tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279006142011-11-27T19:17:40.120-06:00Plain Speak. . . No GeeksJason Bronsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02999555459269598538noreply@blogger.comBlogger581100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-40909137745737309462008-03-17T15:59:00.002-05:002009-12-30T14:55:56.050-06:00

My business has taken me in a new direction, and I don't have as much time as I'd like to spend on this blog.That's good news for you because I've decided to offer my very popular ebook "1 Clean Computer" as a free tutorial eCourse! Just sign up on the right and you can get started right away. Did I mention you get a cool free gift when you sign up? Yep. And it's all free. The price is right

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-59574013279248461532007-03-01T17:09:00.001-06:002009-12-30T14:55:36.743-06:00

You're feeling pretty sure of yourself. After all, 86 percent of American Internet users say they are knowledgeable about protecting their private information, while 57 percent say they consistently take necessary steps to do so (This from a recent survey by Truste, an organization that helps consumers and businesses identify trustworthy online entities through its Web Privacy and Email Privacy

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1167524919892454882006-12-30T18:28:00.001-06:002009-12-30T14:55:02.059-06:00

Don't worry, you'll be glad I'm not wishing you a Happy New Year.Why? Because there's a new worm moving rapidly through the Internet and it's waiting for you to open it.It comes in the form of a Happy New greeting. These worm-laden "Happy New Year" email messages come with Postcard.exe or Postcard.zip attachments, and they're just waiting for you to click on them.Once you release the worm, it

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1164991101872607552006-12-01T10:38:00.001-06:002009-12-30T14:54:16.060-06:00

One of the most common questions I get, particularly at this time of year is, "Is it safe for me to buy online?"My answer to that question is simple - it's about as safe as it is to do anything else nowadays! Just like you would not leave all your packages in the back seat with the car door unlocked, you need to take proper precautions online too.Shopping from the comfort of your computer

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1163089084017406692006-11-09T10:09:00.001-06:002009-12-30T14:53:00.289-06:00

Even behemoth search engine Google (who some call 'next ruler of the earth'!) makes mistakes. On Tuesday (11/07), Google accidentally sent out an email worm to its 50,000 plus subscribers to its Google Video email group. Oooops!For those of us who do make mistakes occasionally, it gives us some comfort to know that even with Google's resources and complete genius behind them, this isn't their

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1161882693345157542006-10-26T12:10:00.001-05:002009-12-30T14:52:31.509-06:00

Politics just isn’t my thing. That’s not to say I don’t vote – I haven’t missed an election since I turned 18 (and I won’t tell you how long ago that was). But my politics are very personal. There aren’t too many things that will turn my husband into a rabid, bulging-eyed monster like politics. Maybe that’s why I shy away from discussing it – especially since we sit on two different sides of

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1161389921139998102006-10-20T19:12:00.001-05:002009-12-30T14:51:30.264-06:00

Microsoft has a pretty good list of free software programs available for download. Finding them can sometimes pose a problem.Blake Handler, self proclaimed "Tech Evangelist & Microsoft Consultant" has put together an incredibly comprehensive list. Check it out for free software from Microsoft!technorati tags:Microsoft, Internet, Computers, Computers and Internet, Free Software From Microsoft

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1161203238066692852006-10-18T15:26:00.001-05:002009-12-30T14:51:14.297-06:00

We all get spam. In fact, spam accounts for as much as 83 percent of all email messages in the United States. So how do you keep your computer clean - do you report and delete unwanted spam, or do you unsubscribe or "opt-out"?There are two camps. One says, 'Do not opt-out or reply to spam. Once you click the unsubscribe link, you'll get even more because you've just told the spammer that

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1160598015137703962006-10-11T15:18:00.002-05:002009-12-30T14:50:44.951-06:00

I’ve been on the Internet a long time. In that time, I’ve visited about a zillion websites that required a username and password. OK, maybe it just seems like a zillion. Let’s just say a lot.And I’ll bet you have at least a couple of dozen passwords too. Think about it – you have one (or more) for email, your ISP (Internet Service Provider), credit cards, banks, forums, chatrooms. . .you get

