Quick Tips and Hints: How To Disable Microsoft Auto Update
How do I disable Microsoft Auto Update?
More and more people are coming to our Web site looking for information on how to disable Microsoft Auto Update.
We are not sure that you would want to do this with all the known Microsoft security issues, but if you really want to, here's how. (The instructions are for Windows 2000, but other Windows platforms are similar.)
- Double click on your computer's Control Panel icon.
- Click on the Automatic Updates icon.
- Uncheck the first top box that says "keep my computer up to date".
- In the body of the screen you have options that you can select should you desire to leave Automatic Updates enabled.
We recommend that you leave Automatic Updates checked, but also check the box notify me before downloading updates and again before installing them. This gives you control over your computer, but allows you to be advised when a major fix or security problem is found by Microsoft to keep your computer and information secured.
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McAfee SpamKiller 5.0 A Great Choice
This month we review McAfee Spam Killer 5.0 for 2004. Well McAfee has done it again. They've made a really great tool that you will not want to be without!
McAfee is the maker of a super antivirus program and numerous other utilities. Now they have added a top-notch spam program to their arsenal. Just like Norton AntiSpam, McAfee SpamKiller uses the new Bayesian filter to identify spam. For more on how a Bayesian filter works, review our December newsletter.
The best part of the McAfee program is that it works in Outlook Express. Unlike Norton AntiSpam, that as recently as January 2, 2004, still had a documented crashing problem in Outlook Express 6.0, McAfee SpamKiller works seamlessly and behind the scenes.
The McAfee product is a self installing program. It automatically integrates nicely into the Outlook Express and Outlook tool bar, making one touch spam control simple.
The spam that you receive is sent to a special McAfee Spam folder. When you delete the items in the spam folder, they disappear. Unlike the two step process in Norton AntiSpam. When you select to delete the items in your spam folder, the deleted spam items go to your Delete folder. This could be a problem for people who do not purge their Delete folder on exit, and causes an additional review to make sure that desired mail is not being discarded.
Our recommendation at this time for the best antispam software is for McAfee SpamKiller over Norton AntiSpam.
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Getting Science Funding Is On The Web
We have just completed a Web site for Science Funding. This consultancy offers grant proposal writing workshops and one-on-one counseling and is based in Washington DC. The principal of the firm is Dr. Thomas R. Blackburn, an expert in the grant proposal process and author of the new book "Getting Science Funding".
The site features a liquid layout that resizes to fit any browser screen and features an interesting texture on the sidebar created in Adobe Photoshop using a scanned-in twenty dollar bill's engraved filigree.
Check it out at www.Science-Funding.com.
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What's The Trouble With Google Lately?
Have you searched recently on Google and had trouble finding what you were looking for? If so you are not alone. Starting in mid November, Google changed the logarithm that determines page rank wreaking havoc in the world of Webmasters and search engine optimization experts.
The change was so dramatic and has had such far reaching consequences in Web world that the name "Florida" was given to the adjustment.
The Florida update has been very difficult for Webmasters and Web site owners to deal with as Google has been very closed mouthed over the nature of the change. Many previously top ranking sites have suddenly found that they are not even listed under their best keyword since the Florida update.
There has been much speculation on whether a newly installed Google filter has caused sites to be dropped if they had been designed utilizing search engine optimization techniques. Others feel that the formula for determining page rank has changed due to a change in the weighting of incoming links to a site. And yet others feel that Google is preparing for it's first IPO and is having to change its technology that was patented by Stanford University and funded by grants from the National Science Foundation before going public.
What ever Florida is, it is affecting Google in a big way. People who used to search Google first are migrating to other search engines to find "real" results instead of the mishmash of sites that Google is currently returning with the Florida modifications.
Web experts like McCord Web Services, are monitoring the situation closely. The broad consensus of Webmasters at this point it to not make changes to your site, until we are clear on what the changes are all about. Google appears to be fine tuning whatever the change may be.
Starting in November, we have also noticed that Google has ratcheted up its rate at which it spiders the Web. The spider called Googlebot used to traverse the Web every four weeks, but now seems to be spidering content every fourteen to twenty days.
With big changes planned at Google this year; it's IPO and use of new technology, and the consolidation of Web assets by Yahoo, Google's biggest competitor; the purchase of Inktomi and Overture, 2004 should be very interesting indeed. We promise to keep you advised!
