Triona's Tech Tips

The real Microsoft Security Essentials is a free tool that helps protect your computer from viruses and other threats. A fake antivirus program is using the Security Essentials name to spread its infections.

Fake antivirus programs are viruses that purport to be legitimate security software. It can be very difficult to tell the tricksters from the real deal. In this case, if you run across something claiming to be “Security Essentials 2010“, stay far away.

Like other fake antivirus programs, this particular rogue hijacks your computer and prevents you from accessing the web sites of legitimate antivirus vendors. It uses hyperbole to convince you that your computer is infected, then tries to con you into paying for removal. Such tricks are becoming more common. I’ve previously written about the odious Win Antivirus 2010, a rogue that really raised the bar on how far these con artists will go in order to make money at your expense.

By itself, Microsoft Security Essentials (the real one) is not adequate security software. You need something more robust like the free or paid versions of AVG, or Trend Micro or McAfee. I’m still not recommending Norton because it’s such a memory hog, but use it if you must. Also be careful if you look for for antivirus programs via a search engine, as the con artists hijack search results to spread their dangerous look-alikes.

My tech column in today’s Northwest Herald is about how to protect your passwords and your privacy on the Internet. Remember, to create strong passwords:

• 6 to 12 characters in length
• Mix of lower- and uppercase letters and numbers
• Symbols if allowed
• Not easily identifiable (your spouse, your kids, your dog)
• Create a passphrase
  • fourscore and seven years ago = 4Score&7Yrs (don’t use this one!)
• Different password for every account
• Change your passwords regularly, at least every 3 months
• Don’t re-use or cycle through the same set of passwords
• You can write them down, but keep them in a safe place

No one is immune to having their accounts compromised, and weak passwords are often the method. So take some time this weekend to secure your world by setting strong, unique passwords for all of your accounts.

Here are links to the resources I mentioned in the article (they’re all free):

• About the Twitter worm
• KeePass password manager, available for Windows, Mac, and smart phones
• ExpandURL for expanding shortened links
• McAfee SiteAdvisor
  • and, in a similar vein, LinkExtend for Firefox

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I am seeing a rash of people whose Twitter accounts have been hacked. If you receive a DM (direct message) to your Twitter account saying “is this you???” with a shortened URL, DO NOT CLICK on the URL. Notify your friend via another means and encourage him or her to change Twitter passwords.

Note that it’s the person sending the DM who is the one hacked. But if you receive a message like this, it doesn’t hurt to visit twitter.com directly (DON’T click the DM link!) and change your password anyway.

It is vital to use strong passwords (mix of letters, numbers, upper and lower case, symbols where permitted; no plain dictionary words or easily identifiable names like your spouse, your kids, or your dog). You also need to use a different password on every system, even if you think it’s a pain to do so. If you use the same password in more than one place, the hacker then has entry into the rest of your accounts, like email, web sites and–heaven forbid–bank accounts. In fact, you might want to make an afternoon of it and change all of your passwords everywhere, which is a good thing to do on a regular basis. And don’t cycle passwords between accounts, you never know if one might be compromised. New passwords, strong passwords, different passwords for every system.

This particular worm has been around for a while but like all viruses tends to keep propagating. Be wary of suspicious links and use a site like ExpandURL to investigate shortened links before you click on them. When in doubt you are always better off manually typing in a Web address instead of clicking on a link. These scams are not limited to Twitter but can encompass any type of computer login.

Those glossy ads for inexpensive computers look good, don’t they? Imagine a brand new PC for less than $500! But there’s a catch: those computers may not last long enough for you to get your money’s worth.

In my experience, bargain-basement PCs are typically made with less-than-stellar components, so they break down faster and cost more to repair. They often come with minimal memory and hard drive space, meaning you’ll have to upgrade sooner than you would with a midrange model. That’s assuming you’re able to upgrade at all. Some of the low-end models don’t have the capacity to be upgraded, or use proprietary parts that cost a fortune.

Bear in mind that the practical lifespan of a computer is about 3 years. Yes, most of us use ours longer, but the manufacturers design computers with that lifespan in mind. You can buy a $1,200 PC that lasts you 3 years or longer, or you can buy a $500 PC that lasts you less than a year. The computer manufacturers love that because they can pretend they’re saving you money while locking you into a continual re-purchase cycle.

Consider your computer an investment. The more you spend up-front, the longer that investment will last.

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The next time you do an online search for something, pause before you click. Some of the results you receive are poisoned links to malicious sites that may infect your computer with viruses and malware.

Search engines don’t verify that keywords match results, nor that sites are free from infection. Sponsored ads are particularly notorious. If you do a search for “Windows antivirus”, the paid results are often links to fake antivirus programs just waiting to lure you in.

I advocate the use of link-checkers such as McAfee SiteAdvisor or LinkExtend for Firefox. These free add-ons indicate through red, yellow or green icons whether links are safe to visit. Even so, you should always be cautious. Make sure your security software is up to date and that you have the latest versions of programs like Adobe Reader and Flash (here’s why). You can also run Secunia’s Online Software Inspector to check the status of your security protections.

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There are continuing reports of problems with Apple’s 27″ iMac, which is now delayed indefinitely. Unconfirmed reports say that Apple has suspended production of their flagship iMac until the problems can be resolved.

If you have a 27″ iMac, you should install the most recent firmware updates to fix any flickering display problems. If your display remains black after the update you should contact AppleCare for assistance. Note that there are now two firmware updates for this model. The first was the 27″ iMac Graphics Firmware Update 1.0. This most recently released one is the 27″ iMac Display Firmware Update 1.0. Yeah, that’s not confusing at all.