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1160451451977842672006-10-09T22:37:00.002-05:002009-12-30T14:50:29.997-06:00

It's the second Tuesday of the month. And that can only mean one thing - more Microsoft security patches.This time we've got almost a full dozen on their way - six critical updates for Windows, six critical updates for Office, and four moderate updates for the .NET Framework.Please don't forget to download these important updates - it's critical for the safety of your computer and your

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1160323449197625952006-10-08T11:03:00.000-05:002006-10-08T11:04:18.890-05:00

It's the first time an anti-virus software company has ponied up and put their money where there mouth is.CA, formerly Computer Associates, is gifting its customers with two free insurance policies with the purchase of CA Internet Security Suite 2007 and CA Anti-Virus 2007. The policies will cover up to $5,000 in identity theft coverage and up to $1,500 in protection against damage caused by

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1160146412099211842006-10-06T09:52:00.000-05:002006-12-21T20:53:21.100-06:00

Ever wonder which banks keep you safer against identity theft?Wonder no more. The jury is in!While most banks do pretty well in resolving identity fraud (such as dealing with disputed transactions on accounts), only three financial institutions scored best in a test of their ability to prevent, detect and resolve identity theft.First, a few statistics. Last year, for the third year in a row,

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1159803296165509492006-10-02T10:34:00.000-05:002006-10-02T10:40:17.726-05:00

I remember it well. Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) came out and all the techies warned us against downloading it. Too many bugs. Too many problems. Not worth the trouble. And they were right - back then. But many upgrades later, Windows XP SP2 is solid. The security upgrades are worth their weight in gold (well, almost). Now the case for installing SP2 is even greater. Microsoft is

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1159650702576222662006-09-30T16:10:00.000-05:002006-09-30T17:24:12.886-05:00

Go where the people are. That's the philosophy of Target, IKEA, Staples and every major retailer and advertiser. It's such a good and profitable philosophy, it's been adopted by spammers, hackers and cyberscum.It makes good sense too. Everyone wants to get the most bang for their buck. And there's only so much buck to go around. So, do you put your message in front of 500,000 people when you can

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1159219741439209152006-09-25T16:21:00.000-05:002006-09-25T16:32:06.193-05:00

Just a quick alert here. . .Watch out for an email telling you that you have received a Yahoo! Greeting Card. The purpose of the email is to lure you to their site and then Whamo! They start collecting your private information.I got hit today, but luckily didn't click through. Such a shame since I've always enjoyed e-greetings - both sending and receiving.For details and screenshots, visit

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1158512545467625112006-09-17T12:02:00.000-05:002006-09-17T12:02:25.733-05:00

On the heels of one of the largest mishaps to happen at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which said in May that data on 26.5 million veterans was stolen, comes the Circuit City credit card (a division of JP Morgan Chase) debacle.On Thursday, September 7, Chase Card Services said that it mistakenly tossed out computer tapes with the personal information of Circuit City card holders. Now

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1158175542216564272006-09-13T14:25:00.000-05:002006-09-13T14:25:42.610-05:00

eBay is a great marketplace. Whenever I need some hard-to-find item, it's one of the first places I look. And I'm not alone. More than 75 million people other people do too. So hearing about the latest security breaches that involved eBay and reselling in general didn't come as too much of a surprise. I have always preached the importance of reformatting your hard drive before you dispose of it

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1158117191085045132006-09-12T22:11:00.000-05:002006-09-12T22:34:26.330-05:00

You go to a website. It looks interesting. They tell you your information is safe. You enter your information. Some time in the future, you get a letter. Uh oh. Security has been breached. Your information isn't so safe anymore.Now I don't mean to be a prophet of doom here. This is more the exception than the rule. But, heads up. . .it does happen.Take SecondLife.com. SecondLife is a

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1157991512314169952006-09-11T11:18:00.000-05:002006-09-11T11:18:32.493-05:00

I was trying to sing, "Just Another Patch Tuesday" to the tune of "Just Another Manic Monday" by the Bangles (am I dating myself?), but I just couldn't get it to work. Ah heck, I used the title for this blog post anyway. We've got another Patch Tuesday upon us (Microsoft releases fixes the second Tuesday of every month) and while they are still issuing one "critical" and two "important" updates,

