My recommendation for installing Comcast's free McAfee security suite is that you only install the products from McAfee that you think will not bog down your computer. Check your available ram and CPU speed before opting to install such items as data backup, parental controls and their firewall. Though these products are reliable and detection is good (in my opinion), McAfee is a huge memory hog and brings slower systems reponse times to a crawl.
You can view FCP's website at fcpcomp.com
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Playing DVD’s in Linux (Ubuntu)
I found this posting on the Ubuntu website concerning playing store-bought CD’s on a Linux machine:
It worked like a charm for me although I had a customer tell me it didn’t work. In short, there are only two commands to type in at the prompt…
-
sudo apt-get install libdvdread3 gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly
sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/install-css.sh
#1 above installs a plugin and #2 installs a script.
Good luck and let me know how it works.
Update: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats/PlayingDVDs
-mike (mtclason@fcpcomp.com)
Sunday, December 28, 2008
What is File Compression and how do I do it?
For those of you who are unsure of what data or "file compression is", this article is for you. In a nutshell, every file on your computer is composed of bits. File compression is taking that file and rearranging the data so that it emerges as the same file only with fewer bits, and thus smaller.
Why do you (yes you) have to do something so technically sounding as compress a file? Here's four good reasons why you should get good at doing this.
- You can send or save several or many files all contained within ONE (1) file.
- The file size is much much smaller (good for attachments and saving space).
- You can password protect your file (nobody can view your file without the password).
- If you are sending a file by email, many email servers will block files that can be viewed or executed by someone inadvertently clicking on the file.
And one more thing... Files that are compressed can still be viewed without having to uncompress them.
So, how do you compress a file? Well, in Windows XP, you don't have to download anything, although you probably should. Here's why:
XP ships with a built-in file compression utility, but you're probably not going to like it. It's not that it's difficult to use, it's that it is too basic and it's EASY to find something on the internet that's better and even easier to use.There are several file compression utilities that are free. My favorite is called 7Zip which can be downloaded here... It is my favorite because it can compress in Zip format which you have probably heard of and is the standard by which most Windows users are familiar and are able to decompress and view, or in the lesser known 7z format which compresses twice as much on average as the more common Zip format. Another reason I like 7Zip is that it's both free and the source code is Open Source.
I found some fairly good tutorials about how to install and run 7Zip here and here. The first is a video, the next is a well illustrated document. These tutorials should get you up and running.
Knowing how to compress a file will save you time when emailing attachments, make those attachments more secure, and take a fraction of the time it takes to upload the original bloated file. -One closing thought... Some files don't compress very well. For instance, MP3's will not compress at all because it is already in a compressed format. The same is true with some other high compression audio and video formats.
Take care...
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Back up your hard drive
I've purchased a couple of programs to back up my hard drive and neither one worked for me. When I went to restore the backup, my computer wouldn't boot in one case, and in the other, the program stated that my backup was corrupt.
This is bad news for someone that is relying on their backup to save their hide should something go wrong. After doing a bit of research, I found a gem that I'd like to share.
DriveImage XML, distributed for free by Runtime Software uses a method of backing up that is in my opinion rather fullproof. You can read about this fantastic backup program at http://www.runtime.org/dixml.htm. To make a long story short, I've done a number of restores with DriveImage XML and my hard drive was restored flawlessly.
If you want a complete backup, that is, a backup of your entire drive so that it is an exact image of your hard drive and boots as if nothing ever happened, it's NOT a good idea to boot to the drive that you want to back up. If you boot to a thumb drive, a CD, or some other source, DriveImage XML can "lock" that hard drive for a perfect copy. If you boot to say- your C: drive and attempt to back it up, the folks at Runtime Software say that your image will be close, but not perfect.
Though "free" isn't necessarily better with regards to software, in this case it is. Give yourself some peace of mind and visit their website and try out their software. One drawback is that you cannot do incremental backups. However, I like this program so much that I do standard weekly backups with McAfee which has a module for this and do monthly backups of the entire drive. I've relocated all my data to either "My Documents", or "Shared Documents", back up that on a weekly basis, and do a drive image once a month.
