Tech Tips HAS MOVED
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Triona's Tech Tips has MOVED to a new site. Please visit http://www.guidryconsulting.com/techtips for the latest computer news and tips. You can also subscribe to the Tech Tips email list. This site is no longer updated and remains only for archival purposes. All articles can be found on the new site.
See you at the new location!
Posted byTriona Guidry at 4:44 PM 0 comments
Labels: alerts, computer help
More Scareware On Major News Sites
Monday, September 14, 2009
More reports are coming in of scareware coming from major news sites including The New York Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
As I mentioned in my previous alert about scareware via Newsweek, it's important to note that these scams can happen anywhere, anytime, even on the most reliable of sites. Please be careful, and bear in mind my recommendations on how to protect yourself from scareware.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 2:31 PM 0 comments
Labels: alerts, antivirus, beginners, computer classes, Internet, mac, malware, pc, scareware, spyware, windows
First Snow Leopard Update Plus Other Mac Security Updates
Friday, September 11, 2009
Apple has released the first update for Snow Leopard, Mac OS X 10.6.1, due to erroneously including an old and vulnerable version of Flash in the original release. This update also includes a few additional fixes.
Even if you're not running Snow Leopard yet, you'll want to use Software Updates under the Apple menu to get your copy of the latest Security Updates for Mac OS X 10.4.11 and 10.5.8.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 5:46 AM 0 comments
Labels: alerts, apple, flash, mac, security
Newsweek And Other Legit Sites May Contain Scareware
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
This article caught my attention recently, concerning a scareware scam that is being distributed via Newsweek's web site. I mention this one in particular because it's an example of how bad links sometimes come from good sites.
Scareware is when you receive a popup that insists there's something wrong with your computer. It's a scam to try to get you to click on a link, thus infecting your computer with viruses and possibly also ripping off your credit card. Don't expect your antivirus software to catch this stuff, it often sneaks through. I strongly encourage you to protect yourself through a combination of good computer security, free web site ratings software like McAfee SiteAdvisor or LinkExtend for Firefox, and plain old common sense.
Here are some of my previous articles which may help you out in this situation:
- How To Spot Bad Web Links
- Antivirus 2010: A New Low In Fake Antivirus
- Phony Web Pop-ups
- How To Protect From Cybercrime
Posted byTriona Guidry at 3:14 PM 0 comments
Labels: alerts, antivirus, beginners, computer classes, Internet, mac, malware, pc, scareware, spyware, windows
What I'm Doing With Twitter And Tech Tips
Thursday, August 27, 2009
I thought I'd take a moment to explain to my regular readers how I'm using Twitter in relation to Tech Tips.
Most of you already know that I offer Tech Tips in two formats. There is the email version, where I publish my newsletter on the 15th of the month and also provide notification of new blog entries as they become available. My blog is where I add tidbits pertinent to the computer needs of small businesses and consumers.
Some of you may not know that I am a freelance writer as well as a computer consultant. To that end, my Twitter account contains a little of both. In addition to providing computer news and links to relevant articles, I will also be including updates about freelancing, writing, Web 2.0 and my primary genres, science fiction and fantasy.
If you're interested, come join me on Twitter. If you prefer your Tech Tips straight up, you may wish to stick with my blog and email list. Don't forget that email subscribers receive bonus product reviews and other information. As always it's completely FREE, and your email address will never be sold to third parties. You can also find my Twitter updates (tweets) in the upper right-hand corner of the Tech Tips blog.
And if you're curious about Twitter but not sure how to start, come to my Social Networking: Marketing Your Business Online class on September 24th. You're always welcome to follow me on Twitter to get your feet wet. I promise to give you a stress-free introduction to the world of social networking.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 2:58 PM 0 comments
Labels: alerts, beginners, computer classes, consumers, Internet, small business, twitter
New Office 2008 For Mac Update Fixes Glitch
Friday, August 7, 2009
To update Wednesday's post, Microsoft has released a new Office 2008 For Mac update which fixes a glitch that prevented users from opening some Office 2007 For Windows (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx) documents. The new update is version 12.2.1 and can be obtained here.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 8:26 AM 0 comments
Labels: alerts, apple, mac, microsoft office
Mac OS X 10.5.8 And Office 2008 For Mac Service Pack 2
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Two major Macintosh updates of note. The first is that Apple has released the latest update for Leopard, Mac OS X 10.5.8, along with a slew of security updates for Leopard and other versions of the Mac OS. As always it's a good idea to back up your system before applying these updates. You will find them via Software Updates in your Apple Menu.
