June 13 2008 COOLSITES Newsletter #169 by Mark Donaldson

This is what the COOLSITES Toolbar looks like. Click here for more info: http://luem42.com/toolbar.html Click here to get it: http://luem42.OurToolbar.com


I have published the June 13 2008 COOLSITES Newsletter #169 by Mark Donaldson.

The following is an excerpt from this weeks newsletter. To see the full newsletter with all of the COOLSITES links please click and bookmark this link: http://luem42.googlepages.com/coolsites.html and check it each week. Thank you. Mark.


June 13 2008 COOLSITES Newsletter #169 by Mark Donaldson

Everyone but Juno, Netzero, MSN and Hotmail users got this week's newsletter because those ISP's found something objectionable in the newsletter.

I still may have problems from time to time so here is what I have done. Subscribers may use a private link to download the newsletter in the text ( .txt ), html (.html ) and the MS Word Doc ( .doc ) format in a zip file. I will upload the zip files to my archive site right after I send out the newsletter on Friday morning. If a subscriber doesn't receive the newsletter, by 8am EDT, they can quickly download it, unzip it and peruse it offline. You can also read it online from there.

If you are a subscriber and don't know the private link you can email me for it. These zip files are less than 40K which is smaller than the 100K or more newsletter email.

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Semper Gratis (forever free) of cost

COOLSITES is a list of safe, fun, useful, informative and just plain cool websites and programs that are FREE, FREE and FREE. All of the programs and websites I list are free. If I list anything that is so good but isn't free I will list the price with it.

My website is Dialup Friendly. All pages except "Just The Links" and "Specialized Search Engines" load up in under 15 seconds.

Wherever you go if you see the user name LUEM42 that's me

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Pirillo's Picks for February 13 2007

"And if you think that's a lot of links, you should see how many http://luem42.com/ collects every day. It's enough to make you wanna never leave the house again as long as you live" Yours Digitally, Chris Pirillo http://chris.pirillo.com/


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Clif Notes Newsletter, Feb 2007 http://freewarewiki.com/ClifNotes

"The COOLSITES Newsletter - find the coolest links here. This fella named Mark Donaldson has been sending out his lists of cool sites since 2003. I'd never heard of him before last week. One day I was Googling myself to see who was posting links to my newsletter, and I found his website. I guess he's mentioned my newsletter at least 3 times. I like the COOLSITES website too, but I think it could use some reformatting to make it a bit easier to read. What I really like is the content there. Mark must really read a lot of stuff on the web and he takes the best links then tells you about them." http://freewarewiki.com/CoolSitesNewsletter


Welcome to Clif Notes Newsletter
June 8, 2008

Here are the headlines from this week's newsletter.

# REVIEWS
1. Spicebird - the Outlook alternative
2. TeamViewer - remote desktop sharing and conferernces
3. Sleipnir Web Browser - fast and customizable
4. PrintMaster Express - card, posters, calendars and more
5. ViStart - XP start menu replacement looks like Vista
6. RadarSync 2008 - scan for programs and drivers that need updated
7. Phantasmagoria - transform your images with cool effects
8. Old Newsletter

# TIPS AND FEEDBACK
1. What free software do you need?
2. Internet Fixes Weekend Windup
3. Comments last week

# COOL WEBSITES
1. Some really fun chalk drawings
2. Aionel's Software - games and utilities made in Poland
3. CoolSites Newsletter this week

# NEW NEWS
1. SnapFiles.com - new and updated freeware
2. News from Sarah in Tampa
3. Security news from Malware Advisor
4. A view from CyberNirvana



Lastest Newsletter http://freewarewiki.com/ClifNotesNewsletter080608

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Security News

Beware of the IRS Stimulus Check scam. Phishers are sending out emails that look like they came from the IRS and calling on the phone claiming they need additional info or for you to click a link to get your check. The IRS says that they do not correspond with anyone via email and that it's a scam. If you should receive this email or other IRS scams please forward to: phishing.DeleteThis@irs.gov.


