Recent Comments
Comment by CW on Cousin Vinny Strikes Again! (July 14, 2025 09:40 PM)
AI users will think of it soon (yesterday) or it will itself (scary thought!)....
Comment by Nunna Yerbiz on Cousin Vinny Strikes Again! (July 14, 2025 05:59 PM)
What about AI? Is it possible for some new AI-generated attack to violate the sanctity of your inbox?...
Comment by Citellus on 9 Good Reasons to Try Dual Monitors (July 12, 2025 01:23 AM)
My desk top died many years ago. So I now use a 16" screen laptop, but also connect to my old 21" monitor from the desk top. Works great, but I miss...
Comment by Gene on What Will Happen to Windows 10? (July 11, 2025 03:26 PM)
When may we expect the information regarding the $30 fee to extend our use of Windows 10? Any information as to the address to which payment to extend...
Comment by RandiO on 9 Good Reasons to Try Dual Monitors (July 9, 2025 06:35 PM)
imo: The most optimum configuration of a dual-monitor setup is one which matches both monitors to be of the same exact size and matching Model#s. ...
Comment by Dane on 9 Good Reasons to Try Dual Monitors (July 9, 2025 03:21 PM)
Have you tried monitor extenders for laptops? To make 2 more screens, around the laptop?...
Comment by Russ Baldwin on 9 Good Reasons to Try Dual Monitors (July 9, 2025 05:15 AM)
At work, I have 2 w-i-d-e screen monitors and for what I use andhave opened, it works great! At home, I used to use a 27” Asus, and my 17 laptop. W...
Comment by Doug Richards on 9 Good Reasons to Try Dual Monitors (July 9, 2025 12:36 AM)
I use a 6'8" x 2' door as my desktop so in 2023 I was able to move from 2 26" monitors to 2 32" ViewSonic VX3276-2K-MHD that I bought from ViewSonic a...
Comment by RandiO on 9 Good Reasons to Try Dual Monitors (July 8, 2025 09:40 PM)
Dual 27" monitors is what I find to be my happy place. For video performance, I was even willing go spendy and add a large-memory graphics card. The ...
Comment by bb on 9 Good Reasons to Try Dual Monitors (July 8, 2025 08:49 PM)
For me, two wasn't enough - I have three (3!) side-by-side-by side 24" HD monitors. As Bob says above, it did require a video card in my desktop; buil...
Viruses Articles
Cousin Vinny Strikes Again!
A curious AskBob reader wants to know... “Is it possible to get a computer virus just by opening an email?” It's true that email has been and remains one of the most popular attack vectors for hackers, spammers, scammers, phishers and other cyber-miscreants that are jiggling the latches on the door of your inbox. But is it really that easy to slip in, and wreak havoc on your computer? Cousin Vinny says YES, but is he right? Let's find out...
...Fileless Malware: Who You Gonna Call?
A clever but pernicious software technique that's been known for more than a decade is finding favor among today's malware authors, complicating the work of anti-virus developers and digital forensic analysts. Tracking down so-called “fileless malware” is to detection of regular malware what ghost-hunting is to catching a garden-variety burglar. Read on to learn about this resurgent threat and what you can do to stop it...
...Is This a Fake Virus Alert?
A concerned reader asks: “Bob, I'm worried that I might have a computer virus. My computer will sometimes stop and a warning says I have a virus, and I must call a number on the screen. Then supposedly they will walk me through the process to fix it. Is this true? I have antivirus installed but still, it pops up now and then.” Is this virus alert real or rogue? Here's my diagnosis...
...Can You Get a Virus By Opening an Email?
A concerned AskBob reader wants to know... “Is it possible to get a computer virus by simply opening an email?” It's true that email has been and remains one of the most popular attack vectors for hackers, spammers, scammers, phishers and other cyber-miscreants that are jiggling the latches on the door of your inbox. But is it really that easy to slip in, and wreak havoc on your computer? Let's find out...
...Malware and Spam: Why Do They Exist?
Philosophers have pondered the nature of evil for ages. Perhaps you also have wondered how a medium meant for information sharing has become a minefield of privacy and security risks. Spam, viruses, ransomware, identity theft, data breaches, phishing, malicious links and other cybercrimes have become commonplace. Who does this stuff, and what the heck is wrong with them? Let's take a look at what motivates the miscreants who menace millions on the Internet...
...Is Your Flash Drive Infected?
Security research firm Sophos found malware on two-thirds of fifty USB flash drives that had been lost aboard Australian trains. That might suggest that you should avoid computing on Australian trains, but the broader lesson is that USB flash drives are highly vulnerable to malware infections. Here's what you need to know, and how to protect your computer from viruses that may lurk on flash drives...
...Where Do Viruses And Spyware Come From?
Several thousand new viruses and spyware programs are detected every day by security analysts. Have you ever wondered who creates these plagues, and why?
...Virus Alert - XP Total Security 2011
Somehow I got a virus called XP Total Security, and I can't get rid of it. It blocks my security software, and it won't let me download any new anti-virus tools. It's even asking me for money... how do I get rid of this thing?
...Should You Call The Geek Squad?
My computer is running really slow, and I think it might have a virus. There's also a ticking sound inside the computer. I'm not very technical, so I'm thinking about calling the Geek Squad. Do you think that's a good idea?
...How Does a Virus Spread?
I love your site and your Tourbus Newsletter! I would like to know how a virus propagates over a network? If you get a virus on one computer - do other users on the network have to do anything to get infected? Is there a good way to protect against this?
...Free Virus Scan
My computer has been acting strangely... at times it's very slow and I'm getting lots of popups. I'm afraid I have a virus, and the anti-virus software that came with my computer has expired. Can you recommend a good (and preferably free) virus scanner?
...How can I avoid computer viruses?
When I wrote in a previous article that You CANNOT get a virus just by opening or reading your email I fully expected it would unleash a torrent of emails in response. I knew this would happen, because Ask Bob Rankin readers are generally smarter and better-looking than the rest of the online population. Read on for Virus Prevention 102 -- even more information on virus prevention and the merits of anti-virus software.
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