Triona's Tech Tips

A lot of “Facebook update” scams are going around. These are emails designed to entice you into clicking links to malicious sites, thus divulging your login credentials and possibly infecting your computer with viruses and malware. I received several of these scams in a batch of legitimate Facebook emails, so I thought I’d dissect one for you so you can tell the difference.

The tactics used here are the same as the ones used by the fake Microsoft security bulletins I mentioned before. Again, the idea is to make you think the message is real when you are really being redirected to a bogus and potentially dangerous site.

First, note the use of the Facebook logo, fonts, and colors. The scam message looks almost identical to a real Facebook announcement, down to the mailing address at the bottom of the message. The trick is to mouse over the link WITHOUT clicking on it, and look in the status bar at the address to which you are being directed. In this case you can see you’re being sent, not to facebook.com, but to a scam site that may be waiting to harvest your login credentials or infect your computer.

If you receive a Facebook update, go directly to the Facebook site by typing www.facebook.com in your Web browser. You’ll be able to see your updates there and respond to them.

Remember, these scams are not limited to Facebook. Every social networking site, including LinkedIn, Twitter, and all the rest, are vulnerable to these sorts of tricks.

A final note of caution: Don’t friend anyone on a social networking site unless you’re certain you know who they are. A good rule of thumb is to view their profile to see if you have any friends in common, or to Google the person to see if they’re real. There are fake profiles out there which exist only to friend you and thus have access to your privately-posted information.

If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to the email version of Tech Tips for bonus tips, tricks and product reviews. Through December 1st, 2009, new subscribers will receive a special gift: my Ten-Step Computer Troubleshooter (PDF). Just click here to sign up.

The federal government predicts that online retail sales will reach over $235 billion this year. Here’s how you can shop safely online this holiday season.

• Before you shop, make sure you have adequate computer security protections, and that they are up to date. Where possible, consider using a browser other than Internet Explorer (like Firefox, Safari or Opera). If you must use Internet Explorer, be sure to use the latest version, and check update.microsoft.com for Windows and Microsoft Office security fixes.
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• You should also be sure that other programs like Flash and Adobe Acrobat Reader are up to date (here’s why). Secunia Online Software Inspector provides a quick way to do this for Windows users. Mac users should check Software Updates under the Apple menu, and visit web sites like adobe.com for common software to check for new versions.
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• Never shop from a public network or WiFi hotspot. Only do your shopping from a secure Internet connection, such as the one at your home or office.
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• See if your bank offers a virtual or one-time credit card number that you can use for online shopping. Or, get a credit card with a minimal limit (like $500) that you use exclusively for online purchases. Don’t use a debit card online, because it’s easier to get fraudulent charges removed from a credit card.
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• Shop with known retailers. If you’re thinking about doing business with a site you’ve never used before, do some Web searches for reviews to assess other customers’ satisfaction.
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• Never click an email link to reach the site. Such emails are often phishing scams trying to lure you into visiting malicious web sites. It’s safer to type the store’s Web site directly into your browser.
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• Only shop at sites that offer secure checkout. Look for the “https” (instead of “http”) in the address bar of your browser, but be warned that even secure sites can be compromised.
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• Beware of bad web links that may lead you to malicious ads.
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• Keep an eye on your credit card statements for erroneous charges or theft.
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• To avoid spam, create a separate email address for online purchases.
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• Print your receipts, either to paper or electronically to a PDF file. PC users will need a PDF program like FoxIt to do this. Mac users can simply select Print To PDF from the Print window.
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• As with anything else online, if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Through December 1st, 2009, new subscribers to the free email version of Tech Tips will receive a special tip sheet: Ten-Step Computer Troubleshooter. Just click here to sign up.

Have you ever gone to install a program, only to be offered some completely unrelated software via a tiny, unremarkable checkbox? This is called pre-checked software, and I think it stinks.

Pre-checked software differs from malware or PUPs (potentially unwanted programs) in that you are given a choice, albeit an unobtrusive one. It’s a marketing gimmick, and it often backfires. Apple got its rump handed to it for pre-checking their Safari web browser during the Windows install of iTunes. Most Windows users didn’t know Safari from sassafras and didn’t want it on their computers. Apple had to backtrack and make sure the Safari offer was unchecked by default.

Some pre-checks are actually good for you. If your antivirus software asks if you want a special security toolbar to go with it, you might like that. But if I go to install a program–Java, for example–I don’t want a trial copy of Carbonite backup software alongside it. Maybe I don’t have a lot of hard drive space, or maybe I just like keeping my computer tidy. We have enough problems with viruses, malware and fake antivirus software without having to deal with programs that invite themselves along like unwanted guests at Thanksgiving dinner.

So next time you’re installing a program, watch out for that pre-checked box. You’re not obligated to install anything you don’t want to.

Through December 1st, 2009, new subscribers to the free email version of Tech Tips will receive a special tip sheet: Ten-Step Computer Troubleshooter. Just click here to sign up.

If you’ve ever struggled with computer problems, you may wonder what you can do to solve them yourself. My article in this month’s The Writer Magazine offers some solutions, and here are a few more.

The number-one tech support adage is: Reboot! If that doesn’t work, you have other options. Online support can help you pinpoint problems. Microsoft’s knowledgebase is here, and Apple’s is here. My Tech Tips blog offers you many options for computer self-service. Just scroll down and click any keyword on the right side of the screen.

