"Why do I keep getting viruses?!"

Even the best anti-virus programs can’t ensure that you will never get a virus. Hackers are getting more creative in their methods and PC users sometimes make choices that inadvertently bypass their anti-virus software. Here are some tips to reduce the chances of your PC being infected.

• Don’t click on any website links that promise to “Speed Up Your PC” or “Remove Existing Viruses”. Many of these sites are scams or rogue security software that will not only infect your PC, but will make you pay them to fix it.

• Secure your internet connection with a hardware firewall (router). Routers are relatively cheap and easy to configure and they offer increased protection against internet threats.

• Use a web filtering program like K9 Web Protection. Web filtering programs like K9 can automatically block known malicious websites or website categories you designate as inappropriate. They can also allow you to limit internet browsing times and provide reports to help monitor and control web activity. This is a great FREE tool, especially if you have kids.

• Don’t open suspicious email attachments even if you know the sender. It is quite common for infected PC’s to send out malicious emails or attachments to users in the sender’s email contact list.

• Lastly: Use a good anti-virus program, keep your virus definitions up to date and run regular virus scans either nightly or weekly.

For assistance with any of the above tips or if you would like to know more about our services, please visit www.toddkile.com, email trk@toddkile.com or call (414) 559-1227.

Todd Kile - IT Consulting in Milwaukee, WI

Check out my website to find out more about my IT consulting business at www.toddkile.com. There you will find helpful tips, downloads, web links, and more information about my experience and services.

I service businesses and residential customers in the greater Milwaukee, WI area. Services include networking, systems security, hardware and software training, remote help desk support, on-site consulting, and a variety of other services.

Free Software Recommendations

The myriad software applications, tools and utilities available on the market today can be a little overwhelming to the average consumer. Are there reliable, free anti-malware (e.g. anti-virus, anti-spyware) programs? Is there a free alternative to MS Office? Can you download free software to optimize and speed up your PC? The answer to all of these questions is “yes!” You just need to know where to look.

I have comprised a list of several free programs that I have first-hand experience with and highly recommend. These programs are not just for those on a budget, but for those who are curious and just want to try something different. While some of these programs may not do “everything” that commercial software will do, most of them do a pretty good job. It is definitely worth a shot to give them a try. After all, you can’t beat the price and you just might be surprised with the results.

Anti-Malware
• Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
• SuperAntispyware

Anti-Virus software
• AVG
• Avast

PC Optimizers/Cleaners
• CCleaner
• ATF Cleaner

Productivity Suite (Nice Microsoft Office Alternative)
• Open Office

Photo/Graphics Editing
• Picasa
• Gimp

Sound Editor
• Audacity

FTP Client (Requires Firefox Web Browser)
• FireFTP

Email Client (Requires Firefox Web Browser – Yes, I love Firefox!!)
• Thunderbird

Remote PC Networking
• LogMeIn

Media Players
• VLC Player

These are just a few of the free programs that I have used. There are far too many to list in this article, but if you have any requests, please let me know what you are looking for and I’ll do my best to recommend additional software. You can also check out my website at www.toddkile.com for other tips and recommendations ... TK

Secure Your Email!!

2009 is here, ready or not. With a new year, expect new technology. With new technology, expect new security threats. It’s inevitable. No matter how hard you try to protect and secure your data at home or at work, some 15 year-old in Iowa will figure out a way to beat the system. While I can’t prevent hackers from stealing your data, I CAN give you some advice to better protect your data.

At the workplace, don't send critical files via email. Ask your IT staff if they can set up a secure FTP site. FTP is a fast, easy, and secure way to transmit files to your staff and clients. Most people at home don't have the luxury of FTP so they resort to email as the primary means of sending files.

If email is your only option for sending files, use encryption to protect your attachments. Here are few programs that will encrypt/password protect your email attachments.

1. WINZIP— Use WinZip to compress and password protect the files you attach to emails. You can purchase and download WinZip at www.winzip.com.

2. PGP— Is much more secure than WinZip. PGP is a very effective way to send secure files via email. Using encryption technology, PGP only allows the intended recipient of the email to open the attachment which make it an ideal solution very very critical files sent at the workplace.
To learn more about PGP, go to www.pgp.com.

3. GPG - Is a FREE alternative to PGP, but has a little bit of a learning curve. You can't beat the price, though. Check it out at www.gnupg.org.

I can't stress enough how important it is to secure your data. Sending files with critical information through email in an “unprotected state” is very dangerous. Don't wait until your data is compromised before you decide to take action. I've seen first-hand what can happen when important emails are intercepted and the consequences can be dire.

