I am hoping to have the new site up and running on 1/1/2012. Right now, there are images of the front and back of my new business card.

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Please also visit the new domain and temporary website at www.MarkSharComputerConsulting.com.

(Note the dates of the articles!)

Apple Fixes 53 Security Vulnerabilities in Mac OS X (link)

• March 30, 2010
• By Sean Michael Kerner

and …

Apple patches security flaws in Mac OS

Massive update for Leopard and Snow Leopard (link)

By Gregg Keizer | Computerworld US | Published: 10:02 GMT, 30 March 10

EoP (End of Blog Post)

Over the years, following consumer computer security issues, the general impression I have is that the Mac OS has more vulnerabilities — and that Apple takes longer to plug the holes than Microsoft. (This may no longer hold true — but at one time it did.)

Even more recently, I read the following in the April 1, 2010 issue of Windows Secrets newsletter:

Safari may be the most-vulnerable browser

The first browser to fall in the CanSecWest competition was Safari, mostly due to Charlie Miller’s expertise in Apple code. There’s been a long and loud debate about why hacking is such a problem on Windows yet relatively unheard of on the Mac.

Given the huge commercial nature of today’s malware attacks, the answer is not that Macs are more secure (they’re not, according to almost every security expert) or that hackers have it out for that evil empire called Microsoft. The answer most likely comes down to money. Mac’s approximately 8% market share simply does not offer sufficient monetary return on a hacker’s time investment. Mac users are just plain lucky.

For an interesting and somewhat worrisome article on Mac malware, read Andy Greenberg’s March 25 article, “The bounty for an Apple bug: $115,000.”

That all said, and just for the record, I was a Mac guy before I was a Windows guy. There are things I love about the Mac OS — such as ease of use and consistent interface from one application to another; and there are things I dislike: too often you are compelled to use the mouse; the folks at Apple think it is okay to install spyware and use malware techniques to get their software on your machine because they are Apple Computer.

Same goes for Windows: there are things I like and dislike. More freeware. Greater ability to use the keyboard to control programs and the OS.

Either way, don’t think you are “safe” or “in the clear” just because you are riding a Mac. When you are on the internet, much as it is in the non-virtual world, exercise caution and as much common sense as you can muster. Be careful and sensible about who and what you trust.

Best of all, I don’t have to remember. That is, not since I installed the simple, straightfoward gem of a free program on my main Windows computer. Bug Shooting is awesome. In addition to being simple and straightforward, it is easy to use and packs in a ton of features. Visit their website for more info.

It hides in your system tray while running — and places an icon on your desktop and in your startup folder during install. (Both of these are default options, but the intelligent and kind author of the Bug Shooting gives you the option to uncheck the startup folder and desktop icon items.)

This graphic was "shot" with Bug Shooting and took all of 4-5 minutes to create

You can invoke it with a command key (user definable), or simply right-click on the tray icon. If you left-click the tray icon, you get a screen shot of the active windows.

You can capture the entire screen, the active window, a specific area of the screen; or, use Bug Shooting to magnify an area of your screen. There is even a delayed capture feature. Once setup, Bug Shooting can be set to automatically upload all screen shots to the website of your choice (supported services are listed at the bottom of Bug Shooting home page).

You can even edit them by adding text, lines, freehand drawings, other images, etc — just as I did to the screen shot above. You can crop, flip, rotate and even add other photos or images to your capture. You can save your caputres as .jpg, .png, or .bmp files — or print them. Send a capture via Email? Yup! Can do! Capture something, click a button (after making one setting adjustment), and your email program will open a new window with the capture already attached and ready to go.

You’ll find a full feature list and tour at the site.

How might you use such a tool? Any number of ways. Use it to …

• take a screen shot of web page
• take a shot of an error message (super hot trick #207)
• don’t have time to write down an invoice number or something else on a web page or email AND your printer is not working, take a shot with Bug Shooting.
• want to show someone what your screen or desktop looks like?
• capture a graphic on a webpage that you might not otherwise be able to download

Recently, I needed to explain to someone how to do something in a program. I simply took a screen shot and circled the things they needed to click on and sent them that image. Done!