"National Cyber Alert System Cyber Security Alert SA06-229A Microsoft Updates for Multiple Vulnerabilities Original release date: June 10, 2008 Source: US-CERT Systems Affected * Microsoft Windows * Microsoft Internet Explorer Overview: Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer could allow an attacker to gain control of your computer. Solution: Install updates Microsoft has released updates to remedy critical vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer for Windows. Updates for Microsoft Windows and Office are available on the Microsoft Update site. Office for Mac users should go to the Mactopia website to obtain updates. We also recommend enabling Automatic Updates. Description: Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows may allow an attacker to access your computer, install and run malicious software on your computer, or cause your computer to crash. More technical information is available in US-CERT Technical Cyber Security Alert TA08-162B. http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA08-162B.html "


"National Cyber Alert System Cyber Security Alert SA08-162C Apple QuickTime Updates for Multiple Vulnerabilities Original release date: June 10, 2008 Source: US-CERT Systems Affected * Apple Mac OS X running versions of QuickTime prior to 7.5 * Microsoft Windows running versions of QuickTime prior to 7.5 Overview: Apple has released Apple QuickTime 7.5 to correct several vulnerabilities that are described in Apple Knowledgebase article HT1991. These vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to gain access to your computer. Solution: Upgrade QuickTime OS X users should use the Mac OS X Software Update feature to download and install Apple QuickTime 7.5. Consider scheduling Software Update to check for updates automatically (this option is enabled by default). Microsoft Windows users should upgrade to Apple QuickTime 7.5. Description: QuickTime prior to version 7.5 has multiple image and media file handling vulnerabilities that could allow an attacker to run malicious programs on your computer. This could occur when you unknowingly visit a malicious website. Upgrading to Apple QuickTime version 7.5 will correct these vulnerabilities. Note that Apple iTunes installs QuickTime, so any system with iTunes is vulnerable. For more technical information, see US-CERT Technical Security Alert TA08-162C. References http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA08-162C.html "

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Security Links

Some subscribers have indicated that the anti-spyware/adware programs I have listed here recently are "rogues". I get these links from good sources however I do not test the programs myself because I just don't have the time and most new programs won't work on my old 98 system. The definitive source of rogue info is Spyware Warrior and they weren't listed there. Spyware Warrior- Rogue-Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites: http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm


8 Firefox Addons for Privacy and Security: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/keeping-safe-on-the-web-8-firefox-addons-...-privac

Battling a file infection. Kim's Tips: http://www.komando.com/tips/index.aspx?id=4988

Bluetooth, IE to get critical Microsoft patches: http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/060508-bluetooth-ie-to-get-critical.html

Choose (and remember) great passwords: http://lifehacker.com/software/notag/geek-to-live--choose-and-remember...eat-pas

Free Fraud Prevention DVDs from USPS: http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/dvdorder.htm

Harness paranoia to avoid spyware infections: http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=56826177-be56918137808c8d29d61779...633af-b

Microsoft patches 10 bugs in Windows, IE and Bluetooth: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasi...mp;arti

New. Crypturn is a powerful and safe tool that allows you to protect private documents on your hard disk: http://www.siturn.com/

New. Process Security Manager: http://www.app-zilla.com/process_security.html

Opera 9.5 to include antimalware protection: http://news.cnet.com/8301-10789_3-9961804-57.html

Safari 'carpet bomb' attack code released - Network World: http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/061008-safari-carpet-bomb-attack-code.html

Scared Safe - Life's Little Identity Theft Prevention Handbook PDF download: http://www.identityfinder.com/scaredsafe/

Secure your cell phone: http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=56683556-be56918137808c8d29d61779...633af-b

Update. a-squared Anti-Dialer 3.5.0.5 Successor of YAW (Yet Another Warner) - free of charge Dialer scanner and remover: http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/antidialer/

Update. Crypt4Free 4.7.5 files encryption utility. 128 bit to 2048 bit strong aes encryption software.: http://www.secureaction.com/encryption_free/

Update. Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool 1.42: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=ad724ae0-e72d...54-9ab3

Update. Opera 9.50 web browser: http://www.opera.com/

Update. SpywareBlaster 4.1: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Vista. Protecting Against Spyware In Vista Part I: http://www.lockergnome.com/it/2008/06/10/protecting-against-spyware-in...sta-par

