Whichever title you prefer.

With Google’s not-so-new but stating-plainly-and-thereby-legitimizing-all-the-shady-user-tracking-they’ve-done-from-the-start policy, I’m sure some of you out there are wondering if it’s possible to exist in this world without getting involved with the big G.  The answer. . . . . is actually probably not.  But what is possible, more easily than most people probably realize, is to abstain from Google’s core service that binds all the others together.  No, not the search engine.  No, not Google Images, not Google Maps, Google Shopping, Google News or YouTube (thank goodness they let that one keep its original name).

It’s GMail of course: the enticingly robust email service that finally paired people’s real names to all the search and activity tracking data that had been collected about them, as well as lots of other interesting personal info.  What was once a loose amalgamation of tracking cookies could now be assembled into an account for Google to synthesize and study and index and sell.  Maybe not “sell” directly, but it’s been observed many times before that Google’s users aren’t its customers, they are its product.  And so, GMail became the hook, the entry point for everyone to become part of Google’s domain, and the basis for all its other account-based services (Calendar, Talk, Places, Voice, etc.).

I don’t really mean to come down so hard on Google, and I’m not writing this to convince everyone that they are evil.  That’s not something I’m really qualified to tackle, and it’s already been done elsewhere quite effectively.  What I really want to get across here is that they aren’t the only game in town.  They aren’t even the only good game in town, and though there aren’t as many as once were, there are other free email providers with similar capabilities as GMail that a privacy-minded individual might want to make use of.

Added bonus: When you sign up with a less popular provider, every good screen name isn’t already taken!

I have a few criteria for what constitutes a “good” email service.

• POP and IMAP access: To be a replacement for GMail, a mail service must be accessible not only via a web application, but from a standards-compliant mail client like Outlook or Thunderbird and also from smartphones and tablets.
• Encryption: The service’s incoming and outgoing mail servers must support encryption of messages so they cannot be intercepted in transit.  It’s the year 2012 for goodness sake; users need to have this basic protection.
• Storage space: While it would be hard to top GMail’s massive 8GB (and growing) per user, a good provider needs to offer at least 100MB of online email storage for the account to be useful.

So, here are the free email providers I am aware of that could do GMail’s job.  Some of them I have used myself, others I’ve only read about.

Some runners-up who were disqualifier for falling short on one of my key issues:

• Yahoo Mail: Does not allow POP/IMAP access for their free accounts; this is only possible through Yahoo Plus or AT&T internet subscribers.
• GMX: No message encryption.  Tsk tsk.  So close.
• iCloud Mail: Not actually free; although you can access iCloud mail via POP/IMAP on other devices, you can only open an iCloud account after purchasing an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
• FastMail: Only provides 10MB online storage.  This is not enough to be viable as a primary email account.
• Windows Live Hotmail: Doesn’t allow IMAP access, so no happy synchronization between multiple devices (though IMAP-like access is available when using the proprietary Windows Live Mail software).
• Inbox: POP, but no IMAP access.  Also borderline adware in the form of the Inbox toolbar which I’ve removed from an awful lot of machines lately.

That’s it!  Disappointing that there were only 3 really good GMail competitors, but that’s what you get when one company completely dominates a field.

If you know of any services I’ve missed, please post them.  More options = better!

But, third party developer Aceeca has released some 64-bit driver for Vista and Windows 7.  And here they are: http://aceeca.com/support/technical-support/downloads/product/drivers-64-bit-usb-windows-driver-for-palmgarnet-os

All you need to do is press the Hotsync button and use the hardware wizard to load these drivers for the “Unknown Device” which comes up.  Then Hotsync Manager and Palm Desktop will be able to interface with the handheld as normal.

Maybe I should back up though.

For many years HijackThis has been one of my favorite tools for detecting and removing unwanted startup items from Windows systems.  As the name implies, it was originally written to help fix browser hijacks, however it quickly proved to be just as effective at disabling crapware, quick launchers, auto-updaters, monitors, and all those other pesky background tasks.

However, HijackThis was sold to TrendMicro in 2007 and since then they’ve done…..very little to maintain or update it.  Some of the old bugs haven’t been fixed even after several years and it has started to show some compatibility issues with Vista and Windows 7.  I started to become concerned that they were planning to discontinue and bury it.