On a similar note, Microsoft has released an update for Office 2008 for Mac, and with this one I have to urge caution. Service Pack 2 (version 12.2.0) breaks compatibility with Word 2007 for Windows (.docx) files. You'll find the advisory and workarounds here. If you require the ability to open .docx files I recommend you hold off on this update until the problems are fixed.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 5:03 PM 0 comments
Labels: alerts, apple, mac, microsoft office, security
AVG Antivirus Mistakenly Marks iTunes As Malware
Monday, July 27, 2009
A recent update for the Windows-based AVG antivirus program surprised users when it mistakenly identified several components of iTunes as a malware trojan called Small.BOG. This is called a false positive, when security software quarantines legitimate software.
If you run into this problem, the fix is to update AVG, then update iTunes. This technical bulletin from AVG provides more details.
Don't forget to subscribe to Tech Tips (free!) for the latest computer news plus bonus tips, tricks and product reviews.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 2:42 PM 0 comments
Labels: alerts, antivirus, itunes, malware, pc, spyware, viruses, windows
Emergency Microsoft Patches Issued Tomorrow
Microsoft is releasing a pair of out-of-sequence security patches tomorrow, to fix vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer and Visual Studio. It's unusual for Microsoft to stray from their regular Patch Tuesday cycle (the second Tuesday of the month). While the Visual Studio patch will affect a small percentage of computers, the Internet Explorer patch applies to any computer running Windows.
To make sure you get these updates, either turn Automatic Updates on (bearing in mind the pros and cons of doing so) or visit update.microsoft.com to check for these latest patches.
Software patches (also called updates) are fixes for bugs that could allow malicious software to enter your computer. By staying current on these patches, you improve your computer's defense.
Don't forget to subscribe to Tech Tips (free!) for the latest computer news plus bonus tips, tricks and product reviews.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 8:28 AM 0 comments
Labels: alerts, antivirus, consumers, emergency, Internet, internet explorer, malware, pc, security, small business, spyware, viruses, web, windows
Protect Yourself From Zombie Computers
Thursday, July 9, 2009
There's a lot of talk in the news about the recent cyber attacks on U.S. and South Korean servers. Computers in both countries were disrupted through what are called "denial of service" attacks, when hackers use infected computers called zombies to slow or crash target servers. Zombie computers are often owned by small businesses or consumers who are completely unaware they are infected. I've mentioned zombie computers before (here and here) but it's important to reiterate how you can protect yourself and others.
Your best protection is prevention. Be sure to run a reliable antivirus program like those below (beware of the fakes!) as well as anti-spyware software. Security suites offer a way to combine those protections with a firewall to block unwanted network probes. Regular software updates are also key to keeping your computer protected. You can learn more about these techniques in my article on cybercrime. I am teaching a class on How To Protect Yourself From Cybercrime on Monday July 20th from 9:30am-11:30am in Cary, Illinois (click here for more details and registration information).
Antivirus software for PCs:
- Trend Micro
- AVG (free)
- Avast (free)
- McAfee
- (But not Norton; here's why.)
- Malwarebytes (free)
- AdAware (free)
- Spybot (free)
For bonus tips, tricks, and other computer help, subscribe to the free email version of Tech Tips.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 11:01 AM 0 comments
Labels: alerts, antivirus, consumers, cybercrime, firewalls, Internet, mac, malware, security, small business, spyware, viruses, windows
Securing Gmail
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Gmail, Google's email service, has some vulnerabilities that could allow unauthorized access to your email. To beef up security, make sure you are using a secure HTTPS connection to Gmail by checking your browser's address bar. The address should begin with "https://" if you are using a secure connection. While HTTPS is not without its own vulnerabilities, it's better than naked surfing.