Check them out...
This is bad news for someone that is relying on their backup to save their hide should something go wrong. After doing a bit of research, I found a gem that I'd like to share.
DriveImage XML, distributed for free by Runtime Software uses a method of backing up that is in my opinion rather fullproof. You can read about this fantastic backup program at http://www.runtime.org/dixml.htm. To make a long story short, I've done a number of restores with DriveImage XML and my hard drive was restored flawlessly.
If you want a complete backup, that is, a backup of your entire drive so that it is an exact image of your hard drive and boots as if nothing ever happened, it's NOT a good idea to boot to the drive that you want to back up. If you boot to a thumb drive, a CD, or some other source, DriveImage XML can "lock" that hard drive for a perfect copy. If you boot to say- your C: drive and attempt to back it up, the folks at Runtime Software say that your image will be close, but not perfect.
Though "free" isn't necessarily better with regards to software, in this case it is. Give yourself some peace of mind and visit their website and try out their software. One drawback is that you cannot do incremental backups. However, I like this program so much that I do standard weekly backups with McAfee which has a module for this and do monthly backups of the entire drive. I've relocated all my data to either "My Documents", or "Shared Documents", back up that on a weekly basis, and do a drive image once a month.
Check them out...
I Like McAfee, but be careful with it.
I've repaired quite a few computers that had McAfee running on it. And though I like McAfee, if it crashes due to an error, all hell breaks loose.
Here's the problem: McAfee's strength is also it's weakness. There are quite a few modules all built-in to McAfee and it would seem that if one malfunctions, it can bring down the 'house of cards' so-to-speak. It would seem that the convenience of seeing your security at a glance with an integrated application is both secure and insecure at the same time.
Now, I've never had a problem with McAfee. It's provided to me as a free download by Comcast and I have to say I love it. I've read reviews that say it's too big, but I've seen no performance hits other than my computer taking a few seconds longer to boot up.
Here's why I like it:
1) McAfee Security Center is powerful and monitors much more than XP's built-in security center.
2) McAfee's virus detection is rated right at the top. It's sometimes poor reviews are sometimes skewed by categories such as "Ease of Install", and "User Friendliness" and others that make little difference to me.
3) It has (I love this) a virtual map of your entire network and monitors every computer on your network and reports on ITS security. When you think about it, isn't this almost as important as the computer you're presently using?"
4) It backs up your documents as part of your comprehensive security plan.
5) It cleans your Internet Tracks as part of a scheduled security plan.
6) It links well with Windows Task Scheduler which is handy for a security suite since you don't have to open another app buried in your "System Tools" somewhere.
In short, McAfee Internet Security Suite is fairly stable and gives me a one-application solution to just about all my security concerns EXCEPT a full backup, and continues to score near the top in just about every category. I highly recommend it. Comcast customers can get it here:
http://security.comcast.net
Here's the problem: McAfee's strength is also it's weakness. There are quite a few modules all built-in to McAfee and it would seem that if one malfunctions, it can bring down the 'house of cards' so-to-speak. It would seem that the convenience of seeing your security at a glance with an integrated application is both secure and insecure at the same time.
Now, I've never had a problem with McAfee. It's provided to me as a free download by Comcast and I have to say I love it. I've read reviews that say it's too big, but I've seen no performance hits other than my computer taking a few seconds longer to boot up.
Here's why I like it:
1) McAfee Security Center is powerful and monitors much more than XP's built-in security center.
2) McAfee's virus detection is rated right at the top. It's sometimes poor reviews are sometimes skewed by categories such as "Ease of Install", and "User Friendliness" and others that make little difference to me.
3) It has (I love this) a virtual map of your entire network and monitors every computer on your network and reports on ITS security. When you think about it, isn't this almost as important as the computer you're presently using?"
