LCM's Site Map

LCM's Site Map

How to find your
way around LCM

Software for Safe Surfing

Home ] Up ]

Most Requested Links

Gospel Of Jesus Christ ] MP3 Audio Sermons and Messages ] Windward Bible Church ] What We Believe ] Leave Comments ] View Visitor Comments ] Hurricane Ivan Damage to Carriacou Photos - Pictures ] Relief Efforts for Carriacou, Grenada ] Carriacou.info ] About Carriacou, Grenada ] Carriacou Tourist Information ] Virtual Tour of Carriacou ] Report Broken Links ]
This site is best viewed at a minimum screen resolution of  1024 X 768

LCM's  primary domain is at  www.lastchanceministries.com and www.lastchanceministries.net. It is also copied on another server at www.lastchanceministries.org.  We also have sub webs at www.windwardbiblechurch.org and www.carriacou.info.

Sponsored Links
Please click here to to report any inappropriate ads.



All material posted on LCM is free for your information!

I hope you
e
njoy your visit!

Click here to ...
Click here to make a donation to help support the Robinsons and LCM
if you wish to help LCM

Click here
to contact Us
Send LCM email

Please pray for LCM's web ministry daily.



Who was and is Jesus Christ?

Who was and is Jesus Christ?


The Gospel of
Jesus Christ ...


God's Simple Plan Of Salvation In Many Different Languages
(30 languages so far)

How To Be
Born Again ...


English
Afrikaans
Albanian - Shqip
Arabic - Arabic
Simplified Chinese - Simple Chinese
Deutsch - German
Français - French
Hellenica - Greek
Hebrew - Hebrew
Hindi - Hindi
Telegu - Indian
Bahasa Indonesian
Tagalog Indonesian
Italian
Japanese - Japanese
Korean - Korean
Lithuanian - Lithuanian
Macedonian- Macedonian
Pohnpeian Micronesian
New Guinean
Norwegian
Philippines - Cebuano
Philippines - Ilonggo
Portuguese
Polish
Russian - Russian
Español - Spanish
Swahili

Ukrainian - Ukrainian
Vietnamese - Vietnamese


Free MP3 sermons, Bible teaching, and other audio messages on LCM

Free MP3 sermons, Bible teaching, and other audio messages on LCM


Other Popular
Links

Currently highlighted on LCM

Currently highlighted on LCM


Click here to learn the latest about our work at Windward Bible Church

Learning more about Windward Bible Church


View comments left by visitors from all over the world

Click here to view our Visitors' Journal to read comments from 2002 through the present.

To make your own entry, click on the "Visitors' Journal" link here or under our top banner on any page.


Learn more about Carriacou, Grenada, including the current
time and weather

 

Liming by the sea


You can even take
a virtual tour!

 


Tourist Information
About Carriacou, Grenada


Sunny beaches on Carriacou


LCM's Primary
 site is hosted on:

Godaddy Hosting and Domains

LCM is copied
and Hosted on:
www.spiceisle.com


Click here to ...
Click here to make a donation to help support the Robinsons and LCM
if you wish to help LCM


 

LCM’s Recommended Software to Help Each Enjoy Safe Surfing on the Internet

Walter Robinson II, LCM
Copyrighted © All Rights Reserved ® 2003
Document may be used only with permission.

Guide to LCM's Recommendations on Software for Christians Believers and Anyone Else This is Sick of All Sorts of Spam


 

A Note About My Recommendations

Obviously, we cannot and will not be liable for any problems that can be incurred by those using the software applications we recommend here. I do not have enough computers or time to try every application on every type of computer with every type of operating system available today. Make sure that you check the system requirements, and take a look at the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the suppliers’ websites. Lastly, I also suggest that you look for any problem issues that are often mentioned on the best websites that offer software applications to the public.

I recommend the following applications because I have used them and found them to be easy to setup, very effective, and trouble free. 


