Triona's Tech Tips

There is a bug in the most recent version (8.0.196) of the AVG anti-virus program for Windows that may cause your network connection to fail. If rebooting doesn’t help, see this fix from AVG (topic #1561) to resolve the problem.

An emergency, off-schedule update for Microsoft Windows has been released. This update fixes a bug that could allow your computer to be compromised even without user interaction, and affects users of Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008.

If you have Automatic Updates enabled you should get the update automatically. If you’re not sure or would like to double-check, visit the Microsoft Update web site. Microsoft updates are normally released the second Tuesday of the month (known in the computer industry as “Patch Tuesday”).

Home computer users suffer more than their fair share of nightmarish problems, largely due to a dearth of support from computer and software makers. Here are some common nightmares, and what you can do to banish them.

• The Blue Screen Of Death, or The Sad Mac
  These are what we call the Windows and Mac “fatal system errors,” fatal in that they prevent the computer from operating at all. The BSOD is that bright blue screen that appears when you try to start Windows. Similarly, Mac users may get The Sad Mac when the computer is too sick to start. Review any new hardware or software you may have installed, note the error number if available, and check online listings to determine the source of the problem.
• The Deadly Freeze
  Computers can unexpectedly freeze, or lock up, in the middle of normal duties. Sometimes you can move the mouse, other times you can’t even find the pointer. Your best bet is to hit the power button. Unfortunately you usually can’t save work when the computer is frozen.
• The Printer From Hell
  Ever had your printer pull a Linda Blair? Spewing blank sheets, printing weird characters, and other misbehavior can sometimes be solved through the printer’s software control panel.
• The Ghost Of Errors Past
  Do you reboot when you get an error? If not, you should. Once a computer runs into trouble, it tends to keep getting in trouble until its next reboot, when it refreshes its memory.

Do you have a home computer nightmare? Click Comments below this article and I’ll help you solve it. Next month I’ll warn you about Phony Web Pop-Ups. And be sure to sign up for the email version of Tech Tips for bonus tips and product reviews.

We’ve talked before about computer zombies, compromised computers that do everything from sending spam to unleashing viruses. Many unsuspecting users have these monsters on their desks and don’t even know it.

Why infect computers? Because it’s profitable. Zombie computers are organized into botnets, electronic armies whose computing power is sold to for-profit spammers and identity thieves. In the past three months alone, the Shadowserver Foundation estimates the size of botnets has quadrupled. That’s enough to give any computer user the shivers.

As a computer user, the most important thing you can do is be aware if your computer’s behavior deviates from the norm. Decreased performance and increased errors can be signs of zombie infection. Be sure to use a reliable security software suite, but don’t assume it will automatically keep you safe. Sometimes security software fails to load at startup, or forgets to update itself. You should verify that you are current on your subscription and receiving several updates a week. You can find recommendations in this Tech Tips article, and in the sidebar on the Tech Tips blog.

Remember, never click on links in email messages, as they may lead to phony web sites (phishing). And be sure to install those updates your computer requests. Too many of us click “later” and never get around to it. But you should also be warned, if you are surfing the Web, that phony pop-ups will try to make you believe they are bona fide update requests. Never trust an update request from a web pop-up, only those that appear to you from software you know you have installed.

In November we’ll wonder about Planned Computer Obsolescence. If you have any computer questions, click Comments below this article, and be sure to sign up for the email version of Tech Tips for bonus tips and product reviews.

Mozilla Firefox users should be aware that version 2 of the web browser software will be discontinued December 31, 2008. For maximum protection against web-borne threats, PC and Mac users alike should upgrade to the latest version of Firefox 3. To find out which version you have, select About Mozilla Firefox under the Help menu (PC) or Firefox menu (Mac).

Thanks to all my attendees as well as the Cary Grove Chamber of Commerce for a terrific Blogs For Business seminar! If you missed the session or would like an extra copy of the handout, click here (PDF). In this class, we discussed what blogs are, how they can benefit your business, and how you can market using blogs.

If you’re interested in a talk like this for your business or organization, I’d be glad to help. Contact me at info-at-guidryconsulting-dot-com. And be sure to sign up for the email version of Triona’s Tech Tips for announcements about future events.

Admit it, we’ve all done it: used someone’s unsecured wireless connection without their knowledge.

It’s called WiFi poaching, and there’s been debate as to whether it’s actually illegal. In Britain, there have been prosecutions for poaching, but in the U.S. the legality is less clear.

Some argue that those who run unsecured connections set themselves up for the situation. But most wireless access points are unsecured by default. Is it the fault of the unwitting consumer, who likely has no idea?

Either way, it’s best to protect yourself by enabling security on your wireless access point. The best security is an encrypted passphrase called WPA. There’s another standard for passphrases (WEP) but don’t use it, as it’s easily cracked. Your access point’s Web management feature will allow you to set this passphrase, which you will then have to enter on each computer connecting to your wireless network.

It goes without saying–don’t give out your passphrase! And while you’re in that web management panel, change your access point’s default administrator password, to keep snoops from resetting your security.

Do you think WiFi poaching is unethical? Discuss the issue here (click Comments below any article), and be sure to sign up for the email version of Tech Tips for bonus tips and product reviews.

[This article is reprinted from the March 2008 issue of Triona's Tech Tips. Look for more computer security tips in the October issue.]

Don’t miss my Blogs For Business class this Tuesday, October 7th from 9:00am-10:30am at the Fox River Grove (Illinois) Village Hall, 305 Illinois St. The class is part of the Learn From The Experts Computer Series sponsored by the Cary Grove Chamber Of Commerce.

Would you like to know more about how blogs can help your business succeed? Join me and we’ll learn:

• What are blogs?
• How blogs can benefit your business
• How to market using blogs

For more information, visit www.guidryconsulting.com/news.