You can configure Gmail to always use HTTP by clicking Settings from the main Gmail window. In the General tab under Browser Connection (at the bottom), select "Always use https."
Other email services like Yahoo and Hotmail don't allow this option. Your most secure option is to download your email using a program like Mozilla Thunderbird instead of viewing it on the Web. (In my opinion Outlook and Outlook Express won't do anything to enhance your security because they have their own problems.)
Posted byTriona Guidry at 9:47 AM 0 comments
Labels: advanced users, alerts, beginners, email, security
Does Conficker Infect Macs?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Another question about Conficker I've been asked a lot lately. Short answer: no.
More specifically, not unless you are running Windows on your Mac (through Apple Boot Camp or a virtual environment like Parallels). However, I do recommend antivirus software for Macs. Click here to see my suggestions for both Mac and PC antivirus solutions, and don't forget to subscribe to Tech Tips for computer help for both Macs and PCs.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 2:42 PM 1 comments
Labels: alerts, antivirus, Internet, mac, malware, spyware, viruses
Conficker Virus April 1 Deadline
Monday, March 30, 2009
Lots of people have asked me about the Conficker virus and its April 1, 2009 deadline. The short version is, make sure you have your latest antivirus updates and Microsoft patches.
Conficker aka Downadup has been around for months (you can find my other entries about it here, here and here). Like other viruses it works by installing a core piece of itself, then downloading so-called "payloads" that enable other abilities. Hackers test variants of the virus by unleashing them on an unwitting world, in this case Conficker A, Conficker B, and Conficker C, the latest and most aggressive. On April 1st, researchers predict Conficker C will download its payload, this one possibly with far-reaching consequences. But it's hard to tell if this is media hype or real danger.
Your best protection is prevention. Even if you think you're okay, a scan with a Conficker detection tool wouldn't be amiss. And be sure to subscribe to the email version of Tech Tips for the latest computer news.
ADDENDUM: Scammers are poisoning search results, so if you try to do a web search for instructions to remove Conficker you may wind up at malicious web sites. Be sure to obtain removal tools only from legitimate sites like Microsoft's. When in doubt, type the address manually into your address bar instead of clicking on a link.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 4:08 PM 0 comments
Labels: alerts, antivirus, Internet, malware, spyware, viruses, windows
Internet Explorer 8
Thursday, March 19, 2009
You may have heard that Internet Explorer 8 has been released. What does that mean to you? Expect Microsoft to push this new version of their web browser out to you via Automatic Updates sometime in April.
IE8 offers increased security as well as new features. However, some web sites are reported not to work with the new version. That could mean anything from failing to load a page to intermittent unusual behavior. Approach upgrades with caution, and try to use an alternate browser as your primary method of surfing the Web.
Subscribe to Tech Tips to learn more about this and other computer news.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 10:24 PM 0 comments
Labels: alerts, internet explorer, pc, windows
Update Adobe Flash Player
Monday, March 2, 2009
Another day, another exploit for your computer. Today it's Adobe (formerly Macromedia) Flash Player, used by just about everyone to view video on Web pages. You may have it without realizing, as it is often automatically installed by various sites and programs.
Why is this update important? If you don't have the latest version, your computer could be attacked by viruses simply by viewing an infected Web page. "Trustworthy" sites are often infected, so your only protection is updated software, good antivirus, and a little computer security savvy.
Download the latest Flash Player today, and stay tuned to Tech Tips for the latest computer news.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 4:43 AM 0 comments
Labels: adobe, alerts, antivirus, flash, Internet, malware, security, spyware, viruses
Antivirus 2010: A New Low In Fake Antivirus
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
From the malcontents who bring us fake antivirus software comes "Antivirus 2010," a Windows scam so sneaky it puts its predecessors to shame. It looks horrifyingly realistic (see screenshots) and it goes all-out in pretending to be legit:
- Mimics Windows' own Security Center with warnings to register the fake software
- Mimics Internet Explorer errors to imply you need the fake software before you can visit web sites
- Mimics Windows startup screens to imply you can't start your computer without registering the fake software
- Creates phony errors in Windows to imply your computer is unusable without the fake software
- Pretends to find and fix problems that aren't present on your computer
- Offers a realistic-looking web site for download and registration
- Redirects your machine to fake web sites with fake reviews extolling the fake software!
