Sarasota PC Monitor
Review Chairmans Industry Comments (12/01)
Reviewing Software
by Herb Goldstein, Review Editor
E-mail comments, suggestions, etc. to Herb Goldstein at: revieweditor@spcug.org
HAPPY HOLIDAYS and the best of wishes to each and every one of you for the year and more to come. The software review/special drawing will be closed during our December holiday meeting in deference to our auction and other special activities. As the year draws to a close, I thank all of you for your personal support and good will, and for patronizing our special drawing.
It is a privilege and a joy for me to work with all the volunteers in our unique organization that give so generously of their time and talents. This outstanding publication is essentially the result of the labor and devotion of our Editor, Gary Schweinshaupt. He not only spends endless hours each month in its production, he contributes very significantly in each and every facet of the operation of SPCUG. People like him, our officers, board members and fine volunteers combine to make this a personally rewarding and fulfilling experience.
Windows XP - A Personal Opinion
For many months now I indicated that I would keep you informed about the new operating system. Most of you will agree that I have kept my word, and as further information is available I will continue to do so in both the current and future editions of the Monitor. I know enough at this point to give you my personal evaluation. In most of life's decisions in the "should I, or shouldn't I" category I try to follow a simple rule. I ask myself, "What am I gaining, and what am I giving up?" Based on that philosophy, here are my feelings briefly stated:
On the gain side, XP offers primarily greater stability than Win 98, a pleasant new interface, and a number of accompanying utilities. On the loss side, XP is not compatible with a significant amount of your current hardware and software. Secondly, a new and onerous product activation feature prevents installation on more than one computer, or re-installation without permission from Microsoft.
My current Windows 98 crashes occasionally, but not frequently. It works just fine with all my hardware and software, and I have it tweaked where it does everything I need it to do quite well. I have it installed on two computers. On the rare occasion I need to reinstall it, I don't have to call Microsoft to get permission or otherwise have to jump through hoops. I have all the utilities I need, and they are much greater in depth than their abbreviated versions that accompany XP.
If I were shopping for a new computer with XP pre-installed along with fully compatible hardware and software, I would go for it. Even then, I would be concerned that whatever I might subsequently want to attach to it may not be compatible. Pre-installed XP would likely have less issues to deal with, but as far as upgrading is concerned, no thank you!
Another thought to keep in mind is the inadvisability of purchasing version #1 of anything, including XP. As sure as the sun will rise, so will service pack #1.
Next month we'll look at the opinions of some noted experts and computer columnists on the matter.
WILL XP WORK FOR YOU? Last month we gave you info regarding Microsoft's Upgrade Advisor which examined your computer to determine what software and hardware in your machine will or won't work with Windows XP. This month we offer an additional examination by PC World that will do the same thing in much greater detail and outline for you what would be necessary to bring your computer up to snuff. The Xp Readiness Test was created by a cooperative effort between PC World magazine and PC Pitstop. For your free analysis, go to www.pcworld.com/xpready.
PC Pitstop offers a fast analysis at http://www.pcpitstop.com/xpready/default.asp. Although it's not as thorough as Microsoft own analysis tool, it's far, far quicker to run and is good for a first pass analysis of a system's upgrade potential. Microsoft's own tool-which we must assume is authoritative-is at http://www.microsoft.com/WINDOWSXP/home/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp.
But note it's a 32MB download, and will connect back to Microsoft to download additional components once it's run.
XP HARDWARE INCOMPATIBILITY. One of the reasons for XP's greater stability is that hardware in or attached to your computer must have drivers that have been designed for and acceptable by Microsoft as compatible with XP. In the absence of such certification, your device will either present a warning message or may not work at all. Most manufacturers are scrambling to develop drivers that will be acceptable. Until they do, you may be left out in the cold. Even when they do, many novices and some intermediates haven't a clue as to how to upgrade a device to a new driver. For example, the Upgrade Advisor test on my computer indicated that, among several other devices, neither of my two printers are compatible. A switch to XP would mean tracking down new drivers or holding my breath for who knows how long until they are developed.