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1157814690664418992006-09-09T10:10:00.000-05:002006-09-11T11:17:31.306-05:00

Sometimes, cheaper is better.My mother always taught me, "You get what you pay for," and in most cases that's true. But when I can get a better product for less money - I'm the first person in line.So when industry analysts said that computer security products arenot only getting better, they're getting cheaper too, I did myhappy dance.And they're crediting Microsoft with the competitive

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1157413353260671302006-09-04T18:42:00.000-05:002006-09-04T19:07:14.503-05:00

I've talked about phishing in the past, and I'll continue to do so. It's that important. Every day these depraved degenerates (sorry, was that harsh?) come up with new, innovative ways to disguise phishing emails as legitimate ones.Let's take the new Apple Ipod Phishing Scheme.An email arrives in your inbox claiming that the popular music player is being shipped via FedEx and that a payment of

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1157230517775100012006-09-02T15:43:00.000-05:002006-09-03T17:21:24.316-05:00

Got kids?Do they use the Internet?As a parent, you want to ensure their experience on the Internet is safe. I hope I don't need to tell you about the evil elements lurking in cyberspace just waiting for your child to get online. There are lots of Internet monitoring software programs and parental controls you can buy for your computer. Microsoft just debuted their beta version of Live OneCare

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1157138029404157452006-09-01T14:13:00.000-05:002006-09-01T14:25:10.713-05:00

I’m a skeptic. Some would even say I’m a cynic. I just think I’m cautiously realistic. And I don’t believe everything I read or see. The Internet has opened up a whole new world for us, and unfortunately there are those who are taking advantage of that. And while these cyber scammers continue to profit from their cyber scams, we get more and more scared. Is someone trying to steal my

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1156958298757174582006-08-30T11:58:00.000-05:002006-08-30T13:01:49.090-05:00

When I'm not talking about computer security, I am addressing the issue of Identity Theft. And if you own a credit card or two, you could be an easy target. Now, nothing against the US Postal Service - I love my snail mail dearly and can be seen giddily skipping to my mailbox everyday at 2p.m. when it's delivered - but sometimes our mail doesn't quite reach its intented recipient. Delivered to

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1156015833194584992006-08-19T14:25:00.002-05:002006-08-19T14:32:32.073-05:00

The security world is still filled with daily news about Microsoft. Why can't they stay a step ahead of cyberscum?Why are their patches creating just as many problems as they're solving?Here's an interesting perspective from Charles Cooper at CNET. Microsoft security--no more second chances? Perspectives CNET News.comtechnorati tags:Microsoft, Internet+Security, Computers, Computers+Internet,

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1155264824866484722006-08-10T21:52:00.000-05:002006-08-10T22:05:42.883-05:00

I know I've been pushing about downloading the new Windows Security Updates, but I'm not alone! The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is urging people to apply the Microsoft patch as quickly as possible. Trust me, that doesn't happen often. Read more. . .Homeland Security: Fix your Windows CNET News.com. . . Stephanietechnorati tags:Microsoft, Internet, Computers, Internet Security, Computers

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1155160898001529792006-08-09T17:01:00.000-05:002006-08-09T17:01:38.106-05:00

You may be seeing something new popping up on your screen as you are surfing the Net with Google. It’s the new “Neighborhood Watch” program that resulted from partnership between search engine Goliath Google and the Stop Badware Coalition. People who attempt to go to a Web site that has been identified as risky by the coalition are taken to a warning page. "Warning – the site you are about to

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1155062572976721342006-08-08T13:42:00.000-05:002006-08-09T22:08:50.983-05:00

As we arrive at yet another big ‘Patch Tuesday’, Microsoft techies have been busy preparing 12 new security bulletins to fix holes in both Windows and Office suites. Twenty bulletins address Windows flaws, and three are for Office. Nine of these are classified as critical.Critical flaws are those that can be exploited by attackers to run unauthorized code on a personal computer without any user

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1154804655624843392006-08-05T14:04:00.000-05:002006-08-05T14:23:23.916-05:00

