31/07/2009 Microsoft Windows 7

I have been using Windows 7 exclusively on all my PC’s since I downloaded it back in May. I think Microsoft have scored the equivalent of a 100 metre try with this version of the popular operating system.

On my workhorse PC, which is the PC that I install new software to review (alpha and beta versions), uninstall software, play around with settings to try to crash it and generally treat it very rough, Windows 7 has just shrugged it off and taken all I’ve thrown at it in its’ stride.

One of the biggest complaints I hear in my line of work has to do with the fact that even now some older peripherals, (printers and flat bed scanners mainly) still don’t have Vista drivers. I own an ancient Epson (circa 1999) that Epson have not written Vista drivers for. When I connected this the the workhorse, Windows 7 immediately installed its’ own drivers for it. That happened on day 2 of my Windows 7 experience and to say I was impressed is an understatement.

I do believe that Microsoft got it absolutely right this time.

31/07/2009 Microsoft Office 2010 Technical Preview

Well the wait is over for me,  I downloaded Office 2010 Technical Preview today and although I have only been playing for a few hours I like what I see. There are a heap of new cool features and here is a list of my top ten.

Keep watching this space for more comments and tips as I use Office 2010 in my day to day operations.

29/07/2009 AVG - iTunes Problem

A database update to antivirus software AVG over the weekend caused the software to quarantine the popular Apple store software iTunes. It viewed the iTunes€ library files as a Trojan virus.

Unfortunately, a recent virus database update resulted in iTunes being detected as a Trojan by AVG security products. We can confirm that it was a false alarm. AVG immediately released a new virus database update (definition file 270.13.29/2260) that corrected this issue,€� the company wrote in response to complaints on Apple’s support forums and its own official forums.

Source: AppleInsider

21/07/2009 “Vacation Hacking”

 The newest trend in Internet fraud is "vacation hacking," a sinister sort of tourist trap.

Cybercriminals are targeting travelers by creating phony Wi-Fi hot spots in airports, in hotels, and even aboard airliners.

Vacationers on their way to fun in the sun, or already there, think they're using designated Wi-Fi access points. But instead, they're signing on to fraudulent networks and hand-delivering everything on their laptops to the crooks.

"More and more people are traveling with Wi-Fi devices like smartphones and laptops," says Marian Merritt, Internet safety advocate at the computer-security giant Symantec. "Airports and airlines and hotels are responding. They're setting up free Wi-Fi networks to lure in customers. Now they're luring in hackers as well.
To this end, the folks at Symantec have created a list of five simple tips for thwarting most attacks.

— Pay attention to your surroundings. Just because you're on vacation doesn't mean you're not in public. Don't look at important documents when sitting in a waiting area for a plane or a train — wait until you're alone and in private for that.

— Beware of "Evil Twins." Some Wi-Fi networks look legitimate but are actually dummy networks created by criminals. Even if they contain the name of your airport, airline or hotel, they will directly link your computer to the hacker's. If you always use the official access keys provided by the establishment, then you should be safe.

— Always assume Wi-Fi connections are being eavesdropped on. Never enter sensitive data — Social Security numbers, bank account information, etc. — when browsing the Web via a Wi-Fi network.

— Set all Bluetooth devices to "hidden," not to "discoverable." Better yet, if you don't use Bluetooth, just shut off the function altogether.

— Keep your security software current and active. Mobile PCs are just as vulnerable to viruses, worms and Trojan horses as are desktops, so make sure you have the latest protection installed

15/07/2009 Six safety tips for using gadgets with Windows Vista

Click here to read or save this pdf document.

01/07/2009 Is Microsoft really emailing me critical updates for Outlook or Outlook Express?

The short answer - NO, Never.

 Delete that email immediately, and ignore any more copies you'll likely get.

That link that looks like it goes to "http://update.microsoft.com/..."? In the email it looks like that, but if you click on it your browser will really go to "http://update.microsoft.com.ilkihi.com/...". See how there's an extra domain in the URL that's not in the URL that you click on?

