Twitter Archives Provide a Personal Diary

I was thrilled this week when my friend @RandyKnob shared the news Twitter users would be able to download a complete history of their messages. This feature is being rolled out and is not available to everyone yet. Luckily my archive was available and I enjoyed spending hours reading what I was sharing about my life up to five years ago. I was really surprised there was no cost for this service. I was expecting it to generate revenue for Twitter and I would have paid a reasonable fee.

Using Twitter.com to download archives
The first step to find out if your archive can be downloaded is to check your Twitter settings.

 

 

 

 

Click on your Twitter settings and scroll all the way down to the bottom.

If you’re lucky you’ll see “Your Twitter Archive” with a button that says something like “Send email”. Since I’ve already downloaded my archive my button says Resend email.  If your archive isn’t available yet you won’t have anything between Country and Deactivate my account.

In my case, even with over five years of data I instantly had an Email available.

My Email arrived with both an AOL friendly link to a download page and a copy of the actual link which I’ve blurred out. I was happy to see that the ID for downloading my tweets appeared long enough to protect users from curious folks like myself.  If the ID wasn’t secure it might be possible to guess random numbers and download someone else’s archive. Since most Twitter feeds are public it may not be a big deal but I’m sure someone will still figure out a way to download the archives of random people.

Caution: New Phishing attacks coming
I would also be wary of Email that comes out of the blue saying you have a Twitter archive available. You won’t receive this Email unless you request it from Twitter. Just like all the eBay, PayPal, Bank, UPS, Wire conformation I expect we’ll be seeing fake Twitter Emails claiming to be an archive of your Tweets.

Once available it was an easy download. One gotcha is since it includes many files to make a nice presentation the download will be a .zip file.  You’ll need to extract all the files into a folder and then click on the index.html file. I recommend creating a new folder and just extract the zip file into the new folder.

One nice touch is in the data sub folder you’ll find separate .csv files for each month so if you want you can view all your tweets in Excel or other spreadsheet program.

For me having a diary of many of my personal activities is extremely valuable. Over recent years my wife has had many hospitalizations and tests. Our local Ellis Hospital has been completely messing up our billing so now I can compare my old tweets to actual events.

My First Tweet

It was nice to know that my first Tweet was March 9th, 2007. I made one more boring tweet that month and never tweeted again until August when I shared news of my trip to Germany. I’d like to think my Tweets became more interesting. There’s no doubt after reading my old tweets that I’ve had the pleasure to make many new friends and follow some good people.


I love stats and January 2009 was my most active month with 279 tweets.  Many were related to Windows 7 and my upcoming MVP Summit. I was very surprised when I discovered tinyurls like http://tinyurl.com/b7kbqp were still active.  I expected many url shortening services would have a limit to their availability.  I was also able to confirm my predictions for 2009 were close to perfect. http://billpstudios.blogspot.com/2008/12/bill-predictions-for-2009.html

Friends I Appreciate Even More
One special advantages of reviewing old Tweets is noticing I have amazing friends. They may not RT all my specials anymore but I owe a lot to folks who over the last five years have helped in one way or another encourage folks to upgrade to @WinPatrol PLUS. Thanks to @EdBott  @ChrisPirillo  @SecurityGarden  @TeMerc  @MSSpringBoard  @DaveZatz  @ryanranaine @kimkomando and many more.

While there were concrete reasons for having access to my old tweets mostly it’s just really fun to look back and see what was going on in my life and others.

Since there are still many without access to their archive I’ve copied the readme.txt file below.
# How to use your Twitter archive data

The simplest way to use your Twitter archive data is through the archive browser interface provided in this file. Just double-click `index.html` from the root folder and you can browse your entire history of Tweets from inside your browser.
---
In the `data` folder, your Twitter archive is present in two formats: JSON and CSV exports by month and year.

* CSV is a generic format that can be imported into many data tools, spreadsheet applications, or consumed simply using a programming language.

## JSON for Developers
* The JSON export contains a full representation of your Tweets as returned by v1.1 of the Twitter API. See https://dev.twitter.com/docs/api/1.1 for more information.
* The JSON export is also used to power the archive browser interface (index.html).
* To consume the export in a generic JSON parser in any language, strip the first and last lines of each file.

To provide feedback, ask questions, or share ideas with other Twitter developers, join the discussion forums on https://dev.twitter.com.

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WinPatrol 2013 Enhanced for Windows 8

Since before the release of Windows 8 I’ve had more emails than you might think asking if WinPatrol was compatible with Windows 8.  Like most existing programs, WinPatrol isn’t available for Windows 8 RT but it has been running smoothly since early preview versions of Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. There has been some confusion about security related programs so many early adopters have written to be sure we’re compatible.

WinPatrol has never worked like a traditional security application so it has been running fine on Windows 8 machines. I’ve heard from folks with brand new computers saying Scotty has been very helpful removing unnecessary pre-installed crapware. Computer companies are paid to include software that runs on Startup. In many cases they are not full versions and often cause problems when they expire. These programs will appear in WinPatrol’s list of Startup Programs where PLUS members can verify their purpose. Once these programs are removed by WinPatrol your new computer will certainly start quicker and often run noticeably faster.

