Task Manager + WinPatrol Disables Unwanted Programs

Our current plan at BillP Studios is to respond quickly to any problem reports by having monthly updates that provide bug fixes and minor features while continuing to research and prepare major new features. This week thanks to ongoing reports and suggestions(thanks Patrick) we have released version 28.8.

Update:  Due to a bug that was caused by our new feature the newest version is now 28.9

One reason for this new policy is to make sure we continue to support multiple versions of Windows which now have many different internal operations. For instance, Windows 8 has a great new Task Manager which includes a list of startup programs that used to be found in the Windows program “MSConfig.exe”. The new Startup list includes many new features. One of new features is a better way to “Disable” a unwanted startup program.

The great advantage of “Disabled” in Windows 8 is that it’s built into the operating system. When Windows starts, it looks for programs set to run but before it launches the program it also checks a second location called “StartupApproved”. If a program is marked as Disabled in this new location, Windows won’t launch it. For a while this will help keep some misbehaving, unwanted programs away. Many programs will notice if they have been removed from their startup location and will restore their startup status. If they don’t know about “StartupApproved” they’ll think they’re ok but still won’t run when you start your computer. Eventually, they’ll figure it out but for a while users will enjoy better performance and less crapware running in the background.

I hate these programs because they ignore what users want and often prevent even uninstall requests. WinPatrol now provides the best of both worlds. The new WinPatrol version 28.8 will work together with the new Task Manager so if you mark a program as Disabled in Task Manager it will be set to Disabled in WinPatrol as well.  When programmers at the companies who think they should always start finally notice StartupApproved I’m sure they will change this setting to “Approved”.  Luckily they’ll still need to deal with WinPatrol. As in the past if a program has been Disabled in WinPatrol it will be removed automatically. On Windows 8 machines if the StartupApproved is changed from Disabled without your permission we’ll also restore the original setting.

As we learn more about this setting and what tricks are used, WinPatrol will adapt so only those programs needed at Startup will be launched. Our friends at Microsoft have been extremely helpful so I expect by version 29 we’ll be fully integrated with Task Manager and Windows 8 users will have complete control with little effort.

In a continued trend to provide regular updates of WinPatrol software the newest version 28.8 is now available for download. Complete details on what else has changed on this version and previous builds go to http://www.winpatrol.com/upgrade.html.

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WinPatrol Internal Server Error

It’s only natural that problems occur at the worse possible time.  This week WinPatrol is having a unique sale for folks who want to upgrade to PLUS but couldn’t afford it.  I also released a new version of WinPatrol which always generates plenty of downloads and use by folks who haven’t installed WinPatrol in a while. You would have thought I was giving a demo on Good Morning America because yesterday our custom server stopped providing many features PLUS members.  Worse yet was our ability to create PLUS codes after customers made their payment broke.

As far as we know we weren’t attacked by the Syrian Electronic Army like the Washington Post.

Our problems started out around noon when users weren’t able to access any of our web pages. The technical support helper was quick to resolve that problem and I thought everything was fine.  Then I noticed most of our custom programs that run on the server including the one that provides PLUS Info were failing.  Users would see the following when requesting PLUS Info or when trying to create their newly purchased activation code.

My 2nd call to Verio web hosting support also seemed successful. The support rep helped me identify a few bugs that resulted from our earlier solution. It appeared that everyone could again access programs on the server.  Unfortunately, my confidence was short lived.

Late into the evening my third call was made in hopes we could isolate the reason why some programs worked and others didn’t.  By this time my patience and ability to think clearly wasn’t at it’s best.

I’ve now tracked down the main issue and hoped that today’s rep would be able to understand what occurred. It appears that something done during my first phone call created an entirely new problem. My ability to access my web pages no longer exists. I am hour on hour two waiting for a return phone call. 

While I haven’t calculated the lost business and reputation yet but I am happy that most PLUS members can access PLUS data.  If you can’t access your PLUS Info I can offer a quick solution.