Yes, if you need to take a movie of your screen and add audio to it, you’ll need another tool. But for capturing any part of your screen and being able to do some nifty and simple edits to that capture, Bug Shooting is what I use.

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If you are wondering what the “RCP” at the front of the headline is all about, know that I give nicknames to and make acronyms for just about everything — especially that which I passionately like and dislike. Thus, RCP = Really Cool Program. Sometimes, it means Really Cool Product. But the RC is always “Really Cool”. Bug Shooting as a Screen Capture tool for Windows qualifies as a Really Cool Program. I absolutely love it.

What help finding more RCSTs (Really Cool Software Tools) for your computer or workflow? Tools that really make your computing life easier, smoother, faster, etc.? Just visit my contact page and submit your request, tell me your story or quandry, etc.

I have created a special domain, or website address, to bring you directly to my blog… The purpose of this address is to make it easier to remember. So without further delay: to visit this blog, open any web browser and type in “blog.marksharconsulting.com” (without the quotes, of course).

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Okay… looks like it is up and running… and wanted to do more fiddling. So got this working too: http://marksharconsulting.com/blog.

Want something like this setup for your website? I can help you do that too!

From now until the end of February, you can hire me for more than 50% off my usual rates. Just $35/hour (or $70/session). The catch is that I have a minimum requirement: you must book me for at least two sessions (2 hours per session for a total of 4 hours). You can do two sessions in one day or split the sessions between days.

Additionally, I am now acccepting payment by credit card and PayPal. After you book a session, I will provide you with the payment page — or have an invoice sent to you directly from PayPal.

Please be sure to book early and ahead… I have several companies vying for my time — and one large one that is certain to keep me very busy before long.

Some of the key new features included are as follows:

• a clearer (I hope) way of thinking about what I do and the services I offer (or said another way, what I can do for you) … just visit the home page to learn more about this one
• a fancy new navigation menu system
• a feedback/contact form page — as well as access to my new business card as jpg images or PDF downloads
• a new About page that explains how I got into this business — as well as a brief explanation of my business & personal ethics
• a “What Others Say” or, in marketing lingo, a testimonial page; plus there is a page where you, my clients, can submit your testimonials to me (I review them before posting to my website).
• a “submit your biggest computer challenge, most frustrating technology issue” page where you can let me know what most drives you bananas about your computers, technology and software … and ask me to take a crack at it free of charge
• a way to be notified every time I post to my blog without having to visit it every day … don’t wait … click here to subscribe now … or visit my subscription page for more options to be automatically updated by email or RSS.

I hope to be posting more about each of the above, really cool software, websites, tips and trick I use … all in the name of making using computers and technology more fun, simple, easy … and helping you get where you want to go with the HELP of technology and computers — not in spite of them!!

Sounds pretty good, eh! (Be sure to subscribe then!)

Oh, I almost forgot … I have a really big sale event coming up … you get to hire me at super discounted rates … but don’t wait to grab some of my time on the cheap … I have some key people and companies eager to grab me up before long.

Please subscribe to you don’t miss out: click here to subscribe NOW or visit my subscription page a pick a method of signing up over there.

If Mr. Gibson tells me something is good — or bad — or to watch out for something … or advises a particular course of action to remain safe and secure online, I heed his advice. For starters here is what he had to say about the flaw Adobe is patching with the update:

“Steve: [...] It’s also worth mentioning that the flaw we talked about a couple weeks ago now, I think it was two weeks ago we talked about a problem with Adobe PDF file parsing. It is now being actively exploited. So you want to upgrade to v9 if you can. I don’t know if Adobe has an update for – I don’t think they updated beyond 8.1.2, which was where the flaw, anything there or prior. So you do want to move to v9 of your PDF reader, which you can easily do just by going to Adobe.com, as I mentioned before, and download an update. But there are websites – apparently ads, web ads in bad sites are carrying a reference to this PDF. Your browser will load it and get itself taken over, and trojans are being installed through this vehicle. So it’s something you do want to take care of. And…
Leo: [Steve's co-host] Adobe updated Flash, too, for a similar reason, didn’t they.
Steve: Yes, yes.”