XP SUPERGUIDE. If you want an in-depth look at Windows XP information and recommendations, Cnet provides it at http://home.cnet.com/software/0-6688749.html? tag=txt. For a concentrated look at MS Office XP, go to http://one.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y= eCfa0DYSKS0s0r3D0AJ or try http://one.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=eCgV0DYSKQ 0k0uom0Ah.
XP TOP QUESTIONS ANSWERED. Can you upgrade? Is XP faster than 9x? What's the deal with licensing? You will find answers to these and a lot more at <http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?/adeskb/adt1023/2819476:27503412.
Also, for a look at more common misconceptions and questions, get some answers at: http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?/adeskb/adt1024/2819735:27503412 http://www.zdnet.com/ products/stories/reviews/0,4161,2809517,00.html http://one.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=eCgx0DYSKS0s0u MC0AB
THE COST. Home users with any previous version of Windows already on their computer should choose the Upgrade Version. You can find it for $99, and places like Buy.com provide free shipping and no sales tax.
INSTALLING XP IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. People interested in buying Windows XP may be surprised by the hefty package of downloads for updating the new operating system. Depending on the version of XP-Home for consumers or Professional for businesses-people will be assailed with 20MB or more in downloads. Some fix security holes, others resolve glitches and a few add new features. http://two.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y= eCDp0CRbF60U0e2S0A3.
XP UPDATES. Yes...already! People who purchased new machines with XP or retail copies of the new Windows have been surprised by the bevy of downloads available from Windows Update beginning on October 25. Microsoft pushed several updates, patches, device drivers, and other downloads onto Windows Update. All told they measure about 20MB. Some of these downloads fix bugs, and one is a "critical update" collection of security patch.
READ THE FINE PRINT! Noted PC columnist Fred Langa originally covered the growing trend of vendors abusing the fine print in end-user license agreements (EULAs) at the beginning of the year. He writes that at the time, perhaps the most egregious offender was Juno, the giant "free" ISP: In a struggle to survive, it inserted a stealth amendment to its online user agreement that said, in essence, that Juno could install code onto your PC as part of routine software updates; this new software would allow Juno to take over your PC's spare CPU cycles: Juno would make your PC a slave in Juno's distributed network and sell your CPU cycles to other companies. You, the end user, had no control over what Juno's software was or what it did; you had no claim to any benefits or profits Juno realized from using your PC; and if Juno's use of your PC, CPU or bandwidth caused you extra costs or problems-tough.
The catch was that you had actually to read the online agreement to know all this. Existing Juno customers who just kept using Juno the way they always had were automatically bound by the new agreement, even if they never saw it. New users who didn't read the fine print likewise were automatically included in Juno's scheme. You can read the full story at http://www.byte.com/documents/s=571/byt20010 222s0004/.)
FIREWALL. A firewall is a dedicated piece of hardware (sometimes a PC) with special software and other features that provide security features between a PC on a network and the outside world. Firewalls can filter potentially harmful communications as well as prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to a private network. There is also firewall software that can be installed on a home PC to provide similar protection. http://two.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=eCBX0CRbF70Eq0ecq0AZ.
For more info on the general area of security problems and to find the facts on firewalls and compare other security solutions, go to http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink? 151259:27503412.
ZONEALARM 2.6 is the leading choice among firewalls. For the second year running, ZoneAlarm walked away with CNET's Editors' Choice. This powerful personal firewall effectively blocks the ports that hackers can use to gain entry to your PC. It continually monitors your Internet activity and can notify you when an intruder attempts to connect to your computer or when a program on your hard drive tries to access the Internet. Best of all, ZoneAlarm is easy to configure and it's free. You can't beat that.
FREE OFFICE SUITE! That's exactly what 602 PRO PC SUITE is.... fast, compatible, and free. What more could you ask for? The new version, 2001, of the free alternative to Microsoftr Office has it all! The suite is composed of four full-featured applications: a word processor, spreadsheet, graphics editor and digital photo organizer, all compatible with Microsoft Office products. Get it now at http://www.software602.com/products/pcs This tip may save you more than 6 times your cost of membership in SPCUG.
