tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279006142009-10-20T01:50:36.603-05:00Plain Speak. . . No GeeksStephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-40909137745737309462008-03-17T15:59:00.001-05:002008-03-17T16:06:31.059-05:00

My business has taken me in a new direction, and I don't have as much time as I'd like to spend on this blog.That's good news for you because I've decided to offer my very popular ebook "1 Clean Computer" as a free tutorial eCourse! Just sign up on the right and you can get started right away. Did I mention you get a cool free gift when you sign up? Yep. And it's all free. The price is right

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2008/03/sign-up-for-your-free-tutorial.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-59574013279248461532007-03-01T17:09:00.000-06:002007-09-22T21:36:32.409-05:00

You're feeling pretty sure of yourself. After all, 86 percent of American Internet users say they are knowledgeable about protecting their private information, while 57 percent say they consistently take necessary steps to do so (This from a recent survey by Truste, an organization that helps consumers and businesses identify trustworthy online entities through its Web Privacy and Email Privacy

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2007/03/are-you-as-safe-as-you-say-you-ares.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1167524919892454882006-12-30T18:28:00.000-06:002006-12-30T18:29:43.756-06:00

Don't worry, you'll be glad I'm not wishing you a Happy New Year.Why? Because there's a new worm moving rapidly through the Internet and it's waiting for you to open it.It comes in the form of a Happy New greeting. These worm-laden "Happy New Year" email messages come with Postcard.exe or Postcard.zip attachments, and they're just waiting for you to click on them.Once you release the worm, it

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/12/i-dont-wish-you-happy-new-year.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1164991101872607552006-12-01T10:38:00.000-06:002006-12-21T20:51:38.666-06:00

One of the most common questions I get, particularly at this time of year is, "Is it safe for me to buy online?"My answer to that question is simple - it's about as safe as it is to do anything else nowadays! Just like you would not leave all your packages in the back seat with the car door unlocked, you need to take proper precautions online too.Shopping from the comfort of your computer

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/12/are-you-making-these-7-mistakes_01.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1163089084017406692006-11-09T10:09:00.000-06:002006-11-09T10:23:11.933-06:00

Even behemoth search engine Google (who some call 'next ruler of the earth'!) makes mistakes. On Tuesday (11/07), Google accidentally sent out an email worm to its 50,000 plus subscribers to its Google Video email group. Oooops!For those of us who do make mistakes occasionally, it gives us some comfort to know that even with Google's resources and complete genius behind them, this isn't their

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/11/nobodys-perfect.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1161882693345157542006-10-26T12:10:00.000-05:002006-10-26T12:14:57.916-05:00

Politics just isn’t my thing. That’s not to say I don’t vote – I haven’t missed an election since I turned 18 (and I won’t tell you how long ago that was). But my politics are very personal. There aren’t too many things that will turn my husband into a rabid, bulging-eyed monster like politics. Maybe that’s why I shy away from discussing it – especially since we sit on two different sides of

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/10/politics-just-isnt-my-thing.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1161389921139998102006-10-20T19:12:00.000-05:002006-10-20T19:20:23.786-05:00

Microsoft has a pretty good list of free software programs available for download. Finding them can sometimes pose a problem.Blake Handler, self proclaimed "Tech Evangelist & Microsoft Consultant" has put together an incredibly comprehensive list. Check it out for free software from Microsoft!. . . Stephanietechnorati tags:Microsoft, Internet, Computers, Computers and Internet, Stephanie Trahd

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/10/free-software-from-microsoft.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1161203238066692852006-10-18T15:26:00.000-05:002006-12-21T20:52:32.436-06:00

We all get spam. In fact, spam accounts for as much as 83 percent of all email messages in the United States. So how do you keep your computer clean - do you report and delete unwanted spam, or do you unsubscribe or "opt-out"?There are two camps. One says, 'Do not opt-out or reply to spam. Once you click the unsubscribe link, you'll get even more because you've just told the spammer that

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/10/opt-out-vs-delete-which-one-gets-you.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1160598015137703962006-10-11T15:18:00.000-05:002006-10-11T15:21:51.230-05:00

