September 07, 2008
It only takes a few min to be infected
Any customer who's ever talked to me on the phone knows I say there are three things that can wreck a computer:
1. Overheating2. Electrical Surge
3. Teenagers and relatives
Well yesterday my youngest proved it, I was cooking Brisole (I don't use the sauce I bake it) and left my laptop on.
My youngest jumped on the account for a few min since it was already up, when I noticed that at the stove I spoke up and he got off.
After dinner I checked the computer and lo and behold there issues where there and waiting for me that I spent most of the night fixing. He couldn't have been on for more than 5 min.
If I had put on a passworded screen saver he would have had to reboot and go into his own account with limited rights and I would have saved my evening.
So remember only a few minutes separates a clean machine and an infected one.
Posted by Peter at 08:46 AM
August 04, 2008
Even I'm forced to move to the 21st century
About 4 months ago my local electric company closed their billing window at their local office about a 5 min drive from my home. For a while I was paying by credit card on the bill but in the last two months they have removed that option I have finally been forced to setup an online account to pay the bill.
As you know I have an aversion to this kind of stuff but it hit me that when my card expires in a short while my online bill payment is going to bounce like a ball.
This is a very easy way to make trouble for a credit rating, so the solution is a reminded. If you are running outlook or any kind of business program you can set reminders for particular dates. Simply go into the calendar and set an appointment for yourself to change the card info a week or two before the renewal date. That way your system will remember even if you don't.
If you are going to use technology use it, it may save you a big headache later.
Posted by Peter at 07:42 PM
July 28, 2008
Solve a simple annoyance
Have you ever accidentally dragged a window totally off the screen and can't figure out how to get it back?
Well what people generally do is click on the box at the bottom and attempt to use the move button but you hit the move button and the window doesn't move and when you move the mouse it just removes it, what next?
Well the move button is controlled by the arrow keys not the mouse. In these days of mice and men the reliable arrow keys are sometimes forgotten. If you ever find yourself in this mess, you'll want to remember them.
Posted by Peter at 09:53 PM
July 16, 2008
Remember that repaired system
Had a nasty surprise this weekend.
My son's Nintendo Wii had failed. Since it was in warranty it Nintendo quickly sent a package and repaired/replaced it. We were delighted as the device was back in time for the oldest's birthday party.
Unfortunately I didn't remember that the security settings were now back to day one and one of the boys friends went to a site that I didn't want him going.
So remember when a system comes back from repair don't forget that your parental settings might need to be re-established. Otherwise don't be surprised when teenage boys act like teenage boys.
Posted by Peter at 02:23 PM
July 13, 2008
Today's quicktip Vista wireless security
Now for a quick tip....
If you change or add wireless security Vista unlike XP will occasionally have an issue with the new configuration. Here is a way around it
Go into network and sharing center and click on manage wireless networks. Delete the ssid of the network you changed and detect it from scratch. Barring disaster this will make it detect and connect the new configuration right off.
This has been your quick tip for the day.
Posted by Peter at 11:08 PM
July 09, 2008
Play it again, and again and again
I know I am sounding like a broken record but sooner or later people will believe me or articles like this one:
Sometime late last year, an employee of a McLean investment firm decided to trade some music, or maybe a movie, with like-minded users of the online file-sharing network LimeWire while using a company computer. In doing so, he inadvertently opened the private files of his firm, Wagner Resource Group, to the public.That exposed the names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers of about 2,000 of the firm's clients, including a number of high-powered lawyers and Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer.
The breach was not discovered for nearly six months. A reader of washingtonpost.com's Security Fix blog found the information while searching LimeWire in June.
If a member of the supreme court isn't immune what makes you think you are? Please avoid this stuff.
Posted by Peter at 03:07 AM
June 30, 2008
Dr. Who and the Stolen Earth Proxy Server
Every Saturday there is a ritual in our house.
At 2 p.m or so EST the latest episode of the very long running British Science Fiction series Doctor Who is shown in England. Three weeks later they show up on the Sci-Fi network slightly cut.
My oldest being the Doctor Who fanatic that he is doesn't want to wait or miss a scene. Until this week his only choice has been to find (Through the fan site Planet Gallifrey) Youtube sites that post the episodes. Although the BBC allows you to watch episodes online for a week you must be in the UK to do so.
This is where the proxy server comes in. If you look under internet explorer in the connections section or firefox under network connection you will see proxy server settings. These settings allow you to designate an address were all internet traffic passes through before going to or from your pc.
Many parental programs use this type of thing to screen sites, an anonymous proxy server can be used to hide your pc as you surf. You simply put in the ip of the proxy server you are using and presto your computers stuff is located elsewhere.
Thus my son was able to make our system appear to be in England and watch a high quality version of the doctor who cliffhanger without waiting for someone else to upload it.
Remember you are in effect passing all your data through some strange server so use proxies at your own risk.
This means that if you try to call us at the house next Saturday from 3:30 till about 5 we'll be busy.
Posted by Peter at 01:08 PM
June 08, 2008
Vista Review #4 Parental Controls
One of the Gems of the vista operating system is the built in parental controls
Parental controls:
What is it: A series of controls to limit kids on the systemWhat does it do: It blogs usage and/or particular items from use
Why might you use it: You would use it to both limit access to questionable content and also to limit general computer use if the kid is constantly in front of the machine or neglecting homework or chores.
How do i use it: In control panel select parental controls. Once opened select the account you desire to limit, you can set time limits, limits based on ratings of games, restrict specific programs or even filter specific web sites or adjust filters.
Watch our for the following: If you do not have passwords on accounts that have admin rights then any parental control can be bypassed in minutes. Make your the admin accounts are passworded.
Finally remember no parental control is a substitute for an attentive parent.
Posted by Peter at 11:05 PM
June 07, 2008
Telecommuting Tip #1
As I begin a very rare (one of the advantages of seniority) Saturday shift there have been quite a few stories on the increase in telecommuting driven by very high gas prices (running about 3.92-8 in my neck of the woods and higher in Boston proper). This would be a good time to touch of the subject again beyond our old podcast.
As employers try to keep their people who have long drives by 4 day shifts and telecommuting it is important for those actually given the chance to do so to be ready. We will put these in between the occasional vista tips
Check your equipment:
The #1 item that has to be considered before anything else when telecommuting is the equipment. If you have bad equipment then nothing else matters. Your employer needs to establish standards and you need to be able to meet them:If all you are doing is logging into a particular server and accessing documents then a lower speed connection and a slower processor is fine.
If you are doing anything requiring remote connection or "real time" phone connection then a higher speed connection and a fast processor will be wanted.
Depending on what you do bandwidth may be an issue. If you are working from home you don't want your kids to be downloading a 2 hour movie from some torrent client while you are trying to connect.
It is important to have a plan B if a computer goes down or a network goes down. Be prepared to head in or connect at another location if something goes wrong.
Finally if you are on a specific shift make sure you test your systems 15 min before your shift starts. That will give you time to reboot routers and systems as needed. It is an embarrassment to be late for work when you are working from home, what are you going to say? Gridlock on the stairs?
Once the equipment issue is resolved then you can worry about the next issue. Location, but that will be for our next post on the subject.
Posted by Peter at 09:00 AM
June 01, 2008
Vista Review #3 User Accounts
The 3rd of our series of Vista basic functions posts:
User Accounts:
What is it: It's the area where you set up and control user accounts
What does it do: It allows the setup of new user accounts and the modification of the permissions and settings of old user accounts, it also allows access to the UAC User account control.
Why might you use it: You would use it to configure individual accounts particular children's accounts to make sure they don't have admin level rights, you would use it to password accounts and to toggle the UAC which requires verification for some system activities.
How do i use it: Choose User Accounts via the control panel or from the Search line. Once in simply select the account and the action you wish to take, be aware that these changes may require a reboot and remember if you forget the password on the administrator account you are in bad shape.
Watch our for the following: If you are considering shutting off UAC consider that although there are many nasties that is will not block it will block enough of them to make it worth our while.
BTW to some who are wondering why we are going over basic items a lot of our customer have never used vista so the basic stuff is very useful.
Posted by Peter at 06:04 PM
May 01, 2008
Can you hear me now
One of the more common problems we run into here is people with sound issues. As music downloads, youtube and audio books and plays sound issues become more of a priority. Here are a few simple things to check on your system if your sound fails.
#1. Check if the mute is on.
It sounds very simple but remember that you can have mute on both the full sound card AND on an individual program, so make sure that the mute button (usually big red X) isn't staring you in the face.
#2. Try another source
If your iTunes music has not sound try to play a youtube clip, if your youtube won't play open windows media player, or just reboot the system to see if you get the startup sounds. If one source is working and another isn't then the sound is unlikely the issue.
#3. Double check the plug
If is a very easy thing to accidentally unplug a speaker and or plug it into the wrong output. Usually they are color coded but usually they are also at the back of the computer where the wires are all sitting. Make sure of this.