4) It backs up your documents as part of your comprehensive security plan.
5) It cleans your Internet Tracks as part of a scheduled security plan.
6) It links well with Windows Task Scheduler which is handy for a security suite since you don't have to open another app buried in your "System Tools" somewhere.
In short, McAfee Internet Security Suite is fairly stable and gives me a one-application solution to just about all my security concerns EXCEPT a full backup, and continues to score near the top in just about every category. I highly recommend it. Comcast customers can get it here:
http://security.comcast.net
How to set-up your computer to reject known Spyware, Trojan Horses, Crapware and Malware
It is the opinion of many that “Computer Viruses” are no longer the most expensive threat to unsuspecting computer users these days (at least with home users). By far, the most business I receive as a computer repairman is from Adware, Trojans, and all-around “Crapware” that slow computers to a crawl, damage file-systems, prevent computers from booting and a host of other problems. And no longer are the culprits mostly programmers looking for trouble. The bad guys are now corporations and businesses who could care less if your computer didn’t work for anything else but push their product and make them money. There are even companies who have created problems and then offered their product as a solution! I recall receiving constant pop-ups that said something like “Install our Software and STOP THESE POPUPS!”
For the purposes of this article, I will be using the generic term of “Spyware” for all these kinds of business hanky-panky that take place on your computer without you realizing it until your computer just about falls over.
One of the most common questions I get from customers is “How did that Spyware get on my computer in the first place!?” The answer unfortunately isn’t a simple one, but the general answer is somehow you either missed the small-print on a download from the internet, or a company or person tricked your computer into accepting their software without you knowing it.
There exists a series of steps you can take to make sure all known Spyware sites can be blocked from your computer. If you follow these steps, you should be able to enjoy surfing the internet without having to constantly scan your computer using utilities that you’re not sure even work, or safely allow family members to surf freely without having to remind yourself to scan your computer when they're done.
Follow the step-by-step instructions below to keep these bastards out of your computer! I should state here that by doing this, that your computer MAY not let you go to a website that you like if it is known to be a source of Spyware. For instance, there is a long list of porn sites that will be blocked. So if you get your porn off the internet, this procedure will greatly help in you in knowing which ones are safe.
1. If you don’t have Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000, you should upgrade to it. Microsoft no longer supports other versions with Windows Update. (Follow this link to learn what “Windows Update” means and why you need it.) That said, make sure your Operating System stays up-to-date with the latest security updates. You have two choices in how you receive updates from Microsoft: Receive Updates automatically or manually update your computer. To have your computer automatically update press: Start>Control Panel>Security Center.
To manually update your Windows Operating System, navigate your Internet Explorer Browser to http://update.microsoft.com/. You should almost always have your computer update automatically unless you have a very slow internet connection.
2. Make sure you have a reliable firewall! This is extremely important. Tests have been conducted with unprotected computers connected to the internet to see how long it would take a “robot” to find the computer and exploit its vulnerabilities. Typically, these computers were infected in a matter of hours WITHOUT BROWSING! If your Operating System (XP) is up-to-date, Security Center should notify you when your firewall is down. There are lots of firewalls out there; Zonealarm being my favorite (and it’s free!) If you ever want to know if your firewall is running, go to the XP Security Center as I’ve described above.
3. Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a “Hosts” file This link is to one of my favorite pages on the internet. If you’re not computer-savvy, you might find it hard to read, but basically it’s saying that on your computer resides a file that instructs your computer browser to do special things when you navigate to certain websites.
This file is called “hosts”. Not “hosts.exe”, not “hosts.txt”, but simply “hosts”. You can see it if you navigate in Windows Explorer to Windows/System32/Drivers/Etc.
What we’re going to do is put a new hosts file on your computer that instructs your web browser to redirect a webpage you visit that is dangerous back to your own computer instead of the internet. The instructions on how to download your new “hosts” file are in the link below and I’ll include some simplified instructions here...