TK

Recommended Technology Sites

Here are some useful websites that I visit frequently for the latest technology news and reviews.

CNET - Reviews, articles, downloads.
PCWorld - Online version of the magazine.
PCMagazine - Online version of the magazine.
TechWeb - Latest technology news.
tech-tips - Tips on a variety of technology topics.
VirtualDr - Discussions on various computer topics.
VirusList - Detailed Internet security information.

TK

Speed Up Your PC

One of the most common questions I am asked is, “How can I speed up my PC?” It sounds like such a simple question. Unfortunately, there really is no simple answer that will speed up “everyone’s” PC. Everyone has different brands of computers, hardware configurations, software programs, user logins…etc., and there are many causes for slowdowns. Don’t stop reading now, though. I do have some general tips that should help speed up your PC.

10 Tips to Speed up Your PC (Windows XP).

1. Add More Memory - If you have Windows XP, you should have at least 1 GB of RAM. If you have Vista, you should have 2 GB. RAM (memory) is relatively inexpensive and easy to install.

2. Eliminate Startup Folder Items. – Remove as many items as you can from your Startup folder. The programs in this folder start automatically with Windows and can slow your computer down. Note: removing these programs from your Startup folder is not deleting the programs from your PC. It is just preventing them from starting automatically.

3. Remove Unnecessary Programs – Go into “My Computer” – “Control Panel” – “Add or Remove Programs” - and remove any programs that you no longer use. You might be surprised how many old, unused programs are just sitting dormant on your hard drive.

4. Defragment Hard Drives – I highly recommend a program called Diskeeper (www.diskeeper.com), but it costs about $30. Windows has a free program that does the same thing, but just not quite as well....or as fast. You can use Windows built-in Defrag utility by going into “My Computer” – Right Click on the Hard Drive – “Properties” – “Tools” – “Defragment Now.”

5. Disable Indexing Service – Windows Indexing Service is supposed to make file searching faster, but I have seen no real benefits for the average PC user. To disable the Indexing Service go into “My Computer” - Right Click on your hard drive, Left Click on "Properties." Uncheck "Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching." Select "Apply changes to subfolders and files". If any files cannot be updated, just select "Ignore All"

6. Reduce Windows XP “Eye Candy” – The default Windows XP visual settings may look nice, but they slow down system responsiveness. You can try turning off some of the eye candy to see if it boosts your PC performance. Go to "Start" - "Settings" - "Control Panel" - "System" - "Advanced" – in the "Performance" section select "Settings.” Play around with the settings by unchecking the various options. Remember, you can always change everything back if you don’t like the results.

7. Reduce Recycling Bin Size – The default maximum size of the Recycle Bin is 10% of your hard drive. When your Recycling Bin is full, this can be a big waste of drive space. Reducing the Maximum size prevents excess space from being wasted. To change the Recycling Bin Size, Right Click on the "Recycle Bin"- Left Click on "Properties" - select the "Global" tab - "Use one setting for all drives" - move the slider to "3%".

8. Run Chkdsk – This built-in Windows file system repair utility can help fix hard drive errors and possibly boost performance. To run Chkdsk, go to “Start" - "My Computer" – Right Click on your hard drive - Left Click on "Properties" - select the "Tools" tab - click "Check Now..." - check "Automatically Fix File System Errors" - then click "Start" - "Yes" and Reboot. Repeat these steps for any other hard drives/partitions on your PC.

9. Remove Windows Messenger – If you have Windows XP Service Pack 2, then you can ignore this step. This free program will remove Windows Messenger for you: http://www.grc.com/stm/shootthemessenger.htm. Windows Messenger is a vulnerable program that allows online spammers to create non-browser related message Pop-ups during normal system operation.

10. Call me at (414) 559-1227 or email me at trk@toddkile.com if the above steps didn't seem to help speed things up. Without knowing all of the details about your computer, it is difficult for me to help you fully optimize your PC.....TK

EMail Do's and Don'ts

Practically everyone uses email to communicate with one another. Most people/companies also use email to send attachments such as pictures, jokes, spreadsheets, documents and many other files. With the ever growing threat of email viruses, you may want to rethink how you use your email.

Here are some email DO’s and DON’Ts:

DO:

• Use a good Anti-Virus program such as ZoneAlarm, Norton, or McAfee.
• Update you virus definitions regularly.
• Set your Anti-Virus program to automatically scan incoming AND outgoing emails.
• Encrypt and compress email attachments with sensitive information before sending to others. Use encryption/compression software such as WinZip and PGP.
  

