Tech+Tools+and+Resources

=Technology Tools and Resources (Help for Tech Coordinators)=

• **CoSN’s Value of Investment** http://www.edtechvoi.org/ Web Based all platforms

technology leaders are under increasing pressure to justify current and proposed technology expenditures. Value of Investment (VOI) is a CoSN project to help schools to better understand the costs and benefits of proposed technology related projects. Much as corporations use Return on Investment (ROI) to evaluate the worth of these projects, schools should perform a similar evaluation. However, there is a fundamental difference between K-12 and business goals: a business exists to make money; business technology projects are in place to increase top line revenue and/or decrease overall costs. The business of schools is education; schools need to understand their educational goals and how investments in technology will support them.

Windows or Multiplatform
• **WinPatrol 2007** http://www.winpatrol.com/ Windows 95 - Windows Vista

Kill off unwanted background programs like worms, adware, and spyware. Every house needs a watchdog to warn you when something nasty is at the front door. And your PC is no different: it needs something that is ever-vigilant, keeping an eye on the programs running on your PC and making plenty of noise when something seems out of place. WinPatrol does this guard job, keeping tabs on programs running on your PC (including the hidden ones) and alerting you if a program tries to install something unexpected, sets itself to run on startup, change your home page or install something it shouldn't.

http://www.siteadvisor.com/ Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows XP
 * • McAfee SiteAdvisor**

This plug-in performs a little background check on the Web sites you visit. Get a warning icon next to potentially dangerous results from popular search engines, along with an icon in your status bar that shows the risks and annoyances associated with the page you're viewing.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/processesandthreads/processexplorer.mspx Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista
 * • Process Explorer**

Find out what those mysterious processes listed in Task Manager are really up to.

Windows Task Manager tells you what applications and processes are running, but some process names aren't very clear to the casual reader. Process Explorer helps you get to the bottom of things by digging down to see which application started a process and which resources that app is currently using. This excavation can be a big help when you're trying to figure out which background processes you dare shut down. It can even help sniff out spyware, too.

http://www.virustotal.com/ A service that analyzes suspicious files and facilitates the quick detection of viruses, worms, trojans, and all kinds of malware detected by antivirus engines. Specs: • Free, independent service • Use of multiple antivirus engines • Real-time automatic updates of virus signatures • Detailed results from each antivirus engine • Real time global statistics
 * • VirusTotal**

• Spy Catcher Express http://www.tenebril.com/consumer/spyware/spycatcher-express.php Windows SpyCatcher Express protects all Web surfers by providing the safest and most advanced antispyware solution available as a free service. SpyCatcher Express protects against next-generation, mutating spyware and puts users back in control of their PCs. SpyCatcher Express enables even novice PC users to remove and block the most insidious spyware automatically, protecting user privacy and preserving PC performance.

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,64948-order,1-page,1/description.html#
 * • a-Squared HiJackFree**

Operating Systems: Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows XP A free way to scan your system and kill malware, particularly good for advanced users. No matter how much anti-spyware protection you've got on your PC, it's not enough. Spyware is notorious for being able to slip through the cracks of anti-malware software, and you're best off if you have more than one anti-malware tool on your PC. That's where this freebie comes in. Use it as a backup to your main anti-spyware program for extra protection. It doesn?t offer "live" protection like some other programs. Instead, use it to examine your system, to see if it's been infected, then kill the malware. It's a surprisingly powerful tool, and with far more features than we can cover here.

But here are the basics: Run it and click the Online Analysis button, and it will check your system for malware, and issue a report online. If it finds any nasties, it will tell you. You can then use the program to delete the malware.

There's plenty more here as well, including tools for viewing what programs are using your TCP ports, and examining programs that run on startup. For a free program, it's surprisingly powerful.

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,64950-order,1-page,1/description.html Windows Vista
 * • VistaFirewallControl**

If you want true outbound firewall protection for your 32-bit Vista PC, use this to help manage Vista's built-in firewall.