Open up the main tabbed interface and click on the Options tab.
If you Uncheck the box in front of “Allow PLUS Info data collection” you’ll be able to obtain the correct PLUS data.
 

I hope to have everything back to normal soon and I apologize to anyone who is still waiting for a response to their Email.  While I don’t think I’ve lost any Emails getting the web server working has been my first priority

In other new…

Malwarebytes Reports WinPatrol as Unwanted
I have seen reports that our friends at Malwarebytes have flagged some of the files which are used by our install package as unwanted programs.  We use a install package called Installmate which has worked well and is completely safe.  If I detected any problems or unwanted programs I would be switching to a new installer immediately. I haven’t had a chance to talk to my good friends at Malwarebytes but I understand their next database update will correct any mention of WinPatrol files.

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WinPatrol PLUS For Everyone Just $2

About once a year I go crazy and try to introduce WinPatrol PLUS to the folks who have never heard of WinPatrol or have never experienced this small powerful app. For over 15 years WinPatrol has been recommended by friends and family but I never invested in any kind of expensive PR campaign.

USA Today put it best when it said, “WinPatrol may be one of the best kept secrets in computer protection.”

This recommendation came from Pulitzer Prize author Byron Acohido author of Zero Day Threat:...

No More Secrets 
The best kept secret will now be available at such a low price everyone will get the word out and we’re sure to see a world wide increase in the use of WinPatrol PLUS. History has shown once someone understands what Scotty can do WinPatrol becomes the first program they install and one they never do without. You'll never find an offer like this and it comes without any check boxes trying to trick you into installing unwanted toolbars or download managers.

Even if you're using a pirated version of WinPatrol PLUS you can afford $2.00 USD to support its future. Over 30,000 have downloaded our newest  version and the more users we have the more effective our new Community Shield data will be to protect you.

For a limited time upgrading to WinPatrol PLUS can be as low as $2.00 USD.  In countries where the US dollar isn’t valuable this will be an even better bargain.  Due to the extremely low price a 50 cent surcharge will be included on bank credit card orders. This charge will not be applied to PayPal orders or other purchase options. This sale will end August 10th.

WinPatrol helps you understand what's running in your computer and allows you to prevent unwanted changes. It's small, works with other programs and won't slow you down.  WinPatrol was the first program to use a  behavioral approach to detect new infiltrations and Zero-Day attacks.
WinPatrol continues to add unique features that aren’t found in Anti-Virus programs yet works and plays well with others.  It remains the smallest, fastest system monitor of its kind and complements your favorite security suite. Our future really depends on your appreciation of toolbar free software that helps your computer run the way it should.

Click Image for normal size

 
Startup Programs – Beyond MSConfig

Active Tasks – Multiple Selection Allows Mass Killing

WinPatrol Monitors Any Registry Location You Want
Let WinPatrol warn you or tell it to keep your value safe.

Upgrade your computer now for just $2

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Lithium-ion Battery: What Everyone Should Know

Most of us remember one of the first advancements in rechargeable batteries for consumer devices, the Nickel-cadmium battery(NiCd).  This battery type became known for having “memory” at a particular charge level.  I was told we were supposed to always let the battery fully discharge or it remembered any level it stayed at. In the future the battery would only charge as high as that level.  Eventually, the time available from the battery would decrease and become useless.

Small consumer products and even new vehicles took off with the introduction of Lithium and rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries.  They were able to hold a longer charge and they didn’t have the same memory issue as the NiCd battery. They’re not as toxic and when not in use they don’t lose their charge as quickly.

We’re still learning about the care and feeding of Lithium-ion batteries. For instance, the folk-lore about conditioning a battery is not true. A Lithium battery like the AA’s you put in your remote control are not the same as Lithium-ion. They don’t have the same risk in your device.

My new Helix from Lenovo included many new battery options to help prolong the time I could spend unplugged and also to extend the life of its batteries. The Helix has a battery in both the keyboard and tablet/screen providing a total of 10 hours of power when properly balanced.

