Q. I have Windows 2000 Professional running on a Dell machine. I am concerned about ID theft. I bought a software package called XoftSpy, which it appears was a mistake.
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My question: What is the best approach to protecting me from ID theft and related activities? Will a software package such as the one offered by Norton work best, or must I go to a hardware firewall? I appreciate any help you might provide.
A. There is a new firewall included in the Windows XP Service Pack to handle your problem, but you’ll also need a reliable software firewall to keep your computer from sending information back to whichever vandal infested it with spyware.
Most folks who get serious about this issue use the free version of Zone Alarm or buy the more robust pro version. Norton’s firewall, along with those of its competitors, also handles the job. In all cases, the idea is that the firewall software pops up a warning every time something tries to leave your computer and move onto the Internet.
Unless you are actively downloading stuff or sending e-mail, chances are anything trying to broadcast data from your machine is not your friend.
This is how spyware sends its owners data about what’s on your computer, how keyboard loggers transmit text files showing every keystroke you made in the past day, and how those “zombie” e-mail schemes start using other computers to blast out torrents of e-mail to others with accounts.
Keep in mind that even the rudimentary firewall in Windows is highly effective in keeping one protected from getting infected with these nasty broadcasting spyware attacks, and so going further can be overkill.
As to XoftSpy, this is one of a number of untested and possibly dangerous programs offered for free download with the promise of ferreting out spyware. I checked its Web site and found that it holds all kinds of promises but doesn’t mention the name of a single living, breathing person or give any address except e-mail to things like “support.”
Please, folks, make it a rule to never download software unless you know the identities of the sellers and that they have a street address. Even then remember that this, too, can be false.
Q. My Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 e-mail software is deleting incoming message attachments, especially JPG format images, that people are sending. How can I alter this?
Sean [email protected]
A. Let’s start this answer in fuddy-duddy mode, Mr. S. The same thing that blocks the image files you want also blocks potentially devastating virus bombs and other nasty stuff.
Here is how to let these dogs back into the house:
Click on Tools and then Options while running Outlook Express. There you will find check boxes to block or permit downloading of e-mail attachments that are potential booby traps.
When you uncheck these settings, the images will come in, along with things like bogus screen savers laden with viruses, such as executable land mines with extensions like EXE, BAT, COM and JVS. Make a personal rule to immediately delete these nasty items and then empty your recycle bin so they stay dead beyond revival.
Be advised, too, that one of those two settings deals with attachments sent in Web-based HTML messages as JPG photos. It is possible to engineer images in this way so that they carry an enemy payload along with the image itself. If at all possible, leave that one checked.
Q. I have Dell computer with the Windows XP Service Pack 1 operating system and Office XP Professional. When I try to open a JPG or BMP attachment, the MGI PhotoSuite II SE program opens, but nothing is shown, and I can’t figure out how to see the picture.
I normally save it to my hard drive and open it from there, and then Windows Picture and Fax Viewer opens the file. How can I get the second program to be the default to open an attached JPG file?
Kathy King @perseco.com
A. First, find any icon on your machine with the JPG extension, Ms. K., and then give it a right-click. This summons a pop-up menu with the Picture and Fax Viewer on the list. Select it and you will get a menu with a check box to make that program the default for all JPG images on the computer and any removable media such as the images in a digital camera.
But first make sure that the icon you are fixing really is a JPG image and not some of the many other formats that programs like MGI’s create and handle. To do that, right-click on the icon and choose Properties. There, under a tab dubbed General, you will find the File Type listed.
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As to the problem with that venerable and valuable PhotoSuite software that came with your computer, I can suggest you either give it up or try to wrestle with the help files included. You also might try removing PhotoSuite and reinstalling it.
Click on Start and then Control Panel and select the Add/Remove Programs icon. In the list of all programs installed on the computer, scroll down to MGI’s software, select it and click on the Remove tool. This should bring up a box with two options: One removes it for good, and the other is a repair module that restores things to the original condition. Give it a try.
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Contact Jim Coates via e-mail at [email protected] or via snail mail at the baiduhai, Room 400, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60611. Questions can be answered only through this column. Add your point of view at chicagotribune.com/askjim.