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Thinking of upgrading to Vista?

We have been hearing about it for months! Windows Vista is finally here. There are five different versions to choose from: But is it right for you? Caveat Emptor!

All the electronic and office supply stores are running ads offering Windows Vista for sale and encouraging everyone to upgrade right now. If you have the pioneering spirit and at least $100 that's burning a hole in your pocket, go for it! We however are telling our customers to take their time and proceed with caution for several reasons.

First, your hardware may not be up to the task. Older PC's can require substantial hardware upgrades and may not work with Vista at all. You may find that out only after you buy it and try to install it. Be sure your hardware can handle Vista first!

Second, some older applications may not work correctly with Vista. You'll want to know that before you get into it, not after!

Third, in the past, new Windows operating systems have been plagued with bugs that needed to be patched. We're not suggesting that's the case with Vista, but it's still a little early to know. Do you really want to deal with all that?

Finally, there are many changes in Microsoft's license (EULA). Vista's license is much more restrictive than XP. You'll want to understand that before proceeding. Read the fine print carefully!

If you've been thinking of upgrading because your PC has been running a little slower than when it was new, maybe just re-installing Windows XP will do the trick. If you're running an operating system older than XP, you can still upgrade to XP for a lot less then the cost of Vista. Something to think about!

If you need help with your upgrade decision or would like help installing Vista, give us a call.

More information about Vista and some helpful tips:

How secure is your Wireless network?

by John Weigand

Wireless networks are popping up everywhere lately. Homes and small businesses have been putting them in by the thousands every month. Wireless networks offer PC users the convenience of Internet access just about anywhere in their home or business without the necessity and expense of running wires through the walls or under carpet. But how secure are they? The latest wireless technology itself is quite secure, IF it is implemented properly. The problem is, many networks are NOT installed correctly! The biggest problem is most people are not technically savvy and the equipment manufacturers know that. Most people simply want to buy a device, take it home, plug it in and have it work, so many manufacturers try to make the installation process as simple as possible. The catch is they do it by shipping equipment with the security functions turned OFF by default! That saves them a lot of calls to tech support but can leave the customer exposed.

Recent research by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), a not-for-profit, public-private partnership focused on driving awareness and promoting cyber security puts the number of exposed networks as high as 38 percent. Their research showed users are confused by the protections they are supposed to use and how to use them.

When a network is exposed it can be compromised by anyone within range of the wireless signal. In many cases this can be quite a long distance outside of the home or business. A compromised network can by monitored by outsiders to capture information or use the network for criminal activity. Comprised networks have been used by criminals for distributing child pornography, conducting illegal banking transactions and a host of other crimes. Cracking wireless networks has become so much fun for some that a hacking sport called "war driving" has started. It consists of driving around neighborhoods looking for "hot spots" (wireless signals) then chalk marking the street for others or publishing the address on the Internet.

Bottom line, many people don't really understand just how exposed they are and may find out the hard way when law enforcement shows up at their door someday and hauls away their computer equipment!

So what should you do if you don't know how secure your network is? First you must decide if you are inclined to learn about the technology yourself or if you should hire someone familiar with it. The cost of hiring a professional can be very reasonable and may not be worth spending hours learning. Once the network is secured, it should remain that way. If you decide to be a do-it-yourselfer the place to start is your owners manual, read it completely. Then here are some things to do (sorry now it gets pretty techie):

There may be other things your equipment will allow you to do, but these are some basic things that will help you keep your wireless network safe and secure.

More stories and information on Wi-Fi security....

Has your computer been acting strange lately? It could be Spyware!

by John Weigand

Is your computer running slower than it used to? Are you getting pop up advertisements even when your browser is not running? Has your browser home page changed to something you never heard of? Are there new things on your favorites list that you don't remember putting there? Is there a strange toolbar appearing on your browser? These are all symptoms of adware or spyware (also known as "parasites") and your computer could be infected! 

Spyware growth exploded in 2004 and is continuing. One spyware removal company estimates up to 80 % of all computers may have spyware or adware installed and their owners don't even know it. Another company says the number of adware programs have grown from 13 in 2001 to 1287 in 2003. The company also says there are now 78,000 spyware programs circulating around the world. The average computer is crammed with nearly 26.5 pieces of spyware, according to a report released by Atlanta-based ISP EarthLink.. Over the six-month period from Jan. 1, 2004 to June 30, 2004  EarthLink and  spyware / adware detection software sniffed through about 2.1  million systems and found more than 54 million instances of spyware...the firm also detected more than 447,000 system monitors and Trojans among the machines scanned. A later study by Earthlink found 116.5 million instances of spyware/adware in the last three months of 2004, a 72% increase from the previous quarter.