That's the single biggest clue that this is a scam. Click on it, and you'll likely take a virus, or be the victim of some other kind of scam - particularly if you accept and install the download.

What scam artists have done is create an email that looks as much as possible like an official email from Microsoft. They've probably even copy/pasted from a real Microsoft email or web page to get the look and feel just right. Many of the other links in that email might happen to be correct, and take you to the corresponding page on Microsoft's web site. That's even a legitimate Knowledgebase identifier, though the real article has nothing to do with what the email claims.

What they're counting on is enough people blindly assuming that the email is legitimate, and clicking on the download link because they think they need this "update".

How do you protect yourself?

• Realize that Microsoft never distributes updates via email. Not as a an attachment, and not even as instructions to download.
• Never click on links in email that you didn't expect, or aren't 100% certain about. Never. Remember, even the technique of hovering over a link to see where it "really" goes can also many times be spoofed - you can't trust even that.
• Always keep your machine up to date. If it's updates you want, then enable Windows Automatic Updates, or visit Windows Update yourself. It's also a great way to check out the legitimacy of emails like this: if you visit Windows Update, you'll be notified there if you do indeed need some update.

I'm seeing this scam more and more often, so please - be careful, and watch where you click.

11/6/2009 Free Windows 7 Upgrade

The free Windows 7 upgrade program will start on June 26 according to a corporate memo from Best Buy. The memo states that there will be a “Technology Guarantee”€� program starting on June 26 which means that people who buy computers running Vista Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate will get Windows 7 on October 22.
Pre-sales of Microsoft’s next operating system will also be available on June 26 by Best Buy.
Will we see this type of deal in Australia?
Source: Information Week

10/6/2009 What to know about a file before you download it
Basics for safer downloading
Consider the four points below before you click an attachment (or link) in an e-mail or instant message, download a file from a Web site, or share files from a stranger's computer.

1. Pause before you open attachments and click links
Never open attachments in e-mail or instant messages from strangers. If you know the sender, but the message arouses your suspicions, check with the sender before you open the attachment. If they did not send it, delete the e-mail and ignore the instant message.
Think twice before you click links in e-mail or instant messages. (If you know the sender, check before you click.) The same goes for pop-up windows and banner ads. Be especially wary of clicking a link that accompanies a request for confidential information—for example one that says "Click here…"
Do not click "Agree," "OK," or "I accept" to get rid of a pop-up advertisement, an unexpected warning, or even an offer to remove spyware. Instead, close the window by clicking Windows XP-style close button in the upper-right corner, (the red square with the white “X�) or by pressing ALT+F4 on your keyboard.

2. Download from reputable sites
Be cautious about downloading from a Web site if you were referred there by e-mail from an unknown source. Also be wary if the site contains objectionable material, makes offers that seem too good to be true, or does not include a clearly written privacy statement.

3. Respect the law
Remember that the words, music, software, games, or video files you download are someone's original work. You (or your kids) risk serious legal trouble if you use copyrighted material without the permission of its rightful owner. Violating the federal laws that govern the use of this material can lead to fines and even jail time. Note, too, that there are some files, such as certain kinds of pornography, that are illegal to intentionally download, view, or own.

4. Install and use file-sharing programs cautiously
When you use file-sharing (also known as peer-to-peer or P2P) programs to trade music, video, and other files on the Web, you make some of your files available to others using similar software. Using some file-sharing programs can also mean leaving an open back door to your computer while it's connected to the Internet.
File-sharing programs have other risks. The programs can themselves be purveyors of malicious software (or malware). Or, they may lead you unwittingly to download something that is illegal, such as a copyrighted song or certain kinds of pornography. And once on your computer, some of these programs can be exceedingly tough to remove (assuming you can even find them).
So share files only with people you know and trust. Some evildoers share what they claim are music or movies, but are actually disturbing images, viruses, or worse.

