Castellini on Computers - Computer help for beginners » Security

Holiday Computer Madness

Rick — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:23:36 +0000

Every year for the last 6-7 years, I bring up a version of this tip to help save you time and money during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years visiting season. Please follow the advice. I can guarantee that it will save you and your computer lots of grief.

With all the traveling done during the holidays, your computer is bound to be taken hostage by friends and family wanting to check their email or play a game or two. Unlike the TV, a computer can be victimized, unintentionally, by all this attention. When everyone returns home, you may not recognize your computer or have problems with the way it runs.

5 Simple Rules to avoid SCD (Slow Computer Disease)

Rick — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:48:43 +0000

I've written about this before, but it bears repeating on occasion with new visitors to our site and long time visitors who haven't learned yet. The advice is simple: DO NOT DOWNLOAD FREE SCREENSAVERS, EMAIL PROGRAMS (Incredimail, etc), GAMES from the Internet. Unless you are WELL versed in the origin of these items, they can easily destroy your computer's ability to compute. The most common computer ailment (for Windows users) searched on the Internet is "slow computers". Sadly, "slow computer disease", SCD*, does not have to be the pandemic it is because it is 100% preventable. Here are my 5 simple rules to prevent SCD: 1. Install and keep Internet security software current. Recommendations: AVG Anti-virus, a software or hardware firewall and a good anti-spwyare program or two. Check our Links & Resources section for recommendations. 2. DO NOT DOWNLOAD FREE CRAP FROM THE INTERNET UNLESS YOU KNOW ITS ORIGIN AND SAFETY. 3. Use Mozilla Firefox or Opera as your primary Internet browser instead of Internet Explorer, MSN, or AOL. This tip alone can save your computer. 4. If you have teenagers or young adults who use your computer, forbid the downloading of free music through services like Limewire or any other shady site (refer to #2) 5. If you do suspect SCD, get it looked at immediately. Waiting for it to cure itself will only make SCD worse. BONUS TIP: If your computer suffers from SCD, Defrag will NOT help it. No matter how many times you Defrag your computer, it will NOT help SCD. © *SCD is a copyrighted term of Castellini on Computers, HelpMeRick.com and Rick Castellini. Use of the term SCD is strictly prohibited without the express written consent of Rick Castellini or administrators of HelpMeRick.com

How to download, install & configure AVG Free 9.0 – Video Tip

Rick — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:30:03 +0000

AVG released version 9 of their free antivirus/antispyware product a couple of weeks ago. You may have started to see notifications from them that you need to update before December 1. Typically, they provide a deadline, but previous versions work for a number of months after the deadline. After using the new version for awhile, it [...]

Password Mania

Rick — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:22:46 +0000

We are bringing this tip out of the archives because remembering passwords and having strong passwords is more important than ever with increased identity theft and the increased amount of business we conduct over the web.

I have accumulated nearly ninety user names and passwords for various email services, web sites, banking sites, etc. Without my password tracking software, I wouldn't be able to remember them all or, I would be using the same user name and password for every instance (an extremely dangerous practice). You can use software solutions to securely save passwords on your computer or Palm based handheld computer. For your computer, I recommend these packages for securely keeping track of your passwords (works much better than the sticky note method):

Protect Your Identity

Rick — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:18:34 +0000

Identity theft is becoming an enormous problem in the United States and worldwide. Identity theft involves the misuse of your personal information to fraudulently purchase goods, services or open accounts to purchase good and services.

According to a FTC report, identity theft cost victims, businesses and financial institutions $500 billion in 2003. The average victim spent more than 75 hours cleaning up their name and accounts at an average loss of more than $11,000.

Contrary to popular opinion, most identity theft results from stolen mail, stolen wallets or purses, trash rummaging or the victim falling prey to a scam, not online shopping. In fact online shopping with reputable dealers is safer, in many respects, than shopping in your own city. Of course, most retailers operate safe businesses and have reputable employees, but the ever increasing reality is that we must be careful with our personal information.

Why use free security software?

Rick — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:39:02 +0000

A customer asked me a question that I get asked quite often on our show and when I'm making my house or office visits. Why do you use free products versus the larger commercial pay products for keeping a computer secure?

My answer can be summed up in word; effectiveness. Time and time again, the products we currently recommend prove themselves 'in the field' as being thorough, effective, and unobtrusive programs. Unobtrusive is a big one for me these days as the 'leaders' in security software (Norton, McAfee, etc) bloat their software beyond recognition and slow down even the fastest, newest machines. Security software is extremely important and necessary in today's connected environment, but it also shouldn't slow down or inhibit a computer users ability to use the computer. I don't sacrifice effectiveness for cost either. All the products Adam and I recommend protect and clean admirably.

Massive E-Mail Phishing Attack Hits Web

Rick — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:44:31 +0000

Phishing refers to the act of trying to get your personal information in order to use or steal your identity. Phishing can happen with snail mail, email, text messaging, social networking, phone, and more. Today, I learned of a new threat aimed at web based email systems like Gmail, Yahoo email, MSN/HotMail, and others. You can [...]

Choosing a smart password, from the Gmail Blog

Rick — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:27:42 +0000

I’ve written many times about passwords and their importance in keeping you safe online. Search the site for passwords to read them and also take a look at this article from the Gmail Blog at Google. Official Gmail Blog: Choosing a smart password. Related posts:Password ManiaPassword Problem at TwitterGoogle Docs privacy leak

Microsoft’s Security Essentials

Rick — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:52:15 +0000

Microsoft released an updated and completely re-tooled version of their computer security product. It is now called Microsoft Security Essentials. I have not had a chance to try it out yet (wasn’t accepted into the beta testing this summer), but through my reading it is getting much better scores than their awful Live OneCare products [...]

System Engineer fed up with Windows vulnerabilities

Rick — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 05:03:03 +0000

Interesting article from a ZDNet author, Christopher Dawson, who also works full-time as a school district computer engineer. Despite locking down Windows computers with security software, tweaking firewalls, and making sure all Windows updates are up to snuff, threats still sneak into their computers. I understand the frustration he exhibits in the article regarding the [...]