Microsoft has been touting the new Windows Firewall in Windows Vista, which it says for the first time includes an outbound filter as well as an inbound filter. Outbound filters are important, because if you've been infected with a Trojan or similar software, it makes an outbound connection without your knowledge, letting someone else take control of your PC. Some malware can also turn your PC into a spam-spewing robot, sending out email without your knowledge. Unfortunately, the outbound filter in Windows Vista is, in essence, turned off by default. And as a practical matter, it's impossible to manually configure it to block malware making outbound connections. That's where the free Vista Firewall Control comes in. Install it, and whenever an application tries to access the Internet, a screen pops up, with the application name, the publisher, and similar information, as well its path and file name. You can enable or disable inbound or outbound connections it tries to make, either permanently, or just this one time. If you're not sure if the program is malware or not, go to www.processlibrary.com and do a search for the file name, for details. All in all, Vista Firewall Control is a great way to make sure your PC isn't making unwanted outbound connections.

Macintosh
http://www.macosxhints.com/ Macintosh
 * • Mac OSX Hints**

This is a searchable web page with forums, links, tutorials and RSS feeds for all things Mac.

http://www.pure-mac.com/downloads/clamxavdl.html Macintosh
 * • ClamXav 1.0.8e912**

Updated August 2007 ClamXav is a free virus checker for Mac OS X.

http://macscan.securemac.com/ Macintosh Shareware Program $25
 * • MacScan 2.4.1**

MacScan is designed to detect, isolate and remove spyware, keystroke loggers, trojan horses, and bring awareness to remote administration applications which could have been maliciously or inadvertently installed on your Macintosh. MacScan is available for Mac OS X containing the latest definitions for spyware. With Internet privacy in mind MacScan has added a blacklisted cookie scanner. This feature maintains a list of known tracking cookies, and when run, removes them from web browsers in which they are found. No more losing saved usernames and passwords to websites when you want to clean your cookies.

http://www.edenwaith.com/products/permanent%20eraser/ Macintosh
 * • Permanent Eraser 2.3.2 :: Securely erase your files**

When you normally delete your files in Mac OS X, the operating system is only forgetting where those particular files are placed, while the data still physically remains on the drive. Beginning with Mac OS 10.3, Apple enhanced its security by introducing the Secure Empty Trash feature, which follows the U.S. DoD pattern of overwriting data seven times.

Permanent Eraser provides an even stronger level of security by implementing the Gutmann Method. This utility overwrites your data thirty-five times, scrambles the original file name, and truncates the file size to nothing before Permanent Eraser finally unlinks it from the system. Once your data has been erased, it can no longer be read through traditional means.

Permanent Eraser is free of charge, and the source code is also provided for educational purposes.

http://www.app4mac.com/ Choose Freeware from the drop down menus RapidoMap requires Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger.
 * • app4mac**

RapidioWrite: Anytime you enter text in any application by typing it at the keyboard, RapidoWrite can help you do it faster and more accurately!

RapidoStart is a Free application designed to quickly launch applications, open documents, or access folders. When there is not enough space in the Apple Dock, you can use RapidoStartto stock an endless number of items! RapidoStart is also more discreet. It can be used in conjunction with the Apple Dock or as its replacement.

RapidoSMTP This FREE utility helps Mac users setup a SMTP mail server in less than a minute.

RapidoSerial is an easy to use database software that allows you to quickly build a permanent record of your applications and its related information. With RapidoSerial, you can backup important information such as serial numbers, software information, vendor information, license files and much more...

RapidoMap is the ultimate geotagging solution for Mac. It allows you to easily add your photos and home videos at the location where they were taken. Using high resolution satellite maps, easy to use search tools, and a simple, integrated interface, RapidoMap makes it easy and fun to manage and present your media or just localize your contacts.

http://www.titanium.free.fr/pgs/english.html
 * • Titanium Software Applications for the Mac OS X**

Free utilities developed for the Mac OS. The site originates in France but all of the information is in English.