Reason to try Firefox

Hot news, about Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7!

Surprise, surprise, another security alert:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7784908.stm

If you've not tried Firefox yet, now is the perfect time. You'll like it - trust me, I'm an IT professional!

You can have a try with any of the other web browsers mentioned, but for me Firefox is the best of the bunch.

Go on, give it a go!

Fake Scares

I'm afraid some people have a warped sense of humour, and seem to delight in scaring people. There are various hoaxes going the rounds, specifically associated with Christmas. They usually involve a warning about opening an email attachment (good - always safe to be cautious about unexpected messages and attachments), and dire predictions of the consequences, sometimes involving completely trashing your hard drive.

Technically, it's virtually impossible to do what the message predicts, but that doesn't stop the email looking scary and sending a shiver down the spine.

Before forwarding the message to your entire addressbook (which is what the perpetrators want you to do!), check it out via Google. And if you discover any hoaxes at this festive season, please contribute to this blog, so that we can all benefit - and sleep easier in our beds!

Social network users are alerted to Koobface worm

Facebook, MySpace and Bebo users are being warned about the resurgence of a virus-like worm called Koobface that will try to infect their PCs and seek credit card details. Koobface spreads by sending messages to users of social networking sites such as "Are you sure this is your first acting experience?", "is it u there?", "impressive. i'm sure it's you on this video" and offering a web link. When users click on the link it says they need to download new software to see the video and clicking on this downloads the worm. Apple and Linux systems are unaffected.
Charles Arthur, in the Guardian, 10 December 2008

Email Scams (Again!)

Courtesy of Sophos, here is one of the latest ways to download a virus to your computer:

Email malware flying high
----
Regardless of whether you are planning to go anywhere special this holiday season, cybercriminals are ramping up a new malicious email campaign, posing as an airline ticket from one of several well-known airlines. Would you open the attachment when they tell you that they have already charged your credit card?
http://www.sophos.com/blogs/gc/g/2008/12/04/email-malware-flying-high

Be careful out there!

Windows 7

Here's a link to a preview of Microsoft Windows 7:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7696648.stm

It makes the point that Windows 7 is going to be "...what Vista should have been like ...".

That prompts the thought that those of us persisting with XP should continue with it, and wait for the official arrival of Windows 7 (rather than migrate to Vista now).

Any new version of Windows causes controversy - and not just because of the money we shall have to shell out! We can only hope that Microsoft has learnt from the relative debacle of Vista as it prepares to present us with Windows 7.

Microsoft Emergency Update

Microsoft has issued a security update as a matter of urgency.

If you have set Automatic Updates correctly, you should have seen the "yellow shield" by now.

Full details about the emergency update are at:

http://windowssecrets.com/comp/081024

(This website's email newsletter is well worth subscribing to.)

Happy days!

The Credit Crunch and Your PC

As I write, governments around the world are fighting to preserve their financial systems, on which rest the success (or otherwise) of their economies.

So now isn't a good time to be thinking about spending money! As the recession bites (and it will), all of us will have to cut back on our spending. Which is tough, especially as Christmas is approaching.

It's also part of the nature of IT and PCs, that changes and developments happen faster than we can save up to get them! The latest whatever is almost immediately out-of-date, such is the speed of change these days. That new PC seems even more remote.

But there are ways to get that "nearly as good as new" feel about your existing PC, without actually getting a new one. And it could be a whole lot cheaper. So now is the time to think about two things for your PC: a good service from a qualified engineer, and some well-chosen upgrades.

Service:
If you're reading this in the South Manchester area (UK), then you can give TLC Computer Servicing a call (details form the website: www.tlc-computing.co.uk) for a very reasonable price for an exceptionally thorough service (full report included);

Upgrades
1. Possibly the best way to improve the performance of your PC is to add extra RAM, the "working memory" part of the system. And prices are very reasonable at the moment.

2. To provide extra storage (for photos, music, important documents, etc), you could invest in an External Hard Disk. It could also provide you with a handy way of backing up those precious files, an excellent habit to cultivate. Again prices are very good at the moment - for example, about £60.00 can buy you 160GB of extra storage.

3. If you still have a bulky TV-type monitor on your desk, why not treat yourself to (or ask Father Christmas to bring it for you!) a flat-screen monitor? Again, prices at the present are very reasonable.

4. What about a wireless mouse and keyboard? Another Christmas present idea?

5. Or a USB hub - saves you having to poke around at the back of your PC (I've got one with lovely coloured lights - makes my desk like the Starship Enterprise!).

So, don't despair! A modest outlay could add some quality to your PC, extend its life, and give you time to save up ready for the return of the good times. And TLC Computer Servicing can help, by supplying items for yourself or as presents for others. Here's hoping!

Happy computing!

Fake Antivirus Software Offer

There's a very nasty scam going around in the guise of an offer to rid your computer of a virus. You get a pop-up message warning you of an infection, and recommending you download one of two programs to remove it: "Antivirus XP 2008" or "XP Antivirus 2009".

Please do not be tempted, as the result is a nasty case of malware that can seriously mess up your PC. And it costs you good money to get infected. I know - I've dealt with two cases recently.

Please never act on messages that suddenly appear on screen. That in itself is a sign that something is lurking in your computer that ought not to be there.

If you do get a "warning", check your computer with a known reputable virus scanner; you should use the scan facility on your current antivirus software, or go to an online scanner like BitDefender. For the home user, a free program like MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware is worth installing, as it is very successful at finding and removing malware.

If you suspect you are being targeted for such a scam, consult your friendly local computer service engineer before downloading and paying for a very unpleasant dose of virus infection.

Be careful out there!

Love Your Hard Drive

Perhaps above any other part of the PC, we all rely on the hard disk. It runs our programs, and it stores our precious data - pictures, music, accounts, letters, etc - until it fails. And that's the scary bit.

As well as doing regular backups of important files (hint, hint!), we really ought to look after it. There are ways of checking the health of your HDD, and one of them, a program called ChkDsk, is part of Windows.

Then there are free programs that do a little more, by accessing the data that the HDD stores about itself, the so-called SMART data. HD Tune is a recommended free program.

And then each company that manufactures HDDs provides a free Drive Fitness Test program, to download and run.

I know, it's a bit fiddly, so that's why it's good that there are people like me around, to do the job for you! For a consideration, of course.

If you're in the south Manchester, UK, area, get in touch: 0161 870 2563, for a full HDD health check, with detailed report.

News of Nasties

So glad you've found my blog. This is my way of keeping in touch with helpful information and advice. Well, that's my plan!

So here goes:

Warning #01
There's a nasty email going the rounds. It announces an update to Internet Explorer 7, and provides a link to a website where you can download the update.

Do not go there! Your computer is likely to get infected. The only safe place for IE7 updates is the Microsoft website.

By the way, you do get automatic notice of MS updates? Second Tuesday/Wednesday in the month is MS Update Day.

In the meantime, happy computing!