This week’s online newsletter includes:

*   One Computer Will Talk to the Router But Other Two Computers Won’t Talk to the Router
An interesting and frustrating problem, with a plea for help…

*   The Lighter Side of Technology
This week’s computer technology cartoon at Terry’s Computer Tips.

*   Can’t Get to Secure Web Sites
A reader can visit web sites but not secure web sites (sites that use the https:// (SSL) connections in stead of plain http:// connections…

*   Checking and Sending Emails When Traveling
A reader wants to check her email while she’s traveling…

*   Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat Security Alert
Versions 9 and earlier of Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat are reported to be vulnerable to JavaScript attacks embedded in PDF documents. US-CERT and Adobe both released security bulletins this week…
*   My Security Software Recommendations
My recommendations for anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, and anti-spam software…

This week’s email and on-line newsletters are now available:
*   free weekly Terry’s Computer Tips email newsletter
*   weekly on-line Terry’s Computer Tips newsletter

VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Tired of old antivirus software that slows your PC to a crawl? Try High-Performance VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Only $29.95 for one computer Multi-computer discounts, too… Unlimited Home Site License only $49.95

I thought I’d take a different turn with the first article — and look at one of the nasty emails that arrived this week. No, not one of those emails, one of the emails that brought malware along with it. Of course, let’s see what they’re trying to do to me (and to you, if you get these, too).

First, the malware-infested email is trying to use “social engineering” to get us to open the emails. What’s social engineering? It’s designing emails to mislead you into a gullible, unthinking response to do exactly what the bad guy wants. Sometimes, he wants your personal information. Other times, he wants to infect your computer. The name of his game is “money.”

The first one that made me think of this article was one that claimed to be a notice from the UPS delivery service. It read like this:

From: “UPS Mail Support”
To:
Subject: Your Tracking # 9473631090

Sorry, we were not able to deliver postal package you sent on October the 19th in time
because the recipient’s address is not correct.
Please print out the invoice copy attached and collect the package at our office.
If you do not receive package in ten days you will have to pay 6$ per day.

Your UPS

Attachment: UPSInvoice8771.zip

First, let’s take a look at some of the email headers, especially ones that email users don’t normally see unless they look for them.

Continue reading Examining a Malware-bearing Email (Trojan email)

This week’s online newsletter includes:

*   Adding a Large SATA Drive to an Older Computer
I needed to add a 1 terabyte SATA drive to an computer that had PCI slots (not PCI-E slots). Although it had an available SATA data port, the motherboard or driver would not recognize a drive this large — and the computer would not boot…

*   The Lighter Side of Technology
This week’s computer technology cartoon at Terry’s Computer Tips.

*   Email Problems: Sending Multiple Email Copies Accidentally
Whan a reader sends emails with big attachments, they go twice…

*   Problem Networking XP and Vista Computers
It’s never as easy as it sounds… Microsoft could make it easier by releasing patches to older operating systems so that they’d automatically work with the new ones, but that’s not really in their best interests…

*   Followup: Stopping the Windows XP "Found New Hardware" Wizard
In last week’s email newsletter, I wrote about how to stop the Windows XP Found New Hardware Wizard, which continues to show up each time you boot, even if you’ve disconnected the problem hardware. This week, a reader offers another solution…

*   My Security Software Recommendations
My recommendations for anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, and anti-spam software…

This week’s email and on-line newsletters are now available:
*   free weekly Terry’s Computer Tips email newsletter
*   weekly on-line Terry’s Computer Tips newsletter

VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Tired of old antivirus software that slows your PC to a crawl? Try High-Performance VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Only $29.95 for one computer Multi-computer discounts, too… Unlimited Home Site License only $49.95

This week’s online newsletter includes:

*   Stopping Outlook 2007 From Starting Automatically
A reader configured Outlook to start automatically, but decided later that was a mistake…

*   The Lighter Side of Technology
This week’s computer technology cartoon at Terry’s Computer Tips.

*   Email Problems: Outlook Express Emails Going into Deleted Items Folder
Several readers are having their incoming emails go innto the Deleted Items folder instead of the inbox…

*   Preparing to Reinstall Windows
Reinstalling Windows is easy, but you need to get ready and work in the right order…

*   Feedback and Comments from Readers
Short comments and questions from readers…

*   My Security Software Recommendations
My recommendations for anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, and anti-spam software…

This week’s email and on-line newsletters are now available:
*   free weekly Terry’s Computer Tips email newsletter
*   weekly on-line Terry’s Computer Tips newsletter

VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Tired of old antivirus software that slows your PC to a crawl? Try High-Performance VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Only $29.95 for one computer Multi-computer discounts, too… Unlimited Home Site License only $49.95

This week’s online newsletter includes:

*   Window is Way Too Wide to Read
A reader’s program opens its window wider than her monitor, and she needs help…

*   The Lighter Side of Technology
This week’s computer technology cartoon at Terry’s Computer Tips.

*   Changing Web Font Sizes — Easier Viewing of Web Sites
Eyes getting older, you can fix that — or, at least, make it easier to read web sites…

*   File Sharing Error — You Might Not Have Permission —Access is Denied
The bane of home networking — when you can’t get to the other computer…

*   How to Create A New Shortcut
Mainly for beginners, but perhaps a tip or two for more experienced users who’ve forgotten…

*   My Security Software Recommendations
My recommendations for anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, and anti-spam software…

This week’s email and on-line newsletters are now available:
*   free weekly Terry’s Computer Tips email newsletter
*   weekly on-line Terry’s Computer Tips newsletter

VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Tired of old antivirus software that slows your PC to a crawl? Try High-Performance VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Only $29.95 for one computer Multi-computer discounts, too… Unlimited Home Site License only $49.95