#4. Try another output
An old fashioned earphone will do but any headset can be used, simply start a song and plug in the headset/earphone, if you hear sound then odds are your card fritzed.
#5. Reboot
If you are on a low ram system and have been doing a lot then a sound issue can be as simple as running out of free ram memory. A reboot cures many ills.
Of course if these things fail HiWired will be there to try the next plan, just remember that we will likely try all these steps for you first if you don't.
Posted by Peter at 11:03 AM
April 28, 2008
Security vs Security
As this came up with a customer today it seems like a good time to point out something that many people are still unclear on. Wireless Security vs Virus Security.
When we refer to WIRELESS SECURITY we are talking about the status of the signal being sent from your router that allows internet connection and/or networking through it. If your wireless is unsecure then your signal can be picked up by any other user in range. This will allow that user to surf the internet on your nickel and depending on your network settings get into your files. Wireless can be secured using several different protocols just remember as we have mentioned before the Six Dumbest Ways to secure a wireless lan, and avoid them.
When we refer to just Security we are talking about protection from virus', spyware and all types of malware. This is the protection on the pc or network itself that is stopping the attacks on the computer. This is what most people think of when they hear security. Without this protection your system will be slowed down, your data stolen and your tax returns may be a fun free download for all the world to see.
Remember one type of protection DOES NOT cover the other, you need both to make things work. The internet is a dangerous place, be prepared.
Posted by Peter at 11:32 AM
April 19, 2008
Too many programs spoil the speed
Been seeing quite a few systems lately with multiple copies of anti-virus. This is a very bad idea.
In the old days anti-virus programs tended to attack each other, the virus signatures were mistaken for actual virus' and attacked. These days the scanners are much smarter however virus scanners tend to simply eat memory. On old xp systems you run into an inability to handle the multiple systems scans at once. Combine that with an internet that demands more and more memory and you are at a standstill.
On new systems Vista tends to eat up a ton of memory so combined anti-virus makes it even worse. The multiple scans will just keep things crawling.
When deciding what to keep remember your needs, do you want frequent scans, flexible scans, background running to help keep nasties out? Make your decision based on what you need to have and act accordingly.
Posted by Peter at 10:12 PM
March 17, 2008
Wireless Alphabet Stew
Hey have I got a text file for you! It is a dictionary for English, French, Spanish, German and Finn all in an easy to use notepad style text file. And you can have it for only $500 dollars!
Now what idiot is going to buy that file? A smart hacker that's who. This is the primary tool in alphabet attacks. Alphabet attacks use files like this one to try to find the combinations to wireless networks and other password to get into your system and see what they can see and grab what they can grab.
You might think hey I don't have anything, well your identity, your tax info, your banking info etc in the wrong hands can make a big mess, in addition if someone is using your system as their internet connection and download thing illegally it will be traced to you.
How to avoid that two simple ways:
Mix in some numbers for example if you want to use joanjet as your password (yes I'm dating myself) put your street number in the middle say joan13jet.
If you want an even easier way add a capital letter or two say joAnjet .
If you use a combination of the pair joAn13jet you have just turned a simple dictionary attack into an items there there are 62 different combinations times the number of letters in the password. In this example 13,537,086,546,263,552 different combinations.
This is going to make cracking your system a very nasty job.
So don't make things easier for hackers, make that network key a challenge.
Posted by Peter at 11:47 AM
March 15, 2008
eBay I say
eBay is on my mind a bit since lately most new computers come with an eBay link on them and my wife has been buying silverware to fill up her grandmother's set. It struck me that I never gave any advice on online auction and I was at a total loss on what to write about today so here goes:
1. Tip #1 General to the specific
How you search will depend on the net you want to cast, if you do a general search you will find that there may many categories that fit your item. For example if I do a search for Gil Hodges mana different items (190 today) show up including balls, bats and lots of baseball cards. But if I wanted the game I enjoyed as a kid Gil Hodges Pennant Fever I can search for Gil Hodges fever and the one result I am looking for will pop up ($200 is out of my price range).
2. Watch those shipping charges:
There are a lot of bargains on eBay but one way that a person gets a higher price is to boost up the shipping charges. It's not a deal if you are paying $15 shipping for a $5 item. Keep an eye on this when buying.
3. It's fun to win not always fun to pay: The ads on TV go on about how its more fun to win and this is a little true, but it is VERY easy to get in a bidding war over something that you just don't want to lose. Your bid is a contract remember that when you make it.
4. The ratings are there for a reason. If you are buying something small for a little amount of money you might not worry about the ratings of the seller. But if you are buying Gold or Silver or something expensive (a surprising amount of cars are sold on eBay) remember that the rating is your best assurance of reputation. Adjust your risk accordingly.
5. Ask and you shall receive: There is an ask question section for a reason there, use it.
6. Spelling errors are sometimes your friend: There has been more than one occasion that I've found a deal because the seller mispelled an item for sale, a search of close spelling can be a treasure trove on occasion.
Later this week or tomorrow I'll give some tips for sellers.
Posted by Peter at 01:20 PM
March 06, 2008
Puppy Scam ?
Those Nigerian e-mail guys just keep getting better:
Nigerian con men are taking out newspaper advertisements offering purebred English bulldog puppies for adoption. Victims who respond to the ads are informed that the puppy can only be obtained after wire transferring hundreds of dollars overseas in vaccination and shipping fees. Of course, no puppy is ever delivered.
As long as there are people ready to fall for them they guys will keep on trying new twists and turns.
Posted by Peter at 06:58 PM | Comments (0)
March 03, 2008
Today's words of wisdom A Timely fix
With the impending movement of the clocks at the end of this week today's words of wisdom are very proper.
Half the battle is being at (or in our case on) the right time.
Which translates to the fact that there are quite a few tech issues that can be caused by system that are set to the wrong date. It can mess with registration and any site that relies on the calendar.
Take a few minuets to check the date, time and timezone on your PC and be sure it is correct. It might just save you a help session sometime in the future.
Posted by Peter at 05:43 PM
March 02, 2008
today's words of wisdom: Vegas caveat
If there is one lesson that people need to learn in this modern age it is this one:
What happens near a cameraphone stays on the net forever. (Las Vegas promo ads not withstanding)
The best example of this I can thing of is of all things today's (3/2) Garfield strip.
Posted by Peter at 03:58 PM
February 28, 2008
Today's words of wisdom: cleaning house
Now for today's words of wisdom:
An old computer is like a small house, it needs to be cleaned often to keep it from getting cluttered
This means run disk cleanups etc regularly if you have a system with less that 500 mb of ram and regular defrags.
Posted by Peter at 01:57 PM
February 11, 2008
Nasty Realities
It seems to me people seem rather surprised at their experiences with virus' and spyware lately, their presence, their persistence, and what about the protection I have, why hasn't it stopped them? This suggests that it is time to state and/or repeat some unfortunate realities of this modern PC world...
Nasty Reality #1: Today's Virus' and spyware are a for profit business:
Years ago guys used to hack people system for fun. The Stoned virus announced that your system was stoned (slowed it down something nasty). Guys would re-program your screen so you would come back from lunch with your image upside down. Those days are gone.Today Virus' and spyware are a multi-million dollar industry who's goal is to separate you from your money and or mine marketable information for sale to others. That system infection you have is making a buck for somebody somewhere and that leads to rule 2...
Nasty Reality #2: These people will fight to keep your money.
Every time you succeed in removing a virus or blocking some spyware used by these folks you are taking money out of their pockets (granted it is your money but they don't look at it like that). It is my experience that thieves resent losing money even more that the people they steal from. They generally don't take this lying down so they will constantly seek new ways to get in your system, new variants and new tweaks to get around the various protections that are out there. This results in the next nasty reality...
Nasty Reality #3: Anti-Virus' and anti-spyware makers are constantly on the defensive
Basically it is reacting to type of attacks, styles of attacks and particular programs. The problem is that many of these styles can be used by legitimate programs such as games or peer to peer networks. In addition some of these programs arise due to operating system holes that need to be patched by the makers (read Microsoft). As far as your protection is concerned this is just another computer program and the system has to decide if this program vs the other program is something good or something bad. That is why your firewall may ask you questions about this program or that program. If you automate that decision it will sooner or later either block something you want passed or pass something that you want blocked. That leads to another nasty reality...
Nasty Reality #4 Having anti-virus and anti-spyware doesn't guarantee you will never get infected.
The various anti-virus makes and anti-spyware makers will do their best to keep you protected, as soon as they are aware of threats and have solutions to them they will make updates but remember each fix and change takes time and during that time you will be open to attack. Of course minor variants are going to be picked up and fixed pretty quick but major stuff will usually take at least a few days to digest an solve. That is bad enough but it is my experience that most of the actual virus' and spyware that hit a system are entirely preventable. This is do to the truest (and least popular) nasty reality...
