Dennis Faas

Synopsis: Fact: The moment you are connected to the Internet, your system is vulnerable to outside intruders, even with an anti-hacker Firewall in place! So how would you know if your system is being hacked right now? Answer: using VisualWare ... CallerIP, of course! With CallerIP, you get realtime monitoring information -- visually -- so you can instantly identify suspect activity to *and* from your computer (such as Hackers, Spyware, and Trojans). VisualWare CallerIP is so useful, it should have been renamed to VisualWare Internet "Caller ID"! VisualWare CallerIP: Screenshots Click to ... (view more)

Great news! After 1 year in the making (and many changes to our web site), I'm pleased to announce that the implementation of RSS is ... drum roll please ... finally online! If you've been reading our newsletter for some time, then I'm sure you're ... already aware that all the articles published through this web site have a similar "theme" -- namely: Microsoft Windows, computing, and the like. In terms of RSS [Rich Site Syndicate] technology, related articles are grouped together to form a "Channel". For example: The Software Spotlight Section, Bob's Freeware Picks (also ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Henry H. writes: " Dear Dennis, I have Spy Sweeper installed in my computer, but last week after running Norton Antivirus I discovered a threat called 'Adware.Ezula.' Thanks to an article of yours I also downloaded Acronis True ... Image , which I have found fantastic, so I was able to revert my system back to a previous state (and without the Adware.Ezula on my system)! I was so impressed with True Image that I decided to examine the entire Acronis product line. I came across their 'Acronis Privacy Expert Suite', and I would appreciate your opinion on whether or not I ... (view more)

Synopsis: Build up your supply of weapons, prepare your defensive shields -- and get ready to meet atop 'the big rock' on the battlefield with your Atomic Cannon! Based on the ever-popular MS DOS freeware game "Scorched Earth", Atomic Cannon is a ... franticly fun strategy game with super-cool graphics, sound effects, and dazzling backdrops. Atomic Cannon is so addictive, it's an utterly fantastic way to waste a day sitting in front of the computer (no excuse needed)! NOTE: This page is best viewed using Internet Explorer 6 (there is a movie box to the left of this text, so that you can see the ... (view more)

Synopsis: Do you remember the arcade classic, "Arkanoid", where the object of the game is to get to the next stage by eliminating 'bricks' on the screen using your paddle? Well, if you've never seen Arkanoid before, then it's tough to know what I'm ... talking about; nonetheless, Acky's XP Breakout is just as addictive, just as exciting, and just as fun as Arkanoid -- but only *way* better. If "seeing is believing", make sure you click to read this review! NOTE: This page is best viewed using Internet Explorer 6 (there is a movie box to the left of this text, so that you can see the gameplay). If ... (view more)

Yesterday, I announced that our web site will be hosting a special fund raiser. To quickly recap: I will be compiling special reviews (once a week over the summer), featuring really great software at ridiculously cheap prices; a percentage of the ... proceeds will be used to fund our web site. Yesterday's Summer Sizzler was "SpeedUpMyPC": an award-winning system optimization program used to monitor and boost your PC's performance when you need it the most (click here to read -- you won't want to miss it!). Today's newsletter announcement is an email I received this morning, and deals ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Phyllis R. writes: " Dear Dennis, I have just completed a 'disk cleanup' on my computer. When the disk cleanup finished, it said I could free up more space on my C drive if I deleted my Temporary Internet Files. Is this a safe ... procedure, and do you recommend it? Every once in a while I clean out my Temporary Internet Files and web site history, but was curious of your opinion. Thanks for any help you can provide. " My response: Before answering that question, it's important to understand the role of Temporary Internet Files before you go and delete them ;-). In ... (view more)

Synopsis: What's the most efficient way to speed up a download using your web browser -- regardless of your Internet connection speed? Answer: by utilizing multiple connections to the Internet source, of course! Introducing MetaProducts Mass ... Downloader: a download manager application that allows you to download individual files (or lists of files) from Internet sites at the maximum available speed. With Mass Downloader, you'll not only cruise downloads at top speed, you can also resume downloads at any time, store streaming media (video and sound files), schedule downloads, and much, much ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Phil C. write s: " Dear Dennis, I have been a long time subscriber to your online magazine (since early 2002) and have found your articles to be both informative and especially easy to read. And, although, I admit I don't have ... time to read all of your articles, there always seems to be an issue you've covered (more often than not) that deals with similar computing problems that I face on a day-to-day basis. For that, I am deeply gratified. I'm writing you today with regard to some of the changes you've made to the site. I like the new layout (especially the links to ... (view more)

Synopsis: What's the best way to archive your favorite web pages and web media permanently? Answer: MetaProducts Offline Explorer! Using a clear, intuitive and convenient user interface, Offline Explorer downloads Web and FTP sites (up to 500 ... simultaneously!) at the highest possible speed so you can browse, search, export to CD or perform other operations on downloaded sites. Among its many awards, Offline Explorer is a ZDNet.com 5-star winner! Offline Explorer: Screenshots Click to view: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4. 10 Reasons why you should be using Offline Explorer (1) A Powerful, ... (view more)