Lenovo Settings App  Power section

The “Battery Health Mode” feature of the Lenovo battery app has a setting that prevents batteries from being fully charge. If a lithium-ion battery remains fully charged it won’t last as long. This utility is intended for folks who have their laptop plugged in most of the time.  This is much more common now that laptops have replaced desktop computers in the office. The utility recommends only charging 50% when powering my Helix from the wall socket  I just need to remember to change this option and fully charge if I expect to be unplugged for a while..

Another important lesson learned especially by the airline industry is the risk of fire by damaged lithium-ion batteries. There have been recalls and some unexpected fires in the news including an iPhone which was reported to catch fire while being charged but these are still rare given the wide spread use of these batteries.

In 2006, I wrote about a recall by Dell after one of its laptops caught fire and a video was uploaded to YouTube. Later in that year I shared a video which was part of the research initiated by my partners at PC Pitstop.

 

Yesterday PC Pitstop and D2 Worldwide released the results of their renewed research. While trying not to scare anyone the research is clear that anyone using a lithium-ion based device needs to know the possibilities.

Everyone should know the rules of a lithium-ion fire.
1) You can’t cover it with a blanket, it doesn’t need oxygen. 
2) Do not use water to put it out. Combining water can be explosive.

The best solution is having a Type D Fire Extinguisher. I also recommend leaving the scene as quickly as possible while calling 9-1-1. Whether it’s a laptop or electric car be sure to notify first responders a lithium-ion battery is used.

The video below was created by D2 Worldwide for PC Pitstop. I recommend sharing it with friends, family and anyone you know.

Click Here For More Information and video’s

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Friends of WinPatrol Around the World

I had a lot of fun looking at the statistics for my websites but one surprise and wake up call was how many friends we have outside the United States. I do enjoy sharing information with others so today’s blog provides some of the details that show which countries are the most active.

                               

Only 42.45% of the connections to our website this year have been from the United States. Another 2% were not-set or hidden.  That could mean about 55% of the computers running WinPatrol may be outside the 50 states.  I’ve shared a chart below which shows this years access to WinPatrol.com by our friends in countries which had visits of 2% or greater. There were a total of 206 countries that could be identified.

The following indicates access to WinPatrol.com since the beginning of the 2013. These figures relate to  connections, including requests for PLUS Info so they aren’t directly connected to download counts. It’s more of an indication of WinPatrol usage. The tool used to provide this data was Google Analytics.

