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Posted 08-16-2008


Posted 11-10-2007


Posted 03-28-2007


Posted 02-10-2006
    The free application Google Desktop, promises to help you find and organize your files. It was recently discovered that Google can copy your personal documents to their servers. This is not a good thing.

    Read More at: http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2006_02.php#004400


Posted 09-22-2005
    Mozilla has released another update for Firefox. All Firefox users need to keep their browsers up to date to make sure have the latest security patch. If you are not using Mozilla Firefox and are still using Microsoft Internet Explorer, you will want to click here.

    If there are updates available for you copy of Firefox a small red circle with a white arrow should appear in the top right corner of Mozilla Firefox. Click on this red circle to start the update process.

    You can also check what version you are running by clicking on Help->About Mozilla Firefox. Then go to the Mozilla web site and check for the latest version.


    Click here To Go To The Mozilla Firefox Web Site


Posted 05-31-2005
    Adaware 1.06 is now available. I recommend everyone download this and install it. It will uninstall a previous version if it is on your system.

    After the installation be sure to "Check For Updates" and install any available updates.

    Click here To Download Adaware 1.06


Posted 05-12-2005
    More and more stories are being made public about on-air personalities and tech writers taking money from manufacturers to promote thier products. This is usually not a problem if the public is notified, but many reviewers are not disclosing the fact that they have been compensated by the by the company who's product is being reviewed.

    Click here for one example


Posted 02-08-2005
    Beware of an email claiming to be from security@microsoft.com with the subject line "Microsoft Windows Update". Microsoft NEVER sends updates via email.

    Click here for the full story


Posted 01-08-2005


Posted 11-11-2004
    Grisoft just released a new version of their free virus scanner called AVG. I recommend most everyone download the new version. AVG seems to run OK with other virus scanners like Norton and McAfee, and I have found that AVG, which is free, will find viruses that Norton and McAfee miss.

    The company will be dropping support for version 6.0 on December 31 2004. This means you will soon not be able to get the latest virus updates for older versions of AVG. So if you are running an older version you better update before December 31 2004.

    Click here to get AVG version 7.0.

    If the above link does not work click on the link below. On the Grisoft web site click on "AVG Free Edition" on the left side menu bar.

    Click here to go to the Grisoft web site.

    More scammers trying to get your banking information.
    Phishing Exploit.

    New email worm posing as Osama bin Laden video clips.
    Osama Email Worm.

    If you haven't stopped using Internet Explorer yet, here is more reasons why you should stop using IE immediately.

    More problems with Microsoft Internet Explorer:
    The Bofra Worm.
    The IFRAME Exploit..


Posted 09-22-2004
    The Register has a story about a SPAM email that has been circulating recently. The email contains a link that promises to remove you from the SPAMMER's mail list. Clicking this link takes you to a web site that is using a javascript exploit that can load a program on your system when the web page is scrolled. The program could be a virus, spyware or something else you probably do not want running on your computer. It could even load a program that logs all the keys you press on your keyboard and silently emails them to some unscrupulous person (a key-logger). Someone could potentially capture your passwords, account numbers and other personal and sensitive information.

    This is another example why you do not want to click on anything in an unsolictied email.

    The CAN-SPAM Act requires all SPAMs to contain an "opt-out" link in their emails. This means the SPAM mentioned above conforms to the current law. The government should have put a lot more thought into this issue before jumping on the CAN-SPAM act.

    Click here for the full story.


Posted 09-15-2004
    PC World has reported that Microsoft sent out an alert about a very serious security hole. In fact, you may have seen a popup window when you rebooted your computer recently saying something about the "GDI Detection Tool." Any program that processes JPEG images could be at risk. Microsoft has a fix for the problem and has made it available via Windows Update. To completely patch the hole you must apply not only the Windows Update patch, but you must also update Microsoft Office. I applied the Office update and part way through the installation I was requested to insert the Office installation disk. This could be a problem if you do not have your installation disk handy.

    Click here for the full story.
    Microsoft Windows Update.
    Microsoft Office Update.


Posted 08-30-2004
    It is reported that security vunerabilities have been found on Windows XP machines patched with Service Pack 2. One of the more major problems is the ability of a web site to take over your system through Internet Explorer. One more reason to be using something other than IE for web browsing.


Posted 08-28-2004


Posted 08-14-2004
    New version of Ad Aware Spyware scanner released. Several improvements have been made to this great spyware scanning tool. I recommend downloading and installing this tool ASAP. During the installation it will ask to uninstall the previous version of Ad Aware. If you have a previous version answer YES.
    Download Ad-aware-SE-Personal-Edition


Posted 07-08-2004
    A bug was discovered in Mozilla and Firefox running on Windows 2000 and XP that allows a web page to arbitrarily execute a program on your system. A new version of Mozilla and Firefox has been released that fixes this problem, so be sure you have the latest version.
    http://www.mozilla.org


Posted 07-06-2004
    Currently, a combination of malicous viruses, marketing trojans, browser home page hijackers, and Spyware have been infecting computers. Many of the viruses in this latest batch of nasties manage to get past Norton Antivirus and McAfee Antivirus. Your scanner may say your system is clean, but it may not be.

    The most difficult part of this latest outbreak is the difficulty in removing the infections. It has been taking me 8-12 hours to completely clean one computer.

    The majority of these infections could have been avoided by:
    • Keeping Windows updated. http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com (requires Internet Explorer)
    • Staying away from most of the free porn sites. Many of the free porn sites try to load Spyware, trojans, hijackers and viruses on your system.
    • Not opening any email attachments (even if you know the sender).
    • Not using Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express for email. I use Eudora. http://www.eudora.com. Mozilla offers a great email client called Thunderbird which is completely free and available for download at http://www.mozilla.org.
    • Not using Microsoft Internet Explorer unless absolutely necessary (Windows update). I use Mozilla's Firefox. http://www.mozilla.org
    • Running the free Antivirus software AVG. http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php


    For more information on protecting your computer, click here to go to the Tips section.


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