I’ve been on the Internet a long time. In that time, I’ve visited about a zillion websites that required a username and password. OK, maybe it just seems like a zillion. Let’s just say a lot.And I’ll bet you have at least a couple of dozen passwords too. Think about it – you have one (or more) for email, your ISP (Internet Service Provider), credit cards, banks, forums, chatrooms. . .you get

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/10/wanna-bet-i-know-your-password_11.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1160451451977842672006-10-09T22:37:00.000-05:002006-10-09T22:39:48.103-05:00

It's the second Tuesday of the month. And that can only mean one thing - more Microsoft security patches.This time we've got almost a full dozen on their way - six critical updates for Windows, six critical updates for Office, and four moderate updates for the .NET Framework. Please don't forget to download these important updates - it's critical for the safety of your computer and your

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/10/almost-dozen-patches-on-their-way.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1160323449197625952006-10-08T11:03:00.000-05:002006-10-08T11:04:18.890-05:00

It's the first time an anti-virus software company has ponied up and put their money where there mouth is.CA, formerly Computer Associates, is gifting its customers with two free insurance policies with the purchase of CA Internet Security Suite 2007 and CA Anti-Virus 2007. The policies will cover up to $5,000 in identity theft coverage and up to $1,500 in protection against damage caused by

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/10/ca-puts-their-money-where-their-mouth.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1160146412099211842006-10-06T09:52:00.000-05:002006-12-21T20:53:21.100-06:00

Ever wonder which banks keep you safer against identity theft?Wonder no more. The jury is in!While most banks do pretty well in resolving identity fraud (such as dealing with disputed transactions on accounts), only three financial institutions scored best in a test of their ability to prevent, detect and resolve identity theft.First, a few statistics. Last year, for the third year in a row,

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/10/how-does-your-bank-rate-for-identity.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1159803296165509492006-10-02T10:34:00.000-05:002006-10-02T10:40:17.726-05:00

I remember it well. Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) came out and all the techies warned us against downloading it. Too many bugs. Too many problems. Not worth the trouble. And they were right - back then. But many upgrades later, Windows XP SP2 is solid. The security upgrades are worth their weight in gold (well, almost). Now the case for installing SP2 is even greater. Microsoft is

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/10/its-now-or-never.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1159650702576222662006-09-30T16:10:00.000-05:002006-09-30T17:24:12.886-05:00

Go where the people are. That's the philosophy of Target, IKEA, Staples and every major retailer and advertiser. It's such a good and profitable philosophy, it's been adopted by spammers, hackers and cyberscum.It makes good sense too. Everyone wants to get the most bang for their buck. And there's only so much buck to go around. So, do you put your message in front of 500,000 people when you can

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/09/target-internet-explorer.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1159219741439209152006-09-25T16:21:00.000-05:002006-09-25T16:32:06.193-05:00

Just a quick alert here. . .Watch out for an email telling you that you have received a Yahoo! Greeting Card. The purpose of the email is to lure you to their site and then Whamo! They start collecting your private information.I got hit today, but luckily didn't click through. Such a shame since I've always enjoyed e-greetings - both sending and receiving.For details and screenshots, visit

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/09/they-may-be-sending-you-more-than.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1158512545467625112006-09-17T12:02:00.000-05:002006-09-17T12:02:25.733-05:00

On the heels of one of the largest mishaps to happen at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which said in May that data on 26.5 million veterans was stolen, comes the Circuit City credit card (a division of JP Morgan Chase) debacle.On Thursday, September 7, Chase Card Services said that it mistakenly tossed out computer tapes with the personal information of Circuit City card holders. Now

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/09/chase-goofs-up-for-circuit-city.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1158175542216564272006-09-13T14:25:00.000-05:002006-09-13T14:25:42.610-05:00

eBay is a great marketplace. Whenever I need some hard-to-find item, it's one of the first places I look. And I'm not alone. More than 75 million people other people do too. So hearing about the latest security breaches that involved eBay and reselling in general didn't come as too much of a surprise. I have always preached the importance of reformatting your hard drive before you dispose of it