 

Routine Maintenance of Your System

Before you even think about other software applications to protect yourself, it is very important that you make sure your operating system is properly updated and patched. This is necessary because hackers are continually looking for holes in your operating system by which they can gain access. It is my hope that those that make the operating systems do not create these ‘back doors’ on purpose, but simply due to oversight in an ever expanding world of technology. In either case, once hackers become aware of them, the will seek to exploit them, and the holes must then be closed. Microsoft is pretty about responding to these needs and usually works quickly to find a solution to the problem.

You will need to make sure that your operating system, as well as your browser is properly updated. You will also need to check to see if your software applications are properly updated and patched, such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft FrontPage, Microsoft Access, etc. This need extends to any software that you use on your computer, and especially those that do or can be used to access the internet.

If you are using a Windows 98 through XP operating system, you can update it for free and automatically by simply going to their update section of Microsoft’s website. It is located at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/. Many computers are set up and sold with Windows Update set up to automatically keep itself up to date. If yours is so set, you will find that your system will likely be fully updated and patched already when you visit their website manually using the above link.

For many Microsoft software applications, especially those that are included in their Microsoft Office Software Suites, you can visit their Office Update section using this link: http://office.microsoft.com/productupdates/.

For all other applications, you can check with the software creators on their websites. Links to their website can usually be found under the application’s ‘Help’ menu, then down to ‘About ...’

NOTE: You may want to have someone knowledgeable to do this for you, especially if you are a novice or not sure what updates and patches you need.

Lastly, if you are using another product and you like it very well, you may submit your own review for me to include here. Try to follow the format I have used, and keep your emotions appropriate for LCM. Click here to send e·mail to the webmaster

The Webmaster


 

Recommended Safe Surfing Facilities

 

Google Search Engine and Toolbar


Note Toolbar along the top

http://www.google.com/

 

Surfing the internet is a cool way of saying that you are using your computer to view web pages on various websites around the world on the World Wide Web. With an estimated one billion plus web pages thus far (and the number is increasing every day) you could spend a large chunk of your life looking for a page that supplies the specific product or information for which you are looking. To solve this problem, you need a "Search Engine."

A search engine is merely a website company that has an extensive, dynamic, and up-to-date database of as many pages on the internet as possible. Further, it also needs to examine and catalogue the content of all those pages. I say it must be dynamic because some websites change nearly every day by changing, added, or deleting pages. The are also website that drop completely from the web, and new website coming online every day. Thus, a good search engine has to keep up with the changes to remain current.

How do they do it? Very simply put, the search engine companies create virtual web bots that crawl or spider the web 24 & 7, everyday of the year. These tireless software beasts gather the data and send it back to their respective databases. The search engine's website also has a good program to search that database and report any search results back to those that initiated the search.

There are many good and powerful search available, but I prefer Google.com. Google is not only free and lightening fast, it also remains up-to-date as good or better than any going today. For instance, when I first uploaded this new section of LCM, Google had picked it up through my Site Map in less than two days! And I did not do any thing but upload the changes.

According to my web stats, a little more that fifty percent of all visitors that come to my website, come through a link generated by Google's search engine. This convinces me that it the most prefer search engine on the World Wide Web.

I have my browser's home page set to Google and have personalized my settings, which is truly nice! All you do is go to their home page and click on the little 'preferences' link just to the right of their block where you enter the words, phrases, etc, for which you wish to search. Once that page loads, you can customize a number things about your searches and results, including strict filtering (if you hopefully select it) that will prevent any results from showing up that contain explicit images or text of an intimate nature! Even if Google did not have the other pros, this feature alone would lead me to use it. And in a word, it works.

I have also downloaded and installed Google's Toolbar, a FREE browser plug-in. It will allow you to search for something regardless of where you are on the web. It will also allow you to select text, then right click on it to search for that word or phrase. It will even allow to translate (roughly) web pages from one language to another. It does many other nice things, but you will have to visit their website to see the rest. Give it a try, I am sure you will like it.

