The email — which also sometimes uses the subject line “Just For you” — contains a link to what appears to be a downloadable PDF document but is actually an executable (.exe) file in disguise.
If the link is clicked, the user is prompted to download the file, which installs malicious software onto the host computer.
After infecting the computer, the virus will try to spread the email to every address in the user’s contact list, while also attempting to disable the computer’s security systems. The virus then attempts to install password-stealing programs, according to McAfee’s Threat Centre.
On Thursday, “here you have virus email” was the second most-searched topic on Google, behind Marvin Sapp, a gospel singer who lost his wife to cancer.
Read more over @ The Star..."Here You Have" Virus hits US and Canada Companies Hard...
Friday, September 10, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
The Best Android Apps for Your Car
Having an Android along for your daily commute or occasional car trips can make the ride a lot easier, safer, and simply more fun. Here are our favorite Android apps to have on hand when it's time to hit the road.
Check out the best apps the Android platform has to offer that will make your driving experience much easier over @ LifeHacker...The Best Android Apps for Your Car
Check out the best apps the Android platform has to offer that will make your driving experience much easier over @ LifeHacker...The Best Android Apps for Your Car
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Free Calls On Gmail – Watch out Skype!
In case you missed all the hype; this week Google dropped a bombshell when it announced a new “call” feature on Gmail. Gmail users can now call phones around the world at low rates, For those making calls to the USA, it will be completely free. Indeed the guys at Skype wont have taken this news lightly:
Calls to the U.S. and Canada will be free for at least the rest of the year and calls to other countries will be billed at our very low rates. We worked hard to make these rates really cheap (seecomparison table) with calls to the U.K., France, Germany, China, Japan—and many more countries—for as little as $0.02 per minute.
Read more about it over @ Chrome OS Site...Free Calls on Gmail @ Chrome OS Site
Calls to the U.S. and Canada will be free for at least the rest of the year and calls to other countries will be billed at our very low rates. We worked hard to make these rates really cheap (seecomparison table) with calls to the U.K., France, Germany, China, Japan—and many more countries—for as little as $0.02 per minute.
Read more about it over @ Chrome OS Site...Free Calls on Gmail @ Chrome OS Site
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
How to Get the Best Color Out of Your Photos
Black and white has long been the default "artistic" style for photographs, so it can be easy to forget how compelling a color photograph can be. Here's an in-depth guide to help you get amazing color in your photos.
An Introduction to Color
We could talk for hours about the science of color and how it works, but that's only going to go so far in helping you with your photos, so we'll save it for another time. Instead, let's just have a quick chat about the color wheel and what we can do with it.
Read more about it over @ Lifehacker.com...How to Get the Best Color Out of Your Photos
An Introduction to Color
We could talk for hours about the science of color and how it works, but that's only going to go so far in helping you with your photos, so we'll save it for another time. Instead, let's just have a quick chat about the color wheel and what we can do with it.
Read more about it over @ Lifehacker.com...How to Get the Best Color Out of Your Photos
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Malware implicated in fatal Spanair plane crash
Authorities investigating the 2008 crash of Spanair flight 5022 have discovered a central computer system used to monitor technical problems in the aircraft was infected with malware.
An internal report issued by the airline revealed the infected computer failed to detect three technical problems with the aircraft, which if detected, may have prevented the plane from taking off, according to reports in the Spanish newspaper, El Pais.
Flight 5022 crashed just after takeoff from Madrid-Barajas International Airport two years ago today, killing 154 and leaving only 18 survivors.
Read more about it over @ MSNBC...Malware implicated in fatal plane crash
An internal report issued by the airline revealed the infected computer failed to detect three technical problems with the aircraft, which if detected, may have prevented the plane from taking off, according to reports in the Spanish newspaper, El Pais.
Flight 5022 crashed just after takeoff from Madrid-Barajas International Airport two years ago today, killing 154 and leaving only 18 survivors.
Read more about it over @ MSNBC...Malware implicated in fatal plane crash
Friday, August 20, 2010
Apple to use heartbeat/behavior/voice to detect unauthorized iPhone use?
Apple new patent application describes methods that may enable the iPhone and iPad to "sense" the user, detecting voice prints, faces, activity patterns and even heartbeats. If unauthorized use is detected, many security measures could be activated.
If the iOS device detects that the user is not authorized, it can start taking photos and sending them to an email account, along with GPS coordinates, keystroke logs, phone calls, and other activity. The owner would also be able to save any data remotely, and wipe out the device after that.
Read more over @ Gizmodo: Apple to use biometric techniques to detect unauthorized iPhone usage.
If the iOS device detects that the user is not authorized, it can start taking photos and sending them to an email account, along with GPS coordinates, keystroke logs, phone calls, and other activity. The owner would also be able to save any data remotely, and wipe out the device after that.