HELP!! Got a problem that you can't solve on the manufacturer's support pages? Here are some free resources you can use: protonic.com, techguy.org, pcmech.com, pwwebopedia.com
PC-CILLIN E-MAIL PROBLEMS. Some people who use PC-Cillin and Outlook Express occasionally have a problem retrieving their e-mail because of changes made by PC-Cillin's pop3-scan to the server settings under Outlook Expresses Tools/Accounts menu. It is an easy problem to solve. If you are experiencing it, right-click the PC-Cillin icon in your system tray and uncheck "pop3 scan." It will not degrade your protection. You must then go into your tools menu/accounts/ server menu and change your settings back to their original. It's much easier than it sounds! If you have a problem handling it, call me and I will walk you through it. You can also can all your ISP's tech support and they will help you do it. Trend Micro indicates that they are aware of the problem and are working on it.
OUT WITH THE BAD. Here are some more good anti-hacker, anti-spyware tools including our standby favorites you are already aware of. You can find them at zdnet.com/downloads:
SpyBlocker will disable the ad modules in spyware, and it also kills their ability to track what you do on the Net. It will even let you control the way that Web sites track your activity as well. By the way, if you have Windows 2000, be careful before installing this program and read the setup instructions carefully. Some users have reported problems using the program with Windows 2000. (Shareware/Win95-98-NT).
Our favorite is AD-Aware, but if it doesn't suit you, you might want to give this one a try.
Anonymity 4 Proxy foils Web snoopers by letting you surf the Web with absolute anonymity-no site will know who you are. It cloaks your identity, blocks cookies, and does even more to keep your surfing private. Shareware/Win95-98-NT)
Sygate Personal Firewall is a great tool for warding off hackers-it makes your PC invisible to them and will also protect against evil Trojan horse viruses like Back Orifice. (Free/Win95-98-NT) ZoneAlarm is still my favorite firewall, but you might want to give Sygate a shot too. (Free/Win95-98-NT). Sygate is now included in the latest version of Ontrack's System Suite utility.
TEST YOUR FIREWALL. Every once in a while you need to test your firewall to make sure it's doing the right job. Do this by going to the Gibson Research site at grc.com and click on the free test, "Shields Up." Follow this by clicking on "Probe My Ports."
These two tests will analyze the effectiveness of your firewall.
Without a firewall, your computer is wide open to hackers every time you fetch your e-mail or are on the Net. Broadband users like cable or DSL subscribers are ALWAYS on the Net whenever their computer is on, and have a most urgent need for a firewall! FREE E-MAIL SERVICE. Here are five of the best of the sites that offer free e-mail service. Some have occasional advertising thrown in. http://one.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=eCaY0DYSKQ0k0vGF0AM
MEMORY PRICES are currently the lowest they have ever been in our memory. 128MB is entry level today. I recommend 256. Additional memory is a prime factor in making your computer run faster and more efficiently.
WINDOW WASHER-OUR FAVORITE. Rid your computer of unwanted and unnecessary files with this virtual vaccum cleaner. You can use Window Washer to clear your browser's cache, cookies, and history manually, or even automatically at set intervals. Version 4.0 features an improved interface, additional plug-ins, and enhanced compatibility and cleaning functionality for all latest browsers, including Netscape 6, MSN Explorer 6, and AOL 6.0. webroot.com, or http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?146606:27503412 UNINSTALLING SOFTWARE has never been an easy job if done properly. Most often, all kinds of bits and pieces of the installed software remain behind to interfere with and clog up your system. Here are 3 downloads you may want to look at that monitor what you install, what changes take place afterward, and what needs to be removed to clean it all up properly:
1. Ashampoo Uninstaller 2000 watches your system when you install software and keeps track of what's being done.
When you uninstall a program, it makes sure that a complete removal is done, including any junk files and stray Windows Registry entries. (Shareware/Win95-98-NT)
2. Uninstall Manager also monitors your system so it can do clean uninstalls. It will even find any DLLS that have been changed and let you restore your originals. The program will also clean out your browser's cache for you. (Shareware/Win95-98-NT)
3. PC Magazine's InCtrl5 is one of the most popular PC Magazine utilities of all time. It keeps a complete record of what a piece of software does when it installs, and will even track changes to AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files. (Free/Win95-98-NT) IRFANVIEW 3.51. When one of the best image viewer/editors is free, what more can you ask for? You can get the latest version of IRFANVIEW at http://www.irfanview.com. It's my favorite. Try it...you'll like it.
