 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Staying Alive with Windows For the Bookshelf Major Keary |
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In spite of the procession of new versions of Microsoft's Windows operating
system many users are choosing to stay with Win98. A sensible decision. Many establishments that offer
computer courses are staying with Word 97 and the equivalent of other Office applications.
Because no proper manuals are provided with Microsoft applications it is necessary for users to turn to
third party publishers. Unfortunately the need to keep up with newly released products has seen a decline in
the availability of Win95/Win98 literature. One new release that is of special interest is an O'Reilly title
on Windows virus problems, but more about that later.
Two Win98 books that are still in print, and well worth having, are Windows 98 Annoyances and
Windows 98 in a Nutshell, both from O'Reilly. They are well suited to users who have been running Win98,
but who are not necessarily expert. For anyone involved in running a help desk, or otherwise fielding
questions from Win98 users, these are essential resources.
The Annoyances series is highly recommended to users of Microsoft products. Some of the titles have
gone out of print, but it is worth making an enquiry because stocks are still lurking about.
Windows 98 Annoyances
Windows 98 Annoyances, which is built around the author's Web site,
http://www.annoyances.org, is "an authoritative collection of techniques for trouble- shooting and
customising Windows 98" and comes with a 'demo' version of O'Reilly Utilities - Quick Solutions for
Windows 98 Annoyances on a companion CD. Now, who hasn't been annoyed by any version of Windows and been
tempted to define ME as 'miserable effort', and XP as 'extremely poor'? David Karp delves into
those aspects of Win98 that frustrate users when they cannot get the 10 gallon system to work the way they
want. His advice and instructions are easy to follow and extend to issues that are not directly related to
the Windows platform.
If there are things in Windows that you would like to get rid of but can't find a way, the answer is sure to
be here. If it is not, a visit to http://www.annoyances.org should
provide the solution - if there is one, because some Windows annoyances are intractable.
This book is a veritable mine of information about Win98. There would be few people, no matter how expert,
who would not find something about Windows that they didn't know. Apart from specific Win98 solutions, there
is a lot of practical advice and interesting asides. For example, the chapter on Windows scripting is amongst
the best discussions I have seen.
As this title is likely to go out of print and if you intend sticking with Win98 it would be a good idea to
have a browse.
| David Karp: Windows 98 Annoyances ISBN 1-56592-417-7 Published by O'Reilly, 448 pp. + CD, RRP $75.00 incl. GST |
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Win98 in a Nutshell
A companion volume, Windows 98 in a Nutshell, covers Win98 SE. It is designed as a "desktop quick
reference" for those who want a compact reference that "contains more information about using Windows 98 than
any other book on the market". The chapter on the Windows Script Host is detailed and thorough, but
not a tutorial for novices. A chapter covers batch files, which is another method of automating regular tasks
(familiar to DOS users). I particularly liked the attention to DOS, which underlies Win98, and the chapter on
"hidden gems" on the Win98 CD.
Books in the Nutshell series are not tutorials or introductions for novices; they are references that
rely on concise entries in order to cover as many topics as possible. However, there is a wealth of how-to
information that shows the reader how to implement or use features. For example, Quick View is a
useful application, but getting it to work properly requires an understanding of 'file association',
something that is explained in sufficient detail for most users.
There are good reasons for staying with Win98 rather than pass one's hard-earned cash over to Bill. For
those who hang on to Win98 this is a worthwhile investment.
| Tim O'Reilly, Troy Mott, & Walter Glen: Windows 98 in a Nutshell ISBN 1-56592-486-X Published by O'Reilly, 618 pp., RRP $44.95 incl. GST |
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Virus Problems and Windows
Whatever the reason(s) that Windows systems are more frequently attacked than any other, the fact is that
users - especially at the enterprise level - have a problem. That problem is addressed in a new title from
O'Reilly: Malicious Mobile Code - Virus Protection for Windows.
Malicious mobile code (MMC) is destructive self-replicating code, such as a virus or worm, that is loaded
onto a computer without the user's knowledge and runs against the user's wishes. An essential distinguishing
element of any MMC is an intention to do harm.
Even though the statistics show a dramatic escalation in instances of MMC - from fifty-six viruses in 1989
to 35,117 in 1999 - the author reminds us that "design flaws in the Microsoft Windows operating system are
responsible for more data loss than all the malicious code put together". That observation is made in the
context of distinguishing between intentional and unintentional harm. He also notes that, "Each
new version of Windows attempts to close the cracks exposed by previous bouts with malicious code, and ends
up adding new ones".
The book has been written for a wide audience that encompasses home users through to system administrators. A
reasonable understanding of how Windows and DOS work is necessary to appreciate the discussion, but Roger
Grimes provides an excellent overview that doesn't call for a degree in computer science. This text is an
example of technical communication at its best, presenting technical matter in clear language without either
patronising the reader, or leaving one adrift on a sea of acronyms and obtuse terminology. The author defines
the terms used; in particular he explains the difference between a virus, Trojan, worm, and other instances
of MMC. For those who have never had DOS under their fingernails the chapter, DOS Computer Viruses,
provides a valuable insight into the workings of DOS, which underpins versions of Windows up to WinME. A
chapter, Windows Technologies is a similar instructive and invaluable account of how the various
versions of Windows work. Those two chapters are recommended to anyone who teaches Windows to novices.
There is also an interesting discussion of the cracker community and the virus-writing subculture. I was
taken by the clever way Roger Grimes avoids providing useful information to would-be recruits to that
subculture. He has even modified illustrative code to make it harmless without compromising its usefulness to
the intended audience.
In the main part of the book the author examines the different types of MMC attacks on Windows and its
applications:
- Viruses;
- Trojans and worms;
- ActiveX and Java exploits;
- DOS Viruses;
- Macro viruses;
- Browser-based exploits;
- Email attacks; and
- Instant messaging attacks.
This is a thorough treatment of a specific aspect of MMC, the way in which Windows systems are attacked and how to protect against those attacks. It does not discuss or support any particular protective systems, but gives readers an excellent checklist by which to assess the usefulness of commercial products. Readers will learn how to recognise the symptoms of attack and how to deal with specific infections.
An essential acquisition for public, educational, and corporate libraries. A supporting Web site has been established to maintain the currency of MMC information.
| Roger Grimes: Malicious Mobile Code: Virus Protection for Windows ISBN 1-56592-682-X Published by O'Reilly, 522 pp., RRP $115.00 incl. GST. |
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Reprinted from the June 2002 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
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