Read more over @ Gizmodo: Apple to use biometric techniques to detect unauthorized iPhone usage.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Intel Acquires McAfee For $7.68 Billion
Intel has agreed to acquire McAfee Inc. for approximately $7.68 billion ($48 per share in cash), the company announced today. The boards of directors of both companies have approved the deal, which is expected to close following shareholder approval and regulatory clearances.
It’s a huge deal for Intel, primarily a hardware company, to acquire a security-oriented software company, especially one as big as McAfee. However, Intel believes that security has become an integral part of computing, which makes it their business, too.
Read more about it over at Mashable...Intel Acquires McAfee for $7.68 billion!
It’s a huge deal for Intel, primarily a hardware company, to acquire a security-oriented software company, especially one as big as McAfee. However, Intel believes that security has become an integral part of computing, which makes it their business, too.
Read more about it over at Mashable...Intel Acquires McAfee for $7.68 billion!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Leaked Screens of Chrome OS Tablet reveal soon release
An unnamed source has confirmed to Download Squad that Google is indeed working on a Chrome OS tablet. According to the leak, Google has been working alongside HTC to produce the device for the last few months. This comes at no surprise as Google has previously worked closely with HTC on it’s Nexus One phone.
Read more over at the original article @ ChromeOS Site Chrome OS Tablet to hit stores in November
Read more over at the original article @ ChromeOS Site Chrome OS Tablet to hit stores in November
Friday, August 13, 2010
Upload Documents to Google Docs With One Click
Google Docs is a great solution for saving and sharing documents online, but browsing to the site every time is time consuming. Here we look at a Desktop Gadget that lets you upload files with a simple drag & drop.
Click Upload Documents to Google Docs with even more information and the how-to for application regarding this sweet gadget.
Click Upload Documents to Google Docs with even more information and the how-to for application regarding this sweet gadget.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Texting While Driving
Texting While Driving
It doesn't have to be 2 AM anymore to see drivers weaving from one side of the lane to the other. It is tough to make a trip anywhere without seeing someone behind the wheel talking or texting on a cell phone.
In September of 2008 a California train collision killed 25, and it was determined that the engineer had received a text one minute before the crash, most likely causing him to miss a crucial signal.
Alexandria Brown was texting while driving to school in Texas. When she lost control of her vehicle, she was thrown and killed immediately.
Another example
These are just a few of the ___ deaths attributed to texting and driving.
The US Department of Transportation has set guidelines prohibiting drivers of commercial vehicles from texting while driving. This applies to buses, delivery vehicles and long-haul trucks. Violators can be fined up to $2,750.
Florida legislators have nearly passed a bill to prohibit texting while driving. As of last week, 29 (?) other states have passed similar legislation. Most states have made it a secondary offense, requiring another offense in order to ticket for texting. There are efforts around the country to make this distraction a primary offense. Fines in Florida would range from ____ to ____.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institue's (VTTI) studies have documented that texting takes the driver's eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds texting. At 55 mph, the average texter travels the length of a football field including enzones without looking at the road ahead.
The NHTSA has stated that due to a driver's mental inattention to the road, even hands-free cell phone conversations are statistically as hazardous as drunk driving. A University of Utah driving simulator study confirmed that reaction times of cell phone users were worse than those of intoxicated drivers. Many refute this finding, arguing that when drivers keep their eyes on the road, the risk is minimized. The VTTI studies found that in an actual driving situations, cell phone conversations were not nearly as risky as texting. Even so, the risk when reaching for or dialing a cell phone has been calculated at 2.8 to nearly 7 times as high as attentive driving.
Car and Driver Magazine conducted a study on a closed course, testing the effects of drinking, texting and reading email on braking distance. Cars were equipped with a red light, mounted above the steering wheel. Drivers were instructed to come to a complete stop when the light came on. At ___ mph, normal stopping distance was _____ feet. Intoxicated drivers needed an additional 4 feet to stop. Drivers reading email averaged ___ additional feet. Texting drivers needed an additional 70 feet to come to a complete stop.
Apps: drivesafe.ly Vlingo (iPhone) testArrest (family and business monitoring and cell phone disabling) zoomsafer.com for Blackberry or Windows Mobile phones, purchase for $3 a month or $25 one time. different methods
Find more information at NSC.org, select Safety on the Road, then Distracted Driving. Distraction.gov is another good resource, and for teens visit DoSomething.org or ThumbWars.com.
http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/Distracted_Driving/Pages/distracted_driving.aspx
Key Research
Distracted driving includes what else?
