Trouble with Twitter

Twitter’s site has been hacked and popups can redirect users to third party sites and even show pornographic popups with just a mouseover. So you may want to keep the kids off Twitter until the problem is solved.  The resulting popups can release malicious code onto poorly protected PC’s. 

 Just moving your mouse over the infected Tweets activates them.

As usual, make sure your PC is completely protected with properly installed and updated quality internet security software like Eset’s NOD32 or Kaspersky Internet Security Suite. Both are available with full trials and can be downloaded from the Internet.  And, if you must Tweet, for now be sure to use a third party program like Tweetdeck.

BE careful out there and together, we’ll make “IT” work.

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Motorola Droid Update News

The Android 2.2 update is available for the Motorola Droid and Droid X. I installed it over the weekend. It was simple to do. Here’s a link to the instructions I used.  http://tipsneeded.com/install-android-2-2-on-motorola-droid/.

Why update? 

1. The need for speed – 2-3 times faster.  I did try it out a bit and I do think it’s peppier than before. Especially for GPS.
2. Tethering or Portable  Hot Spot -  You can use your phone for Wi-Fi for your laptop as you travel.
3. New Exchange capabilities – account auto-discovery and calendar sync. 
4. Backup options for your apps.
5. Better and faster browser.
6. Improved Camera and Camcorder – double frame rate and more controls.
7. App automatic updating or single click update for multiple app updates.

You can get the full scoop here:

There are changes to navigation making some features easier to “slide” to and they’ve added some fresh new “dedicated shortcuts”. 

I tried my favorite apps and all are working well with the update.
So give it a whirl Droid lovers. I think you’ll like it.

Together we’ll make “IT” work.

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Free Electronics Recycling

We all want to be “Green” but recycling our electronics is a challenge. Here’s a link to a company that doesn’t just recycle old electronics for the value of the parts. San Diego Futures Foundation takes your old electronics, trains people to refurbish them, then donates them to non-profit organizations.  So now, when you get that shiny new computer, you can get rid of the old one – guilt-free!

They take computers, laptops, televisions, fax machines, copy machines, etc. These items can be dropped off at their facility for FREE.  See their site for more info – www.sdfutures.org.

Just make sure that your hard drives are wiped clean before you donate. Or you can pay $10 to have SD Futures wipe it for you.

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PacMan on Google!

Today is PacMan’s 30th Birthday. So Google decided to post a Google icon with PacMan features – complete with arcade music – on their site today.  So don’t start running Malwarebytes and Anti-Virus programs. It’s just a celebration!

And for those that remember the PacMan arcade games in the restaurants and bars when they were new… it’s been a great 30 years!

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McAfee Blunder – Are you a victim?

First,  let me say I’ve never been a fan of McAfee Anti-Virus products and Internet Security products.  They have always been resource hogs and bother me too much when I’m just trying to use my PC.  But last week they managed to release an update that caused major problems for their customers.

Here’s the basic issue:
“The problem started last Wednesday at 6 a.m. PDT when McAfee released a bad DAT update to its antivirus software that incorrectly targeted svchost.exe, a key Windows system file, as a virus. The update, which sneaked past the company’s internal testing, clobbered PCs running Windows XP with Service Pack 3.” (CNET News)

They are currently doing their best though to resolve the issue. They released a patch as soon as they could and they are providing assistance to those that need it through a local toll free number. Click here if you need their help.  They are even considering compensation and extending subscriptions for two years for home users. But it seems they may not offer the same for business users even though many were also hit.

I’m glad McAfee is stepping up but I’m still happy I’m not a McAfee user. I think that a company like McAfee should have systems in place to test for a glitch this basic. I have to think that that the state of the economy plays a role here as less people try to cover more jobs. Problems are bound to slip through the cracks.

So McAfee won’t lose me as a customer since I haven’t been one for years, but I’m sure others will run like the wind.  And, as an IT professional, I certainly won’t recommend their software.

Just one more reason to keep great backups on a local drive and online.

Together we’ll make “IT” work!

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Got IPAD Fever?

I’ll admit it. I think the IPad will be very cool and I’d like to be first in line.
But I do have a fairly okay memory. For example, I remember all the people who jumped on the first iPod, iPhone, and iTouch devices and were soon selling them on EBay when the next (way better) versions were available.

So I’ll be waiting.

Here’s one good reason to wait.
The current version works with Wi-Fi but not through cellular providers. Just think how much better that device will be when it’s truly mobile.
And yes, that’ll cost more.

So maybe I’ll wait even longer.

Here’s to all those beta testers (I mean early adopters) who jump in with both feet to work the kinks out before I buy!

Be patient and together we’ll make “IT” work.

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Topeka?

