Your Home Computer Guide

In celebration of their 15th anniversary, Check Point Software will be giving away their ZoneAlarm Pro software for free!

This offer is only good for 24 hours starting at 6 AM PDT on Tuesday November 18th, 2008.

ZoneAlarm is excellent security software that includes a firewall plus identity theft and spyware protection. Normally they charge $39.95 for this software which includes one year of updates. 

Be sure to click here on Tuesday to get your free copy of ZoneAlarm Pro.

Thank you Check Point Software!

-Bert

A while back I posted about internet scammers  sending email viruses and trying to get your personal information while posing as fortune 500 companies like UPS and Northwest Airlines.

They’re at it again, but this time posing as the Better Business Bureau. They spoof the email address so it looks like the email is really coming from the Better Business Bureau.

Follow these three steps so you don’t fall prey to online email scammers:

1. Install antivirus software that checks your email if you use an email client like Microsoft Outlook. A very good free antivirus program that does this is AVG. Most of the major web based email portals like Gmail and Yahoo mail have antivirus software on their server that checks attachments.

2. Delete email from anyone you don’t know or the subject line seems strange. Don’t even open these email message.

3. Even if an email message appears to come from someone you know or a business be skeptical of it and don’t click any links or open any attachments unless you’re absolutely sure it’s legitimate. Even then, you’d be better off calling them then taking the chance.

-Bert

This weekend we had a house full of children for our 10 year old daughter’s birthday. When they asked to use her computer I was thankful we use an internet filter and didn’t have to hesitate to let them use it.

Anyone who’s ever surfed the web knows how easy it is to stumble upon inappropriate content. Parents have an obligation to protect their children inside and outside of the home.

Thankfully, there are some great applications parents can turn to for help. My favorite, if you have younger children, is K-9. It’s best for younger children because it’s free and doesn’t have all the options that pay programs do. That being said, K-9 is still an excellent internet filter that we’ve been using and promoting for the past couple years.

With K-9 you have 6 different levels of protection and 60 different categories that you can choose to block or not. You can also limit what times the computer can access the internet. You’ll also be able to view the internet surfing history broken down by categories to see what sites your children are visiting.

Blue Coat recently released a new Beta version that runs on Mac’s as well as Windows, it works in more browsers, and more search engines. I highly recommend K-9 and created a video to help parents install and set-up the program.

For older children I’d recommend Net Nanny, CyberPatrol, or Safe Eyes. They’ll run you $40-50 per year but all of them provide great protection and have more options than K-9. CyberPatrol gives you the most options, Safe Eyes is best if you want to install it on more than one computer, and Net Nanny is the easiest of the three for parents to use. Net Nanny also beat its competitors in reviews by a slight margin.

All three of these programs have different features so I’d recommend that you view each of their websites and purchase the one that best meets your needs.

It should be said that no internet filter is perfect and there are ways around internet filters. It’s a well known fact that kids in schools and libraries use proxy avoidance to get around the filters. If you, as a parent, have any inclination that your child is using their computer inappropriately you have two choices. Either you can put the computer in a public place in the house and/or take it away altogether for a period of time. Don’t worry, it is possible for them to live without it..

If you have children that use the internet in your house, an internet filter is essential. Get one today!

-Bert

There are so many different kinds of viruses, trojans, spyware, and adware they’re often all lumped together and just referred to as as malware (malicious software). By the end of 2009 experts predict that there will over a million malware programs trying to disrupt your computing experience and steal your personal information. 

The sad reality is that most people don’t use effective virus protection or follow my 11 steps to protect their computers from viruses and other malware.  Not only are most computers at risk but, until someone’s computer actually gets infected by malware, they don’t even think about it.

If you’re one of those people one day you’ll probably experience one or more of the following signs and symptoms of computer malware:

1. Lots of annoying pop-up advertisements.

2. Dialog boxes popping up telling you that you have a virus or other problems. 

3. New toolbars on your internet browser.

4. Your internet Home Page has changed.

5. New Favorites in your browser that you didn’t put there.

6. Your computer has slowed down or even crashes and restarts on its own.

7. Programs not working or files not opening.

If you ever get a pop-up window telling you that your computer has a virus or registry problem and telling you to buy some program to fix the problem, DON’T! 99% of these are viruses, trojans and adware just trying to sell you software that will just make things worse. All they want is your money.

