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
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
Microsoft Nixes Special European Version Of Windows 7
Friday, August 21, 2009
I previously wrote about how Microsoft planned to release a special version of Windows 7 in Europe, sans Internet Explorer. Microsoft has since decided not to do so.
To comply with European regulations, Microsoft will offer a "browser ballot" which allows users to select their preferred web browser. I think it's a great idea to allow users to select their own web browsers instead of assuming that everyone will use Internet Explorer unless they happen to be familiar with the reasons why that might not be a good idea. I hope this approach will also be offered in the U.S. because it may encourage users to explore alternate Web browsers like Mozilla Firefox or Opera.
For more computer news, plus bonus product reviews and computer tips, subscribe (free!) to Tech Tips.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 3:46 PM 0 comments
Labels: internet explorer, pc, web, windows
2009 Parental Control Software Review
Friday, August 14, 2009
Parental control software allows you to keep tabs on what your children are doing online. Some kids view it as invasive, but I see it as no different than a usage policy at a corporation. As long as you are honest with your kids about the fact that they will be monitored, parental controls serve a useful purpose. They allow automatic blocking of known inappropriate sites as well as content and image filtering. They permit you to schedule when the Internet is available (to curb those late-night surfing sessions) and to log instant messages. Some now include monitoring of social networks like MySpace and FaceBook. Such programs typically have trial versions so you can try them before you buy.
- NetNanny has a new Macintosh version available. Both the Windows and Mac versions provide content filtering, instant message logging, usage reports, remote management and social network monitoring.
- SafeEyes has also been revamped since last year. It's available for Windows and Mac and also has a version for mobile devices like iPhones. Its features are similar to NetNanny's.
- CyberPatrol hasn't changed much over the last year. It's only available for Windows and unlike NetNanny and SafeEyes, doesn't provide monitoring of social networking sites.
- Intego ContentBarrier is a Mac-only program that, like CyberPatrol, is fairly basic and doesn't monitor social networking sites.
Don't forget to subscribe to Tech Tips (free!) for the latest computer news, plus bonus tips and product reviews. In September we'll talk about Computer Housekeeping.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 12:35 PM 0 comments
Labels: Internet, kids, mac, pc, windows
Internet Safety For Kids
Each year I give you pointers on how to protect your kids from cyberbullies and other Internet dangers. We talked about "acceptable use" policies in 2007 and reviewed basic do's and don'ts in 2008. This year I'd like to introduce you to the Internet Safety Pledge, which I use in my Internet classes for kids.
You can find the Internet Safety Pledge on NetSmartz.org. What I like about the Safety Pledge is that it gives you age-appropriate bullet points you can use as a basis for discussion. No documentation can substitute for sitting down and talking with your kids about online safety, or anything else for that matter. I recommend you review the Safety Pledge with your children and reinforce that they should come to you with concerns or questions.
Of course, maintaining a secure computer is a must with kids in the house. You'll find my four steps to computer security and my security software recommendations here on my blog.
I'll be teaching more classes on Internet Safety For Kids this fall, so if you missed my summer sessions be sure to check my web site for registration details. I'm also happy to sit down with you and your kids during any regular tech support visit.
Don't forget to subscribe to Tech Tips (free!) for the latest computer news, plus bonus tips and product reviews. In September I'll show you how to use the Internet to find employment in Web 2.0 For Job Searches.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 12:30 PM 0 comments
Labels: Internet, kids, mac, pc, security, windows
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.
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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
Troubleshooting Wireless Networks
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Posted byTriona Guidry at 3:17 PM 1 comments
Labels: mac, pc, windows, wireless networks
Windows 7 And Mac OS X Snow Leopard
Posted byTriona Guidry at 3:12 PM 0 comments
Labels: apple, consumers, mac, microsoft, pc, small business, 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
Goodbye, Microsoft Money
Friday, June 26, 2009
Microsoft Money has been discontinued. The software will no longer be sold after June 30, 2009. You can keep using the program, although yearly tax updates will cease after January 2011. After that you can still update the tax tables manually, but under Microsoft's lifecycle policy the software will no longer be supported. If you are using an older version of Money, it is not recommended that you upgrade at this time, and I certainly wouldn't buy extended service options.
If you want a specifically Microsoft financial product, there's Office Accounting Professional, which is to Money what Intuit's QuickBooks is to Quicken. If all you want is a basic register, this may not be the right product for you. Besides Intuit, you might also look into Peachtree as an alternative to Microsoft Money. Whatever you choose, make sure you can export your data into a common format like CSV or Excel, just in case your accounting software decides to go the way of the dinosaur.
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Posted byTriona Guidry at 8:12 AM 0 comments
Labels: microsoft, pc, windows
Is Microsoft Security Essentials Worthwhile?