Nasty Reality #5 Users tend to trigger most of the virus that hit them by sins of commission or omission
Sometimes it is due to being tricked, a "windows" warning that really isn't but many times it is that decision to use that P2P software, to accept that file from that stranger in chat, to open that e-mail that looks odd, to go to that racy site. Sometimes it just not bothering to do something; it's just too annoying to block out your teenagers from those web sites, or to monitor where they go or to set connection rules for going to the net, or to set that exception to play the game or to have to deal with that annoying warning message, and besides I'm just an avg guy what good is hacking me? This type of thinking keeps a lot of these guys in business and will continue to do so. It is like having a great alarm system on your house and leaving the doors and windows open because of it. Authors of this stuff bet on human nature and they win over and over again.
These realities are things that have to be faced. When they are faced and acted upon your chances of having a problem drop like a rock. We at HiWired can and will help all we can to protect you, but in the end a cautious and vigilant user is the best protection against today's internet thieves.
Posted by Peter at 11:24 AM | Comments (0)
February 09, 2008
Will you take the federal trade commission's word for it?
We spend a lot of time repeating warnings about being careful on the internet. Judging from what I've seen there are plenty of people who haven't gotten the word.
Lucky for everyone concerned (except the bad guys) the Federal Trade Commission is on the job They have a very useful document called. Protection Personal information a guide for Business that has some great tips for both the businessman and the home user.
If you don't want to bother with the PDF the html version is here and an online tutorial version is here.
Read it so you don't weep.
Posted by Peter at 11:13 PM | Comments (0)
January 29, 2008
Required Reading
You head all kinds of things about Phishing but do you really understand what it is all about?
Well Nitesh Dhanjani and Billy Rios do. They infiltrated the phishing community and discovered fascinating and disturbing data. Some lowlights:
Many think that phishing sites are all custom jobs that a particular phisher has developed and deployed. The reality is pre-made, ready-to-deploy, turnkey sites are already created for practically every major organization that you can think of. All a phisher has to do is purchase the latest kit and deploy, no technical expertise or coding skills are really required. All the phisher typically has to do is place their email address into one line of code and they have a ready to deploy phishing site.
So our phishers are not the brainy nerds that we see on tv:
We decided to Google for that particular string. The results completely stunned us. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, dates of birth, ATM PINs, addresses, credentials to online banking accounts, all out in the open, a lot of which was collected from victims only a few hours ago. A simple Google search led us to a whole new world where phishers were trading this information in different languages around the world. This sort of exposure can ruin people's lives - yet it was right there, out in the open. It was quite unnerving..
So all this info is out there bought, sold, traded by Phishermen who also steal info from each other but the bottom line in this battle is this:
Commercial financial institutions such as credit card companies and banks realize that the cost of implementing a new system that does not merely rely on static identifiers is higher than the fraud committed, so they decide to accept the cost. This is the reason why the system has not changed.
That is not an inspiring bit of info. Read the whole thing if this doesn't persuade you to be more careful, nothing will. (via slashdot).
Posted by Peter at 08:17 AM | Comments (0)
January 20, 2008
Finally getting 'round to it
Well yesterday I finally got around to opening up the 500 gig Maxtor one touch drive that the wife picked up at Christmas for me.
I backed up my old laptop yesterday, as I type I am also backing up this upgraded Vista laptop to the drive.
Tuesday I will be backing up the 3rd system and if I find myself in the mood I may hardwire the old ME & 98 systems to the network so I can pull the lot off of them (as shared drives) and onto the Maxtor.
Since this is January 20th That means I waited nearly a month to put this drive into use. Lucky for me there were no dramatic system issues that came up.
The problem with putting it off is that something could have happened at any time. We had two power outages at the house since then and either one could have knocked any of these systems for a loop.
As I am fond of saying the data is the reason for the pc. I was lucky my long wait didn't hurt me but you may not be so lucky. So I urge you, no matter how you do it, cd/dvd burn, external hard drive or our Backup software get that data backed up, and remember REDUNDANCY IS YOUR FRIEND. You won't kick yourself for having an extra backup but you will kick yourself if you decide against it and something goes wrong.
Posted by Peter at 12:59 PM | Comments (0)
January 17, 2008
Vista power saving vs wi-fi
One of the things I noticed right away with Vista was the tendency of the system to drop its internet connection when not plugged in to a power supply. It was a regular annoyance, but as i generally used the PC around the house I just tended to keep it plugged in.
It turns out with Vista there are three power modes controlled from the systray. Balanced, Power Saver and this is High Performance. When in power saving mode the system shuts off or powers down what it can. Wireless is apparently high on that list.
Once I switched to max performance the wi-fi worked fine...for about 75 min when the battery gave warning that it was down to 5 percent.
One hour isn't much for a battery but it beats dropping wi-fi.
Like everything else in life it is a trade-off a "feature" rather than a bug. At least that seems to be Microsoft's position. Personally I'd exclude the wi-fi from the cut-off or I'd give a settings to exclude it from the power saver list since portable wi-fi is why you get a laptop these days.
Posted by Peter at 12:44 PM | Comments (0)
January 13, 2008
A subject we can't speak enough about
There are not enough warnings we can give concerning online scans and fraud. This article gives some good information, to wit:
Perhaps the most prevalent scam currently is the one Greg Shaddrick almost fell for. Shaddrick, from Blaine, put a vehicle up for sale on the free classified website craigslist.org in November. A potential buyer stepped forward and, after some negotiating, agreed on the price.A few days later, the Shaddricks received a cashier's check for $7,500 -- much higher than the price agreed upon -- with a request to send the "extra" money to someone to whom the buyer supposedly owed money.
But they became suspicious and called the bank, which told them that the account number on the check was bogus. Banks are obligated to process cashier's checks before they actually clear. If they don't clear, the person cashing them is responsible to pay the money.
Remember when in doubt ask an expert, don't take this stuff on faith it is your money that you worked for that is on the line.
If you are buying a new computer for an elderly member of the family make sure you acquaint them with net fraud or your give might cost them plenty.
Posted by Peter at 11:27 AM | Comments (0)
January 09, 2008
Why dancing mortgage ads doom your old pc
Being a bit of a political junkie I've been all over the web during my two days off following the remarkable results in New Hampshire.
As I went from site to site I couldn't help but notice the amount of video and animated ads everywhere from dancing girls selling mortgages to automatically running video clips to all kinds of things. You almost couldn't go to a web site without finding multiple ads of this nature. It is a big change from just a few years ago.
Now my system is fairly new so that's not a problem for me but it strikes me that I've seen quite a few systems lately with very little ram, under 400 mb in many cases. Many of those systems have been in use for a good many years.
As you know I'm not fired up above Vista, but most vista systems I've seen are running dual cores with 2 gigs of ram. Even the worst vista system usually comes with 1 gig. (If you have less than a gig and an old processor don't even think of upgrading to Vista)
As the newer systems continue to be more powerful the creators of ads will continue to make their ads more eye catching; and more RAM intensive. The older systems with slower processors and little RAM can't keep up. All the tuning up in the world won't be enough to allow those systems to keep up the requirements of the sites. Oh the first one will load and the 2nd and maybe the third, but surfing will become slower and slower until it becomes a major annoyance.
There comes a point where it is not cost effective to improve an existing system. These ads are destined to rapidly bring that date to many.
Posted by Peter at 07:08 PM | Comments (0)
December 24, 2007
Time to unplug the wireless
As many people will be traveling during this season there is one bit of good computer advice that can pay real dividends.
Unplug that wireless modem you have, remember that an unpluged network can't be hacked and if you are off somewhere nobody is going to be there to notice.
Remember hackers don't take Christmas Eve off.
Posted by Peter at 08:02 PM | Comments (0)
November 23, 2007
St. John and the Phishing post.
If you are any sort of a Christian (such as a Roman Catholic like myself) you may have heard the story of St. John the Apostle in his old age teaching on the island of Eshesus.
The tale goes that he would call the faithful together for the lesson which would invariably be: "love one another." One of the faithful comes up to him and asks: "Master John you give us the same lesson every day, isn't there something new you wish to teach us?" He replies: "When you have learned that lesson we will go on with the next one."
I bring up that tale because today I got a phishing e-mail in an attempt to steal my Amazon info. I've posted examples in the past more than once but as it is a lesson that has not always been learned I thought it would be a good idea to post this one as well to remind you that particularly during this time of year when so much Christmas shopping is going online you must be wary:
Anyway here is the e-mail sans working link in the extended entry: my clues are in Bold Italics
Remember none of these companies will ever send you e-mail of this nature concerning your account.
start of phony letter
-------------------------------------------------------
Dear Amazon® member,
We are contacting you to inform you that our Account Review Team identified some unusual activity in your account. Amazon is a store there is no such thing as "unusual activity" In accordance with Amazon's User Agreement and to ensure that your account has not been compromised, access to your account was limited. Your account access will remain limited until this issue has been resolved. To secure your account and quickly restore full access, we may require some additional information from you for the following reason: We have been notified that a card associated with your account has been reported as lost or stolen, or that there were additional problems with your card. Not all amazon customer have Amazon cards and if there was an issue with the credit card they would CALL you. E-mail isn't always checked and address' may be wrong.