Secondary offense, fine ____
If it becomes law, it will be in effect in late 2011
Passed in the House H41, Holder
Senate bill expected to pass, Nancy Detert
Legislation
US Secretary of Transportation has directed that drivers of commercial vehicles will be subject to penalties for texting while driving.
Texting takes the driver's eyes off the road for ____ seconds
how long to drive 100 yards at 55mph
car and driver magazine. Distance to stop when red light came on. Drunk driving added 4 feet, texting added 70 ft. cnbc.com Phil LeBeau
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces Federal Ban on Texting for Commercial Truck Drivers
U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced federal guidance to expressly prohibit texting by drivers of commercial vehicles such as large trucks and buses. The prohibition is effective immediately and is the latest in a series of actions taken by the Department to combat distracted driving since the Secretary convened a national summit on the issue last September.
“We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe,” said Secretary LaHood. “This is an important safety step and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving.”
The action is the result of the Department’s interpretation of standing rules. Truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.
"Our regulations will help prevent unsafe activity within the cab,” said Anne Ferro, Administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). “We want to make it crystal clear to operators and their employers that texting while driving is the type of unsafe activity that these regulations are intended to prohibit."
FMCSA research shows that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting. At 55 miles per hour, this means that the driver is traveling the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road. Drivers who text while driving are more than 20 times more likely to get in an accident than non-distracted drivers.
By friendlycomputers
It doesn't have to be 2 AM anymore to see drivers weaving from one side of the lane to the other. It is tough to make a trip anywhere without seeing someone behind the wheel talking or texting on a cell phone.
In September of 2008 a California train collision killed 25, and it was determined that the engineer had received a text one minute before the crash, most likely causing him to miss a crucial signal.
Alexandria Brown was texting while driving to school in Texas. When she lost control of her vehicle, she was thrown and killed immediately.
Another example
These are just a few of the ___ deaths attributed to texting and driving.
The US Department of Transportation has set guidelines prohibiting drivers of commercial vehicles from texting while driving. This applies to buses, delivery vehicles and long-haul trucks. Violators can be fined up to $2,750.
Florida legislators have nearly passed a bill to prohibit texting while driving. As of last week, 29 (?) other states have passed similar legislation. Most states have made it a secondary offense, requiring another offense in order to ticket for texting. There are efforts around the country to make this distraction a primary offense. Fines in Florida would range from ____ to ____.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institue's (VTTI) studies have documented that texting takes the driver's eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds texting. At 55 mph, the average texter travels the length of a football field including enzones without looking at the road ahead.
The NHTSA has stated that due to a driver's mental inattention to the road, even hands-free cell phone conversations are statistically as hazardous as drunk driving. A University of Utah driving simulator study confirmed that reaction times of cell phone users were worse than those of intoxicated drivers. Many refute this finding, arguing that when drivers keep their eyes on the road, the risk is minimized. The VTTI studies found that in an actual driving situations, cell phone conversations were not nearly as risky as texting. Even so, the risk when reaching for or dialing a cell phone has been calculated at 2.8 to nearly 7 times as high as attentive driving.
Car and Driver Magazine conducted a study on a closed course, testing the effects of drinking, texting and reading email on braking distance. Cars were equipped with a red light, mounted above the steering wheel. Drivers were instructed to come to a complete stop when the light came on. At ___ mph, normal stopping distance was _____ feet. Intoxicated drivers needed an additional 4 feet to stop. Drivers reading email averaged ___ additional feet. Texting drivers needed an additional 70 feet to come to a complete stop.
Apps: drivesafe.ly Vlingo (iPhone) testArrest (family and business monitoring and cell phone disabling) zoomsafer.com for Blackberry or Windows Mobile phones, purchase for $3 a month or $25 one time. different methods
Find more information at NSC.org, select Safety on the Road, then Distracted Driving. Distraction.gov is another good resource, and for teens visit DoSomething.org or ThumbWars.com.
http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/Distracted_Driving/Pages/distracted_driving.aspx
Key Research
Distracted driving includes what else?
Secondary offense, fine ____
If it becomes law, it will be in effect in late 2011
Passed in the House H41, Holder
Senate bill expected to pass, Nancy Detert
Legislation
US Secretary of Transportation has directed that drivers of commercial vehicles will be subject to penalties for texting while driving.
Texting takes the driver's eyes off the road for ____ seconds
how long to drive 100 yards at 55mph
car and driver magazine. Distance to stop when red light came on. Drunk driving added 4 feet, texting added 70 ft. cnbc.com Phil LeBeau
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces Federal Ban on Texting for Commercial Truck Drivers
U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced federal guidance to expressly prohibit texting by drivers of commercial vehicles such as large trucks and buses. The prohibition is effective immediately and is the latest in a series of actions taken by the Department to combat distracted driving since the Secretary convened a national summit on the issue last September.
