We all hear the word Cloud every now and then but I am sure many of us aren’t exactly very sure about The Cloud and Cloud Computing . So first of all, it is important to understand, what is the cloud? Cloud is just a metaphor for internet, when we say cloud, we are just referring to internet only and simply the services we use using internet – through our web browsers. Our current model: You own your PC, laptop, phone, netbook, etc. and...
Whether you're upgrading or repairing your computer, at some point in time you'll be faced with the task of reinstalling your operating system, especially in the Windows world. As I can personally attest, most of the frustration with starting fresh comes from losing your installed programs and customized settings with them. Sure, you can create tweaked installation discs to automate the process and have all your drivers, programs and settings already in place. The problem is...
Microsoft’s Kinect has been awarded The National Parenting Center’s 2011 Seal of Approval recommending it for age 6 and up. The National Parenting Center was founded in July of 1989 with the intention of providing the most comprehensive and responsible parenting advice to parents everywhere. Unless you live in a cave it is pretty hard to avoid the crush of media coverage for Microsoft’s newest baby, the Kinect for Xbox. Hype can be a blessing or a c...
Hi folks, I hope you’re enjoying the weekend. I just became aware of this and thought you should also although there’s no fix for it at present. XP and Vista appear to be vulnerable while Windows 7 does not. Microsoft Security Advisory (2490606) Vulnerability in Graphics Rendering Engine Could Allow Remote Code Execution Published: January 04, 2011 | Updated: January 05, 2011 Version: 1.1 General Information Executive Summary Microsoft i...
Microsoft has a huge line up of paid software (thanks, Captain Obvious), but it also has lots of high quality software that are available for free to use. Here is my list of top five must have free software from Microsoft. 1. Microsoft Security Essentials : It is a free security suite ( Genuine Windows validation required ) developed by Microsoft to protect your Windows based computer from viruses, spyware and other malicious software. It is available to download fro...
Just a quick warning! Microsoft is today warning users of fake security alerts arriving via email. Microsoft is reminding users that it never sends out security alerts with attachments via email and that you should never open such an email if it arrives in your inbox . Microsoft Email Security Updates are a Scam Cyber-criminals have been sending a so-called Microsoft updates that are actually viruses. This scam in particular takes advantage of Microsoft's well-established ...
“Gimme!” or, “Poof Goes My New Year's Savings Resolution”. I love the idea of tablets . I always have. Here's my Plan A (and I bet Lightstar 's too!) : The Asus Eee Slider: It's a smallish, thin, quickly accessible portable computer with (hopefully) a low performance overhead. One of my biggest gripes with tablets is the size of my thumbs. Well, more accurately the size of the software keyboard keys and how they relate to ...
Windows (ALL current editions) is vulnerable to a hack through it’s MIME HTML handling protocol. This vulnerability would allow malicious code to be run through Internet Explorer and through Opera . This is a variant of XSS (Cross Site Scripting). Firefox requires an add-on to read and write MHTML files. In it’s default configuration it is not vulnerable, Safari and Chrome are not either. Microsoft recommended that users lock down the MHTML protocol handler by runni...
This is a valuable tool to have from AVG, a trusted name in Security software. It sniffs out links with malware in them proactively before you navigate there. There are potential conflicts. While it's stated (see below) that Microsoft Security Essentials will conflict, on my computer it did not pose any problem at all. I think the conflict comes because of the toolbar. I did not install that. Furthermore, MSE updates flawlessly. During installation it offers to install an AVG Secu...
Microsoft Safety Brochure in a variety of formats Protecting your data and information has been the focus of several of my articles. I’ve recommended software, and various steps to take to do so. Microsoft has provided a really nice and easy to understand brochure with many links in it. It’s all of two ‘pages’ and steers clear of ‘jargon’. It's a really wothwhile read. Link to download the information: http://tinyurl.com/6zep7bv ...
This just in from The Windows Club : The full test reports can be found here . Source: http://www.thewindowsclub.com/bitdefender-tops-av-test-list-of-security-software-for-2010-q4#ixzz1CKb4CCyH
What could touch our hearts more than a child who’s ill? I’m sure we all have family and here, Uncle DisturbedComputer is “Family” to us all. I just read his post about his niece Brilee and thought we all could get together and sign our hopes and wishes for this beautiful little girl on a thread which her uncle could email or print and send her parents…. So please folks, add your hopes, well wishes and/or prayers for this little one to this thread. Doc says “Thank...
Recently I posted on Sticky Notes for Chrome browser . Well, good news! There’s a similar app for firefox. Internote allows you to create useful and private notes on webpages which will be there once you return. According to the extension download site, “With Internote, you can move, resize, recolor, minimize, import, export, print, delete your notes ... choose the pages where a note appears ... or manage them all at once.” So, is it secure? Yes, it is as you’r...
Norton’s put out a very powerful new tool for our armamentarium: Norton Power Eraser . It’s free, and you should probably have it onboard to be used only when all other methods of removing malware, viruses, root kits, trojans and other crimeware have failed. I installed it, and chose to scan for Rootkits as well, so it rebooted my system but gave ample time to save what I was working on (this article). The scan was very fast, and Power Eraser also presented a report ...
To an absolutely wonderful bunch of people without whom this site would not be what it is: “Home” away from home to us all. Today, 1/26/11 is being celebrated throughout Australia in commemoration of the landing of the first fleet in what is now Sydney Harbor (then Sydney Cove) not far from the base of the Sydney Harbor Bridge in 1788. starting a great endeavor which goes on to this day…. As an American, and a descendent of those who...