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2/10/2010
Microsoft released 13 security bulletins this Patch Tuesday (February 9) - five are considered critical, so make sure you download and install these puppies. Microsoft also has issued Security Advisory 980088 that warns of vulnerability in Internet Explorer that can allow the disclosure of information. Microsoft recommends setting the Internet and Local Intranet security zones to "high". Get your patches here: http://bit.ly/14DW1h
Current virus definitions are critical for security. Your antivirus program uses "definitions" to locate/detect viruses on your PC. So your antivirus program is only as good as the definitions installed. The more current your virus definitions, the more protection you have. This is why most AntiVirus applications have an automated process that updates the definitions in the background.
If you have Norton Antivirus 2010 or Norton Internet Security 2010 installed on your PC, use the steps below to manually download and install the latest and greatest virus definitions. This process will not work if your subscription period has expired or you do not have a one of the above products installed.
Step 1. Open your internet browser and navigate to http://bit.ly/9FGKqa. This will take you to the Symantec official download page.
Step 2. Choose your Norton product from the list and download the associated exe file. For simplicity, I recommend saving this file to your Windows Desktop.
Step 3. Double click the update file to install it. Follow the instructions as prompted, and your antivirus definitions will be updated to the latest and greatest.
This sums up how to install the latest virus definitions. If your system has issues updating definitions automatically, that is an important issue which you should have that checked out by a reputable computer technician. You may have a corrupted update file or possibly a virus on your system. 1/26/2010Recently, PC Magazine reviewed and ranked antivirus software. Here are the current Top Five:
1. G-Data AntiVirus 2010
2. Symantec Norton AntiVirus 2010
3. Kaspersy Anti-Virus 2010
4. BitDefender Antivirus 2010
5. Panda Antivirus Pro 2010
It is worth noting that AVG and McAfee are not currently listed in the top 5.
To say there are many anti-malware and anti-spyware applications in existance is an understatement. Unfortunately, in addition to the numurous legitimate products, there are many viruses that disguize themselves as anit-malware products. And, to complicate things even more, what worked yesterday, often is not the most effective today. We currently recommend the following product(s) for malware scanning and removal:
The above list will be modified periodically to reflect what is working in the current environment. No guarantees but you can try the following to improve the time it takes for Windows Vista to boot to the Desktop. It has worked for me every time.
1. Run MSConfig
2. Click Services tab -> hide all Microsoft services -> uncheck these if they exist: xaudio, vongo, stllsvr,roxmediad89, installdriver table manager, cyberlink background, cyberlink task
3. Click on the Boot tab ->advanced options
4. Change number of processors to "2" and check "maximum memory."
If your company is located in the Greater Houston Area and needs a reputable IT Support firm, give The PC Paramedics, Inc. a call at (281) 412-7183 or visit us online at http://thepcparamedics.com/ 1/24/2010
Many clients ask how they became infected with a virus while pointing out that they have current antivirus software installed. Unfortunately, protecting your computer from infection is an ongoing process. I have found the following multi-tiered approach the most effective in protecting against infections:
1. Email - Be paranoid when opening email attachments. Infected Email attachments can appear to be sent by sources you know and trust.
2. Operating System - Make sure your Windows software is fully patched with the latest security updates (Windows Critical Updates)
3. Current & Reputable Antivirus - Make sure your Antivirus is current and fully patched. Do not let you antivirus software get too old before upgrading and make sure the virus definitions are up to date. For a current list of reputable AntiVirus programs, click HERE.
4. Malware Protection - Periodically run a decent malware scan. You should run a malware scan at least once per month. For a current list of reputable Anti-Malware programs, click HERE.
5. Firewall - Have a software firewall enabled and in place (i.e. Windows Firewall).
6. Surfing Habits - When surfing the web, try to stick to reputable websites as much as possible. A virus infection can occur simply by visiting an infected website. So the more you venture out into the dark corners of the internet, the more likely bad things will happen. Stay in the well-lit areas as much as possible.
7. Internet Browser - Use a third party internet browser, such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Safari. 1/14/2010
I've been getting a bunch of inquiries on Office 2010 recently, so I decided it was time to blog on what I currently know about the status of the project.
According to several rumors, Microsoft Office 2010 will be released in June of this year. Microsoft has a history of pushing back release dates but has stayed pretty close to schedule on its last few major releases.
The new Office suite includes updates to all of Microsoft's major productivity apps - including Word 2010, Excel 2010, Outlook 2010, PowerPoint 2010, OneNote 2010, Access 2010, Publisher 2010, InfoPath 2010 - and will be available in 32bit and 64 bit versions.
An excellent source for learning more about Office 2010 enhancements can be found on Microsoft’s site HERE. The company released a test version of Office Professional Plus 2010 a couple of months ago, and has yet to reveal the expiration date of the trial period.
The updated Office will be available in two separate formats: a traditional PC-based edition and a completely web-based version.
Office Web Apps includes lightweight versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint and will be made available to millions free of charge.
People who participate in the Office 2010 beta program can try out the public preview of Office Web Apps by using a Windows Live account to create, edit, store and retrieve documents online.
Office Web Apps require Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) or later on Windows; Firefox 3.5 or later on Windows, Mac and Linux; or Safari 4.0 or later on the Mac.
This article contains the following links:
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews/index.cfm?ReviewID=118363
http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/en/default.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2009/sep09/09-17officewebapps.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/en/default.aspx
1/10/2010
Unless you've been hiding under a rock for the last year or so, you have probably heard about The Cloud, or Cloud Computing.
"A cloud is a workload optimized service management platform enabling new consumption and delivery models." -current IBM Commercial
I thought I'd take a few minutes and explain what the "Cloud" really is for those computer users out there that don't have a CS degree. The truth is the cloud concept is awesome but is not exactly new. Sure, there are innovations every day and the ability and methods of accessing, sharing and aggregating on-line data are continually evolving. But, accessing, sharing and aggregating online data is certainly nothing new.
In simple terms, if you store any data on the internet and pull that data down to your workstations using a browser, email client, customized software, etc., you are using the "Cloud." If your website has a database connected to it, that database is essentially "in the Cloud." If you use email, you use the Cloud – you email server. If you have a SharePoint site, other CMS, or shared on-line calendar, you are working in the Cloud. The Cloud is essentially another term for "Web Service."
But, be careful not to confuse the term "Web Service" with "Internet Service Provider." Some common Internet Service Provider (ISP) are AT&T, Comcast, C-Beyond, etc. Web Service, as defined by Wikidedia and the W3C is "a software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network." In simple terms, a server on the internet providing something of use to other servers or workstations also connected to the internet is "in the Cloud."
12/22/2009
Here's how to do it:
Control Panel -> Mail -> E-Mail Accounts -> Add a new e-mail account
Microsoft Exchange Server
Server: 127.0.0.1
User Name: <The Username>
Click More Settings -> Cancel (on the login box)
When Started -> Manual Control -> Work Offline
Advanced -> Offline Folder File Settings -> Browse <Select> -> OK -> OK |
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