“We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe,” said Secretary LaHood. “This is an important safety step and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving.”
The action is the result of the Department’s interpretation of standing rules. Truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.
"Our regulations will help prevent unsafe activity within the cab,” said Anne Ferro, Administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). “We want to make it crystal clear to operators and their employers that texting while driving is the type of unsafe activity that these regulations are intended to prohibit."
FMCSA research shows that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting. At 55 miles per hour, this means that the driver is traveling the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road. Drivers who text while driving are more than 20 times more likely to get in an accident than non-distracted drivers.
By friendlycomputers
Friday, June 18, 2010
Monitor your Hard Drive’s Health with Acronis Drive Monitor
Are you worried that your computer’s hard drive could die without any warning? Here’s how you can keep tabs on it and get the first warning signs of potential problems before you actually lose your critical data.
Hard drive failures are one of the most common ways people lose important data from their computers. As more of our memories and important documents are stored digitally, a hard drive failure can mean the loss of years of work. Acronis Drive Monitor helps you avert these disasters by warning you at the first signs your hard drive may be having trouble. It monitors many indicators, including heat, read/write errors, total lifespan, and more. It then notifies you via a taskbar popup or email that problems have been detected. This early warning lets you know ahead of time that you may need to purchase a new hard drive and migrate your data before it’s too late.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Hard drive failures are one of the most common ways people lose important data from their computers. As more of our memories and important documents are stored digitally, a hard drive failure can mean the loss of years of work. Acronis Drive Monitor helps you avert these disasters by warning you at the first signs your hard drive may be having trouble. It monitors many indicators, including heat, read/write errors, total lifespan, and more. It then notifies you via a taskbar popup or email that problems have been detected. This early warning lets you know ahead of time that you may need to purchase a new hard drive and migrate your data before it’s too late.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Saturday, June 12, 2010
How does Office web apps compare to Google Docs
Microsoft rolled out its free Office Web Apps earlier this week, introducing a free, basic Office suite for the web. How does it compare to Google's own Docs offering? Here's a rundown of each webapp's strengths and weaknesses.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
How to Keep Track of Your Cellphone Data Usage
Just as many smartphones added tethering support and enough great features that we wanted to use the hell out of our data plans, many carriers are moving to metered plans. Here's how to keep monitor on your usage and avoid overage fees.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Friday, June 4, 2010
How Does Spyware, Malware or Crapware Get on My Computer?
Have you ever wondered how malware, spyware, scareware, crapware, or other undesirable software might get on a computer? First we’ll illustrate how easily your system can be infected, and then we’ll show you how to clean it up.
Our example system, running Windows 7, was set up from a worst case scenario point of view: Someone who was only interested in quickly getting to all the “fun stuff” on the internet with absolutely no concern for personal or computer security.
Read Full Article Here
By friendlycomputers
Our example system, running Windows 7, was set up from a worst case scenario point of view: Someone who was only interested in quickly getting to all the “fun stuff” on the internet with absolutely no concern for personal or computer security.
Read Full Article Here
By friendlycomputers
Friday, May 28, 2010
Create a Shortcut to Put Your Windows Computer into Hibernation
Putting your Windows computer into Hibernation Mode allows you to save power, and quickly access your desktop again when you need it. Here we show how to create a shortcut to put your PC in Hibernation Mode quickly.
Note: Here we show how to create the shortcut in Windows 7 and add it to the Taskbar. But creating the shortcut should work in XP and Vista as well.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Note: Here we show how to create the shortcut in Windows 7 and add it to the Taskbar. But creating the shortcut should work in XP and Vista as well.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Zen and the Art of File and Folder Organization
Is your desktop a paragon of neatness, or is it overflowing with so many icons that you’re scared to look at it? If you’ve been putting off getting organized because the task is too huge or daunting, or you don’t know where to start, we’ve got 40 tips to get you on the path to zen mastery of your digital filing system.
For all those readers who would like to get their files and folders organized, or, if they’re already organized, better organized—we have compiled a complete guide to getting organized and staying organized, a comprehensive article that will hopefully cover every possible tip you could want.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE
By friendlycomputers
For all those readers who would like to get their files and folders organized, or, if they’re already organized, better organized—we have compiled a complete guide to getting organized and staying organized, a comprehensive article that will hopefully cover every possible tip you could want.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE
By friendlycomputers
Friday, May 7, 2010
Threadsy Combines All Your Inboxes and Social Streams on One Page
Threadsy wants to be a situation room for everything you check online—email, Twitter, Facebook, and chat services. You don't just view them, however—Threadsy lets you archive, reply, delete, and otherwise control your web life from one big page.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE
By friendlycomputers
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE
By friendlycomputers
Friday, April 30, 2010
Monitor the Weather from Your Windows 7 Taskbar
Keeping up with the weather forecast can be hard when you are extra busy with work. If you need a simple but nice looking way to integrate weather monitoring into your Taskbar then join us as we look at WeatherBar.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
McAfee to compensate home users for bad update
McAfee is promising to reimburse home customers hit by last Wednesday's faulty virus update, which hosed tens of thousands of computers.