28/04/2009 XP in Windows 7

So there is going to be an XP mode in Windows 7. What does that mean? For users of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate - sorry, lower-end users! - you will get a full copy of Windows XP that will run under a virtual processor. However, instead of creating a new desktop environment, the XP mode will bring the application up as a window inside Windows 7. This means you can run applications like IE 6 “natively” without booting a virtual machine.

The virtual machine will also offer a desktop interface but applications you install under XP will show up in the Windows 7 start menu, an interesting move. The XP app will, in short, appear as a Windows 7 app with a bit more loading.

Why is this happening? Mostly because Vista has long been seen as a plaything and not a serious option for IT departments. By adding an XP mode the final argument - “It’s not XP!” - against Windows 7 is dead. I’ve played with Win7 and am looking forward to it.

24/04/2009 Security for Windows 7

Details are released for the next Windows operating system, Windows 7. According to the article at Tom’s Hardware, the five components are Multiple Active Firewall Policies, DirectAccess, BranchCache, BitLocker To Go, and AppLocker.

“We’re really excited about Windows 7’s new security features. This next OS is built upon the proven security technologies in Windows Vista and provides a fundamentally secure computing platform. We not only utilized enhanced Security Development Lifecycle (SDL) process during planning, development and testing but we also have worked to make the security features more discoverable, usable and manageable,” said Paul Cooke of Microsoft.

Source: Tom’s Hardware

13/04/2009 Conficker starts to rear its’ ugly head

Reports are coming in identifying SpywareProtect2009 as being another of the specific scareware tactics being used after Conficker's latest update. The victim receives a warning and is prompted to purchase the removal tool @ US$49.99, then the download streams in from the Ukraine. Do not under any circumstances follow instructions from one of these prompts.

This worm is considered extremely dangerous and has already infected between 9 million and 15 million systems. Known to save a copy of it's .dll files to random files in the Windows System folder, it then loads each time you boot Windows. All of this leads to a sluggish and unresponsive system that prevents the user from navigating to any website that offers useful help.

12/04/2009 Eight Patches on Tuesday

Microsoft is expected to release eight patches on Tuesday to repair flaws on their Excel software, Internet Explorer web browser, and Windows operating system.

The Excel flaw can be exploited via email or a malicious site. If it is from an email, the user has to open an Excel attachment for his or her computer to be infected.

The update, which will be released at 2:00 p.m. EST, will also include the latest version of the malicious software removal tool of the company. It will be released through Windows Update and Windows Server Update services.

11/04/2009 Conficker Worm Update

The Conficker worm has created a new variant of itself. It is called WORM_DOWNAD.E and it is stored in the Windows Temp folder of infected computers. It is made from an encrypted 134,880-byte TCP response from a known Conficker node.

This will stop on the first week next month according to Trend Micro.

It uses the MS08-067 vulnerability to spread and it runs random file name and random service name.

The other things that this worm does is open port 5114 tries to connect to popular sites such as Myspace and eBay.

01/04/2009 What will happen when Microsoft stops supporting Windows XP?

It depend on exactly when you're thinking of. Microsoft won't just stop supporting XP, they'll phase out support. Where in that phase out you happen to be will make a lot of difference.

Fortunately, we have examples of what they've done in the past to make some guesses as to how they'll handle XP.

Support for the original product without service packs is withdrawn. Windows XP is actually already at this point since as SP2 is now required. If you attempt to take product updates for an original Windows XP, one of the first things you'll be expected to take is SP2.

