Recent Comments
Comment by Mat on Geekly Update - 04 February 2025 (February 4, 2025 09:19 PM)
I have been using PIA and LibreOffice for years with zero problems..... ...
Comment by Jonathan on Geekly Update - 04 February 2025 (February 4, 2025 08:53 PM)
Microsoft 365 subscribers may also like to check out LibreOffice while looking for a replacement VPN. They may find that this app does almost all th...
Comment by Pete on Geekly Update - 04 February 2025 (February 4, 2025 07:29 PM)
Thanks Bob! I was just looking for a VPN! Thanks again!! You always come through!...
Comment by Leprechaun on 12 Identity Theft Mistakes (how many have you made?) (February 4, 2025 02:28 PM)
This happened to my wife just this last weekend. A charge from Walmart.com that she did not make. She got a hold put on her card and will get a new ...
Comment by Steve on 12 Identity Theft Mistakes (how many have you made?) (February 4, 2025 09:52 AM)
Anything that arrives in the mail I tear off the name & address label before recycling, the address label is then separately shredded. I don’t use F...
Comment by Ian on 12 Identity Theft Mistakes (how many have you made?) (February 4, 2025 08:37 AM)
For two factor authentication with a mobile use a second profile with a different PIN. That means if someone does get access to your unlocked mobile, ...
Comment by Renaud Olgiati on 12 Identity Theft Mistakes (how many have you made?) (February 4, 2025 08:11 AM)
I find it interesting that the two countries most affected by identity theft are the US and the UK, both countries that steadily refuse to issue compu...
Comment by JP on 12 Identity Theft Mistakes (how many have you made?) (February 4, 2025 12:46 AM)
And now that Musk and his crew has access to all of our private information, who knows what will befall us in the U.S.?...
Comment by Ernie (Oldster) on 12 Identity Theft Mistakes (how many have you made?) (February 3, 2025 11:19 PM)
To start, the actions I've taken to protect myself from malware and Identity Theft include freezing all six of my credit bureau accounts (as recommend...
Comment by bev on [RECOMMENDED] 10 Free Software Programs (February 2, 2025 08:31 PM)
I recently switched browsers from Chrome to Duck Duck Go. I'm very happy with it and like the easy way it deletes history, cookies, and tracking. The ...
Viruses Articles
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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