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Microsoft has released a beta (test) version of its upcoming Security Essentials program, which is scheduled to be rolled out to consumers in September. Microsoft Security Essentials is, essentially, a stripped-down version of the ill-fated OneCare. The question is, will it do a better job of helping consumers protect their computers from viruses and spyware?
My guess is, not really. Sure it's free, but so are other programs with better reputations for removing the gunk from your computer. Even so, most free programs do not offer the complete protection of a full-fledged security suite. My fear is that the presence of Microsoft Security Essentials may lure some consumers into complacency, with the impression that their computers are adequately protected when they're not. I already see this with programs like Windows Defender and the monthly Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool, neither of which are suitable replacements for real security software.
Of additional concern, and the reason I'm mentioning this now even though the software's still beta, is that scammers will undoubtedly glom onto this just as they grab any popular headline in their attempts to con you into fake antivirus software. Just because something claims to be "that new software from Microsoft," don't believe it unless you're downloading from a bona fide site.
For bonus tips, tricks, and other computer help, subscribe to the free email version of Tech Tips.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 2:29 PM 0 comments
Labels: antivirus, consumers, microsoft, pc, spyware, viruses, windows
Quark Offers Upgrade For Older Versions Of Quark XPress
Thursday, June 18, 2009
This is a nice gesture on the part of Quark, although I suspect it has more to do with the inroads on their marketshare made by Adobe InDesign than genuinely wanting to help customers (otherwise why does their tech support still stink?).
Through September 30, 2009 you can upgrade any version to Quark XPress 8 for $299. They can even help if you don' t have your original serial number. You can also continue to use the older version as long as it's on the same computer, which is convenient for those of you who still need to work with the older formats.
It will likely be cheaper to do this upgrade and then use your Quark 8 license to upgrade to the next version down the road, rather than buying the next version outright whenever it becomes available. And believe me, I still see a whole lot of older Quark versions, especially our friend version 4.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 5:35 PM 0 comments
Labels: mac, pc, quark, windows
Symantec, McAfee Penalized For Antivirus Auto-Renewals
Thursday, June 11, 2009
If you've ever wondered if you're being forced into antivirus auto-renewals, you're not alone. New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office has reached a settlement with Symantec and McAfee over their automatic software renewal practices.
I think this is great news for consumers and businesses. There has been too much confusion over auto-renewals. Some people are not aware that purchasing antivirus software via credit card typically signs you up for auto-renewal. Others have struggled to cancel their auto-renewals thanks to aggressive policies on the part of vendors like Symantec and McAfee. When purchasing antivirus products online, I frequently find myself disabling the auto-renew option only to find it re-enabled before I reach the checkout. While I applaud Symantec and McAfee's attempts to make sure people are up-to-date on their antivirus, forced auto-renewal is not the solution.
This is also a good time to remind folks that it's better to upgrade your antivirus software each year instead of simply paying for another year's subscription. While I'm still recommending other antivirus programs over Norton, those of you who do use Symantec and McAfee products can hope that your next auto-renew process will be more user-friendly.
From the press release:
Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a settlement with computer security software vendors Symantec (NYSE: SYMC) and McAfee (NYSE: MFE) after the companies renewed customers’ software subscriptions without the customers’ knowledge or authorization. Under the Attorney General’s settlement, both companies will make detailed disclosures to consumers about subscription terms and renewal, and each will pay $375,000 in penalties and costs.
“Companies cannot play hide the ball when it comes to the fees consumers are being charged. Consumers have a right to know what they are paying, especially when they are unwittingly agreeing to renewal fees that will not appear on their credit card bill for months. Symantec and McAfee - two of the nation’s largest vendors of computer security software - will now have to be clear and up-front with their customers when it comes to renewal fees. In other words, no more hide the ball with renewal fees.”
Posted byTriona Guidry at 9:42 AM 1 comments
Labels: antivirus, consumers, mac, security, small business, spyware, windows
Adobe Joins Patch Tuesday
Friday, June 5, 2009
Adobe has announced it will begin releasing updates to its Acrobat and other software the second Tuesday of the month on a three-month cycle, matching Microsoft's longstanding Patch Tuesday schedule of monthly updates. This makes it more convenient for you to know when your software needs to be updated. It also helps IT workers coordinate upgrades to minimize downtime for end users.
Note that next week's Patch Tuesday will bring us a round of patches from both Microsoft and Adobe, so keep up with your Automatic Updates and stay tuned to Tech Tips for the latest news.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 11:57 AM 0 comments
Labels: adobe, mac, microsoft office, windows
Dell Dumps Offensive "Della" Ads
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
I'm glad to report that Dell has rebranded the "Della" web site, less than two weeks after igniting an online furor among women in technology fields. Now called "Lifestyles," the most offensive wording has been removed so women are no longer encouraged to purchase Dell to check their recipes and keep up with the latest fashion news.