• Support for early service packs is withdrawn. Once again, Windows XP is already at this point, as SP1 is no longer supported. Your first attempt to update an SP1 machine should result in a download of SP2.
• At what Microsoft calls the "supported service pack level" (as I write this, currently SP2 and SP3 for Windows XP), the product is in "Mainstream Support", including security updates, bug fixes and more.
• After some period of time (Microsoft documents this as 5 years, but it's been known to change), the product enters "Extended" support phase. Most notably, this means that only security updates are issued.
• After another 5 years or so, the product enters what Microsoft carefully calls "Self-help online support". Put another way, you're on your own. All the documentation remains online, but actual support and/or updates may no longer be available. Windows 98 and Me are in this phase right now.

Now, interestingly, if you look at the Windows Support Lifecycle information on Windows XP, they currently list the following dates for Windows XP Pro:

• General Availability: 12/31/2001
• Mainstream Support Retired: 4/14/2009
• Extended Support Retired: 4/8/2014

As you can see, mainstream support for Windows XP is scheduled to be retired within weeks of this article being published. Will it happen? Maybe, maybe not. The good news is that security updates will continue to be available into 2014.

Will you be running Windows XP in 2014? To be honest, I hope not. That's kind of like running Windows 98 today - it's just not really a good idea. But if for some reason you must, you'll be able to.

31/03/2009 -Good-Bye XP. Hello Windows 7

Free support for Windows XP ends on April 14th, and the Windows 7 release candidate arrives in May, coincidence? I don’t think so.

more

26/03/2009 Has this ever happened to you in Vista?

I meant to hit "Empty Recycle Bin" but clicked on "Delete" instead. Now my Recycle Bin has disappeared from my desktop

How do I get it back? Heres’ how

23/03/2009 High Speed Internet Offer Spam

A spam campaign about Comcast High Speed Internet has been spotted. It is from the same group that used Bank of America and Northern Bank campaigns.

The page looks convincing and it lures the visitor to download a special utility to make their internet speed faster. The malware steals data and sends it to Hong Kong according to F-Secure.

The article notes that the spam run was changed to a Facebook scheme and some of the titles are Magnificent girl dancing video clip and Dancing Girl Drunk In The Pub.

19/3/2009 Explosion SPAM

Sophos has detected a spam campaign about explosions in the location where a user lives.

The spam contains a malicious link which points to a supposed Reuters web page that has a multimedia viewer. The web page contains the player, a short title, and a paragraph which explain what happened in the explosion.

“Take Care!”, “Are you and your friends in good health?”, ” At least 18 killed in your city”, “I hope you are not in the city now” are some of the subjects in this spam campaign according to Sophos.

11/3/2009 Unpatched danger in Adobe Reader and Acrobat

An extremely dangerous vulnerability has existed in Adobe Reader and Acrobat since early February that could let a bad guy completely take over your system. A patch wasn't released until March 11, so until you've applied the update, be very leery of opening any PDF files from unknown sources.

Five Tips for Protecting Your Identity Online

The internet is the most popular form of communication that provides connection between people. Without the proper protection though, the internet is like a wide open gate, inviting to criminals. I know the risk of having your identity online. Here are my top 5 tips to staying safe online and making sure your identity remains where it belongs- in your hands and out of the hands of criminals.

   1. You Decide What Information to Reveal about Yourself
      Your full name, place of employment, phone number, and addresses could be valuable information if placed in the wrong set of hands.
   2. Examine Privacy and Seals
      If you are on a site that asks for your personal or bank information, make sure there is a posted privacy policy in the form of a padlock seal symbol or an unbroken key (if you're using a Mac) prominently displayed.
   3. Defend Your Computer Against Internet Attacks
      Have an effective Firewall (which acts as a shield against anyone trying to gain access to your personal files) and AntiVirus software (which prevents viruses getting into the computer system and wrecking havoc on your files and documents).
   4. Be Conscious of Web Addresses
      Check the URL (web address) when entering personal information. A more secure site that uses encryption will begin with https:// instead of http://.
   5. Look at your Credit Card Statement
      You'll be able to instantly see if someone is trying to use your ID. Your credit report lists all applications for credit and credit commitments, so any activity that is not yours will immediately show.

Signs that your computer may have an infection.