Although belated, we hope that all of our clients, prospective clients, family and friends had a happy Easter and that 2005 continues to be successful. If there is a computer problem that you would like us to provide a solution to, please feel free to get in touch with us.

Chris Jeffery
Proprietor/Chief Guru

News: Microsoft's Anti-Spyware solution, AntiSpyware in Beta

Clients who have used my services or who have been reading my newsletter recently will be well aware of my discussions on spyware and malware affecting computers. It has been two years since I began recommending that any computer connected to the internet have installed and regularly update a spyware/malware checker. Primarily, I have been recommending two products, Ad-Aware and Spybot Search and Destroy.

Microsoft have recently launched the "beta" (test version) of Windows AntiSpyware. The great news is Windows AntiSpyware will be free to users of Windows XP and is likely to come out in August. From what we've read and tried with this up-and-coming product, it is destined to be a recommended installation just like Ad-Aware and Spybot Search and Destroy currently are on our clients computers. However, at this stage we suggest you do not install it for the problems that may be with it.

Hints, Tips and Tricks: Clearing Spyware from your computer with Ad-aware (version SE)

We've recently updated the how-to guide on Clearing Spyware from your computer with Ad-aware to include the latest version, Ad-aware SE Personal.

For those unfamiliar, spyware, such as trojan horses, are small programs included with free software from the Internet, such as BonziBuddy. They are installed on computers most often without the users knowing that they are there. Spyware, as you can guess from its name, can often intrude on the users' privacy. While the user is surfing the Internet, the spyware may be recording the websites they visit and are known to keep details on shopping purchases.

Ad-Aware SE Personal is program that we recommend to remove spyware from your computer. This guide describes how to obtain it, install it and use it!

This how-to guide from our How-to Guides page at http://www.cyberguru.com.au/helpdesk_howtoguides.htm.

Hints, Tips and Tricks: Using Disk Cleanup to remove old or redundant files from your computer

Disk Cleanup enables you to remove old or redundant files from your computer, such as downloaded program files, temporary internet files, offline web pages, recycle bin and other temporary files. Whilst not an exhaustive cleanup process, it can help you safely remove such files you no longer need or use.

Hints, Tips and Tricks: Telstra Directory Assistance

Although not completely a computer hint, tip or trick, Telstra has advised that the Sensis 1234 number is replacing Telstra's 12456 directory assistance number. "The service is charged at 40c on connection to the operator and 4c per second for time spent with the operator, plus standard call charges on connection to the requested number. Mobile phone charges also apply" according to Sensis. However, if you are after a free directory assistance number try "1223".

Easter Eggs: Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Word, Solitaire

Seeing we couldn't find any jokes with an Easter and computer theme, we've decided to include a few easter eggs in this issue instead. Easter eggs are secret screens that companies put in their software, often giving credit to the different people who did work in the product. However, easter eggs are hard to find because a court ruled that Microsoft is forbidden from including any undocumented features (including easter eggs) in Microsoft products in Windows XP and Office XP onwards.

In the Windows 98 Registration Wizard, you can see the credits from the Windows 98 product team:

Click Start, Run, and type "welcome.exe" to load the Welcome to Windows program. Click "Register Now" when the registration wizard appears, press [CTRL] and [SHIFT] and right click on the image to the left and hidden credits will appear.

In Microsoft Word, you can fill a page of text with "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog":

Type "=rand(x,y)" where x is the number of paragraphs and y is the number of times.

And now for some fun: In Solitaire, press [Alt], [Shift] and [2] together and you'll win!

If you would like to see more Easter Eggs in the next issue of the CyberGuru Newsletter, please let us know and we'll see what we can do!

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