Techno Blog http://blog.the-techshop.com Rob's Technology Blog Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:03:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 en Free Security Suggestions Number 2 http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/11/07/free-security-suggestions-number-2/ http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/11/07/free-security-suggestions-number-2/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:02:36 +0000 Rob http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/11/07/free-security-suggestions-number-2/ In the last few weeks I have found another really good product for cleaning spyware. This product does have a free version and a really good blog on their web site which explains which products they clean and which ones they do not. The product has helped me clean several bad infestations of Antivirus 2009.

Super AntiiSpyware 2009

]]> http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/11/07/free-security-suggestions-number-2/feed/ Security Suggestions http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/21/security-suggestions/ http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/21/security-suggestions/#comments Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:25:04 +0000 Rob http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/21/security-suggestions/ I thought I would do a special blog on talking quickly about some ways to secure your personal computer.  This Blog is directed at Windows 2000/Windows XP or Windows Vista users. I am going to focus on some free security tools and a low cost option to secure your pcs at home. This will focus on everything with the exception of WI-FI security which I will talk about in my next blog.

I personally do not believe in running any of the build in suites which ISP’s provide. They provide some protection which is fine and dandy but their are better low cost alternatives if not free ones which will give you as much protection that you require. The ISP suites are also pretty locked down which means you can not configure them to meet your needs.

At least every user should run a virus checker to prevent you from the most common viruses which are designed to bring down, steal your data and even use parts of your pc without you knowing it is happening. At work the hospital I work at uses the MCafee Anitivirus system. It runs great but I use a free one at home. On my home computers I am currently running  AVG free by Grisoft. I have run this virus checker for over 3 years and never have had an issue. The thing I really like is the resource requirement is low. This means it does not use much system memory and that the package does not require a lot of CPU processing power to run.

Avast also provides a free virus checker which also runs very well and is less resource intensive.

Personally I would stay away from running Norton Antivirus. It is very resource intesnive and even slows a new pc down running 4 GB of Ram. Not good at all.

AVG Free
Avast Free

Spyware is becoming one of the most common reason’s computers slow down and get infected. Most of today’s spyware is either designed to steal information from you or to use part of your  system to hack other systems. I use 2 free spyware checkers called Spybot and Adaware.

Spybot

Adaware

One thing that should be set on your pc is the Windows Firewall turned ON. This Setting can be done via your system control pane and clicking on Windows Firewall.

Speaking of firewalls, everyone should run a router even if you only have one pc. For a description of what a router is please see below:

Description Of a Router

The cost of a router is about $30-40 dollars.

The last thing that should be done is have automatic Windows updates turned on. This will automatically install all the latest security patches for Windows. Security patches are generally put out once a month by Microsoft but sometimes more often as the need exists.

That is it for now. I will do two more posts in the next 2 days on Wi-FI security as well Backups. These two topics play into the security mix as well.
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]]> http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/21/security-suggestions/feed/ Testing Software http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/14/testing-software/ http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/14/testing-software/#comments Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:01:43 +0000 Rob http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/14/testing-software/ I now have my test virtual machine running on my Vista pc at home. As a result I am now in position to do some more testing of software as well as commenting about them after I complete my testing.

The first piece of software I will be testing this week is the new Open Office version 3.0 . I should have a blog post on this package towards the end of the week.

]]> http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/14/testing-software/feed/ A Couple of New Google Products http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/13/a-couple-of-new-google-products/ http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/13/a-couple-of-new-google-products/#comments Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:35:57 +0000 Rob http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/13/a-couple-of-new-google-products/ A copy of new Google products have come out in the last while that I have been meaning to comment on. The first is Google’s entry into the browser market with Chrome. I believe Google will be hard pressed this time. Internet Explorer/Safari(if you have a Mac) and Firefox already have most of the market. Why do we need another browser?

I played with Chrome a little bit lately and I am really not that impressed.  Chrome seems to have a real issue with Flash web sites and this is a big issue for me since I am browsing the web all the time. One thing chrome is optimized for is other Google services such as Gmail. Chrome seems to run faster with Gmail.

