Review: Best Internet Security Suites 2016
Folks, the guy I trust has published his product reviews for the all-important software category of Internet Security for 2016.
* Stay Safe With a Security Suite
“Using your computer for games and social media is fun; keeping it safe isn’t. A security suite can be your one-stop solution. We’ve tested almost four dozen of them, and these 10 get our highest recommendation.” Read more..
I cannot say often or fervently enough that one simply must do everything they can to protect themselves from the scumbuckets and nation-states who have ruined the Internet. It is a most dangerous place. Far worse than we can know. Do what you can!
(And that title should say “safer”, not “safe”. No product is bulletproof.)(And no product protects you from you. Careful what you click!)
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Today’s quote: “It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.” ~ Winston Churchill
Copyright 2007-2015 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.
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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.
New tech security resource
Also, a $99 “PC Stick” (That comes with Windows 10)
Sharp-eyed readers will have noticed that I, for the first time in ages, have added a new referral link to my ‘blogroll’; CNet’s recently announced Security and Antivirus Center. I recommend taking a look-see.
* The best security apps and expert advice
“Today we’re thrilled to launch our new Security and Antivirus Center. Our goal: to give you the tools and tactics you need to protect your privacy, your data, and your devices. You’ll find guides, reviews, and how-tos, including tips on banishing bloatware from your PC, tweaking your browser settings for better security, and building better passwords. We’re especially pleased to present our Best recommendations: we’ve tested security software and services and have declared a winner for best VPN, best password manager, and best cloud backup. Come check it out and let us know what else you’d like to see.” Read more..
Other Items (of possible interest):
* The best tool for protecting your kids (or employees) from malware and porn
“One of the industry’s best security tools gives a hand to frazzled parents.” Read more..
[Note: worth reading even if you are not a parent, IMHO.]
* Archos $99 PC Stick is latest Windows computer that fits in your pocket
“The French device maker joins Lenovo and Intel in offering a miniature system that connects to your HDTV via HDMI, but its version is cheaper and will ship with Windows 10 pre-installed.” Read more..
Today’s quote: “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” ~ Yogi Berra
Copyright 2007-2015 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.
>> Folks, don’t miss an article! To get Tech – for Everyone articles delivered to your e-mail Inbox, click here, or to subscribe in your RSS reader, click here. <<
All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.
Sticking with Windows XP? Read This.
Securing XP PCs after Microsoft drops support
Folks, I know many of you have perfectly functioning older PC’s that you intend to stick with until the wheels fall off (and, many of us have games and programs that will only run on XP). Most know that Microsoft is ending “support” for XP very, very soon.
My advice is to ‘upgrade’ to a Windows 7 (64-bit) machine if you can still find one (online shopping at a manufacturer’s “for business” section is your best bet), or if you must, Windows 8.1. But if this isn’t your plan, please read this article and follow it’s advice, to make your XP as ‘safe’ as possible.
* Securing XP PCs after Microsoft drops support
“All good things must come to an end; in less than four months, Microsoft will officially end support for Windows XP.
Here are the steps I’ll take to ensure that my remaining XP machines are as secure as they can be.” Read more..
[Note: Many of the article’s tips can be applied to newer versions of Windows, too.]
Today’s quote: “Those who improve with age embrace the power of personal growth and personal achievement and begin to replace youth with wisdom, innocence with understanding, and lack of purpose with self-actualization.” ~ Bo Bennett
Copyright 2007-2014 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.
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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.
12 Scams of Christmas (and Yahoo, too)
Folks, as we approach the Holidays, please be aware, and remind your friends and family, that we are now in the peak scam, ripoff, fraud, and – of course! – phishing season. The vermin are happily and busily creating phony online stores, and filling our Inboxes, Faceboook, and Twitter with bait and lures of all types.
“Holiday shoppers can expect cybercriminals to be out in force this season,” said Michael Kaiser, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance. “Shoppers should be alert to scams and other attempts to lure them to provide personal and financial information that could lead to data loss or the infection of an Internet connected device. We encourage everyone to STOP. THINK. CONNECT. and make sure they have taken security precautions, understand the consequences of actions and behavior and enjoy the benefits of holiday shopping online.”
