that I could simply switch it off ...
I've been using this stand-alone tool for years to keep visiting kids entertained on my computers. The game lets you destroy an image of your desktop using 9 different tools. Just don't tell the kids about using the Escape key to exit the program.
Quote from the site:
Computer been giving you a hard time? This game will let you take a virtual hammer to the screen amongst other things! A great stress reliever.
Download the "Stress Relief" program by clicking on one of the links below. Unzip the file you have downloaded (but do try to remember where you unzipped it to!).
Remember to press key to get back to menu to exit the programme or to change tools of destruction!
Complete with sound effects - it does work to reduce stress levels!
WERE YOU LOOKING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS? Yes, and it was a lengthly search. Got sidetracked for hours with Pegasus Mail which I was never able to get fully working.
WHAT ARE YOU USING IT FOR? I have two uses for this program:
1. On a USB key for checking my e-mail on other peoples machines while traveling.
2. As the only program on a small USB key that will be given to selected members of an organization as needed so that they can make mass mailings to the 200 members of the organization without having to make any changes to their normal e-mail client.
WHAT WERE YOU USING BEFORE YOU FOUND THIS? Popcorn, which is a great little program, but it lacks a rich text editor.
HAS IT SOLVED A PROBLEM YOU WERE HAVING? Yes, completely
WHAT PROBLEMS HAS IT CAUSED? None so far
IS THE PROGRAM EASY TO USE? Yes
DOES IT COME WITH HELP FILES? No, but there is a forum ( http://forum.dreammail-europe.org/ ) that could provide some help. I didn't need any help in setting it up. It should be noted that the program is by Chinese authors and Chinese pops up here and there in the program's files.
WHAT FEATURES DO YOU LIKE OR NOT LIKE? It's a portable app. and it has full rich text support. Only a few programs do both.
WHAT FEATURES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ADDED OR TAKEN AWAY OR CHANGED? None so far.
I want to ask you a simple question. Is it ok to download and use everything you find on the net?
I'm not talking about making copies of something yourself. Many people feel that it's only "Fair Use" to make a copy of any digital media, such as CDs or DVDs, if they intend to use it only as a backup copy. Let's table the topic of "Fair Use" for another day.
First, let me tell you how I feel about it. I don't feel that it's right to use protected works without permission or without paying for it in some fashion.
I'm not innocent. Years ago, I believed it was perfectly ok to go out and grab cracked software and music files. Gradually, I've gotten older and wiser, I hope. Now days, I never visit file sharing sites, and I generally buy a CD or DVD if I need to hear a favorite band or watch a movie.
I asked a friend of mine, let's call him "Unrepentent", what he thought about downloading pirated software.
From Unrepentent:
First off, I don't think it is appropriate as a main topic for your site, because it's not really about free stuff. Personally I don't regard it as Stealing exactly either, since I'm not using it to make a profit, but a victimless-crime IS still illegal, and if the various not-quite-free-wares (Trial-ware, Cripple-ware, Demo-Ware) aren't free, then Pirated warez definitely aren't. You do however often address off-topic concerns, especially when they address internet security & safety, or are common or hot topics.
Caveat --- You REALLY do NOT want to come across as advocating it. Heh, even an unrepentant old Pirate (A-a-a-a-arr!) doesn't do that. I freely acknowledge that what I am doing is wrong, but I'm okay with that. Anybody who follows my footsteps should be okay with it too, or shouldn't do it. Thanks to you and other members of the Free Software Movement (including myself), there are a lot of free options for most things. With a very few exceptions, the recommendations I make to others involve freeware and Open Source, and they more than suffice. In fact, I do much less pirating these days - it's just not necessary, I can usually find something free or open that does what I want that's just as good.
Not always though...
Sometimes I need to check out THE app in order to know what to look for in a free one, or whether it's the right app for the job. If there's a legitimate rationale for Piracy, that would be it.
Another thing about Pirating apps these days as opposed to finding open or free ones, is that it's often not worth the hassle. I'm not just talking due diligence. If you think downloading ANYTHING these days is risky (and it is), then Pirated stuff is a thousand-fold more risky. You really need to feel comfortable and knowledgable before you get into it. Just like 'Real Life'.
Gary at Internet Fixes continues to amaze me with hundreds and thousands of tips for your PC. Whatever your operating system, or how you use it, a visit to Gary's site will soon have you saying "So that's how you do this!".
Wow! Over 900 people and still growing! I invite all of you to record your locations on this map. You can include as little or as much information as you wish. I think you'll enjoy seeing yourself there.
Here's a small look at my frapper map.
Get Gmail! and Get Firefox!
You need a free 6 GB Gmail account to access many of the cool features at Google. After more than two years in beta testing Gmail is open to the public. Just go to http://gmail.com and sign up for an account.
I think Gmail works best in the awesome Firefox browser. It's free, easy to use, and it's way more secure than Internet Explorer. My favorite thing to do is to customize Firefox so that it does much more than IE ever could. You can select new button controls for your toolbars, install extensions to add new features, or change the look of your browser with themes - the way Firefox looks and works is under your control.
I get many of the reviews in the newsletter from the readers. You don't have to be a genius or computer guru. Just answer a few questions and send me a review. I'll probably put you in the newsletter.
What do you have to say?
Just tell me what article you are talking about and leave me your comment.
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