UPDATE AS OF SEPTEMBER 2003. Google's Toolbar recently got even better by now including a free 'Pop-Up' blocker! In the last three weeks that I have been using it I have discovered that it works very good. In fact, its blocker seems to be intelligent in that it allows pop-ups that contain valid information or details from the current website you are visiting, while blocking the pop-ups that contain advertisements. Some of the other free 'Pop-up Blocker' applications seem to have trouble in this area. I don't know how Google does it, but theirs works and I like it.

Lastly, as I mentioned above, there are many other good search engines currently available. Click here to go to the page where I have many of those featured on LCM's Search page.

 


 

Spotting and Stopping the Spammers

MailWasher


Free version is at: http://www.mailwasher.net
for all single home and non-commercial end users.

 

If you desire the Pro Version with
all the features, click the image below.

Pro version of MailWasher ($29.95 US)
(NOTE: If you purchase the Pro Version through the above image, LCM will get a commission that will help us with the cost of operating our site. Thanks ahead of time:)
 

One of my most intense pet peeves about using the internet is Spam. I will try to keep my emotions under control, but frankly, it was the persistence, audacity, fraudulence, and the profane of this genre that motivated me to direct my anger into something constructive. Hence, this section of LCM.

Notwithstanding, an application that I have found very effective is useful is MailWasher. It is simple to install, simple to operate, and very effective for dealing with spam. Even better, there is a FREE version available for those who only have one e·mail account they need to manage. It will also give you a taste of what the full blown program is like that will manage all e·mail accounts, ‘POP3’ and ‘hotmail.’ Warning, once you get a taste of this program, you will want the whole cake if you have more than one e·mail account to manage.

The following are just some of the features that sold me on MailWasher:

  • First this application checks your e·mail while it is still on your server. That means it never reaches your computer. You even have the ability to preview it in MailWasher’s application.
  • Ability to ‘bounce’ spam back to their senders with message that their e·mail was undeliverable because your e·mail address is invalid! I like this because it is my way of thumbing my nose at them. In time, this will cause many spammers to remove you from their lists. Amen!
  • Ability to create your own filters with your key words or phrases. This is easy to do with this program!
  • Also has the ability to easily blacklist spammers e·mail addresses that show up on your server. The next time it shows up you do not even have to mark it. All you do is hit the ‘Process E·mail Button’ and it is bounced back to the spammer!
  • Likewise, it also has the ability to easily mark valid e·mails to you as a ‘friend.’ The next time it comes in it will automatically be marked as a friend.
  • Ability to set it as to how often to check for e·mail on your server(s). I have set it to check my server every five minutes. It is a nice way to let you know when new e·mail is waiting on you!
  • Ability to even set it up to mark, blacklist, and bounce spam automatically. But as they warn you, you must first make sure that valid e·mails will not be marked and bounced automatically. I have not yet used this option as I am trying to determine if it is safe and dependable.

Once MailWasher has done its thing, it is safe to download your e·mail to your computer. The only spam you will get is that which hits your server while you are downloading to your computer. This happens rarely, but it does happen once in a while.

The free version of MailWasher for all single home and non-commercial end users is available at: http://www.mailwasher.net.

The Pro version of MailWasher ($29.95 US) is available at: http://www.firetrust.com. You may download it for free and use it for 30 days before registration and payment is necessary.

There are other similar applications available, but I cannot recommend them because I have not used them. I suggest that you do you own research if you feel that MailWasher does not fill your need.

NOTE: There are some spammers that dare to broadcast their spam and use your e·mail address as their originating e·mail address! If you try to bounce their spam back to them or blacklist them, you only blacklist your own e·mail address and bounce it back to yourself. For them I suggest that you visit SpamAbuse.org and file a complaint.

Such spammers will be stopped when enough people file complaints. It also puts the spammers’ internet service providers’ (ISPs) on the hot seat because their network can get blocked from the web, making it impossible for anyone to send e·mail from them! As a result, the ISPs will usually track down the offenders and kill their account. They can also charge the spammer large fees for the problems the spam caused their ISP business. So take the time to report the spammers. We must make spamming unprofitable for spammers. This is one way to do it. 


