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Computer / Network Security
The APC 1000VA Power Saving Green Back-UPS XS – with LCD Display
Aug 21st
A UPS is a device that you don’t know you need, until you need it. A UPS or uninterruptible power supply is an in house battery back up that provides emergency power to your computer (or anything else you plug into it) when your utilities fail. Here in Bellevue where I live, we get sudden drops in power all the time, so for years I have used small UPS units to protect my PCs. It been a great system and has worked very well.
How to Configure Windows 7 Updates
Jan 20th
If you’ve been a Windows user since XP, you probably know the importance of keeping the OS up-to-date. If you’re new to Windows or more specifically Windows 7, here we’ll take some time to go over the importance of making sure you have Windows Updates configured properly.
If you want to help make sure that your PC is is more stable and less vulnerable to malicious attacks, the 2 main things to keep up-to-date is your Antivirus software and Windows Updates. The 2nd Tuesday of each month Microsoft has what’s called “Patch-Tuesday”. This is the day when Microsoft releases patches to improve stability, fixes to known vulnerabilities, and zero-day attacks. Let’s take a look at the process if you’ve just re-installed Windows 7.
Windows Update
To check to make sure your Windows Update settings are on…click on Start>>All Programs and scroll to Windows Update.
![sshot-2011-01-20-[00-16-18]](http://theaverageguy.tv/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/sshot-2011-01-20-00-16-18.png)
Windows Multipoint Server 2011 beta
Nov 14th
November 13,2010
I’ve been having a look at Windows Multipoint Server 2010 this week.
Sean Daniel released a slide deck for SMBNation Presentations on Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials and 2011 Standard. I noticed on slide 24, there is a reference to a product called Windows MulitPoint Server.
So I downloaded the 2010 version and installed that on a 1TB drive on my Shuttle SG33G5M with a 880GT. Looks like you need to have a USB hub for each keyboard and mouse for each workstation and a video connection on your server for each monitor. All was going well, I connected 1 keyboard that has 2 USB slots, so 1 for the wireless mouse dongle. I assuming that this setup makes the keyboard show up as a hub, as apposed to connecting the wireless mouse dongle to the PC directly, whereby also reducing the amount of USB ports. This becomes important if you plan on connecting 10 workstations that WMS can support.
Having Issues with Your Windows PC? (Who Hasn’t!) Here Are Some Helpful Tips
Aug 17th
If you are having trouble finding your way through computer problems, you are not alone. Fortunately, there is help! Microsoft has a very well done site that is dedicated to hints, fixes and tweaks to get you on your way. They cover everything from the basics to locating problems to software errors to hardware troubles.
You can find the info here:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/troubleshoot101.aspx
Enjoy and remember, I search so you don’t have to!
Worried about PC Security? 2 Things You Should Do Right Now! (and they are free!)
Aug 11th
It seems like it comes in waves and this week has been one of those waves!
Since I often fix broken PCs for people, I see it all. Lately, I have been getting that call that starts something like this. “Jim, I have a message that my computer has found a virus and that I need to pay to update my Antivirus software. Do I?”
In most cases, this is a solid, NO! There is a breed of viruses called “Scareware” that try to separate you from you money by collecting $$$ for antivirus updates for some bogus software. It all looks very legit, but it most definitely is not. There is some additional info here if you want more details.
What you need to know right now, is that there are two very easy things you can do right now to help prevent this from happening. Oh, and they are both very FREE!
Upcoming Saturday Super Seminars at SLCC! Bullet Proof Your Home PC / Protecting Your Family on the Web
Jul 24th
Our church, Shadow Lake Community Church, is once again offering free seminars for all those interested on Saturday morning, September 12, 2009. SLCC is located at 1510 Papillion Drive, Papillion NE 68133 (Map)
I will be leading a session titled Bullet Proof Your Home PC. We will spend the morning discussing the current security threats that exist to the average user on the internet as well as a few easy ways to protect you and your computer from viruses, adware, hacks, browser exploits and dozens of other problems that come with today’s surfing. More info is coming, so stay tuned to this blog if you are interested in joining us. Don’t think it’s only for the technical. I speak for the average guy! All are welcome to attend.
Remember, I search (and teach) so you don’t have to!
Worried About Losing Your Hard Drive to Fire? Worry No Longer!
Jul 1st
What is your worst nightmare? Public speaking? Getting married? Nude in public?
Mine is losing all my data that is stored on my Windows Home Server to a fire. I can see it now…the house catches fire and like a good father I race to get my wife and children to safety! Just as I go running back into the flames to grab my computer equipment (oh, and you know I would!) the roof collapses into my basement and the house is a total loss! Everything digital is gone. What a sad day that would be!
It doesn’t have to be that way…
K9 and OpenDNS – A Bullet Proof Vest For You and Your PC!
Apr 25th
If you are anything like me (and thank God most of you are not!) you don’t really need another reason to protect your kids (or yourself!) from the more “interesting” parts of the internet. I have five kids (ages 10 to 20), four boys and one girl. I constantly worry about what they see and read online. I can’t help it, that is just the way I am.
Years ago, I began to work through several solutions to help me control some of the content that comes in on the cable wires and is served to one of the many PCs that are in our house. Between the kids PC and the gaming boxes, we have a few ways to access the internet (like 12 ways!).
After many hours of trial and error, proxy servers and internet filters and a lot of lost sleep, I have landed on 2 really good products that serve as a double filter for our time online.
Worried about the Conficker Virus? 2 Second Test Will Tell!
Apr 5th
So April 1st came and went with out much hassle for the much talked about Conficker virus. That doesn’t mean it’s dead, as some 4% of the worlds PC are infected with it (mostly in the far east). Here is a short summary from the Vancouver Sun.
There are three versions of the worm and only one, which has infected the fewest systems, has the April 1 update code. The first version of the worm, Conficker.A, started to spread around the Internet in November. An updated version, dubbed Conficker.B, was released by the worm’s writers in January. Conficker.C has been programmed to update itself with an archive of websites on April 1. All three versions contain a list of 50,000 websites from which they can download commands from the individuals who programmed it
A Helpful Microsoft Tool You Have Never Heard Of – The Malicious Software Removal Tool
Mar 21st
Having trouble with a slow computer? Things not running right on your PC? Here is another unknown tool from Microsoft that you can use to help speed things up when Windows gets you down.
Most of the time, a slow computer can mean one of three things.
1. You have upgraded your OS software well beyond your hardware.
2. You have an install of Windows that gets used a lot (especially by kids) and has not been reinstalled in over a year.
3. You have a virus or malware that has infected your PC and taken it over.
These days, virus’ don’t attempt to destroy your data like they once did. Your personal information and the hijacked use of your PC are far to valuable to hackers. They want to take over your PC, not wreck it!