"The audited number from the past year clearly show that spyware is rapidly becoming one of the Internet's most dangerous threats," said Matt Cobb, EarthLink's vice president of core applications.

So what is spyware and adware anyway? Spyware is a class of software programs that basically spy on your PC activity. They can take the form of Key Loggers, which keep track of your PC keystrokes then send your activity to a website or somewhere else. This could include credit card numbers, passwords, etc. Another form is something called a Trojan Horse. Just like the name implies, it gets in to your PC without your knowledge, it can change settings, erase or change files and do all sorts of damage. Adware is somewhat like spyware except it is focused on finding out what you do and then sending you advertisements in e-mail or pop-up ads. Spyware and adware can lurk secretly on your PC for a long time without you knowing about it, so it pays to know the symptoms and take action when you see them.

So how do you end up with this stuff? There are several ways; if you have downloaded any P2P software such as Kazaa or Grokster, chances are it came with some spyware. Some "freeware" programs have it packaged with them so when you install the program the spyware installs too. You can also pickup spyware just by visiting certain websites or opening some unsolicited e-mail.

So what can you do to keep from getting it?  There is no complete surefire way, but there are some things you can do. First, make sure you keep your Windows software updated by downloading the latest updates from Microsoft. Second, make sure you have a good anti-virus product which keeps the definitions automatically updated. If you have a broadband connection to the internet, you want to make sure you have a quality firewall installed like Outpost Firewall to help you control programs that are using your internet connection. Also, when you download any software make sure you read the EULA (End User Licensing Agreement) before you install the program. Some EULA's actually tell you that they are installing spyware, although not in so many words!

If you use Microsoft's Internet Explorer, another way of reducing your risk of exploitation is to go to Tools> Internet Options> Security and set the security level for the Internet Zone to "High". (If no slider is visible, click "Default level" to make it appear first.) Then set the security level for the Trusted Zone to "Medium" and add the sites you use and trust to this zone; you may need to do this quite often as many poorly designed sites just won't work in high-security mode.

Lastly, you should also get and run at least one or more good spyware/adware detection programs.  Some recent studies suggest running several anti-spyware programs because no single program can detect all the spyware that's out there. There is no such thing as "too much" protection when it comes to fighting spyware.   Whatever you do though, be careful shopping for spyware solutions, because some programs advertised as spyware removers can actually install more spyware and make matters worse!

What can you do if you get infected?  First, you don't have to go out and buy a new computer (unless you want one), your computer is probably salvageable.  If your PC is just starting to show symptoms but is still working, don't wait, download a  good anti-spyware product install and run it. They will find and eliminate the nasty stuff!  If you wait too long, the situation will get much worse, maybe forcing a complete reinstallation of Windows and the loss of valuable data.  If your computer is too far gone, locked up or slowing to the point of being unusable, you need to get help. Your best course of action at this stage is to hire a competent technician that is familiar with spyware/adware and the tools needed to remove it. That way you can be as certain as possible that all traces of the parasites are gone and hopefully forever!

More stories and information about Spyware...

Attention Windows XP Users

You've been hearing about it, but have you done it yet?  Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) that is!  This is a major service pack issued by Microsoft to better defend against viruses, worms and hackers.  If you have not done it yet, the U.S. Computer Emergency Response Team (US-CERT) says now is the time.  But before you get started, there are some things you should know.  CERT and Microsoft both warn you should backup your important data before starting just in case there is a problem during the installation.  There have been reports that as many as 10 percent of the upgraded machines had some kind of problem after completion.  We offer our customers several backup products to help simplify that task.  Microsoft also warns that some spyware programs can cause your PC to freeze upon installation, so you should use a good spyware product to make sure your computer is "clean" before you begin.  You will also want to allow several hours for the task, especially if you're using a dial-up internet connection.  Downloading the update can take several hours by itself!

If you want to avoid the hassle altogether, don't put off doing it, give us a call and we'll do it for you at your place or ours! Just give us a call to set-up an appointment.