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/09/wipe-it-or-risk-it-all.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1158117191085045132006-09-12T22:11:00.000-05:002006-09-12T22:34:26.330-05:00

You go to a website. It looks interesting. They tell you your information is safe. You enter your information. Some time in the future, you get a letter. Uh oh. Security has been breached. Your information isn't so safe anymore.Now I don't mean to be a prophet of doom here. This is more the exception than the rule. But, heads up. . .it does happen.Take SecondLife.com. SecondLife is a

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/09/just-how-safe-is-safe_12.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1157991512314169952006-09-11T11:18:00.000-05:002006-09-11T11:18:32.493-05:00

I was trying to sing, "Just Another Patch Tuesday" to the tune of "Just Another Manic Monday" by the Bangles (am I dating myself?), but I just couldn't get it to work. Ah heck, I used the title for this blog post anyway. We've got another Patch Tuesday upon us (Microsoft releases fixes the second Tuesday of every month) and while they are still issuing one "critical" and two "important" updates,

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/09/just-another-patch-tuesday_11.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1157814690664418992006-09-09T10:10:00.000-05:002006-09-11T11:17:31.306-05:00

Sometimes, cheaper is better.My mother always taught me, "You get what you pay for," and in most cases that's true. But when I can get a better product for less money - I'm the first person in line.So when industry analysts said that computer security products arenot only getting better, they're getting cheaper too, I did myhappy dance.And they're crediting Microsoft with the competitive

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/09/do-you-want-more-bang-with-less-buck.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1157413353260671302006-09-04T18:42:00.000-05:002006-09-04T19:07:14.503-05:00

I've talked about phishing in the past, and I'll continue to do so. It's that important. Every day these depraved degenerates (sorry, was that harsh?) come up with new, innovative ways to disguise phishing emails as legitimate ones.Let's take the new Apple Ipod Phishing Scheme.An email arrives in your inbox claiming that the popular music player is being shipped via FedEx and that a payment of

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/09/phishing-alert-phoney-apple-ipod-more.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1157230517775100012006-09-02T15:43:00.000-05:002006-09-03T17:21:24.316-05:00

Got kids?Do they use the Internet?As a parent, you want to ensure their experience on the Internet is safe. I hope I don't need to tell you about the evil elements lurking in cyberspace just waiting for your child to get online. There are lots of Internet monitoring software programs and parental controls you can buy for your computer. Microsoft just debuted their beta version of Live OneCare

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/09/windows-live-onecare-family-safety.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1157138029404157452006-09-01T14:13:00.000-05:002006-09-01T14:25:10.713-05:00

I’m a skeptic. Some would even say I’m a cynic. I just think I’m cautiously realistic. And I don’t believe everything I read or see. The Internet has opened up a whole new world for us, and unfortunately there are those who are taking advantage of that. And while these cyber scammers continue to profit from their cyber scams, we get more and more scared. Is someone trying to steal my

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/09/dont-believe-everything-you-read.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1156958298757174582006-08-30T11:58:00.000-05:002006-08-30T13:01:49.090-05:00

When I'm not talking about computer security, I am addressing the issue of Identity Theft. And if you own a credit card or two, you could be an easy target. Now, nothing against the US Postal Service - I love my snail mail dearly and can be seen giddily skipping to my mailbox everyday at 2p.m. when it's delivered - but sometimes our mail doesn't quite reach its intented recipient. Delivered to

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/08/do-you-get-them-then-youre-target.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27900614.post-1156015833194584992006-08-19T14:25:00.002-05:002006-08-19T14:32:32.073-05:00

The security world is still filled with daily news about Microsoft. Why can't they stay a step ahead of cyberscum?Why are their patches creating just as many problems as they're solving?Here's an interesting perspective from Charles Cooper at CNET. Microsoft security--no more second chances? Perspectives CNET News.comtechnorati tags:Microsoft, Internet+Security, Computers, Computers+Internet,

Stephanie Trahdnoreply@blogger.com0http://1cleancomputer.blogspot.com/2006/08/is-microsoft-getting-too-much-heat-or.html