Computer Tips

More of us are using laptops,  30% of the market in preference to a desktop or in addition to a desktop computer.  And over 70% of phone users now have Internet Access enabled phones and are using them as their primary way to manage their services, applications, data and email / Instant Message communications.  This article from CNET (Feb. 12, 2010) explains that any heavy user of Internet Access via the phone should make sure their next phone, if it does not already, supports WiFi (802.11n) access.  This is the same technology used by laptops for wireless networking.  The amount of data (bandwidth) needed to send and receive web information is bursting the current capabilities of the cell phone industries infrastructure.  For this reason cell phone companies are hoping you will choose WiFi hotspots for your web surfing to free up how much data travels via the cell-phone towers.  And it is likely we all will choose this option when available for faster web surfing.

This brings up some security issues.  First, How secure is that cell phone call when using the Cell Phone companies cell tower? Actually more secure than many home wireless phones (see legal issues).  Most of the major U.S. Cell Phone Service providers use Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) like;

, , , and

that sends the call information over multiple paths that makes it difficult to intercept.  Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) on which GSM technology is based breaks calls into time-slots and is used by and .  Both technologies are difficult to intercept since they are both digital and break the communication up into pieces.  Just be aware that if “roaming” this is an analog signal and it is much easier to be monitored by radio scanners.

What needs to be weighed when talking on the phone is how valuable is the information being discussed.  If a person or organization would spend lots of money for it then assume they are listening.  Giving your debit card over the cell phone that contains your life savings is not a good idea but giving out an account’s information that only holds a limited amount of funds may not be as great a worry.  [As a side note it is worth having a separate account for on-line purchases, over-the-phone purchases if using a debit type card or a credit card is a good option since it does not link to actual money but links to credit.]  The goods news is that using a cell phone is a relatively safe way to communicate and the chance of eavesdropping is slim.  A word of caution, however, is to not accept another phone as a gift or think twice about buying a 2nd hand phone as there are snooping programs that can be installed on a cell phone!

If absolute security is required a 3rd party encryption product is necessary and both parties for the cell-phone call need to use the same technology solution.

Security for WiFi is another BIG issue (see Working in a Cafe).  The safest method for connecting via a public WiFi access point is using Virtual Private Networking (VPN).  If the WiFi connection is not using encryption where you need to use a password to access the WiFi Hotspot, with WPA2 being the current safest encryption type, then all transmissions are vulnerable to being snooped so be extremely careful what information you send or receive while using a non-encrypted public connection.  Most safe activities would be doing general research, looking up public transportation schedules and such.  But you should switch to your cell phones built-in email handling applications, if available, for managing email.  Plus, avoid going to financial account web-sites or using web-sites where you are entering a user-name and password.  Although this may seem a bit more complicated it is mostly common-sense because if you have a laptop and there are strangers sitting nearby you would not want to have your financial accounts open on the laptop so just take it a step further and assume those strangers can “see” the information being sent & received while using a public WiFi hotspot.

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The pera Browser shows impressive speed for Browsing.  Along with speed is a concern for safety.  The Web of Trust that allows you to check on the safety and the communities rating of different websites before visiting is a wonderful tool.  It is an easy Add-On for the Mozilla Firefox browser and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer .  There is a way to add the features of WOT to the Opera Browser that require moderate computer knowledge:

1. First download the Opera Browser from the link above (left-click on the “O” above) and install it.
2. Go to this ExtendOpera link and keep the current Browser open to this web-page.
3. Next, create a Folder on the computer either; under where the DOCUMENTS are located or another location on the primary hard-drive.
4. Open Notepad.  In Windows XP, left-click , left-click on RUN… and type in NOTEPAD, press ENTER.  In Windows Vista or 7, left-click the Windows Symbol and in the search box that appears type in NOTEPAD, press ENTER.
5. Return to the Web Page opened in step 2, and there is a link “WOT.js“.  Left-Click on it and text page will appear, Left-Click once on the web page and press & hold the CTRL key followed by the A key and release.  ALL of the text will high-light.
6. Copy & Paste the text into the open NOTEPAD.
7. Save the NOTEPAD file as something like MYWOT.js or OPERAWOT.js or any other name as long as the filename ends in “.js” in the file location that was created in step 3.
8. In the Opera Browser left-click on  file, preferences, advanced, content, Javascript Options and Browse to the Java file location created in step 7 and lef-click okay all the way out.

Restart the Opera Browser and the familiar WOT donuts should appear next to Web Site Links.  For those new to WOT the community of Internet Users (Millions) rate different web-sites and those that have good policies tend to receive a GREEN donut, unrated web-sites are GREY and those with problems or Malware web-sites appear as YELLOW or RED donuts and should normally be avoided.

Haitian Earthquake Relief Fraud Alert

[Fraud Reporting to IC3 via www.ic3.gov]
The FBI today reminds Internet users who receive appeals to donate money in the aftermath of Tuesday’s earthquake in Haiti to apply a critical eye and do their due diligence before responding to those requests. Past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization and/or a good cause.

