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Announcements

Incredible Blowout! 

McAfee Anti-Virus & Firewall!

WOW! Do we have an incredible deal for you today! We have the latest version of McAfee Anti-virus & Firewall (retail boxed version with full instructions) for just $14.97 and US shipping is FREE! Check out your local chain stores - most of 'em get $50 for the exact same thing!

It gets even better - Since this price is so low, you should probably buy one for yourself and one for a friend. To make that decision easier, if you order 2 or more, we'll take an extra $5.00 off the total! Is that cool or what?!?

As for the software, it's really great. The whole program is put together in "wizard style" that's very intuitive. You pick a task, then you get a screen with options. You pick an option, and so on until you get done what you want done. I was extremely impressed with how simple it was to use. And we all want easy to use, right?

As for features, the anti-virus program does a fantastic job. It takes care of over 60,000 different viruses including e-mail attachments, Internet downloads, shared disks, CD-ROMs, and synchronization with your PDA. McAfee VirusScan software also detects destructive ActiveX and Java applets, which are often downloaded without your knowledge while you browse.

Of course, it automatically updates itself while you're online so your virus definitions are kept up to date without you having to remember to do it. It also has an uncanny knack for monitoring suspicious activity. For example, I sent an e-mail twice, and it stopped the process and checked with me to make sure I was the one doing the sending (since viruses will do that too). Cool huh?

As for the Firewall component, that's fantastic too. It's really easy to setup, configure and use - really a great design. Remember, a firewall is used to keep hackers out of your computer and your anti-virus software will NOT be able to stop them. You need a firewall.

Time and time again I hear about computers getting hacked into. Information is compromised, files deleted, and in some cases the whole system needs to be re-installed. Almost without exception, the hacker problems are worse than the virus problems.

In addition to keeping hackers at bay, Mcafee Firewall can monitor and inform you about programs that are trying to access the internet.

For example, if you have a piece of spyware sending your information to someone, your firewall will detect this, notify you of it, and let you stop it. Or, if you have a virus that's trying to send e-mail using it's own SMTP server, your firewall will catch it in the act and protect your friends and contacts.

Whew, that's about it. Be sure to head to the site and take a look at this incredible value. For $14.97 you can keep your computer safe from both viruses and hackers! Here's the info link:

http://www.worldstart.com/store/mcafee-7.0.htm

PS - WARNING - This was a one time buyout and I can't get more at this kind of pricing. Once these are gone, you'll have to pay the big bucks for the same protection. Don't wait - get to the site now!

Computers 101

Q:
Ever since I got my new computer, I can't seem to get any attachments in my email. Outlook Express says that it removed "unsafe atatchments" from my email. How can I get these attachments back?

A: Constant bombardment from spammers and hackers makes me wonder if WWW actually stands for "Wild, Wild West"! We yearn for safe browsing. We long to send and receive email without being harassed. That's why we install anti-virus software. That's why browsers and email programs have security settings.

But sometimes, too much security can cause other problems. Anyone who has upgraded to Outlook Express 6 recently may be experiencing an error message like this:

"Outlook Express removed access to the following unsafe attachments in your mail..."

Why is this happening? When faced with mysterious problems, blame it on Microsoft!

By default, the "Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus" option (hereafter called DNAATBSOOTCPBAV) is enabled in OE 6. When this virus-protection feature is on, OE uses Explorer's unsafe file list to determine if a file is safe. Any e-mail attachment with a file type that is considered "unsafe" is not downloaded, and access to the attachment is removed.

The unsafe file list includes any file types that may have script or code associated with them. Thus, you may find that you can't receive the pictures from your cousin's wedding, or the mp3 of your grandson's first words. All is not lost...you can avoid this problem by turning off the DNAATBSOOTCPBAV option.

Start Outlook Express. On the Tools menu, click Options.

Click the "Security" tab, click to clear the DNAATBSOOTCPBAV check box under "Virus Protection", and then click OK.

You should, of course, be scanning all attachments with anti-virus software anyway, which makes the extra OE6 security unnecessary. Netscape Mail 7 does not have any similar security features that could cause a problem like this. Most web-based email (such as Yahoo or Hotmail) allow you to scan for viruses before you download attachments.

~ David

Have a question for the newsletter? Submit it at the link below:
http://www.worldstart.com/submitquestion.htm

Tip of the Day

Email Packrats: Save those old messages to disk!

