Everyday Tips from the ComputerMom 

August 2012
 
Join Our Mailing List
I hope you are having a wonderful summer - mine has been full of day trips, house guests, and short visits to the Cape and the Connecticut shore.

With September right around the corner, I've done a bit of "back to school" work already.   I'll be around all August to help set up new laptops for incoming freshmen, clean and optimize returning student's systems, and ensure that home computers, networks, and printers are all working smoothly so there is no excuse for your student to miss a single assignment.

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Julie Marto
508-359-8176
www.thecomputermom.com

PS - As always, don't forget to visit my Facebook page for more links and tips.  And if you haven't checked it out already, my blog at the Medfield Patch has expanded articles about topics in my newsletter, including a guide to help you purchase a laptop for your college student.   
Virus, Spyware and Malware Report


You'll know it if it happens - your system has been invaded by a nasty virus! The latest plague I am seeing pretends to be a notice from the FBI that your computer has been locked, and demands you pay a $200.00 fine in order to unlock it.  Don't believe it for a second, this is just a nasty virus that must be cleaned off your system. If the FBI is really after you it will cost you a lot more than $200.00!

For you Mac users, Apple has changed their general stance about virus vulnerability and they are no longer claiming you will be safe from infection just by purchasing an Apple.  I personally think it's time to make sure you have some sort of virus protection. Comcast customers can simply download the free version of Norton that Comcast gives to you.  For non-Comcast Apple owners I recommend that you install ClamXav.

And last but not least, smartphones seem to be the latest target for the virus writing criminals.  So far there is no clear answer short of vigilance - so keep an eye on your cell phone bills and don't download anything you find in any way suspicious!
And speaking of smartphones . . .

When does free cost you more than actually buying something?  Well, according to this interesting article, when that "free" app is supported by advertisements that constantly update, draining your battery at a much faster rate and eating up your data allotment.  Sometimes it's just more cost effective to break down and buy the paid version of Words with Friends!
And speaking of free . . .

If you are an AOL user who also has a high-speed connection (like Comcast or Verizon) I hope you are aware that AOL email has been free since 2006.  However, there are still 3,000,000 people paying for AOL dial-up service - many of whom simply don't realize that they no longer need to pay. I can't even remember the last time I saw a client who still used a dial-up connection, so if you are being billed every month by AOL, or know someone who is, please cancel your service now! You can keep your AOL email, and continue to use the AOL software exactly the way you always have, at absolutely no cost.  If you don't know how to cancel your AOL bill give me a call and I will help you out.