Therefore, before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, to include the following:

• Do not respond to any unsolicited (spam) incoming e-mails, including  clicking links contained within those messages.
• Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as surviving victims  or officials asking for donations via e-mail or social networking sites.
• Verify the legitimacy of nonprofit organizations by utilizing various  Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming the group’s existence  and its nonprofit status rather than following a purported link to the site.
• Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas  in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments  from known senders.
• Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on  others to make the donation on your behalf to ensure contributions are  received and used for intended purposes.
• Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone who solicits  contributions: Providing such information may compromise your identity and  make you vulnerable to identity theft.

Anyone who has received an e-mail referencing the above information or anyone who may have been a victim of this or a similar incident should notify the IC3 via www.ic3.gov

For further information, please visit the FBI’s Web site:

http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel10/earthquake011310.htm

There is some great news for personal and business computer users surviving on a shoe-string budget.  Microsoft Security Essentials™ has rated as 1 of 3 top Anti-Malware (Anti-Virus) software in a pool of security software tested by AV-Comparatives (Independent Labs) in the November 2009 results.  This means that there is now a FREE active anti-malware software option available without any caveats except that the computer is a Windows based operating system.  This is a significant event since the previous Anti-Malware software tested from Microsoft™ only received the Standard rating.

Auslogics™ Disk Defrag is a recommended tool for a Windows based computer.  Windows™ does include a hard-drive de-fragmenting tool that can be cumbersome to use since it has a history of restarting or problems getting it to run.  As many know, the hard-drive is constantly being used and data is moved around which leads to slower computer performance over time.  Think of a library where thousands of people are using books and leaving them everywhere.   A librarian is needed to step in and put things back in place so it will be easier to locate the information needed.  That is what disk de-fragmentation is all about and this is what this software does efficiently.

The free software can be found via our website:

1. Left-click HERE to create a new user account.
2. Once logged in left-click on the button.
3. Left-Click on the Auslogics™download link.
4. Save it to the computer.
5. To install just double-click the download and follow the instructions. [In Windows XP, Right-Click the download and Left-Click runas and uncheck "protect my computer ..." if present to give the install program full permission.]

Once installed, double-left-click the programs short-cut and;

1. Select the hard-drive to de-fragment [ex. ]
2. Select if you would like the computer to automatically shut down when complete (available in the latest version).
3. De-fragmenting the computer once a month is normally sufficient and a Left-Click on the small arrow provides the following options:
   and the Defrag & Optimize is recommended.

This is a straight forward program to use, it runs efficiently and it keeps the hard-drive in good order extending its life.

This useful tip shows you how to capture an error message pop-up or the settings of a program or to capture something showing up on the computer screen as follows;

1. Press the Print Screen key, sometimes abbreviated as [Prnt Scrn], typically located somewhere in the upper right side of the keyboard.
2. Open the Windows Paint program;  for Vista™ & Windows 7™, Left-Click on the lower left Windows™ Icon  and type in Paint and it will appear in the list above.  For Windows XP™; Left-Click , Left-Click , Left-Click , Left-Click to start it.
3. Once the Windows Paint Program opens either; Left-Click on , Left-Click on or just Press & Hold the CTRL KEY followed by the V key and release both keys.  The Computer Screen Captured in Step 1 will appear, scroll to an area just off the image and Left-Click once to place the image.  The image can now be saved to a file.  You can also experiment by starting with step 1, skipping step 2 and pasting the image directly to an email message or any other program that accepts images.

[Troubleshoot: On laptops you may need to hold the Function [Fn Key] for the Print Screen key to work.]

And, by holding the [ALT] key before pressing the [Prnt Scrn] the computer will screen capture the active Window.  Some keyboards may have a special F Key to press first for this to work.  If the active windows is not Maximized to cover the whole computer screen you will notice a difference.

And these screen capture files, when using Paint or another program to save the image,  can be placed in an email attachment to send to a friend, to a computer support service, or used just like any other image file.  This tip will stop the stress of having to try and write it down worrying if it will disappear before you can!

The current Microsoft™ Operating Systems (OS) available on new computers is & with the later just released in October.  Both of these Operating Systems have an appealing look and feel.  Windows 7™ uses a fluid Task Bar with extra features when working with many open Windows and Programs.  Although there is the common recommendation to wait until the bugs are fixed I do not adhere to it in this case for several reasons.  Windows 7™ is a close cousin to Windows Vista™ so it should have a lot less issues.  It is more streamlined in its services and Microsoft has unpackaged it substantially.  On previous versions of Windows extras like Windows Messenger™, Outlook Express™, Netmeeting™ were all installed and ready to go.  With Windows 7™ they are not automatically installed being only a click away if you want to use them.  This means a more streamlined system with fewer startup Programs.  And, by the way, they are being renamed and bundled as part of the Windows Live™ package.   Both Windows Operating Systems are good choices and choosing at least one step up from the base Operating System Version is recommended if the budget allows as this will give enhanced features and capabilities.  This brings us to the next dimension for Operating Systems of whether to buy a 32 bit or 64 bit Operating System.