Vista. Protecting Against Spyware In Vista Part II: http://feed.lockergnome.com/~r/nexus/it/~3/310050872/

Vista. Protecting Against Spyware In Vista Part III: http://feed.lockergnome.com/~r/nexus/it/~3/310527533/

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What Me Myth

From Consumers Report at: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/tires-auto-parts/car-maintenan...get-the

MYTH BUSTERS

Morning fill-ups. A common tip is to buy gasoline in the morning, when the air is cool, rather than in the heat of the day. The theory is that the cooler gasoline will be denser, so you will get more for your money. But the temperature of the gasoline coming out of the fuel nozzle changes very little, if at all, during any 24-hour stretch. Any extra gas you get will be negligible.

Air conditioning vs. opening windows. Some people advise you not to run the air conditioner because it puts more of a load on the engine, which can decrease fuel economy. But others say that opening the windows at highway speeds can affect gas mileage even more by disrupting the vehicle's aerodynamics. Our tests show that neither makes enough of a difference to worry about. Using air conditioning while driving at 65 mph reduced the Camry's gas mileage by about 1 mpg. The effect of opening the windows at 65 mph was not even measurable.

A dirty air filter. Our tests show that driving with a dirty air filter no longer has any impact on fuel economy, as it did with older engines. That's because modern engines use computers to precisely control the air/fuel ratio, depending on the amount of air coming in through the filter. Reducing airflow causes the engine to automatically reduce the amount of fuel being used. Fuel economy didn't change, but the Camry accelerated much more slowly with a dirty filter.

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What Me Forward

I don't forward emails because most of them are either untrue or have exaggerated "facts".

Thursday I got one that said a billion seconds ago it was 1959 and a billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.

What? A million seconds is about 11.5 days and a billion seconds is about 31.7 years (do the math) so a billion seconds ago was just before Christmas 1976

A billion minutes ago was 98 AD and Jesus would be alive if he lived to be 98 but he was crucified when he was about a billion seconds old.

So as soon as I saw those exaggerated numbers I didn't trust anything else that email said.

Most forwarded emails get changed by some of the forwarders so don't believe anything you read. Keep an open mind and check the facts before wasting the internet's bandwidth forwarding those emails.

The best forwarded emails are jokes.

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Windows Secrets Newsletter • Issue 156 • 2008-06-12

The following topics appear in our free content

INTRODUCTION Get our free search tools for Firefox and IE 7
Meet me in Hong Kong on June 15, free of charge

TOP STORY Free add-ons teach Windows Explorer new tricks
It's time to go beyond files and folders
Give Explorer more file-management muscle
Maximize your viewing and connectivity options

WACKY WEB WEEK "Hi, I'm popping corn — can I call you back?"

http://WindowsSecrets.com/comp/080612

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What Me Update

From: HelpWithWindows.com Volume 11 Number 11 June 14 2008 http://www.windowsnewsletter.com/current-issue.html

"Microsoft issued a number of updates for Windows Vista & Windows XP in the past weeks

Windows Vista:

KB951978 - Update to resolve an issue in VBScript/JScript scripts from CScriptWScript hosts, certain built-ins may not function correctly when "Standards and Formats" in "Regional Settings" is changed.

KB952714 - This update configures the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program to improve the quality of software information that is sent to Microsoft. This information is used to help improve the features that you use most frequently. Participation in the program is voluntary and no information that is collected is used to identify or contact you.

KB950126 - Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista.

Windows XP:

KB951978 - Update to resolve an issue in VBScript/JScript scripts from CScriptWScript hosts, certain built-ins may not function correctly when "Standards and Formats" in "Regional Settings" is changed.

KB953356 - Install this update before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3 to prevent an issue in which your computer may restart continuously after you upgrade to SP3 on systems with non-Intel processors"

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COOLSITES 151 cool links

I harvest what I believe to be the best links from the best sources that are safe, fun, informative, useful and just plain cool. I categorize them and edit their descriptions for clarity. I may make comments about the links but you will know because I always sign them with "Mark".

To see the full newsletter with all of the COOLSITES links please click and bookmark this link: http://luem42.googlepages.com/coolsites.html and check it each week. Thank you. Mark.