Are You Getting Quechup Spammed?

[Prettyfem]

Quechup is a new networking site. Once you sign-up it automatically sends invite requests to everyone in your address book without your knowledge.

[Dan Schulz]

Nope, but I'll be avoiding them like the plague.

Thanks for the heads up. :)

[doorlight]

Without your knowledge? I won't sign-up.

[Dan Schulz]

There's a great way to prevent others from doing this if you're using Windows XP. It involves using Web based email, and then using XP Lite (http://www.litepc.com/xplite.html) ($39.95) to remove Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express from your computer (PERMANENTLY).

I used it the other day when I installed XP Pro on my new hard drive. If you use it, here's what you want to touch (and NOTHING ELSE).

Communications and Messaging
EVERYTHING, save for Wireless zero communications. Get rid of all of it. No Outlook, no address book, no chat, no fax services, no hyperterminal and so on. All of those "apps" are either code bloat or security risks, especially Outlook. Most of the viruses and worms these days are transmitted via Outlook without you even knowing it's running in the first place. Need email? Use Web based email (I prefer Yahoo and Gmail myself) or download Opera (http://www.opera.com/download) and use the built-in email client (in addition to the Web browser).

Internet Information Server (IIS)
Rip it out. You don't need it. If you need a server, you can always install Apache. I use XAMPP (http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html) for this.

Internet Utilities
It's bad enough that Microsoft has cursed us with Internet Explorer, but they also shoved MSN Explorer down our throats? Get rid of it if you're not using MSN as your ISP.

Operating System Options
Microsoft Agent and Search Assistant - these two are pointless wastes of space. Anyone with the IQ of a two year old can figure out how to use the search feature, and since even most of our mothers are technically inclined (read: they have basic computer skills) there's no need for the cutesy animations telling us what to do. Get rid of them, unless you like having them chew up CPU and memory for no good reason. (Remember, there's nothing more nauseating than the smell of cute.)

Server Components
If you touch anything here, you might as well reinstalld Windows. In fact, you'll have to. Don't touch a thing here. I MEAN IT!

System Services
Remote Registry - Oh, HELL NO. Allowing users to remotely change my Windows Registry? Yeah, right. This alone deserves the Four Tortures of the Traitor - more on that later. Get rid of it.

Telnet - Why is a "service" that allows people to remotely connect to my computer via telnet not only installed, but ENABLED by default? That's a Certified Bad Idea. Whoever thought this idea up needs to be fired and prohibited from getting NEAR a computer. Fortunately this means just about anything today (cell phones, cars, TVs, cable boxes, even some beds). You ARE the weakest link. GOODBYE.

System Tools and Utilities
I ripped out the built in functionality of the operating system to open .zip files since I use 7-Zip (http://www.7-zip.org) (FREEBIE) instead. Your choice here, and it's not required that you do so.

When you're done, click "Next" and let XP Lite give that garbage the Enron treatment. It'll ask to reboot, do so.

[ses5909]

ewww.. i cant stand companies/sites like that.