The Last Day of 2009… And Some Safety Tips

I want to thank all of you, Dear Readers; for your questions, and comments, and for just stopping by. You made 2009 a phenomenal year for me and Tech – for Everyone. I hope I will see even more of you in the new year.

I am a safety & security-conscious sort, and so I would like to remind you that,  “New Year’s Eve is a night that is ripe for the occurrence of any untoward event. It should not only be left to the law to take care that nothing bad happens. There are a host of safety measures that people can take for their own good on the big night…” and I invite you to read Safety Tips for New Years Eve

The text (and article link) comes from a website I discovered while researching online safety tips. The site is called Buzzle.com, and I was impressed by its list of categories. I am providing the direct links. Maybe one or two will catch your eye… I marked a couple, for you techy-types.
Safety Tips
Baby Safety
Car Safety
Cell Phone Safety
Child Safety
Computer Safety <——–
Driving Safety
Electrical Safety
Fire Safety
Food Safety
Internet Safety <——–
Road Safety
Safety
Safety Glasses
School Safety
Water Safety
Workplace Safety
Children & Family Attractions & Entertainment
Children Sports
Children’s Art & Literature
Computers & Internet <——–
Events & Holidays
Kids News
Kids’ Health & Fitness Learning & Playing
Parenting
People & Places
Philosophy Topics
Teenagers & Young Adults
Children & Family Articles

So please have a safe celebration, and allow me to wish you and yours a Happy New Year!

Copyright 2007-9 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved. post to jaanix

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Tech Paul’s Friend of the Internet Surfer Award for December

C/Net’s Download.com & Seth Rosenblatt Win For Best Safe & Free Downloads

Folks, not too long ago, I started a brand new feature on Tech – for Everyone and I called it the Friend Of The Internet Surfer Award. My intention with this was to bring to your attention, Dear Reader, people and their websites who are worthy of special mention due to the fact that they are looking out for us — the “average computer user” — and helping us to have a better, safer, online experience.

I have been a fan of Download.com for many, many years, and it is one of the first places I go when I need to download the latest version of my favorite freeware. Why? Because I trust the Editor’s Reviews and I know that my download will not contain a Trojan — Download.com is a safe (and legal) place to download. And their collection of titles is ginormous (read: “huge!”)

Let’s face it, downloading free programs is fun.

(And I’ve been a fan of CNet since I first started tinkering with PC’s. CNET is the premier destination for tech product reviews, news and price comparisons, free software downloads, daily videos, and podcasts, tutorials, and more.)

 Which is why I am awarding the 3rd Tech Paul’s Friend Of The Internet Surfer to CNet’s Download.com, specifically, but also I would like to ‘co-honor’ editor Seth Rosenblatt. Seth is a regular author on the “Download Blog”, and his “area” is the Microsoft Windows software: I have not disagreed with anything of his that I’ve read.

One thing I would like to especially point out to you, Dear Reader, is that Seth has assembled what are called ‘Starter Kits‘. “The Windows Starter Kit is a collection of some of the best and most essential freeware to get your new PC going. From browsers to productivity to utilities, we cover all the bases. If you’re looking for the best in security freeware, check out our Security Starter Kit for all your antivirus needs. Essential utilities have earned their own kit, too: the Windows Utilities Starter Kit.”

So, congratulations to Seth Rosenblatt and Download.com. You’ve earned a big tip of my Geek hat.

Related links:
First-ever Tech Paul’s Friend Of The Internet Surfer Award
Tech Paul’s Friend of the Internet Surfer Award for October

Copyright 2007-9 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved. post to jaanix

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Tech – for Everyone

Recently I was contacted by the editor in chief of the Computer Shopper and learned that this website had been honored, along with five other top tech blogs, as a “Blog We Like” for the month of December.

The Computer Shopper has been around for years (established in 1980) and is recognized for their advice and consumer reviews of computer and technology products.  It is a great place to keep on top of what is new in the world of computers and technology.

You can read the full review here.

The five other tech blogs featured in the December’s roundup of the Computer Shopper’s – Blogs We Like were:

Ask Dave Taylor

Ask Leo

Techlicious

Tune Up Blog

What’s On My PC?

To the editor in chief of Computer Shopper, I Thank You for this recognition, and mentioning me to you readers.

Copyright 2007-9 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved. post to jaanix

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Windows Does Not “Requires Immediate Attention”…*

Chat Message Scares Reader Into Installing Malware

Folks, criminals are once again using Skype to send phishing “chats” in an attempt to defraud you. So, I am re-posting this article. It is the exact same ruse I first warned of in early ’08, but the name has changed.
This attack will reappear every so often with a slightly different name and URL… It is a classic scareware attack.

Yesterday a Skype chat window opened on my machine, and presented me with a dire warning from someone named “Software Update” “Registry Scan Online®” Today’s flavor (I think it was “OnlineUpdate.org”..). It said that “WINDOWS REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION” and, it provided me with a solution. 

(Click on image to see large version)

Please, folks, tell me you have spotted this for what it is. Please tell me that you knew –instantly– that this is a cybercrime attempt; that it is Phraud-ulent.

Please tell me that you know what will happen if the link provided in this message is clicked; and, please, please, please tell me you would never click the link.