Naturally, we have tweaked a few things to make sure WinPatrol continues to work its best. Many changes are minor but required due to new Windows 8 conventions. One example is how cookies are stored by Internet Explorer 10. While Microsoft doesn’t support or encourage 3rd party cookie managers, WinPatrol has been successful in helping remove unwanted tracking files.The cookie folder used to contain a file index.dat which Microsoft renamed to be container.dat.  This broke cookie handling but like other minor changes a little tweak and we’re back to normal. For protection, other internal changes are not being disclosed at this time.


WinPatrol 2013 works as you’d expect and with your support I’ll be adding some Windows 8 specific features as they are needed and/or suggested. I’m also learning how to create Windows RT apps so given enough interest perhaps there’s a WinPatrol RT in our future.

Using WinPatrol to launch to Windows 8 Desktop mode

A lot of folks aren’t sold yet on the new Start screen that is part of the Windows 8 new tile or Store Interface look. While I love the interface on my Surface RT tablet, like many users I switch to the Windows desktop on my office system. I still have many existing programs I use with familiar shadowed icons and File Explorer.

WinPatrol can actually be configured so that after booting and some initialization we’ll switch users to the desktop mode.  It’s a simple process and I owe the idea to an article by Greg Shultz in the Tech Republic.

WinPatrol 2013     Start Programs under Windows 8

The secret to switching to desktop mode can be accomplished by adding the new File Explorer program to the list of programs Windows launches when it boots up.
When you click the Add button the following Add New Startup Program will appear allowing you to select a program you’d like to run when you start your computer.

While in the past it was known as Windows Explorer you’ll start to hear folks refer to it as “File Explorer.” I’m sure there was some confusion between Explorer and Internet Explorer. For our purposes, having File Explorer (still named explorer.exe") as a Startup Program will cause Windows 8 to switch to the desktop mode.

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Microsoft’s Future and Windows 8

Now that there isn’t as much discussion about Romney and Obama the passion appears to focus on the future of Microsoft and Windows 8.  I’ve already published three articles but I haven’t taken a stance strong enough to generate any hate mail yet.

Some folks have posted very positive and very negative reviews of their Microsoft Surface experience.

Dave Ward loved sharing, “A month with my Surface RT”
Meanwhile,  James Kendrick let ZDNET readers know,
”Why I can’t recommend the Surface RT for table shoppers”

Paul Thurrott known for his research and Supersite for Windows took a much broader look at the big changes in Redmond with “Microsoft’s Mobile Strategy is Correct”. Paul’s popularity means he’ll generate the hate mail from the Apple Fan Boys but I’ve come to a similar conclusion that Windows 8 will be a success.

One real sign of potential success comes from the reaction I’ve had from complete strangers. Any time I’ve used my Surface I’ve immediately been interrogated by interested consumers. At my doctors office, I clicked the keyboard in place and everyone behind the counter stopped what they were doing as they jumped up to ask questions. I had heard Microsoft spent an extra bit of time getting the click sound they wanted.  Based on my experience, the recent Surface ad campaign has been very successful. The cost of the campaign has been effective since they’ve been able to advertise both the Surface and Windows 8.

The Windows brand is as strong as ever and nothing currently on the market is going to drastically change the focus. I learned a big lesson when I was involved with the “One Laptop Per Child” program. 

For $200, you could purchase a laptop and one would be given to kid with a desire to learn about computers.  The XO Laptop was an amazin innovation but it lacked one thing; Windows. It turned out even poor kids in 3rd world countries still wanted Microsoft Windows.

Just like we found true in the recent US election, people are comfortable with that they know. Microsoft is moving forward with change and I suspect folks will follow a brand that has always met their expectations.

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The Four Faces(Versions) of Windows 8

Instead of having one interface(“Windows Store” formerly Metro) for tablets and a separate one (Desktop) for traditional programs, Microsoft has chosen to include both interfaces in Windows 8. Instead of discussing the interface usability I’ll start with the versions of Windows 8 available.

Understanding the varieties of Windows 8 can be a little confusing even for the experts so I’m going to try and explain it as simple as possible.
There are four versions of Windows 8.  Which one you choose may be pre-determined for you.

1)  Windows 8 RT (once called Windows on ARM)
If you have purchased a new tablet or similar touchy device and you like the new tiled, Windows Store, interface then a Windows RT device may meet your needs. This version isn’t sold by itself. Currently it only comes with a new device. This version won’t run standard Windows applications on its Desktop with the exception of a few provided by Microsoft. All applications must be re-created to run under an “ARM” processor commonly used in tablets and phones. New apps will be available for download and purchase in the Windows 8 Store.

2) Windows 8
For most people currently using Windows, this is the cheapest upgrade path. If you’re buying a new tablet, Ultrabook, laptop or desktop computer this may be the default version of Windows included.  This version includes the new tile or “Windows Store” interface but also includes the normal Windows desktop minus a Start button. Most of the applications that run on Windows 7 will continue to work on Windows 8.

3) Windows 8 Pro
This will be the most popular upgrade path since it includes all the professional features including BitLocker, BitLockerToGo, Client Hyper-V, Domain Join, Encrypting File System, Group Policy, Remote Desktop(host), Boot from VHD. This version also includes both the Windows Store and familiar Windows desktop.

