334 Part III — Securing Your System

Summary

Throughout this chapter, you found out how to increase your privacy with Internet Explorer. Because Internet Explorer records so many pieces of your browsing experience, that information can leave yourself open to huge threats to your privacy. To fight that, you need to remove histories of sites browsed and addresses entered, as shown earlier in the chapter. Then, you learned how to delete cookies, as well as how to set up Internet Explorer to clean itself.

The second part of the chapter addressed the privacy concerns of the Windows interface. Just like Internet Explorer, Windows records many of our computer activities. Clearing those records has become an essential part of protecting your privacy. First, you found out how to clean up Windows. Then, you learned about ways to protect your privacy further with the help of permissions and encryption. If you follow all of the tips outlined in this chapter, you will have no problem creating a secure system.

You have now finished Hacking Windows XP. You were shown how to customize everything that can be customized in Windows XP in Part I. Now you know how to make your computer look and feel completely different. In Part II, you were shown how to speed up all the different stages of Windows XP. From the boot up to the speed of your applications, you were given tips to optimize the performance of your computer. Part III shifted into the hot topic of securing Windows XP. You learned how to protect your computer from attackers, defend against spyware, adware, and viruses, and protect your privacy. Now that you are done with this last chapter, you have finished the most complete guide ever written to fully optimize and improve your Windows XP experience.

What’s on the	appendix
CD-ROM

This appendix provides you with information on the contents of the CD that accompanies this book. For the latest and greatest information, please refer to the ReadMe file located at the root of the CD. Here is what you will find:

System requirements

Using the CD with Windows XP

What’s on the CD

Troubleshooting

System Requirements

Make sure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements listed in this section. If your computer doesn’t match up to most of these requirements, you may have a problem using the contents of the CD.

A PC running Windows XP Professional or Windows XP Home edition.

At least 128 MB of total RAM installed on your computer; for best performance, we recommend at least 256 MB.

An Ethernet network interface card (NIC) or modem with a speed of at least 28,800 bps.

A CD-ROM drive.

Using the CD with Windows XP

To install the items from the CD to your hard drive, follow these steps:

336 Appendix A — What’s on the CD-ROM

1.Insert the CD into your computer’s CD-ROM drive.

2.The CD-ROM interface will appear. The interface provides a simple point-and-click way to explore the contents of the CD.

If the CD-ROM interface does not appear, follow these steps to access the CD:

1.Click the Start button on the left end of the taskbar and then choose Run from the menu that pops up.

2.In the dialog box that appears, type d:\setup.exe. (If your CD-ROM drive is not drive d, fill in the appropriate letter in place of d.) This brings up the CD Interface described in the preceding set of steps.

What’s on the CD

The following sections provide a summary of the software and other materials you’ll find on the CD.

Author-created materials

All author-created material from the book, including registry files, are organized on the CD in chapter folders.

Applications

The following applications are on the CD:

AVG Anti-Virus, from Grisoft USA

Freeware version for Windows XP.

Description: AVG Anti-Virus is a great AV application that will protect your computer from viruses for free. Chapter 13 will show you how to get this application up and running on your box. For more information, check out www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php.

Bitstrip

Freeware version for Windows XP.

Description: Bitstrip is a cool app that will allow you to convert an animated GIF image file into a framed bitmap file that you can use to change the internet explorer animated logo as shown in chapter 6. For more information, visit www.virtualplastic.net/redllar/bitstrip.html.

O&O Defrag Professional, from O&O Software

Shareware version for Windows XP.

Description: O&O defrag is a great file system defragmentation utility that will help you optimize the location of the files on your hard drive including optimization of the boot files as is discussed in chapter 8. For more information, visit www.oo-software.com.

Appendix A — What’s on the CD-ROM 337

PCMark04, from Futuremark Corporation

Free feature-limited version for Windows XP.

Description: PCMark 04 is one of the most popular benchmarking programs for the PC. It will run various tests on your computer simulating everyday activities and will then assign an overall score that you can compare to other computers on the web. Chapter 7 will help you get PCMark 04 running on your computer. For more information, visit www.futuremark.com.

Sandra Standard, from SiSoftware

Free feature-limited version for Windows XP.

Description: Sandra Standard is a benchmarking and information suite. It provides several different benchmarking tests as well as boatloads of system stats. Chapter 7 will show you how to use Sandra Standard. Visit www.sisoftware.co.uk for more information.

Spybot Search & Destroy

Freeware version for Windows XP.

Description: Spybot S & D is one of the most popular applications for detecting and removing spyware from your computer. Chapter 13 will show you how you can use this great app to remove spyware from your computer. For more information, visit www.safer-network- ing.org.

Style Builder, from TGT Software

30-day trial version for Windows XP.