All of the emphasis above is mine.

And, before I forget, this Security Bulletin applies to Windows XP and Vista, Mac OS X, and Linux. Or as Adobe puts it: “All Platforms”.

I have already updated all of my machines and those of several of my clients. My recommendation is to uninstall the previous version and do a completely new install of version 9 of Adobe Reader — which you can get directly at Adobe’s website. If you have a pre-9 version, I do not believe Adobe’s update software will automatically update you to safer version.

Here is an article, albeit a bit technical, that gives a good overview of the flaws patched with the newer version and some of the nasty things that can occur with the older, more unsafe version.

My maternal grandfather taught me a lot. But one thing stands out more than anything: He would always tell me — and never fail to demonstrate — “You don’t know until and unless you ask.” Of course, the Bible chimed in on this subject just a wee bit sooner than did my Grandpa Solly: “Ask and ye shall receive.”

But he was a blast to watch: often jokingly he would ask the cashier after checking out at the grocery store, “Are you sure I can’t get it for less?” The cashier would almost always shake their head, “No” with a sorrowful look that they couldn’t grant Grandpa his request. But Grandpa would and did ask, always!

And this “Top Tech. Tip” is about asking the manufacturers of our hardware and software for support!

When you run into any issue with your hardware or software, whether your “device” is big or small, visit the manufacturer or developer’s website. Find a tech. support or customer service number and call them. Search Google too! It never takes me long to come up with the answer. (Feel free to call and hire me to the work for you. I seem to have a knack for getting what I want when I call technical support and/or customer service — and for finding solutions quickly.)

Yes, once you have tried the company’s website and searched Google, you may have to sit on the phone for a while now and again.

There have been times when I just dreaded having to make the call, times when I knew I was going to be on the phone for a while. But, in the end, more often than not, I was surprised on the upside. More often than not, a solution was found quickly, readily and easily.

I have called technical support for all kinds of issues relating to both hardware and software. I have called on printers, laptops, desktops, Windows, Mac OS, Palm handhelds, OCR software, cell phone data extraction software, you name it!

But my experience is that they can and will help you more often than not — and I have gotten refunds, replacement products, returns outside of warranty, and easy repairs all for the asking! I have even gotten eBay sellers to go the extra mile and refund me for both items and shipping. What’s my “trick”? None at all: I just ask. Politely and respectfully.

Okay, maybe I do have one key trick: I always ask people to step up to the plate and do the right thing.

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Have a technical support or customer service issue you’d like to share?

Leave a comment here … or visit the contact/feedback page at my website. If you have a technical support or customer service issue you’d like me to handle for you, please use the above mentioned contact/feedback page.

Someone at Dell was kind enough to leave a comment about Dell’s recycling program. And, not wanting any of you to miss out on the comment, I am reposting his entire entry as a post. Thus…

“Great post about an important issue. Wanted to mention (currently a Dell employee here) if the old computer equipment is Dell we’ll pick-up and recycle it for free (we also offer free recycling of other brands with purchase of new Dell). Details are: http://www.dell.com/recycling Thanks, Bryant at Dell”

As for Dell, let me say that they are one of my favorite computer companies.

I have overseen the purchase of several Dell products for a few of my clients: laptops, desktops and one of the most inexpensive color laser printers on the market

The results across the board have been great: outstanding feature packed machines, excellent customer service, solid machines, easy to setup and use. Not to mention that you may still be able to get Windows XP (Home or Pro) installed on a Dell. I believe HP may be doing this too.

If you want assistance with hardware recommendations before you buy and a connection to my “inside” guys at Dell, let me know. There are also other ways to get awesome deals on a Dell computer. Also: I also help get the machines up and running with your favorite software, etc.

Either way, head over to the www.MarkSharConsulting.com Contct Page… you’ll find my phone number there or just submit your info with the form.