Triona's Tech Tips

In my column in today’s Northwest Herald I talk about the risks of using older systems like Windows XP:

Now, think about poor Windows XP. Itʼs 10 years old, so the criminals have had ample opportunity to discover and exploit its weaknesses. Antivirus programs arenʼt as effective as their counterparts for Windows Vista and 7 because Windows XP canʼt run the newer features.

Vital new versions of programs such as Internet Explorer arenʼt available for Windows XP, and to make matters worse, just having the old version of the program on your computer renders you even more vulnerable to viruses.

Yet weʼre using this ancient, bug-riddled system to share all sorts of personal information. Itʼs like leaving your brand-new iPhone on the seat of a beat-up car with broken locks. The forced upgrade cycle is true for any computer system, including Macs, tablets, smart phones and other devices. Technological advances result in new security risks, which in turn result in eventual obsolescence.

When you don’t plan your computer expenses, you end up buying whatever’s on the shelf and paying more than you might have otherwise. Usually it’s because your existing computer has crashed and you’re in a crisis, which is not the best time to be making decisions about big expenditures. What if you watched the sales, waiting for the right computer at the right price? What if you planned your computer upgrade instead of having it forced on you when you least expect it? We all get into firefighting mode when it comes to our computers and sometimes it doesn’t occur to us that there might be an easier, less stressful way.

I think the best time to do an upgrade is during your least busy season. If it’s a big upgrade you might even want to consider telling your customers your office is closed for a short time. It’s far easier to focus on your computer infrastructure if you’re not fielding calls, and the time saved in reduced computer problems will more than make up for any lost productivity.

If you’re a consumer, the most important message to take home is this: An old computer is a dangerous computer. Don’t let cybercriminals ruin your life by stealing your identity, and make it harder for them to hurt others by keeping your own computer protections in place.

There’s a dizzying array of e-readers available, but ultimately it boils down to three frontrunners: Amazon’s Kindle, Barnes and Noble’s Nook, and the Apple iPad. They’re all good choices depending on what you’re looking for.

But first you should know the difference between a tablet and an e-reader. Tablets like the iPad offer more than just e-books because they have apps which expand their functionality. But these features come at a price: tablets are usually more expensive than e-readers like the Kindle or the Nook.

Reading books electronically is simple. You buy your books online and download them to your device. You flip pages by swiping your fingers, and you can create multiple bookmarks or make notes. You can buy just about any book in digital format. In fact, e-books are often less expensive than their paper counterparts. You can even get many free e-books online or via your local library, and you can switch your magazine and newspaper subscriptions to digital for additional cost savings.

In general, I recommend an iPad if you want maximum features, and a Kindle or a Nook if you are on a budget and primarily interested in pure reading. While other tablets exist, the iPad is by far the most popular. Not only can you read books but, thanks to the App Store, you can perform all manner of light computing tasks (and, yes, play games). Apple’s iBooks is positioned to become to books what iTunes is to music. If you want the best in newspaper and magazine subscriptions, go with the iPad.

Amazon is the existing e-book giant. Their Kindle technology is well-regarded. They specialize in making e-reading an easy experience, and the quality of their electronic ink is second to none. Barnes and Noble’s Nook also gets high praise for the quality of its electronic ink. There’s the standard Nook and the Nook Color, which is a bit like a stripped down iPad. There are some apps available for it, whereas the basic Nook is only an e-reader. The Nook Color also supports video. However, reading newspapers and magazines on e-readers can be a disappointing experience compared to the richness of the iPad versions.

Does buying one device over the other tie you to that type of device forever? You’ll be buying your books through the service of whomever you choose, so bear that in mind. There are apps that allow you to read your Nook or Kindle books on your iPad, iPhone, or computer, which expands your options. And books in the standard ePub format can be read almost anywhere, as can PDFs.

I decided to go with a Nook Color for now, with a plan to buy an iPad 3 (or iPad 2 Plus or whatever they’re going to call it) when it becomes available. All in all, I’m enjoying the e-reader experience. I can carry around 3,200 pages worth of George R. R. Martin in my purse and not strain my shoulder. An unexpected benefit is that I no longer have to worry about having enough bookshelves… but I do have to watch my wallet, because the ability to buy books with the swipe of a finger is far too tempting.

You may think you’re using your computer to read yet another fabulous Tech Tips article, but in reality you are fighting a war in which the cybercriminals are the winners and the rest of us are the losers.

Cybercriminals, as I’ve discussed before, use innocent victims to do their dirty work. They write viruses that commandeer your computer, create malicious lookalike Web sites that harvest your passwords, and hijack your accounts so they can send crud to all your contacts. It’s one area of the economy that’s, sadly, thriving. And the only person who can protect you is you. (Well, I’ll help, but you have to do your part.)

You know the drill: use good security software, keep your passwords strong and your software updated. But there’s something else you can do: educate your family, friends, neighbors, casual acquaintances, even complete strangers about the need for computer security.

