There have been several outbreaks of “ransomware” over the past few months. This type of malware will encrypt all of your files, and then prompt you to send payment electronically to get your files back — holding them for ransom. The sources of these attacks are hard to track down, so if someone can successfully […]
Keeping your Mac updated with security fixes is one good way to help your system continue to stay free from malware. Even though it’s rare on Macs, the potential for malware is there, and we’re seeing more attacks as time goes on. Here’s how to set your system to let you know when updates are
Many ransomware and spyware programs get into your computer by exploiting vulnerabilities in the operating system. One thing that can help protect your Windows system from malware is making sure that Windows Update is working and applying security updates and bug fixes from Microsoft. n n Here are the best settings for Windows Update on
n We don’t yet know who is behind today’s massive disruption of Internet services, but it’s pretty clear how they’re doing it. They’re using people’s unprotected routers, smart doorbells, smart thermostats, security cameras, and other “Internet of Things” devices as a zombie army. n n I’ll give an explanation of what’s going on, but first,
MacKeeper is a program that bills itself as a utility to help you keep your Mac running smoothly. Originally, it was a good program. The publisher showed up at all the Mac-oriented trade shows, and the program was given high marks by the tech press for its usefulness and design. n n Then it changed
You never open attachments in emails, you don’t click on suspicious-looking links, and you don’t download programs from random websites – so why is your computer getting viruses, adware, and a LOT of popups? n n (And by the way, if you DO any of those things – STOP IT!) n n You might not
Happy New Year! Make a resolution to keep your data safe this year, by putting a good backup system into place! Here are some common backup mistakes I’ve run into: n n n You have no backup at all. Hard drives don’t last forever, and if you have any files (important documents, pictures, videos) you
n n Today, Microsoft started showing off the next version of Windows, and they’ve decided to jump from Windows 8 to Windows 10. I guess 9 is the loneliest number this time. Are they skipping a number to try and get some distance from Windows 8? Do they not want Windows to be thought of
I wrote a while back about what to do if you have a computer running Windows XP, in light of Microsoft discontinuing support for the venerable operating system. At the time, my recommendation was to not panic, and keep using the system if it works for you, and keep an eye out for any new
The recent Heartbleed bug has made everyone think about their passwords for different Internet sites, and while a lot of the tech news folks are in a lather about the ins and outs of password management, most of the folks I talk to just want to keep their information safe, while not adding too much