3.1 Navigate to c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc in Windows Explorer and rename your “hosts” file to something like “hosts.bak”
3.2 Download the hosts file from http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.zip and extract this file.
3.3 Copy the hosts file that you’ve just extracted to c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc
3.4 You’re done! Now your computer will block all known spyware sites (even if you don’t want it to!) Warn your family that they might not be able to view everything they want to see. This list is not a “parental filter”. In other words, there are plenty of unsavory sites on the internet that aren’t serving spyware.
4. Stop Tracking Cookies! The problem with a hosts file is that it doesn’t stop cookies. A tracking cookie is a cookie that tells a company that’s hired them (Doubleclick) which websites you’ve been looking at so that (in theory) they (the company) knows what sort of advertising to “push” at you. It will stop known spyware from being installed on your computer, but it will not stop cookies.
There’s another layer of protection that you can add. You can simply go to your Control Panel and select “Network and Internet Connections” and then “Internet Options”. Select the “Security” tab, then “Restricted Sites”, then below that, “Sites”. It is here that you can add any number of "bad" websites and url's.
We’re going to put several hundred sites in the "Restriced Zone" in one whack with a small utility called IE-Spyad which you can get from here. To quote the website:
“IE-SPYAD adds a long list of sites and domains associated with known advertisers, marketers, and crapware pushers to the Restricted sites zone of Internet Explorer. Once you merge this list of sites and domains into the Registry, the web sites for these companies will not be able to use cookies, ActiveX controls, Java applets, or scripting to compromise your privacy or your PC while you surf the Net. Nor will they be able to use your browser to push unwanted pop-ups, cookies, or auto-installing programs on your PC.”
To keep this document from getting too long, I’m going to let you read the webpage above, but if you want to skip that and just down-load the file, you can do so from here (last time I checked). I suggest reading the page so you can make sure you know what you’re doing.
5. There is a great utility that will monitor your computer to make sure none of the websites in your Restriced Zone can touch your computer. Download Spywareblaster and install it.
That’s about it. These instructions get you started. By all means, install a Spyware program such as AdAware to scan for anything that might slip by and keep it updated. The point here is that I’ve seen many people with Spyware Blockers on their computer who have called me because their system was crippled with Spyware. They either run it too infrequently or do not update it regularly, or their Spyware program didn’t identify the threat. It’s interesting to me that if you run 5 different Spyware scanners, you get 5 different conclusions. AOL recently threatened Microsoft to label “Weatherbug” as “safe” and not to label it “Spyware” (Microsoft gave in). Therefore, do the above steps AND install a Spyware scanner! You’re now armed to the teeth!
For the purposes of this article, I will be using the generic term of “Spyware” for all these kinds of business hanky-panky that take place on your computer without you realizing it until your computer just about falls over.
One of the most common questions I get from customers is “How did that Spyware get on my computer in the first place!?” The answer unfortunately isn’t a simple one, but the general answer is somehow you either missed the small-print on a download from the internet, or a company or person tricked your computer into accepting their software without you knowing it.
There exists a series of steps you can take to make sure all known Spyware sites can be blocked from your computer. If you follow these steps, you should be able to enjoy surfing the internet without having to constantly scan your computer using utilities that you’re not sure even work, or safely allow family members to surf freely without having to remind yourself to scan your computer when they're done.
Follow the step-by-step instructions below to keep these bastards out of your computer! I should state here that by doing this, that your computer MAY not let you go to a website that you like if it is known to be a source of Spyware. For instance, there is a long list of porn sites that will be blocked. So if you get your porn off the internet, this procedure will greatly help in you in knowing which ones are safe.
1. If you don’t have Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000, you should upgrade to it. Microsoft no longer supports other versions with Windows Update. (Follow this link to learn what “Windows Update” means and why you need it.) That said, make sure your Operating System stays up-to-date with the latest security updates. You have two choices in how you receive updates from Microsoft: Receive Updates automatically or manually update your computer. To have your computer automatically update press: Start>Control Panel>Security Center.
