September 2008   

4 critical Windows updates were released Sept. 9^th. So far, there are no reports of problems with installing them. www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms08-sep.mspx

Be careful to not automatically install XP SP3, which is being offered as an automatic update –    I recommend manually downloading and installing this separately, after a complete backup. 

 

QuickTime has another critical update: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3027

 

I recommend upgrading to Adobe Reader 9 if you have not already. You can install it even if you have older full versions of Adobe Acrobat.

 

If you use ITunes, don’t update to version 8 yet. There have been problems with it.

 

Small Business Server 2008 will be available in early October. This is good news for accounting firms wanting to upgrade this year. Official release date is still Nov. 12.

 

Beware of Google ads for XP Antivirus 2008 or MS Antivirus 2008/2009. They are viruses. http://blogs.pcmag.com/securitywatch/2008/08/googlesyndicated_malware_ads_h.php

Top Internet Security Risks 2007 - slide show

Want to know who the cybercriminals are? – slide show.

 

Windows XP updates will soon include a change in Windows Genuine Advantage – If your copy of XP is tested and found to be pirated, your screen will turn to a black background, and you will get a warning.

 

I get a lot of inquiries about online backups. It is a good solution as an offsite backup if you don’t have too much data to back up (under 50 GB or so). It should be used in addition to an onsite backup, not as a replacement.

Best choices for online backup: Jungle Disk www.jungledisk.com combined with Amazon S3 is very economical and rich in features, including the ability to map a drive letter to the backup data.

http://mozy.com – Has a free option for under 2GB, simpler to setup and use. Paid version is more economical than Amazon for larger backups.

Things to consider:  Make sure internet traffic is encrypted; Make sure you trust the vendor, and that they will stay in business; if your ISP caps your data transfers, you may incur added charges for the backup traffic; Backup and recovery times are many times slower, limited by your internet connection speed.

Windows 7 Blog - what comes after Vista. http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/default.aspx

FCC orders Comcast to end discriminatory traffic throttling
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/20/AR2008082003321_pf.html

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-183A1.doc 

 

This website password manager allows you to store your passwords securely on their server, and access them from any computer or browser version. https://lastpass.com

 

 

Free online meetings. A virtual meeting tool that allows you to share your desktop, show slides, collaborate, chat, talk and broadcast via your desktop or conference room webcam. www.dimdim.com

Get the Classic menu bar in office 2007: www.megaleecher.net/Classic_Menu_for_Office_2007
http://in.geocities.com/shahshaileshs/menuaddins
www.addintools.com/english/menuoffice

Free Kaspersky Antivirus 6 month license for an individual PC. Kaspersky has gotten good reviews.  www.megaleecher.net/Kaspersky_Activation_Key

 

Intel Motherboard BIOS patches to address a system bug that could allow rootkits to be undetectable. This affects specific recent Intel motherboards, so only affects you if you have a custom built system with one of these motherboards installed: DQ35JO, DQ35MP, DP35DP, DG33FB, DG33BU, DG33TL, DX38BT and MGM965TW (Mobile).