CrexTechs Blog

FYI for all WindowsXP users:

Microsoft stopped support and security updates for WindowsXP with Service Pack 2 back in July 2011.  Service Pack 3 is still available and support and security updates for Windows XP with service pack 3 will continue until 2014.

Microsoft is encouraging businesses running WindowsXP to start making plans now to upgrade to Windows7 before 2014 to ensure they get support and security upgrades.

For the average user, XP is still a very easy to use, functional operating system.  No one needs to run out and replace their machines now.  By 2014, anything could happen in the world of computing.  Be sure you have uploaded and installed Service Pack 3.

To find out what service pack you have, go to the start menu and look for My Computer on the right.  Right click on My Computer and select properties.  You will see this screen (click once on the image to zoom in):

You will find service pack listed under System.

To upgrade your service pack, go to your Start menu and All Programs. Up at the top you will find Microsoft Update. Click on Microsoft Update. Internet Explorer will open to Microsoft which will begin checking your computer for your most recent updates.

If you have questions or concerns, drop us an email or give us a call.

Happy Halloween

Ever wish you'd kept better track of when things happened in your life or labeled you photos better?  You always mean to sit down and do a timeline  just for yourself, maybe the kids would be interested one day.  And all those photos that need organizing....

Now you can do just that on Facebook, or soon anyway!  You can organize your life history in a timeline using events and pictures and share it with whom ever you wish.  Check out the short video Facebook offers on Timeline.  Then read the post on, are we ready for Timeline.

Facebook's Timeline

Is the World Ready for Facebook Timeline

Does your computer go to sleep or hibernate when you step away for 20 or so minutes?   Have you often wondered if your Vipre scans are really getting finished?  Are you getting messages that your scan did not finish?

When you are running Vipre scans, your computer does not detect Vipre and may go to sleep.  Once asleep, the scan is stopped and will not resume.

What to do about this:  You must change some settings.

(See the screen shots below for help with turning off the sleep/hibernate function so you can run your scans.)

Step 1: click the START button on the bottom left of your screen and select ALL PROGRAMS >>>> CONTROL PANEL >>>> POWER OPTIONS

Step 2: On the POWER OPTIONS screen, select POWER SCHEMES tab. Select NEVER for turn off monitor, turn off hard drive and system standby.

Step 3: Now click on the HIBERNATE tab and uncheck the enable hibernate.

Your computer will now stay up and running even when you step away so if you are going to be away for a fairly long period of time you will want to close your browser and shut off your monitor and maybe even turn off your computer.   Shutting down will save power and, if you have high speed internet that stays connected all the time, shutting down will keep your machine safer from hackers. Shutting down also helps clear your RAM memory. Clearing your RAM can help your computer run better.

While running Vipre, leave your computer up and running.  It will shut itself off.  You can turn off your monitor while it runs.  For more info on running Vipre.

Depending on your operating system, this procedure may vary a bit.  Give us a call if you have problems finding the Power Options window.

If you have ever wondered where you can report internet fraud and abuse the latest Vipre Security Newsletter offers a number of links to places you can report internet fraud.   Here are a few of them:

http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Internet_Fraud.shtml

http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

http://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/reporting.php

http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/fraud/internet_fraud

It is not enough just to report an incident.  Certain  information contained withing the email or popup or link is needed in order to effectively track down the abusers.

Here is a primer from Charter.net on what you need to know to effectively report internet abuse. This includes a great definition of internet abuse that includes not only fraud but other forms of abuse such as threats and harassment as well as copyright infringement.

Internet fraud and abuse are so pervasive that it would be difficult to report everything.   It is important to make the effort in especially egregious cases such as claims aimed at frightening un-savvy users by scammers masquerading as legitimate businesses such as banks or utilities, or anything intended to ensnare children.

The internet belongs to all of us.  It is an important and powerful tool that we are growing more and more dependent upon in our personal and business lives.  It is our responsibility to help police cyberspace.