4) Windows 8 Enterprise

This version of Windows 8 won’t be for sale to normal consumers.  If your company has a regular sales contact from Microsoft they probably receive Windows at Volume Licensing pricing.  The Enterprise version provides some extra features that only apply to businesses that rely heavily on Windows and Unique Software Assurance Benefits.

 

Should you Upgrade?
If you’re looking to upgrade your current computer you’ll want to download and run the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant.  http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/upgrade-to-windows-8

The upgrade assistant will let you know if any of your applications are incompatible.

Luckily, it will also show you many of the programs which are compatible.

and when the upgrade assistant completes it will even offer you a deal to upgrade.

 

The Windows 8 Media Center Mystery

You should be aware that Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro doesn’t come with Windows Media Center. If you have Windows 8, you can purchase the Windows 8 Pro Pack which will upgrade you to Windows 8 Pro and install the Windows Media Center.  Currently, the Windows 8 Pro Pack is $69.95.  For a limited time, the Windows Media Center is free but you must request a product key by using your Email address. Giving up your Email isn’t a big deal since it’s required to use Windows 8 anyway.
Click here to request Windows Media Center. You may not care about Windows Media Center since most of its functionality can be accomplished by other apps.

Now that you know your choices for Windows 8 I hope it will help you decide when upgrading to Windows 8 will be right for you.

Microsoft Windows 8 Pro Upgrade $66.99 USD on Amazon

Windows 8 Pro Pack $66.99 USD

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Long History of WinPatrol – 15 Years Old

One night this week I ran into a discussion debating what was considered the first Anti-Spyware program for consumers.  As usual WinPatrol wasn’t considered since we don’t provide traditional scans, or signature files that typify Anti-Virus programs.  According to an article published by Security-FAQS.com, the first program to tackle Spyware was Steve Gibson’s OptOut in 2000.  I’m a huge fan of Steve and being the first isn’t his claim.

I’m not sure everyone on Twitter believed that WinPatrol was first released  in 1997.  Ironically, our discussion was the exact anniversary of Scotty the Windows Watch Dog which was available to anyone on November 19th, 1997. I know the exact date because, at the advise of a lawyer for an unrelated program, I publish the release date on the bottom of the main web page.

After a little research, the oldest page I could find was for WinPatrol 2.2, My recommendation and thanks to the long time popular Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

The Internet Archive included a web page from May 7th, 1999 which includes a description of WinPatrol 2.2 and our features at that time.

Click Image to view entire page.

Spyware and Adware Prevention
As described here WinPatrol has always included features designed to detect and remove the behavior of Adware and Spyware. It monitored startup locations that malware needed to reside on your computer. Like Windows Task Manager, it allowed users to kill tasks but WinPatrol allowed multiple selection so partner tasks could be removed with a single click.  Users could manage and delete adware cookies which were a very common concern at the time. It even included a WhoIs feature allowing users to verify the owner of a web domain before accepting an invitation to go to a new web page.

BirthdayWare
At the top of the archived page is a link that described WinPatrol’s unique use policy. WinPatrol was free to use but on my birthday, a message popped up requesting an Email.

From May 1999 web page…

When I created WinPatrol it was for my own personal use.  As I continued to add features I gave to friends and family.  Eventually, I published it here on the web for everyone to use free of charge. Just for a new twist I decided to make WinPatrol "BirthdayWare". WinPatrol users found out on April 24 what BirthdayWare was when Scotty popped up inviting you to wish me a Happy Birthday. The results today indicate BirthdayWare might be the best way to develop software yet.

While I'm sure it startled a few, your responses has made this day one of the greatest birthdays ever!  When the E-mail started to come in on April 23rd, I wondered how so many people could have their dates set wrong on the computers. Then I realized, Duh, it was already the 24th in so many other countries. Scotty the Windows Watch Dog is truly an international traveler.

Eventually, I had to stop including the BirthdayWare message. It did make my birthdays fun for a couple years but the volume of Email became overwhelming. The main problem was many fans would take the time to go to one of the online card sites/ While this was a nice gesture, the greeting card sites were one of the easiest ways to get infected with adware that required WinPatrol to remove it.

It Happens To Anyone
Just like the popularity of Facebook now attracts malware distributers, in the 90’s American Online users were targeted by programs designed to steal their password and take over accounts.  A friend who worked at AOL had her account compromised and since I was in her address book, a routine Email with an attachment was sent to me. Even though I was suspicious I downloaded what claimed to be a text file. On opening the text file a familiar message appeared. It said something like, “This file is too large for Notepad to open. Would you like to use WordPad to read this file?”

While Notepad is a simple text editor, WordPad was OLE Compliant which meant files could include executable objects.  As soon as I clicked “Yes” my brain in slow motion was shouting, “Noooooooooooo…”
Sure enough, the file included a very sophisticated and evil OLE(now called ActiveX) object. When I called AOL Support for help, they insisted I must format my hard drive.  Naturally, I wasn’t about to do that and knew there was a better way.