Thankfully Trend has now released the source code into the wild; it can now be found on SourceForge for anyone who wants to continue development.

I’ve succeeded in removing the Zero.Access with a few different methods depending on the availability of tools and the overall functionality of the victim operating system.  My preferred approach is to remove the hard drive and scan it on another machine, thus insuring that the scan won’t be interrupted by the rootkit itself.  If that’s not a possibility, it can also be treated by booting into Safe Mode with Command Prompt and running the system’s virus scanner or ComboFix via command line.  ESET also has a stand-alone removal tool for this infection, though I haven’t tried it yet.  If you think you may have contracted Zero.Access, check out the link below, it has some good instructions for diagnosing your own system.

http://kb.eset.com/esetkb/index?page=content&id=SOLN2895

When I say access restrictions, I’m referring to a router’s ability to block or filter traffic from particular IPs, domains, protocols, keywords to a given machine within their LAN.  Now I love DD-WRT to death and this one little missing feature doesn’t matter all that much to me personally.  However… to the family of a 16-year old boy addicted to World of Warcraft, Facebook, and TV Tropes, it was an absolute necessity.

This kid had somehow found ways around software-based solutions like NetNanny, so we needed a way to restrict traffic at a level he couldn’t reach.  That’s when I discovered Gargoyle; a lesser-known router firmware based on OpenWRT with very robust access filtering.  It allows you to stop all traffic to a particular host and allow access via a whitelist (versus the blacklist-only schemes of DD-WRT, OpenWRT, and Tomato).  It’s VERY effective, but I can’t help feeling a little guilty about preventing a hormone-laden adolescent from exploring pornography on his own terms.

Gargoyle’s one major drawback is compatibility; this thing mostly runs on only older Linksys WRT54G family routers and a handful of others.  Still, if you need some really flexible, powerful access controls, the WRT54GL is easy to find.

The trouble is that while there are plenty of free registry cleaners out there, they still need to make a buck for their developers.  Most are rigged with all sorts of methods for getting you to buy the full version, or just throwing advertising in your face.  This can include banners, browser toolbars, pop-ups, conspicuous update services, or even just a little icon down in the system tray: a constant reminder of its presence as it monitors, scans, and eats up your memory and disk bandwidth.

I have since found a product that comes damn close to what I consider “getting it right.”  Meet Glary Utilities, a slim and effective set of system optimization tools with no obnoxious automation or shameless advertising.  It commits only one sin during installation: attempting to include the Ask Toolbar but this is very easy to opt-out of.  Yes, there is a paid version.  No, the program does not constantly pressure you to buy it.  It doesn’t use alarmist language like “At Risk” or “Needs Attention.”  It doesn’t run at Windows startup, bug you for updates, notify you of changes to the registry, or appear at inopportune moments.  In fact, the only time you’ll ever hear from Glary Utilities is when you call for it, and that’s the way it should be.  Give it a try.

ODIR is the Outlook Dupliate Items Remover, and as the name implies, it can automatically remove duplicate messages and contacts from Outlook.  This is great for recovering from glitches in which messages are downloaded twice, or contacts are accidentally imported multiple times.  Compatible with all versions of Outlook since 2000.

NK2Edit is a tool for editing…. well…. the NK2 file.  This is where Outlook’s address autocomplete data is stored.   Whenever you start typing an email address and Outlook fills in the rest, that’s the NK2 file at work.  Why would you need to edit this?  An NK2 file is populated automatically from emails you send; historically it has not been possible to edit it directly.  Gradually the autocomplete database fills up with extra entries, mostly from typos, and then you’ll have to work around Outlook autocompleting some_guy@gmaail.com forever.  And when someone changes their email address, you really want to stop Outlook from continuing to autocomplete their old one.  NK2Edit can also be used to convert autocomplete addresses into actual contacts: huge huge time saver.

Here are a few of the most common no-no’s that I still see people do all the time:

• Setting a running laptop/tablet down on the table with a loud *CLUNK*.  If your device makes a noise from its impact with your desk, you’re doing it wrong.
• Slamming the lid of a laptop such that the desk shakes.  This is also very wrong.
• Dropping a laptop into its carrying case or into your bag with enough momentum to move the bag or push it over.  Wrong, wrong, wrong.