The biggest problem consumers and small businesses face is not lack of information about computer security, but lack of usable information. You’ll hear plenty of news stories about viruses or cyber attacks. Some of them even include a few tidbits about what you can do to protect yourself, but few explain that computer security is a mindset. Just as you have to be aware of your surroundings when you walk down the street, you have to be aware of Internet threats and take action to avoid them.

Why not start today by asking a friend to join you in a conscious effort to become more security-aware? You’ll appreciate the results.

The Northwest Herald interviewed me for an article about the announcements from Apple’s annual developer’s conference, specificially the introduction of iCloud. This Internet-based service is intended to become the nexus of all your data and entertainment. As I remarked in the interview:

I think one of the things that caught me is that iCloud will be on by default. I wonder if people will know where their information is, and if they care… The landscape is going to alter more toward continued mobility and communication from mobile devices. We’ve really blurred the line at this point between entertainment and communication and news and TV and music. It’s all mixed together.

Which made me wonder: Where is all my data now? My first thought was, “On my server and its backup devices.” But then I got to thinking about the music and TV shows I’ve purchased, the blogs I’ve written, the remarks I’ve made on LinkedIn and Facebook… not to mention all the personal information about me and every other consumer that is lurking in various corporate databases worldwide…

Okay, not so simple an answer.

Cloud computing isn’t the future, it’s now. Does iCloud change things? Not really, although it does make them easier for the average person to use, which may be more important. Apple has a proven track record of providing wildly popular ways for consumers to use technology. As the Northwest Herald article points out, Microsoft is adding similar features to its popular Xbox game platform. I’ve talked before about my concerns about cloud computing for consumers, which boil down security and accessibility. Our ability to use this technology is progressing faster than our understanding of its risks, but as long as you go into it with that knowledge, feel free to explore. I’m already thinking about ways these new technologies might be helpful to me, and I’m sure you are too.

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eWeek recently shared the ten reasons they feel Microsoft must start thinking beyond Windows and Office, and one of the most important is cloud computing. With the success of services like Google Docs and the proliferation of smartphones and tablets, the relevance of traditional computer seems to be fading. Or is it?

In cloud computing, all programs and files reside “in the cloud,” or on the Internet. This means you don’t have to spend as much in hardware, because you don’t need the processing power of a traditional computer. The same data can be accessed from any device that can surf the Web. Even if, say, your smartphone dies, you can still reach your files with another device like an iPad or a netbook.

But there are disadvantages to cloud computing, as I mentioned in a previous Tech Tips article. You don’t know where your files live nor whether they’re secure, and if your Internet or cloud computing service goes down, you’re out of luck. Users of Microsoft’s Office Live discovered this to their dismay recently, when the service went down on two occasions (here and here). As I said before, I personally don’t want to lose access to basic word processing just because some server happens to fail.

For the moment, we’re seeing a mix of both approaches. Most small businesses are continuing to use traditional approaches while exploring new technologies, and I predict that’s going to continue for a while. We’re not quite at the point where people are willing to commit their computing world to the cloud, but we’d better get ready because our world is becoming more mobile, more social, and less private than ever before.

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Last month thousands of Droid smartphone users discovered they’d gotten an information-stealing virus alongside programs from the official Droid Market. This generated speculation in the IT world: Just how safe are our smartphones? Gone are the days when a phone was just a phone. Today your phone has valuable information on it and precious little protection.

Antivirus for smartphones is where antivirus for personal computers was back in the mid-1990s: most offerings are rudimentary and most people don’t worry about it. I predict mobile security is going to become more and more of a headache for small businesses and consumers.

What can you do? If you think your phone may be infected, the surest way to deal with it is to wipe your phone and restore from backup. But viruses are very fast at swiping your information and sending it who knows where, so the damage may have already been done.

It’s better to secure your phone so it’s harder for viruses to get in. Follow manufacturer’s instructions to lock down your phone’s security. Firms like Symantec, Kaspersky and Eset have smartphone security programs available. You should also make sure you are running the latest version of your phone’s software.

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I’ve gotten an increasing number of reports from people who either received messages similar to the following, or discovered that such messages had been sent from their email accounts:

Subject: Hello

Dear friend,

i would like to introduce a good company who trades mainly in electronic products, They provide the best service to customers,they provide you with original products of good quality,and what is more,the price is a surprising happiness to you!

The web address: (removed for safety)

If you check online you’ll find reports of this coming from users of Hotmail, Gmail and other email services. There are variations in the scam. Some may cite a different web site, or may have a different subject or message in the email.

If you receive a message like this, the important thing is NOT to click on any links because it will infect your computer with viruses. The same goes for messages you may receive via instant messaging (IM), Facebook, Twitter, or other means. Inform the person who sent it to you by another means (like the good old fashioned telephone) to let them know they have been hijacked.

How can you tell if a message is real or not? If it seems generic, contains no subject or a bland subject like “hi” or “hello,” doesn’t mention you by name, contains spelling, grammar or punctuation errors, or has been sent en masse to a large number of people, those are indications it may be a scam. Ask yourself: Is this the sort of message I would expect this person to send?

