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Hacker Smacker!

At last! Someone finally built a better firewall!

We just came across an incredibly well designed firewall program! It's FarStone's Hacker Smacker and once you get past the cute name, you'll discover some serious hacker protection. (At a great price too :-) I've already replaced my old firewall with it and couldn't be happier.

But do you even need a firewall?

Absolutely.

The number of hackers scanning for open targets increases daily. As if that wasn't bad enough, the sophistication of their software is also getting better. There are readily available programs out there that allow a person of average computer savvy to hack into other computers - automatically!

What can they do once they get into your computer? Here's just a sample:

They can...

	Steal personal info like credit cards, SS#, name, address, phone, etc.
	Steal internet info like passwords, online bank info, etc.
	Plant keystroke loggers so anytime you type in sensitive info (credit cards, bank accounts, address, etc) that info is sent back to the hacker.
	Use your computer in denial of service attacks against major web sites
	Destroy and / or plant files, install viruses, or disable Windows altogether
	Use your computer as a junk mail server for who knows what type of e-mail (OK, you can probably guess). A big article on this in the current issue of PC World. They say the problem is epidemic and people are completely unaware their computer is being used by an outsider until their ISP contacts them.
	Or they can just spy on your computing activities

I've had friends who have gotten hacked into and it's no fun. It's almost a guarantee you'll need to reformat and re-install since you don't know if the hacker left any kind of "back door" program. It makes battling viruses look like fun. Oh, and no, your Anti-Virus will NOT protect you from hackers.

Why This Firewall?

I've seen and used a lot of different firewalls and this is simply best I've ever worked with. It's really easy to use and includes a lot of features that other firewalls just don't offer. FarStone has a real knack for making powerful software very user friendly and they really did a fantastic job on this one.

Not only does it keep the hackers at bay, but it also keeps your installed programs from sending out information. You'd be surprised how many programs (especially spyware) like to "report back" to their HQ. This program monitors the connection and lets you know whenever a program is trying to send out data. You may be surprised how often it happens from programs you thought were "safe". It's made me aware of a few problems, that's for sure!

I know, most firewalls can do all of the above (although most aren't this easy), but this has lots of other ingenious features. One of the coolest is the "Pass Lock" feature that allows you to instantly block all traffic in or out. So, if you think you have a problem you can cut off access in a matter of seconds. As an extra safety precaution, this can even engage after a set amount of idle time. I have mine set to come on when my screen saver does. That way, I can walk away from my computer knowing that no traffic - inbound or outbound - can pass though. Even programs that are allowed access can't play while I'm away!

In addition, this software can:

	Log attacks - including the attackers IP address
	Protect your privacy by insuring that your personal info isn't accidentally sent over the internet.
	Clear internet history, cookies, web links, auto-match, windows temp folder, password history, start menu run items, and tons more
	Can display what programs are currently connected to the internet
	Allows you to set your computer so it's only able to access the 'net for a specified duration.
	Customize your security level
	Works with multiple users

Whew, OK, that's enough - if you want more info, head to the product page! Oh, and be sure to check out the Comparison Chart that shows you why this beats Norton, Mcafee, and ZoneAlarm.

Your price? Just $12.97 and US shipping is FREE! Why pay $50 or more for a firewall that just isn't as good? This is the best I've used and I can't recommend it highly enough. Give it a try - you'll love it too :-)

http://www.worldstart.com/store/hackersmacker.htm

PS - This software prevented and logged 6 attacks while I was typing this review. Get yours today!

Computers 101

Q:
I've been hearing a lot about "PayPal" lately - mostly people pretending to be them for some sort of scam. However, I have no clue what the heck a "PayPal" is. Far as I know, it could be some guy that pulls my credit card out and types in the numbers for me :-)

A:
PayPal is basically an online payment service. Don’t let the scams mislead you into thinking PayPal is some sort of unscrupulous service run off that back room near exit 13 of the information super-highway. They are a legitimate company that has been around a long time (OK, a long time in "internet time").