And WinPatrol was Born
Using what tools were available at the time, along with experience, I was able to find three separate locations where this infiltrator had created startup entries so multiple program would not be removed.
1) In the Win.INI file(no longer used) was a section called [windows] that included “run=” or “load=” command. The attacker used the trick of putting over 100 blank spaces before the “run=” and virus name so even standard admin tools didn’t show it.
2) Another program was added to one of most common autorun locations:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
3) And lastly to fool simple users a shortcut .lnk file was added to the Startup folder.
Once I removed all these changes I rebooted with all threats disabled. It was a then a simple matter to delete any files which were part of the attack.

It became obvious to me that any attack would include certain behaviors including the attempt to run on reboot and to hide companion programs. This led to the creation of WinPatrol so I would never have to deal again with idiots telling me to format my hard driver.

WinPatrol PLUS
One mistake I made was not realizing how huge and insidious adware and spyware would become.  In 2002, a friend at Epson America convinced me to create a premium version of WinPatrol to help defray the costs. I had no idea how much WinPatrol would take over my life and never considered creating an actual business plan.

So, after 15 years I’m thankful to everyone who has shared WinPatrol with their friends and family. Special thanks those who have written about WinPatrol and those who have upgraded to WinPatrol PLUS so I could continue making WinPatrol available to everyone around the world.

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Jumping Blind Into My “Windows RT” Surface

As as soon I mentioned ordering a Microsoft Surface everyone said they looked forward to my review. My friends know I don’t write typical reviews with technical specs. Instead, my first couple days with a device is an appraisal of the experience. I never used an Apple iPad and while I have chosen Android phones, I began my Surface existence as my new normal.

What I’ll share here are my first impressions using a Microsoft Surface just as if I was someone fresh off the street. Today’s post probably won’t help you decide if you want to own a Surface or Windows RT device. As I learn more, I’ll write about the pro’s and con’s.

My typical day is spent with my hands on a small Lenovo X61 convertible laptop. I use it for almost everything and it allows me to leave my office so I can spend more time with my wife, Cindi. The only reason I still have a desktop in my office is for developing and debugging. Some times I even use GoToMyPC as a remote connection if I need to work on my desktop. 

My goal is to find out how much of my laptop could be replaced and also how quickly I would learn to use a completely new environment. The best word to describe the Microsoft Surface is “ecosystem”. Everyone’s experience will vary depending on their activity on social networks.

“An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system.”

 

Unpacking my new Surface was a pleasure and I was already configuring my personal preferences within 10 minutes. The absence of any instructions saved a lot of time. It looked so beautiful and glossy my instinct was to get up and wash my hands. This was totally absurd because I knew in no time the entire device would be full of smudges. I chose the 64GB model with a soft black keyboard/cover that feels like brushed felt. Its magnetic connector provides a confident bond and my heavy fingers are adjusting quickly even on uneven surfaces. I expect my typing skills will become more proficient and I know the textured keyboard will attract plenty of grunge over time. I should probably order an extra keyboard cover now.

New Interface (formerly known as Metro)
Years ago when my mother started to use Windows she was a victim of one its early user interface failures. She would keep opening windows until they maxed out the screen and she couldn’t find what she was initially working on. Jumping in blindly, I’ve had a similar first experience with Microsoft Surface. I had launched multiple apps and screens were opened somewhere. I took me longer than it should to learn how to get back to a specific app or screen.  I knew there must be an easier way than what I was doing. Like using Android, most apps don’t have an Exit or Close which may be unsettling to some. By day two I started to search for tips online and quickly discovered there were much better ways to get around.  I’ve listed some tips at the end of this post.

The small instruction pamphlet that came with Surface covered the fact I should swipe the side of the screen. It wasn’t complete explaining when I would need to swipe the screen edge and how it would change based on what was open on the screen. It failed to include many additional swipe methods and operational quick tips. Once I learned more it reminded me of teaching others how useful the right-click mouse button could be in Windows. 

Before leaving his CEO position, Bill Gates promoted the concept of a document concentric operating system.  I was never a fan of this concept and Windows RT remains app concentric. Microsoft has continued to work at fixing the 2nd biggest computer usability problem, “Where did I save that file?”. Microsoft Surface continues trying to reduce the need of a dot file extension and ties user data more directly to its application. The trend continues towards defining a descriptive folder as a repository of file types which I’ve seen work well.

The Elephant in the Room
What will be the most talked about aspect of Windows 8 is having two completely separate interfaces. You “Start” with the new interactive tiles that represent apps like those Microsoft hopes you’ll purchase from their store. I’ll cover what I like about the various tiles in a future post. For now you need to be prepared when you click on the Desktop tile or launch one of the Desktop tools. You will see a familiar Windows desktop minus an overly debated Start button.

Things work different in Desktop mode. New Surface users will discover there is a very different touch interface.  My fat fingers are a disadvantage when trying to make selections. Text and windows work as they always have and won’t get smaller if you pinch the screen with your fingers. When you touch on an input box to type, the cursor blinks but the onscreen keyboard doesn’t automatically slide up.

Microsoft Surface in Desktop view

I was surprised to find plenty familiar Microsoft Windows applications, like RegEdit, NotePad, Windows Control Panel apps, File Explorer, IE and many administrative tools. This was a big confidence boost for me even though developing for the Desktop space in Windows RT appears reserved for Microsoft only.

