I've had a couple requests for FaceBook help. Some friends and family (including me) don't like to use the Java enhanced browser plug-in when uploading photos. I always use the simple uploader. It's a tad more secure and in some cases may be even faster than using the default photo upload.
20100327
Lads from Lagos pose as US troops to snare unwary ladies
This is absolutely disgusting.
The Lads from Lagos have struck again, this time posing online as US servicemen at war overseas in order to become "romantically involved" with American women fond of a man in uniform and then "prey on their emotions and patriotism".
“We are seeing a number of scams being perpetrated on the internet, especially on social, dating-type websites where females are the main target,” explained Chris Grey, spokesman for the US Army Criminal Investigation Command.
Full Article
The Lads from Lagos have struck again, this time posing online as US servicemen at war overseas in order to become "romantically involved" with American women fond of a man in uniform and then "prey on their emotions and patriotism".
“We are seeing a number of scams being perpetrated on the internet, especially on social, dating-type websites where females are the main target,” explained Chris Grey, spokesman for the US Army Criminal Investigation Command.
Full Article
20100326
2010 Anti Virus Results Are In
Without getting into too much detail the best 3 anti-virus products are as follows:
1. G Data high marks in overall detection rates plus a very high rating for malware/spyware detection. Great marks also for processor usage and a low percentage of "false positives". Price $29.99 for a one year one PC license.
2. Avira AntiVir Premium Priced at $53 (and up) Avira Premium provides top notch (ok second rated) protection. 99.3% detection rate and low false positive detection plus a very high score in malware/spyware detection.
3. Panda Anti-Virus Pro $49.95 for a 1 year 3 PC license gets you the 3rd highest Anti-Virus program in our countdown! A little over double that will get you a 3 year license so pricing isn't that bad. A good overall score of 99.2% detection rate but a horrible rate in detecting malware/spyware (67.9% and 40% with script malware**Norton AV scores higher with 97.9% and Microsoft's free Security Essentials scores an 87.1%). There were a lot of false positive detections yet the scanner is fast.
Free Anti-virus (AV) Scores
If the need arises and paying $50+ is a little steep I recommend a few freebies. With that recommendation I advise extreme caution and a vigilant resolve when using free AV. Personally I use Microsoft's Security Essentials and haven't run into any issues so far but I use different web surfing techniques (launching browsers within Sand Boxes* for instance). Here are my top 3 freebies.
1. Avast! Scoring in the high 90's with every detection rate and a 93% in malware/spyware this free (with the option to go pro for 1 PC for $39.95) has the best scores out of the freebie AV products.
2. Microsoft's Security Essentials A small footprint on system resources, very few false positives, and a good overall score of about 96%, Microsoft takes the number 2 spot in the 2010 Free AV Countdown here on Graydentech. I takes a hit with script malware (77%) but it's not horrible.
3. AVG Free 75% malware/spyware detection rates but an extremely low score with script malware**. You get what you pay for on this and frankly I don't recommend it.
*In computer security, a sandbox is a security mechanism for separating running programs. It is often used to execute untested code, or untrusted programs from unverified third-parties, suppliers and untrusted users.
The sandbox typically provides a tightly-controlled set of resources for guest programs to run in, such as scratch space on disk and memory. Network access, the ability to inspect the host system or read from input devices are usually disallowed or heavily restricted. In this sense, sandboxes are a specific example of virtualization.
**Mostly called "drive-by downloads" or crap you can get from visiting a web page. in other words it's not a program you have to install to become infected. It's become fairly popular with crime-ware like "Internet Security 2010". I say popular since it's the biggest problem I've seen lately. It just pops into your machine while you're surfing and it takes a giant crow-bar to remove it's clutches from your system.
Note: these results are from an independent research group (AV-Comparitives dot org) plus a little of my own testing. Full results and tests can be found in the following PDF. AVC Report
1. G Data high marks in overall detection rates plus a very high rating for malware/spyware detection. Great marks also for processor usage and a low percentage of "false positives". Price $29.99 for a one year one PC license.
2. Avira AntiVir Premium Priced at $53 (and up) Avira Premium provides top notch (ok second rated) protection. 99.3% detection rate and low false positive detection plus a very high score in malware/spyware detection.
3. Panda Anti-Virus Pro $49.95 for a 1 year 3 PC license gets you the 3rd highest Anti-Virus program in our countdown! A little over double that will get you a 3 year license so pricing isn't that bad. A good overall score of 99.2% detection rate but a horrible rate in detecting malware/spyware (67.9% and 40% with script malware**Norton AV scores higher with 97.9% and Microsoft's free Security Essentials scores an 87.1%). There were a lot of false positive detections yet the scanner is fast.
Free Anti-virus (AV) Scores
If the need arises and paying $50+ is a little steep I recommend a few freebies. With that recommendation I advise extreme caution and a vigilant resolve when using free AV. Personally I use Microsoft's Security Essentials and haven't run into any issues so far but I use different web surfing techniques (launching browsers within Sand Boxes* for instance). Here are my top 3 freebies.
1. Avast! Scoring in the high 90's with every detection rate and a 93% in malware/spyware this free (with the option to go pro for 1 PC for $39.95) has the best scores out of the freebie AV products.
2. Microsoft's Security Essentials A small footprint on system resources, very few false positives, and a good overall score of about 96%, Microsoft takes the number 2 spot in the 2010 Free AV Countdown here on Graydentech. I takes a hit with script malware (77%) but it's not horrible.
3. AVG Free 75% malware/spyware detection rates but an extremely low score with script malware**. You get what you pay for on this and frankly I don't recommend it.