McAfee has released a list of the most popular scams on the Internet during the holiday season. You can see them here: 12 Scams of Christmas
We should/can take steps to increase our safety, security and confidence online with these simple tips:
- Keep a Clean Machine: All the devices you use for shopping – including smartphones and tablets – should have up-to-date software including security software, operating systems and other key programs and apps.
- When in Doubt, Throw it Out: Links in email, tweets, posts, and online advertising are often the way cybercriminals compromise your computer. If it looks suspicious, even if you know the source, it’s best to delete it.
- Think Before you Act: Be wary of communications that offer amazing deals that sound too good to be true, implore you to act immediately – including indicating a problem with an order or payment—or ask you to view the website or an account via a provided link.
- Protect your Personal Information: Be alert to the kinds and amount of information being collected during transactions. Information requested should only be enough to complete the transaction. Only fill out required fields on checkout forms. Check the website’s privacy policy.
- Use Safe Payment Options: Credit cards are generally the safest option. They allow buyers to seek a credit from the issuer if the product isn’t delivered or isn’t what was ordered. Credit cards may limit the monetary amount you will be responsible if your account is compromised. Never send cash through the mail or use a money-wiring service.
- Make Sure the Site is Legitimate: This includes a closed padlock on your web browser’s address bar or a URL address that begins with shttp or https. Check reviews of sites you have never used before.
- Keep a Paper Trail: Save records of your online transactions, including the product description, price, online receipt, terms of the sale, and copies of any email exchange with the seller.
Yes, great deals can be found. I am not saying don’t shop online — but I am saying now is the time to double-up on your “paranoid common sense”. Nobody’s protecting you; there’s no “Internet police”. But there are *scumbuckets* intent (focused like a laser beam) on stealing from you. Thousands and thousands (and thousands!) of them.
This looks suspicious to me too
Um… But I don’t have an Am Ex Merchant Account…
There’s a whole stack of other depressing news, too. But I’ll spare you. I’ll just say – again – let’s be careful out there. Be well, at your earliest easement.
Update: I’m on my third day of Yahoo Mail uh, um, ‘technical difficulties’ (which they first called “routine maintenance”). I’m not alone. Yahoo forced to acknowledge Yahoo Mail problems in worst failure yet
“After a public UI and technical failure with its October redesign, Yahoo Mail miraculously gets worse as it goes. And then, Yahoo acknowledges delivery failures stretching back to November 25.” Read more..
Do you Yahoo? It’s a good (and valuable) read even if you don’t.
Today’s quote: “When the pupil is ready, the teacher appears.” ~ ?
Copyright 2007-2013 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.
>> Folks, don’t miss an article! To get Tech – for Everyone articles delivered to your e-mail Inbox, click here, or to subscribe in your RSS reader, click here. <<
All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.
How To Restore the Menu bar | Best Internet Security
In older versions of Windows, the menu bar was always visible in Explorer. In Vista and Windows 7, (and many programs too) the menu bar is now hidden by default, and you must press the ALT key to see it. These simple steps will cause it to always be visible.
(The “menu bar” gives you the familiar File | Edit | View |Tools | Help ‘drop down’ menus)
1) Launch Explorer by opening Computer (or Documents, or Pictures..), then press ALT to access the menu bar.
2) Click on Tools and then on Folder options.
3) In the Folder Options window, click on the View tab, and click to place a check in Always show menus.
4) Click on Apply and then OK.
That’s it. You’re done. (Should you decide you prefer the “more screen real estate” no menu bar look, simply repeat the steps and un-check the box.)
For other (specific) programs, you may have to hunt around a bit for the Show Menu bar setting; but usually it is under the View menu (visible after pressing Alt).
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Reading reco’s:
* The Best Security Suites of 2013
“Yes, new versions of security suites are coming in every day, but we want to keep you up to date. We’ve reviewed 28 packages to help you choose which is best for you.” Read more..
* Surprise at the GoDaddy outage? Vulnerable networks are ticking bombs
“Bob Eisenhardt sees the GoDaddy outage as the tip of iceberg for vulnerable networks from banks to infrastructure. His take is pessimistic. Do you disagree?