In a nutshell a 64 bit Operating System will operate faster as Programs that are specifically designed for them are released and this list is rapidly expanding.  A 64 bit computer architecture is quicker because instead of taking small 16 bit or 32 bit bytes (bites!) out of the apple, each computer cycle, will take a huge 64 bit bite!  Larger chunks of data get processed giving better performance.  [For techies read more HERE.] You are probably asking, “If I buy a 64 bit computer can I use my older software?”  The quick answer is if you keep your software current and upgrade every few years you will not have a problem.  Here are the details of what will work;

1. 16-Bit computers were used in the 1970’s and thus the Software for this period is 16 bit.  Any software written for 16-Bit computers will not run on a 64 bit machine.  Except, the Windows 7™ Pro Operating System that has a method to allow these programs to work.
2. 32-Bit computers were developed and in the market since the 1980’s until today.  Any true 32 bit program will run on a 64 bit computer.  It is highly likely that all the programs you are using if written in the late 1980’s to the present time are true 32 bit programs.  That being said, it is not a guarantee so be sure and check with the Company that wrote the software.  For example, Quicken™ users have recommended using only 2007 or later software for 64 bit computers.
3. 64-Bit computers for the Windows Market began in the late 2003’s and Software Developers are rushing to keep up since this Software market is rapidly expanding and will the the computer standard to match in the near future.

The rest of computer buying is all about performance, options and shopping around.  A computer running Windows Vista or 7 needs is recommended to have of 2 Gigabytes (GB) of RAM and 256 Megabytes (MB) of video RAM and the video card driver needs to support DirectX9.0 or higher.  A multi-processor design such a Dual Core or Quad is a nice performance enhancement.  The Windows Upgrade Advisor Tool is an excellent way to check both; if the current hardware can support the new Operating System and the compatibility of existing software.  If running graphic intensive software and working with lots of photos & videos a hard-drive with at least 500 GB or more of memory is a almost a requirement.  Or, another good option, is an external hard-drive to keep these multi-media files safe.  AND, a high-performance graphics card will allow these programs to run at maximum efficiency.  If choosing to use a large external memory device of 500 GB or more consider connection options beyond the USB type such as Firewire and ESATA communications to allow fast transfer speeds.  Where budgets are tight the USB drives are sufficient but may require more patience for large file transfers.

To get the best deal shop the on-line specials at computer stores and on-line computer sales web-sites.  Check out the computer manufacturer web-sites and consider a certified refurbished computer.  Price comparison web-sites are a good research tool to check both prices and features.  And, as always when using the Internet it is important to stay safe and the end of this article explains how to use the Mozilla Firefox™ Internet Browser with a safety Add-on.

Here is the latest article published on EZINES about why it is best not to click on links in emails.

Gmail, MSN-Hotmail (Windows Live), and Yahoo, to name several free email providers, have been in the news lately since a list of email addresses and their associated passwords were posted on the Internet!  Since the revelation the posted information has been removed and each company has forced password resets for the email accounts that were affected.  This means the user will be required to change their password the next time they access the email account.  [Note; if a password reset is required and you use POP3 email such as Microsoft Outlook or Express be sure to update the password for the email accounts here also.]

So how did this happen in this case?

The official word is that phishing and mimic websites are the hackers tool.  Here’s how it works:

1. An official looking email is sent to the user or the user visits a “hacked” website.
2. The user clicks on the link in the fake “official” looking email or the faked “official” looking pop-up box.
3. The user enters their Username and Password and Whoala!, you’ve been PHISHED!
4. Or, worse you’ve authorized the download of Malware / Spyware to your computer.

How to protect yourself?

1. Educate; locate the security tips for your email type. [Here are some quick links, Left-Click on the image: ,  , ]
2. Install a reliable Anti-Malware Software and Firewall [a list of free resources for home use is available via a free registration HERE.  Need help on how to install and use computer security software consider the BOOK or EBOOK]
3. Secure the Internet Browser and consider using an alternative Browser such as;

• Mozilla Firefox An established Internet Browser DOWNLOAD LINK
• a more recent entry DOWNLOAD LINK [winning awards for hacker proofing]

A now common trick for Phishers, especially, in trying to download Malware or Spyware is a faked POP-UP window.  If a suspicious window appears DO NOT click on it but close it by pressing and holding the “Ctrl” key followed by the “W” key.  This key combination will close the active Window.   If you end up in a fireball of windows, keep using this combination until all the Pop-Up Windows plus the Internet Browser are closed.  If internet style Pop-Ups occur even with the Internet Browser Closed it is likely there is Malware on the computer and it needs to be scanned and cleaned.

In the follow-on article we will address using certain Internet Browser Settings for Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome to improve Internet Surfing security.

Malware that uses computer vulnerabilities to steal website login data and screen captures is not new but cybercrooks are introducing a new wiggle.  Once they obtain this information from poorly protected computers not only do they withdraw money, they provide falsified Financial Statements to the victim so they are unaware of the crime until they visit an ATM or BANK.  Read the full story HERE , check for BROWSER Hijacks HERE, and check your protection status HERE.