Girl Geekette

Winsock is a term that relates to interfacing programs to Windows Sockets API (Application Programming Interface). Put simply, it is a way for programs like FTP/Telnet/Proxies and even web browsers to interface with the TCP/IP protocol to allow a computer on a network or the internet.

Like other files, Winsocks can become corrupt. The files can be "hijacked" or altered by other programs as well. Lately, it seems that adware and spyware are also a common link to Winsock problems. Some adware and spyware can use a proxy to work and when/if the program is uninstalled, the Winsock my cease to work, may not work correctly, and cause many other numerous problems on a computer trying to access the internet.

What is the WBEM?

Background: Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) is an implementation of Distributed Management Task Force’s (DMTF) Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM).

WBEM is a set of open, industry-defined specifications that unify and extend the management of enterprise-computing environment.

The central part of WMI is the CIMOM (Common Interface Model Object Manager) which is an interface to the data container itself - the Common Information Model - better known as the CIM.

With ought WMI, services, drivers, and applications will return information as data or events into the CIM. This data can then be extracted and analyzed by system managers. This information will provide the managers with better ways to manage, troubleshoot and otherwie keep systems in the best condition. WEBMTEST.EXE is an example of a program to extract this information.

See Microsoft’s Tech net for more information about this subject.

If you have ever moved a file and had it disable any shortcuts referring to it, then you might have noticed that Windows 2000 and Windows XP will search the HDD to find the file again and correct the shortcut. This can be desiabled in the registry using this DWORD:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER Windows ]
NoResolveTrack = 1

Anyone who has ever installed a program (whether from a CD or from a file that was downloaded), or anyone who has ever gone to a website has a chance of having Spyware and Adware on their computer. Spyware and Adware is not selective. It will function on any computer.

If that computer has an internet connection, it can use that connection to report data to its company. It can display advertisements on any computer.

People who run Windows and have a broadband connection are at the highest risk. Dial up users may also be affected, as well as notice changes in internet connection speed slowing down quicker than broadband users (Since there is not as high of an internet connection speed for Dial up users, they seem to notices even quicker if their speed has dropped drastically).