Written on 3/31/2009 08:28:00 PM by Marc Crow
AVG AntiVirus 8.5 has been released. What is available in AVG 8.5?
Anti-Virus & Anti-Spyware
Protection against viruses, spyware, adware and Trojans
LinkScanner Active Surf-Shield
Protects in real time against poisoned web pages while you're surfing
LinkScanner Search-Shield
Real-time safety ratings for all search results in Google, Yahoo and MSN/Live search
AVG Security Toolbar
Easy access to LinkScanner tools, built-in search capability
Download AVG 8.5 Now
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Written on 3/31/2009 08:01:00 PM by Marc Crow
2320 West 3rd Street is going through some changes again. The Phone Shop/Game Exchange will be closing as of Saturday April 4th. Come in Friday and Saturday for a Going Out Of Business Sale! All used games for PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii are all 1/2 Price. Plus ALL phone accessories are only $2.00, that includes covers for you phone and chargers.
Marc Crow Computer Repairs and 4Runner will still be working out of that office, so if you are needing to get a computer cleaned up, or get vinyl banners and custom decals made, you can still find us at the same location.
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Written on 3/28/2009 09:53:00 AM by Marc Crow
You can view more at Flickr
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Written on 3/27/2009 08:18:00 AM by Marc Crow
Blizzard Warning in effect from 7 am this morning to 1 PM CDT
Saturday...
... Winter Storm Warning is cancelled...
The National Weather Service in Norman has issued a Blizzard
Warning... which is in effect from 7 am this morning to 1 PM CDT
Saturday.
Snow is forecast to begin falling over far northwest Oklahoma
early this morning. Snow will spread southeast and become heavy
at times during the day. Total snow accumulations are expected to
exceed 6 inches in most areas... with amounts of 12 inches or more
possible... especially over far northwest Oklahoma. Very strong
winds will cause blizzard conditions at times through early
Saturday. This will cause near white-out conditions which will
make travel very dangerous.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds
and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout
conditions... making travel extremely dangerous. If you must
travel... have a winter survival kit with you. If you get
stranded... stay with your vehicle.
Posted in
Blizzard,
Snow
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Written on 3/26/2009 10:06:00 AM by Marc Crow
In an event that hits the computer world only once every few years, security experts are racing against time to mitigate the impact of a bit of malware which is set to wreak havoc on a hard-coded date. As is often the case, that date is April 1.
Malware creators love to target April Fool's Day with their wares, and the latest worm, called Conficker C, could be one of the most damaging attacks we've seen in years.
Conficker first bubbled up in late 2008 and began making headlines in January as known infections topped 9 million computers. Now in its third variant, Conficker C, the worm has grown incredibly complicated, powerful, and virulent... though no one is quite sure exactly what it will do when D-Day arrives.
Thanks in part to a quarter-million-dollar bounty on the head of the writer of the worm, offered by Microsoft, security researchers are aggressively digging into the worm's code as they attempt to engineer a cure or find the writer before the deadline. What's known so far is that on April 1, all infected computers will come under the control of a master machine located somewhere across the web, at which point anything's possible. Will the zombie machines become denial of service attack pawns, steal personal information, wipe hard drives, or simply manifest more traditional malware pop-ups and extortion-like come-ons designed to sell you phony security software? No one knows.
Conficker is clever in the way it hides its tracks because it uses an enormous number of URLs to communicate with HQ. The first version of Conficker used just 250 addresses each day -- which security researchers and ICANN simply bought and/or disabled -- but Conficker C will up the ante to 50,000 addresses a day when it goes active, a number which simply can't be tracked and disabled by hand.
At this point, you should be extra vigilant about protecting your PC: Patch Windows completely through Windows Update and update your anti-malware software as well. Make sure your antivirus software is actually running too, as Conficker may have disabled it.
Microsoft also offers a free online safety scan here, which should be able to detect all Conficker versions.
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Written on 3/22/2009 08:20:00 PM by Marc Crow
I have noticed that I have been getting a lot of computers with Windows Vista installed that only have 512 MB of memory. From my experience, you need to have at least 2 GB of memory installed on a computer for Windows Vista to run decent.
When Windows Vista was first released, a lot of people selling computers were just installing Vista on computers that were built for Windows XP, not realizing that Windows Vista was going to be a more powerful, and memory sapping operating system.
I'm not pointing fingers, but it also seems like the computers that have been coming in that need memory upgrades are the cheaper, Wal-Mart variety of computers. You get what you pay for when you buy something from there. Manufacturers add a ton of pre-installed software on Wal-Mart computers. That software and the lack of memory in the computer is probably why your new computer is so slow.
If you bought a computer last year, from Wal-Mart and it had Windows Vista installed on it, there is a good chance that you need your memory upgraded. You would be surprised at how much a difference a $50 (on average) memory upgrade would make.
