Debit Card’s Have Little Protection When They Get Cloned
By John F | July 21, 2008
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The standout sentence in this article is; “My computer had been reformatted about six months before and I had never bothered to get anti-virus software or anti-spyware software.”
I applaud this person for writing their experience online for all to see and learn from their mistake, but not having any anti-spyware or anti-virus protection on your computer is nothing short of madness!
I hope this person doesn’t leave their front door open at night or leave their car window wide open in dodgy neighbourhoods. Have a read of the article, and follow the tips at the bottom of the article.
My earlier post regarding protecting your identity online is a helpful read [trumpet blowing over] and as long as you follow the tips in both, you should reduce the risk of getting scammed and having to explain to your bank that you definitely didn’t buy that $750 ornament from shopping channel that you never heard of.
Topics: Computer Privacy Usefulness, Computer Security Usefulness | No Comments »
25 Skills Every Person Should Know: No.2 Protect Your Computer
By John F | July 16, 2008
Popular Mechanics website has an interesting list of 25 Things Every Man Should Know. At number 2 is protect your computer, and number 16 is backing up data. Which to me is slightly odd that it is that high up the list, compared to say, changing oil on a car or manoeuvring a car out of a skid?
Out of the list of 25 things I should know I can honestly say I know 17. Which isn’t bad, but filleting a fish for me isn’t on my list of things to do before I’m 50.
What this list says is that because of the importance and impact computers have on our everyday lives, knowing how to protect and back up your computer data is a vital part of normal life. Also, for any female readers, yes I do also agree that the Popular Mechanics article should Read “25 Skills Every Person Should Know.”
However, how many people actually perform these essential tasks, is a worry as so many hackers and Internet fraudsters are having the time of their lives with so many easy targets out there.
It’s a list that has a lot of feedback, 160 comments when I last checked, and yes there are some weird entries on there, but ultimately having two computer related tasks on there does indicate that computer security is very important to all people who have computers, including the users like you and me and especially the hackers and fraudsters who want to steal your data.
Topics: Computer Security Usefulness | No Comments »
Save Your Computer’s Life
By John F | July 11, 2008
Do you keep your computer in good working order? When was the last time you cleaned out the computer case or keyboard?
This article about cleaning up and prolonging your computer’s life is very informative and something you should seriously think about doing.
Click here to read it and please think seriously about implementing a few of the suggestions.
It’s all common sense advice and will save you money in the long term if you follow the advice given.
I will have to buy a new keyboard soon. 10 years is a long time to own a keyboard…
Topics: Computer Health Usefulness | No Comments »
What’s Next after Google Street View?
By John F | July 8, 2008
Google will soon be launching Google Street View in Europe. It’s similar to Google maps, but as the name suggests, has street views of streets throughout major cities of Europe. Google Street View hasn’t been launched in the UK yet. However, Google cars with their mounted cameras have been spotted in the major cities in the UK recently. Google state “London may be one of the cities included when we launch Street View in Europe”.
It has caused a “for and against” divide amongst people. The “for” brigade will find it useful researching new cities and routes. Tourists will definitely find it useful. The “against” contingent find it intrusive and another infringement on privacy. Personally I am on the “against” side at the moment.
Google Earth and Google maps are a brilliant free tool that I use on a weekly basis, but zooming into a street to see a particular building or house is getting a bit extreme.
The main sticking point is that when Google have been taking pictures they have been capturing people and people in cars, with registration plates visible. Google have now blurred people’s faces and registration plates.
This is not fool proof, as Google admit that some pictures will not be blurred 100% and that individuals will have to request blurring or removal from Google Street View. They state:
“As with all such systems operating at this scale our blurring technology is not perfect - we occasionally miss a face or license plate, for example if they are partially covered, or at a difficult angle,” said Horvarth. “However, we tested the technology thoroughly before launch and I am confident that it finds and blurs the vast majority of identifiable faces and license plates. For the few that we miss, the tools within the product make it easy for users to report a face or license plate for extra blurring. As always, users can still ask for their image to be removed from the product entirely.”
I am trying to keep an open mind about this, but at the moment, I’d rather not be caught in a Google Street View picture, and especially the house where I live and my car. What next, Google Intestinal View?
Topics: Other Usefulness | No Comments »
Backup Your Computer Or Suffer a Data Grievance
By John F | July 4, 2008
When was the last time you backed up your computer data? How many files and folders do you have on your computer? A rough guess will do. Personally I have over 85GB of data, music, Photoshop files and emails that I desperately would not want to lose.
Backing up your data files on Windows is a simple and straight forward process that you should complete on a regular basis. I should know as a while back I didn’t follow my own advice and lost all my files when one of my hard disks became corrupted.
I had to re-install Windows XP and re-download all the programs I could remember having. I also had to buy a couple of software programs again as the drive that failed had all my emails on it, so I couldn’t prove I had purchased the software originally.
Windows has a built in back up facility that is adequate. It’s not exactly the best program out there, however it will allow you to back up your data for free. To access it Click Start, highlight All Programs, highlight Accessories, highlight System Tools, and then click Backup to start the wizard.
Within the wizard you will be asked exactly what files you wish to back up and to where. What files you back up will help you make a decision on where you wish to back up.
If you wish to back up only really critical files that are not that huge you may be able to back up onto a flash drive or memory stick. These are getting cheaper and cheaper and 8GB or 16GB versions are very cost effective these days.
If you wish to back up more files, or even all of your files then you may be best using a portable hard drive. Portable hard drives offer offline storage and as long as you store it away from your computer [no point storing it in the same room or building really], offer a good worthwhile solution.
