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Steve Bass's Weekly Newsletter
TechBite's columnist Steve Bass writes weekly commentary on the technology products he loves, the strategies for getting the most out of them, and the gotchas that can cause computing misery.
WinPatrol 2009: A Must-Have (and Free) Tool
In This Issue
WinPatrol, My Protector
Keeping Track of Risky Files
WinPatrol Flavors
Tech Tip of the Week: Disable Services
Tool of the Week: Update Notifier
Product of the Week: Locking HDMI Cable
What I'm Reading: The Ins and Outs of Vista
Time Wasters
Something's Loading Without Permission
WinPatrol, My Protector
WinPatrol is a free tool you just must have on your computer: It gives you a way to stop unwanted programs from loading (and tells you which apps are safe), watches out for spyware and keyloggers, keeps your System tray uncluttered, and when you boot, can get you to the desktop quickly.
At its core, WinPatrol raises a flag when something suspicious happens within critical parts of your system. For instance, you'll get an alert when anything is added to any of the Registry's Startup locations and you'll have the option of blocking it or disabling it later. WinPatrol watches almost 20 functions, including when a browser plug-in is added, a file type association is changed, a scheduled task is created, your HOST file is touched, or a new ActiveX component is installed.
WinPatrol keeps watch on all the junk that tries to load when your system boots.
WinPatrol is more than a cool tool; I've used it for over five years; it's a permanent watchdog that watches over my system.
One of the many things I like is a sweetie called the Delayed Start feature. My system gets to the desktop faster because only essential programs -- Kaspersky Security Suite, for instance, and Ad Muncher -- are loaded right away. You can set non-essential startup programs to launch up to an hour after the system boots. For instance, I have a bunch of utilities (Volumouse, UltraMon, and others), loading sequentially a few minutes after the system boots. I have the start times for SnagIt, a screen capture program, delayed for 30 minutes.
With WinPatrol's Delayed Start, you can delay the start time
of programs that want to load when your system boots.
Keeping Track of Risky Files [top]
WinPatrol also keeps track of when a program, service, Registry entry, or hidden file was first detected on your machine. WinPatrol gives you a single list that sorts critical files and entries by their date detected. That's valuable because if your system's infected, the files appear as recent additions.
WinPatrol will export detailed reports in various formats -- a spreadsheet with a complete dump of everything WinPatrol is monitoring, an easy-to-read report log, and a valuable hijack report, which is essential if you think your system's infected.
WinPatrol Flavors [top]
WinPatrol works with XP and Vista, and has two versions. The free one is adequate for most people, and it includes almost all of the features of the $30 Plus version. WinPatrol Plus is worth the money, I promise you. In additional to lifetime upgrades, you get access to the descriptions of over 20,000 applications trying to sneak onto your system. So if you keep seeing ctfmon loading, for instance, and don't recognize it, WinPatrol gives you the details and tells you if it's a safe application. Here's a comparison chart.
By the way, each WinPatrol upgrade has something that's valuable, and most are included in both the free and Plus versions. For instance, last year WinPatrol started watching for keyloggers, programs that collect your keystrokes.
Tech Tip of the Week: Disable Services
TechRepublic outlines which Windows services are safe to disable and which you shouldn't touch. You'll need to register (it's free) to see the files. Read the XP document and view the Vista Excel spreadsheet. You can use WinPatrol (click the Services tab) to get added information about each service and easily disable or remove many of the services.
Tool of the Week: Update Notifier [top]
I don't jump every time a program's updated; some apps are better left alone. For instance, I use the free FlashGet download manager, and I prefer the less-cluttered earlier versions. Yet I really like knowing when Adobe and Java products need updating, as well as at least knowing if there's a new version available. I use Update Notifier to take care of all this--it's a freebie that looks over my apps, tells me if there's a new version, and at the click of a button, downloads the update. One of my tech editors, Carey Holzman, says that for security updates, nothing beats the free Secunia Personal Software Inspector. Try them both and see which one tickles your fancy.
Scan your system with Update Notifier
and let it find apps that need updating.
Product of the Week: Locking HDMI Cable
HDMI cables are terrific for TVs and PCs because one such cable eliminates the need for dozens of analog audio and video cables. (Actually, they replace 11 analog cables per connected device.) I experienced one HDMI disconnect at the back of my TV when I recently attached a new DVD player. That's because for some reason, HDMI cables don't seem to have a tight enough fit.
The solution is a PPC HDMI locking cable. The connector looks like a CAT5 cable with a little ditzel at the end. The cable transmits uncompressed 1080p A/V and audio signals. Cables come in 3-, 6-, and 12-foot lengths; PPC's prices are about the same as I've seen at Radio Shack, from $49 to $73.
HDMI cables from PPC
have a nifty locking device.
What I'm Reading: The Ins and Outs of Vista [top]
I'm guessing some of you may need the extra help only a hefty resource book can provide. The book I recommend is Windows Vista Inside Out, Deluxe Edition, by Ed Bott, Carl Siechert, and Craig Stinson. For under $40 ($30 used), you'll get every Vista question answered and learn things about the OS that may improve your experience. It's available on Amazon.com. If you're a Barnes and Noble fan, I spotted two coupons: Use code N3K4N8W for a 10 percent discount; if you're a BN member, use P4W3B4A.
Time Wasters
Mind reading, cops who don't use an emergency brake, the smart way to untangle headphone wires, and more.
Akinator is a fun mind reading site. It's an I-know-what-you're-thinking game and quite sophisticated; you'll be surprised. [Thanks to Joanne C.]
When Ted talks, it's intellectually stimulating. The video presentations aren't only about technology, but about culture, science, and life. For instance: Ben Saunders: Three things to know before you ski to the North Pole or Ze Frank: What's so funny about the Web? If you prefer science, try Jane Goodall: What separates us from the apes? The latest one I watched is utterly fascinating. It's Pattie Maes & Pranav Mistry: Unveiling the "Sixth Sense," game-changing wearable tech. Look at some of their other talks. Some amazing stuff.
When Police Stops Go Awry: I love it when the cop asks the guy for his proof of insurance. I'll bet that's the same question the cop's boss will ask later in the day.
This little guy -- what looks like an Arctic Fox -- hears everything. And leaps like an athlete.
There's a right way and wrong way to untangle headphone wires. Here's the smart way. [If these last 3 videos won't open, head directly to Posterous.]
Something's Loading Without Permission [top]
It's not happening on my PC, that's for sure. But you probably know someone -- that cute guy in the next cube, your ex-spouse, or maybe your grandmother (the one you stuck with your hand-me-down '486) -- who needs to know about WinPatrol. Well, you'd better forward my newsletter to all of them. You know it's easy and I know you can do it. Here's the subscription link: http://www.techbite.com
Steve Bass is the publisher and self-appointed Chief Content Officer at TechBite; he continues to experience the cool feeling of having his own newsletter. Send him your feedback at TechBite. To sign up for TechBite's free Steve Bass Technology newsletter, head for our signup page.
Steve's also the author of "PC Annoyances, 2nd Edition: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things About Your Personal Computer," available on Amazon. You haven't purchased your copy today yet, have you? Don't wait, supplies are limited...
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