PC Security and Other Useful Information

With the new aggressive approach MS has to upgrading to W10, I suspect that we will be seeing a lot more calls asking what to do. This is a decent article on how to avoid it and what to do if, like my friend, you find that your computer was upgraded while you slept (he […]

Here’s yet another reason not to pay the ransom when hit by ransomware: the scum won’t give you the key. This reinforces the need for us to be prepared with backups (not connected to the network) and up to date AV and Anti-Malware. Kansas Heart Hospital hit with ransomware; attackers demand two ransoms

This kind of surprises me. I understand the idea of using non-MS apps id something that many folks yearn for. Also, the Google apps have been out there for a while and folks are just not interested in switching any software once they’ve gotten used to it. I expected, though, that using familiar Office on […]

As if it weren’t enough, here comes a ransomware product that adds insult to injury. Not only are you FUBAR’d, your computer starts to mess with other sites. Bottom line: Practice “Safe Computing” and keep your AV and Anti-Malware software up to date. This New Ransomware Strain Adds DDoS Bot Causing More Damage

As a Vietnam Veteran, this means a lot. I know it’s early, but keep this in mind on Memorial Day.

Security Mailer V16 #21 05/21/16 – Adobe out-of-cycle patch for Acrobat DC and Reader DC; Apple released updates for Apple TV, iOS, watchOS, OS X and security update, Safari, and iTunes; Cisco Advisories; Linux updates; Microsoft fix for slow Win 7 updates?, revisions; General security entries Part 2 1- 11 Things – ESET posting covers […]

If you’ve ever done a clean install of W7 (+SP1), you’ll know all about the 100+ updates that must be installed (often in several stages with  multiple reboots required) before it’s up to date. Well, instead of an SP2, MS has released a “convenience update” that has all the updates included since SP1. The only […]

When Adobe releases updates outside of the normal cycle, as with MS, it usually means that an important problem has been addressed. Usual advice is to apply it ASAP. Release Notes | Acrobat, Reader

In their never-ending search for new and innovative ways to screw us, these scum have taken the typical “Tech Support” scam and married it to a technique used by ransomware. Lock up your machine, tell you your product key is invalid or expired and “fix” it for a fee. Ransomware-like tech support scam locks screen, […]

Looks like MS has upped the ante on getting W7 and W8.1 folks updated. I’m seeing lots of reports on the web and a co-worker at the Hospice I support reported to me that his home computer was upgraded overnight without him seeing anything (he was asleep). I really didn’t think they would go through […]