Online Computer Tips Monthly Newsletter - February 2010
Latest Virus/Security Alerts:
Adobe Warns of PDF Phishing Scam
A new phishing scam is trying to fool people into thinking it comes from Adobe, announcing a new version of PDF Reader/Writer. The message is making its way into e-mail boxes now, and the real Adobe urged any recipients to simply delete it.
The phishing scam has a subject line "download and upgrade Adobe PDF Reader – Writer for Windows," includes a fake version of Adobe's logo and provides links that would lead to malicious code or other trouble if a victim clicked on them. The e-mail appears to come from Adobe newsletter@pdf-adobe.org, which is part of the scam.
"It has come to Adobe's attention that e-mail messages purporting to offer a download of the Adobe Reader have been sent by entities claiming to be Adobe," the company said in a statement warning about it. "Many of these e-mails are signed as 'Adobe PDF' (or similar), and in some instances require recipients to register and/or provide personal information. Please be aware that these e-mails are phishing scams and have not been sent by Adobe or on Adobe's behalf."
January's Poll Results:
Do you have your own website?
Yes
- 45%
No
Tip of the Month:
Customize Your Windows Explorer View
If you use the Windows Explorer shortcut on your Start Menu, you probably notice that it always opens in the same window. For example, if you use Windows Vista, Windows Explorer always opens to the Documents folder.
If you find this to be an annoyance, Explorer always opening to the Documents folder, you can configure it to open to a folder of your choice. You can do so by editing the properties of the Windows Explorer shortcut.
Open Windows Explorer and locate your Start Menu folder. Right click the shortcut to Windows Explorer and click Properties. From the Shortcut tab, change the target so it reads as follows: %systemroot%\explorer.exe /n, /e, x:\folder where x:\folder is the path to the folder that you want Explorer to open in. Click OK. Now when you launch Windows Explorer from the Start Menu, it will open in the folder that you specified.
Hot Product of the Month: Corsair 256 GB Performance Series Internal Solid State Drive
Details:
Corsair solid state disk drives set a new standard for reliability in desktop and notebook storage solutions. Corsair solid state disk drives utilize specially selected Samsung components to enable a life expectancy of over 100 years and OEM level compatibility and performance consistency. Unlike traditional mechanical hard disk drives, Corsair solid state disk drives have no moving parts. This results in faster system responsiveness, quieter operation and reduced overall system temperatures.
Perfect upgrade for a Netbook or Notebook and great for Gamers who want more speed out of their systems
OEM qualified Samsung controller and MLC NAND for compatibility and consistent performance
Maximum Up to 220MB/s Sequential Read, 200MB/s Sequential Write
Large 128MB Cache Memory buffer contributes to outstanding, stutter-free performance
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Important Windows and Office patches:
MS10-002: Cumulative security update for Internet Explorer
This security update resolves seven privately reported vulnerabilities and one publicly disclosed vulnerability in Internet Explorer. The more severe vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if a user views a specially crafted Web page using Internet Explorer. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.
This security update is rated Critical for all supported releases of Internet Explorer: Internet Explorer 5, 6, 7, and 8 and affects all versions of Windows from Windows 2000 through Windows 7. Security updates are available from Microsoft Update and Windows Update. Security updates are also available at the Microsoft Download Center. You may already have the update if you have automatic updating turned on.
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Readers Question of the Month:
Can't Drag and Drop
Richard writes in with a Windows question.
Q. The click and drag feature doesn't work. Is there a switch or function that turns off this feature? Can't drag item within the same folder or from folder to folder. Thanks in advance.
A. The first thing to do is to check your taskbar properties to make sure the Enable dragging and dropping check box is checked under Customize.
There is also a registry fix that you can import that may restore the drag and drop feature. Go to line #233 on the right that says Enable Drag and Drop, click on the link and click Run and import it into your registry when it asks. http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Microsoft Office 2010 hits Release Candidate status
Microsoft has provided some early testers with a near-final "release candidate" version of Office 2010 as the software maker works to make the suite broadly available in June.
A beta version of Office 2010 was released in November and had been downloaded 2 million times, as of last month.
Office 2010 features a variety of improvements to each of the core programs, but maintains the XML file formats and ribbon interface introduced with Office 2007. Probably the biggest change is the addition of companion, browser-based versions of Excel, Word, OneNote and PowerPoint, known as Office Web Apps. Also, for the first time, Microsoft will offer both 64-bit and 32-bit versions of the software.