 

Knocking Down the Pugnacious ‘Pop-ups’

Pop-Up Stopper

http://www.panicware.com/

 

My second greatest pet peeve concerning the internet is ‘PopUps.’ These windows seem to come out of nowhere, and they steal some bandwidth and take precious time to load. I believe that when visitors come to a website should be allowed to open a window only if they choose. My analogy is similar to that of letting a visitor into your home, then without your permission they began open other doors and letting others in that you have not invited. In any case, I detest them. The program that I use to control these boogers is Pop-Up Stopper.

It is simple to install, simple use, and simple to control. With this little program installed you will see almost no pop-ups unless you want to see them. If you desire to see pop-ups on a particular website, you can turn it off by double clicking its small hand icon that resides in your system tray, or even simpler, you can merely hold down the ‘ctrl’ key while the page loads. In a word, it works great!

Like all smart software companies, they have a free version for all single home and non-commercial end users. However, it has some limitations, but it more than enough for most people.

They also have ‘Basic’ ($19.95 US) and ‘Pro’ ($29.95 US) versions. If you hate ‘pop-ups,’ give it a try. You will likely be glad you did.

Lastly, be warned that there are some such applications that are advertised as free, but they are not as Pop-Up Stopper Free Edition truly is. I downloaded another application from another company to give it a try. However, I suddenly noticed that my computer would from time to time direct my browser to a site named egoog.com! After doing a little research on the web, I discovered that that particular pop-up blocker was guilty. Stay away from Free-Popup-killer available at ww.Free-Popup-killer.com. It will save you aggregation.

 

Naviscope Web Accelerator

http://www.naviscope.com/

Naviscope Web Accelerator is a net little program what also handles pop-ups to a lesser degree that the application recommended above. It also prefetches pages linked to the one you are currently reading so that the next page will load super quick. In addition, it gives you a real-time graphic readout of all files coming into your computer from the internet through your HTTP port. This allows you to stop any programs ‘*.exe’ being loading onto your computer when they should not. It also allows you see the progress of any downloads in progress and gives you a constant speed readout of data coming in. Oh yes! It also keeps your computer’s clock set by using online atomic clock websites! The read out (seen above) is about 300 pixels wide (depending on how many tools you select to see) and can be set to hide itself when inactive or be continually on.

I have used it on Windows 98, Windows Me, and Windows XP on five computers and had just a few problems on only one computer (Using windows 98 OS). If it works, you will not likely have trouble. If you have a problem, simply remove it and you are no worse for the wear. I use it on my laptop and desktop continually.

The only version available is free. Visit the site, download, and enjoy.


 

Hogtieing the Hackers

ZoneAlarm


http://www.zonelabs.com

 

The first time I got hit with a virus was through an e·mail that had been forwarded to me by a ‘friend.’ Thankfully, I did not lose anything, and it only took me about four hours to clean up the mess. That was some six years ago. (Click here to read about it if you desire to do so.) But even then I wanted to do something to minimize the chance of it happening again. It was then that I remembered that the computer that I had received as a gift had program on it, but I had removed it because I did not know what it did, and I wanted to free up more resources. The only thing I knew about it was that was named ZoneAlarm and it was supposed to be a software ‘firewall.’ Back then I did not know what a firewall was, and did not care. But after I got hit by a virus and realized that I could have lost years of work and records, I wanted to learn about them.

To keep this as simple as possible, a firewall is either hardware or software that sets up rules and control for what can come into and what can go out from your computer. If you desire to know more, I suggest that you visit a neat and informative website aptly named, How Stuff Works. The link to its section on firewalls is; http://computer.howstuffworks.com/firewall.htm.

After I installed the free version of ZoneAlarm on my computer, I was horrified when I saw how many times someone or a computers somewhere had tried to gain access to my computer, but was blocked by ZoneAlarm. Back then I only had 31.5kps dialup connection, but was being pinged several times each time I went online.