This process is mandatory, and if not completed within the nearest time your account or credit card may be subject for temporary suspension. Anytime you see the word MANDATORY or SUSPENSION odds are you are dealing with a phony.
To securely confirm your Amazon information please click on the link bellow:
http://www.amazon.com/ left out a ton of the name since I don't want you clicking on the link/homepage.html/ref=ya_hp_sub_1/104-4436503-7329515?ie=UTF8&method=GET
This is actually a much better job of faking it than other stuff it has an amazon heading, the key to the phony is the stuff at the end. Almost all web pages end in .html or something. this one continues on, address must be spoofed somehow.
We encourage you to log in and perform the steps necessary to restore your account access as soon as possible. Allowing your account access to remain limited for an extended period of time may result in further limitations on the use of your account and possible account closure.
Of course you could test this by just going on and trying it but then again if you did you would figure it out and we can't have that, we are trying to commit fraud here you know.
For more information about how to protect your account please visit Amazon Security Center. We apologize for any incovenience this may cause, and we apriciate your assistance in helping us to maintain the integrity of the entire Amazon system.
The big clue is the spelling. Big form letters usually are spell checked. This one wasn't. That is the final clue to the Puzzle.
Thank you for using Amazon!
The Amazon Team
Privacy Notice © 1995-2007, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
---------------------------------------
end of phony letter.
Remember don't be fooled, the internet is the wild west. Keep your eyes open.
Posted by Peter at 11:12 AM | Comments (0)
November 18, 2007
check that key
My brother brought home the fact that you can't neglect the simplest possible causes for big problems.
Today he woke me up from a dead sleep in panic that his computer wouldn't boot and all his business records were lost. Realize that his system is not on the internet (by choice) and he is doing everything on a old windows 95 system with 16 mb of ram (also by choice).
While I was contemplating the possibility of having to the old fashioned line by line system restore (this predates both the system restore program in ME and up AND the scanreg /restore command from 98 we did a quick check of his system and had him restart. That's when he discovered one of his many cats knocked something onto a key and that key was creating the bad boot command preventing him from starting up.
After he breathed a sigh of relief I gave him advice on picking up a system to get him into the 21st century.
All of this came from a depressed key. This is a lot more common than you may think. Keyboards are not sturdy or expensive (well mostly not expensive) but a broken or pressed key can wreak havoc from preventing a boot to changing the keyboard response of everything. My brother was ready to throw the system out the window. Don't let that happen to you.
Keep a spare keyboard around, keep your current keyboard free of obstructions and clean. (a quick way to clean between the keys is a piece of tape reversed run between them.) Make sure nothing is hitting those keys. If you have a laptop leave it closed when off, cats particularly love warm laptops.
The smashed computer you save might be your own.
Posted by Peter at 06:44 PM | Comments (0)
November 14, 2007
New PC Now what? pt 4 The kids pc option
Ok you've read parts 1 2 & 3 and our new PC set it up and you've decided to make this PC the kids PC. Here are the things you should consider before the kids get their hands on it.
1. Location Location Location
Simple rule, if the PC is used where you seen them (family room) you will see what they are doing, if it is not, then you won't.
2. Personal info:
You really don't want to leave any of your personal/business info on a computer that is going to be a kids/teen pc. Consider wiping it and reinstalling the OS on the system, not only will this be a faster system for them that way but it will mean that if security is breached it won't mean your data is.
3. No Network no problem
Resist the urge to network this pc to the home network. Again if it is a kids machine we want to limit the damage that they can do to your system.
4. Anti-virus/Spyware
Make sure a good anti-virus/spyware is on that system particualrly if this is a laptop that will travel with the kids, again may we suggest our PC Restoration/PC Guardian choices?
5. Admin rights:
This is a tough call if this is the kids machine and you don't give them admin rights then every time they want to install something they have to run to you. You have to decide if this is a good or bad thing because they will run to you a LOT. If you give them admin right I STRONGLY suggest you play the "you break it you pay to fix it rule." That is if their system gets infected let THEM pay for the PC Restoration.
6. Parental controls:
If this is machine for younger kids you want to install and configure parental controls. don't use the IE controls and they won't apply to Firefox, opera etc...Consider protection that has a "blind" install, that is an install that can't be unintalled without a code and/or doesn't appear without one. Also don't forget many of these programs have time limit settings that are great for keeping them from playing all night without your knowledge.
7. It is a B machine:
The kids should be made aware that as a B machine is may not have the ram or the video card to allow some of the newest games to play. Thats why we have paper routes and part time jobs to pay for ram and cards. Or if you want to be a nice guy you can always make those upgrades yourself for them, as soon as their room is clean, and the homework done and the trash is out... you get the picture.
8. Network printing
Consider getting a printer off your router and sharing it with the kids system, that way if they print you know about it. This also eliminates both the need to open a port to your system on a network printer and the large and interesting print collections that teenage boys will create if they have an unmonitored printer in their room.
9. What you don't know WILL hurt you and maybe them.
Remember that when a kid or teen is on the net outside of your line of sight all the normal dangers of life apply. Make it a point to check out their system to see what is going on. They may object....TOUGH you are the parent is part of the job description. Don't forget our "Look what we have here" series from two years ago if you want to see what's been going on.
These steps will help make the B machine useful for you and the kids while keeping everyone safe.
Posted by Peter at 01:31 PM | Comments (0)
November 08, 2007
Security Awareness
Here is a classic security breach where a phishing attack is used to lewer someone into a fake site and trick them into providing the credentials for the real site. The victim was a Salesforce employee and the scammer scored customers personal information.CLICK HERE to read. If your a Salesforce customer I encourage you to take advantage of the seminar to educate you on how to prevent falling for phishing scams which some customers have already fallen victim. In this case since the scammer seams to have the customer information I imagine these emails actually address the customers by name making it harder to detect.
Next is another classic case where a laptop is left in a car containing some customers personal information. The information was not encrypted which means if the thief takes a look he will be able to read everything. Laptop contained 133,000 Florida residents information, 86,670 drivers licenses information from Miami area, and much more. CLICK HERE to read
Posted by Hector at 01:00 PM | Comments (0)
New Machine now what Pt 3 (old machine)
Ok you now have the your new machine set up The question becomes what to do about the old machine?
There are pretty much three choices:
Make it your B machine Give it to the kids Sell/donate it/trash it
We will cover each choices over the next couple of days. Today we will talk about the "B" machine option.
Why keep a B machine?
Accessibilty:The "B" machine gives flexibility to a business/family That means no fight over a single machine.
Flexibility:
The "B" machines give you a functioning machine when (not if) the "A" machine goes down. It can also serve as a test control to debug issue with an "A" machine.
Backup/Network:
The "B" machine means that key data can be backed up to a shared drive and a network system.
There are some things that people tend to forget when using a B machine that can mean trouble Here are some things to remember:
1. Don't neglect the updates:
Just because you aren't using the machine daily doesn't mean that security updates aren't coming out for that system. On at least a weekly basis make sure windows updates are done on the system so that hackers don't get into security holes.
2. Don't neglect the anti-virus:
People will often let paid anti-virus lapse on a B machine. This is only natural since it is getting less use. But that doesn't mean that the machine should be left wide open. Install free versions such as AVG and Spyware Terminator when you are retiring the machine. Consider doing it at once as it is very easy to forget when the stuff you aren't using expires.
3. Personal/Financial data.
Its a bad idea to keep financial/personal data on a machine that is forgotten. Hackers won't forget the week link. Take that data burn it to cd and get it off that system. You can keep the cd's handy in case of need (due to a down "A" system) but don't keep the data there. If the "B" machine is going to have steady use with the A machine then you can be more flexible as to what stays and where.
4. Saved passwords:
Saved passwords are a key into many sites that you might be registered to online. If you forget that they are saved then anyone on that B machine is one click away from a successful Phishing trip.
5. Out with the old and in with the new:
Old extra accounts that are will not be used anymore should be eliminated. New accounts for new users (family/employees) should be made from scratch to be sure your old data doesn't end up in new hands.
The whole idea of a B machine is to give you flexibility without vulnerability. By taking these basic steps you will have that.
Posted by Peter at 10:40 AM | Comments (0)
November 07, 2007
New Machine Now what part 2 (laptops)
We will now add a few laptop specific tips to the list of suggestions that we gave yesterday:
1. Mini Surge protector
If you haven't already purchased one go off an purchase a hand held surge protector. Laptops are meant to move around that doesn't make them any less vulnerable to surge and you don't know the power situation.
