Key Programs to Keep Up-to-date

The main reason software producers provide updates is to plug security holes in their software. That is especially true of those programs nearly all of us have in our systems. If I were a creator of malicious and destructive viruses, I'd want to go for maximum impact, so I'd choose a program or operating system that is most used. (That's the reason Apple Macs have not been attacked by viruses, not because their operating system is "better" than any other, it's just not used by a significant number of people to be of interest to the virus creators.)

For example, Adobe Reader (the free version) has been the subject of a number of security updates recently, simply because nearly all of us use it to access pdf files and the virus makers found a security hole in earlier versions.

So, which are the programs we should all regularly make sure are up-to-date? Here are some suggestions:

• Adobe Reader (as mentioned above)
• Adobe Flash Player - because we all use it for the moving image bits of websites
• Java Runtime Environment - it sits there doing nothing most of the time, but occasionally other programs require it, and it is the only form of Java freely available
• Apple iTunes (and other Apple software) - especially in households with teenagers, as it is the place for downloading, storing, and playing music
• Any popular web browser other than Microsoft Internet Explorer, e.g., Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome
• Any non-Microsoft program you use to send and receive emails, e.g., Mozilla Thunderbird
  

And of course: Windows!

As other programs spring to mind, I will be adding to this post. Suggestions also welcome.

"How do I make sure my software is up-to-date?" I hear you cry! The answer to that question will be the subject of a separate post. Watch this space!

Windows XP

Windows XP has been the most successful operating system ever! But some good things have to come to an end. As of now, there will be no new sales of Windows XP. However, Microsoft will continue to provide updates till April 2014. Their argument is that will give us all enough time to plan the migration to Windows 7.

Internet Safety

In the USA, it's National Cyber Security Awareness Month.

For a variety of checklists - depending on who you are - go to:

http://www.defeatingthehacker.com/securitysavvy/freestuff.html

Some of the finest safety advice you'll ever get!

Sound Advice for Backups

This excellent advice comes with acknowledgments to Gizmo's Freeware at:

http://www.techsupportalert.com/

"If you're backing up to an external USB drive that's connected to your main PC, a disaster such as a fire, flood or theft could easily deprive you of both your main machine and the backup.

"When you're planning a backup regime, choice of software isn't as important as choice of storage location. Off-site, or at least a drive that you take away from your house (or small-business office) once the backup is complete, is always the way to go."

Free Security Software for Small Businesses

Microsoft is making available free security software. And it's a good product.
Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) is getting rave reviews, so if you have 10 or fewer work stations in your business, I would advise you to consider installing MSE next time you are nagged to pay to renew your existing software.

For the full story, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/2w2o57p

Microsoft Fix It Center

Microsoft is offering us the chance to beta test an "automated troubleshooter for your PC."

It's free, and certainly worth a look:

http://fixitcenter.support.microsoft.com/Portal

If your problem is not shown, there is the "Microsoft Fix It Center Online" to consult.

A word of warning: don't expect it to solve everything! Your PC has to be "working" to be able to use the facility, and preferably able to access the internet. So, there will still be a need for people like me. Phew!

In Praise of Chkdsk

Sometimes, life can teach a salutary lesson. So, let me tell you a story.

I was testing some free disk imaging software (more on that later). The first attempt to run the software resulted in an error message from the software. Slightly grumpily, I put the error message details into Google. To my surprise, the message was telling me that there was some thing wrong with the hard disk.

After a moment's panic - well you would, wouldn't you! - I followed the advice offered, and ran Chkdsk.

Chkdsk is part of Windows XP, Vista, and 7. Basically, it scans the hard disk for errors, and tries to correct them. It has been the saviour of many a computer on my workbench.

I ran Chkdsk, and immediately it found some errors to correct. Affter the first run, I did it again, and this time it found nothing to correct.

The moral of the tale is: run Chkdsk regularly. I include it when I service customers' PCs, but had failed to do it on my trusty home machine.

The only problem with Chkdsk is that if Windows won't work, you can't get at it! But there are ways round that, and knowing how has also saved many a broken computer.

Where do I find and use Chkdsk, do I hear you cry? Well, it varies according to which version of Windows you're using. The best thing would be to Google "How to use Chkdsk in Windows x", replacing x with the version of Windows you've got (i.e., XP, Vista, 7). If that doesn't work, please get in touch and I'll try to advise you.

Good luck! It can take some time to do the scan, so be patient. But the knowledge of knowing that errors have been found and corrected is very reassuring, as I know only too well.

Keeping Children Safe on the Internet

It's a common worry among parents: "How can I make sure that my children don't go to inappropriate sites?"

There are ways to restrict access to some websites; some ways of doing it are more selective than others. If you have a router attached to your modem, there are ways to restrict access to all users of your home or business network - please see my earlier piece on using OpenDNS for your Domain Name Server.