This is exactly what you need to do if you’re experiencing any of the signs/symptoms above:

1. Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. (Save it to your desktop)

2. Close all programs and windows on your PC, including your web browser.

3. Rename the downloaded mbam-setup.exe file to mb.exe to help work around certain malware that will block it from being run.

4. On your Desktop double-click mb.exe to install the removal program. Leave the default settings.

5. Update the program if asked and begin the Quick Scan.

6. After it’s finished running click the Remove Selected button.

7. When finished you can close the program.

If you’re still experiencing problems, run an online scan at Eset.com. 

To keep from getting infected in the future, follow my 11 steps to computer security.

Happy Computing!

-Bert

Since the dawn of the internet there have been people writing malicious programs intent on ruining your computing experience.

In the beginning viruses were like teenagers spray-painting walls. They seemed to arise out of boredom and had no other purpose than to bother you. For the most part these early viruses were pretty easy to get rid of.

As time went on and the internet became more popular the people writing the malicious code had only one thing in mind, using their programs to steal your money.

Recently I read that creating spyware, viruses and trojans is a very profitable business. Seven billion dollars a year is stolen from people like you and me by people who can’t seem to make a living any other way. They certainly aren’t making a positive impact in the world in which they live.

Emailing their destructive code has been their method of choice for several years. They figure, all they have to do is get you to open your email and they win. How much easier is it for them now that they’re able to spoof their email address so it looks like it’s coming from a Fortune 500 company.

In the past couple weeks there have been two very large companies who have put out warnings to not open email from them. First there was UPS who put out the following warning:

We have become aware there is a fraudulent e-mail being sent that says it is coming from UPS and leads the reader to believe that a UPS shipment could not be delivered. The reader is advised to open an attachment reportedly containing a waybill for the shipment to be picked up. This e-mail attachment contains a virus. We recommend that you do not open the attachment, but delete the e-mail immediately.

And just yesterday Northwest Airlines issued the following warning:

Northwest Airlines on Friday warned e-mail users to watch out for phony messages using the company’s name that may be infected with a computer virus. The Eagan-based carrier said the e-mails contain fake ticket confirmation and enrollment information and infect the user’s computer when attachments are opened. The e-mails thank the recipient for using the new service “Buy flight ticket Online” on the airline’s Web site. It states an account has been set up and gives the e-mail user an account number and password.

For a long time email users have been warned about opening email attachments. The first virus I ever encountered was from a friend who emailed me a cool video. I thought it was so cool I forwarded it to my parents. Unfortunately we all got infected with a computer virus… Thankfully it was pretty easy to rid our computers of it and we all learned a valuable lesson.

Unfortunately, people are still learning this same lesson every day and are more likely to have lost some money in the process.

Thankfully, there are some pretty simple ways you can protect yourself.

1. Install antivirus software that checks your email if you use an email client like Microsoft Outlook. A very good free antivirus program that does this is AVG. If you’d rather pay for antivirus software, use Eset’s Nod32. Most of the major web based email portals like Gmail and Yahoo mail have antivirus software on their server that checks attachments.

2. Delete email from anyone you don’t know or the subject line seems strange. Don’t even open the email message.

3. Even if an email message appears to come from someone you know or a business be skeptical of it and don’t click any links or open any attachments unless you’re absolutely sure it’s legitimate.

Sorry that I haven’t had a chance to write in a while. I live in a place where you only have a few months to enjoy the nice weather outside :).

Happy computing!

-Bert

According to Symantec’s recent Internet Security Threat Report  the number of malicious software (malware) detected has surpassed the one million mark. Unfortunately the number of new viruses, trojans and spyware is increasing at an alarming rate, with nearly 70% of the existing malware being created in 2007. Trojan Horses lead the pack of infections by a large margin.

Not only are malicious programs on the increase, they’re also becoming more tenacious. It’s becoming harder for the average computer user to clean up their computer after it’s been infected. In many cases malware quickly multiplies from one infection to dozens, making restoring the computer to a clean state extremely difficult without professional assistance.

In the past the most common way your computer could become infected was by opening an email attachment. Today, the most common way to get infected is by visiting an infected website. Since most people own a computer to surf the internet and email the chances of your computer becoming infected are very high. Panda Security, in a recent test, found that 23% of computers with up to date security solutions are infected with malware. Depending on the source, anywhere from 70-90% of computers that aren’t running a current antivirus program are already infected.