DON'T:

• Open any emails or attachments from strangers.
• Open any “unexpected” email attachments...even from people you DO know. Most email viruses are sent from people you know (usually unintentionally).
• Send email attachments unless you absolutely have to. FTP is a much more secure and viable solution for sending files over the internet.

While email is an easy and effective way to communicate, it is not the most secure method of transmitting data. If you have any questions on how you can improve the security of your data transmissions, please contact me at www.toddkile.com and we can discuss your options. Establishing a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or a secure FTP account are just a few of the alternatives to sending files via email....TK.

The Conduit for Computer Viruses

The widespread growth of the Internet over the past decade has caused the threat of computer viruses to increase dramatically. The Internet has become a virtual playground for computer programmers to test their skills and unleash their wrath on unsuspecting victims. These computer programmers are often referred to as “hackers,” and the programs they create to infect computer systems are called “viruses.”

Practically everyone who uses the Internet, or watches the news, is familiar with computer viruses and the damage they can cause. While the effects of computer viruses are well-known, their methods of transmission are not. Identifying the transmission methods of computer viruses is imperative in order to implement adequate security measures to protect other computers from being infected. The primary methods of transmitting computer viruses are emails, web sites, and file sharing.

Emails are the most common method of transmission and usually contain viruses disguised as “friendly” attachments. Malicious web sites can contain hidden code that can automatically infect a PC just by visiting the web site. File sharing on the Internet is very dangerous. Viruses can be renamed to look like an “mp3” music file or a popular software program that will then infect the recipient’s PC as soon as it is opened.

Understanding the primary methods hackers use to transmit computer viruses can help individuals and companies better protect their computers and data. There are many software and hardware solutions available to help combat viruses. It is important for individuals and companies to research the best solutions for their specific computer configurations. Installing anti-virus software, eliminating Internet file sharing, and installing firewalls are just a few of the available security options computer users need to consider to protect their computers from the dangers of computer viruses......TK

PC Security Tips

Here are some useful tips to keep your PC safe and secure. I know some of these tips are included in my general PC tip section, but they are important enough to list twice. I'll build upon these tips in the near future to include more details.

1. Use a Windows password to log in to your PC (no auto-logins!!)
2. Use hard to guess passwords (include symbols like #$%^&*)
3. Use anti-virus software
4. Use an anti-spyware program
5. Do not open email attachments from unknown sources
6. Run a firewall program on your PC
7. Set a screensaver password
8. Backup your data regularly and password protect your backups
9. Encrypt file attachments when sending via email (WinZip is a good free program)
10. Have an IT professional (like myself) perform a comprehensive security audit of your systems. Call (414) 570-1596 to schedule an appointment.

TK's 10 EZ Tips for Better Computing

1. Backup Your Data - Hard drives crash. Computers break. Files are erased. Protect your data by backing it up to an external hard drive, jump drive, CD, or DVD.

2. Update Virus Definitions - Even if you have antivirus software, your PC is susceptible to “unknown” viruses. Keep your antivirus software updated so that it knows what to look for.

3. Windows Updates - Windows is well-known for having security flaws. Running regular Windows updates will help increase security and fix other issues you may not even know about.

4. Disk Defragmenter - When you delete files and folders, your hard drive is left with empty spaces. Running Windows disk defragmenter (or another 3rd party defragmenter) will eliminate these empty spaces and organize your data on your hard drive for faster performance.

5. Uninstall Unused Programs - If you aren’t using a program, uninstall it. You will save disk space and help keep your PC clean.

6. Download Latest Drivers - Having the latest drivers helps prevent conflicts with new software titles. Drivers for hardware such as sound cards, video cards, printers, and scanners change frequently. Keep them up-to-date.

7. Keep Your PC Cool - PC’s, like people, need to breathe. Allow ample room for your PC to draw in cool air. Don’t suffocate your PC in a closed cabinet or in a tight corner where it can’t get fresh, cool air. Heat kills computers.

8. Check All Connections - You’d be surprised how many times computer problems are caused by disconnected or loose connections between PC’s, peripherals, and power sources.

9. When In Doubt - Reboot - Some people are afraid to reboot their PC’s. Don’t be. Many PC problems can be fixed with a simple reboot. If your screen is frozen and you can’t get to the Reboot option in Windows, hold in the PC power button for 10 seconds to force a shutdown.

10. Call (414) 570-1596, e-mail support@toddkile.com, or visit www.toddkile.com for help. If I can’t help you, I will do my best to help you find someone who can.

TK