Facing complaints and questions from people whose PCs crashed or kept rebooting as a result of the buggy update, McAfee formally apologized in an official blog last Friday. But now the company has gone a step further.
McAfee is committing to reimburse home and home office customers for any money they spent to fix their PCs as a result of the problem. Details are sketchy now, but the company is hoping people will sit tight for a few more days until more information is available.
"If you have already incurred costs to repair your PC as a result of this issue, we're committed to reimbursing reasonable expenses," promised McAfee in a special announcement for home and home office users. "Steps to process your reimbursement request will be posted in the next few days. Please check back here in a few days."
And for loyal customers whose PCs were impacted but plan to stick with McAfee, the company has promised to extend their antivirus subscriptions for another two years free of charge.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Facing complaints and questions from people whose PCs crashed or kept rebooting as a result of the buggy update, McAfee formally apologized in an official blog last Friday. But now the company has gone a step further.
McAfee is committing to reimburse home and home office customers for any money they spent to fix their PCs as a result of the problem. Details are sketchy now, but the company is hoping people will sit tight for a few more days until more information is available.
"If you have already incurred costs to repair your PC as a result of this issue, we're committed to reimbursing reasonable expenses," promised McAfee in a special announcement for home and home office users. "Steps to process your reimbursement request will be posted in the next few days. Please check back here in a few days."
And for loyal customers whose PCs were impacted but plan to stick with McAfee, the company has promised to extend their antivirus subscriptions for another two years free of charge.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Ultimate Guide to Windows 7 Security
Windows 7 has been warmly received and swiftly adopted by businesses, with the result that many IT admins are now struggling with the platform's new security features. In addition to changes to User Account Control, BitLocker, and other features inherited from Windows Vista, Windows 7 introduces a slew of security capabilities that businesses will want to take advantage of.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Monday, April 19, 2010
How to Upgrade Your Netbook to Windows 7 Home Premium
Would you like more features and flash in Windows on your netbook? Here’s how you can easily upgrade your netbook to Windows 7 Home Premium the easy way.
Most new netbooks today ship with Windows 7 Starter, which is the cheapest edition of Windows 7. It is fine for many computing tasks, and will run all your favorite programs great, but it lacks many customization, multimedia, and business features found in higher editions. Here we’ll show you how you can quickly upgrade your netbook to more full-featured edition of Windows 7 using Windows Anytime Upgrade. Also, if you want to upgrade your laptop or desktop to another edition of Windows 7, say Professional, you can follow these same steps to upgrade it, too.
Please note: This is only for computers already running Windows 7. If your netbook is running XP or Vista, you will have to run a traditional upgrade to install Windows 7.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Most new netbooks today ship with Windows 7 Starter, which is the cheapest edition of Windows 7. It is fine for many computing tasks, and will run all your favorite programs great, but it lacks many customization, multimedia, and business features found in higher editions. Here we’ll show you how you can quickly upgrade your netbook to more full-featured edition of Windows 7 using Windows Anytime Upgrade. Also, if you want to upgrade your laptop or desktop to another edition of Windows 7, say Professional, you can follow these same steps to upgrade it, too.
Please note: This is only for computers already running Windows 7. If your netbook is running XP or Vista, you will have to run a traditional upgrade to install Windows 7.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Experience the iPad UI On Your PC
Want to test drive iPad without heading over to an Apple store? Here’s a way you can experience some of the iPad UI straight from your browser!
The iPad is the latest gadget from Apple to wow the tech world, and people even waited in line all night to be one of the first to get their hands on one. Thanks to a simple JavaScript trick, however, you can get a feel for some of its new features without leaving your computer. This won’t let you try out everything on the iPad, but it will let you see how the new lists and pop-over menus work just like they do in the new apps.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
The iPad is the latest gadget from Apple to wow the tech world, and people even waited in line all night to be one of the first to get their hands on one. Thanks to a simple JavaScript trick, however, you can get a feel for some of its new features without leaving your computer. This won’t let you try out everything on the iPad, but it will let you see how the new lists and pop-over menus work just like they do in the new apps.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Monday, April 12, 2010
How to Analyze, Clean Out, and Free Space on Your Hard Drive
Hard drive space is cheaper than ever, but as Parkinson's Law dictates, your data (and, let's face it, BitTorrent addiction) somehow expands to fill your space available for storage. Here's a few simple but effective ways to clean out your hard drive.
