Microsoft’s free consumer antivirus is now available. So far, I like it. It’s lightweight and does not seem to change any performance with my computer.
You can find it at http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/
In my opinion, anti-virus programs are not good enough to prevent you from getting a virus, but they do tell you when you get one usually. If you want to prevent viruses, keep Windows up to date via windows update, you should have a router between your Verizon modem and your computer(s) (in some cases the modem and router are the same device which is usually good enough), and ask yourself and your children if you really need to install something from a web site. Lately, people are getting viruses by being tricked into installing something from a web site they think they need. When that annoying alert message pops up asking you to approve a software installation, it is potentially preventing something malicious from installing. Even though it is annoying, it is a good idea to get into the habit of reading it and asking if you really need to do it.
Here is a good example of how most kids get a virus:
They get an email or message from Myspace or Facebook from a friend or someone they don’t know that says something along the lines of “Hey, I caught you on video tame last night here is the video”
Most people have to check out what is on the other end of that link. They click it and it takes them to a site that looks like Myspace or Facebook but it is not. The site then says, “you need to download the latest flash player to view this video” which is pretty common because flash player is constantly needing updates. What the unsuspecting victim does not know is that they are really downloading a virus.
If you fall under this scenario this is how I would handle it. First I would ask myself if I really need to watch the video. If I do, I would then think who makes the flash player. I know that is Adobe. I would then go to Adobe.com and download the flash player there and get the latest player. Doing this I know I will have the latest player and if i go back to that same site with the video and it still says the same message, then I know it is nefarious.
With that said, if you want to get an antivirus, I suggest nod32 from eset.com. The reason I suggest them is because they supposedly look at what you do in real time. Most antiviruses wait for updates from the mothership and then do a computer scan which does not help you if you have already unintentionally installed the virus and the virus disabled your antivirus. There will always be risk because the antivirus must know about the virus and today there viruses are being changed and created at an alarming rate.
With all this said, in my opinion, if you think you have a virus. I would no longer trust the machine with or without antivirus. The only way to guarantee you are virus free is to reformat the computer and reinstall windows. This is why it is very important to keep your Windows Recovery Discs or use a utility to create them if it is included. With Recovery discs you can install a fresh copy of Windows on your system. Just don’t forget to backup your data first!
I hope this helps.
1. Do not download anything from the internet unless you absolutely must!
2. If a web site says it needs to download something in order for the site to work or for you to get what you need to get, ask yourself if you really need to do it? If you can get by without it, do it. If you need a player, go to the web site where the player originates. For example, go to Adobe.com for the most recent version of Flash.
3. Don’t open any attachments in email unless you are expecting them and they are from people you know.
4. Don’t click any links in email. Go the web site in question via your web browser by typing the web address yourself. Turning off html email will solve this.
5. When you get a “pop-up,” use Task Manager to close it.
6. Back up your data to more than one medium. It’s only a matter of time before your hard drive fails.
7. Keep Windows up to date by allowing auto update to run.
8. Don’t install any software you don’t really need.
9. Don’t trust web sites. Stick to big consumer web sites to buy things like BestBuy.com instead of JoeSmoElectronics.com.
Tools
1. Turn on your Firewall.
2. Use a router.
3. Have an up-to-date and antivirus.
4. Use Windows XP or above.
5. If using WiFi, make sure to use WPA authentication with AES encryption and a strong password that is not guessable or a single word.
Just got back from crippling a customer’s HP Pavilion computer after installing Windows XP Service Pack 3. I talked to HP and they know about this issue and is working on it.
If you install Service Pack 3 on an HP computer and your computer will not start follow these steps. When the computer reboots, you will get a black screen asking if you want to try to boot Windows normally (which will not work if you try) or in Safe Mode. It will say this has happened because of a recent hardware change/failure or software problem. Just use the arrow key to highlight any of the Safe Mode options, hit enter and wait for your computer to boot into safe mode. If you do not get this screen, hitting F8 while your computer is booting should do the trick. Once the computer starts in Safe Mode, (it will look different but it is ok) go to your Control Panel, Add Remove Programs, and finally click Windows XP Service pack 3 so that it uninstalls. Once you click it, it should ask if you want to uninstall but if not, highlight it and click the uninstall button at the top.