TASKBAR TIPS. While you're working in Windows, you'll often find it necessary to right- or left-click on the taskbar. And sometimes it's hard to find a clear spot if you have a bunch of applications running. Rather than closing down some applications, place your mouse on the very top of the taskbar until it becomes a double arrow. Now drag it up until you have enough space. Now click and do what you need, then repeat the above process, except drag the taskbar down. Be careful not to drag it too far down - it will disappear. If it does, see next......
LOCATE A VANISHING TASK BAR! One dangerous drawback to resizing the task bar is that sometimes the cursor can take the task bar SO low, that even trying to grab it with the mouse at the bottom of the screen will not work. So, here is a way to use the keyboard to get your taskbar back should this ever happen to you.
First, press Ctrl and Esc at the same time. The Program menu should pop up. Now, press Esc and the Program menu will disappear, but the Taskbar will still be selected, though not visible. Now, press Alt and Spacebar. This will bring up a small menu, from which you will choose Size. Your mouse cursor should change to an arrow. Do not click anything. Using your keypad arrows, press the up arrow. Arising from the depths to which it disappeared comes the taskbar. When you get it back where you want it, click on it.
TRACK YOUR HACKER. Zone Alarm and other firewalls have provisions for logging the hack attempts you receive on your computer each day. The logged info will provide the necessary data for tracing the hack if you are interested. To do the tracing, you need some small freeware/shareware apps you can get from zdnet.com/downloads, such as:
- NeoTrace Pro will trace the route your connection takes to any Internet site, so that you can check out the state of the network. It'll help you determine whether particular sites are having problems, or if the problem is somewhere in between you and the site. (Shareware/Win95-98-NT)
- CyberKit is an excellent free suite of tools that includes Finger, Traceroute, and Whois queries, and will also automatically keep your Internet connection alive to an ISP even if your computer is idle. (Free/Win95-98-NT)
- Port Detective will help you probe your own PC and your ISP to check on vital details of your Internet connection. It will tell you what ports are available on your PC for services like hosting Web and mail servers, and can also aid in discovering holes in your firewall. (Free/Win95-98-NT)
OFFLINE EXPLORER is a handy shareware Internet tool, you can download entire Web sites and view them when you're not online. You can schedule downloads for a specific time and date, import your browser favorites or bookmarks, and use keyword filters. Offline Explorer supports cookies, FTP, Macromedia Flash files, and more.
http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?147447:27503412
WHERE ARE YOU? That's a question that can be easily answered today by a GPS (global positioning satellite) device combined with mapping software available from DeLorme (www.delorme.com).
To map a route between any two places in the U.S., go to mapquest.com
HOW DO YOU GET THERE? To map a route between any two places in the U.S., go to mapquest.com. Enter your start and destination points, et voila....a map with instructions you can print will appear.
CELL PHONE PRIVACY literally does not exist. Not only are there receivers readily available that can listen in on your conversations, now a device exists that can use GPS to track exactly where you are. You can gab, but you can't hide!
ACCELERATE 2K2 is a neat shareware utility that speeds up your Internet connection by allowing you to optimize your Windows networking and modem settings. It increases the efficiency of data transfer and the overall speed of your Internet connection. An optimization wizard guides you through the process and recommends appropriate changes. You can choose to use the recommended settings, or adjust the settings manually. It can also restore the Windows default setting. Version 2.0 improves speed optimization routes, improved GUI, has the ability to display user IP address and computer name in taskbar, and is now compatible with Windows ME/2000/NT.
This is a 15-day trial. That's the nice thing about shareware- you can try before you buy. Registration costs $19.95. From the makers of that great Windows cleanup utility, Windows Washer. webroot.com
TITANIUM CHECKBOOK is freeware that will manage and reconcile your savings, checking and credit card account, generate reports, and offers several other useful features. http://www.tbgtom.com/
UPGRADE VS. UPDATE. For the benefit of our novices who confuse the terms, an update is a revision of the software you own. It is free and most often available at the software publisher's Website. An upgrade is a major revision, usually a new version of software you may or may not already have, and commonly is NOT free. If you already own the original registered version, the software publisher will often provide the upgrade at a lesser cost.
