Your Computer Setup - Any Questions?

[MAJ]

I am in IT guy by trait - (Systems Engineer) and design & implement large scale servers, systems & networks for my employer.

My tax return & consulting is my side work which I have done for 20+ years now.

I am offering my WRITTEN services to the members here. If you have any general computer related questions that need some assistance I'll try to assist the best I can. I am (normally) good at putting computer terms in to every day speak so the average lay man/women can understand them.

Wireless routers, small networks, virus software, operating system issues... While the season is NOT busy -- get your system tuned and ready to go now. Be sure your backups are working - and if you're considering any upgrade - now's the time.

If you are considering an upgrade which would include Windows 7 - I say - Go for it as long as your software vendors support it - It's a great, intuitive operating system that I love.

[Lion]

Thank you

Good to know that help is just a post away.

[ChEAr$]

Good to have MAJ (major?) aboard with us. Just yesterday and again this morning I got
attacked and this antir program showed up unexpectedly and supplanted my Microsoft's
Defender. - Security essentials it's called now.

This had happened two years ago when I let my grandson borrow my computer to connect with his "friends' on Myspace. HAH! some "friends", for that lapse of security provided me with a rootkit infection which cost to get it cleaned up. And to think that started out with getting routed to a porn site and ads for antivirus software.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed today.

[S T]

Security Essentials

I have had a few of those "rogues" appear on my husband's computer, and it takes a little effort to clean them out and recapture the computer. Thought it happend again yesterday - always on the Internet Explorer. What a PITA

Personally, I liked MS Live One Care much better, I really am not fond of Norton, as it has given me such grief and error messages. Some of software actually has to write a "batch file" to allow the program to work.

Maybe MAJ can give us some better information on how to protect our computers

And - I am really tired of the "constant" junk mails I am receiving- Outlook doesn't block like it should and neither does my internet provider - no matter what I do! One would think that Microsoft would have a handle on this!

Sandy

[joanmcq]

I think I just had my email hijacked; I was getting a lot of 'undeliverable' messages in my spam and inbox. Changed the password and they went away.

Is there anything else I should be trying to do? I have two computers I access email from, as well as an iPhone and iPod Touch.

[AZ-Tax]

MAJ - font on scanned docs looks light, weak, etc.

Got a Brother MFC-7220. This model I believe came out over 5 yrs ago. My new pc came with Win 7 and my old pc still has XP. It seems my new win 7 pc does scan to the same quality my xp pc does. I contacted Brothers and suggested I download some win 7 drivers for which they email me a link. Your thoughts?

While I am on this topic, what make and model of laser printer would you recommended for quality scanning and printing?

[MAJ]

Some ways to protect yourself...

Maybe MAJ can give us some better information on how to protect our computers

Major - No.... MAJ - Just my initials...

Okay here are some thing you should know.
** Your PC: **
Many, many, many people run their PC's out of the box. Simply said, When you start a new computer you set up a user account. Many people then use this account as their default and never look back. This account is normally has Administrator rights. BAD IDEA! You should always have at least two accounts. One with administrators rights that you use to install software and perform certain maintenance tasks as well as a standard user account to do your day to day work. The administrators account (ideally) should NOT have an email address configured on the account. Not needed. Just another way to add an infection.

** Reasons: **
Does the CPA or accountant give everyone access to the payroll records? Of course not. Then why would you give anyone on the internet access to your computer?
When you work or log on with an Administrators account you are giving any program that runs, FULL RIGHTS to do anything on your PC. If you hit an infected web site or email attachment they can do anything they want. Sometimes without even clicking on things. Tough place to be. That's how so many PC's get infected / high-jacked, etc.

** Email: **
You should have at least two email addresses. One you use to sign up for things on the internet and one you give to clients and friends. Understand that their are computer 'roBOTS' that surf the internet data streams looking for "@mycompany.com" and trap those. They assume it's a valid email address and harvest them. They then send bogus emails to valid the address. If an NDR is not received (non-delivery notice) they assume it's valid. Some go an extra route. If you don't want to receive any more email then click here to un-subscribe. Now, you just validated that someone actually reads email at that email address and they have a valid email address they can sell.

When you send your email address you should try to separate your email address from the domain name. I'm sure some of you have seen -- matthewejones at MyCompany.com or MatthewJones (a) MyCompany.com - or something like that. This slows the email address 'roBOTS' down a bit & helps to protect your email address. Back to two addresses. One for you, your friends & clients. One for signing up for newsletters, etc.
I have a few for various reasons.
Info <at> mycompany.com for newsletters and internet sign ups.
ebills <at> mycompany.com for Electronic Bills from Utilities, invoices, etc.
name <at> mycompany.com for friends, etc.
junkmail <at> mycompany.com for contests, etc. You still get the response but you can filter your email based on where it came from.
If email came from ebills@ - put in ebill folder.
If email came from JunkMail@ - put in TO-BE-REVIEWED folder. Most likely deleted.
if email came from INFO@ - put in 'Info' folder.


** Virus Software: **
Comcast, OptOnline as well as other provide FREE virus software to their subsribers. The current Norton 360 that Comcast offers is a good product. It has virus software as well as PC Tuning built in. I do know that VERIZON does NOT offer a free product. Shame on them. Comcast.net - Look for SECURITY in upper right hand corner. OptOnline - almost the same.

A good <& FREE> product to scan your System for Malware is called MalWareBytes.
You can download a copy at http://www.malwarebytes.org. Look on the left hand side for a download link. Let this software install (it's a next, next, next simple install) and then let it run a FULL Scan. It'll take some time - so Let it go. When complete on the lower right side you'll see a box to show results. Feel confident that you can take the default and let it remove what it wants. Honest! You can buy the product which the owner would appreciate - but if you run this once per month manually - you'll be a bit cleaner.

Sorry it was so long winded. I hope this helps - Please feel free comment or provide specific issues that I may be able to help with while / when time permits.

[ChEAr$]

Semper Paratus

No need to apologize for being longwinded, for we all can use all the help we can get.

It's been a long time (since 1978) when i got my first computer and started writing my own
tax software for it since there were none on the market then. Since then the internet has developed to where it is today and so many malefactors out there in Russia, Ceylon, Malaysia just gunning for us and our sensitive information.

You mentioned one defender in your post. I use something similar (in Addition to Microsoft's security essentials), and that is Super Antispyware. Just today at office I cleaned up about 533 cookies! But thank heavens no malware.

Two accounts are used here, in fact just last month activated to separate my files from my wife's. So she's a separate user now and has to log on. She asked why? And my response was of course that I have tax software and files in my section and IRS rules say that I can't allow anyone else access to them. And of course my wife is not an employee!
But I kinda got the impression she thought I might be trying to hide something. lol!
Who, me? grin

In summary, any computer user with a mind to excellent security should adopt the motto of the US Coast Guard. Semper Paratus!

[MAJ]

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