They’re singing from the rooftops . . . AOL is free! AOL is free! AOL will become a free service for broadband users who bring their own access.How many different ways can I say to you “run as fast as you can AWAY from AOL”? AOL, often referred to as ‘AOHell’, has lost well over half of their customers since their hayday of 40 million. Think about it. . . did over 20 million subscribers jump

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1154466868672531222006-08-01T16:12:00.000-05:002006-08-01T16:28:22.930-05:00

Microsoft is offering a free test drive of Office 2007, but they recently announced that they will be charging $1.50 per download starting on August 2. So if you want to try it out for free, do it before tomorrow.A Microsoft representative said on Friday, "Since the end of May, Beta 2 has been downloaded more than 3 million times...That's 500 percent more than what was expected," the

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1154359694910717172006-07-31T10:25:00.000-05:002006-12-21T20:49:20.890-06:00

One of the truly beautiful things about computing today is wireless networking. You can install a wireless network rather inexpensively and easily in your own home, and work on your laptop from any room in the house. A word of caution here . . . your spouse may not be too happy about you bringing your laptop to bed (trust me)!You can also access WIFI (Wireless Fidelity, or Wireless Local Area

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1154110547311218842006-07-28T13:15:00.000-05:002006-07-29T20:16:31.986-05:00

I’m a pretty independent, sometimes stubborn kind of gal, and I don’t like to be ‘forced’ to do anything.So when Microsoft announced that Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) was going to be released later this year as an “Automatic Update”, I was slightly miffed. Listen, if I don’t want IE7, then I shouldn’t have to download it onto my personal computer.But by releasing it as an Automatic Update, I won’t

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1154033262572976242006-07-27T15:46:00.000-05:002006-07-27T15:51:39.690-05:00

After this past Patch Tuesday, there is an exploit circulating now taking advantage of a new vulnerability in Power Point.There is a theory among Internet security experts that goes like this: There is a criminal organization or "somebody" looking at Microsoft applications, finding flaws and sitting on them until after Patch Tuesday - then they release an exploit into cyberspace to catch people

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1153177069262109162006-07-17T17:56:00.000-05:002006-07-29T21:43:57.300-05:00

Microsoft releases fixes the second Tuesday of every month - that's how the name "Patch Tuesday" came about.After Microsoft released 18 security fixes last Tuesday, Adobe followed suit with a couple of its own for Adobe PDF Reader software - free software used on most computers around the world.If the Adobe patches are not downloaded, the flaws could put Windows and Mac users at risk of a

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1153017207258501052006-07-15T21:33:00.000-05:002006-07-15T22:13:15.173-05:00

Eighteen, count 'em, 18 security vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows and Office software were issued fixes on Tuesday, July 11.Five of the seven security bulletins issued by Microsoft were dubbed "critical" - their most serious rating and one that gives me cause to shudder. Only one of the urgent patches was for a flaw in Windows that could be used to spread a worm. The remaining bulletins were

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1152580167656981392006-07-10T20:07:00.000-05:002006-07-11T12:52:43.343-05:00

It's a nice quiet Saturday afternoon and you decide to search the web for a new screen saver or some digital music."Wow, this is fun," you think to yourself. "And there's so much out there that's free, I don't know why people actually pay for this stuff." Well, if you decide to go the free route, I can almost guarantee that you will be the one paying. "Web security company McAfee Inc. estimates

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1152284909824425722006-07-07T10:04:00.002-05:002006-07-08T17:47:12.776-05:00

Microsoft issued an advisory yesterday (Thursday) that it will issue four bulletins for Windows flaws and three for Office. At least one Windows and one Office problem are deemed "critical," Microsoft's highest-risk category for security vulnerabilities.The company will also update its Malicious Software Removal Tool through its Windows Update service.What does this mean to you? Make sure you

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1152053123400950232006-07-04T17:43:00.000-05:002006-07-04T17:52:11.170-05:00

Planning your summer vacation? Researching a new computer purchase? This new Google tool makes your web research a snap. Check it out! Google NotebookGoogle Notebook makes web research of all kinds – from planning a vacation to researching a school paper to buying a car – easier and more efficient by enabling you to clip and gather information even while you're browsing the web. And since Google