When you opened your web browser this morning to Google as your home page did you notice something odd? Did you do a double-take?
Google has changed it’s name! To Topeka?
Click here to get the scoop.

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Something’s Phishy!

I received this email message today from a business colleague:

How are you doing today?.I am really sorry to bother you with this email but i just want you to know what i am facing right now.I am sorry that i didn’t inform you about my traveling to London UK for a Seminar,i am presently in London now but unfortunately for me i lost my wallet in a taxi where my money and other valuable things were kept.I have limited access to internet for now and i am not here with my cell phone.I will like you to assist me urgently with a loan of $2,500 to sort-out my hotel bills and to get myself back home. I have spoken to the embassy here but they are not responding to the matter effectively,i promise i will pay you back as soon as i return.Kindly let me know if you can be of help so that i can send you the details you will use to send the money to me here in London.

This email contained all the right info, the person’s name, his email address, etc. So it would be easy to believe this and I might even try to help him…

Except I knew of this scam already. Plus, I would not be on this gentleman’s short list for help anyway.

I must say that I was surprised that I could not find many sites that explain this scam or how to avoid it. So I decided to share this info once more in hopes of keeping you all protected.

This type of message is generated by using your address book. So, as usual, it is either a virus or spyware (I’m not always clear there’s much difference, at least to the end user) that has gotten into your computer.

So the usual protections apply:

Keep your Internet Security software updated and scan your computer regularly.
Run your Windows updates – they really do add important security changes for Windows.
DON”T HESITATE TO DELETE THESE MESSAGES! Most of us know these are “Phishy” the minute we read them.

And for those who do not practice diligent computer maintenance – Do you really want to take the risk of setting up everyone in your address book for a Scam? I know it’s just another chore but your reputation may be on the line.

Together we’ll make “IT” work!

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But, I didn’t do anything!

So how did my computer get infected with a virus or spyware?

I was reading through a tech forum this morning and one tech asked if we are “tired of answering this question yet” and “How do we answer it?” I can tell you that, yes, we are tired of answering this question. But it’s because there is no perfect answer, no magic bullet. Here are some samples of “How we answer”:

“AV is worthless.  It stops the old ones and the easy ones.  But the new ones always slip through”

“I tell them it doesn’t matter what site you went to, it probably came from an advertisement on a site anyway.”

“It probably came from that ancient version of flash, java etc”

“Antivirus is a reactive measure. Someone has to be infected before the AV companies can develop a detection signature”

“operators are human and will click “yes” without knowing it.”

Now, at the risk of discouraging you, all of these answers show that any PC is at risk. However, you can protect yourself by thinking ahead.

1. Keep your PC updated. Run critical Windows updates, Anti-virus and anti-spyware software updates, and Adobe and Java updates. Allow these programs to run automatically and don’t say “No” everytime it asks if now is a good time to update.

2. Keep a good backup. I am a big fan of Carbonite. It is an inexpensive, online backup which constantly monitors and backs up your PC anytime it is connected to the Internet. Also keep a  backup on an external hard drive. Be sure to get one like the Passport Elite which has software that keeps a current backup as well as a couple of previous copies. That way, if your PC gets infected with a virus, you can go back a few days to the uninfected copy.

3. Keep in mind that a backup only backs up your data (files you create like photos, documents, databases, etc.). It does not back up your programs! So be sure to keep your program CD’s and documentation all together. Print out any emails you’ve received with product keys and registration info and keep these with the software so you can find them.

4.  Also, somewhere secure, keep a list of usernames and passwords. I spend a great deal of time trying to help clients figure out their usernames and passwords. What makes sense today when you create a password may be completely odd to you a year from now when you have to log onto a new PC and recreate your computing world..

5. Get a new Internet Security software package each year. Most people buy anti-virus and then purchase the renewal the following year. But I find that what works good this year doesn’t always work as well next year. Do a search and read the reviews online. People are happy to share their experiences with software, good and bad. Sites like ConsumerReports.org or CNET.com have great reviews. Amazon.com sells these products and posts user reviews. Or ask me!  I get a great deal of feedback on how well these products work from their users! My current favorite is Kaspersky Internet Security 2010.

6. Think before you click! I often see users running auto-pilot. It’s like watching a kid play Whack-a-mole. If it pops up, click it, and you win the prize!  In this game though it’s sometimes the booby-prize.

I did leave out some of the more colorful answers. There was a bit of tech “venting” in there. But that just shows how frustrating this issue is for all of us. As techs, we want to give you the perfect answer. So we’ll keep looking, testing, and comparing notes in our quest for the perfect computing environment. And no, it’s not as easy as getting a MAC!

Together we’ll make “IT” work!

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Posting from Droid

Posting from Droid and so far so good. The wordpress app doesn’t like my image though.
I do like that I can type a decent sentence.

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