Kristal Heffley posted a Windows Internet Explorer 8 web browser article and it made me think
Kristal posted an article about Internet Explorer 8 and a security issue this week. It got me thinking about the various problems with Internet Explorer over the years. I use several Web Browsers on my different computers. I suggest that you have at least two installed in case your main one has problems. Sometimes, people assume there is only one web browser when there several. On Windows, I use Firefox, Opera, Seamonkey, Safari, Chrome and Comodo Dragon. On my Mac laptop I use Safari web browser. On Linux computers I use Firefox. Just realize no web browser is perfect in terms of security, even the ones I use. As time goes on, updates are released for them and it’s usually a good idea to allow them to install or do it yourself. As more things are done in the cloud and on-line, your web browser is more important than it used to be.
Phishing emails. I bought a $150 watch on ebay.
Last week I received an email stating I bought a TAG Heuer Men’s Carrera Silver Dial Chronograph Steel Watch. It looked official with a paypal and ebay letterhead, addreses, and official language. I didn’t really buy the watch and the letter had something weird on it: a February 2013 date. I examined the email header which contains all the network informations as it was routed from the sender to me and it was suspicious. For one thing, it was supposed to come from paypal and it had a completely different address. Also, there was a Brazilian address in there with a warning that it might be forged. Inside the email were two links they were hoping I’d click on so I’d possibly get infected with malware or take me to a site to infect me.
Windows Desktop cluttered with icons- create folders for them
I’ve seen many Windows desktops in my time and some of them were cluttered with icons. The computer desktop is the main screen for Windows and Linux operating systems which opens when you first turn on the computer. For Microsoft Windows, it’s where the start button resides. I remember one which was completely filled with icons. These icons are shortcuts to programs, web sites and other resources. A nice organizational tool is a folder on the desktop for the different icons. I have several on my computer desktop for tools, pictures, videos and others. In windows to create a folder on the desktop, right-click on an open area and a menu appears. Choose new and then select Folder. Create the name under the folder and you’re done. Then you can drag amd drop icons into the folder to clean up the clutter.
Thanks to Amber Recker, I’m scheduling my blogs
Recently, at a Social Media Breakfast Fort Wayne meeting, Amber was on the panel. She mentioned she writes her social media posts ahead of time and uses a tool to schedule them for posting. I started doing this with my blog posts and it’s taken the worry away in regards to writing something every day. Now when an idea for an article hits me. I just put it into my blog as a draft and then go back and revise it and schedule the post as I have time.
Social Media Breakfast Fort Wayne – a variety of people
At the last Social Media breakfast in April, I got there about 730AM and sat at my usual table up front near Kevin Mullett. That way I’m near the exit if a riot breaks out. Shortly, John, a networker fron the Monday networking group walked by and we spoke and he sat down at my table. Next, Kit, from the SMBFW sat down at the table to my right. Then a blast from the past walked by and asked if I remembered him. It was Bob from my Elementary school days who I hadn’t seen in 30 years. He said he found out about the SMBFW from my Facebook Post a few days ago. I introduced all three to each other and then Kevin started the session. If you haven’t been to one of these you need to go at least once. You don’t know what or WHO you’re missing!
Comodo Dragon Browser and Firefox on Windows 8
Today I was connected to a client’s laptop while they were in Florida. I was using my Windows 8 Pro Laptop and started the remote control session in Comodo Dragon web browser. the resonse was slow and every time I clicked on their laptops icons, the screen would refresh and prolong my agony. I didn’t have time to troubleshoot, so I switched to another web browser: Mozilla Firefox. It responded much faster in Logmein and I continued to use it the rest of the day. I don’t know why Dragon was slow, but in everything else it was fast. That’s why I am an advocate of having at least two web browsers on every computer in case one has problems in one web site then you have another option.
Windows 8 ISO burning
This week I used one of my Microsoft Windows 8 laptops to create a CD for one of my programs from an ISO image file. Windows 8 has a built-in service which recognizes the ISO and asks if you want to create the disk from it. No special software needed. It works well. In previous versions you had to install an additional program like nero or roxio.
Is your web site up? Are you sure?
I was working on an emergency call this morning for a business client who couldn’t send or receive email on his Microsoft Windows 7 laptop with windows Live Mail. I connected remotely to it and began investigating and after trying a new account it still had problems. I Tried disabling his security program’s mail protection and still no improvement. I began sensing the problem was outside of our control and checked their website which has the same domain as their email and is hosted by same company. The web site was down on all my computers and on my clients as well. During our phone conversation, I asked my client the last time they checked their site and they said a long time ago. I suggest everyone with a web site should check it daily and don’t guess it’s up.
Comodo Internet Security’s sandbox mode
I had a networker at Norris Networking las Friday ask me what I recommend for Windows virus protection and security. I like Comodo Internet Security because it has a three-part system: Antivirus, firewall, and behavior blocker. the latest version. 6.1.27 also includes an option to run a web browser in a sandbox, isolated from Windows and the programs. This way if you have something malicious come in from your browsing session, it won’t infect the computer. I only started using it this week so let me know if you have used it or a similar product.
You may have networked a long time -but has it been consistent?
I have been networking in open groups almost eight years. What’s more important is that I have attended a group every week during that time. I know what works and doesn’t work in networking. The key to networking success is consistent attendance. A few years ago I ran into someone at the Norris Networking Group meeting. They explained that we had met before at a different networking group, but I didn’t remember. The reason I didn’t remember them is they stopped networking and I continued. Had they continued I would have seen them more often and probably remembered them. It’s hard to say how many people I’ve met in person but it’s over a thousand just at networking groups. /
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