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1151722079328133262006-06-30T21:47:00.000-05:002006-06-30T21:47:59.336-05:00

Does today's computer lingo have you confused? The other day, my niece sent me an email and signed it "LYLAS." I had no idea what she was saying, and I assumed it wasn't a typo because she is extremely bright!Not wanting her to know that her Aunt wasn't cool, I looked it up myself instead of asking her for a translation. If you want to communicate in chat rooms and forums, or you just want to

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1151371119918379872006-06-26T20:07:00.000-05:002006-07-07T10:33:51.160-05:00

Microsoft today released a new free test version of their new Office 2007. In the name of convenience, Microsoft designed it so you don't even have to download any software or replace your current version of Office. "The online test drive offers the perfect opportunity for everyone to experience an easier and better way to work," Microsoft said. Don't expect the new Office 2007 to look anything

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1151028563982805312006-06-22T20:23:00.000-05:002006-06-23T21:58:30.203-05:00

Do you know what Signature Files are? If you're thinking that's what you use when you sign off on your emails, I'd have to say that you don't have 1 Clean Computer on the brain! Signature File Updates ensure that your PC is protected from the latest and greatest viruses. It is absolutely critical that you have the latest Signature File Updates on your PC. Every day new viruses, worms and other

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1150589141121114692006-06-17T19:05:00.000-05:002006-06-20T13:37:08.706-05:00

One way to ensure you are protecting your computer is to get Windows Updates as soon as they are released. Microsoft often offer patches and security solutions for your current version of Windows.I recommend doing this automatically, so you don't have to remember to check for them. It's easy. . . In XP, click Start, Control Panel, Security Settings (if you're in Category view), Automatic Updates.

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1150341077732942582006-06-14T22:10:00.000-05:002006-06-14T22:11:17.743-05:00

A new email virus, or worm, has targeted Yahoo! Mail users – the world’s largest provider of email services with over 200 million accounts. Though Yahoo! said on Monday that the worm has infected “a very small fraction” of its accounts, it spreads rapidly and there aren’t even attachments to open to activate the virus. The Yahoo! email user only needs to open the email for the worm’s full

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1150248504283662212006-06-13T20:19:00.000-05:002006-06-13T20:28:24.293-05:00

Ever wonder if your computer is "up to speed?" Whether you're on a dial up (telephone line) connection, cable connection or DSL, it's nice to know if your connection is as fast as it should be. If it's not, it may be time to put in a call to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Take the test a couple of times for the most accurate results.

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1149736675223514442006-06-07T22:15:00.000-05:002006-12-21T20:46:53.946-06:00

Don't you just love text messaging? I do. It's quick, easy and cheap. While the human element of voice contact is gone, you can certainly get your message out more quickly and efficiently - especially if you need to communicate the same message to more than one person. There are great ways to text your family, friends and business associates right from your computer. You don't even need a cell

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1149442209440209162006-06-04T12:29:00.000-05:002006-06-04T12:30:33.376-05:00

You know it's going to happen someday, don't you? Your computer is going to fail - what with memory loss, hard drive crashes, theft and viruses. It's just a matter of when. So what's your plan? Well, you can back up your data onto CDs or DVDs, you can purchase and use an external hard drive, you can back up your data between several computers. . . heck, you can even back up your data onto an

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1149105892113812762006-05-31T15:00:00.000-05:002006-06-01T22:51:27.890-05:00

OK, looks like Symantec was working triple time over the holiday weekend. I have to give credit where credit is due - and they do deserve credit for issuing a patch for this vulnerability so quickly. . .especially in a field where it usually takes weeks or months to correct these kinds of flaws."Symantec is a company used to responding rapidly," Vincent Weafer, a senior director at Symantec

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1148606401845835252006-05-25T20:18:00.000-05:002006-12-21T20:45:59.616-06:00

One of the best ways to fight crime is the same offline or online. What to do? Report it! IC3, or The Internet Crime Complaint Center, is a partnership between the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Nation White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). It is considered a centralized source for reporting Internet crime. There are different agencies to report different crimes - everything from child

