Clif Notes Newsletter - January 22, 2006

[Clif Notes]

Welcome to Clif Notes Newsletter
January 22, 2006

Hi Everyone.

This week, I learned that Google is trying to stand by it's slogan
"Don't be evil". I learned how to catch "MICE" from Steve Gibson, and
that not all Microsoft "leaks" are bad. Last week, I started submitting
articles at the Infopackets newsletter. Welcome to those of you who
found me there, and thanks to Dennis Faas for posting them.

Here are the headlines from this week's letter at
http://snipurl.com/ltyx or
http://freewarewiki.pbwiki.com/ClifNotesNewsletter060122
--------------------------

1. Welcome to Clif Notes Newsletter

2. REVIEWS
a. MouseTrap - does your computer have MICE?
b. FileZilla - monstrous powers to transfer files
c. Leet Speak Generator - F3Ar me, 1 @M 4 m4D H4x0r
d. CQPhone - allows you to chat over the internet.
e. BigFix Consumer Edition - fix the security on your PC
f. RoughDraft - a writer's word processor
g. Open Office - MS Office alternative
h. EasyOffice - the other MSOffice alternative

3. TIPS
a. The How-To help guide from PC Magazine
b. Download Disasters - places you don't want to go
c. AbbreviationZ - What do all those abbreviations mean?

4. COOL WEB SITES
a. Readers' recommendations
b. Websites I have visited recently

5. NEW NEWS
a. Google says NO to U.S. Government
b. IE7 Beta Leaked

6. FEEDBACK AND OTHER STUFF
a. Frapper - you people live all over the world!
b. Write your own review


--------------------------

Go to http://snipurl.com/ltyx or
http://freewarewiki.pbwiki.com/ClifNotesNewsletter060122
to see the current newsletter at the Freeware Wiki.
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Have fun,

Clif

 

[John Fitzsimons]

On 23 Jan 2006 00:01:54 -0800, "Clif Notes"

http://freewarewiki.pbwiki.com/ClifNotesNewsletter060122

d. CQPhone - allows you to chat over the internet.

"GOOD PRIVACY: Peer to peer connection - the chat is not saved."

Is it peer to peer or not ? You suggest so above but the home page
says

"Whenever CQPhone is running, your IP address is updated onto the
central server a few times per hour."

If it is peer to peer then a "central server" isn't needed. Would it
still work if your firewall stopped that connection going out ?

Also, you make no mention of security. Does one need to leave a port
open to every hacker in the world to check out in order to chat to
people ? IMO the better chat clients need a password to make a
connection to the port being used.

Regards, John.

--
****************************************************
,-._|\ (A.C.F FAQ) http://clients.net2000.com.au/~johnf/faq.html
/ Oz \ John Fitzsimons - Melbourne, Australia.
\_,--.x/ http://www.vicnet.net.au/~johnf/welcome.htm
v http://clients.net2000.com.au/~johnf/

 

[Clif Notes]

"GOOD PRIVACY: Peer to peer connection - the chat is not saved."

Is it peer to peer or not ? You suggest so above but the home page
says

"Whenever CQPhone is running, your IP address is updated onto the
central server a few times per hour."

If it is peer to peer then a "central server" isn't needed. Would it
still work if your firewall stopped that connection going out ?

Also, you make no mention of security. Does one need to leave a port
open to every hacker in the world to check out in order to chat to
people ? IMO the better chat clients need a password to make a
connection to the port being used.

Hi John,

I briefly checked it out before accepting this guest review from
"FreewareFan". It's featured at Snapfiles and Download.com. The users
reviews there were the best I've seen for this type of program. Nobody
mentioned any security issues.

I went to the CQPhone FAQ: <http://www.cqphone.com/faq.html>
<quote>CQPhone uses a direct peer-to-peer connection between the two
computers engaged in a conversation. The voice, video and typing are
not saved anywhere. Incoming picture files are saved to C:\Program
Files\CQPhone\pictures\. When you delete pictures, remember to also
empty your recycle bin. Whenever CQPhone is running, your IP address is
updated onto the central server a few times per hour. Tiny pings are
sent out 3 times a minute to assist in firewall transversal. These
pings are not received anywhere. The CQPhone server ensures your
current IP address is available for the internal workings of the
program. Your IP address is never shown to the public. Your CQPhone
number is never disclosed to people you meet using the public chat
list.<endquote>

You can email the author if you are seriously considering a trial use.
mailto:[email protected]

Have fun!

Clif @ http://clifnotes.tk
Devoted to promoting Freeware and Free Information

 

[John Fitzsimons]

The answer is ?

The answer is ?

The answer is ?

Hi John,

I briefly checked it out before accepting this guest review from
"FreewareFan". It's featured at Snapfiles and Download.com. The users
reviews there were the best I've seen for this type of program. Nobody
mentioned any security issues.

IMO the majority of chat users have no idea whatever about "security".
Most, almost certainly, don't even know what a firewall is, let alone
use one. So "security" isn't an issue for them.

I went to the CQPhone FAQ: <http://www.cqphone.com/faq.html>
<quote>CQPhone uses a direct peer-to-peer connection between the two
computers engaged in a conversation. The voice, video and typing are
not saved anywhere. Incoming picture files are saved to C:\Program
Files\CQPhone\pictures\. When you delete pictures, remember to also
empty your recycle bin. Whenever CQPhone is running, your IP address is
updated onto the central server a few times per hour. Tiny pings are
sent out 3 times a minute to assist in firewall transversal. These
pings are not received anywhere. The CQPhone server ensures your
current IP address is available for the internal workings of the
program. Your IP address is never shown to the public. Your CQPhone
number is never disclosed to people you meet using the public chat
list.<endquote>

< snip >

Thanks Clif but as I had quoted a part of the above myself I had
obviously read it. In any case it doesn't answer my questions.

Regards, John.

--
****************************************************
,-._|\ (A.C.F FAQ) http://clients.net2000.com.au/~johnf/faq.html
/ Oz \ John Fitzsimons - Melbourne, Australia.
\_,--.x/ http://www.vicnet.net.au/~johnf/welcome.htm
v http://clients.net2000.com.au/~johnf/

 

[Clif Notes]

The answer is ?
The answer is ?
The answer is ?
Thanks Clif but as I had quoted a part of the above myself I had
obviously read it. In any case it doesn't answer my questions.

Regards, John.

Sorry John,

Here's the answer. (Copied from my first reply)
Best I can offer at this point.

You can email the author if you are seriously considering a trial use.
mailto:[email protected]

Clif @ http://clifnotes.tk