After completing any upgrade or update to your system, even if it is not required, always shut down your computer, turn it off, then restart your machine. This process is called a "Cold Boot" and forces all components in your system to reset. This is the best way to make sure that the changes you made are going to work.
RAW POWER. Intel's 64 bit processing chip under the code name of McKinley is due in the first half of '02. It is the successor to the Itanium chip and will significantly increase the power of new computers. At the outset, you can expect it to be very expensive, and it will take some time for software applications to be written for its usage. It is, however, the wave of the near future and will constitute the architecture of coming new PC's.
ZONE ALARM 3. The latest version of everyman's favorite firewall is currently or will soon be available and includes an easier-to-understand "home page"-based user interface. It does a better job of explaining the individual alerts presented to the user, including a "more info" button that links to the company's Web site for detailed explanations and technical information.
The new release also hardens the firewall. One feature "fingerprints" programs that access the Internet, as well as individual program files, to ensure a trusted application cannot be corrupted by a rogue DLL installed onto the machine. The 3.0 Pro version includes privacy protection, cookie control, and enhanced network support. and a new, threshold-based ad-blocker. It is also WinXP compatible.
Zone Alarm is recognized by every rating source as the best and most effective firewall out there. Every time you are online (that's ALL the time for cable and DSL users) you are fair game for hackers. Zone Alarm is the most effective tool available to keep these creeps and the damage they do out of your computer. on top of all that, it's free to home users. What more can you ask for?
ZONE ALARM LOG MANAGEMENT. Zone Alarm has a configuration setting which will log all intrusion attempts in a text file you can read at C:\Windows\Internet Logs\ZALog.txt. You can place a shortcut to this file on your desktop and refer to it anytime you want to see who or what has been attempting to access your computer from the outside. A shareware program like Neotrace (commonly available at all shareware sites) will permit you to trace the attacker.
Since hacks are extremely common (I often get more than 100 a day), ZALog.txt will soon become so full that you may not be able to open it to read. When this happens, go into Windows Explorer and delete ZALog.txt. When you reboot, the file, although now empty, will reappear once again and you will be able to read newly logged text. To avoid overfilling, go into the file on a regular basis, select older entries and delete them.
DOWNLOADING GUIDE. If you feel a little shaky about the processing of downloading, you will find all you need to know at http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?123408:27503412
SURFING STEROIDS. Here's some freeware that will put some pep in your step as you surf the Net. You'll find them at zdnet.com/downloads:
- NetSonic takes a clever approach to speeding up your Web browsing. It stores frequently visited Web sites in its cache, and then delivers them to you locally for faster surfing. It will also check to see whether the site has changed, and update the page for you. (Free/Win95-98-NT)
- SpeedNet offers a suite of tools for speeding up your Internet experience. It includes a download accelerator that speeds up downloads, tweaks your internal settings to speed up general Net access, and several other utilities. (Free/Win95-98-NT)
3. Web Optimizer 3000 changes network settings in your Registry, leading to a faster connection. You can restore your original settings in a single click if you want. (Free/Win95-98-NT)
STAY "IN CONTROL." InCtrl is now up to version 5 and runs under Win9x, ME, NT4 and Win2K. It's available at<http://www. pcmag.com/article/0,2997,s%253D1478 %2526a%253D4592,00.asp>. It's a handy freeware application that helps you manually undo changes to your system when software doesn't or can't completely uninstall itself. You use InCtrl to take a "snapshot" of your system settings before and after you install new software, and then can use the tool to see exactly what changed. In this way, it's similar to tools like Norton's "Registry Tracker," except that InCtrl is free.
TRACK 'EM DOWN! For the ultimate in finding and tracking down hackers and other invaders, try OstroSoft Internet Tools. If you're looking for connection tools, you've come to the right place. This toolkit packs a domain scanner, port scanner, Ping and traceroute features, host address-to-name and name-to-address resolution, detailed output, Whois and Ph clients, and a finger utility http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?151677:27503412. ANNOYING SOFTWARE. CNET recently exposed some very annoying installation add-ons. Don't you just hate it when new software installs a ton of extra icons, additional software, or actual spyware? CNET has dubbed such software "parasiteware." Check out their list of the top installation offenders and find some tips for getting yourself out of an install jam. Get the inside scoop by going to http://one.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=eCez0DYSKQ0k0vZT0AW.