It is not your fault and it is easy to do, but getting you identity stolen via a fake email is a serious issue. Unfortunately, we live in a world where their people are evil and prey upon the good and unsuspecting. Most people may know by now but if you have not heard, you can get fake or spoofed emails from a spammer that leads to a fake financial institution or some other scheme in an attempt to steal your personal information or gain access to your bank account. To help prevent yourself from getting your identity stolen, I have compiled a simple list of rules to follow.
On another note, you should turn off the html preview in email so you don’t get a virus but that is a story for another day.
If you receive an email from you bank or financial institution, it could be real but there is a good chance it is fake. Usually, they will say your account is about to be canceled and to click a link to fix or update your information. The email will look just like it was from you bank and the link will take you to a site that looks just like you bank but it is not. when you log in, they phishing is done. You just gave your username and password to your bank and now they are free to drain your account. Some really bad and obvious links will ask you to update your information while asking for your name, address, drivers license number, birthday, and social. Sadly, do not trust anything of this nature from your email. If there is a problem with your bank, go directly to their web site by typing the web address in your browser. Obviously, if there is a problem, your financial institution will tell you.
If you think you are a victim of identity theft, here are some steps as they are found on the ftc.gov website.
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
Again the steps and more details are from the ftc.gov web site found here
Sometimes you have your hands on the keyboard and it takes extra time to grab the mouse and move to the address bar to type a web site while using Internet explorer. If you are looking for a way to speed up the process, try typing Alt+d. This means hold down the alt key and then press the d key. This will move you to the address bar and you are free to type hopefully making your browsing experience quicker and better.
Windows Tip:
If the title did not explain it, if you need to save a document and have having to stop what you are doing, grab the mouse, save, and then find your place on the keyboard to continue typing. Try hitting Ctrl+S that means hit the "Ctrl" and the "S" key at the same time. You may find you will save some time with keyboard shortcuts. This is especially useful if you type and are in a good habit of saving frequently.
Have you ever been poking around your Windows Vista computer, found the Windows Experience Index score and wonder what the heck it is? One thing that might confuse people is that your overall score is the lowest of all the ratings and not an average. For example, you may have a 5.1 for the processor speed, a 4 for ram and a 2 for graphics which is the lowest but your overall score is 2.
The answer is pretty simple. The idea behind rating is to help you out when you install software on your computer and ensure you will know what to expect when you buy and install a video game or utility. In the past, when people bought games, the needed to make sure their video card was good enough, processor was fast enough and so forth. The number system solves this. If you buy a Vista video game rated at a minimum 5, every category in your system should be a 5 or greater otherwise you will possibly have issues. Whether it may be ram, processor, or video, you game will lag because the rating is lower than what is expected. If you buy a game and it’s rating is a 3 and your overall average score is 5, you be able to play the game with no issues.
Hope this helps you understand why this rating system is in your computer. If anything, it is a way to brag to friends when your number is bigger than theirs.
I just want to warn people who are using Windows on their MacBooks with OSX and BootCamp. Don’t use the sleep feature! I have not tried this with XP and please confirm if you have but I have tried this with Vista. Make sure you shut down your computer…
Normally I hit shut down but I recently hit the sleep button, you know the one that looks like the power button in my MacBook Pro and my Vista MacBook went to sleep. Well everything did what it was supposed to do.. Everything went off and the computer turned on to Vista when I hit the power button.
The only problem was, I could have fried an egg on it! This makes sense to me now since the boot configuration in BootCamp needs to run. So the computer does not really shut off but the fans apparently do.
If anyone has had similar circumstances, please let me know. If I am doing something wrong, please let me know.
If you need at a minimum, weekly dose of tech news and commentary, please tune in to KFI am 640 talk radio on the weekends from 11 am to 2 pm for Leo Laporte The Tech Guy. If you cant tune in your radio, you get the stream from KFI at KFI640.com, or twit.tv/live which will soon be twitlive.tv.
Leo is amazing at helping people learn and solve everyday technical problems an average user might have. The show may sometimes get geeky, but is made for an audience that may or may not know anything about tech. Leo has been a source of inspiration for me and I hope for you too.
Leo also creates too many to count, podcasts that release just about every day. Check out twit.tv for getting any of his shows delivered to you via RSS or iTunes.