Stop Those Sneaky E-Mail Viruses in Their Tracks
Whether you use antivirus software or take your chances without it, you can save yourself grief by knowing how to spot viruses attached to incoming e-mail and how to prevent them from infecting your system. >>TIP Unless you were notified in advance about an e-mail attachment, assume that it's a virus if it ends with.vbs,.scr, or.exe. Delete the e-mail message without opening it or its attachment.
Unfortunately, by default, most versions of Windows hide file name extensions, allowing a potentially lethal script file named 'picture.jpg.vbs', for example, to appear in your e-mail program as 'picture.jpg'. To display the full file name, open Windows Explorer, select Tools, Folder Options, View, uncheck Hide file extensions for known file types (the exact wording varies, depending on your version of Windows), and click OK.
It's possible but uncommon for viruses embedded in HTML-format messages to launch automatically when they're displayed in a message window or a preview pane. You can minimize the risk by disabling your e-mail program's preview pane. In Outlook Express, choose View, Layout and uncheck Show preview pane. In Outlook, click View and deselect Preview Pane. To close the preview pane in Eudora, select Tools, Options, choose Viewing Mail in the Category list, and uncheck Show message preview pane.
Run AOL Under Windows XP
Planning to upgrade to Windows XP? If you still use America Online 6, you'll have to move to version 7. AOL allows Windows XP users to log in just three times with version 6, and it prompts you to upgrade to AOL 7 each time. >>TIP To avoid this 34MB download, look for one of the ubiquitous free AOL 7 discs offered in stores and magazines. For more on AOL/XP compatibility, open AOL and enter the keyword XP.
OE Is MIA in XP
You may have upgraded your machine to Windows XP only to find that both your Outlook Express mailbox and your address book were missing. Don't worry, they're still on your hard drive.
>>TIP Though Microsoft doesn't say why it chose not to migrate the old files to the new operating system's user folders during the upgrade, it does explain in perfect detail how to correct this shortcoming. Read this Microsoft Knowledge Base article; it describes the steps required.
Prevent Messenger From Launching
Both MSN Messenger and Windows XP's Windows Messenger (which is enabled by default) set themselves up to launch automatically whenever you open Outlook or Outlook Express. >>TIP If that's too automatic for you, turn these instant messaging programs off. In Outlook 2002, choose Tools, Options, Other and then uncheck Enable Instant Messaging in Microsoft Outlook. Click OK. In Outlook Express for Windows 98 and Me, select Tools, Options, General and uncheck Automatically log on to MSN Messenger Service. In Outlook Express for Windows XP, click Tools, Options, General and uncheck Automatically log on to Windows Messenger. Windows 2000 lacks MSN Messenger.
Put AOL's Parental Controls to Work
People knock America Online for being a pseudo-Internet service, but it's a great way for users of all ages to get online gradually. >>TIP The key to shielding kids from the brutal realities of the adult online world is AOL's Parental Controls area (keyword: controls). You can create screen names for your children; limit the times of day and duration of their surfing; and determine whether they can download files, venture beyond AOL's kids-only area, and use instant messaging, e-mail, and other Web services (see FIGURE 1).
Free Time Is Best
Last December, I recommended Dillobits Software's $16 YATS32 for synchronizing your PC with Internet time servers. >>TIP Dozens of alert readers wrote to tell me about several programs that do the same thing for less money, or even for free. Candidates include the $10 AtomTime98, the free Automachron 4.00d, and the no-cost Dimension 4.
Send your questions and tips to nettips@spanbauer.com. We pay $50 for published items. Scott Spanbauer is a contributing editor for PC World.