Does your e-mail program hold valuable e-mail messages? You know, the kind of stuff you hang onto and don't want to lose?

I personally use Outlook Express more than any other program on my computer. The messages I receive are the lifeblood of this business. So what do I do when I re-format my hard drive, change computers, or need to do a backup? I save all those little e-mails of course!

Saving from Outlook Express

The biggest trick (problem) is figuring out where your particular e-mail program keeps all your messages. Outlook Express uses small databases to store your information. Once you figure out where those databases are, you can copy them, back them up, or do whatever else to it your little heart desires.

If you are running a newer version of Outlook Express, it's fairly easy to figure out where your e-mail databases are. Just hit the Tools menu, Options. On the screen that pops up, click the Maintenance tab, then click the Store Folder button. Outlook Express will show you where it's keeping your e-mail databases.

Note that you can also change this location should you want it to be easier to find. I keep mine in a folder named "outlook express" in the "My Documents" folder. That way, all I have to do it back up my "My Documents" folder and I automatically have my e-mail backed up.

If you don't have that option, don't worry. Outlook Express usually keeps your e-mail database(s) in the following location:

C:\Windows\Application data\Microsoft\Outlook Express

If you have your computer set-up for multiple users, your Outlook Express mail is probably in:

C:\Windows\Application data\Identities\ID NUMBER\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Note that the "ID NUMBER" folder above will probably be a folder that uses an alphanumeric code for it's name.

If for some reason you don't see the Outlook Express folder in the above location, right-click your Start button, select Find (or Search), and enter *.dbx in the Named field (make sure you select your C drive from the "look in" drop down box). This will bring up these "dbx" files, which live in the folder you're looking for. Note that on some older versions of Outlook Express, these may have been "mbx" files, so if you can't find *.dbx files, try *.mbx.

Here's a screen shot of a Win XP search:

Once you've located these files, keep in mind that all of this information may not fit onto a floppy. You may need either a zip disk or CD-R for storage. My e-mail files are 246 MB in size!

As for getting the e-mail restored, just copy and paste it back into whatever directory it's stored in on the new (or newly formatted) computer. If for some reason your information doesn't seem to transfer despite being in the folder, delete your Local Folders folder (on the new machine / install) and re-start Outlook Express. That should do it.

Saving from Outlook (not Express)

What you do is export to PST format. Click File, then click Import and Export and choose to Export to a File. On the next screen choose Personal Folder File (.pst). You can save your entire Inbox, Drafts, and Sent—but you have to individually select each. If your Inbox contains sub-folders, be sure to check the box that includes those (or you can archive each Inbox sub-folder separately).

If you're setting up your e-mail on a new PC, it's very easy to just import the PST folders and open in Outlook.

Web based e-mail is another matter though—the ability to save / backup varies from service to service, so check your help screens for something like "Export mail".

~Steve

Have an original tip for the newsletter? Submit it below:
http://www.worldstart.com/writers-guidelines/index.htm

Amanda's Cool Site of the Day

Volunteer Match

This site is wonderful! Do you want to volunteer for something in your area, but don't know where exactly to find the information? Well, why don’t you browse through their posts of volunteer jobs. Or maybe you have an event that needs volunteers to work it? If so, you can look through the "Find" section of this site.

To find a volunteer post in your area, type in your zip code and click the "search" button. Browse through the results and find the perfect place to volunteer your time.

To post a volunteer event and find volunteers to help out, simply register your organization and post your needs. It will be sorted by your zip code so people can search it.

This is a great community tool.

http://www.volunteermatch.org/

Do you have a cool, non-commercial site that you want to share?
Send it to Amanda at
amanda@worldstart.com

 

Copyright, Disclaimer, and Removal

ISSN: 1529-336X
Copyright 2001, WorldStart. All unauthorized reproduction strictly prohibited.

You are welcome to reproduce this newsletter (i.e. print it, store it) for your own personal use. You are also welcome to forward it, in its entirety, to friends and family.

If you would like to reproduce this publication, or any part of it, in any other publication, be it web based or otherwise, you must contact us for permission. Any unauthorized re-distribution will be considered a copyright infringement and grounds for a lawsuit.

Finally, you agree to try any advice contained or suggested in this newsletter at your own risk.

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