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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 full power from your computer by RIGHT clicking the AVG scan icon by your clock, then click Stop All Scans or you can change the schedule to a more convenient time. Here’s how to change the schedule of the AVG daily scanRead More »How to change time of AVG scan schedule

Wikipedia to start reviewing article changes

600px-Wikipedia-logo.svgWikipedia started in 2001 as an online encyclopedia that anyone can edit. It drew a lot of attention then for its ambitious goal of gathering all information in the world and making it searchable and accessible. Today, it continues to draw millions of visitors per month and boasts more than 3 million articles, 75,000 contributors and has articles in 260 languages.

This week, Wikipedia made the news by making some changes to their article editing process. It used to be all one had to do was to create an account on the site and you could then make edits to any article that you had information to contribute. There has always been oversite and editing, but starting soon, manyRead More »Wikipedia to start reviewing article changes

Rick Answers his Email Videocast -055

This week’s questions from Kim, Walter, Charles, Gene, Frank, Robert, Jon, Theresa, Bonnie, Terry, Debbie and Kay covered some interesting Linux/Ubuntu related topics, downloading CCleaner, speaker interference, inserting photos into email, Apple update questions and more. Have a look and a listen!

Cleaning and removing Antivirus 2009, PAV and others from your computer,

Cleaning
Photo by Jim Grandy

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 extortionware that installs itself on your computer and then poses asRead More »Cleaning and removing Antivirus 2009, PAV and others from your computer,

Beware of fake security software

Shell Game
photo credit: elmada

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 (there are great products available, but make sure you know what you are getting and where you are getting it from).
  • Online credit checks
  • Online gambling
  • Online porn
  • Free music downloads
  • Free movie downloads

What happens is the bad guys have figured out how to take advantage of what is popular at any given time. As you install the programs listed above or access the services listed, you agree to put the junk on your system and it then stealthy slips by any existing security software you do have. If you follow a few simple rules, Read More »Beware of fake security software

Email of the Week – 015

Morning View
photo credit: bitzcelt

QUESTION

Name:  Grac

From:   Pittsburgh

OS:      Windows Vista

———————-
The computer has been shutting down and comes back with the Windows Error Recovery (black screen with print) with the choices of starting normally or in Safe Mode. One time after this I got message saying there was a display error (Error Code 0X00000001)which had recovered successfully. No problems for 3 days, then again it would shut off on it’s own or freeze and need to be restarted. Yesterday the following message came up after this: Display driver NVLddMKM stopped responding and has successfully recovered.
Can you help us with this?

ANSWER

Thanks for writing. Your question presents a great opportunity to not only help you, but demonstrate how other folks can handle a similar problem.

First, we need to define what a driver is. Drivers are Read More »Email of the Week – 015

Email of the Week – 014

Mailbox
photo credit: mrjoro

QUESTION

Name: Eve

From: Cedaredfe

OS: Windows XP

———————-

I downloaded the Ccleaner and ended up with the Yahoo tool bar. How do I get rid of it. Thanks

ANSWER

Hello Eve. I will answer your question in a minute, but first, let me talk about prevention. As always, prevention is the best medicine. During the setup of CCleaner, there is an option to NOT install the Yahoo Toolbar (see image below).

This lesson applies to almost any software we install. Take just a few seconds to look Read More »Email of the Week – 014

Should you pay for AVG?

NOTE: This is an older article, please see my latest Computer Security recommendations here. Over the past few weeks, AVG has been a little more agressive in their attempt to get folks to convert to their paid product by showing advertising screens every 2-4 days that ask to upgrade your security. It is completely your perogative to upgrade if you… Read More »Should you pay for AVG?