Come see me at 2320 West 3rd Street, or call me at 580-243-9545
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Written on 3/21/2009 04:37:00 PM by Marc Crow
Use e-mail software with built-in spam filtering
Microsoft SmartScreen is an intelligent spam-filtering solution that is integrated across all Microsoft e-mail platforms, including:
*Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
*Microsoft Office Outlook 2007
*Windows Live Hotmail
*Windows Live Mail
*Windows Mail
SmartScreen technology determines how to distinguish between legitimate e-mail messages and spam by using extensive user input from hundreds of thousands of MSN Hotmail and Windows Live Hotmail users.
The result is that more legitimate e-mails reach you and upwards of 95% spam is blocked. To learn more about how Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 helps protect against spam, see The 2007 Microsoft Office System: New security features.
Block images
Just as a lighthouse beacon beams a message with light, pictures in e-mail messages--also called "Web beacons"--can be adapted to secretly send a message back to the sender.
Spammers rely on information returned by these images to locate active e-mail addresses. Images can also contain harmful code and be used to deliver a spammer's message in spite of filters.
The best defense against Web beacons is to prevent pictures from downloading until you've had a chance to review the message.
Both MSN Hotmail and Microsoft Outlook 2003 are preset to do this automatically for e-mail from addresses not in your address book. Outlook Express also increases its protection against Web beacons if you're using Windows XP Service Pack 2.
Keep your filters current
Spam is a cat-and-mouse game with spammers working relentlessly to outwit the filters. Do your part by keeping your junk e-mail filter up to date. To do this if you're using Outlook 2003, go to Microsoft Update, and follow the instructions on the screen. For more information about Microsoft Update, see Use Microsoft Update to help keep your computer current.
Be careful about sharing your e-mail or instant message address
*Only share your primary e-mail address with people you know. Avoid listing your e-mail address in large Internet directories and job-posting Web sites. Don't even post it on your own Web site (unless you disguise it as described below).
*Set up an e-mail address dedicated solely to Web transactions. Consider using a free e-mail service to help keep your primary e-mail address private. When you get too much spam there, simply drop it for a new one.
*Create an e-mail name that's tough to crack. Try a combination of letters, numbers, and other characters-Don2Funk9@example.com or J0e_Y0ng@example.com (substituting zero for the letter "O"). Research shows that people with such names get less junk e-mail.
*Disguise your e-mail address when you post it to a newsgroup, chat room, bulletin board, or other public Web page-for example, SairajUdin AT example DOT com. This way, a person can interpret your address, but the automated programs that spammers use often cannot.
*Watch out for pre-checked boxes. When you buy things online, companies sometimes pre-select check boxes by which you indicate that it's fine to sell or give your e-mail address to responsible parties. Clear the check box if you don't want to be contacted.
Tip: When you sign up for Web-based services such as banking, shopping, or a newsletter, carefully read the privacy policy before revealing your e-mail address so you don't unwittingly agree to share confidential information.
The privacy policy should outline the terms and circumstances regarding if or how the site will share your information. If a Web site does not post a privacy statement, consider taking your business elsewhere.
Improve your computer's security
You can greatly reduce your risk from hackers, viruses, and worms if you use a firewall, keep your Windows and Office software up to date, and install antivirus software (and update it routinely). Learn more about how to protect your computer.
What to do with the spam you have
Despite your best efforts, you no doubt have received e-mail and instant messages you didn't ask for. Here's what you can do about all that junk.
*Ignore spam
*Delete junk e-mail messages without opening them. Sometimes even opening spam can alert spammers or put an unprotected computer at risk.
*Don't reply to spam unless you're certain that the message comes from a legitimate source. This includes not responding to such messages that offer an option to "Remove me from your list." Do not “unsubscribe” unless the mail is from a known or trusted sender.
Windows Live Hotmail gives you the option to unsubscribe from mail that you previously had trusted or requested. This sends a notice back to the sender to have you removed from their list, while at the same time automatically adding the sender to your block list.
*Update your e-mail junk mail program and e-mail filters. Spammers continually try new tricks, trying to bypass anti-spam technologies. The Outlook Junk E-Mail Filter is powered by Microsoft SmartScreen technology, which helps prevents spam from cluttering your inbox.
Updates are available from the Office Update and Microsoft Update and can be downloaded automatically, providing you up-to-date protection against spam and phishing.
*Don't give personal information in an e-mail or instant message. It could be a trick. Most legitimate companies won't ask for personal information by e-mail.
If a company you trust, such as your credit card company or bank, appears to ask for personal information, check into it further. Call the company using a number you retrieve yourself from the back of your credit card, a bill, phone book, or the like-not a number from the e-mail message. If it's a legitimate request, the company's customer service department should be able to help you.
*Think twice before opening attachments or clicking links in e-mail or instant messages, even if you know the sender. If you cannot confirm with the sender that an attachment or link is safe, delete the message.
If you must open an attachment that you're less than sure about, save it to your hard disk first so that your antivirus software can check it before you open it.
*Don't buy anything or give to any charity promoted through spam. Spammers often swap or sell the e-mail addresses of those who have bought from them, so buying something through spam may result in even more spam.