The dangers of an infected computer are scary. Besides the annoyance of pop-up windows and a slow computer much of the current malware is designed to monitor your surfing habits, display advertisements for bogus software promising to remove viruses, and record your login usernames and passwords for sites you visit, including banking and credit card sites. “Increasingly, Symantec has observed that malicious activity has moved away from targeting computers and towards targeting end users themselves. Specifically, attackers are targeting confidential end-user information that can be used in fraudulent activity for financial gain.”

Many people are quick to degrade Microsoft because most malware targets their operating system and web browser. But since 90% of computers in use today run a Microsoft Operating System it’s obvious why they’re the main target. That being said, if you have no intention of insuring your computer is protected from malware you should either buy a Mac or switch to one of the popular Linux Operating Systems, like Ubuntu.

If you continue to use a Microsoft Operating System, like Windows 2000, XP, or Vista, then your only choices are to either insure you’re properly protected or become a victim of malware. Here are some things anyone running a Microsoft Operating System should do:

1. Turn on Microsoft Automatic Updates and set them to install automatically.

2. Insure you have System Restore turned on in case you need it.

3. Back up your important computer files like tax files, resumes, etc..

4. Run antivirus software with current updates. If you’re antivirus definition updates have expired the program is useless. Here are some great options.

Free Programs - Use AGV Free Edition or Avira AntiVir.

Paid Programs - Use NOD32 or Avira Antivir.

5. Run antispyware software with current updates. If you’re running a free antivirus program or your antivirus program doesn’t protect against spyware make sure your running one of these free programs as well. Spyware Terminator or Windows Defender.

6. Consider using Firefox or Opera instead of Internet Explorer for web surfing.

7. Don’t open email from people you don’t know. Even the pictures shown in emails can infect your computer.

8. Never respond to an email that appears to be from your bank or credit card company asking you to go to a website to verify any personal account information. If you get an email like that delete the email and call them using a phone number you have on file for them.

9. Insure you have your Windows firewall turned on, or an even better option is the free Comodo firewall.

10. Don’t install free programs unless they’re from a reliable source like download.com.

11. Don’t use P2P file sharing programs like BitTorrent, Limewire, Morpheus, etc..

The stakes are high when it comes to your computer security and protection. There are now over one million malicious programs out there intent on stealing your identity and financial information, invading your privacy, and destroying what should be an enjoyable computing experience. Following these 11 computer security tips will help you to be safe and not become a victim.

Happy Computing!

-Bert

Walter Mossberg, who writes tech articles for the WSJ, wrote a good review about KidZui, a new and interesting way to control the content your children can see on the Internet:

http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20080320/kidzuis-parent-plan-lets-children-explore-in-safe-corner-of-web/

KidZui is for children ages 3 to 12 and it serves up content approved by a group of about 200 parents and teachers. It’s not free but it looks like a great service.

At the very least, every home with children on the Internet should be using the free K-9 Internet filter which I’ve been using for a couple of years and highly recommend. Here’s a video that shows you how to get it set up on your home computer:

http://homecomputerguide.com/videos/k9-web-filter/ 

Regards,

-Bert

Pew Internet & American Life Project (http://www.pewinternet.org) published some new statistics in December of 2007 regarding teens and the Internet:

• 32% of online teens have been contacted online by a complete stranger.
• Of teens who have been contacted, 23% say they were made scared or uncomfortable by the stranger contact.
• 32% of online teens have experienced online harassment, also called “cyberbullying”
• 42% of online youth 10-17 have been exposed to online pornography (Wolak et al, 2007)

Some steps families take:

• 74% of families have their computers in a public location
• 65% of parents say they check up on their teens after they go online
• 53% of families filter
• 45% of families have monitoring software on the computer that their child uses

In my last post I discussed the importance of using a content filter, especially for younger children who can easily stumble upon inappropriate content on the Internet.

I also mentioned communication as the number one priority for parents. Talking with your children about the Internet falls within the same realm as talking with them about illegal drugs and sex. Unfortunately, many of us shy away from talking with our kids about any of the above and just hope for the best.

