Fighting Back

I have taken a new view at the Internet since I was hacked, my computer damaged, the cost of the repair, the cost of my loss and the incredible time I have had to take to restore, tweak and l-e-a-r-n about what I now dub as the 'new Internet.' When I first started on my own computer about eight years ago with good old AOL (simple and user friendly), it was fun. I could research, work and have a little time to go to poetry chat's and send e-mails and do other things I enjoy.

That has all changed now. We have hackers, crackers, hijackers, trojans, any kind of backdoor virus or key loader you can imagine. You scoff, 'Not on my computer!' It all goes on behind your very own browser unbeknownst to you. But please don't take my word for it, research some of the links on the page, down load some free programs you can get for spyware and you can't even buy it!
When most of the advertisers on the web say "free" you better put up your antennae! There are some true free ware (some are listed below), there is ad ware which is not a bad thing except many times it conceals itself as spy ware. Then there is plain old spy ware.
Even the spy ware is spying on the other spy wares'!

I am sick of spending my time and money buying software that doesn't work or can't keep up with this new vain of terrorist. They are vile! So if you are one and you are reading this, come and get me. I don't run. When one has lived in hell, what else is there to fear? By the way, I do know the difference between a cracker and a hacker but I used poetic license in the following poem.

Hack this you left-brained Neanderthal-geek whose mother obviously didn't breast feed you! Trojan Horse is too honorable a name for what you devise. No fair Helen or anyone else do you wish to rescue. You fall more into the 'terrorist' category, hiding behind a computer screen creating havoc, mayhem, theft and anguish. But it is not Allah you wish to see - you have your own perverted scams as you hack hack hack, I hope you're watching your back. 'What goes around comes around,' or maybe Karma will get you if the law don't. Hack, hack, hack away for if I could impose your punishment it would be: Wearing your Trojan® over your swollen left-brained head tied at the neck with your mouse cord, of course! by Margaret C. Rigsby © August 29, 2002-and beyond. (All rights reserved) Published: Panda Quarterly Poetry Magazine Issue January 2003 Issue 13. ISSN 1475-7184

If you are someone who wants to be educated, please check out some of the excellent links below for your own safety and edification. Unfortunately, I have had to make many changes to my own site as I have learned that many of the free benign programs are not so benign.

This page is dedicated to the cause of taking our web back!
I share what I learn with you. - McR

A note from the webmaster, that's me:

I'd just like to express my sincere appreciation to all of the people who give so much of their free time and ask nothing in return. Without people like you, by now we would all be hacked to death!

Therefore I propose to those that download any of the free software from the 'little guys' that you use it and if you like it, if it helps you, I hope you will send whatever you can as a donation. I would hate for them to turn it into shareware, or do what Adaware did. There are still some good people in this world so let us encourage them.

Of course, the freeware listed on this page is just that - free. If you have ever gone to the forums or asked for help you would know that these people are truly dedicated to their causes. If you find broken links or freeware that is no longer freeware, please write to me.

Peace,

Margaret C. Rigsby

A word about any products that I endorse: First, I rarely do. Secondly, if I endorse a product on my pages it is because I have used it myself and found it to be what it proclaims to be. Having enjoyed these free products, I would like to share them with my visitors. If the product changes for the worse, I will no longer endorse it. Some of the software listed on this page is here because it has been recommended in forums or PC World or PC Magazine. I receive nothing for any endorsement and take no responsibilities for any problems that you may have with the products.
-Margaret C. Rigsby

If you find any links not working please be kind enough to let me know.
Email me by clicking on the white wolf's eyes.

HSC - Brève - Minimization of network services on Windows systems-Another find.

Ad-Aware® SE Personal Edition - Freeware and a purchase version.

BOClean - No, it is not free! But they do have a freebies page, check it out.

I'm sure they and everyone else would have more if the solution to the trojan problem would be carried out as I indicated in my poem above, "Hack This!"

