Recent Comments
Comment by Frances on Geekly Update - 23 July 2024 (July 26, 2024 07:45 AM)
Loco, if you use Firefox, bring up Reader View and read the posts on that. No ads! (Sorry, Bob!) On my old win7 laptop, the toggle switch is at the...
Comment by Jonathan on [TIP] Boost Your Laptop Wifi Reception (July 25, 2024 07:49 PM)
Is there anyway to extend Bluetooth range? Whenever I check all I get is info on wifi extenders and no mention of bluetooth. I wear a bluetooth earpie...
Comment by Loco on [TIP] Boost Your Laptop Wifi Reception (July 25, 2024 05:08 PM)
your postings are worthless due to all the advertisings covering it up...
Comment by Loco on Geekly Update - 23 July 2024 (July 25, 2024 04:41 PM)
The advertisements on your posting make it unreadable....
Comment by Emily Booth on [TIP] Boost Your Laptop Wifi Reception (July 25, 2024 04:29 PM)
Amtrak does not have WiFi. I'm wondering if any of these boosters would work when the train stops for a fresh air break or at a stop? ...
Comment by 1 on Hard Drive Partitioning: Myths, Mistakes and Misconceptions (July 25, 2024 12:41 AM)
555...
Comment by 1 on Free Online College Courses (July 25, 2024 12:41 AM)
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Comment by 1 on Geekly Update - 17 July 2024 (July 25, 2024 12:41 AM)
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Comment by frank456@juno.com on [TIP] Boost Your Laptop Wifi Reception (July 24, 2024 11:11 PM)
Bob, I am looking to reinstall a fresh copy of Windows10 without loosing installed programs or any apps. Would you explain how this is done. Thank yo...
Comment by Charley on Is This the Worst Place to Buy a Smartphone? (July 24, 2024 09:37 PM)
As you said, usually carrier deals are terrible. However, when the Samsung S23 came out, I got a GREAT deal at T-Mobile. Even though I had been a T-Mo...
Viruses Articles
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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