Timucuan Preserve » IT Tips and Tricks

Going online with a new computer

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:22:12 +0000

If you hit the Internet, your new computer could be compromised in minutes. The big problem is drive-by attacks. They take advantage of unrepaired holes in Windows.

These days, nearly any site could contain attack software. Most sites have flaws, which are openings for criminals. They post their malicious programs there. If you go to the site, it will try to download to you. A patched copy of Windows would be OK. Unpatched copies are at great risk.

Stay away from e-mail, too. Heaven knows what's in the spam attachments. You probably know better than to open attachments. But we all make mistakes. Better to avoid temptation.

So, what should you do with your new computer? First, activate the Windows Firewall. Click Start>>Control Panel. Double-click Windows Firewall. In the left panel, click "Turn Windows Firewall on or off." Select On, if necessary, and OK.

Open Internet Explorer. Click Tools>>Windows Update. Install all the updates that Microsoft recommends. These will protect you from drive-by attacks.

Next, you need security software. Don't buy it. You have everything you need here: Security Center. You need one antivirus and multiple anti-spyware programs. Antivirus programs can conflict; anti-spyware software does not.

You also need a firewall. Unfortunately, the Windows 7 firewall is inadequate. It hides your computer on the Internet. But it is difficult to set up to block outbound transmissions. So you either have to block everything, or nothing. Neither is acceptable.

You can overcome this with a free program, Windows 7 Firewall Control. If the firewall is set to block all outbound transmission, it tells you what is being blocked. You can then put exceptions in the Windows firewall.

Personally, I wouldn't bother. I'd just use a free third-party firewall. There are links to ZoneAlarm and PC Tools firewalls on Kim's site. Both support Windows 7. Outpost is also there. But it does not show support for Windows 7.

While you're at my Security Center, download the Firefox browser. It also is free. I consider it safer than Internet Explorer, part of Windows 7. Don't try to remove Internet Explorer from your computer. You can't. Besides, you need it for some things, like updating Windows.

Don't forget other updates. All security programs must be updated regularly. Most will do that automatically. I schedule mine to update in the middle of the night.

Windows Update should also be set up for automatic operation. Click Start>>Control Panel. Double-click Windows Update. In the left panel, click "Change settings." On the next page, find the box next to the green shield. Click the down arrow. Select "Install updates automatically (recommended)." Pick a time to install them. Click OK.

Many other programs need to be updated, too. However, they don't always let you know. To stay on top of that, use the Secunia Personal Software Inspector. It will tell you what is out of date. And it will give you the addresses for updates.

You should also consider installing a HOSTS file. This blocks tracking cookies and other invasive objects. It's more complicated than other security programs. However, the instructions on the Web site are copious.

When you complete your setup, you'll be thoroughly protected. There are a lot of bad guys out there. And they want to separate you from your money. Or, they want to rope your machine into an army of attack computers. Either way, you should be fine. Just use common sense.

Excel Tips – Freezing Rows and Columns

admin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:08:41 +0000

Here is a good Video on the subject. Its only a Few minutes long but helpful.

Freezing rows and columns in large worksheets

I will be posting more Tips so stay tuned!

Thanks

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Geeky Deals for the Holidays

admin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:28:48 +0000

This Site has some great Computer related deals for the holidays.

If you need books this site offers some good deals.

And here are some great deals on Cell phone accessories.

Secure an external hard drive

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:43:32 +0000

External hard drives are a convenient way to store and transport data. They make backing up your important data easy. But wherever important documents are stored, security is a concern.

You take the time to protect your personal data on your computer. Your backup is just a copy of that information. It needs protection, too. Plus, an external hard drive is fairly easy to steal or lose. You don’t want it falling into the wrong hands.

An ounce of protection

Protecting an external hard drive is actually pretty easy. Encryption is the best solution. This won’t detract from the convenience of an external hard drive. And no one will be able to access it without your password.

Some external hard drives come with built-in encryption. But the encryption probably has to be enabled. Check the drive’s manual for instructions.

If yours doesn’t include encryption, you’re not out of luck. You can encrypt the data yourself. You can create an encrypted container with Cryptainer LE. This allows you to protect a few important documents. But the rest of the drive can be accessed without a password.

If you want to encrypt everything, there’s a program for that, too. TrueCrypt allows you to encrypt an entire drive. That way all of your data is protected. You can use TrueCrypt on Windows and Mac OS X machines.

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Attaching a hard drive to your network

admin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:02:20 +0000

Q. I would like to share data between my laptop and desktop computers. I don't want to use a thumb drive to move the data between machines. Rather, I want the data to be available automatically. Also, I don't want to leave a computer on all the time. So, can I attach a hard drive to my router?

A. Yes. This is called network attached storage. Any machine on your network could access the drive.

Your first option is to purchase a NAS drive. These look much like external hard drives. However, they have an Ethernet port to connect to a router. They often contain USB ports for connecting additional hard drives or printers.

You'll pay a premium for NAS drives. That's because they are more complex than standard external drives. They're much like computers. They have an operating system and software for managing the flow of data.

You can buy NAS units that contain one or more hard drives. You can also purchase NAS enclosures and add drives. If you have spare hard drives, this can save you money.

You may already have an external hard drive. In that case, you can purchase a NAS adapter. Basically, that's a small box that attaches to your router. It has a USB port for connecting your plain-Jane external drive.

You may have trouble finding these adapters. I've only seen a few. Expect to pay $50 to $100. Pogoplug and Addonics are two companies to check.

The adapters can be tricky to set up. And they allow for only one external drive. Consider that before going with this option.

A better solution is to upgrade your router. Many routers contain built-in USB ports.

Research routers carefully. The presence of USB ports does not mean you can attach a hard drive. Some routers only accept printers.

Likewise, you'll find plenty of print servers. These allow you to attach USB printers to your router. However, they cannot be used to attach hard drives.