New apps designed for Windows RT need to be built from scratch using a new developer kit. It builds app intended be sold in the Microsoft Store and designed to run in the tile environment.  Microsoft has built a new Visual Studio tool and Software Development Kit so developers can easily create “Window Store Applications” for both a Windows RT machine and for Windows 8 Pro.

Windows 8 Pro
I’m loving my new Surface even if I can’t use legacy applications I now run under Windows 7. I expect to see plenty of Windows RT devices hit the market but at the same time many established companies will be selling Tablets, Ultrabooks, even another Microsoft Surface, loaded with “Windows 8 Pro”.  When you switch to Desktop mode under Windows 8 Pro, all your favorite Windows apps including the full Office suites, should work normally.  Windows printers and other devices should behave in ways that may be required in your work.

The downside is devices with Windows 8 Pro will be more expensive, they will most likely may be heavier and won’t have the same battery life available on a Windows RT based system.  You will find more security options available for Windows 8 Pro. The advantage won’t matter until enough Windows RT devices exist to make creating malware cost effective. Since new apps for Windows RT will come from the Microsoft Store the chance of malware spreading will also be greatly reduced.

For a good comparison see the Microsoft Surface “Help Me Choose” page.
http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-rt/help-me-choose

Microsoft Surface Important Tips
Doing this article it was important to have screen shots to illustrate my points. Most people may not need to do screen captures but as a support person I love all of you who include screen shots when reporting a problem.  Unfortunately, you won’t find a PrintScreen button on the Surface keyboard. There’s a great Snipping Tool that runs in Desktop mode but if you want to do a screen shot of the Start screen or a Windows RT Store Application you need to know the following secret.

Tip: Screen Capture

Find the Volume down button on the left side of the Surface so you have a finger on it. When you’re ready, hold down the physical Windows 8 logo button on the bottom and press Volume Down. The screen will dim for a second and your image will be stored automatically in the Libraries –> Pictures –> Screenshots folder.

Tip: Start Button

One of the most talked about and ridiculous issues of Windows 8 has been the missing Start Button.  When I search Bing.com for “Missing Start Button” it told me it had 131,000,000 Results. Many replacement apps have been created but I’m just as happy with Windows Key + X.

Tip: Task Manager

One of the most useful desktop applications was not easy to find. Even if you ask Windows to include Administration Tools it won’t list Task Manager.  What you can do is press Windows Key + Z or swipe up from the bottom of the Start screen.  This will show you the All Apps charm. Press this and scroll all the way to the right where you’ll find Task Manager along with some other favorites that have been converted to Windows RT. 

Closing or Exiting an App

I mentioned one of the things I don’t understand on Android is there doesn’t seem to be an Exit or Close for most applications.  Windows RT apparently manages apps in a similar way.  Apps are suspended and get shoved around in memory until they’re used again or until Windows needs the memory for a new app and/or its data. Microsoft recommends you just let Windows do its thing but if you really need to exit an app you can swipe it closed. When the app is open on the screen take your finger and swipe from the very top of the screen to the very bottom.  You should see the app stuffed away if you do it right. You can also use Alt-F4 if the keyboard is attached but again, according to Microsoft this isn’t necessary because a suspend app won’t slow things down.

You can verify this now that I’ve taught you how to find the new and most improved system application, Task Manager.
 

Click on any of the images for a larger version.

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WinPatrol® PLUS for 99 cents Best October News

The end of October 2012 appears to be an exciting time for announcements and new products.

On Tuesday, October 23rd, Apple announced their new iPad Mini along with an amazing new iMac and MacBook Pro at the California Theatre in San Jose. I couldn’t help notice even without the “i” when women search on “mini pad” they no longer get a product with “winged liners”.

If you pre-ordered the new Microsoft Surface with Windows RT, you’ll have it delivered on October 26th. As the new Microsoft tablet was officially launched in China many other Windows RT tablets surfaced from Dell, Lenovo, ASUS and Samsung.

Once you survive all the news from Apple and Microsoft get ready for October 29th when Google takes the stage with an announcement they’ve referred to as “The playground is open”.  The newest Android machines will be great but still may not fully deflate the excitement generated by Microsoft

I thought I’d join the crowd with my own special event on October 25th.  By popular demand, BillP Studios is having what I expect to be one last experiment with our classic WinPatrol PLUS available for only 99 cents. The price more typical of apps designed for tablets will be available for only two days for your Windows based PC.

Unlike our regular $29.95 PLUS or Family Pack license the 99¢ license is good for a single machine. You may order multiple licenses but a single activation code will be created per order. The name/code combination can be used on each machine. The 99¢ cent license is still transferable if you get a new computer.  At the end of your payment be sure to watch for the “Continue” button to create your PLUS code or wait to be directed back to our code creation page.

I often hear from people who can’t even afford our regular $30 license yet in this day of state supported malware everyone should have a program like WinPatrol PLUS. Many even risk going to illegal pirate keygen sites so I hope this offer will save them from potential dangers.  If this experiment is successful I will be sharing the results with other software companies and maybe generate other special sales of your favorite software.