Posted byTriona Guidry at 4:30 PM 0 comments
Labels: alerts, antivirus, malware, scams, scareware, spyware, viruses, windows
Update Adobe Acrobat, Again
Friday, February 20, 2009
Bugs in PDF files have always been a problem, which is why it's a good idea to use the latest version of Acrobat. Now is a good time for a reminder because a recently discovered flaw provides a new way for viruses to infect you via PDFs.
Click here to download the latest version of the Acrobat Reader software, but there's no fix for this particular flaw yet. To protect yourself in the meantime, disable JavaScript in Acrobat for Windows by selecting Edit, Preferences, JavaScript and unchecking the Enable Acrobat JavaScript box.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 4:18 PM 0 comments
Labels: acrobat, adobe, alerts, pdf, security, windows
Valentine Viruses And Phony Parking Tickets
Friday, February 13, 2009
Every holiday we get a spate of viruses, and every holiday I feel compelled to warn you about fake electronic greeting cards. Trust me, virus writers will do just about anything to get you to click on their infectious links, so ignore those pretty Valentines.
In other news, a recent ruse demonstrates how computer security bleeds into everyday life. In Grand Forks, North Dakota, miscreants went so far as to put phony parking tickets on cars. The link that purportedly takes the victim to a police web site is actually infused with malware. This is an example of social engineering, when hackers use real-world tricks to achieve digital domination. Another is the ever-popular leaving of USB flash drives in public places. Most people don't hesitate to try them on their computers, at which point hidden viruses go to work bypassing firewalls and introducing back doors into networks.
Watch out for these scams, and don't forget to subscribe to the email version of Tech Tips for the latest computer news.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 5:23 AM 2 comments
Labels: alerts, antivirus, consumers, social engineering, viruses, windows
Patch Your Printer To Prevent Data Theft
Monday, February 9, 2009
A recent vulnerability discovered in some Hewlett-Packard LaserJet printer models serves as a reminder that even your printer can be used against you.
This particular advisory concerns black and white LaserJet 2410, 2420, 2430, 4250, 4350, 9040, 9050 series, and HP Color LaserJet 4730mfp, HP Color LaserJet 9500mfp and HP 9200C Digital Sender. A bug in the administrative interface could be used to obtain any document that has been sent to the printer. Many printers today keep digital copies of what they've printed, a potential security risk for any business. To patch such vulnerabilities you need to update your printer's firmware, or the little bit of software that lives inside the printer itself.
This is a good time to remind all of you that you should check for new printer software on a regular basis. Your printer could easily be the subject of an advisory similar to this one. To learn if there is updated software for your printer, visit the manufacturer's web site and look under "support."
Posted byTriona Guidry at 11:22 AM 0 comments
Labels: alerts, hp, laserjet, security, small business
Viruses And USB Flash Drives
Monday, January 26, 2009
One of the nasty things about the Conficker virus (10 million PCs and counting) is its multiple methods of infection, including the way it infiltrates USB flash and network drives.
Imagine you get a flash drive from a friend, plug it in, and get the following message. Look closely. It seems like normal Windows, right? Wrong. If you pick the first choice ("publisher not specified") you just infected yourself with Conficker.
This is the virus using a real Windows window to confuse you. Keep an eye out for any change, however small, to the usual things your computer does. In this case the virus inserts itself before the normal Windows options, knowing that most people simply click the first link without looking. You can disable Autoplay to avoid this particular trick, but there will be others.
Another nasty thing about Conficker is the second shoe it may be about to drop. Researchers say they expect Conficker to download and install a second payload that may do more to your computer than simply infect it. So patch your computer, keep that antivirus software current, and stay tuned to Tech Tips for more news.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 1:08 PM 0 comments
Labels: alerts, antivirus, consumers, emergency, malware, small business, spyware, windows