2. Buy a bag
In our podcast with Jeromy Patriquin he was always bemused when someone came in with a $2000 laptop carried in a 1 cent Market Basket plastic bag. If you are going to carry a laptop at least have a half decent bag that will protect it from rain and shock. Pick up that bag while you are getting that surge protector.
3. Vent that laptop
While your picking up that bag and that surge protector pick up a venting platform. Just two days ago I talked to a new customer who was replacing a dead laptop that was used regularly on the carpet. If the laptop isn't vented it is going to die pretty fast. (Venting applies to a desktop, VCR, modem and the lot. but that is a question of placement not of extra stuff.)
4. Wireless security
If you have a laptop odds are you have wireless or picked up a wireless setup. That is the time to set up security to make sure aren't buying internet for the whole neighborhood. Its also a good idea to make sure that the neighbors system is not the default connection you are using. Might we suggest our wireless setup?
Tomorrow we will talk about what do with the computer you are replacing.
Posted by Peter at 08:46 AM | Comments (0)
Alwil moving up in the world!!
Speaking of Anti-Virus protection.. Alwil makes a great solution called Avast and they have a free version available (Home Edition) so I know you can afford it.
Here is some recent news on Avast latest progress.
I've had a positive experience with Avast on my computers and its my preferred solution.
Posted by Hector at 12:07 AM | Comments (0)
November 06, 2007
New Machine now what? Part 1
With Christmas fast approaching a large amount of new personal computers are about to be purchased. In addition to more business for us that means that there are a few things that you as the PC buyer need to get done once that system comes out of the box. Over the next few days we'll talk a bit about things you need to do before your new PC becomes more than a day or two old.
1. REGISTER REGISTER REGISTER
As soon as you get that new PC home make sure you have registered it. A registered PC has its warranty active and in play. If your system has a physical fault you want to know that your warranty is up and running.
2. Update Update Update
Remember your system is only as updated as the day the system was burned. Run all windows updates right on the spot. Granted with Microsoft's reputation for never having security holes this is a small issue but it should be done anyway(Sarcasm off). Vista offers the chance to run windows updates up front. Take advantage of it and make sure you keep those updates rolling. This is particularly important with Vista SP1 on the way.
3. Anti Virus Anti-spyware
Most systems come with some form of anti-virus/anti-spyware installed on a trial period. I can't count how many customers I've helped that let that protection expire. Naturally we would recommend our PC SETUP service that includes install of anti-virus and anti-spyware, if you don't choose to have us set up your protection (sniff sniff) it is vital that you put some protection on that system. Either one provided by your ISP or a third party choice or purchase the trial software that comes with it.
4. Password and accounts:
If this system is at all going to be used by multiple users particularly children and teens make sure that your primary use account is passworded. If children and teens will be using the PC make sure they have separate accounts with limited rights.
5. Create and store recovery CD/DVDS
Unless you have a home built or a Dell system your computer will likely have a recovery disk program pre-installed. This is used to create a set of restore disks. In theory this can be done at any time but if your system has reached the point where it can't boot that's too late. Create them right now and store them. If your system instead came with full OS disks (read Dell) then store them in a safe place.
6. Backup
Invariably people don't think about backups till it is too late. Now while the system is new is the time to think about a backup system. This will insure that from day one your key data is safe. Of course we recommend our own but some form of regular backup trumps no regular backup even if it is an external drive or a service other than us.
Tomorrow we will talk a bit about some special considerations for laptops.
Posted by Peter at 02:30 PM | Comments (0)
November 02, 2007
Who says cheap is bad
Via Glenn Vodka pundit notices a chance in the Blu Ray vs HD-DVD wars with a new player in the game...Walmart:
The HD-DVD side has been concentrating on price, and they're taking a huge swing for the fences with today's sale. It's a gigantic risk financially. Either Toshiba or Wal-Mart or both are absorbing a very substantial loss by selling these units for $98 (I'd guess just Toshiba, Wal-Mart is too smart to take a hit this big). The HD-DVD drive inside the HD-A2 all by itself is worth more than $98, even without all the associated technology and packaging.So why are they doing it? To capture the market. I heard people saying it in line this morning: "Hey, for $100, if Blu-Ray winds up winning, so what? This one's almost disposable." That argument certainly worked on me; after years of dissing both formats (or more specifically the format war itself), I was up early and at my local 'Mart my own self.
As he says multiply 25 x Wallmarts and that a ton of market.
Posted by Peter at 07:01 PM | Comments (0)
October 01, 2007
Boy that advice just went south
I've mentioned that when it doubt on a web address its a good idea to do a google (or yahoo or whatever) search to make sure you don't end up on a phony site, in fact I was just telling a customer that yesterday.
And then I read this at slashdot:
The Google Watchdog blog is reporting that "Spam and virus sites infesting the Google SERPs in several categories"
The bottom line is pretty bad:
If a smart spammer has really found a way to game the Google search results with spoofed or cloaked sites, and Google still doesn't have a fix, this could be a major issue with the underlying infrastructure of the entire Google operation. I've seen hints that a significant infrastructure change is taking place; is this spam issue the reason? Could that mean that Google was actually hacked instead of someone spamming the index? If so, webmasters may be waiting a long time for the expected Pagerank update while Google fixes the leaks.
Remember big bucks are at stake on both sides. This will be interesting to watch.
Posted by Peter at 10:52 AM | Comments (0)
September 23, 2007
Didn't I tell ya didn't I tell ya
Via Dustin (this would have made a great blog post for you Dustin HINT HINT)confirmation of what I've been telling you since DAY 1 over here:
Citgroup has confirmed that it's investigating a data breach involving the names, Social Security numbers and credit information of 5,208 customers leaked by an employee of its ABN Amro Mortgage Group unit onto the LimeWire peer-to-peer file-sharing network.
Tiversa, a company that monitors P2P networks on behalf of clients, told eWEEK that it found Excel spreadsheets from the desktop of a financial analyst ABN Amro Mortgage Group running LimeWire. Although Tiversa found over 10,000 files, deduplication revealed only 5,208 unique Social Security numbers, along with names and what type of mortgage each customer had: conventional, 30-year or conforming, for example.
I'm sure that there are safe and legal ways to use Limewire and other P2P software, and frankly I do know some techs who will install it, download what they want and uninstall it at once, but I've gotta tell you saving .99 cents on a song just isn't worth it, cripes it the price of a Double Cheeseburger for crying out loud.
Posted by Peter at 11:13 AM | Comments (1)
August 20, 2007
Phony Spam example #468,511
It's time for another example of a phony phishing scam and how to spot them. For our show today I use an example e-mail that almost caught me.
It a very simple e-mail which is what makes it so effective. I recently made a bid on e-bay but was sure I didn't win, so this threw me off for a sec, but there were several clues that show this as phony as a $3 bill.
The first clue was it didn't mention what the item was (I was looking at some old coins for a gift) The item number is invariably paired with the name of the item.
The second clue was "response required" Ebay doesn't use that kind of verbiage. It might be requested but never required. This isn't the Admiralty in the era of Hornblower.
The second clue was the link itself if you check the properties of the link it looks like this.....
http://221.11.135.249/css/css1/signin.ebay...etc etc. etc
Anything from eBay would automatically start with ebay in the bolded section, not in the middle.
Microsoft outlook was kind enough to automatically block the link to that site, your e-mail program might not be so accomodating.
These are actually glaring errors if I hadn't been so busy it would have confirmed it as phony for sure, but I decided to to double check. I logged into eBay and checked my account, sure enough no unpaid bids.
In addition I checked the item number and it not only didn't correspond to any item I bid on, it didn't correspond to any other item period.
So beware and be wary. It only takes once mistake for you to be on a page asking for you login information and from there your credit card, your paypal account and identity are in play, likely in some other country and being used around the world.
Posted by Peter at 07:08 AM | Comments (0)
July 27, 2007
E-mail and Virus
Lately I've been getting a bunch of notices from my Connected on the Go e-mail service informing me of potential virus' that they managed to catch before they reached my system (let alone my inbox). So it seems like a good time to bring up the subject of Virus protection via e-mail.
Right off the bat I'll be a homer and say that if you don't have our Connected on the Go e-mail you are missing out. Not only is your e-mail synced on all computers at once, but since virus (and junk mail) filtering takes place BEFORE mails are downloaded by your e-mail program you don't run into the necessary system slowdowns that other filters provide.
There are three possible levels of protection:
Server Level virus protection:
PC Level virus protection:
You the user:
I'll go over the lot in the extended entry...
Server Level Protection:
I've already described that is server level protection. (What our COTG service provides). The idea is e-mails are filtered at the server where they are first received. This is an advantage for the reasons stated above, also it allows the network manager to identify specific threats and large scale attacks. If you work in a large corporate world you may wonder why you get so little spam and fewer virus. This is why. Also it is why COTG is a nice choice for you as well.