The second Google update I have been playing with is one that I really like - Picasa 3 Beta. Picasa 3 Beta is a slick as version 2 and it runs even faster. The folks at Google have added more editing features and more light adjustment features for version 3. Transfering files to your Picasa Web Album is much faster on the same Internet connection then with version 2. A must download for anyone trying to manage their photo collection.

Chrome download:

Chrome Download

Picasa Beta 3 Download:

Picasa Beta 3 Download

]]> http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/13/a-couple-of-new-google-products/feed/ Web Site For transfering Large Files http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/06/web-site-for-transfering-large-files/ http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/06/web-site-for-transfering-large-files/#comments Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:56:06 +0000 Rob http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/06/web-site-for-transfering-large-files/ I found a great site for transferring large files. It is called You Send It. This site will let you send files of up to 100MB (free version) or 2 GB (paid version) to anyone without the use of an FTP program. It is all done via a web Interface.

This is faster and easier to use then FTP or sending files via email.

    You Send It

    ]]>     http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/06/web-site-for-transfering-large-files/feed/     More Home Network Update http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/06/more-home-network-update/ http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/06/more-home-network-update/#comments Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:39:17 +0000 Rob http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/06/more-home-network-update/ Well I finally have most of my home network updated. I managed to get my print server up and running as well as my network printer so all is well. I managed to get things reorganized and I am really happy. It has taken me a while with work and life going on.

    ]]>     http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/06/more-home-network-update/feed/     Newspaper Change http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/01/newspaper-change/ http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/01/newspaper-change/#comments Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:21:46 +0000 Rob http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/01/newspaper-change/ Well one of the things technology has done for me is I can now subscribe to one of my favorite daily newspaper’s electronically. I now receive a daily link to the Toronto Sun which I can log into in order to read my paper.

    The display looks like a real newspaper and it is easy to use. The pages flip like a real news pages. I point and click and it zooms into the article. I can zoom in and zoom out on sections of the paper.

    The best part is it costs me $4.99 a month instead of $4.99 a week

    ]]>     http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/10/01/newspaper-change/feed/     Computer Problems at Home Update http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/09/29/computer-problems-at-home-update/ http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/09/29/computer-problems-at-home-update/#comments Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:07:49 +0000 Rob http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/09/29/computer-problems-at-home-update/ My computer situation at home is getting better these days. I have bought a refurbished E-Machine AMD machine. This is a new one for me because I always purchase Intel chip set based processors. Well this machine is fast and flies.

    I have managed to get most of my core software installed.  I need to solve an email issues as well as get a few utilities installed that I use on a Semi regular basis as well as setup some virtual machines

    I have discovered the key to Vista - purchase a machine thats primary operating system is Vista. Do not upgrade an existing machine to Vista it will be a pain.

    I am taking my existing home pc with a new Hard Drive and setting it up for my GF Kelli. Her old pc I will be setting up as a print server.

    All in all it is coming along great:)

    ]]>     http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/09/29/computer-problems-at-home-update/feed/     Computer Problems at Home http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/09/24/computer-problems-at-home/ http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/09/24/computer-problems-at-home/#comments Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:19:54 +0000 Rob http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/09/24/computer-problems-at-home/ Normally I fix computer problems for others at home and at work. Well it seems I have a pile of issues going on.

    I just finished reinstalling my Mom’s office pc. It was corrupted. Now I need to see if I can recover any data from her old hard drive.

    The hard drive on my main machine died. It is a good thing thing I use Carbonite as a backup service. I also have a NAS box so I am saved.

    I also need to fix my network Multifunction printer.

    What fun this all is.

    ]]>     http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/09/24/computer-problems-at-home/feed/     Netgear NAS Box http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/09/21/netgear-nas-box/ http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/09/21/netgear-nas-box/#comments Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:40:29 +0000 Rob http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/09/21/netgear-nas-box/ Before I went into the hospital I had bought a Netgear Nas Box - SC101 and 2 320 Gig IDE hard drives to go in it. I was having all kinds of problems geting my pc to recognize the drives. Well I finally managed to get it installed.

    The secret is to disable both your Virus Checker and your spyware programs while you do the install. I should have knowen better because my Brother all in one works the same way. Now I am copying 40 gig of data to it.

    ]]>     http://blog.the-techshop.com/2008/09/21/netgear-nas-box/feed/