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7 Internet Security Tips to Save You Time & Money

I write about Internet security frequently because I see too many breaches of Internet security every single day. And by Internet security, I’m referring to keeping your computer free of spyware, fake security software and other annoying, time consuming, and expensive ailments that can strike your computer. THESE TYPES OF INFECTIONS ARE PREVENTABLE. First, I need to exempt Mac and… Read More »7 Internet Security Tips to Save You Time & Money

My business benefits from folks not reading my articles & tips

Since 1996, I made it my mission to share every bit of pertinent digital knowledge that I acquired with anyone willing to visit the site. It astounds me to this day how many computer users refuse to read and refuse to learn. Truly, 40-50% of the house and business calls I make every week would evaporate if the computer user had read my articles and tips on a regular basis and followed their advice. This is especially true regarding security problems computer users encounter.

One comment I receive constantly goes something like this, “I have looked at your site (or listened to you on the radio) and don’t understand any of it.”

One of my other missions was to not only make my information available, but also Read More »My business benefits from folks not reading my articles & tips

Thanks for my first million!

logo youtube On Sunday (1-10-10), my YouTube channel hit one million views! Sure, I wish it was my first million dollars, but it is my first million of anything.

In one of our sporadically held morning, brainstorming sessions,  Adam (co-host) mentioned that it might be a good idea to try and put some of the video tips I make on YouTube as a way to cross promote HelpMeRick.com and take the video load off of our hosting service. That morning was December 1, 2006. That evening, I created the Castellini on Computers YouTube channel (CastTV) and uploaded the first few tutorials.

Today, just over three years later, the channel now hasRead More »Thanks for my first million!

Computer Help Show Podcast – 11-18-09

Adam and I talked to a few listeners today, ranted a little about this negative article of Twitter in our local newspaper, gave some Christmas / holiday gift giving advice, and much more in this month’s radio show. Have a listen and remember to tune in live next month on December 16!

Microsoft’s Security Essentials

Security
photo credit: CarbonNYC

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 and protectsRead More »Microsoft’s Security Essentials

System Engineer fed up with Windows vulnerabilities

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… Read More »System Engineer fed up with Windows vulnerabilities

Barnes & Noble to Offer Free Wi-Fi

If you like working in coffee shops and book stores, you will be happy to know that soon, Barnes & Noble will offer free wi-fi in all their stores. They are hoping that it will encourage shoppers to buy more digital content for portable, digital readers. Complete story from CIO Today here: After Hours – Barnes & Noble Offers Free… Read More »Barnes & Noble to Offer Free Wi-Fi

Intel Helped Google with Chrome OS

This article seems to confirm a suspicion I had and wrote about upon Google’s initial announcement of the Chrome Operating System. Intel has been working with the Linux community for months developing a compelling operating system called Moblin. The Moblin project already uses the Chromium browser (Linux equivalent of Google Chrome) and seems like a natural starting spot for Google’s… Read More »Intel Helped Google with Chrome OS

3 Classes of Information Technology (IT) Users

swissarmyusbI left this note as a comment on a web site just now, but decided that it was good enough to be a post here at HelpMeRick.com.  IT is the fancy word for computer technology.

The more I read about and talk with people about computers, I see there are three distinct “classes” of computer users.

  1. Hard core IT – those that need every ounce of PC power for their jobs and/or personal life. They program, game, virtualize, and push the computer and OS to the limit and have no problem spending hours working out problems and tweaking the PC for their needs.
  2. Business IT – usually self-taught computer users who just want to get things done…use the computer as a tool. Sometimes tied to proprietary software, but mostly use word processing, spreadsheets (basic), email, Internet, and some digital photography.
  3. Home IT – Like the business class, use the essential functions of a computer, social networking and little else.

In my business (computer consultant/trainer), reading and travels, I find that Read More »3 Classes of Information Technology (IT) Users