PC Level Virus protection:
The second layer of protection is a mail filter on virus programs. These filters will scan e-mails as they are downloaded from a server to your pc and check them for known virus. (Such a filter is usually included in our PC Guardian packages) These filters usually quite effective and if used in conjunction with a server level filter provide the maximum protection without the mistake of multiple anti-virus programs on a single system.
The disadvantages are three fold:
Speed:
Depending on the speed of your computer and the volume of your e-mail there will be delays in the download of mail, this can't be avoided if mail is to be properly checked. Some filters can be adjusted to for more speed but that always gives you less protection.
Updates
Any protection is only as good as the level of virus protection you have. If your virus protection has expired and or has not been updated your filter might not catch the newest virus variation. And since many nasties are money makers for their users the makers are constantly tweaking them to get around your protection.
Web mail
Many people don't get their mail through a program but get it directly off the web via whatever provider they are using (yahoo, hotmail etc... Mail that is grabbed directly off the web bypasses the anti-virus programs.
You the user:
If you don't have one or both of the protections I've already mentioned (and tsk tsk on you if you don't) you can still decrease the odds of a virus getting through by doing the following:
Avoid Preview panes: Preview panes partially open e-mails and can trigger some virus that need to be opened to run.Delete unsolicited e-mails:
If you don't know the sender and are not expecting a reply don't open it. Also remember that your bank, ebay and amazon and other places where you have online accounts will NEVER ask you for personal info.Beware of Generic subject lines:
If an e-mail worm as nailed a friend who has you on a mailing list you will get an e-mail trying to spread the infection to you. Usually those mails will have a generic things such as "hi" or "check this out" or something like that. What I like to do is to put in a code (such as a pets name) in the subject line since these programs won't include it.
All of these will decrease the odds of an e-mail virus. Keep these tips in mind and you will do well.
Posted by Peter at 08:33 AM | Comments (0)
July 22, 2007
It's not the company its the way of thinking
The Star Tribune reports on an issue that has come up with a rival of ours:
In recent months, allegations of agents copying pornography, music and alluring photos from customers' computers have circulated on the Internet. Some bloggers now call it the "Peek Squad."Any attractive young woman who drops off her computer with the Geek Squad should assume that her photos will be looked at," said Brett Haddock, a former Geek Squad technician.
The squad denies it is a big problem some in the company note that its growth is the issue:
some current and former Geek Squad agents say the intrusions into customer privacy are symptomatic of a larger problem: that Geek Squad's rapid growth has compromised its service quality and consistency.
They have a point qc issues are always larger as a company expands but I don't think that is what is really going on. In fact I don't think it is even a Geek Squad issue, I think it really the Limewire/Internet culture at work here.
You what a piece of music? Just download it for free with Limewire or whatever. Need a copy of windows? Just install your neighbors. Want to use a picture? Just grab it off the net (I actually did that myself with the Captain's Zorro picture for the podcast.) We e-mail pictures and items all over the place, the concept of paying for things on the net and even the concept of having to ask for items seems odd.
That being the case why would anyone be surprised if people think that they should worry about taking a picture or a song on a PC. Particulary younger people who grew up with this concept?
After all you are just making a copy.
The concepts of copyright and ownership are not the same to younger people as they were to others in pre-internet days. Some of the concepts should in fact change to reflect the new technology in fact it might be to the advantage of the industry to think that way but some other concepts just don't change.
People's mindsets have to change before this does, but either way I have some advice under the fold for techs and for customers...
To my fellow techs from any company I give the following advice:
You have to treat your customers computer the same way as you would expect or want a plumber, or a electrician or any other contractor coming into your house. They might politely comment on something in passing but they are there to do a job and you expect them to do it. You also have the right to expect that nothing will be taken or copied. Treat your customer the same. There are times also when you will miss a click, if you do, click back right away and return to work.
To a customer I would give the following advice:
If you were taking your car in for repairs you wouldn't leave embarrassing photos of yourself on the front seat would you? Treat your computer the same. If at all possible back up key data (you should be doing that anyways). If you are using an online backup (HINT HINT) you can even remove said items before a machine goes into the shop Like a mechanic it is the job of a tech to look under the hood if the situation calls for it. Remember if you put something in plain sight someone will see it. It is the job of a computer tech to check stuff out issues if their are problems. If there are restrictions let the techs know in advance and they can tell you if that will hinder their work.
A little common sense and common courtesy pay great dividends. The customer is dependent on the knowledge of the machine to get it fixed, the Tech is dependent on the customer for his living. Treat each other with respect and you will both be happy.
Posted by Peter at 10:56 AM | Comments (0)
July 13, 2007
Key Loggers
Today I have had the distinct displeasure of dealing with a key logger on a system.
Key loggers are the worst type of hacks that a system can have. They record every keystroke that is done on said system and write it to a log that is then transmitted to whoever put in on.
Tens of thousands of dollars are stolen by people using key loggers grabbing password, bank account information and the lot. Here are a few things you should do if a you find such a program on your system.
a) Any banking information on said system may be compromised, contact your bank and make sure your accounts haven't been touched, have them monitor said accounts. If there is any sign at all of actual theft, have them closed and new ones opened.b) Credit card should be canceled and re-issued. You can't take chances here, some card thieves will wait, and then hit you during say the Christmas shopping season where your card company might not wonder about an expensive purchase such as diamonds.
c) Any online or system passwords should be changed, any online companies such as amazon, paypal or eBay that might have account info should be contacted.
d) If you are not sure that your system can be cleaned reformat it. This can be a pain in the neck, but a lot less of a pain than being robbed.
Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, keeping your anti-virus up to date, being careful of unsolicited e-mails or free downloads will drop the chances that you will ever have to worry about it at all, but if you ever do have this issue, remember time is of the essence. In an electronics age you can't afford to wait to save what you've worked for.
Posted by Peter at 04:31 PM | Comments (0)
June 20, 2007
A horse of a nasty color
Today lets talk a little about Trojans.
Like the Greek Horse that it is named after a trojan may slip onto a system disguised as a benign program, maybe a toolbar or maybe a graphic or sometimes even as an anti-spyware program. The method varies but the result is the same.
The Trojan hides on the system and performs its function for the benefit of the people who installed it on your system. The least malicious ones simply monitor network and/or internet traffic to detect patterns, other aid in the downloading and delivering of pop-up ads and e-mail that so delight our customers.
The worst of the bunch are like phishing program grabbing passwords, credit card info and the lot. It is internet fraud on a grand scale.
Whenever a trojan is found one should go to safe mode at once and attempt to clean or if you want expert help just give us a call and we'll take care of it.
If you ignore a trojan your system will fall as sure as the city did.
Posted by Peter at 02:58 PM | Comments (0)
June 16, 2007
Missed one but hey it's my day off
There is a third interesting tech/pol story that is unrelated to the first two I posted about this morning.
The Senate Minority Whip is Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi a republican. As you may or may not know he hasn't endeared himself to people on his side of the aisle these days. Michelle Malkin got an e-mail from a reader who decided he wanted to vent so we figured he'd visit Trent Lott's site. He assumed it was www.trentlott.com, however a democratic group MoveOn apparently purchased the domain name so that's where it went. (The place the fellow actually wanted is here).
This is an old trick, it is why when you misspell some word on the net you end up on a phony search page. This makes it worth highlighting two rules:
For business and individuals:
If you are opening up a business or running for office buy not only the name but the misspellings to make sure people who want to get to you can get there. This will also keep your foes from buying your name, it would be very interesting to see how many other members of Congress have left their names up for grabs.
For people searching for web sites:
It is always a better idea to search for the place via an engine instead of just guessing, this will decrease the chances of you being redirected someplace you don't want to go. Some are just annoying search sites but you never know where fraud might be found.
Personally I think it is very bush league for a person who has been in office as long as Senator Lott to have this happen, naturally this is the responsibility of staff but come on. It leads to snark like this.
And I haven't even touched the whole Crush of Obama video thing on YouTube but its on the front page of Technorati and the buzz on the net concerning the Obama girl.
Posted by Peter at 10:54 AM | Comments (0)
June 06, 2007
Software first plugin later
I'm old enough to remember the days before plug and play devices were the rule. Today most devices that you purchase are plug and play, that is , the system sees it as it is plugged in and doesn't see it when it is not.
One mistake that is very often made with plug and play USB devices is the following: Plug and play devices should have their drivers installed BEFORE the device is ever plugged in. During the install process for many devices particularly printers the install process will prompt you when to plug in the device.
On occasion you will luck out and the device will work but more often than not you will confuse a system. Once a system is confused it is hard to unconfuse.
So always install software first.
Posted by Peter at 12:34 AM | Comments (0)
May 31, 2007
At the risk of repeating myself AGAIN
...let me give some basic laws and the fall back positions to keep your home/home business computer free of nasties:
PLAN A: Teenagers and guests should use different PC's
If the kids are going to wreck a machine let them wreck their own, they can pay us for the PC Restoration that follows themselves and you can blissfully continue with your own work. Guests in the house should be using their own laptops or the kids machines not the primary one. If you are retiring a machine give it to the kids and tell them they are on their own!