*In computer security, a sandbox is a security mechanism for separating running programs. It is often used to execute untested code, or untrusted programs from unverified third-parties, suppliers and untrusted users.
The sandbox typically provides a tightly-controlled set of resources for guest programs to run in, such as scratch space on disk and memory. Network access, the ability to inspect the host system or read from input devices are usually disallowed or heavily restricted. In this sense, sandboxes are a specific example of virtualization.
**Mostly called "drive-by downloads" or crap you can get from visiting a web page. in other words it's not a program you have to install to become infected. It's become fairly popular with crime-ware like "Internet Security 2010". I say popular since it's the biggest problem I've seen lately. It just pops into your machine while you're surfing and it takes a giant crow-bar to remove it's clutches from your system.
Note: these results are from an independent research group (AV-Comparitives dot org) plus a little of my own testing. Full results and tests can be found in the following PDF. AVC Report
20100322
20100318
Never Share Your Password
More than 100 drivers in Austin, Texas found their cars disabled or the horns honking out of control, after an intruder ran amok in a web-based vehicle-immobilization system normally used to get the attention of consumers delinquent in their auto payments.
Read More http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/03/hacker-bricks-cars/#ixzz0iXEHL7mX
Read More http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/03/hacker-bricks-cars/#ixzz0iXEHL7mX
Although the article and it's author are emphasizing the use of "hacking" in order to set the car alarms and horns off. I think the main point of the article should be never share your password. Even though the accused supposedly hacked the system he didn't really do anything but use another co-workers username and password. This is a basic social engineering hack where one user gains access to another users credentials and uses them in a fraudulent manner. This could have been avoided if the co-worker never shared his password. I stress this to everyone I help and work with.
20100301
Test your speed Columbus
It's not a bad idea to occasionally test your internet speed. Sometimes you'd be surprised how much your download speed has deterriorated. If you're paying for 6 megabytes per second your speed should be very close to it. The last time I checked I "scored" a new moden from my service provider. Here are a couple places to check:
http://speedtest.connectedoh.org/
http://www.speedtest.net/ (be sure to click the teal button that says 'speed test')
http://speedtest.connectedoh.org/
http://www.speedtest.net/ (be sure to click the teal button that says 'speed test')
20100224
Critical Adobe Update
A security flaw** in Adobe Reader and Flash Player has prompted an important security update from Adobe for it's Flash Player and Reader programs. If you've upgraded or patched either of these programs yesterday (23feb10) you're good to go. If not get thee to the upgrade site!
Adobe Flash here.
Adobe Reader* here.
Both of the links above will lead you to the Adobe website. Both will also try to add the Google Toolbar. Feel free to leave the check mark in or remove it depending on your preference in toolbars.
* I don't use the free Adobe Reader it's files are huge and it tends to create a large lag in memory speed. I prefer FoxFire reader by Foxit. (not to be confused with FireFox by Mozilla) which is free as well but smaller and uses less memory. You can get it here.
** The update (or patch as it can be referred to) patches a security hole in these programs that without the patch could allow an attacker to download and install Malware which can open your PC up to a variety of different attacks.
Adobe Flash here.
Adobe Reader* here.
Both of the links above will lead you to the Adobe website. Both will also try to add the Google Toolbar. Feel free to leave the check mark in or remove it depending on your preference in toolbars.
* I don't use the free Adobe Reader it's files are huge and it tends to create a large lag in memory speed. I prefer FoxFire reader by Foxit. (not to be confused with FireFox by Mozilla) which is free as well but smaller and uses less memory. You can get it here.
** The update (or patch as it can be referred to) patches a security hole in these programs that without the patch could allow an attacker to download and install Malware which can open your PC up to a variety of different attacks.
20100219
Microsoft Excel Quick Tip
Just a quick tip for you MS Excel users. If you want to add contiguous cells without having to go through the hassle of the sum function select the next blank cell after the last number you typed. Now press the alt button and the +/= button. The cell will populate with the answer. This works left to right and top to bottom.
Note - I tried this with Sun Microsystems free equivalent to MS Office (Open Office) and Google Spreadsheet from Google Docs and it didn't work.
20100215
Got Fred?
Have you ever heard the expression from the commercial…Got Milk? The next line is “Milk ~ it does a body good.” The same goes with our friend and computer guy, Fred Sager. Fred does a computer good AND relieves a lot of stress and tension from your life. Fred is the person Cornerstone Concierge uses for our own computer issues as well as for our client’s computer problems and concerns. He is prompt in returning phone calls, courteous to us and our clients, and is an expert in his field. He also has many Windows certifications. The next time you have a computer issue, Get Fred!
Amy Johnson, Cornerstone Concierge LLC
We always call Fred
Our family seems to always have “computer issues” from printing failures to viruses’. So when things go wrong we always call Fred. Fred has created a wireless network system for our home. He has made our network secure and has set up an external hard drive system. Fred has also helped extended family members with solutions to all of their computer needs. Some of our needs are basic and some are very complex, and Fred always has the answers. The best thing about Fred is that he is able to teach with patience and simplicity.
Lori Scott
We love Fred's work
"We love Fred's work. He is accessible and comes to your home, eliminatiing a trip to the store, hauling in our computer. He listens to you, he understands the problem, and he fixes it, He gets all of our computer "to do's" done in a short amount of time. And we appreciate that he keeps us up to date via email on any potential computer threats that might be occuring, as well as answering questions we might have that can be simply answered via email."
Dave and Kathy Gruber
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