In general, keeping your computer’s software up-to-date and maintaining security protections is your best defense against computer problems. You might also be interested in my upcoming class on Do-It-Yourself Tech Support For PC And Mac. See my class schedule for details.

Look for my 2009 Holiday Gift Guide, coming in December. If you have any computer questions, let me know.

Through December 1st, 2009, new subscribers to the free email version of Tech Tips will receive a special tip sheet: Ten-Step Computer Troubleshooter. Just click here to sign up.

Should you upgrade to Windows 7? That’s the question on the mind of many PC users.

Windows 7 offers improvements over Windows XP, while avoiding the problems that plagued the ill-fated Windows Vista. As I mentioned, due to security considerations and hardware compatibilities we’re all going to have to bite the Windows 7 bullet eventually. What does Windows 7 offer, and how can you go about upgrading?

Windows 7 includes some interesting features, such as Windows XP Compatibility Mode, a component sorely lacking in Windows Vista. It also has better hardware support than Vista did. You can learn about all of Windows 7′s new features here.

How do you know if your PC can handle Windows 7? Try the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, a download that assesses your computer and lets you know if it’s capable of running Windows 7. You may also want to take a look at my roundup of reported Windows 7 problems.

Sadly, for those who prefer the Windows XP interface, Windows 7 still looks like Vista. And contrary to some reports, despite Windows 7′s improved security you do still need a full suite of antivirus and anti-spyware protections.

Next month I’ll give you some tips on How To Upgrade Your Computer. If you have any computer questions, let me know.

Through December 1st, 2009, new subscribers to the free email version of Tech Tips will receive a special tip sheet: Ten-Step Computer Troubleshooter. Just click here to sign up.

The latest update for Snow Leopard, Mac OS X 10.6.2, has been released. This update applies to both the regular and server editions of Snow Leopard (10.6) and includes fixes for:

• missing fonts
• issues connecting external monitors
• issues concerning Address Book and Mail
• performance problems
• errors causing some users to log out unexpectedly
• QuickTime memory problems
• Active Directory connectivity in Microsoft Windows Server environments

There is also a new Security Update 2009-006 for Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5). Use Software Updates under the Apple menu to see if you need these new updates. You can find Apple’s article about Mac OS X 10.6.2 and Security Update 2009-06 here.

Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI) is a beautiful thing. We’ve talked about how hard it can be to make sure your Windows computer has all the right patches for its software: Windows itself, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Adobe Flash, Java, Mozilla Firefox… it’s enough to make your head spin.

PSI takes care of this for you, by scanning your computer and giving you a vulnerability assessment, with links to download what you need. Call it one-stop shopping for computer updates. While it doesn’t detect every program, it does scan for all the major ones, and that alone is enough to give you an edge on viruses and other threats.

If you want to check it out, give the Secunia Online Software Inspector (OSI) a try. If you like it, download PSI and toast your new-found happiness.

Through December 1st, 2009, new subscribers to the free email version of Tech Tips will receive a special tip sheet: Ten Step Computer Troubleshooter. Just click here to sign up.

Take a look at the December 2009 issue of The Writer Magazine for my latest article, “When You Yearn To Smash Your Computer: Here Are 10 Common Technical Problems Writers Might Face-And Some Suggested Solutions.”

Although the article speaks specifically to writers, others can benefit from these time-saving tips for Windows and Mac. If you like the suggestions in the article, subscribe to the email version of Tech Tips and receive this month’s special gift: my Ten-Step Computer Troubleshooter, which gives you an outline for solving any computer problem. This offer is only available through December 1, 2009, so sign up today!

You can find The Writer at your local bookstore or online at WriterMag.com.

If you haven’t already done so, now is a good time to upgrade your free version of AVG Antivirus for Windows to version 9. In addition to the latest protections against viruses, this new version offers compatibility with Windows 7 and is said to be up to 50% faster than its predecessor.

You can download the new AVG 9 here. But be sure to check out my article about How To Spot Bad Web Links, on how to recognize the right link for download.

Through December 1st, 2009, new subscribers to the free email version of Tech Tips will receive a special tip sheet: Ten Step Computer Troubleshooter. Just click here to sign up.

As with any new operating system, Windows 7 has a few glitches. Here are some of the most widely-reported problems.

• Some users have experienced problems when upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7. (There is no direct upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7; to do so requires a clean install.) Information on the “endless-reboot bug” can be found here and here.
• For some, the upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7 hangs at 62%, an issue referred to as the “62% bug” (see reports here and here).
• Others have reported issues syncing iPhones to Windows 7 PCs with Intel’s P55 Express chipset.
• Some people who purchased the bargain $29.99 student edition have had problems downloading the software. Microsoft says part of the problem is user confusion over whether they have 32-bit or 64-bit versions of Windows. It’s not always easy to tell which one you have, so I think Microsoft and Digital River (their online software distributor) ought to cut everyone some slack.

In addition there are scattered reports of problems with certain hardware devices and software programs as well as power management on laptops.

I strongly recommend that you begin with multiple good, solid backups before upgrading to Windows 7. And be sure to test those backups before upgrading! Look for my in-depth look at Windows 7 coming on November 15th.

Through December 1st, 2009, new subscribers to the free email version of Tech Tips will receive a special tip sheet: Ten Step Computer Troubleshooter. Just click here to sign up.