If your account has been hijacked, it’s vital to change your password immediately. Here’s some information on how to create strong passwords:

• Triona’s Tech Tips: How To Create Secure Passwords

And here is some more information on what to do if your email account is hijacked:

• Triona’s Tech Tips: What To Do If Your Email Account Is Hijacked

Be sure to scan your computer with your security software. If you’re using free software you should consider purchasing a security software suite. You should also check your email signature and any autoresponders you may have set, as they may have been modified to send malicious links to your contacts. Inform your contacts that your account was hacked and that they should not respond to any scam messages they have received. And you should report the incident to your provider.

These hacks are becoming more and more prevalent. It is absolutely vital that you protect yourself by using strong passwords that are unique for every account, and that you stay vigilant about your computer’s security.

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Microsoft provides free antivirus by way of its Security Essentials program (MSE). But MSE is no substitute for a third-party security software suite.

MSE includes basic antivirus and antispyware tools plus a firewall. It was originally designed for consumer use in the USA and as a way to cut down on rampant virus problems overseas. As such, while it’s better than nothing, it doesn’t provide the features or functionality of a genuine security suite.

One of the problems with MSE is that too many fake security programs try to emulate it. Just because something looks vaguely Microsoft-y doesn’t necessarily mean it’s genuine. Also, Microsoft is primarily an operating system and productivity software company that does not specialize in security. They may have inadvertent blinders on when it comes to securing their own products, whereas the third party vendors may have more innovation in that area because they are thinking outside the Redmond box.

There is also the danger of homogeneity. When everything on your network uses the same software, you are more susceptible to viruses and malware that exploit the vulnerabilities of that software. In other words, if you live in an XYZ Brand world protected by XYZ Brand tools and along comes a virus that exploits XYZ Brand weaknesses, you’re a sitting duck. That’s true whether XYZ Brand is Microsoft, Apple, or anyone else. Diversifying affords you more protection.

Therefore, I’m sticking with my usual recommendations: AVG, Trend Micro, Avast, Kapersky, and many of the other great security programs out there.

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Businesses and consumers alike find convenience in sharing passwords but doing so is highly risky, as demonstrated by a recent incident concerning wireless carrier Vodafone. Vodafone’s customer database was compromised using login information that was shared among employees. Shared passwords may seem convenient, but if you establish the proper procedures you can do without them while still enabling your people to get the job done.

When employees need network access, the proper thing to do is assign usernames and passwords specific to those employees, then grant or revoke permission to network resources depending on what the employees require for their jobs. Yet I routinely see companies setting up shared passwords. Because these passwords are typically not changed when people leave the company, it widens the potential for unauthorized access. Also, it muddies the audit trail. You should always be able to tell specifically who logged into what and when. It’s vital to establish a process for creating and deleting accounts as employees come and go, as well as mechanisms for altering access to network resources as appropriate. This is especially true if someone has administrative access to networks and servers. If you have an account that is not assigned to a particular person, say for shipping or vendors, you should limit who has access to that account and make sure the password is changed when employee duties are reassigned. Is that inconvenient? Perhaps, but ask Vodafone how inconvenient it was to have a journalist call them up and tell them she had access to their customer database, and imagine the damage if such access was gained by a competitor.

Shared passwords are equally risky for consumers. While it’s a good idea to make sure a trusted individual such as your spouse can access your accounts in an emergency, it is never a good idea to blithely give Aunt Gertrude access to your Facebook account so she can see your kids’ pics. Better for her to get her own account and friend you. It’s not that your family and friends intend to do harm, but a password once shared is a genie out of a bottle, and getting used to sharing passwords trends toward complacency in your computer security mindset. You should take your home computer security as seriously as any company does, if not more so. A company can lose face and revenue, but you can lose your own personal identity.

Don’t forget the rules of strong passwords, and remember they need to be unique on every system and changed on a regular basis. Again, inconvenient? Not when you compare it to the damage control you’d have to do if your company suffers a data breach, or if your individual identity is stolen.

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A virtual computer is a computer that runs inside a software program on another computer. Often used by large companies to save on server costs, they can also be used to great advantage by small businesses and consumers.

You may be familiar with dual-boot computers, in which a computer can be started in either of two different operating systems (say, Windows XP or Windows 7). But dual-boot computers can only run one operating system at a time. It’s hard to share data, and if you want to switch between them you have to reboot. With a virtual computer, both systems run simultaneously, allowing you to quickly access the resources you need.

How can this benefit you? What if you want to upgrade to Windows 7, but you still have some software that only works in Windows XP? You could run a virtual version of Windows XP in Windows 7. Or, if you have a Mac, you can get the best of both worlds by running a virtual version of Windows on your Mac.

You’ll need special software to create a virtual computer. Some examples include VMWare Workstation for Windows, VMWare Fusion for Mac, and Parallels Desktop for Windows and Mac.

The biggest disadvantage of a virtual computer is that it takes up a lot of memory and hard drive space. That’s because you are effectively running two computers on one set of hardware. If your computer is relatively new this won’t be a problem, but older computers will slow down significantly when running virtual computers on top of their regular operating systems.

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