CleanCache - Free or donationware. Check for updates.

JAVACOOL - I really don't know anything about Javacool except that he/she makes the best darn anti-spy software I have ever tried. I do have one beef with Javacool and that is he/she is unreachable. I do not use PayPal and though I support his/her efforts here, I would also like to donate but can find no other way of doing that. I am including the link to his home page so that you might see all of his programs.

SpywareBlaster - Excellent free program by JavaCool,in my humble opinion. You can use Active X again! (I am not saying that you will be completely safe. Read his page)

SpywareGuard - by JavaCool

SpamCop - Hate spam? I need to check this out to see if it is still free, 2/07/05 ~mcr

WebAttack.com has become Snapfiles. Information on software and downloads.

Gibson Research Corporation Home Page Check your system for leaks!

Protect your computer! Get Steve Gibson's DCOMbobulator!

DSLReports - Seek and you shall find!
Spyware Nation "...resource for eliminating spyware from the desktop and the enterprise."

Spyware Nation first linked to me as a suggested link. After checking out their site I decided to reciprocate. If you would like to rate my site for Spyware Nation, please do so below:

www.doxdesk.com - A great site with a wealth of information! I don't think he is keeping it updated any longer.
Another great resource: GreyMagic

WebWasher - A free and purchase version.

avast! home - Free of Charge - I happened to run across this FREE anti-virus program while surfing the web. I cannot say as to how good it is, but the authors say that it is for those who truly cannot afford virus protection. By offering their software then they are helping not to spread more viruses. So, if you really can't afford an anti-virus program you might want to go to Avast. I think it is very generous of them.

Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus - Free Edition

Outpost Firewall - A free (I am not sure if they still have a free version)and purchase version.

Zone Alarm - A free version and you may also buy the Pro version; however, they are presently allowing you to actually try the full product for 45 days without taking anything away from it. That is a first! Most trials are disabled in some fashion and do not bother to tell you until you download them.

Here are some links for free on-line virus scans:

Kaspersky

Free virus scan From Panda Software

Mcafee

V.O.P. Stands for Voice of the Public.

"BHODemon as a guardian for your Internet browser: it protects you from unknown Browser Helper Objects (BHOs)."

BrowserSpy Find out intimate and private details about your computer!

Check out AnalogX for some cool software and music!

Some of my personal favorites:
Pow! (for those nasty pop-ups!)
SuperShreader - For more than deleting.
CookieWall - Your guess!

Mike Lin's Home Page Check out Mike Lin's page for some cool programs, especially Startup Monitor.

MSGTAG "When your email is viewed at its destination, MSGTAG lets you know." (A free and a pay version.)

Bugnosis Install this free utility to see who is watching you everywhere you go!

Belarc A free utility that will show you everything on your system.

ieSpell - Spell Checker add-on for Internet Explorer - Both versions, free and buy.

DeepSight Analyzer - Home Page - You might want to check this out.

Want an alternative to Microsoft software? Open Office

Browser alternative's: DSL Reports raves about FireFox, if you try it, please write me and let me know what you think. (I not only tried it, but I love it!)

RegSeeker - "RegSeeker is the perfect companion for your Windows registry!"

WallWatcher - Linksys router logger. Be sure to sign up for myNetWatchman - Network Intrusion Detection and Reporting and help stamp out the bad guys!

Whitehats Network Security Resource -Home - This was a real find! Some of it will be for the more geeky-minded, but there are a lot of free tool, software and information.

I used the two following links a while back but need to check it out again. As a matter of fact, the first found some spyware on my computer. Yes, I am an overworked underpaid writer...Let me know All you have to do to send feedback is hit on the white wolf's eyes to e-mail.

FreeSpywareScan.org

SpywareRemoversReview.com - A place to find out which are the best spyware removers. Again, I've had this link for a while.

Like this page? Want to link? Let me know.
It would really be nice to have a link back from those I am linking.

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