ISP password changes?

[Marsha]

I bought a computer at an estate sale with XP. I have noticed that when I
go to Internet Explorer, Tools, Internet Options, Connections, highlight my
ISP, Settings, Password....this is where I noticed something unusual. My
password to my ISP has only 7 letters, the password listed has several more
little stars than 7. Is this normal for XP or can anyone enlighten me about
this? I can change the password, leave all open windows, & go back in & the
password has change to more little stars. Any help appreciated. The only
ISP listed is the one I am suppose to use. I am afraid it is changing my
password & dialing up another ISP. Is this possible or am I just being
overly concerned? This has never happened in my W98 computer.
Also, Kazaa is in the programs listing & not in add/remove, how do I delete
this?
Thanks,
Marsha

[Chris S.]

Very normal. It's to prevent anyone looking over your
shoulder when you type your PW to find out the
number of characters in your PW!

Chris

"Marsha" > wrote in message
...
> I bought a computer at an estate sale with XP. I have noticed that when I
> go to Internet Explorer, Tools, Internet Options, Connections, highlight
my
> ISP, Settings, Password....this is where I noticed something unusual. My
> password to my ISP has only 7 letters, the password listed has several
more
> little stars than 7. Is this normal for XP or can anyone enlighten me
about
> this? I can change the password, leave all open windows, & go back in &
the
> password has change to more little stars. Any help appreciated. The only
> ISP listed is the one I am suppose to use. I am afraid it is changing my
> password & dialing up another ISP. Is this possible or am I just being
> overly concerned? This has never happened in my W98 computer.
> Also, Kazaa is in the programs listing & not in add/remove, how do I
delete
> this?
> Thanks,
> Marsha
>
>


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[R. C. White]

Hi, Marsha.

As Chris says, this is normal. OE6 "floods" the password field with
asterisks or other characters to disguise the true length of your password.
Now that you've told me your password has 7 letters, I don't have to try to
millions of 5-letter or 9-letter possibilities and I can crack your password
much more quickly.

When you see the long string of asterisks, just press Enter. Of course, you
may have made an error last time you typed it in, so you may have to type it
carefully just once more.

As to how to get rid of Kazaa? I don't know, I've never tried it because it
scares me. We've seen many horror stories from users who have gotten "more
than they bargained for" with that program! I hope someone here can help
you get rid of it.

Was Kazaa a "legacy" program that was on the computer when you bought it?
What other legacy stuff is there? It probably would be a good idea for you
to boot from the WinXP CD-ROM and clean install WinXP all over again. Yes,
it would take half a day, because you'd need to visit Windows Update as soon
as you got your firewall and antivirus working again and got back online to
be sure you have all the security fixes, including the July one that
protects us from the Blaster worm. But it would be time well invested for
the assurance that you would not have any other skeletons left in the closet
from your computer's former life. First, of course, make sure you have the
original media so that you can reinstall any other software that you bought
with the computer.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP

"Marsha" > wrote in message
...
> I bought a computer at an estate sale with XP. I have noticed that when I
> go to Internet Explorer, Tools, Internet Options, Connections, highlight
my
> ISP, Settings, Password....this is where I noticed something unusual. My
> password to my ISP has only 7 letters, the password listed has several mor
e
> little stars than 7. Is this normal for XP or can anyone enlighten me
about
> this? I can change the password, leave all open windows, & go back in &
the
> password has change to more little stars. Any help appreciated. The only
> ISP listed is the one I am suppose to use. I am afraid it is changing my
> password & dialing up another ISP. Is this possible or am I just being
> overly concerned? This has never happened in my W98 computer.
> Also, Kazaa is in the programs listing & not in add/remove, how do I
delete
> this?
> Thanks,
> Marsha