Whether you're looking to free up gigabytes worth of hard drive space or you just want to clear out the extra cruft because you're serious about a clean hard drive, we'll highlight how to find and remove the biggest space hogging files on your drive, remove unnecessary files hiding deep in your filesystem, and offer a few tips for keeping things clean. The main focus of this guide is on Windows, but I'll offer up Mac alternatives where available. (Mac users, you may also want to check out our previous guide to cleaning up and reviving your bloated, sluggish Mac.)
Read full article here
By friendlycomputers
Whether you're looking to free up gigabytes worth of hard drive space or you just want to clear out the extra cruft because you're serious about a clean hard drive, we'll highlight how to find and remove the biggest space hogging files on your drive, remove unnecessary files hiding deep in your filesystem, and offer a few tips for keeping things clean. The main focus of this guide is on Windows, but I'll offer up Mac alternatives where available. (Mac users, you may also want to check out our previous guide to cleaning up and reviving your bloated, sluggish Mac.)
Read full article here
By friendlycomputers
Friday, April 9, 2010
The right font can save you money
Hit by the high prices of inkjet and toner cartridges, we're all looking for ways to shave some bucks off the cost of printing. New data from Printer.com found that because different fonts use different amounts of ink to print, using the right font could save you as much as 31 percent off your inkjet and toner cartridge expenses.
Printer.com, a Dutch company that compares printers and their costs, recently put its theory to the test. The company set up two printers--a Canon inkjet and a Brother laser printer--to see how much money could be saved by using different fonts. Both printers were left at their default settings of 600x600 dots per inch.
Read more here
By friendlycomputers
Printer.com, a Dutch company that compares printers and their costs, recently put its theory to the test. The company set up two printers--a Canon inkjet and a Brother laser printer--to see how much money could be saved by using different fonts. Both printers were left at their default settings of 600x600 dots per inch.
Read more here
By friendlycomputers
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
10 Essential iPad Tips & Tricks
Any idiot can use an iPad at a basic level. It's designed that way. But even still, there are things that you're just supposed to magically know—things no one ever necessarily tells you. So we're here to help.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Friday, March 26, 2010
Long Live Your Laptop Battery!
Laptop batteries are like people--eventually and inevitably, they die. And like people, they don't obey Moore's Law--You can't expect next year's batteries to last twice as long as this year's. Battery technology may improve a bit over time (after all, there's plenty of financial incentive for better batteries), but, while interesting possibilities may pop up, don't expect major battery breakthroughs in the near future.
Although your battery will eventually die, proper care can put off the inevitable. Here's how to keep your laptop battery working for as long as possible. With luck, it could last until you need to replace that aging notebook (perhaps with a laptop having a longer battery life).
I've also included a few tips on keeping the battery going longer between charges, so you can work longer without AC power.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Although your battery will eventually die, proper care can put off the inevitable. Here's how to keep your laptop battery working for as long as possible. With luck, it could last until you need to replace that aging notebook (perhaps with a laptop having a longer battery life).
I've also included a few tips on keeping the battery going longer between charges, so you can work longer without AC power.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Bit Defender Causes Problems with 64bit Windows
A buggy update to BitDefender security software for 64-bit Windows systems went horribly awry Friday morning, 3/20. Numerous Windows and BitDefender program files are detected as "Trojan.FakeAlert.5" and quarantined. After this happens Windows and many programs don't work and the system may not even boot.
Update: BitDefender tells us "only a few hundred" customers were hit really hard and they're working with them. They expect to have all their customers back on their feet by tomorrow. They ask customers to continue to monitor the support articles linked to in this entry as they are being updated with new solutions as they develop. Incidentally, the one user who reported severe problems to us is back up and running with the help of BitDefender support and speaks highly of them.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Update: BitDefender tells us "only a few hundred" customers were hit really hard and they're working with them. They expect to have all their customers back on their feet by tomorrow. They ask customers to continue to monitor the support articles linked to in this entry as they are being updated with new solutions as they develop. Incidentally, the one user who reported severe problems to us is back up and running with the help of BitDefender support and speaks highly of them.
Read the full article here
By friendlycomputers
Monday, March 22, 2010
Friendly Computers Webster found an article about online photo sharing
Image hosting is the kind of service many people use for sharing their images. There are several great options that cost money—like SmugMug, for instance—but unless you're a major shutterbug, a free service might fit your modest needs and usage pattern better. Here we round up three of the top options for free image hosting around the Web—Flickr, Picasa, and Photobucket.