WINDOWS XP FORUM. Want to know what other users are saying about Windows XP? You can find out by going to http://one.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin1/flo?y=eCez0DYSKQ0k0dTm0AX.
PRIVACY RESTORED. Last year we began presenting to you an ongoing series of articles concerning computer security. From the many comments and questions we continue to receive from you, it appears to be a topic very much on the minds of users...and rightfully so! To venture on to the Internet, to receive and send e-mail makes you subject to an endless variety of viruses, worms, trojan horses, hackers, spyware, cookies and similar intrusions.
We have offered you some solid software/shareware advice over time to protect yourself from these offenders. An area that perhaps we have not covered to-date is the invasion of your privacy by anyone having direct access to your computer. It could be a repair person, fellow worker, friend, or perhaps even a member of your family. If you have data on your computer that is personal, private, or sensitive to which you wish to restrict access, you can readily do so by making such data visible only to you or others you specifically permit. Starting this month and over the next two issues, we will introduce you to some excellent shareware applications that will do exactly that.
HIDE FOLDERS PRO 2.0...a security shareware gem!
A few months ago we defined "sweetheart software," a term we like to award to unusually outstanding applications. To refresh your memory, in order to qualify for this honor, software has to exhibit some truly exceptional qualities:
- It must do a specific job extraordinarily well.
- It must be outstandingly easy to use, so much so that a rank novice would have no problem with it.
- Configuring and running the program should be the essence of simplicity and fully intuitive.
- It should contain a help file with complete and effortless instructions.
- It should be reasonable and more than worth its cost.
Here's a program that fits easily into our rare "sweetheart software" award category. The name is HIDE FOLDERS, available at www.fspro.net, and here is what it will do for you. Most everyone has files or folders on their computer that they do not want to share with others. This might include investments, financial information. tax information, passwords, personal letters and memos, credit card info, social security and other serial numbers, and a host of other private and personal data.
The best way to protect your personal information is to make the folders in which they reside visible and available ONLY to you. HIDE FOLDERS does exactly that, and it does it so easily and well that it receives our rare, "sweetheart software" title. After a quick and easy download and installation from www.fspro.net, you can select up to 16 folders of your choice to hide. They will be invisible and unavailable until you click on the HIDE FOLDERS icon or use the configurable hot-key choice you select, and click the then visible "hide-unhide" button. When you subsequently close HIDE FOLDERS, your folders will become hidden and inaccessible once again. Nothing could be easier and more effective. You additionally have the option of password protecting the procedure so that you are the only one with access to it.
The person or persons that developed this stroke of genius software deserve a special award. To trump its winning hand, HIDE FOLDERS is available as freeware that will protect only 2 folders. The HIDE FOLDERS PRO shareware version is only $19.95, will protect up to 16 folders, permit password protection, and suppress banner ads. It's more than worth every nickle.
HIDE FOLDERS PRO has our complete and unreserved recommendation. You can get it at www.fspro.net. While you are there, look over the several other excellent and innovative security programs offered by fspro. You will like what you see! :
Return to Herb Goldstein's Index
Copyright 2001. This article is from the December 2001 issue of the Sarasota PC Monitor, the official monthly publication of the Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc., P.O. Box 15889, Sarasota, FL 34277-1889. Permission to reprint is granted only to other non-profit computer user groups, provided proper credit is given to the author and our publication. We would appreciate receiving a copy of the publication the reprint appears in, please send to above address, Attn: Editor. For further information about our group, email: admin@spcug.org/ Web: http://www.spcug.org/
The Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc. has 1,300+ members and was established in 1982. We are members of the Assoc. of PC User Groups (APCUG), the Florida Assoc. of PC Users Groups, Inc., and we are members of the America Online Ambassador Program.
See http://www.spcug.org for all reviews from the Sarasota PC Monitor, go to the Newsletter Section.