Sasser Worm creator gets suspended sentence

VERDEN, Germany:  The creator of the "Sasser" Internet worm, which caused millions of dollars in damage worldwide, won't be going to jail despite his conviction July 8th on charges including computer sabotage.

Sven Jaschan, 19, who was arrested with the help of a $250,000 reward  from Microsoft Corp., instead got a 21-month suspended sentence and was ordered to do community service. He could have been sentenced to up to five years in prison, but prosecutors sought only a two-year suspended sentence because he was a minor when he was arrested. Jaschan was arrested within days of his 18th birthday. Jaschan was ordered to perform 30 hours of community service at a hospital or retirement home but he wasn't ordered to pay court costs.

The Sasser worm exploited a flaw in Microsoft's Windows 2000 and Windows XP operating systems. Although it did not cause permanent damage, it prompted some computers to continually crash and reboot.

Sasser snarled hundreds of thousands of computers, hitting a third of Taiwan's post office branches, delaying 20 British Airways flights and forcing British coast guard stations to use pen and paper for charts normally generated by computer.

In recent years Germany has been a hotbed of virus writers. With the lack of serious penalties, that trend can be expected to continue.

Morocco Jails Two For Disrupting U.S. Computers
The Sasser worm lives on.
Read more news about viruses...

Pharming Out-Scams Phishing

First came phishing scams, in which con artists hooked unwary internet users one by one into compromising their personal data. Now the latest cyberswindle, pharming, threatens to reel in entire schools of victims.

Pharmers simply redirect as many users as possible from the legitimate commercial websites they'd intended to visit and lead them to malicious ones. The bogus sites, to which victims are redirected without their knowledge or consent, will likely look the same as a genuine site. But when users enter their login name and password, the information is captured by criminals.

Read more....

"Puddle Phishing" Hits Small Banks, Credit Unions

Phishers are baiting users of smaller banks, a security firm said Monday, calling the practice "puddle phishing."

"In the past, phishers focused on mainstream consumer sites with millions of users, but now the targets are becoming much smaller and more localized," said Dan Hubbard, senior director of security at Websense, in a statement. "By targeting a bank with just a few branches, the number of potential phishing prey is reduced to a much smaller number, sometimes to just a few thousand people. Nonetheless, the fact that we are seeing more and more of the smaller financial outlets being targeted by phishing attacks may indicate that this is a highly profitable scam."

Cumberland County Computer & Electronics Recycling Day

If you are a Cumberland County resident, you can recycle during Cumberland County Computer Electronics Recycling Days held twice each year.

UPDATE: The recycling date for 2008 has past. Stay tuned for updates.

Old electronic equipment is a rapidly growing part of our waste stream.  Electronics contains metals that if not properly managed can become hazardous waste.  The average TV or computer monitor contain between 4 and 7 pounds of lead. Old electronics can be demanufactured to recover metal and plastic for recycling or reuse.  Recycle your old electronics by participating in this program!  For more information call the Solid Waste Authority of Cumberland County at 717-240-6489. 

Brookridge Computer also accepts select recent model computers for repair and donation to needy parties.  If you would like to donate a computer, please call us at 717-732-5863.

Ink Jet printer cartridge recycling

The Solid Waste Authority of Cumberland County is partnering with the Cumberland County Library System to offer free Ink Jet printer cartridge recycling. Each empty ink jet cartridge that is recycled reduces the amount of solid waste that is put into landfills. It also reduces the amount of limited natural resources required to produce new cartridges. The process is simple: visit the library, take one of the pre-addressed, postage paid envelopes, insert the cartridge, and drop in the mail. The Joseph T. Simpson Public Library in Mechanicsburg is by drop off only. Participating libraries are: More information about recycling...

Is your PC overheating?

Serious heat and delicate PC electronics aren't a good combination if you want to keep your PC running smoothly. Your PC should be located in a room of moderate temperature (not too hot or too cold), not situated on top of a direct heat source, and not placed directly in the sun. Care should be taken to keep the PC's vents clear of dust and debris, and to keep the vents unblocked (don't have anything directly in front, behind, or to the side of the PC reducing flow of warm air from the inside to the outside of the PC).

If you think your PC might need a cleaning, give us a call. We can clean and test it for a very reasonable cost.

Latest Virus Information

More news and tips....

Brookridge Computer 717-732-5863

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