2006 December

Speeding Up Your Windows Computer

December 30, 2006 By Terry Stockdale

Recently, I wrote about speeding up your computer. In that article, I recommended adding more memory as the cheapest and most effective way to speed up an older computer. That helps you no matter what program you are running.

There are also some Windows XP settings that you can change to speed up your computer. These do not actually make a change in its speed, but they change your perception of its speed at a critical time — while you are waiting.

Windows XP has a “Performance Options” menu that includes 16 different checkboxes for settings that affect how fast Windows itself displays items on the screen — regardless of which video card you use. You can access this menu via Start / Control Panel / Performance and Maintenance.

Filed Under: Operating System, Optimize, Speed Tweaks, Windows XP

Microsoft Windows XP Wireless Security Patch Available – NOT Automatic

December 15, 2006 By Terry Stockdale

InformationWeek pointed out today that Microsoft has posted a Windows XP SP2 wireless security patch to the Microsoft website, but hasn’t made it available via Windows Updates yet. That means that if you’ve done your Windows Updates for December (released Tuesday December 12th), you still don’t have the patch.

The patch is designed to make the Windows XP wireless connection process less vulnerable to attack when you are booting or resuming from hibernation. In particular, it’s designed to help prevent Windows XP from “advertising” which networks to which it wants to connect (which would make an attacker’s attempt easier).
This is especially important when you’re at a public access point like a coffee shop or other public hotspot.

It also “enhances” the Windows XP support for WPA2 encryption (which is only valuable if your network card supports WPA2 encryption).

If you can pass the Genuine Windows test, you can download the patch at Microsoft’s site.

Filed Under: Communications, Patches, Security, Wireless

CounterSpy, iHateSpam and Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall coupons

December 10, 2006 By Terry Stockdale

Sunbelt has an unadvertised coupon sale that runs until 12 midnight, Eastern Standard Time, December 31, 2006:

* Get $5 off a CounterSpy license with coupon code CSC5TY.

* Get $5 off a Sunbelt Kerio Personal firewall license with coupon code SPF5TY.

* Get $5 off a license for Sunbelt’s award-winning anti-spam program iHateSpam with coupon code IHS5TY. iHateSpam is for Outlook and Outlook Express only.

Sunbelt also has great discounts on multiple license purchases (of the same program). For example, 2 CounterSpy licenses are $29.92 instead of 2 times $19.95. Plus, you can use the discount code to get another $5 off your purchase.

Be sure to purchase by December 31, 2006 to get the coupon discount. Coupons have no cash value and are good only at the time of purchase. You can only use the coupon on one license per transaction and only one coupon per transaction.

Filed Under: Anti-adware, Anti-spam, Anti-spyware, Firewall, Windows XP