If your child is young it’s pretty easy to talk to them and have a list of Internet guidelines or rules like these at safekids.com. http://safekids.com/kids-rules-for-online-safety/

If your children are older and more tech savvy, you can start just by asking them to teach you about the Internet. Ask them to show you the cool sites they visit or explain instant messaging to you. By opening up the dialogue in this way it can often open the door to discuss things like safety and what’s appropriate.

Talk with your children, and use either a free web filter (K9) or a paid service to filter and monitor Internet use.

The Internet has opened wide the doors to communication and information but it’s our responsibility to teach our children to use it wisely.

Regards,

-Bert

A good friend of mine told me a story not long ago. His 10-year-old daughter was doing a school report about baby chickens. Turning to the Internet for help with her report, she innocently typed “chicks” in the search engine. My friend was shocked when his daughter yelled, “what are all these naked ladies doing on the screen?”.

If you have kids on the Internet at your house, and especially young children, you need to know how easy it is for them to find inappropriate content & pictures. Just like my friend’s daughter, a child doesn’t even have to go looking for it, it will find them. Something as simple as an Internet search or misspelling a web address can expose your child to things even you wouldn’t look at.

I don’t believe that choosing to do nothing to protect children online is an option. The most important thing we can do as parents is to start talking and teaching our children about the good parts and the bad parts of the Internet while they’re young.  Even if they’re older and know more about the computer than you, it’s never to late.

A really close second to communication is putting a web filter on your computer to filter out things like pornography, violence/hate/racism, illegal drugs, etc..

If your kids are a little older and you can afford it, I’d suggest you spend $39/yr for Net Nanny. PC Magazine awarded Net Nanny its Editors Choice Award in Feb 2008. Net Nanny can be configured differently for each user who logs into the computer. Also, besides just Internet content filtering Net Nanny includes Instant Message monitoring, time scheduling, remote management and some other neat bells and whistles.

If your kids are younger or you don’t want to spend the $39 for a yearly subscription I highly recommend a free Internet content filter called K9, which was created by BlueCoat. BlueCoat has been providing world class filtering products to fortune 500 companies for several years. They created K9 as a way to give back to the community.

I’ve been using K9 on our home computers for a couple of years and am extremely impressed with the quality of the filtering, the simplicity of the program, and that it doesn’t slow down your computer or internet searches. You can choose to block or just track up to 60 different categories of websites. And, you can set time limits on Internet use. You can’t modify the settings for different users, but as the Admin, you can easily make any necessary adjustments.

This is one area I don’t believe any parent should ignore so I’ve made a free 10-minute video that walks you step-by-step how to install and configure the free K9 web content filter.

It’s nice not having to worry if our 9-year-old daughter will see or read something inappropriate on the Internet. Don’t wait on this one. Get some “peace of mind” today!

Regards,

Bert

You can find free software on the internet to do nearly anything. From cool free screensavers to free games to free antivirus software and just about anything else you can think of.

I learned a hard lesson several years ago. I’ve always liked car racing games (yes, that should tell you something about the way I drive) so I went to my favorite search engine and typed in “free car racing game”. Today nearly 5 million results turned up when I did that search! Anyway, back then I went to the first sight I found and downloaded and installed the game.

Besides the fact that the game was lousy I got a lot more than I bargained for with that so-called “free” game. The next day my wife and daughter were on the computer and using the internet when my wife asked, “Bert, why are there pornography folders in our Bookmarks?”.  Yikes!

So after a lot of unnecessary communication with my wife and some research I realized that free software is often packaged with Adware, Spyware and Viruses. So I paid for some anti-adware/virus software and found several other malware (malicious software) programs had been installed as well. So my free program ended up costing me in my relationships, my pocketbook and my time!

After that experience you’re probably thinking I’d never install any free software ever again… but the truth is I love free software! Although most of the free programs you download off the internet are either malicious or worthless the small percent of excellent programs is well worth finding and using.

In fact, on my home PC I use free software for my:

• Antivirus
• Antispyware
• Firewall
• Internet Filter
• Picture Editor
• Internet Web Browser
• Media Player
• CD Ripper
• etc….

The best tip I can give you today is to only download free software from a reliable source! In fact, I’d recommend only downloading free software from download.com. They have thousands of free and shareware (free for a limited time, then you pay for it) programs and guarantee that you won’t be getting any malware included. Even download.com has some worthless software though so I’d also suggest looking for programs with a lot of reviews and either a 4 or 5 star user rating.

Regards,

-Bert