Recent Comments
Comment by Deborah on Computer Security: The Missing Link (May 24, 2013 08:41 PM)
Dear Bob, Thank you for your very helpful computer/internet/software, etc information. And... Thank you for being one of the Good Guys. Deborah...
Comment by coover on Computer Security: The Missing Link (May 24, 2013 08:32 PM)
My comments below refer to the PORTABLE version of kcsoftwares (kcsoftwares.com) SUMo only. I DO NOT RECOMMEND ANY OTHER VERSION as the others may con...
Comment by Gerry on Computer Security: The Missing Link (May 24, 2013 08:25 PM)
I agree with your comments re: Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI). I've used it for years. It's easy to use and quite useful for someone as PC-...
Comment by duane on Computer Security: The Missing Link (May 24, 2013 07:39 PM)
I tried Secunia PSI on my Win8 machine but it wouldn't work. Had to give up and uninstall it. It worked fine on my WinXP machine about a year ago but ...
Comment by Andy on DOWNLOAD ALERT: Foistware Warning (May 24, 2013 07:31 PM)
From download.com, several years ago, I donwloaded a game. Ican't remember if it was an anti-spy or anti-virus which detected a trojan downloader. I s...
Comment by Don on Computer Security: The Missing Link (May 24, 2013 07:25 PM)
I didn't see Ninite mentioned as update software. I used to use Secunia, but I started having problems opening the program. In one of your articles yo...
Comment by Doc on Computer Security: The Missing Link (May 24, 2013 06:39 PM)
Neil - what's on your computer are things like names and addresses - yours and your clients and maybe their e-mail address's, and you don't happen to ...
Comment by James D. Walsh on Computer Security: The Missing Link (May 24, 2013 06:30 PM)
I'd add two other aspects to improve security. One is disk image backups of the operating system and programs disks to recover from disasters, and th...
Comment by Hdhawk on Computer Security: The Missing Link (May 24, 2013 06:25 PM)
This is great information. My problem is with my Asus netbook. It seems to spend 50% or more of its time automatically updating programs (mostly Win...
Comment by lisa gambino on How I Got Hacked... And Why You MUST Have a Backup! (May 24, 2013 06:15 PM)
Hi, This is a great article. Thank you for all of the information contained, I feel this is very helpful to techs and everyday surfers alike. Thank y...
Computer Security: The Missing Link
Is your computer really secure? If you have antivirus software, malware scanners and a firewall, you might think you're safe from hackers, crackers and identity thieves. But chances are, you're missing one critical piece of the security puzzle. Read on to learn how to secure your software and truly lock down your computer...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 24, 2013 | Category: Security
How Does Antivirus Software Work?
Antivirus software’s first job is to detect viruses and other types of malware before they do their damage. There are two ways to identify malware, and a number of variations on these basic strategies. Here's a plain-English description of how antivirus software gets the job done...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 23, 2013 | Category: Anti-Virus
Geekly Update - 22 May 2013
Was Elmer Fudd a true visionary when he saw the future possibility of Smell-o-Vision? Will robot bartenders be demanding your carkeys after your second drink? And how about some tasty food-like objects, served up by your 3D printer? Get answers to these burning questions, and the scoop on the latest tech news, in this edition of the Geekly Update. It's guaranteed to make you 146% smarter, read on...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 22, 2013 | Category: Tech-News
Is Someone Stealing My WiFi?
Is your wireless Internet connection sometimes mysteriously slow? It's possible that you're sharing it with a stranger. But how can you know for sure if a neighbor or a malicious hacker has tapped into your wifi? Read on to learn how you can detect bandwidth bandits, and give them the boot...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 21, 2013 | Category: Wireless
Send Money With Gmail
Google has announced a new feature that will make it possible to send money from using Gmail. If you already know how to send a photo or document in an email attachment, you'll have no problem sending money with Gmail. So how does it work, and how does it compare to similar features offered by Paypal? Read on to learn more...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 20, 2013 | Category: Finance
Why Does Malware Exist?
Computer viruses are everywhere. Spam is abounding. Computer intrusions, identity theft, denial of service attacks and other cybercrimes are commonplace. Who does this stuff, and what’s wrong with them? Let's take a look at what motivates the miscreants who menace millions on the Internet...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 17, 2013 | Category: Security
Best Browser for Malware Protection?
Web browsers are used to interact with the Internet more than any other type of software. So it’s no surprise that the latest malware tries to infiltrate computers via Web browsers. But which browser does the best job of protecting you? Read on for some surprising test results...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 16, 2013 | Category: Browsers
Geekly Update - 15 May 2013
Oh no... is Youtube going to start charging to watch videos? How are some parents connecting their baby's diaper to the Internet? And can an iPad literally stop your heart from beating? Get answers to these burning questions, and the scoop on the latest tech news, in this edition of the Geekly Update. It's guaranteed to make you 146% smarter, read on...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 15, 2013 | Category: Tech-News
Download Free Clip Art and Stock Photos
If you're a student working on a school project, a volunteer creating a brochure, or a webmaster for a personal or non-profit website, you need clip art images, icons and stock photos to make it look professional. But your budget is limited, or zero. Fortunately, the Internet is a treasure trove of free artwork and photography. Some can even be used for commercial uses as well. Here's where to look for free clipart and stock photos...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 14, 2013 | Category: Photography
The Truth About Discount Ink Cartridges
A reader asks: 'Are discount inkjet cartridges a good deal? I've heard they can ruin your printer, void your warranty, and that the quality is lacking. Others have told me they're great and can save you lots of money. What's the scoop on cheap ink cartridges?' Read on for my advice about inkjet cartridges...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 13, 2013 | Category: Printing
HOWTO: Clean Up Your Hard Drive
Are you running out of space on your hard drive? Does it take forever to do backups? Maybe you're getting that annoying LOW DISK SPACE message. Don't ignore it, or your computer could soon begin to malfunction. Here are some free tools to clean up your hard drive and make sure your computer is running smoothly...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 10, 2013 | Category: Hard-Drives
Secure Backup: Solves TWO Problems
A backup copy of your data is not insurance against viruses and other malware infections, if the backup copy is also infected. The obvious solution is to scan and clean your files before they get backed up. Now, a popular Internet security developer makes that easy, and throws in cloud storage as well. Here's what you need to know...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 09, 2013 | Category: Backup
Geekly Update - 8 May 2013
When is it okay to spy on people through their webcams? Is now a good time to buy real estate on the Moon or other planets? And what's the most reliable Windows laptop? (Hint: Cupertino) Get answers to these burning questions, and the scoop on the latest tech news, in this edition of the Geekly Update. It's guaranteed to make you 146% smarter, read on...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 08, 2013 | Category: Tech-News
Awesome 3D Printers for Everyone
There's a new manufacturing revolution happening. 3D printers are empowering the masses to make their own stuff. With some entry-level printers selling for less than $500, there's never been a better time to try your hand at 3D printing. Read on to learn more about these little wonders...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 07, 2013 | Category: Printing
HOWTO: Convert VHS Tapes to DVD
Let's face it... your old VHS tapes with treasured family memories won't last forever. Even if the VCR doesn't eventually jam and eat the tape, a VHS recording uses fragile magnetic tape that degrades over time, whether you watch it or not. Don't count on those VHS tapes (or your VCR player) lasting forever -- convert your VHS tapes to DVD format today, and save those memories for posterity...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 06, 2013 | Category: Video