All of these actions will degrade the performance and reduce the lifespan of your hard drive.  Unless you have a solid state drive (you would know if you did), be gentle.  Treat your hard drive like what it is: a wafer-thin metal disc spinning at no less than 4000 RPMs which contains all your favorite stuff.  This applies to external hard disks as well.

Also on the bad list:

• Picking up or dragging a laptop by its screen
• Poking the screen in a way that causes the spot you touched to change colors briefly.
• Haphazardly shoving an AC adapter into the laptop’s power port at a weird angle, and similarly…
• Pulling an inserted USB drive in any direction other than out.
• Pushing the laptop up against a wall or other object such that any connected cables crimp or bend.
• Putting a closed, running laptop in a bag.  This happens a lot when the user thinks the computer has gone into standby/hibernation when it hasn’t (look for the blinking/pulsing sleep light!).
• Tossing or dropping a bag containing a sensitive device.  The bag is a carrying case, it’s not armor.

Be gentle, be sensible; don’t be any rougher with your devices than you would be with a soufflé or a violin or a Ming vase.  Otherwise you’ll be seeing me soon…

If you don’t feel like parsing the entire article, the two magic commands, to be entered in an elevated command prompt are as follows:

For the Automatic Updates service:

%windir%\System32\rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 %windir%\inf\au.inf

For BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service):

%windir%\System32\rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 %windir%\inf\qmgr.inf

If either command prompts you for a Windows CD, simply give them this path:

%windir%\ServicePackFiles\i386

There are two important metrics in bandwidth allocation (measured in Megabits per second or Mbps): upstream and downstream, denoting the speed of outbound and inbound traffic respectively.  They are useful for different tasks, so let’s address them separately.  All bandwidth suggestions below are for a single user.  Obviously if many users are simultaneously sharing a single connection, requirements will increase accordingly.

Downstream Bandwidth

This is the more useful of the two metrics for most residential users.  It reflects how much data can be transmitted to your computer/LAN at one time, affecting the speed of web page loading, file downloading, video/audio streaming, etc.  For comfortable web browsing, I recommend you have 1-2 Mbps per user.  If you watch a lot of YouTube or Netflix or use Pandora or other streaming media service, you probably want more like 4-5 Mbps per user.  If you make use of digital software and game distribution services like Steam or frequently download very very large files, then you should spring for 10-20 megs or faster.  It will really save on your thumb-twiddling time.

Upstream Bandwidth

Upstream bandwidth plays a more complicated role in internet activity.  It is less used, but still very important as it determines how quickly your computer/LAN can transmit data to a remote location.  In web browsing and media streaming, its only real function is to send the initial request for web pages and files to the server.  After that, all the load is carried on the downstream pipe.  For this reason ISPs typically provide much less outbound bandwidth to their subscribers, sometimes as little as 1/10th the inbound.

Upstream bandwidth does have significant impact on certain operations.  Does it take a long time to attach files to your email?  That’s the limitation of your upload speed.  Stuttering in Skype calls?  That’s probably a lack of upstream bandwidth (though it could be yours or the person you’re talking to).  Though you can theoretically make Skype video calls with 512k upstream bandwidth, you will probably experience poor performance and/or low picture quality.  Offsite backup systems like Mozy or Carbonite rely exclusively on your outbound bandwidth to transmit your files to their servers.  This is the reason they take so long to complete a full backup.

Sufficient outbound bandwidth is also critical when hosting remotely-accessible services on your LAN.  If you use Remote Desktop or LogMeIn or other remote protocol to access your home or office computer while on the road, you should have at least 1 Mbps upstream. 2 Mbps  or better is a good idea when accessing remote files via VPN.  If you’re hosting a website, you’ll need some significant outbound bandwidth too, but that becomes more complicated because your bandwidth requirements will change depending on how popular your site is.  I recommend 2 Mbps or more to start.

The Short and Sweet

If you want affordable general purpose internet and won’t be using any kind of remote access or hosting services, get 2-4 Mbps downstream per user and don’t sweat the upstream speed.  But do be aware of these metrics so you can make informed changes going forward.

Table o’ Bandwidth Requirements (Downstream)

Table o’ Bandwidth Requirements (Upstream)