For individual computers, a program like NetNanny is a powerful way of controlling access for individual computers.

There is an other way, but it involves making some changes to the Hosts file. Basically, you enter the web address of the sites you want to block, and the Hosts file does the rest. It's a bit fiddly to do, and I won't go into details here, but I'm grateful to a piece in MicroMart magazine (Issue 1100, 1-7 April 2010: in the "Ask Jason" section) for the information.

If you'd like to know how to modify the Hosts file, get in touch and I'll send you the details.

Jason in the same article points out - wisely, in my opinion - that the best way to keep youngsters safe on the Internet is to educate them into safe ways, of surfing and communicating. Schools are beginning to do that, and parents and carers can help. After all, they're going to want to experiment (we all did in our various pre-internet ways!), so let's guide them into safe habits.

Sermon over!

Which Internet Browser Should I Use?

At the moment, there is an embarrassment of riches where internet browsers are concerned. Are they all the same, or are there significant differences? Is there any point, for example, in having separate browsers for particular purposes?

This issue has come to the forefront recently because Microsoft has been forced by the EU to make us aware that there are browsers other than Internet Explorer. IE has suffered from the attention of hackers because it is everywhere present, because it is part of Windows, so some other browsers may be safer and less open to attack from hackers and viruses.

The main point is that we do have choices. Some recent reviews of the range of browsers have been helpful in pointing out some crucial differences. The current received wisdom seems to be:

1. Use Firefox for day-to-day Internet work on sites you know are safe, because it is a smaller target for malware attacks than is Internet Explorer.
2. Use Google's Chrome when surfing to sites you're unsure of, or when you want to feel extra safe. I use Chrome for internet banking, for example.

(By the way, when installing Chrome, just remember to uncheck the box that makes it your default browser.)

Have a go, see what you think. And perhaps get back to me with your comments.

What's your preferred browser? And why??

Child Safety Features for Internet Explorer 8

My thanks are due to a MicroMart Magazine article (Issue 1094, 18-24 Feberuary 2010) entitled "The Panic Button".

Microsoft have created a panic button so that, when youngsters are on-line and feel they are getting harassed in any way, they can seek immediate advice and help.

The button has been introduced in conjunction with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), and further information and downloads are available from the CEOP website:

www.clickceop.net/ie8

It's another way of enabling youngsters to use the web safely, and for their parents/carers to feel they are doing their bit to protect and educate vulnerable web users.

Microsoft Support for Earlier Versions of Windows

Microsoft will not support earlier versions of Windows for ever - it's a sad fact, but true.

Support for Windows includes updates and security patches, the latter vital if you are to keep one step ahead of the malware-creaters.

The good news is that support for Windows XP will continue - so long as you have Service Pack 3 installed.

The bad news is that support for Windows 2000 (is anyone still using that version???) ends completely from 13 July 2010.

Vista users should also check that they have the latest Service Pack, as the earliest version of Vista (January 2007) will not be supported after 13 April 2010, unless at least Service Pack 1 is installed.

But above all else, keep your Microsoft products up-to-date. Remember, the second Tuesday/Wednesday every month is Microsoft Update Day.

Adobe Reader Update

Please check your version of (free) Adobe Reader. The latest version is 9.3.1

It's important to keep Adobe Reader up to date, as there was a security "hole" in an earlier version.

Backing Up Your Emails

Even when people back up their important files (business accounts and documents, pictures, music collection, etc), emails are often left out. That's a pity, as losing our stored emails would be quite a disaster, especially as many of us organise our saved emails into folders.

In those folders, we store all sorts of important information, including: access details (username, password) for some software or websites; email addresses; copies of documents sent to us as attachments to messages; other attachments, such as pictures; messages containing information we want to store.

Just looking at that list gives us some indication of how much important information could be lost if emails could not be retrieved in the event of the failure of, say, a hard disk.

Backing up emails is not hard, and there is free software to make the process painless. The choice of program to use depends to an extent on how you access your emails. Those of you who go to a website for your emails (so-called "webmail") need not fret, as your emails are stored and organised away from your hard disk. Webmail is possibly the safest way, and also allows you to send and receive emails wherever you can connect to the internet.

However, many of us choose to use a program that uses our computer's hard disk to collect, send, and store our messages.

I use Mozilla's Thunderbird as my email program, and there is a useful backup program called MozBackup that not only backs up my emails, but also backs up Mozilla's Firefox browser.

For those of you who use Microsoft's Outlook or Outlook Express there are some choices to be had; the best thing is to go to the best information on this topic, at:

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/best-free-email-backup-utility.htm

So, I strongly recommend backing up your emails, and like all backups, store your backups somewhere away from your main hard disk - on a memory stick, or an external hard drive, for example.