Microsoft’s Security Essentials

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 they sold for a couple of years. Overall, it supposedly runs much faster than OneCare...

System Engineer fed up with Windows vulnerabilitie...

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 time and effort spent fighting these...

Should government have right to cut off Internet s...

Senate Bill 773 provides for protecting the country’s tech infrastructure by declaring a cybersecurity emergency. This emergency would authorize the government to shut down Internet access to key non-governmental computers and networks. If passed, the bill would create a whole new government agency that trains and certifies cyber-security professionals to help manage and carry out the rules set forth in this proposed...

How to change time of AVG scan schedule

If you install AVG and use all the default settings, you will find that the AVG wants to scan your computer every day at either 8:00am or 12:00pm (noon). Because the complete system scan can take up to an hour or more to complete (depending on the number of files on your computer), it can be extremely inconvenient to have the scan slow your computer down when you are trying to work on it. You can stop the scan if you need...

Cleaning and removing Antivirus 2009, PAV and othe...

Preventing your computer from becoming infected is infinitely easier and less stressful than cleaning up after an infection. Search my site for tons of information on setting up your computer for security and techniques to avoid scams. However, if you are already bit by one of the most recent nasty forms of software, Antivirus 2008, Antivirus 2009, Personal Antivirus, Internet Security 2009 among others (software I call...

Beware of fake security software

I write a similar article every few weeks not because I’m not creative, but because too many people aren’t listening yet. These past few weeks have been awful for folks getting fake security software on their computers. It often times gets on a computer as a result of other things you are trying to download or access including, but not limited to: Free screensavers Free wallpaper Free games Free security software...

Facebook security tip

One of Beth’s friends alerted us to this: Facebook has agreed to let third party advertisers use your posted pictures by default to your friends in their ads. .To changeNGS up at the top where you see the log out link. Select PRIVACY. Then select NEWS FEEDS AND WALL. Next select the tab that reads FACE BOOK ADS. There is a drop down box, select NO ONE. Then SAVE your changes. (REPOST to let your friends know!) One of...

Password Problem at Twitter

Once again, the main stream media sensationalizes a story by inserting scary prose. Yes, Twitter had an attack of their computers this week. Yes, sensitive documents were stolen.  But NO, this was not a major breach of Twitter user accounts. And No, this does not mean online accounts are inherently unsafe. I think Twitter founder, Biz Stone, summed up the situation best in this statement: “This attack had nothing to do...

The Castellini Approach to Internet Security

This past week I saw way too many people who are not taking advantage of the free information we give out on the show and the web site. Their computers were suffocating from a preventable disease…viruses and spyware. Yes, preventable, almost 100%. And fighting the war on our home computer security front does not have to be costly or time consuming. We talk about this subject quite a bit on the program and the web site...

Beware of this type of spam

Below is an example of an email spam (unwanted email) that is increasing in frequency. Overall, the email looks to be legit and normal. However, there are two parts of the email that you need to pay particular attention to: Who is it from? In the example below, I have no idea who Allison is. Red flag number 1. If you don’t recognize the name or the email address, be suspicious. Link in the email uses an URL (web...

Symantec Warns of Wireless Keyboard Security Threa...

This news story came through the wires today. As usual, the headline is much worse than the actual threat. Wireless keyboards have a range of maybe 15-20 feet (without barriers) at the very best. In order for this type of a security threat to occur, you would have to be using your wireless keyboard within that distance of someone you don’t know and is acting shady. How likely is that? NewsFactor Network | Symantec Warns...

2 laptop suggestions for college students

Millions of high schoolers will be graduating soon and will be leaving for their respective campuses (campii?) at the end of the summer. These students will more than likely go to college with a computer…probably a laptop. I would like to suggest two possible laptops ideas for these students. Both of my ideas involve good systems that will allow college kids to word process, chat, email, listen to music, watch...

Another plea for you to use Mozilla Firefox

Over the past six months, the spyware problems infiltrating both Windows XP and Vista has become almost mythical. Spyware is the junk that gets into your computer and slows it down, prevents antivirus software from doing its job, halts Windows updates, can disable your CDROM and/or USB drives, and much more. The vast majority of it turns out to be self-induced. By self-induced, I mean that the user willingly downloaded ring...

Portable Ubuntu lets you try out Ubuntu Linux

For a little over two years, I have been yammering on about Linux and Ubuntu. To get started using it, you need to either order a free Linux CD from the distribution of your choice or download a copy then learn how to burn a bootable CD from it. For many, this just isn’t going to happen. However, if you are extremely curious about Ubuntu and would try it if it was easier, Lifehacker just wrote an article about a new...

Conficker Worm April 1 Virus – Do NOT Panic

I wish I had about 1/100th the pull of a sensationalized TV news spot. News must be slow this past couple of weeks (or the news folks don’t want to report on real news) therefore many news stories, including 60 Minutes, have reported on the Conficker Worm slated to become active on April 1. The real story here is that this threat was discovered last Fall and if you keep your antivirus and antispyware up-to-date and you...