…The GoDaddy incident could be viewed as a staggering breach of web-based commerce, and Steve Wozniak has it precisely correct when the guru-savant of Apple predicted the security risks of storing data “in” the cloud. A partner of mine (a certified BCP/DR planner) feels precisely the same way about the inherent dangers of cloud-based storage. The list of consequences is actually endless if you ponder the imponderables of it all.” Read more
* Cisco Acquires ThinkSmart Technologies For Wi-Fi Location Analytics
“By acquiring ThinkSmart Technologies, Cisco plans to use the company’s Intellify Wi-Fi location analytics technology to expand its customers’ ability to track mobile users within a venue for a variety of business intelligence uses.” Read more..
Data Mining. Tracking. Yippee yahoo.
(They don’t need to track me with GPS and WiFi triangulation.. I update foursquare every chance I get!)
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Today’s free download: (an “oldie but a goodie”) It has been a while since I have mentioned one of my fave little computer protection apps – WinPatrol.
Clean up your Taskbar, ActiveX, Brower and Startup programs. WinPatrol monitors and exposes adware, keyloggers, spyware, worms, cookies, and other malicious software. This program puts you back in control of your computer with no need for constant updates.
Download WinPatrol (Window XP, Vista, Windows 7 including x64 support)
Today’s quotable quote: “Action without study is fatal. Study without action is futile.” ~ Mary Beard
Copyright 2007-2012 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.
>> Folks, don’t miss an article! To get Tech – for Everyone articles delivered to your e-mail Inbox, click here, or to subscribe in your RSS reader, click here. <<
All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.
Rrruff! (video tutorial)
Okay. I admit. That is a weird title for a tech article. Maybe too weird?
Unless, maybe, you know who Scotty is.
Today, an “oldie but a goodie”! It has been a while since I have mentioned one of my favorite little free computer protection apps – WinPatrol.
Clean up your Taskbar, ActiveX, Brower and Startup programs. WinPatrol monitors and exposes adware, keyloggers, spyware, worms, cookies, and other malicious software. This program puts you back in control of your computer with no need for constant updates.
I not only have been using WinPatrol forever, highly recommend it, count it as one of those few apps and programs that is fersher worth the small fee to “go Pro” (aka “paid version”), but I like the author.
You do not need to be “computer savvy” to benefit from having WinPatrol on your PC, but Über Geeks will find plenty to fiddle with (aka “good, advanced, tools”). Improve performance and enhance your online safety. That’s a “win”.
Today I have a video ‘demonstration’ of WinPatrol, made by a fellow blogger.. which will give you an idea of what it does (and why you want it). Again, you do not have to be as savvy as is shown, or open all those menus — he’s trying to show all that it can do.
Today’s free download: Download WinPatrol (Window XP, Vista, Windows 7 – includes 64 bit support. There’s a “portable” version as well.)
Today’s Bonus: Five things you should know before trying to fix a smartphone or tablet
“Bill Detwiler shares essential advice for everyone who wants to repair a cracked iPad screen or broken smartphone.” watch video..
Today’s quotable quote: “The thoughts of Plato and Machiavelli… don’t seem quite enough armor for a world beset with splitting the atoms, urban guerrillas, nineteen varieties of psychotherapists, amplified guitars, napalm, computers, astronauts, and an atmosphere polluted simultaneously with auto exhaust and TV commercials.” ~ John Fischer
Copyright 2007-2012 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.
>> Folks, don’t miss an article! To get Tech – for Everyone articles delivered to your e-mail Inbox, click here, or to subscribe in your RSS reader, click here. <<
All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.
• About Tech Paul
I am a Retired computer & network technician. I used to think the machines were pretty cool. Now I don’t.
They’re anything but.
I regularly posted how-to’s and tricks & tips and general computing advice here starting in 2007. (Use the Search tool to find answers. But be aware, many are rather dated.) Sometimes I answered (your) specific questions in an article if I believed the answer was generally helpful to “everyone”. All the writing you see was my own, typos and all. There always is/was an implied “IMHO” in what you see here.
Note: You are responsible for using this blog and its content. I am in no way liable for any losses caused by user error, viruses and/or other malware, hardware or software failure, or any other conceivable reason.
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