There are many software firewalls available. I have not tried any others simply because ZoneAlarm works. In nearly every review I have read (and I have read many), ZoneAlarm has come out on top or at the top with others.

It is easy to set up and it will even configure itself if you allow it to do so. It also notifies you if any programs on your computer tries to access the internet, and allows you to block it or allow it to do so. You can also make your permissions or denials permanent. It is a must for me. Moreover, it will even quarantine any suspicious e·mails and attachments, and allow you to decide whether you want to open them or not. I will not connect to the internet without this ZoneAlarm! Visit their website for complete details of its features.

ZoneAlarm is basically transparent to all legitimate programs that access the internet, as long as you have given them permission. I have done banking, placed orders online, and even managed my website through Microsoft FrontPage while using ZoneAlarm. I have had no problems.

If you have a ‘continuously on’ internet connection such as DSL, and if you have any important files or passwords on your computer, you need a firewall! The same is true if you have a network setup in your home, such as the type setup in homes that have one ‘high speed internet connection’ that all computers use. I cannot stress the need for this enough.

In fact, I suggest that you visit the following websites where you can have your system safely probed and evaluated. With ZoneAlarm installed they cannot even find my systems, because my computer virtually does not exist on the internet! The links to have your system probed are:

·       Symantec:  Look for the link under ‘Downloads’ that is entitled ‘Symantec Security Check.’ This site will also scan your computer for viruses if you desire.

·       ‘Shields Up’ also performs a good security check. However, unlike Symantec, this one will allow you to download a small program, IP Agent (only 50k in size), that will send your true IP address to their website in case you are behind a firewall. I believe this is a better way to probe systems that some sort of firewall already installed or are in a network. It does not scan you system for viruses.

Like all smart software companies, ZoneLabs offers a free version of ZoneAlarm for all single home and non-commercial end users. The full featured ‘Pro’ version is $49.95 as of July 22, 2003.

NOTE: Some DSL or ADSL modems and routers used in networks have built in firewall protection to varying degrees. Some use simple Network Address Translation (NAT) while others use a more in-depth system of protection. Click here to learn more about NAT on How Stuff Works' website. However, I still like to use ZoneAlarm in addition to the hardware protection. I personally believe there is no such thing as overkill when protecting yourself, unless the protection begins to cause problems on your system. In any case, if you are using a hardware firewall, check your manual to see if there are any restrictions on using software firewalls with it.

Safe Surfing!


 

Inoculating Against and Killing Virulent Viruses, Cybernetic Trojan Horses, Ad-ware, Banner-ware, and Spy-ware

AVG Anti-Virus System

http://www.grisoft.com/

Almost every computer purchase today comes with some type of Antivirus application installed on it. However, I have found that many slowed my computer down noticeably, or they sometime caused problems with other software I try to install or try to run on my computer. I wanted sometime simple, something effective, and like always, something free if available.

I found what I was looking for in AVG Anti-Virus System. I searched the web extensively, and discovered that AVG gets a decent rating. I have been using it on my family’s machines and have no problems. It also does not slow the system down to the point that I notice it.

It is simple to install and runs in the background. You can also tell it to manually scan your system whenever you desire. It also has some configuration settings that you can control. It is free for all single home and non-commercial end users. They have a full featured version that was $33.30 US as of July 22, 2003.

 

Spybot - Search and Destroy

http://security.kolla.de/

Like most people, I prefer to believe that some of the best things in life are free, just like salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. That is why I usually look for a free version of an application I truly need or would like to have. If I find one and I truly like it, and if I have no problems after using it for months, I am much more likely to pay to upgrade to the full featured 'Pro' version. Perhaps it is due to competition, but for whatever reason, the prices on most full versions are much more affordable than they were years ago.

Most of the time I find something good for free. But once in a while I come across something that looks good, but it turns out to be a turkey in a cuddly kitten's coat. After installing some software, I find my computer doing things it is not supposed to.