Just in case you aren’t sure:
* “Software Update”, “Registry Scan Online ®”,  Today’s flavor, doesn’t exist.
* “www.onlinemonitor.info”, “www.registryscan.com”, Today’s flavor, is not registered in ARIN (the registry of Internet addresses).
* clicking the link will allow scripts to run, and/or take you to a poisoned Website which will install malware on your machine, or/and it may take you to a site that will sell you a rogue anti-spyware program
(please read my article, Is that antispyware program really spyware).

* Microsoft DOES NOT alert you via Instant Messaging. No legitimate company does. Period. Ever.
This is a classic example of a hacker’s attempt to get you to click their link.

All of this so they can rip you off. It’s these cyber-criminal’s full time job.

Please point your less-savvy friends and family to this article and educate them to the dangers of spam (unsolicited) messages and tell them– NEVER CLICK THE LINK. (Yes, I am shouting. 2010 is days away, and I still have to say this everyday.. Sigh.)
[Note: while this article directly references the VoIP client Skype, you may see this type of thing in other Instant Messaging/Chat programs, and social networking communications.]

[addenda: Peter Parkes (Skype Blogger) wrote and asked me to remind my readers to, quote, “Please report users who send these messages to abuse@skype.net – that will help us to block them where appropriate.”]

Today’s free downloads(s): I have assembled on my Website a collection of links to the best free anti-malware programs to help you prevent infection.. and clean up if you’ve been infected. To see them, click here.

How to Avoid Facebook and Twitter Disasters

Take Some Practical Steps To Control What Others See About You

Folks, today I want to refer you to a well-written, entertaining, and informative article which gives you a wonderful introduction to the etiquette of, and is a great How To on, the ‘smart’ use of social networking.

“…we’ve outlined here a handful of common disastrous scenarios in which one (or both) of these social networks was misused, as well as the best way to prevent or remedy the problem. But in the end you’ll find that the fundamental lesson is invariably the same, and that’s to remember the golden rule of all social networks: Never forget that the whole world is watching…”

To read the rest, please click here. (Even if you are not a “social networker”, you might enjoy this read..)

Facebook users should be aware of recent changes to the “settings” and privacy features. See, Five Facebook Privacy Issues You Should Know About

Copyright 2007-9 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved. post to jaanix

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Got A Computer? Top 10 Things You Should Do*

Top 10 things you should do to your computer

It is a holiday weekend, and so today I am re-posting an article which aggregates what I believe are the most important computer tips into a single checklist…a “Top 10″ list. Click on the blue links to get more instructions on the topic.

There are several things a PC owner should do to have a healthy computer and be safer from cyber criminals when they browse the Internet. Not surprisingly, I have covered these topics over the course of writing this six-days-a-week series of articles. So I thought I would put the more important ones into a single list — a “Top 10 List” — and provide direct links (blue text) to the articles which cover the How To steps of making these things happen… and provide you with a simple way to find out what you need to do, compared to what you’ve done already. In case you missed one, or two.

Tip of the day: Run down this list, and ask yourself, “have I done that?” to each one.

1) Install an antivirus, and keep it up-to-date (with the latest “definitions”).
To read my articles on malware, click here. To see a list of links to free antivirus programs, click here. To read my article on how to configure your antivirus for maximum protection, click here.

2) Install two anti-spyware apps, with one having “active” shielding.
To read all my articles which discuss spyware, click here. To see a list of links to free anti-spyware programs, click here.

3) Install a 3rd Party firewall OR turn on the Widows Firewall.
* If you have a home router or Wireless AP, make sure its firewall is enabled (NAT).

4) Enable Automatic Updates from Microsoft (and either set it to automatically install [for the non-geeky] or to prompt for install [for the hands-on type]) and set your programs to “automatically check for updates”.
And then actually click on the “Install” button when told there are updates available.. and please, do not tell them to “go away, you’re busy.”

5) Password protect your User Accounts.

6) Make a (monthly) system backup.. or at least a “files and settings” backup.. and store a copy — on two different types of media — someplace other than your hard drive.
To read all my articles on backups, click here.

7) Upgrade to IE 8 and/or an “alternative” Web browser (like Firefox, Opera, or Avant). Click here to read my articles on browsers and browsing.

8: Use strong (and complex) passwords. Everywhere. And change them every so often.

9) “Optimize” your hard drive. Sometimes you’ll hear this referred to as “file system maintenance”; basically it means to clean old files and ‘build up’ and “defrag” your machine for faster performance.

10) Tell Windows to show file extensions.

* (Windows XP/older):
– Use the NTFS file system, and disable Simple File Sharing.
– Rename the Administrator account.

* (Laptops) Encrypt your hard drive.

There is more you can do to optimize your PC (of course) and the odds are good that I have told you the steps in a prior article, as I’ve written over 900 of them– so far, and I invite you type the word “optimize” into my Search box and see what comes up.

I hope this find-it-in-one-spot review has been helpful to you, and I hope you all have a “super” holiday.

Today’s free downloads: By clicking the links above, you will see all the previously posted downloads, of which there are many. And, also, there are links to more free links in no’s 1 and 2 above.

* And for those of you lucky folks who have a brand new PC… Whenever you buy a new computer, it will come preloaded with all sorts of trialware (as it’s called) that most of us don’t want. If you have just purchased a new PC, download and run the wonderful PC Decrapifier and clean off that *stuff*.

Copyright 2007-9 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved. post to jaanix

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Happy Holidays