Order	Country / Territory	% Non-US Visits
1	United Kingdom	14.02%
2	Germany	8.96%
3	Canada	8.57%
4	Russia	4.85%
5	Italy	4.70%
6	Australia	4.38%
7	France	4.22%
8	Netherlands	4.22%
9	India	3.88%
10	Spain	2.12%
11	Poland	2.07%
12	Brazil	1.99%
13	Belgium	1.91%
14	Indonesia	1.53%
15	Ukraine	1.51%
16	Denmark	1.50%
17	Philippines	1.26%
18	Romania	1.17%
19	Mexico	1.17%
20	Finland	1.14%
21	Sweden	1.14%
22	Thailand	1.07%
23	Turkey	1.05%
24	Portugal	1.01%
25	Greece	0.94%
26	New Zealand	0.90%
27	Norway	0.84%
28	Iran	0.76%
29	Austria	0.75%
30	Hungary	0.75%
31	Israel	0.73%
32	China	0.72%
33	South Africa	0.70%
34	Switzerland	0.70%
35	Malaysia	0.67%
36	Egypt	0.67%
37	Czech Republic	0.66%
38	Serbia	0.61%
39	Ireland	0.56%
40	Argentina	0.54%
41	Bulgaria	0.53%
42	Singapore	0.50%
43	Croatia	0.46%
44	Japan	0.42%
45	Vietnam	0.40%
46	South Korea	0.39%
47	Taiwan	0.37%
48	Hong Kong	0.37%
49	Pakistan	0.35%
50	Saudi Arabia	0.31%
51	Slovakia	0.27%
52	Ecuador	0.26%
53	Colombia	0.25%
54	Venezuela	0.23%
55	Peru	0.22%
56	Algeria	0.21%
57	Slovenia	0.21%
58	Lithuania	0.21%
59	Chile	0.20%
60	United Arab Emirates	0.20%
61	Puerto Rico	0.18%
62	Bosnia and Herzegovina	0.17%
63	Belarus	0.17%
64	Iraq	0.17%
65	Morocco	0.16%
66	Kazakhstan	0.15%
67	Latvia	0.14%
68	Nepal	0.12%
69	Trinidad and Tobago	0.12%
70	Nigeria	0.12%
71	Bangladesh	0.12%
72	Georgia	0.11%
73	Estonia	0.11%
74	Tunisia	0.11%
75	Jamaica	0.10%
76	Moldova	0.10%
77	Sri Lanka	0.10%
78	Cyprus	0.10%
79	Macedonia [FYROM]	0.08%
80	Jordan	0.08%
81	Costa Rica	0.07%
82	Malta	0.07%
83	Ghana	0.07%
84	Paraguay	0.07%
85	Qatar	0.06%
86	Bolivia	0.06%
87	Luxembourg	0.06%
88	Yemen	0.06%
89	Panama	0.06%
90	Lebanon	0.05%
91	El Salvador	0.05%
92	Kuwait	0.05%
93	Sudan	0.05%
94	Kenya	0.05%
95	Palestine	0.05%
96	Albania	0.05%
97	Oman	0.05%
98	Laos	0.05%
99	Montenegro	0.05%
100	Armenia	0.04%
101	Syria	0.04%
102	Guatemala	0.04%
103	Azerbaijan	0.04%
104	Dominican Republic	0.04%
105	Uruguay	0.04%
106	Barbados	0.03%
107	Libya	0.03%
108	Iceland	0.03%
109	Ethiopia	0.03%
110	Mauritius	0.03%
111	Tanzania	0.03%
112	Maldives	0.02%
113	Zimbabwe	0.02%
114	Angola	0.02%
115	Kosovo	0.02%
116	Cambodia	0.02%
117	Uzbekistan	0.02%
118	Bahrain	0.02%
119	Réunion	0.02%
120	Afghanistan	0.02%
121	Honduras	0.02%
122	Côte d’Ivoire	0.02%
123	Senegal	0.02%
124	Guyana	0.02%
125	Kyrgyzstan	0.02%
126	Myanmar [Burma]	0.02%
127	Isle of Man	0.02%

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Many Surprised by Windows XP Usage

I’ll admit I’m a little surprised at how many copies of Windows XP are still loading when computers are turned on. According to my most recent blog statistics almost 25% of you are still depending on Windows XP.

The data from WinPatrol.com says 21.5% of our visitors use Windows XP. * Numbers will vary for other websites.

I’m pleased to see XP users are still downloading WinPatrol because they may benefit more than anyone by its protection. This will especially be true next April when Microsoft drops security updates for Windows XP or now if you haven’t installed Service Pack 3.

The current official Microsoft warning is

“To continue receiving security updates for Windows, make sure that you're running Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3). The support for Windows XP with Service Pack 3 ends April 8, 2014. If you’re running Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3) after support ends, to ensure that you will receive all important security updates for Windows, you need to upgrade to a later version, such as Windows 8.”

This end of security updates also applies to Office 2003.  The Windows XP “end of support” date has already been extended more than once.

This isn’t unreasonable considering the official Windows XP Launch Party in NYC was in October, 2001. I recall the event because it was six weeks after 9/11. Mayor Rudy Giuliani encouraged Microsoft to help show the world his city was safe. Things were still a little tense. I remember someone from the security staff questioning why my badge said Bill but my drivers license said William.