Plan B: (to be used if plan A can't be) Kids/Guests use a limited account on your PC and your account is passworded
Do not let kids or guests anywhere near your main account. If you absolutely must let them use your machine then give them limited rights and password your own account to be sure they can't install anything that you don't want on your system.
PLAN C: (to be used if for reasons unknown you refuse to use plan A or B) Install filter software
Get a good piece of site filter software on your PC and don't let the kids know the password to remove it. The best filters will not allow you to uninstall them without said password. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY SUCH MACHINE HAVE ANY BUSINESS OR FINANCIAL STUFF ON IT! If you have a system with financial data on a machine that kids have access to and administrator rights then to quote the Reverend Johnson from Blazing Saddles: Son you're on your own.
Of course you are never on your own as we are here 24/7 for help but do you really want to be paying for the same fix over and over again?
Posted by Peter at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)
May 07, 2007
Hit that stop button!
When cleaning out peoples systems via our PC Restoration we always find tons of temp files and the sizes of them seem to constantly increase.
Since I tend to use pages with many multiple windows I tend tend to notice as the pages spin, spin and spin as they are loading.
I know I have an old router but it hit me that it was taking much too long for these to be loading, I took a look at the pages and sure enough all the text I wanted had already loaded, the pages were still loading because of a ton of ads of all types, interactive ads, little scripts etc...
Well I've found the solution, when pages load I scroll to the bottom of the page if I see my page loaded I hit the STOP button. I have my page and the loads stop.
Don't forget that most pages have a printer friendly page, or a PDA style page, if you use those links you can also get a more economical load.
If you like me are not a bells and whistle person this is the solution for you.
Posted by Peter at 08:18 AM | Comments (0)
April 15, 2007
This is why I do mine by hand
A lot of customers ask me why I don't use Quicken, Microsoft Money or Turbo Tax. They wonder why I don't use electronic stuff for financial items. It is because of stuff like this:
It works like this: Internet grifters send e-mails, luring taxpayers to Web pages that look like IRS-approved sites where they can file their taxes electronically."It's very easy for someone to set up a scam site," said Internet analyst Omar Wasow, "the sort of thing a teenager could do with a little bit of Web experience."
The scam artists send in the tax returns after redirecting refunds to their own bank accounts instead of those of the taxpayers.
That doesn't even count all the information from Social Security Numbers of workers and families and any other private tax info out there that is lost. The only good news is that since the returns are actually filed there is no threat of a penalty from the IRS.
Paper and Pencil may be slower but I'm covered.
Posted by Peter at 08:36 PM | Comments (0)
April 10, 2007
A passing thought
Posted by Peter at 11:54 PM | Comments (0)
April 04, 2007
P2Ps and the Golden Bird
When I was a kid my favorite fairy tale was the Tale of the Golden Bird. I always remembered this part of the story in particular:
this evening you will come to a village in which stand two inns opposite to one another. One of them is lighted up brightly, and all goes on merrily within, but do not go into it; go rather into the other, even though it seems a bad one." ...So he pursued his way, and by evening came to the village where the two inns were; in one they were singing and dancing; the other had a poor, miserable look. "I should be a fool, indeed," he thought, "if I were to go into the shabby tavern, and pass by the good one." So he went into the cheerful one, lived there in riot and revel,
In the version I read Riot and revel was replaced with among thieves. This came to mind because of the number of infected systems I've seen in the past few days with LimeWire and other P2P programs on them.
The makers of such software; LimeWire in particular; have been adamant that they no longer bundle spyware with their program (while many others do) but it isn't the bundled spyware that is the most dangerous thing. Often people are looking for cheep or free versions of popular software, or smaller size downloads for albums etc. Many that are found are actually spyware and/or virus or Trojans in disguise. Since LimeWire doesn't actually host the files they aren't responsible but people figuring on getting something for nothing almost always get burned. Since some p2p's allow other people to push your system files that is another vulnerability (and we aren't even talking about the legalities involved or the slowdowns).
The choice is still yours, you can take the easy way to get stuff downloaded or listen to our advice. If you want to give us your hard earned money to spend hours fixing and cleaning your system for a few songs; we'll take it!
Posted by Peter at 07:47 AM | Comments (2)
March 19, 2007
Very busy, a tip to tide you over.
Posted by Peter at 06:44 AM | Comments (0)
March 10, 2007
Some Kingly advice
Posted by Peter at 10:47 AM | Comments (0)
March 07, 2007
Good advice is an ace in the hole
Posted by Peter at 12:01 AM | Comments (0)
February 16, 2007
Beginnings are the most fragile time
Well, hello! My name is Roland, and I will be blogging today -- Peter is "wikked sick", and not in a good way! Please join me in wishing him a speedy recovery!
Anyhoo, it was recently Valentine's Day, one of the few days of the year which tend to focus our thoughts on beginnings (or endings, as it may be), and since I've recently started at HiWired, I thought I would volunteer for blog duty. And what do you know, there is a new Microsoft operating system out, another beginning; I have seen more than a few of our customers struggle with learning the ins and outs of Vista, so here's a tip that I've picked up while working with them... say that you're trying to run ipconfig /flushdns so that you can get a new IP address at the command line prompt, and Vista says:
Elevation is required for this operation
First, find the executable file. You can search for the executable file by going to the Start menu, and going up to Search. Put in the name of the program that you are trying to use, ie Command Prompt, and then click Search.
When the search has run, right-click on either the entry which indicates the executable file (designated by the ".exe" appendation) or on the shortcut to the executable file, and choose "Run as administrator". The program will now launch, and you should be able to make changes as needed!
Posted by at 04:55 PM | Comments (1)
February 13, 2007
A signature tip
YouTube proves itself a good tutor with this tip on how to use signatures in Office 2007.
Unfortunately embedding is disabled on this video so you will have to click here to watch it.
Posted by Peter at 09:50 AM | Comments (0)
February 12, 2007
But I like my toolbars in different spots
Deb Shinder strikes again in Tech Republic with ways to tweak windows vista to adapt to styles you are used to:
Number #7 is the item you will want to see the most.
Posted by Peter at 04:38 PM | Comments (0)
February 10, 2007
PLEASE run the upgrade advisor before going to Vista
Call after call keeps coming with people having driver issues since buying/upgrading to windows vista. There is nothing more frustrating than buying a new system/os and not having the computer work. So we ask you , no we beg you. Run the upgrade advisor before upgrading, installing or buying.
The advisor will list the software or hardware that is not compatible with your system, needs to be uninstalled or might need a driver update. This will give you a solid take on if the upgrade or install is the thing for you to do.
If you are running an upgrade Vista's install program will give you the option at install/upgrade time to check compatibility first. It is not worth the headache that will follow otherwise.
Posted by Peter at 04:24 PM | Comments (0)
February 08, 2007
Download the drivers BEFORE upgrade
Several users, myself included, had wireless issues once upgrading to Windows Vista. Many other users of other devices are running into driver issues since their upgrade. This is a normal.
One big difference between the XP to Vista upgrade and the ME to XP upgrade is the technology. At the time of the ME to XP upgrade high speed connections were much rarer and cd/dvd burners were not always standard equipment. Of course today almost no computer comes without a burner and more people seem to have high speed than not.
What does this mean to people upgrading? It means if you can go to the sites of the manufacturers of the system devices (wireless cards, video cards etc) and external devices (printers etc) and download and burn the vista drivers before upgrade without an inordinate amount of time and effort.
Take a glance through device manager and see what you have, visit the sites and look for Vista drivers, download them to a folder and burn them to disk (if doing a clean install) or just leave them in a folder to install later (if upgrading). This will save you a help session and make the transition a smooth ride.
Posted by Peter at 09:39 AM | Comments (0)
February 02, 2007
That's why I'm a tech and he's a technical director
Heard from George Ou concerning our post about how to avoid that Vista exploit. He pointed out there was a faster way of getting where you need to go to turn it off.
A new feature of Windows Vista allows you to find a program/file that you want via a start button search:
As you type the name of what you are looking for the search window (see bottom of image to the right) displays the possible entries, the most likely entry is listed at the top. 
In this particular case you could either choose "Text to Speech" and then hit the Speech Recognition tab or choose "Speech recognition options" and then choose "Advanced speech options".
The method you use is less important than getting it done.
UPDATE: The first image I uploaded looked absolutely awful and ran into the other post below so I replaced it with the split image you see of the top of the search screen and the bottom, the stuff in the middle that I left out shows the search results under the categories of Files and communications. This is an easy way to find e-mails without opening up outlook and to me that is an even better reason to use this feature.