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1148606179661822112006-05-25T20:07:00.000-05:002006-05-27T20:07:08.400-05:00

Uh oh. Looks like Symantec's Norton Antivirus made a big boo-boo. The Associated Press via CNN.com broke a story that headlines, "Symantec Corp.'s leading antivirus software, which protects some of the world's largest corporations and U.S. government agencies, suffers from a flaw that lets hackers seize control of computers to steal sensitive data, delete files or implant malicious programs,

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1148351833577406882006-05-22T21:25:00.000-05:002006-05-22T22:17:52.493-05:00

Most people want to stay off the IRS radar screen. Nobody jumps up and down and says to the IRS "Hey look over here! Look at me!" But apparently there are idiots who do just that. Now we have to beware of Tax Refund Phishing Scams. Yes, people have websites where they actually pose as the IRS just to get your personal information. You almost have to give these idiots points for creativity! Just

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1148235808340556152006-05-21T13:17:00.000-05:002006-12-21T20:44:14.996-06:00

Let’s face it, we spend a lot of money on our toys. We buy expensive and sophisticated computers, entertainment centers and electronic equipment. And yet, as sophisticated as our electronics are, they are still not equipped to protect themselves against voltage attacks. Are you willing to risk irreparable damage to your computer because you didn’t buy the proper surge protector?Surge protectors

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1148175592236264302006-05-20T17:48:00.000-05:002006-05-20T20:42:54.206-05:00

You got a new computer, and now you have to decide what to do with the old one? Well, if you're not going to keep it, you do have a couple of options:1) Donate it - if it's less than 5 years old, and in good working condition.2) Recycle it.Whatever you choose, make certain you completely clean off your hard drive first. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives you all the information you

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1147925853318332582006-05-17T23:08:00.000-05:002006-05-21T19:22:18.683-05:00

There are times when we need to make certain that personal, sensitive information is completely erased from our computers. Especially if you use your work computer for personal business (let me say upfront that I do not condone it!), you will find it necessary to completely erase your history from the computer.Eraser is a secure data removal tool for Windows. It completely removes sensitive data

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1147747072394998272006-05-15T20:47:00.000-05:002006-05-21T19:22:01.490-05:00

Ok, we've talked about getting free information off the Internet and the need to take precautions.I can't say it better than John Hopkins University in their article about evaluating information you find on the Internet.Basically, what they say is that you should consider:1) who wrote the article and what are their qualifications2) who published it - an organization or an individual3) everybody

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1147532180253692492006-05-13T09:38:00.000-05:002006-05-13T11:41:04.116-05:00

There's a lot of cool stuff to be found on the Internet. Some of it's free. Some of it's not. Before you throw caution to the wind and assume all the information and freebies you find are treasures at the end of the rainbow. . . WAIT! There are certain precautions you should take. Especially if you are investing hard-earned dollars or downloading questionable software onto your computer.You can

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1147469627976071172006-05-12T16:20:00.000-05:002006-05-12T16:36:21.066-05:00

One of the best ways to keep your computer running is by keeping it clean - inside and out. The benefits of having a clean computer cannot be argued:1) Save time - when your computer is in the shop, it's not at home! 2) Save money - after just one visit to the shop for repair or cleaning, you'll know exactly what I mean! $$$$$$$3) Protect your information and privacy - yes, with a "clean"

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1147401297819692972006-05-11T21:21:00.000-05:002006-05-12T12:00:08.856-05:00

Phishing are emails that pretend to come from a company or bank. Their objective is to get you to click a link in the email they send so you will log onto your account - thus giving them your password and free access to any money you have in that account. It's dirty, it's unethical and it's illegal. So how do you protect yourself?First, check to see who the email is addressed to. Any company you

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1147318883533686652006-05-10T22:08:00.000-05:002006-05-13T11:41:19.540-05:00

One of my peeves is phishing scams. The last one I got was an email that appeared to be from PayPal telling me they received a payment I made in the amount of $298.85 for a Sony Ericsson W800i Camera made payable to a Larry Stark in Fresno, CA. I had to use their link to log onto my account if I wanted to dispute the charges.What really got me about this one is that it appeared like an invoice -

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0