Description: Style builder is used to create visual styles for use with Windows XP’s built-in visual style engine. Directions on its use can be found in Chapter 4. For more information, visit www.tgtsoft.com/prod_sxp.php.

Style XP, from TGT Software

30-day trial version for Windows XP.

Description: Style XP provides an easy way to use visual styles without having to patch Windows XP’s visual style engine. Directions on its use can be found in Chapter 4. For more information, check out www.tgtsoft.com/prod_sb.php.

WinTasks 4 Professional, from Uniblue Systems Ltd.

Trial version for Windows XP.

Description: WinTasks 4 Professional is a task manager on steroids. It provides normal running process information as well as the ability to increase and decrease performance, profiles, priorities, and respond to system events. Chapter 11 shows how to use WinTasks. For more information, visit www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/.

Bonus Applications

The following bonus applications provided by Joel Diamond and Howard Sobel of the Windows Users Group Network (www.WUGNET.com) are on the CD in the bonus folder. These bonus applications will help you get even more out of Windows XP by providing you with useful tools to hack your computer and add cool new features and effects that will make

338 Appendix A — What’s on the CD-ROM

Title	Filename
3DNA Screensaver	3DNA.exe
3DNA Screensaver software provided courtesy of 3DNA.™
AccountLogon
Password Manager	Account_Logon.exe

AccountLogon Password Manager software provided courtesy of Rhodes Software Pty Ltd.

Advanced System Optimizer	AdvancedSystemOptimizer.exe
AlphaXP Transparency Effects	AlphaXP.exe

AlphaXP Transparency Effects software provided courtesy of ZeroHero Software.

AutoFTP Manager	AutoFTP.exe
AutoPilot XP	AutopilotXP.exe
AutoPilot XP software provided courtesy of Sunbelt Software.
BoostXP	BoosterXP.exe
Cache Boost Pro	CacheBoostPro.exe
CompreXX	Comprexx.exe
CompreXX software provided courtesy of MimarSinan International.
CyberScrub ES Pro	CyberScrubPro.exe

CyberScrub software provided courtesy of CyberScrub LLC. CyberScrub is a registered trademark of CyberScrub LLC. All rights reserved.

Digital Media Converter	DigitalMediaConvertor.exe
DiskTriage Free Space Manager	DiskTriage.exe

DiskTriage Free Space Manager software provided courtesy of TimeAcct Information Systems.

Downshift Download Manager		Downshift.exe
Downshift software provided courtesy of Rose City Software.
ExplorerPlus		ExplorerPlus.exe
ExplorerPlus software provided courtesy of Novatix ™ Corporation.
Fantasy Moon 3D	Screensaver	FantasyMoon3D.exe
Fantasy Moon 3D	Screensaver software provided courtesy of 3PlaneSoft.
FeedDemon RSS Reader		FeedDemon.exe

FeedDemon RSS Reader software provided courtesy of Bradbury Software, LLC.

FolderMatch FolderMatch.zip

FolderMatch software provided courtesy of Salty Brine Software.

Appendix A — What’s on the CD-ROM 339

Title	Filename
FTP Voyager	FTPVoyager.exe
FTP Voyager software provided courtesy of Rhino Software, Inc.
Galleon 3D Screensaver	Galleon.exe
Galleon Screensaver software provided courtesy of 3PlaneSoft.
GhostSurf Pro Privacy Protector	GhostSurfPro.exe
MoveMe File Transfer Wizard	MoveMe.exe
MoveMe File Transfer Wizard software provided courtesy of Spearit Software, Inc.
Multi Desktop 2003	MultiDesktop2003.exe
Multi Desktop 2003 software provided courtesy of Gamers Tower, Inc.
Nautilus 3D Screensaver	Nautilus.exe
Nautilus 3D Screensaver software provided courtesy of 3PlaneSoft.
Open+	OpenPlus.exe
Open+ software provided courtesy of Capio Corporation.
PC Booster	PCBooster.exe
PC Booster software provided courtesy of inKline Global, Inc.
Registry Compactor	RegComp.exe
Registry Compactor software provided courtesy of Rose City Software.
Registry First Aid	RegistryFirstAid.exe
Registry First Aid software provided courtesy of Rose City Software.
Registry Mechanic	RegistryMechanic.exe
Registry Mechanic software provided courtesy of GuideWorks Pty Ltd.
SOS Data Protection Recovery	SOS_Data_Protection_Recovery.zip
SOS Data Protection Recovery software provided courtesy of DataTex Engineering.
SnagIT Screen Capture	SnagIT.exe
Spirit of Fire 3D Screensaver	SpiritofFire3D.exe
Spirit of Fire 3D Screensaver software provided courtesy of 3PlaneSoft.
Sticky Notes	StickyNotes.exe
System Mechanic	SystemMechanic.exe

System Mechanic software provided courtesy of iolo technologies, LLC.

Continued