Microsoft and their new attempt! Windows 7, Bing, Outlook 2010, MSE

Finally, Is Microsoft trying to fix their problems….?

First of all…Vista.

Why did it take so long to get Vista off the grid? Why did it take so long for Microsoft to come up with another functioning operating system? Vista’s issues include: Compatibility problems with software, too slow, driver problems, too many redundant security warnings, etc. Why do I have so many unhappy clients?

Well, the big fix supposedly is Windows 7 (I guess that is the only name they could come up with). I have 2 technicians who have been beta testing it and actually LOVE it. Yes, they Love it. They say it is all the things that Vista promised and has found very little problems with it. XP programs are compatible with 7, it is fast, the security pop-ups are not aggressive like Vista. This is supposed to hit the shelves sometime in August-September, I’ll keep you posted.

BING- A better way to search…Trying to compete with Google by using Yahoo as it’s search engine and calling it something else. Sure it looks pretty…goes fast too…but the best feature is (kids listen up) you can search for porn easier that ever! Free and with no adware too…so parents, you may never know. Ok, I admit I had to try this feature and BING…I had some of the raunchiest porn I have seen in about 2 seconds. Also, you can look up pirated movies and music extremely easy. I tried that too…and took me 2 seconds to find hot new movie releases playing in the theaters now. I know the word is that they are working on the porn issue…lets see what else is in the works…

Outlook 2010 has people up in arms…Big issue here is that it forces the user to use Word as it’s editor. The new Word does not use HTML in the correct way…and to break it down as easily as I can, you won’t be able to view most emails as we are used to. We may not even be able to see the web content at all. If you need more explanation on this, please let me know…but basically pictures will be out and Microsoft is not using web standards and forcing their users to do what they want…again.

Finally, MSE-Microsoft Security Essentials- a free anti-virus program for all to use. Well, we all remember the free forced update defender that was to help us all defend ourselves against evil doers. That worked out well (yes, sarcasm). Funny enough, if you download this free software, it disables defender anyway…meaning some items in this new and improved anti-virus still has defender in its make up. Ughh…on a good note, this will probably be good for business…bad for the consumer.

If you would like to add your opinions…please do. I personally am waiting for Windows 7 but I will use Google and an old copy of office…and PAY for my Anti-virus ! New system…in the fall!

New Funny Hoaxes and Legends and Truths!

WARNING- This is true

BBB Alert: Phishing Scams Pose as Fed Ex and UPS to Con Consumers

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - December 4, 2008 - With only three weeks left to get holiday cards and gifts sent to loved ones, phishing scams are posing as holiday shipping and mailing services to scam consumers. The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be on the lookout for two new phishing scams this holiday season. Hackers and scammers are pretending to be customer service personnel from some of the biggest names in business – including FedEx and UPS.  Hackers are impersonating well-known companies in order to gain access to computer drives to steal your personal information including Social Security, bank or credit card numbers.  

 

“While most of the country is preparing to celebrate the holidays, cyber criminals are spreading computer viruses and stealing identities,” said Tom Bartholomy, president and CEO of The Better Business Bureau of Southern Piedmont. “Hackers using e-mail phishing messages are posing as trusted businesses to take advantage of the seasonal increase in online shopping and shipping of merchandise all across the country.” 

 

The BBB has the following advice:

 

Shipping scams – Hackers send phishing e-mails from “shipping companies” claiming that there is a problem with delivery of merchandise. Commonly, the e-mail will include a hyperlink for recipients to click on that will take them to another Web site that might install malware or solicit personal information. A message currently making the rounds has a subject line that looks like, “Subject: Tracking Number 13040065504.” The body of the message claims that a package could not be delivered and advises the recipient, “to print the copy of the invoice that is in the added file.” The attachment is actually a virus that will infect the computer.

 

BBB Advice: Instead of clicking on the link in the e-mail, go directly to the shipper’s Web site or contact the company via telephone to confirm whether there is a shipping problem with your package. Do not open attachments to unsolicited e-mails.

 

E-card scams – E-cards are a popular and inexpensive way to deliver season’s greetings to loved ones. With legitimate e-cards, the recipient receives an e-mail with a hyperlink that will take the user to the e-card which is housed on a Web site. Unfortunately, by design, e-cards are an easy way for hackers to disguise phishing e-mails and direct you to their Web sites which will install viruses and malware on your computer.  You should  be careful about clicking on a link in an e-card as the hackers will often use logos from recognized brands and companies in order to appear legitimate.

 

BBB advice: Phishing e-mails posing as e-cards can be difficult to spot. Spelling and grammatical mistakes should be a red flag. Also, do not follow the link in an e-card if you do not recognize the name of the sender. Consumers who receive suspicious e-mails should report them to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

 

For more information, please visit www.bbb.org or call the BBB (toll-free in NC and SC) at 1-877-317-7236.         

• and here is an example of this:

                           This is a HOAX:OK>….. here are some links from Snopes.com that will be real viruses:

http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/obamavideo.asp

http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/cnnalert.asp

http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/obamaspeech.asp

And these are real HOAXES:

http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/mobile.asp

http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/gotyou.asp

http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/jdbgmgr.asp

Friendly Computers hopes you enjoyed this!

Contact Fedex Delivery Man Mr.Daniel j Cole for your package of $800.000.00 United States Dollars, with your valid home address and phone number, find his contact below .Contact Person: Mr.Daniel j Cole Email fedexdispatchunit2008@live.com Telephone 0044-704-571-8669 0044-700-593-8850

0044-704-572-3886

Regard,

Mr.Wellingston Ferguson.

 

 

Dear Capital One Customer,

This is your official notification from Capital One. Your online account has expired. If you want
to continue using our service you have to renew your online account. If not, your online account
will be deactivated and deleted.

To continue click here, complete the renew form with your current
information.

Many Thanks and Kind Regards – Capital One Bank – Update Department

• Look at hyperlinks and pay attention to web addresses!
• I wish this was true:
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Antivirus Software

Having been in the field for quite a long time, I have seen all different names in the Antivirus software category.  From Norton to McAfee, Kaspersky to Trend Micro, Panda to AVG, which one is the best bang for your buck?  From personal experience, I find that McAfee is no longer up there in the top names.  How many others out there have experienced getting a virus with their antivirus software up to date and running?  Now take into consideration that a virus can mean different things to different folks.  Just because you are getting popups or your machine is running slow all of a sudden doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a virus.  You could have just stumbled across some nasty spyware, in which case downloading Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware or SuperAntiSpyware could very easily remove what you have accumulated.  I am talking about true, tear Windows down, VIRUSES!  Comments?  Feel free!

Anti-Viruses

Again…as we learned…there is no 100% protection against viruses and malwares. So, what is a good virus protection to use?

We have Norton, McAfee, AVG, bitdefender, Kaspersky, Trend Micro, Panda…blahblahblah….

So, what do you use and why?

I sell Panda…but as the time wears on, I am switching to AVG Internet Security. It updates everyday, does not bog down the operating system, and does a great job in protecting my machines. So, I am switching my customers over…

I dislike Norton and McAfee – most of the machines that come into the shop loaded with viruses have these 2 programs installed. They both are resource hogs and do not seem to block much and they dont update the new virus protection until after the virus has been out for a while. Their firewall prevents the Internet from working as well.

I love Norton and McAfee because of the work I get out of these machines!

So again, Give me your ideas…I want to hear from you!

Tara Belzer, Friendly Computers Charlotte, www.friendlycomputers.com/charlotte