Portable hard drives are very similar to flash drives in that the price is very reasonable and if you are serious about keeping the data on your computer redundant, then it is cost effective, especially if you do have a computer or hard drive failure.
There are quite a few alternative free backup software options available, which for a home user will be more than sufficient. One I can suggest is Winbackup 1.86. It’s a free backup program, reliable and quick. The link to download it is here. There are paid for back up programs also that are available, they maybe would be better suited to businesses that require more powerful and scalable.
Another option is for online storage. There are many free online storage options available as well as paid. If you can afford it, paid for online storage is best, such as Amazon S3, as you should be given guarantees by the online storage merchant.
However you back up your data and what medium you keep it backed up on, having a regular back up schedule and keeping to it will give you piece of mind and will safe you hassle further down the line when one of your computer components fail, which is inevitable.
Topics: Computer Health Usefulness, Free Software Usefulness | No Comments »
Last Day to Download Hotmail Via Outlook Express
By John F | June 30, 2008
The 30th June 2008 and the title above says it all and this link to an earlier post I made, will explain it in full.
I still haven’t found an alternative, so I think I’ll just use Hotmail online and slowly change over any email addresses that use my Hotmail to a Gmail account.
Goodbye Hotmail, you served me well, but you’re too inflexible now.
Topics: Other Computer Usefulness | No Comments »
91 Viruses & TeamViewer
By John F | June 27, 2008
91 viruses! My nephew’s computer recently had 91 viruses on it. It took me over 2 hours to clean the viruses and spyware off. He didn’t have an up to date anti-virus program and he intermittently used an anti-spyware program.
In his defence he is only 14, and as much as he enjoys his Myspace page building, making beats [whatever that is] and generally being a normal 14 year old. Keeping his computer secure and free from the nasties on the Internet wasn’t high on his agenda. It is now.
As I live around 2 hours away from sisters, on my last visit I spent the two hours fixing his really slow computer become a bit faster. He was still on Service pack 1 for XP. So I downloaded SP3 and sent it on CD to him via the mail. He uploads it and due to his computer being a bit old, shuts down, and then doesn’t work.
So he re-installs XP service pack 1 and then I run Teamviewer to remote into his computer to re-install a few programs so he doesn’t get in the same mess as before. It saved me a two hour journey to fix his computer.
Teamviewer is a brilliant remote support program that is free for home use, is very small and if you are having trouble with your computer and you know somebody who could possibly help, no matter where they are in the world, is a good program to be aware of.
Topics: Computer Security Usefulness | No Comments »
British Banks Rule Change Prevents Phishing Fraud
By John F | June 22, 2008
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
British banks have changed a rule within the banking code to prevent them from paying out to customers that have been victims of Phishing or online bank fraud.
It concerns section 12.13 of the banking code which has been added to state: “Unless you have acted fraudulently or without reasonable care (for example, by not following the advice in section 12.9), you will not be liable for losses caused by someone else which take place through your online banking service.”
I can totally understand why this rule change has come into effect. There are quite a few clueless fools out there who do write their passwords down on on a post-it stuck to their computer screen, are infected with god knows how many malware or keyloggers, or access their bank accounts at Internet cafes and then wonder why their bank account is siphoned off to nothing.
What the banks are now saying is: you must prove to us that your computer is protected with reasonable anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-histamine and anti-malware software. If you don’t and you get caught, then they will not pay up.
I for one agree with them. They didn’t really advertise this rule change, but what do you expect, they’re banks, the small print experts. Normally banks are just one rung above estate agents and traffic wardens, but this rule change will unfortunately teach some people a harsh lesson, but for the majority will not cause much concern.
Topics: Computer Security Usefulness | No Comments »
Threatfire Gave Me Damp Results
By John F | June 18, 2008
I wrote in an earlier post about Threatfire and how it seemed like a useful program to have, in the fight against evil malware attempting to take over the world, my computer.
Well it turns out after using it just under two weeks I am less than impressed by its results. Six suspicious activities blocked and two Malware threats stopped. Wow! Not impressive by any stretch of the imagination and the results didn’t change since day two.
So I have removed it from my computer and I am now not recommending it at all. If you have downloaded it and have better results than me, well let me know. I am always willing to give most things a second chance, especially as Threatfire is made by PC Tools, who made the excellent Spyware Doctor.
It was a free program, and unfortunately it gave free program results for me. Come here Avast, oh I’ve been neglecting you haven’t I, fancy some juicy Trojan’s to batter into oblivion?
Topics: Computer Security Usefulness | No Comments »
What’s Happening in the World of Phorm?
By John F | June 16, 2008
That intrusion buzzard circling in the sky, or Phorm as it’s more commonly known, has been busy keeping itself out of the headlines recently. BT [British Telecom] has yet to announce when it will [legally] start using Phorm on its customer base.
I said [legally] above as they [not-very-legally] trialled Phorm out last year on around 36,000 of its customers without asking their permission, BT and Phorm contravened the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) and the Data Protection Act (DPA), which is illegal, allegedly. [This is sounding like an episode of Have I Got News For You?]
At the moment the European Commission is probing whether or not to take any action against BT for its 2006 trials. They say here that they probably won’t be taking any action. What a surprise. Why bother looking into it if there’s not going to be any recourse for breaking RIPA and DPA? I would guess that money talks…
Anyway, to keep up with Phorm related issues visit this badphorm.co.uk for updates.
May the Phorm [not] be with you.
Topics: Computer Privacy Usefulness | No Comments »