1) Peeking thru WINDOWS - "Virus Among Us"
2) Fantastic File Find! - "Snowball Fight"
3) Seen These Sites? - "Piano Pictures/Acronym Analyzer"
4) Email Funnies - "Advent Wreath"
5) The MOUS Hole - "File Protection I"
6) They Said It - quotes to give one pause
7) Hodgepodge – that what fits no where else

The Basement doors are flung wide open for the throngs of new subscribers from List-A-Day – Welcome! And my hope is that you've found a comfortable place to visit each week! A sincere welcome back to returning readers, your support and continuing attention is truly appreciated!

(Note: To bypass email checking programs that can be a bit overzealeous in their protection, certain vowels will be preceded with * in the following passage)

This week I received emails containing copies of the W32/Hybr*is virus from two different subscribers (this virus arrives from H*ah*ah*a, contains an attachment named joke.*ex*e, and contains a paragraph of text about Snow White.)

I also was sent a blank email containing only the attachment "n*ewn*apster.txt.pif" which contained the W95/MTX* virus. My installed virus scan program caught all three occurrences.

What's the point? Well, I wasn't sent these viruses by individuals that INTENDED to spew poisons from their machines – they didn't know it was happening. However, just as there are vaccines available to prevent one from becoming the next Typhoid Mary in the physical world, there are also fine programs available to prevent the same in the virtual world.

Not to nag, but when was the last time you updated your virus scan data files? New viruses are created at an estimated rate of 500 per month; your virus scan software is only as good as the viruses it knows! Data files can usually be updated when you are online by using menus within the software itself; or visit the homepage of the software manufacturer and follow links to download virus data/definition files.

Not using virus scan software??? Arggghh!!! You should IMMEDIATELY download and install the software discussed here: http://www.basementnoises.com/pstnftb/2000_07_19.htm - it's free, and does a decent enough job. DO IT NOW! Please?

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2) Fantastic File Find! - "Snowball Fight"

In response to a reader request, I've dug up one of the more enjoyable treats from last year – Snowball Fight! Command a force of 3 versus an ever-growing army of green-coated enemy, in a battle where you don't need gloves and your toes don't get cold!

Download a fun winter game!

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Sometime you just have to let loose and make a little noise. Follow the advise you'll find on the home page of this week's site and turn up the your speaker volume, close the windows if you have neighbors, and stretch your fingers. Now you're ready to choose one of five available "pianos" (which change frequently) and use your keyboard to create a visual and musical composition.

Each piano programs the keys on your keyboard. After loading, tapping a key will play a different sound or music loop, and will cause a different image to appear.

Load this site up at the office Christmas party – it's better than karaoke!

http://www.pianographique.net/

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Speak Geek?

As I move my Multi-Option Universal Sequence Engine over the Interactive Common Output Network and click, I often wonder how things get their Negative Asymmetric Memory Equipment, and I suppose this web page could be explanation.

The AIEEE is an Acronym Interaction, Expansion, and Extrapolation engine that allows you to enter a two– to six-letter word and, after pressing Solution-Uncovering Button Modifying Initialisms Transparently; you'll be rewarded with an appropriate Advanced Network Small Wireless Expansion Resource:

http://www.brunching.com/cgi/toy-acronymer.cgi?acronym=noises

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4) Email Funny - "Advent Wreath"

Oops! Forgot I had this one stored away from earlier this year – really should install a brighter light over in the corner of The Basement where this was buried!

This desk mate places a simple Advent wreath on your Desktop, and will light and melt each candle as appropriate during the Advent season.

Click to download Advent Wreath

P.S. Last year's big hit, Elf Bowling, has a successor, Elf Bowling 2 – Elves in Paradise. While it is an enjoyable play and a fitting successor to last year's sensation, I've decided not to stock it in The Basement.

Aside from the fact that it's a bit more "adult" than the typical NFTB offering, it also attempts to "phone home" every time it's started – a "feature" you'll never find in software stocked in The Basement!

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There are multiple levels of protection you can place on documents, workbooks, and databases. I'll be discussing in the MOUS Hole over the next few weeks ways you can protect your files.

Prefacing Warning: As with most password situations, if you forget your password, you're in for a whole world of hurt! Make sure you have a failsafe method of remembering your password before proceeding.

This week - Protect your Word and Excel files by requiring a password before they can be opened. This method is different from protecting Access databases, which was discussed a few months back.

1. File > Save As > Tools > General Options
2. Check your CAPS LOCK key! Passwords are case-sensitive.
3. Key your desired password in the "Password to open" control box. There is also a place you may key in a "Password to modify" – these passwords operate independently and may be set either, both, or none.
4. Key your password a second time to confirm, then OK.
5. Click Save. Your password will be required to open or view the contents.

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"Genius borrows nobly” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

7) Hodgepodge

Many thanks to Lisa Marie Heitman for her kind review, and selection of Noises as a Featured List at List-A-Day:
http://list-a-day.com/index.php?--Noises-From-The-Basement&id=756

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Last week I suggested you download the new AdAware upgrade, and the same day received the following from a reader regarding the CometCursor program:

"... and got a rather cool cursor. However I was concerned and thought I had uninstalled it when I started getting all sorts of strange error messages - including one that said "Kagou-Anti-Kro$oft says not today!" and would shut down my pc. So I downloaded the AdAware - and low and behold I had 13 pieces of spyware on my PC. After cleaning with the programme I can gladly say all is well again. However, I will be much more careful from now on. Thanks for the tip on the download Dave - I have a feeling you saved my bacon. – Cheers, Susannah in NZ"

For more info, visit The Basement Archives: http://www.basementnoises.com/pstnftb/2000_05_24.htm
(OptOut – the story begins)
http://www.basementnoises.com/pstnftb/2000_08_23.htm
(AdAware – The Next Generation)
http://www.basementnoises.com/pstnftb/2000_12_06.htm
(AdAware upgrade available)

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Running a personal firewall by Symantec, Sygate, McAfee, or other? Steve Gibson once again makes the news with his LeakTest software, and revelations that ALL personal firewalls tested (save one) are vulnerable to ATTACKS FROM WITHIN! Find out how LeakTest exposed this security hole and see a product-by-product comparison at: http://www.grc.com/lt/leaktest.htm Then come on back and find out where to get the one software package that DOES offer complete protection (from a May 2000 issue of NFTB) http://www.basementnoises.com/pstnftb/2000_05_31.htm

G'nite, and thanks for reading!

Dave Gretz

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