Triona's Tech Tips

My technology column in this weekend’s Northwest Herald talks about how you can use Web feeds to organize information from Web sites and blogs. Web feeds (also called RSS feeds) allow you to organize content, much as you do with your email. For example, if you wanted to subscribe to the Web feed for this blog, you’d click on the orange RSS icon in the upper right corner of this blog, which will prompt you to bookmark the feed in your Web browser. A Web feed address looks similar to this.

http://www.guidryconsulting.com/techtips/feed/

Many email programs such as Outlook and Mozilla Thunderbird also have Web feed capabilities, although personally I prefer news software like FeedDemon for Windows or NetNewsWire for Mac. Or, you can use Google Reader which is web-based and works on both Windows and Mac.

When you access your news software you’ll see which Web feeds have updated content, and when you click on a feed you’ll see the name, date and excerpt of recent articles, as if each one were an email message. You can mark articles as read or flag them to read later. Here’s what it looks like in FeedDemon.

Web feeds are most often used to advertise blog content. So if you run a blog, be sure to include a link to the feed so people can subscribe. Most common blog platforms like Blogger and WordPress automatically set up a feed when you create your blog.

People sometimes ask me what is the point of Web feeds, and why would anyone want to use them? Feeds make following Web sites and blogs as easy as checking your email. It’s also a great timesaver. Instead of visiting each site directly, you can consolidate them in one place and see at a glance the articles you want to read. Web feeds have become the option of choice for people who want to keep up with current events, which is why they’re offered by most magazines and newspapers.

In this month’s Northwest Herald technology column I explain why it’s important to have more than one backup of your computer data. It’s also critical to test restoring your data to make sure your backups are valid. To do this, follow your software’s procedures for recovering data, but redirect the data so it doesn’t overwrite the original.

Most software has an option called “destination” or “target,” where the recovered data is to be saved. If you select that option you can redirect the data to another location. You may want to create a special folder ahead of time for the restored data. Then you can compare it to the original. As I said in the article, don’t just check file names; try opening each kind of file you use (say, one Word file, one Excel file, and so on). If you don’t have a solid backup strategy, including off-site storage in case of a disaster, all your hard work could be lost.

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My column in today’s Northwest Herald is Plenty Of Risks, Rewards With Cloud Computing. I’ve discussed cloud computing before here on Tech Tips, and today I’d like to give you some tips on how you can mitigate potential risks. These rules apply equally well to data that resides on a local server in your office.

Don’t forget, if you subscribe to my Tech Tips email newsletter you’ll receive tips like these, plus tech support tricks and other ways you can get the most out of your PC or Mac computer. Click here to subscribe or send email to techtips-request-at-guidryconsulting-dot-com, subject “subscribe”.

• As with any Internet account, use strong, unique passwords for every member of your group, and make sure those passwords are not shared with anyone.
• Evaluate your cloud computing options and look for one that not only meets your needs, but has clearly defined security policies.
• Establish rules for your employees or project partners. Are there certain kinds of data that should not go in the cloud?
• Configure your cloud computing environment so that access to data is limited to only what is needed for each person. For example, an employee working on a particular project may not need access to every file.
• Be sure to disable cloud computing accounts if a person leaves or is no longer needed on the project.

My Northwest Herald column this month is about rogue security software, also called scareware because it tries to frighten you into purchasing and installing it. I’ve talked about how rogues disable your real protections before (here and here), and how they take advantage of poisoned search engine results to trick you. I thought I’d show you some screenshots so you can see how rogues mimic real security software.

As you can see below, rogues look like the real deal. They pretend to scan your computer and they always display dire warnings. Note the button in the lower left corner telling you to purchase the rogue to remove the purported infections. But the real infection is the rogue itself.

Rogue security software

In this next image, the rogue is imitating Windows Security Center. Note how it claims that “Antivirus 2010″ (the rogue) is unregistered, a typical trick to get you to purchase the software.

Rogue imitating Windows Security Center

There are no limits to which rogues won’t go. Here, the rogue infiltrates Internet Explorer, displaying a false warning that claims you can’t get on the Internet unless you buy their scam software.

Rogue imitating Internet Explorer error

Another fake error message, this time the ominous Blue Screen Of Death (BSOD). Note once again the false warning claiming that you need to register (e.g. buy) the rogue to fix your computer.

Rogue faking a Blue Screen Of Death (BSOD)

Rogues will even go so far as to put messages on your Windows startup screen claiming that the product is unregistered and your computer unprotected.

Rogue hijacking Windows startup

To protect yourself, make sure your real security software is up to date, and steer clear of any advertisements or popups that claim you are infected. Be careful when searching for security tools because of poisoned search results. Your best bet is typing the name of a known software vendor directly into your browser instead of clicking on a link.

Rogues are notoriously difficult to remove, and regenerate if even the tiniest piece is left behind. Your best bet is to hire a professional familiar with how to remove rogue security software and restore your computer’s bona fide protections.

Sign up for my free Tech Tips newsletter and continue to learn how to get the most out of your PC or Mac computer. Click here to subscribe or send email to techtips-request-at-guidryconsulting-dot-com, subject “subscribe”.

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

If you found this information helpful, sign up for my free Tech Tips newsletter and continue to learn how to get the most out of your PC or Mac computer. Click here to subscribe or send email to techtips-request-at-guidryconsulting-dot-com, subject “subscribe”.

Starting in 2010, I’m writing a monthly technology column for The Northwest Herald. In January’s column, Old Software Poses Risk Of Viruses, I talk about how outdated versions of your software can open the floodgates. Here are some previous Tech Tips articles on how you can protect yourself:

• Old Versions Of Internet Explorer Vulnerable To Viruses
• Fall In Love With Secunia Personal Software Inspector
• Mozilla Firefox Expands Check For Unsafe Plug-Ins
• No Click Required: Malware Via Infected Ads

Below you’ll find links to related resources including those mentioned in the column.

• Adobe Acrobat Reader updates
• Flash updates
• Mozilla Firefox plug-in check
• Microsoft Update for Windows, Office, Internet Explorer
• Apple Software Updates for Mac OS, iTunes, Safari, iPhone and iPod
• Secunia Online Software Inspector for Windows

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”.