You can find a great deal of discussion on this topic on Apple’s forums. At fault appears to be the particular graphics card used in the computer.

Next week I’m offering free previews of my Social Networking and Internet Safety For Kids classes with the Cary Park District. The free preview of Social Networking will be held Thursday, February 4th, 2010 from 9:00am-9:30am at the Park District Community Center, 255 Briargate Rd. in Cary, Illinois. The free preview of Internet Safety For Kids will be held Saturday, February 6th, 2010 from 9:00am-9:30am. Registration is not required for these free previews. For more information or to register for the full classes, contact the Cary Park District at (847) 639-6100 or www.carypark.com.

Click here to see the other computer classes I have available. If you are interested in a class but don’t see it here, contact me. With enough interest I can set up additional sessions of any of my classes. I can also work with you one-on-one.

Social Networking
Sponsored by the Cary Park District
Next session TBA

Have you been asked to get LinkedIn? Can you make business contacts through Facebook or MySpace? Should you Twitter your business? Learn the answers to these questions and more. Computers are not required, but you may bring a laptop for hands-on instruction.

Internet Safety For Kids And Tweens (ages 5 years-adult)
Sponsored by the Cary Park District
Monday, February 15, 2010, 9:30am-10:30am

Learn how kids can use the Internet safely by covering age-appropriate skills and talking about online stranger danger. Review basic skills, talk about ways to use technology with less risk and take a quiz to test your knowledge. Parents are welcome to enroll in this program with their kids. Computers are not required, but you may bring a laptop for hands-on instruction.

Today, amid much hoopla, Apple finally unveiled its iPad tablet computer. Was it worth the hype? While I don’t think it’s the be-all and end-all of the universe, I think the iPad has great potential. It fits the niche between the iPhone and Mac computer, the price is right, and it simultaneously takes a swipe at both netbooks and e-readers.

This being Apple, of course the iPad is aesthetically beautiful. It has a 9.7″ multitouch color display (that works portrait and landscape) and weighs in at only 1.5lbs. It comes in six models, including 16GB, 32GB and 64GB with WiFi or WiFi+3G plus Bluetooth, and will start shipping in 60 days. Reports from the field say the graphics are smokin’ fast. The iPad interface will be familiar to anyone who’s used an iPhone or iPod touch. It reportedly has at least 10 hours of battery life and can remain in standby up to 30 days. It uses AT&T’s network but unlike the iPhone the device is unlocked and requires no contract, which will undoubtedly be a big enticement.

The fact that the iPad can run iPhone apps out of the box is another big plus in Apple’s favor. That means the iPad runs ready-made software people already use, as well as leveraging the existing development process. The iPad has a large on-screen keyboard, and there is also a full-sized keyboard dock available. You can use the iPad to do anything from playing games to watching movies to catching up on Facebook, all from one ultraportable device.

The new iBooks store goes hand-in-hand with Apple’s iTunes and Apps stores. Apple has buy-in from big-name publishers including Simon and Schuster, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin and Hachette. The familiar iPhone-like interface combined with the use of the ePub format, a standard for e-readers, will give the iPad a big push in the e-book market. Again, Apple is showing its prowess at leveraging its own strengths.

The iPad’s price point is right on the money. The iPad starts at $499 for a 16GB model with WiFi and goes up to $829 for 64GB with WiFi+3G. That’s well within the realm of possibility for consumers. The iPhone was priced too high at the beginning; clearly Apple doesn’t intend to make that mistake again. And Apple sorely needed a netbook-like solution to round out its notoriously higher-priced Macs.

The iPad is an all-in-one solution for entertainment: music, photos, TV, movies, books and games, with access to email, the Web, social networking sites like Facebook and all manner of apps. It’s a potent combination of usability and interaction that, like the iPhone, will set a standard for the industry. The introduction of the iPad is a great way for Apple to start 2010, a year that should prove most interesting in this arena.

What do you think? Is Apple’s iPad worth the hype? Are you considering one? Why or why not?

After a well-publicized incident in which Internet Explorer 6 was implicated in the hacks against Google and other high-tech firms in China, Microsoft is releasing an emergency fix for Internet Explorer, and begging users to upgrade to newer versions.

Today’s emergency fix is for Internet Explorer 6, 7 and 8, particularly under Windows XP although Vista and Windows 7 are also affected. This chart shows the risk potential and illustrates why upgrading to the latest version of Internet Explorer is vital to protecting your computer against viruses.

It also illustrates what I mentioned in my recent Northwest Herald column: that the older a program is, the more vulnerable it is to viruses and other Internet threats. The hack on Google involved “spear phishing”, a targeted campaign in which fake emails appeared to be from people the victims knew. The victims were therefore lured into clicking on infected PDF and Microsoft Office documents they might not otherwise have opened. These documents infected the computers with malware using holes in Internet Explorer 6 and other programs. There is some question as to why these companies were using a version of IE well-known to be vulnerable.

This incident is a good reminder for businesses and consumers to monitor their software versions and consider switching to an alternate web browser. It’s also a reminder to be wary of opening attachments even if they appear to be from someone you know.

Your free email subscription to Tech Tips includes bonus tips, tricks and product reviews. Through January 31, 2010, new subscibers will also receive a special gift: my IT Business Continuity Checklist. Click here to subscribe or send email to techtips-request-at-guidryconsulting-dot-com, subject “subscribe”.

Thanks to Dara Girard and Novelists, Inc. for interviewing me about my work as a computer consultant and writer. You can find the interview here.

http://www.ninc.com/blog/index.php/archives/triona-guidry