READ MORE HERE
By friendlycomputers
READ MORE HERE
By friendlycomputers
Extend the Life of Your Computer by Friendly Computers Webster Texas
Make it Better and Faster
by Marlene Jones
Friendly Computers
Webster, TX
In today’s world, many misconceptions develop for no good reason. One that is shared by many is that everyone needs a new computer every two or three years. If you are running calculation-intense applications like engineering simulations, replacing equipment frequently can make economic sense. Most of us use computers for comparatively simple things like running Microsoft Office applications, using email and accessing the Internet. In those cases, frequent replacement can be a waste of money. Life expectancy of well-maintained computers is typically between four and five years froma hardware perspective. The key phrase is, “well-maintained.”
SIMPLE SOLUTIONS
Simple things can extend the life of your equipment like leaving it running all the time rather than turning it on and off as it is used. The main circuit board of the computer (motherboard) expands and contracts each time the computer is power cycled. This continuous power cycling of the equipment can cause circuits to fail.
Overheating can cause serious damage to computers. Fans are installed to pull air into and out of the computer casing to remove heat. Over time, dust and dirt accumulates inside the computer clogging the components designed to facilitate heat removal. At least once a year, systems should be cleaned. This simple “tune up” can significantly extend the life of your computer and is far less expensive than a new machine.
Many computers are needlessly replaced with new ones because they are perceived as being too slow. The decrease in speed occurs over time so the user forgets how its current performance compares to the way it ran when it was new. As we visit websites, various components like toolbars are added to the computer and many times the additional items aren’t even used by the computer user. Temporary files are created on the computer consuming disk space and serving no good purpose. Spyware and Adware also accumulate over time decreasing computer performance. Components of programs installed by the owner are placed in the startup group causing the computer to take a long time to boot. All software suppliers want you to be happy with their product so they cause part of their programs to start when your computer boots. This makes the program appear to start quickly when needed. Removing these items from the startup group can make applications start slower, but depending on how often the program is used, it may not matter. All of these items make the computer run slow. A general software “tune up” can significantly enhance the computer’s performance.
The memory or RAM (Random Access Memory) that computers use when running programs was very expensive until recently so most new computers were equipped with a the minimum required for reasonable performance. RAM is inexpensive now and adding memory does more to increase computer performance than anything available from a dollars spent perspective.
In summary, there are several things that can be done to increase the life expectancy and performance of your current computer that are relatively inexpensive. Depending on your situation, one or all of the following could be helpful and save money in the long run:
• Clean the inside of the computer
• Software Housecleaning
• Run anti-spyware and anti-virus programs to remove threats
• Add additional memory (RAM) to your system
By Friendly Computers at 2010-01-28
by Marlene Jones
Friendly Computers
Webster, TX
In today’s world, many misconceptions develop for no good reason. One that is shared by many is that everyone needs a new computer every two or three years. If you are running calculation-intense applications like engineering simulations, replacing equipment frequently can make economic sense. Most of us use computers for comparatively simple things like running Microsoft Office applications, using email and accessing the Internet. In those cases, frequent replacement can be a waste of money. Life expectancy of well-maintained computers is typically between four and five years froma hardware perspective. The key phrase is, “well-maintained.”
SIMPLE SOLUTIONS
Simple things can extend the life of your equipment like leaving it running all the time rather than turning it on and off as it is used. The main circuit board of the computer (motherboard) expands and contracts each time the computer is power cycled. This continuous power cycling of the equipment can cause circuits to fail.
Overheating can cause serious damage to computers. Fans are installed to pull air into and out of the computer casing to remove heat. Over time, dust and dirt accumulates inside the computer clogging the components designed to facilitate heat removal. At least once a year, systems should be cleaned. This simple “tune up” can significantly extend the life of your computer and is far less expensive than a new machine.
Many computers are needlessly replaced with new ones because they are perceived as being too slow. The decrease in speed occurs over time so the user forgets how its current performance compares to the way it ran when it was new. As we visit websites, various components like toolbars are added to the computer and many times the additional items aren’t even used by the computer user. Temporary files are created on the computer consuming disk space and serving no good purpose. Spyware and Adware also accumulate over time decreasing computer performance. Components of programs installed by the owner are placed in the startup group causing the computer to take a long time to boot. All software suppliers want you to be happy with their product so they cause part of their programs to start when your computer boots. This makes the program appear to start quickly when needed. Removing these items from the startup group can make applications start slower, but depending on how often the program is used, it may not matter. All of these items make the computer run slow. A general software “tune up” can significantly enhance the computer’s performance.
The memory or RAM (Random Access Memory) that computers use when running programs was very expensive until recently so most new computers were equipped with a the minimum required for reasonable performance. RAM is inexpensive now and adding memory does more to increase computer performance than anything available from a dollars spent perspective.