Posted by Peter at 09:24 AM | Comments (0)
February 01, 2007
Here is how you keep it from turning on
Our last post talked about how a flaw in Vista allows your system to be hacked using sound files on the system giving it commands. It occurs to me that although we posted the suggest to turn off the speech stuff we never told you how to do it. Here is how:
Go to Control Panel:
Select ease of access:
Choose Speech Recognition:
Then Advanced Speech Options:
If you have Vista control panel set to classic view then go directly to the Text to Speech icon:
From this page make sure that Speech recognition is NOT starting when the computer does.
I didn't see a spot to totally disable the feature in the Windows features section of Programs or we would have gone there first. Hopefully Microsoft will be on the ball about fixing this one ASAP.
Posted by Peter at 02:41 PM | Comments (0)
There goes another $70 on Vista
Well I started taking screen shots and photo shots of my vista install/upgrade, I'll be including some of them in a later post, but to put a quick bottom line on things (since it has been much too busy to do anything else). When I finally got to the install screen proper, I didn't have the option to upgrade, only to do a clean install since I had Media Center on the laptop. I totally forgot that I had media center since I never use any of the features of it.
So after backing up everything and resisting the temptation to go ahead and wipe the system (which would have been very foolish) I went back to the store and was able to exchange the basic and $70 for the home premium.
The sticker shock of all this extra money is getting to me but since the bills won't show up for another 3 weeks I think I'll manage.
Posted by Peter at 07:38 AM | Comments (0)
January 23, 2007
Don't forget to clean up after yourself
A couple of days ago I had a customer with an internet connection issue. During the course of debugging I discovered the customer had uninstalled the service packs for windows XP as part of their debugging measure.
It is important to remember that when debugging you might take certain steps to isolate and correct a problem, but it is equally important to make sure that you re-establish things you might have shut off, from system restore to security to patches that might protect a system from other issues.
An advantage of having a professional tech doing such work is we take notes on what we are doing so we can follow them to make sure that items disabled on a temp basis are put to rights once the problem is corrected. If you choose to do such work yourself, make a note of things disabled and removed. That will keep you from creating a new problem while trying to solve another.
Posted by Peter at 04:10 AM | Comments (0)
January 22, 2007
Thus I am resolved
It doesn't seem like the new year is barely three weeks old, so there is time to make some PC resolutions particularly when the five tips here can keep your PC secure to wit:
4. Beware of Strangers Hackers are known to “war drive,” looking for unsecured, unencrypted wireless networks to break into. Make sure your network is protected, and when you’re not online disconnect from the Internet, reducing the chance of exposure to an attacker.
These tips can make a big difference take them to heart.
As you can see my own resolution to not procrastinate hasn't paid off.
Update: I wish Technorati would resolve to get the info about our blog right
Posted by Peter at 10:52 AM | Comments (0)
And now a word from our Bosses
You've heard a lot of opinions on Vista here and will continue to do so. Entrepreneur magazine has asked the bosses here what they think:
Before you consider upgrading to Vista, Srinivas recommends asking yourself whether you have the right hardware and a configuration that will allow it. Surprisingly, Srinivas claims that only a relatively small percentage of the population will be able to immediately answer yes. (Srinivas says that only about 20 percent of HiWired's clients have the key elements needed to install Vista and operate it effectively.) Wexler recommends checking Microsoft's specific guidelines for the minimum requirements needed to run the new operating system before you purchase it.
Compatability is always a big issue on upgrades, but the big news is below:
When HiWired's seasoned technicians attempted to upgrade from XP Pro to Vista, they spent as much as six hours getting it configured. Wexler and Srinivas recommend that if you do decide to upgrade your current machine to Vista, the best way to do it is to erase everything on your PC and start from scratch.
To me that is another way of saying don't upgrade. Our bottom line
Wexler says he and Srinivas are telling most of their customers to skip the upgrade and stick with their XP machine for now. Then, when they're ready to upgrade in a year or so, they can buy a fully loaded Vista machine. "By that point," Wexler says, "they'll be on the second or third patch of Vista and you'll get a new Vista machine that's even better than today's Vista machine."
Sounds like a plan to me.
Posted by Peter at 10:43 AM | Comments (0)
This is not my day
Everybody has a day like this one, Over the last 24 hours my Car was hit while my wife was driving (only minor but arrugh), The Patriots blew a big halftime lead to the Colts, My son woke me up very early with a phone call from DC, I ended up clearing my alarm at that time and oversleeping, (the nice thing about oversleeping when you work from home is you get to work pretty fast, the sad thing is what do you say about being late? There was a lot of traffic on the stairs?), There was a problem with my time card submission (now corrected) and to top it off the Sound on the PC wasn't working this morning.
Now I was breaking the first rule of debugging by attacking something while I was hurried and still half asleep, but I broke my second, when I allowed the installation of some online pinball sims. I figured he had just muted the system since my wife was on his case yesterday, so I checked and sure enough the mute was on, but when I took it off, still no sound. I started checking the sound setting the device manager and the checkpoints in system restore when I remembered that this particular PC had speakers with an independent volume control, sure enough it was just turned way down.
There are two tips here, 1st attack an issue with a clear mind, and second, check the simple things first.
Posted by Peter at 10:14 AM | Comments (1)
January 19, 2007
Personal pages
Hey everyone hope your all enjoying this winter so far. We had our first real snow fall for the winter! Though its only less the 2 inches (shoveled it out this morning). Not enough to break out skis at all over. Any ways while looking at few websites I noticed that many as we all know need you to register on the site. You put in info and other things. Now I noticed someone had cool looking picture with bike that looked very much like one from sci fi like movie. While looking at this it took me into members side of website where you edit your profile and put in info much like sites that we have heard about in news. Myspace for one.
We all know now or I hope that you know to warn your kids not to post Personal info yet here I saw right from the first page a girl under 16 post color picture of her self, Listing her town, age and birth date exact ht+wt all for anyone to see and use to find them.
So I thought I would take moment to remind our blog readers to not only be aware of BIG name sites, but almost any site your kids register on. This info maybe cool to share with kids to say Hey I live one town over or we like same things lets talk which I'm sure was intent when all this started. Yet now its to risky to put out that much info. Leave it to East coast Canada/US or west or central. Stay vague and stay safe.
Take moment to visit with your kids the sites they like, help them make profiles and as you do guide don't lecture them on things. Make sure they see that there is reason other then "Mom/Dad Says".
Hoping your all having fun this year!
Posted by Eric at 10:39 AM | Comments (1)
January 12, 2007
The bottom line on wireless
The ever informative George Ou strikes again with a tech republic download The Ultimate Guide to enterprise Wireless Lan Security.
If you are a business owner using wireless this guide is very much for you. As the old saying goes a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and you don't want your business to be that link.
As always free registration is required, but it is really worth it.
Posted by Peter at 10:26 AM | Comments (0)
January 09, 2007
Lexar Memory Stick Pro
I learned something new this week. My parents have a Sony Cybershot 3.2 that they purchased a couple years back. When they bought it the salesman sold them a Lexar 256mb Memory Stick Pro, and told them it would store around 200 pictures. My father asked me the other day why the camera says full after around 95 pictures every time. So I connected the camera to my computer and it showed up as a 128mb card. When I removed the card it said 256mb on the card itself. What I didn't know is that on the other side of the card there is a little slide switch that says A and B. There are 2 separate chips inside the card, both 128mb. After one fills up, you have to remove the card from the camera and slide the switch over and re-insert the card to get your full 256mb.
Posted by ChrisDu at 07:01 PM | Comments (0)
January 04, 2007
Better than a surge protector
Lost power today at the house before I came into work. Being an experienced tech (and having been burnt by a power surge that blew out my Select Comfort bed) I have surge protectors all over the house.
Surge protectors generally have ratings for protection and may even have a guarantee for an amount of dollars of protection. A good surge protector can save the day and likely did when the power started flickering.
I however decided not to take any chances. I went to each PC, each Router and each Modem and unplugged them from the power supplies. It took me maybe 5 min to unplug it all (And took the same 5 min when the power came back) but that 5 min changed the odds from 95-99% that nothing gets shorted out to 100% that nothing gets shorted out.
You might say it's not worth the hassle for that extra 5%. I disagree. If you are making $300+ an hour maybe your time is worth too much to bother but why take the risk when you don't have to?
Posted by Peter at 01:02 PM | Comments (0)
December 20, 2006
Where is Microsoft hiding that Backup
Had a customer today who wanted to configure backups on his windows xp pro system. It was a very easy thing to set up the build in Microsoft backup to create backup sets on the external drive.
If you are running Xp Home edition (and most of you are) you may discover that the backup is not where you might expect it. That's because the home edition has it on the CD but not pre-installed. If you want to install it you need to do so manually. The instructions are here.
Of course you can always use your our online backup and save the trouble. Whichever way you go make sure you backup your data. You never understand how valuable it is until you lose it.
Posted by Peter at 11:39 AM |