Kudos to Dell for listening to the complaints, but fie on them for coming up with the idea in the first place. If the intent was to cater to the non-technical market, they blew it by assuming that all women are non-technical people and all non-technical people are women. Dell would do better by designing an ad campaign for non-technical people regardless of gender. Or... how about an ad campaign encouraging young women to pursue careers in technology? That would be a vast improvement over suggesting that the color of a woman's laptop has to match her outfit. Personally, I'm more interested in how many gigahertz the computer has and whether or not it will suit my customer's needs.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 8:33 AM 0 comments
Labels: pc, windows, women in technology
HP Notebook Computer Battery Recall
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Hewlett-Packard has issued a recall for some 70,000 HP and Compaq notebook computer batteries due to risk of fire. You can read the CPSC recall information here. The batteries were sold both in computers and separately between August 2007 and March 2008. Affected models include the following:
| HP Pavilion | Compaq Presario | HP | HP Compaq | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| G6000 G7000 | 6720s |
Consumers may contact HP here regarding replacement batteries.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 3:36 PM 0 comments
How To Spot Bad Web Links
Friday, May 15, 2009
Computer security specialists, myself included, recommend that you avoid clicking on bad web links. But how can you tell a bad link from a good one? Even if you're going after legitimate software it may be difficult to tell the difference. To demonstrate, I've pulled screenshots from the downloads for two of my most-recommended security tools, the free AVG anti-virus program and the free Spybot anti-spyware program.
The first hurdle comes when you search for these products. As you can see from this screenshot of a search for Spybot, it's hard to tell which link to click.
The key is to look for the words "sponsored links" or "sponsored ads". These are links, often phony, which come up when certain keywords are typed. There are plenty of bad or questionable links associated with the keyword "Spybot." This is the same vicious technique hackers use to get you to click on bad links when you're searching for hot topics like "swine flu" or "virus removal." It's black-hat search optimization, and the big search engines like Google and Yahoo aren't going to protect you. They don't care if the keywords link to malicious sites as long as they're getting paid for the ads.
Let's assume you've navigated yourself to the correct page to download Spybot. Even here, there's a catch. Most software is downloaded from aggregate "mirror" sites, in this case CNet. These sites have keyword-based advertisements too, not all of them good. In this screenshot I've highlighted the ads in red, the correct Spybot download links in green. It's like an obstacle course!
The AVG examples demonstrate the same thing. Assuming you've gotten yourself to the correct download page, you've got more bad links to avoid. Sometimes the positioning is such that the bad link looks like the good one. In this case, the words in blue, "Ad Feedback," show you which parts of the page are ads. If you mentally divide the page up into regions you can see where the ads are versus where the content is.
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Posted byTriona Guidry at 5:27 AM 0 comments
Labels: antivirus, mac, malware, security, spyware, windows
Windows XP Attacks Abound: Time To Upgrade To Vista
Thursday, May 14, 2009
I'm seeing a rash of seriously infected Windows XP computers. The technical term for these computers would be toasty. Fake antivirus, insidious spyware, you name it, these computers have it, and the vast majority of them are quite well protected from a Windows XP standpoint.
It's sad to say, but our decisions to upgrade have become less about whether we need it for productivity and more about whether our computers can remain functional against the continual onslaught of cyber-attacks. Remember, Windows XP is 8 years old. These attacks are sneaking through despite our best defenses. Windows Vista is no panacea, but its improvements in security offer better protection.
If your computer doesn't meet the system recommendations for Vista--the real recs, not Microsoft's bare-minimum--an upgrade to Vista equals either an upgrade in hardware or possibly a new computer. Bearing in mind that Windows 7 is slated to come out around the 2009 holiday season, this means your Windows XP days are numbered. The good news is that your software should, for the most part, be compatible. The bad news, if you don't care for the Vista interface, is that you'll finally have to bite that bullet. If you're not sure what to do, I'm always happy to evaluate your computers at my next service visit.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 6:59 AM 0 comments
Labels: antivirus, security, spyware, windows
Mac OS X 10.5.7 Problems, Plus PowerPoint Pettiness
If you're using Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard), avoid the latest update, 10.5.7. It's buggier than a mosquito zapper in August.
Also watch out for malicious PowerPoint presentations on Macs, or on PCs using Microsoft Works. Microsoft's Patch Tuesday this month released bug fixes for PowerPoint, but only if you use Office for Windows. No indication as to if or when Microsoft might fix the problem for Works for Windows or Microsoft Office for Mac.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 6:43 AM 0 comments
Labels: mac, microsoft office, security, windows