Don't ... FREAK OUT ... about RANSOMWARE

If your PC is critical to your daily life, then it makes sense to avoid 

borrowed from askleo.com

ransomware at all reasonable costs. 

The simple truth is that common sense and a few ounces of prevention are all you need.

• a firewall - preferably a fairly up-to-date router
• anti-malware: I recommend Norton for many reasons but, for free, Microsoft Security Essentials will provide decent real-time protection
• common sense:  only click on attachments, links and pictures that you KNOW are safe;  if not sure, find someone trustworthy to help - and of course, feel free to call me

For additional peace of mind, (a) make backups of your critical stuff and (b) have a recovery plan at the ready.  Again, feel free to call me.

Leo Notenboom, from AskLeo.com, states quite nicely in his blog/newsletter on ransomware that there are two reasons not to pay the ransom.  I would add a third.  On the only PC that I recovered where the owner paid the ransom, the PC had more adverse settings than those where the ransom was not paid. 

All but one PC, where the ransom was not paid, I was able to recover control and restore complete functionality to the pre-infection settings.

In other words, from my seat, paying the ransom removed the initial block but   that made anything less than a complete factory reset unreasonable at best and incredibly time consuming and difficult at worst.

By the way, I subscribe to Ask Leo.  He is one of the best bloggers for helping the tech-ignorant and tech-adverse;  it is not ironic that I find he writes in a clear, concise, understandable tone.

Java - Sometimes It's Worth Wearing a Raincoat

So even Homeland Security has come down and stated that Java is not secure.  But Java isn't the headline news at 11 PM yet, nor is it the headlines of the Wall Street Journal or even PC Magazine or Wired.
 
So let's not get too worked up about this.
 

But let's be safe.  If you need or want Java, then go to Java.com and install the latest version. 

Then, open Java from your Control Panel, click the Security tab and deselect "Enable Java in the browser."  Then, change the Security Level to Very High.  Hit OK.
 

 

If you need Java, then simply re-enable it. Otherwise, leave it off. I haven't had to turn it back on since turning it off a week ago.

Also, do not rely on Java to tell you if your version is up to date.  Check it here.  Lastly, check to see if older versions of Java are still installed.  Remove them from Programs & Features in Windows Vista & newer;  from Add Programs in Windows XP and older.

Sometimes it's best to wear a raincoat or carry an umbrella.  Oh, and Java is free.

02/25/13 - Update - Java is now up to 7.15 (Version 7 Update 15).

Safe Surfing Starts with Anti-Malware

It's now called "Anti-Malware," as anti-virus and anti-spyware have long since crossed their borders.

I've recommended Norton's Anti-Virus ever since Symantec, Norton's parent company, bought into the IBM Anti-Virus technologies in the mid-1990's and took it over in 1998.  In 2009, Norton Anti-Virus - which resides under Norton Internet Security and Norton 360 as well - was revamped.  It now installs quickly and easily, removes previous versions with virtually no fuss, has a minimal impact on bootup as well as program & definition updates.

For free anti-malware software, AVG Anti-Virus Free 201x gets the nod.  Note that if you're a Comcast Hi-Speed Internet (Xfinity) customer, Norton Security Suite (N360) is available for free.  Install it from your Comcast connection, though. 

Click for Neil J. Rubenking's comparison at PC Magazine:

The Best Antivirus for 2012