Basically, PayPal is kind of like an online bank. You put money in using your credit card or bank account, then pay people using the money you deposited. The lucky merchant pays the fees.

OK, I know what you're thinking - why bother when I can just use a credit or bank card?

Well, with a credit card, bankcard, or checking account transfer, you have to surrender sensitive information to the company you're dealing with. Now, if it's a good company like WorldStart, Amazon, or Best Buy, then there's no problem giving credit card numbers and such. However, what if you're dealing with some small company you've never heard of before? Like Bob's Honest Auto Parts or Franks Flashy Fishing Lures? Sure, they may be great companies, but do you know that for a fact? Would you bet your open credit card balance on it?

With PayPal, you don't have to worry about those kinds of things. Money is transferred directly from your PayPal account to theirs. You have to send the money to them - they can't "pull" it from your account like they could a credit card (nor can they get your account information). Plus, PayPal will intervene if things end up on the fraudulent side.

I'm constantly buying stuff online and anytime I'm dealing with a company I've not heard of I always pay with PayPal. In fact, if the company won't take PayPal, I tend to be extremely careful around them and may bypass the purchase.

For more info, check out:

www.paypal.com

And no, I'm not getting paid for saying any of this. I just think they have a good system for online payments and I know I feel better using them to pay those companies I'm a little unsure of. Never can be too paranoid online :-)

~ Steve

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

Tip of the Day

Finding an E-mail Message

Have you ever been looking for a specific e-mail message but had HUNDREDS of messages to sort through? It's enough to drive you crazy. Instead of hunting through each message one by one, you can do a search (assuming you're using Outlook Express, Netscape Messenger, or some other program that lets you do searches).

The trick is to look for specific keywords. Let's say you were looking for a message regarding a specific computer tip. We'll say you're looking for something on processors. Here's how to find that message:

In Outlook Express:

1. Click the Edit Menu, Find, Message. (If you're already in the folder where you want to look, you can choose the Find Message In This Folder option.)

2. If you know which folder the message is in, click the Browse button and select that folder.

If you're not sure where the message is at, click the Browse button, but select "Local Folders" from the top of the list.

3. Since we're looking for "processors" we'll type that in the "Message" field. This will return any message that has that keyword in the body of it.

4. Click the "Find Now" button. Outlook Express will sift through your mail messages and try to locate anything that matches your search criteria. If it finds messages with your keyword, those will be displayed in the box below. Just double-click a message to open it up and read it.

Netscape 6:

1. Click the Search menu , Search Messages...

2. You'll be presented with a screen that lets you specify search criteria from drop down boxes. If you know which folder a message is in, select it from the "Search for items in" drop down box. If you're not sure which folder it's in, select "Local Folders" from that box.

3. Since we're searching for the keyword "processors" we'll select "body" from the first criteria drop down box. The next should be "Contains." Then type your keyword in the third box. Hit the "Search" button and you're off.

4. If Netscape finds any messages, they will be displayed for you. Just double-click the message you want to read.

~ 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

The Word Spy

Water Cooler Moment: (WAW.tur.koo.lur MOH.munt) n. In a television show or radio program, a controversial or exciting segment designed to get people talking about the show.

Dead Cat Bounce: (ded kat BOWNS) n. A temporary recovery from a major drop in a stock's price. Also: dead-cat bounce.

Heroinware: (HAYR.oh.un.wayr) n. An extremely addictive online or computer game. Also: heroin-ware.

You are probably wondering what I'm defining these phrases for. Well this site is all about words, new words, words found in newspapers, magazines, book, press releases, and web sites. "This Web site and its associated mailing list are devoted to recently coined words and phrases, old words that are being used in new ways, and existing words that have enjoyed a recent renaissance."

As a writer I love new words and new meanings. But you have to admit "Dead Cat Bounce" is strange. I don't think I could say AT&T is dead cat bouncing with a straight face. This site also gives ways the phrases are used and where they were coined.

http://www.wordspy.com/

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