Just installed AVG 8.0 recently. The interface has a great change. Besides that, a feature I like most, which AVG 7 doesn’t have, that is “Exceptions”. That is a feature, which you can add in the path or files, that you know there are threats, but you still want them remain in your computer.

This feature is very good. Because sometimes, I want to run a program, but AVG 7 Resident Shield will protect the computer to run the program. In order to continue running the program, I need to turn off Resident Shield. However, doing this is dangerous, because the whole Resident Shield is turned off. With this “exceptions” feature, Resident Shield is still running and protection is still going on, and I can run the program I want.

Because the use of Java is increasing, in websites or software, that is why I install Java Runtime Environment (JRE). Why need JRE? Because the software developed by using Java language will need the JRE, so that the software is WORA (Write Once, Run Anywhere).

Then, Microsoft also produces similar product. That is .NET Framework. .NET Framework becomes popular because of C# language.

However, what I want to say is, I just found that .NET Compact Framework is different from .NET Framework. Now, .NET Framework 3.5 is released. However, the full installation file is about 100mb. It is quite wasting time to download it. And I just found .NET Compact Framework 3.5, which is much smaller than .NET Framework. So, I thought it is a “compact version” of .NET Framework. And search the Wikipedia about .NET Compact Framework, and found that both are different things. :)

Just read the news, there is new MSN Messenger trojan that is spreading now. Be aware of it.

The Trojan is an IRC bot that’s spreading through MSN Messenger by sending itself in a .zip file with two names. One of the names includes the word “pics” as a double extension executable—a name generally used by scanners and digital cameras: for example, DSC00432.jpg.exe. The Trojan is also contained in a .zip file with the name “images” as a .pif executable—for example, IMG34814.pif.
(Quoted from: http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,2218894,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03119TX1K0000594)

I don’t know whether you know about Memory Editor (or some people call it Memory Scanner) or not. It is an application that usually used when playing PC games.

Using Memory Editor, you can modify your character HP (Hit Point), money, and else. And if you are very good in memory editing, you might also review the secret items, secret characters.

I like to use Memory Editor. Because, I don’t like to waste too much time to level up my character. I feel that doing this is wasting my life. However, I like story of the games, that is why I modify a bit which will not destroy the fun of the game play, such as modify the experience of the characters.

Reply to hobbestheteddybearkiller:

What functions you need? Play video, edit video, convert video?

To play the video, the best one I like is K-Lite Mega Codec. It can play rmvb, dvd, vcd, mkv, ogm, flv, and other common media files. Also play the audio files. I think, it is the best of the best. However, if you are using it to play QuickTime .mov file, there may got some problems. Because I tried using to play the .mov file which is recorded by the digicam, it had no sound.

Have you ever visited http://www.nirsoft.net/ ?

There are many powerful tools in it. I will list down several of my favourite utilities from NirSoft:
RegScanner - Search the registry key, provide very good interface. You can this instead of the “Regedit.exe” built-in search.
VideoCacheView - This one is really powerful, which is recently added. If you are watching online video, the .flv file, then after finish watching, the video is downloaded in your cache. And using this utility, you can save the cached video to your folder. I haven’t try it with youtube, but I tried it in other websites using IE, and it works.
CurrProcess - I use this in order to replace Windows task manager before. But, finally, I stick back to task manager. However, this utility really provides a lot of information of the current process. Really nice.
ServiWin - This utility will display the installed drivers and services, and you can disable them using this utility.

Because of the popularity of pendrive (or thumb drive, or handy drive), there are a lot of “portable software”. I also like portable software. Because, it makes my computer clean without installation and without affecting the windows registry.

When we install a program to our computer, most of the time the windows registry will be added some data. However, when we unstiall the program, the data remain in the registry.

Recently, I read a news about that there is PDF flaw. I am not sure how is it happened. But you can read a news about this PDF and trojan problem:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,2205400,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03119TX1K0000594

Beware of the PDF file when you receive a spam mail. The PDF file will disable the Windows Firewall, and download the trojan file.

I also read an article talk about that some people like to run the Windows with reduced rights (non-administrator rights). Because this can disallow the modification of you Windows system, such as installing unwanted programs.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/how_to_easily_run_programs_with_reduced_rights.htm