Often I First notice that some unknown program is trying to access the internet from my computer, only to have my firewall warn me so that I can stop it. At other times I may see windows with adds beginning to pop-up or my browser being redirected to some site not of my choosing, which is a no no. To make matters worse, simply uninstalling or removing the offending programs does not fix the problem. That where Spybot - Search and Destroy comes in.

Once you tell it to check your system for problems, this application finds offending files, cookies, and registry entries, and removes them with your approval.

This effective application is Freeware. Visit their website, download and enjoy.

 

Ad-aware

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

Ad-aware is another programs that does much the same as the above one. In fact, I used this one for years until I came across Spybot. When I used the latter it seem to catch some spy-ware that the former missed. However, in all fairness, I had not updated my Ad-aware application in a couple of years. Thus, I believe is still a good application. They have a free version, as well as a 'Plus' and 'Pro' version.


 

For Webmasters

VisualRoute

http://www.visualware.com

If you are a webmaster--and many are joining the ranks everyday--or if you are an average user that is curious about just who ZoneAlarm blocks from your system, you should look into a nice application entitled, VisualRoute.

VisualRoute is a versatile and informative application that can visibly show you the network route that your computer uses to reach any place on the web. You can also check spam headers to get the source IP address, and then have VisualRoute trace it. Once it traces it, you may then click on the destination ‘node name’ or ‘network name’ and get good information--including addresses for sending complaints.

If nothing else, if your internet connection seems to be running slow, you can have VisualRoute trace it and show you where your route is slowing down so you can report it to your internet supplier.

There is no free version, but you can download it and try it for free for a limited time. They also have a place where you can try it out in real time on their servers. It works well. As of July 22, 2003 the price is $49.95 US for the personal edition. They also have a business server version. Both are worth it if you need or want it.


 

Miscellaneous Security Issues and Aids

RoboForm

http://www.roboform.com/

If you use the internet much, you probably have several passwords to remember. I found this nice little password manager that handles this little problem nicely. It will fill in forms, remember passwords, and encrypt them with a password of your choosing so that no one else can read them. I formally used Gator, but it became more like spy-ware and banner-ware as time went on. RoboForm is simple, clean, and easy to install and use. It is also easy to move your pass-cards to another machine if needed.

Note, only the last version of 4.6.8 is still unlimited freeware. They still have a free version in 5.xx , however it is much more limited that the 4.6.8 version. The 5.xx version is $29.95 US. Whatever version you get you will like and appreciate.

 

Hit Counter

Visitors have viewed this page since April 1, 2004

(NOTE: All preexisting page counters were reset to
 zero when my server  crashed in March of 2004.
It took until April 1, 2004 to get them working again.)


Copyright © 2000 Last Chance Ministries. All rights reserved.
Revised: June 13, 2006.

Sponsored Links

NOTE: The presence of any sponsored ads does not indicate our endorsement of any website, group, individual, or product.


Free Tools and
Software From Google


Use this Link to report any
inappropriate ads you see on LCM.

Note: There Are More Links Further Down The Page Beyond the Ads

Use this Link to report any
inappropriate ads you see on LCM.


Please Be Partners With Us By Praying For Us!

If you wish, you may make a simple, safe, and secure Voluntary Donation.

Use the following button to go to the page to effortlessly leave your gift. Nothing is too small:

Click here to ...
Click here to make a donation to help support the Robinsons and LCM
if you wish to help support LCM

Completely Safe Using
SSL Strong Encryption (128bit)

Thanks a head of time!


Hate spam?


Google
Web www.LastChanceMinistries.com

LCM Specific Search Tools

LCM's Specific
In-depth Search Tools


LCM has had
~
Visitors &

~

Page Views Since
 June 11, 2001


 

Click here to learn more
about LCM's website.


For the safety and assurance of our visitors, LCM is rated by and registered with the Internet Content Rating Association

Click here to check out our ICRA rating.