So please join us on Thursday/Friday and spread the news to friends who need WinPatrol. Like previous experimental sales everyone benefits when profits go back into WinPatrol research and helps keep Scotty alive as long as possible. The other major benefit is, the more WinPatrol users we have the more effective our shared cloud data will be.

Example displayed when clicking on Apple QuickTime’s QTTask.exe

WinPatrol Cloud data is generated by decisions made by WinPatrol users to keep or remove a file detected on their system. The data in our PLUS database is both automatically generated and provided by a users experience.  As we add more WinPatrol users this data will become even more valuable.

Order by Friday 11:50 PM EST

Click Here

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The Dangers of Downloading Free Software

Occasionally I hear from folks who report problems that sound really bizarre. It often sounds as if they’re talking about an entirely different program. It turns out sometimes they are!

I always make the newest WinPatrol available on WinPatrol.com but it’s not unusual for people to find WinPatrol on one of the free software websites or find it when doing a search. Searching on Bing, Google or Yahoo can be very dangerous, especially if you click on one of the links they allow to advertise.

The major problem with free download sites is they try hard to trick you into downloading other software. Most of the time, the other software pays the site based on how often it’s downloaded and usually includes toolbars, advertising or uses scare tactics to make you to pay for a premium version.

Let me show you examples that appear on the first search page when looking for WinPatrol. Click images below for real size view.


Both of the big buttons that say “Download” have no connection to WinPatrol.  The blue one will download a modified version of a Zip program which includes so much crap they apologize ahead of time

The green download button downloads an install manager that will attach to all future downloads. You’ll notice how they acknowledge users will want to remove the ”not required… additional software”. My guess is they must get a lot of complaints about this additional software.



Even some of best known and respected download sites have changed their policies in return for ad revenue. Now that CBS is in control I’m sure my friends at CNet are told if they want to keep their job they’ll generate profit.

CNet has been very supportive of WinPatrol even though I can’t afford to compete with advertisers who use more aggressive upgrade methods or include additional advertising toolbars.
The top download button on the WinPatrol review page will download a program called Aro 2012. I’m not familiar with this program but couldn’t help noticing the first user review wasn’t very positive but is a common theme.
The other “Start Download” button on the WinPatrol review page pointed to an ad sponsored Registry Cleaner program yesterday but I noticed today it also points to CNet favorite, Aro 2012.

I tried my best to find a download site, any download site which didn’t participate in methods obviously meant to trick users.  I eventually gave up. I don’t know if the economy is that bad, people are just that greedy or if everyone thinks the Internet is a gold rush and they think these methods are acceptable.
Here’s my page on the once reputable FileHippo.com

If you read the page you’ll see that FileHippo has been a friend to WinPatrol even providing links to older versions.  Unfortunately, they still insist on including a large Download button that downloads a questionable audio converter program.

Doing a simple search of “Babylon Toolbar” and you’ll see one of the reasons I’ve never agreed to include a toolbar with my program. The entire first page on Google consists of advice on how to remove the toolbar which apparently isn’t something possible with the Add/remove applet.

I probably haven’t done myself any favors with this post since WinPatrol depends on good reviews. Like it or not, these sites are still popular.  I’ve had a number of acquaintances tell me this is just normal Internet business practice and I should be making money too. I may not have a lot of Internet gold but I still have loyal WinPatrol fans. Even if they don’t use WinPatrol they know I’ll continue to help when I can and will tell it like it is.

Update: October 22nd, 2012
I was surprised to hear my friends at Malwarebytes shared my frustration and beat me by posting about their own experience.
For additional examples and dangers see.
http://blog.malwarebytes.org/intelligence/2012/10/pick-a-download-any-download

Update 2: October 24th, 2012
Thanks to Gizmo’s Freeware and Vic Laurie for pointing me to yet another great article that documents more examples of this unacceptable practice.
http://www.ghacks.net/2012/06/17/how-deceiving-ads-trick-you-on-download-sites/

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Use New 64 bit Features On Older 32 bit Windows

One of the challenges for programmers is to continue to support all customers and still take advantage of new features available in operating systems. Instead of managing multiple code bases I’ve learned to support older versions while still taking advantage of new features. Recently, I learned it the hard way.

I thought it would be useful to share an example of code that I currently use that not only supports 64 bit Windows, but uses new functions that aren’t supported by the still popular 32 bit Windows XP.

1. Accessing 32 and 64 bit Registry Locations
In this example, I wanted to use a new function that Microsoft enhanced for 64 bit Windows. To remove registry keys I’ve used the following function.

RegDeleteKey( HKEY, LPCSTR)

The registry in 64 bit Windows has a special tree that is used to store registry values used by 32 bit applications.  Many values under the global software registry is automatically redirected to be saved under the following key.  See List of Keys

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node

Most applications that store options in the registry don’t need to know if their registry calls are redirected. A utility like my WinPatrol absolutely needs to know which registry location is used and when Windows is redirecting values. Using the actual location is crucial for detecting malware or modifying legitimate software which may behave badly.

To allow programmers access to either the normal registry location or Wow6432Node many registry functions have been enhanced to specify the real location instead of being reflected or redirected. One new replacement function is

RegDeleteKeyEx( HKEY, LPCTSTR, REGSAM, DWORD);

The REGSAM value can be either KEY_WOW64_32KEY(0x200) for removing a key in the Wow6432Node tree used by 32 bit applications or KEY_WOW64_64KEY(0x100) which doesn’t get redirected.