To manually update your Windows Operating System, navigate your Internet Explorer Browser to http://update.microsoft.com/. You should almost always have your computer update automatically unless you have a very slow internet connection.
2. Make sure you have a reliable firewall! This is extremely important. Tests have been conducted with unprotected computers connected to the internet to see how long it would take a “robot” to find the computer and exploit its vulnerabilities. Typically, these computers were infected in a matter of hours WITHOUT BROWSING! If your Operating System (XP) is up-to-date, Security Center should notify you when your firewall is down. There are lots of firewalls out there; Zonealarm being my favorite (and it’s free!) If you ever want to know if your firewall is running, go to the XP Security Center as I’ve described above.
3. Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a “Hosts” file This link is to one of my favorite pages on the internet. If you’re not computer-savvy, you might find it hard to read, but basically it’s saying that on your computer resides a file that instructs your computer browser to do special things when you navigate to certain websites.
This file is called “hosts”. Not “hosts.exe”, not “hosts.txt”, but simply “hosts”. You can see it if you navigate in Windows Explorer to Windows/System32/Drivers/Etc.
What we’re going to do is put a new hosts file on your computer that instructs your web browser to redirect a webpage you visit that is dangerous back to your own computer instead of the internet. The instructions on how to download your new “hosts” file are in the link below and I’ll include some simplified instructions here...
3.1 Navigate to c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc in Windows Explorer and rename your “hosts” file to something like “hosts.bak”
3.2 Download the hosts file from http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.zip and extract this file.
3.3 Copy the hosts file that you’ve just extracted to c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc
3.4 You’re done! Now your computer will block all known spyware sites (even if you don’t want it to!) Warn your family that they might not be able to view everything they want to see. This list is not a “parental filter”. In other words, there are plenty of unsavory sites on the internet that aren’t serving spyware.
4. Stop Tracking Cookies! The problem with a hosts file is that it doesn’t stop cookies. A tracking cookie is a cookie that tells a company that’s hired them (Doubleclick) which websites you’ve been looking at so that (in theory) they (the company) knows what sort of advertising to “push” at you. It will stop known spyware from being installed on your computer, but it will not stop cookies.
There’s another layer of protection that you can add. You can simply go to your Control Panel and select “Network and Internet Connections” and then “Internet Options”. Select the “Security” tab, then “Restricted Sites”, then below that, “Sites”. It is here that you can add any number of "bad" websites and url's.
We’re going to put several hundred sites in the "Restriced Zone" in one whack with a small utility called IE-Spyad which you can get from here. To quote the website:
“IE-SPYAD adds a long list of sites and domains associated with known advertisers, marketers, and crapware pushers to the Restricted sites zone of Internet Explorer. Once you merge this list of sites and domains into the Registry, the web sites for these companies will not be able to use cookies, ActiveX controls, Java applets, or scripting to compromise your privacy or your PC while you surf the Net. Nor will they be able to use your browser to push unwanted pop-ups, cookies, or auto-installing programs on your PC.”
To keep this document from getting too long, I’m going to let you read the webpage above, but if you want to skip that and just down-load the file, you can do so from here (last time I checked). I suggest reading the page so you can make sure you know what you’re doing.
5. There is a great utility that will monitor your computer to make sure none of the websites in your Restriced Zone can touch your computer. Download Spywareblaster and install it.
That’s about it. These instructions get you started. By all means, install a Spyware program such as AdAware to scan for anything that might slip by and keep it updated. The point here is that I’ve seen many people with Spyware Blockers on their computer who have called me because their system was crippled with Spyware. They either run it too infrequently or do not update it regularly, or their Spyware program didn’t identify the threat. It’s interesting to me that if you run 5 different Spyware scanners, you get 5 different conclusions. AOL recently threatened Microsoft to label “Weatherbug” as “safe” and not to label it “Spyware” (Microsoft gave in). Therefore, do the above steps AND install a Spyware scanner! You’re now armed to the teeth!
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