 

When Windows XP ends support, users will need to upgrade or risk being a target just by being connected to the Internet.  Initially, XP users rejected upgrading because they hated Windows Vista. While Windows 8 has had a few bad reviews I feel more productive and safe with my newest Windows 8 machine.

User Account Control was introduced in Windows Vista but never lived up to its expectation. As predicted by many, no tool will be 100% effective if people ignore it.  Users who upgrade to WinPatrol PLUS are able to find out more information on a program when it tries access secure locations on their system. WinPatrol is also a choice so users are more likely to pay attention to Scotty’s bark.

In an article in Ars Technica called “Five important security apps for Linux, Mac OS X and Windows”, WinPatrol was chosen as a way to block various types of malware, “For Windows Vista, the watchdog of choice is none other than the unloved User Account Control (UAC), and for Windows XP, we recommend WinPatrol.”

In a review by The Windows Club the author says, “WinPatrol, in my opinion, is a freeware that allows you to better manage the computer, when compared to Windows UAC.”

Microsoft has continued to make advances in security and protection to keep users safe. Even though it’s even older than Windows XP, WinPatrol will also continue to improve its experience while offering protection and information to users even if they stick with Windows XP.

 

Update 7/23/2013:
I was surprised to see a few days after posting my stats Microsoft was also focusing on their Windows XP fans, especially business users. Click the image below for complete information.


Thanks to Windows Observer for the tip

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Community Data Shared with WinPatrol FREE

One of the functions WinPatrol has always had was to keep a count of any time someone requested information for a particular file. Originally, it let me know which files were the more invasive. A couple years ago I expanded the information to count every time a new program is accepted, rejected or removed from the Windows registry.  This information turned out to be more valuable because it helps WinPatrol users make decisions if a program needed to run on startup or could be removed. Instead of just being my opinion it let members know what the rest of the WinPatrol community thought.

Until now this community data was collected and was only available to WinPatrol PLUS members.  Starting today all WinPatrol users will have access to what we’ve named the “WinPatrol PLUS Community Shield”. This is a great example of how social media can provide a major benefit. By everyone sharing their choices even the most novice user can benefit from the experience of others.

Here’s a portion of the screen that will now be available to all users. This example displays the count for a common Microsoft file, Ctfmon.exe.  In this case it’s not clear if Ctfmon.exe is welcome or not. I invite you to try other files on your computer and see if you agree with our WinPatrol friends.

Click image for the full page provided to WinPatrol Free Edition

Community Reviews In addition to the automatic summary of requests, rejections and accepted files we’ve also added a way for the WinPatrol Community to give feedback based on their expertise and/or experience. Instead of a number rating system we created five typical types to chose from in common sense terminology.  Now that more WinPatrol users have access to community data this screen will continue to become more valuable. Watch for the sharing of additional community data in our future.

Even though all we do is count an action performed with WinPatrol, it has always been an option. If the option is checked we collect data from Free, PLUS and even folks using WinPatrol PLUS illegally.

Click for more details on WinPatrol Options

Privacy When “Share choices with other WinPatrol users” is checked any decision or action made when a file appears on a computer is recorded.
We obviously don’t connect the action to anyone’s identity but a users choice is now what some refer to as meta-data.  The NSA keeps using the term to describe data that they collect which does not include personal information.

WinPatrol PLUS members still receive more extensive information about a file. When a PLUS member receives a PLUS Info for Ctfmon.exe it will include a human readable description along with a link to a helpful page from Microsoft.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q282599

Update: One of the advantages of the WinPatrol model is that users are allowed to make their own decision if a program is behaving badly.  Some popular programs have been threatened by companies with Cease and Desist orders if they remove unwanted programs. The WinPatrol Community Shield enhances the power users have based on real data and not my opinion. If over 200,000 users reject a program, this information shared by other WinPatrol users is safe to publish. It is factual and not just my opinion.

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