In summary, there are several things that can be done to increase the life expectancy and performance of your current computer that are relatively inexpensive. Depending on your situation, one or all of the following could be helpful and save money in the long run:
• Clean the inside of the computer
• Software Housecleaning
• Run anti-spyware and anti-virus programs to remove threats
• Add additional memory (RAM) to your system
By Friendly Computers at 2010-01-28
Friday, March 19, 2010
Friendly Computers Data Security and Back Up Clear Lake TX League City
By Marlene Jones - Friendly Computers
Take a moment to think about the value of the data stored on your computer systems in your home or office. How much is your customer database work to you? How about those family photos? Can you put a price on this data?
There are several ways to ensure data security. Two main ways to ensure that your data is secure is to have adequate virus protection and to have a back up plan in place for all critical data. This becomes exceptionally important if you have your data stored on only one computer in your home or office. Hard drive failures are common. Just like anything with moving parts, hard drives begin to fail over time from routine use.
With virus protection, it is not enough o just have it on your system. It must be installed and configured properly; it must be updated regularly; and it has to run routinely to determine if there are threats on your computer. At Friendly Computers in Webster, TX, we recommend AVG for virus protection.
Multiple options exist for backing up the data stored on your computer system. Some systems come with two hard drives and the user can set up options to back up data from one hard drive to the other. Using an external hard drive is another options. These drives are easy to attach to our systems, easy to configure, and portable. Jump drives, sometimes known as flash drives or thumb drives, are another option. These compact hard drives plug into your USB port and allow you to not only back up data, but also allow you to quickly and easily move data from one system to another. If your system has a CD or DVD burner installed, data can be stored on this medium as well. And finally, there are many options for online/remote back up services like Carbonite (http://www.carbonite.com/). If you currently have back up options in place, it is important to check it periodically to ensure that it is configured properly and actually backing up the data regularly.
When you are thinking about data security, remember wireless security. The majority of wireless connections are unsecured. With a simple configuration setting, wireless connections can be password protected. Without this protection, others can connect to your wireless service. A typical installation of a wireless network does not necessarily include securing that connection and it is possible to access sensitive information on your computer systems through a wireless connection.
Living in an area like South Houston, close to the Gulf Coast, we experience hurricanes, flooding, and widespread power outages. It is important to put a back up plan in place to ensure that you do not lose those precious family photos or that priceless customer database. many of the options for data security and back up are inexpensive and easy to use. Put a plan in place today.
Have questions about your back up plan? Give Friendly Computers a call. We would be happy to evaluate your plan, ensure that you have adequate virus protection, and check the security of your wireless connections. 281-554-5500.
By friendlycomputers at 2010-01-28
Take a moment to think about the value of the data stored on your computer systems in your home or office. How much is your customer database work to you? How about those family photos? Can you put a price on this data?
There are several ways to ensure data security. Two main ways to ensure that your data is secure is to have adequate virus protection and to have a back up plan in place for all critical data. This becomes exceptionally important if you have your data stored on only one computer in your home or office. Hard drive failures are common. Just like anything with moving parts, hard drives begin to fail over time from routine use.
With virus protection, it is not enough o just have it on your system. It must be installed and configured properly; it must be updated regularly; and it has to run routinely to determine if there are threats on your computer. At Friendly Computers in Webster, TX, we recommend AVG for virus protection.
Multiple options exist for backing up the data stored on your computer system. Some systems come with two hard drives and the user can set up options to back up data from one hard drive to the other. Using an external hard drive is another options. These drives are easy to attach to our systems, easy to configure, and portable. Jump drives, sometimes known as flash drives or thumb drives, are another option. These compact hard drives plug into your USB port and allow you to not only back up data, but also allow you to quickly and easily move data from one system to another. If your system has a CD or DVD burner installed, data can be stored on this medium as well. And finally, there are many options for online/remote back up services like Carbonite (http://www.carbonite.com/). If you currently have back up options in place, it is important to check it periodically to ensure that it is configured properly and actually backing up the data regularly.
When you are thinking about data security, remember wireless security. The majority of wireless connections are unsecured. With a simple configuration setting, wireless connections can be password protected. Without this protection, others can connect to your wireless service. A typical installation of a wireless network does not necessarily include securing that connection and it is possible to access sensitive information on your computer systems through a wireless connection.
Living in an area like South Houston, close to the Gulf Coast, we experience hurricanes, flooding, and widespread power outages. It is important to put a back up plan in place to ensure that you do not lose those precious family photos or that priceless customer database. many of the options for data security and back up are inexpensive and easy to use. Put a plan in place today.
Have questions about your back up plan? Give Friendly Computers a call. We would be happy to evaluate your plan, ensure that you have adequate virus protection, and check the security of your wireless connections. 281-554-5500.
By friendlycomputers at 2010-01-28
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