2. Using new Windows Functions not supported by XP

In my WinPatrol program I need to use the function “RegDeleteKeyEx” which is located in a Windows library by the name “Advapi32”.  Unfortunately, not all 32 bit versions of Windows support this function including Windows XP.

When I build WinPatrol.exe using Microsoft Visual Studio, it finds information needed to use RegDeleteKeyEx and includes the entry point address in my final code. It hard codes or “statically links” this function in my executable. When WinPatrol ran it expected to find the Advapi32dll file on the computer and expected to find the RegDeleteKeyEx function within it. 

When WinPatrol or any program is launched Windows checks to make sure all the required DLL’s exist and they include any static links. The version of “Advapi32dll” on a 32 bit version of Windows XP has no knowledge of the RegDeleteKeyEx function.  The resulting error message doesn’t make sense to most users but when I received this screen shot in Emails I knew immediately where I had screwed up.

Instead of making two versions of WinPatrol I created a replacement routine that uses a “run-time dynamic link”.  By not having a static definition in my code Windows XP won’t detect the references to a function that doesn’t exist.

This is my own function to delete a key in the registry. It works for all the versions of Windows that are supported by WinPatrol.  I’ve removed most comments, a branch for unicode systems and some error checking so you can see the required code which is explained under the example.

As with many type based languages,  I begin my function by defining local variables. The 3rd one defines a the pointer(lpfRegDeleteKeyEx) to a Windows API that returns a long result. The name of this variable can be anything. I include parameters that RegDeleteKeyEx use for readability. This variable will contain the entry point address to the function so I can still call it but versions of Windows that don’t know about it won’t barf.
All the details on using this new function are available in documentation free from Microsoft Developer Network. This information will allow you to do similar operations with other languages. 

The glx64 is just a global variable I set early on when I check to see if we’re running on a 64 bit system.  If it’s not a 64 bit system I don’t need special code. I can just call the same old RegDeleteKey function which will have no trouble finding the Key because there isn’t an alternate Wow6432Node tree in the registry.

• If it is a 64 bit system I use run-time dynamic linking to call the new function.
  *  First I use LoadLibrary to access Advapi32.dll which has many Registry API’s including RegDeleteKeyEx.  The call returns a “handle” to the library which I will need in future calls.
  *  If the library loads ok, then I call “GetProcAddress” to get a pointer to the entry point of the RegDeleteKeyEx function.
  *  If the entry point is found I can just use the pointer variable to call the function passing the same parameters required if we used static linking.
  *  Lastly I tell Windows I’m done with FreeLibrary. For this example I removed some checks if my call failed for some reason.

As one of the main components in Windows Advapi32.dll is most likely already in memory so it’s not like the disk is accessed each time this function is called.  Calls to LoadLibrary will increment a counter for the library and FreeLibrary decrements the count. If it reaches zero then Windows knows it can be unloaded from memory.

When Microsoft documents an API function it will also include the name of which DLL is used and what versions of Windows are supported.  If an older version of Windows isn’t supported you’ll want to use Run-time Dynamic Linking similar to this example.

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WinPatrol 25.6.2012 License Agreement Explained

While I was tempted to follow the trend of others and call our new version WinPatrol 2013, I know how to read a calendar and no matter what others say it’s still 2012!

The new version of WinPatrol doesn’t have any major new features but thanks to detailed reports from loyal users I’ve tracked down a number of annoying bugs.

As part of the new setup, I’ve included a short yet important description of the WinPatrol license agreement. In the past, it wasn’t always clear what benefits and restrictions were part of our WinPatrol license agreement. Details on the FREE and PLUS licenses are now spelled out during installation. Following the description here I’ve included details on what’s new and a link to download WinPatrol 25.6.

WinPatrol FREE License
The Free Edition of WinPatrol is available for permanent use and is not just a trial version. This program is a powerful tool that alerts you to system changes, allows you to prevent selected programs from running, allows you to safely explore what programs might be slowing you down and more. The WinPatrol Free Edition license is limited to personal use but may be installed on multiple computers. You agree to use WinPatrol at your own risk.

WinPatrol PLUS       Single User Personal License
Upgrading to WinPatrol PLUS is a one-time investment, not a yearly subscription. You'll never be asked to pay again but you may not share your PLUS activation code with others. Once you receive a PLUS code you may use it to activate PLUS features on any computer you own and you personally use. It does not include computers used by family members if you only provide support & maintenance. WinPatrol PLUS may be purchased for a business environment but is still limited to individual  users. This license is fully transferable to any new computers you purchase or new versions of WinPatrol software.

Using a PLUS activation code not obtained from BillP Studios, WinPatrol.com or one of our partners is discouraged and could result in your PLUS features being disabled without warning. Obtaining a PLUS code from an illegal "keygen" download site may be the source of a malware infection. When using an illegal code your IP address may be reported to organizations currently working to reduce the use of pirated software.

