PC Recommendations, a new Squidoo lens
Heath and others at Squidoo are often exhorting lensmasters to make specific recommendations to make the lens more useful and effective. I’ve been attempting to do that and decided to go the whole way and make some lenses that are just about recommendations.
My first is at www.Squidoo.com/pcrecommendations/
Since I’m a computer consultant it’s natural that I have good experiences (as well as bad) and some favorite products and services. In the PC Recommendations lens, I’ve started with PC memory and some end user utilities like spam control. I’ve described my experience and/or impression of the product and provided a link. Some are affiliate links, so I’m especially hopeful for them. Interesting that one of my recommendations is for Crucial Technologies, a major memory chip company with a huge on-line presence. They seem to show up on the lens as an advertiser all the time, so they are getting lots of value from my lens!
Internet security suites software, argggh
PC manufacturers insist on inflicting swollen and faulty security suite software on unsuspecting customers. Software to protect you from all evils sounds like a good concept, right? Good idea, bad implementation from Symantec and from MacAfee. One of my first setup acts is to uninstall suite software – generally it’s just a trial anyway. MacAfee has sunk even lower in my view because their software auto starts, and their own uninstall option refuses to work because MacAfee services are running. Essentially a novice user is stuck with something that they might not want, can’t uninstall, and may well slow or retards their system performance. Aaaargh! Your choices are to try to kill the services, or restart in safe Mode and try the uninstall process.
and on to WordPress
Well, I've tried MSN Spaces and Blogger and Yahoo. So it's on to WordPress. I've started a hosted Blog using WordPress. The intention is to consolidate several blog experiments into one ongoing blog with categories.
The blog is called
One Stormy Day (that's www.onestormyday.com)
I'll keep this up for the foreseeable future, but all new posts will be at One Stormy Day.
Check it out and say hi. Thanks, Jack
Ps I’ve also created several lenses at Squidoo:
www.squidoo.com/iloveamysterywww.squidoo.com/otrwww.squidoo.com/benjaminfranklinwww.squidoo.com/fredricbrownwww.squidoo.com/retireinarizonawww.squidoo.com/arizonacitieswww.squidoo.com/hoawww.squidoo.com/computerconsultantwww.squidoo.com/eehibbardwww.squidoo.com/gasolinealley
Anti-Spyware Group Publishes Guidelines
My Way News
Anti-Spyware Group Publishes Guidelines
In the news, ready for commentary and comments.
Software updates - the good, the bewildering and the ugly (part 1)
The good - Keeping your operating system and security utilities updated is a necessity. With all the internet evil doers out there you need to keep your defenses in repair and up to date. Software is often too large (read bloated?) so that bugs need to be repaired, and the bugs in the repairs sometimes need to be re-repaired!
The bewildering - should you let updates happen automatically? Or should they be manually controlled? Does application software need to be updated? (sounds like a part 2, doesn't it?)
The ugly - Sometimes a good intention leads to a bad result. Today I Installed a Microsoft update (rollup 1 for W2k SP4) on a Compaq server running W2K server. On the required reboot, Active Directory was inoperable. This rendered the server essentially unusable. After exploring a little, I felt that the update could be the cause. Fortunately, uninstalling the update went smoothly and seems to have resolved the problem. Googled and saw some references to issues with the rollup, and info that Microsoft was going to reissue the rollup. The issues sited didn't cover my symptoms, but indicated a bad update was being offered. This rollup update covers all W2K systems, workstation and server. Very ugly!
Do you let Microsoft and others automatically update your software?
Controlling private surfing can reduce the risks of exposure
Seems obvious doesn't it? Much of the malware that infects computers comes from clicking the wrong button, surfing to the wrong site, or just being tricked. Large organizations that use Internet filters, proxy servers, etc have less spyware to deal with. The range of surfing is restricted, and so is the risk.The smaller office is less likely to restrict Internet access because of the perceived costs of installing and managing such controls. Home PC's are generally wide open because PC's and kids seem to hard to control. Microsoft's built-in controls are not an easy solution.We researched the filter tools for a law office client and found one that was reasonably priced and did a beta test. Good results led us to spread it through the office. While cutting down personal surfing was the primary goal, we saw a marked decrease in the number and severity of malware infestations. I described this product, FilteGate, at my "Software I Like" blog.Software and services that I use and can recommend . . .: Internet access filters - can you limit surfing activity?Have you tried to restrict access? How effective was it?
Check your Internet visibility
Want to know how your PC looks to the outside world? Are you vulnerable? Do you have any back doors open that can give somebody access to your PC?
To test your Internet visibility – Go to Symantec.com and select "Symantec Security Check", and follow the steps to let them scan your PC. They'll give you a report on any open ports or other apparent openings.
Symantec Home PageIf you are in an office, you should certainly get a clean report! If not, it's time for a security audit.
Computer, Network and Internet SecurityIf you are behind a good firewall, that is properly setup, you will pass this test. This does not protect you from doors you open when you surf - that's a different security risk.
