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Torian Group Times
“Technology with Integrity” |
Windows 7 will start appearing on computers at your local retailer. Try it at home first, if possible. Things to watch for:
If you go from 32 to 64 bit, some of your software may break.
Compatible Antivirus: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/antivirus-partners/windows-7.aspx
“XP mode” allows you to run older XP applications in Windows 7. It is actually running a “Virtual” copy of XP in software. A Hyper-V capable computer (CPU with hardware virtualization) is required to run “XP mode” in Windows 7. Check the fine print - Some Sony and HP laptops with Hyper-V capable processors don’t have the needed bios support.
If you subscribe to the Microsoft Action Pack, be sure to renew. You will be getting the Office 10 and other products coming out in the next year. Accountants are entitled to join MPAN, giving them access. Windows 7 is now available for download. https://partner.microsoft.com/40016455
https://accountants.microsoft.com/MPAN/US/static.aspx?id=MPANSupport
Review of antivirus software. Norton seems to be the leader this year. Their product has improved. www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2351871,00.asp
Keeping up with interesting new web applications: www.appscout.com/cool_web_sites
50 Best websites of 2009 (from Time magazine):
www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1918031,00.html
http://popurls.com all the news you could ever want in one place
www.ted.com/talks/list 15 minute talks - about the incredible and amazing
http://fora.tv TV for people who like to think
www.consumersearch.com Aggregates best product reviews on the web with summary
Google voice allows you to forward one number to any phone, so you can control where your incoming calls go. It also has voice mail to email, with transcription. http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2009/08/i-received-my-google-voice-invite-and.html
https://services.google.com/fb/forms/googlevoiceinvite
Windows mobile 6.5 coming Oct 6th. A new set of mobile phones will be coming out. Hold off if you plan to upgrade your smart phone. www.technologyreview.com/wire/23344
www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Microsoft-Windows-Mobile-65-Will-Debut-on-3-LG-Electronics-Smartphones-120351/
www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Microsoft-Windows-Mobile-65-Coming-to-HTC-Touch2-Sony-Ericsson-Xperia-601965/
GPS locator – Track the location of anything you attach it to. www.zoombak.com
Keyfinder -Pulls license keys from registry http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder
Team Viewer is now our favorite remote support tool – share your desktop, or provide remote help for a client. www.teamviewer.com
www.hulu.com – TV on demand www.tv.com CBS TV on demand.
TVU Player 2.4.7.2 – Another internet TV source. Content is varied, from many different countries. Lots of Sports. http://tvuplayer.en.softonic.com/
More free online training
Full video courses from leading universities. Some really interesting stuff.
http://www.academicearth.org/
HP offers Adobe, Windows, Digital Photography and much more – all free.
http://h30187.www3.hp.com
Latitude U offers some free classes – Every IT topic imaginable
http://www.latitudeu.com/home.aspx
Directory of online learning sites: http://librarysupportstaff.com/ed4you.html
http://distancelearn.about.com/od/isitforyou/u/FreeOnlineClassTab.htm
Skype was bought by EBay, now separate again. Skype is software that allows you to make phone calls over the internet. http://about.skype.com/news.html
PACER access (Court legal documents) for free. Recap is a Firefox plugin that wakes up when you begin to surf the PACER directory. www.recapthelaw.org
Outlook auto-complete is the feature that suggests the full text as you start typing an email name. This free tool allows you to view and edit the content of the file that controls this feature. www.nirsoft.net/utils/outlook_nk2_autocomplete.html
10 most dangerous thing people do on-line http://schoolcio.com/ShowArticle/932
Expose passwords saved on your PC www.remote-password-recovery.com
10 ways to detect Malware on your computer
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/10things/?p=970
I will be presenting a series of talks at the Visalia chamber. The next one is on Personal Productivity, Sept 9th (Wednesday) at Noon. Cost is $10 and pays for lunch.
For more information: www.toriangroup.com/events
Dustin passed his Network Certification.
Doris will be retiring at the end of this year. We are looking for a bookkeeper – let us know if you know someone with bookkeeping skills and an aptitude for computers.
Security Updates for September
Windows Critical updates will be out Tuesday Sept. 8th. There are 3 Critical updates for XP, which I suggest you install, and 5 Critical updates for Vista, which can be installed. The Jscript update should be applied only after updating to IE7 or IE8. The patches are primarily fixing ways you can have your computer taken over by visiting malicious web sites.
www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms09-sep.mspx
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971961
Windows and other critical updates protect you from viruses. Bad guys find flaws in software – ways to use the program which were never intended by the authors. They exploit them to gain access to your computer. It is as important to keep the system patched as it is to have antivirus software and a firewall. You can run an inventory of needed patches using this tool. http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning
For more information on “Patch Tuesday”: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_Tuesday
There is an un-patched flaw in Microsoft FTP servers. Be sure to scan any files you download from any FTP site. Chances are higher that the server could be hacked. This flaw is not patched in this month’s updates. http://secunia.com/advisories/36443/
SQL Server password flaw is not a big risk.
www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Microsoft-Downplays-SQL-Server-Database-Vulnerability-893487
Install this update before trying to install Vista SP2. It checks for possible problems. Be sure you have a full backup before installing SP2 – see last month’s newsletter for details.
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Vista-SP2-Application-Compatibility-Update-120297.shtml
Internet Explorer 8 is again being offered as an automatic windows update. If you have automatic updates turned on, you can decline to install when it offers. Be sure the websites and web programs you use are compatible before updating, and remove all add-ins (Toolbars etc.) before installing. Then reinstall the ones you want to use.
WPA wireless security lasts about 1 minute – previously it took about 15 minutes to crack. Use at least WPA2 with AES for anything sensitive.
http://blogs.pcmag.com/securitywatch/2009/08/wpatkip_cracking_advanced.php
If you use WordPress, upgrade to the current version 2.8.4
http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/old-wordpress-versions-under-attack
Acronis Imaging software came out with a significant version upgrade. We are installing it on clients who purchased it in the last year (still under maintenance).
Trend Antivirus also came out with a major version upgrade, which we will be contacting you about installing if you have Trend.
Tim Torian
Torian, Group, Inc.
http://www.toriangroup.com