WinPatrol PLUS        Family Pack License
A single WinPatrol Family Pack code may be used by all members of your immediate family within your household. Immediate family includes a common-law spouse or a domestic partnership as well as any offspring living within your home.  It also includes children who are away at school.
Like the standard license, you may continue to use your activation code on all future versions of WinPatrol without any additional fee.

Small and Large businesses should contact support@WinPatrol.com for special offers to support environments with 10 or more WinPatrol users..

WinPatrol PLUS       Single Machine License
As a special marketing test, WinPatrol PLUS  was available for a limited time at a unique price of 99 cents. Just like our Single User License this purchase provides a  fully transferable, lifetime of WinPatrol PLUS. Each 99 cent order however is good for a single physical computer. A single activation code will be provide per individual and may be used on multiple computers.  Each computer is associated with each payment of 99 cents. A single physical computer includes the use of one WinPatrol PLUS license on multiple virtual machines.

Version 25.6.2012.0                                   September 19th, 2012

Based on user feedback and especially the extra effort from loyal WinPatrol fans we've improved reliability with WinPatrol 25.6. WinPatrol features work better than ever and we've removed the possibility of confusing messages that may have given incorrect alert messages.

* Fixed Multiple Alerts When Startup Removed
One of the newest features of WinPatrol 25 is letting users know if a Startup program had been removed without their knowledge. Unfortunately, occasionally a bug appeared that once the initial warning appeared, WinPatrol continued to warn about the removal of other programs which still existed in the list of Startup Programs.

* Windows 7 Performance Boost
WinPatrol has always worked well with all versions of Windows including Windows 7, this version takes better advantage of performance ability available to Windows 7 users.

* Multiple Add/Remove Uninstall Entries
When checking the Uninstall list using the Add/Remove or Uninstall applet, WinPatrol may have retained previous versions. This version will remove past entries that exist.

* License Agreement Info
In the past the license agreement for various WinPatrol versions were not clearly stated and easy to find on our website. The new setup program includes a description of the Free, PLUS, Family Pack and special licenses. Users will now see how unique WinPatrol is and what few restrictions exist.

* Scotty Barking at Random
This has been a long time unexplainable quirk that never made sense. Reports of Scotty barking with no alert should be a thing of the past.

* IE Helper Enhanced
Some IE Helpers may have been missed on some machines. They will all now be properly displayed.

* Uninstall Enhancements
While we now have a stand alone WinPatrolRemove program, this version includes an Uninstaller that works much better than our past embarrassments. Improvements to the WinPatrol Uninstall program will now removed registry entries that gave incorrect screen positions when multiple monitors were used. We'll also remove any language packs which you may have installed in error.

* Explorer Menu Integration
While some users may still not have the full privileges, most users will be able to look up PLUS Info for EXE's and DLL's directly from the right-click menu on Explorer file lists.

Click Here for WinPatrol Download Page

 

Update September 20th : Released compatibility issue with 32 bit Windows XP. The use of the function RegDeleteKeyEx, is not support by 32 bit versions of XP, slipped by our original release. This function was required to support 64 bit Windows.  I was able to patch this error by using dynamic library linking so after testing the new code on each platform I was able to release 25.6.2012.1 just after midnight EST.  If you’re not using Windows XP you don’t need to rush to download this patch if you have already downloaded 25.6.  Special thanks to our XP users who were quick to help even taking the time to send screen shots.

By popular demand I will post the code I used to show programmers not only how to support 64 bit systems but how to take advantage of new Windows functions yet still support versions of Windows no longer supported by Microsoft.

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Give your Readers “Back to School” 30% Bonus

I’ve been honored over many years to have the support of forum leaders, bloggers and even well known tech celebrities. While it’s common to share revenue with folks who mention your product most of our friends are happy to spread the word to make their readers safe. They know it’s a good recommendation that won’t create only positive responses.

There’s no better time to install WinPatrol PLUS or other protection than when you’ve purchased a new computer or have sent your child off to school with the laptop you’ve already broken in. So it’s natural that I wanted to provide our favorite authors with a way to reward their loyal readers before school starts.

For the last two weeks of August 2012 I’ve created a number discount coupons that will be provided to websites who have recommended WinPatrol. Some will go to blogs, forums, news sites, Facebook pages or even popular tweeters. The coupon provides a 30% discount on both the single $29.95 WinPatrol PLUS license or $49.95 Family Pack

If you have an audience and would like to promote a WinPatrol PLUS “Back to School” special send a note to support@WinPatrol.com. We’ll create a unique 30% off coupon you can give to your readers for their participation.

WinPatrol continues to set an example of a program that doesn’t pressure anyone into upgrading or trick them into installing unwanted toolbar. I’m looking for sincere supporters of WinPatrol who recognize how helpful PLUS will be to their readers.

Using a Coupon
For a credit card purchase after clicking the Order button users will see a checkout screen with the current price.  After they enter a coupon and click Apply, the price will be reduced by 30%.  Shipping information isn’t required.  U.S. customers are asked for their zip code because NYer’s will be charged sales tax.

Credit Card Orders

For PayPal orders, entering a coupon will take users directly to PayPal with the appropriate discount. At the end of their order they’ll create a PLUS code and will receive instructions on how to immediately activate their WinPatrol PLUS features.

 

PayPal Order on our main screen



Alternate Order Screen

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