Plus, spammers can make their living (and a lucrative one, too) on people's purchases of their offerings. Resist the temptation to buy products through spam, and help to put spammers out of business.
Criminals use spam to prey on people's desire to help others. If you receive an e-mail request from a charity you'd like to support, avoid donation scams by calling the organization directly to find out how to contribute.
*Don't forward chain e-mail messages. Not only do you lose control over who sees your e-mail address, but you also may be furthering a hoax or aiding in the delivery of a virus.
Plus, there are reports that spammers start chain letters expressly to gather e-mail addresses. If you don't know whether a message is a hoax or not, a site like Hoaxbusters can help you separate fact from fiction.
Note: It can be troubling to receive spam from what appears to be your own account. Your first suspicion may be that someone has hacked into your account to send you mail-or worse, send others e-mail that is allegedly from you.
The truth is these fears are not likely to be real. More likely, a spammer has forged the headers (which include your e-mail address) to lend authenticity to their junk e-mail, and also potentially help the message bypass some e-mail filters.
Report fraudulent, abusive e-mail
If you receive abusive, harassing, or threatening e-mail messages or have been the target of a phishing e-mail scam, report it. If nothing else, perhaps you'll save someone else from becoming a victim.
*Report abusive, harassing, or threatening e-mail messages to your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
*Report phishing scams and other fraudulent e-mail to the company that has been misrepresented. Contact the organization directly and not through the e-mail you received. The company may also have a special e-mail address to report such abuse-for example, abuse@msn.com to report abuse of MSN.
Tip: If you use MSN Hotmail, you can report junk e-mail before you even open it using the Junk button.
*File a complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). First review the FTC tips for fighting spam, and then file your complaint.
*Forward your complaints to system administrators who can act on them with the assistance of the Network Abuse Clearinghouse.
Block unwanted instant messages (IM)
In addition to a healthy dose of caution, your best defense against IM spam (or spim as it's becoming known) is to block unwanted messages. For more information, see 10 tips for safer instant messaging.
Via: Microsoft
Posted in
email,
prevention,
spam
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Written on 3/21/2009 07:22:00 AM by Marc Crow
Microsoft has officially released Internet Explorer 8.
Improved Performance
Right from the start you'll notice that pages open and load faster than ever. And, with powerful new features like Accelerators and Web Slices, Internet Explorer 8 gives you the ability to get more done in less time.
Smart Address Bar
Internet Explorer 8 helps you find where you want to go as you type the address of your desired website. By using Windows Search for faster performance and a richer return of information, the Smart Address Bar offers useful suggestions from your browsing history, favorites, and feeds. Type single words into the Smart Address Bar, and they will be matched to simple domain names, making web surfing fast and efficient.
Download IE8 Now.
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Written on 3/20/2009 08:48:00 PM by Marc Crow
Marc Crow Computer Repairs has a new look. Keep checking back for more tips and tools to keep your computer running its best.
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Written on 3/11/2009 07:38:00 PM by Marc Crow
I get questions all the time about preventing spyware infections. It is hard to narrow down where and how computers are getting infected, but I have a few known causes to warn you about.
#1. Limewire. You can download ANYTHING from the internet these days, but Limewire is probably the biggest cause of spyware infections out there. Yes, you don't have to pay for anything you download, but, there is always a chance that what you are downloading from Limewire is embedded with malicious software that is going to steal your personal data. iTunes is a safe and secure alternative that has pretty much everything you are looking for.
#2. Screen Savers. I know the built in Windows Screen Savers can be a little boring, but I haven't seen a screen saver that you download from the internet that doesn't have some kind of spyware program associated with it. Use the default Windows Screen Savers and save yourself a trip to me.
#3 MySpace Themes. MySpace has been around for a while, and people have figured out how to allow MySpace to upload custom themes for your page. Once again, I haven't found a MySpace theme page that isn't infected with spyware. Installing a theme for MySpace, other than the ones provided by MySpace has links embedded in it that takes you to websites that are Spyware related. Use the themes provided by Myspace. They are adding new ones all the time.
#4 This is a generalized category, and kind of along the same line as Screen Savers. Anything that you download to enhance the look of Windows can be a cause for getting a spyware infection. Cursors, Desktop Backgrounds, Screen Savers, etc, etc. If you want to change the look of your computer, like your background/wallpaper, use a picture that you have taken. Or once again, use the backgrounds, cursors, and screen savers provided with Windows.
I don't know how better to explain it other than taking your computer in to get it cleaned up is like having to take your car in to get your oil changed. I has to be done. It is hard to tell the difference between legitimate programs and spyware programs. They do that for a reason, to trick you into buying a fake product that doesn't do anything but cause more problems.
One other tip. Call and ask me before you buy something that popped up on your computer saying that you needed to buy this software to get rid of your spyware infections. 90% of the time, that program is going to be a spyware program itself and will only steal your credit card info.
Marc Crow Computer Repairs
580-243-9545
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