Apr 10
Windows makes it easy for each person to have their own custom desktop, internet favorites and more. All you need to do is add a user account for each person who uses the computer. This short video shows you how.
Apr 08
dz dis l%k weird 2 you? cn u evn read it? f ur comfy readN dis, thN ur familiar W txtN.
No, The Computer Psychic didn’t just have a stroke. I meant to type the above paragraph that way. For those of you not into texting, here’s what it says: Read the rest of this entry »
Apr 07
Don’t you hate it when you lose your keys? Fortunately, they always seem to turn up. But this article concerns a different type of key. Your software product key. Most software, when you install it, asks you to input a series of numbers and/or letters. These characters are your product keys – also known as serial number, registration keys, unlock code, or any number of other monikers. The bottom line is, this string of characters uniquely identifies your software to the manufacturer. Read the rest of this entry »
Apr 01
Seems like everyone’s concerned with what their credit score is these days. Why, I remember when we didn’t even have credit scores! We saved up for something, and paid cash! – Oops, sorry – was channeling my grandfather there for a bit.
The reality is, these days a good credit score can not only save you money on a car loan, mortgage and insurance, but it might dictate whether or not you get an apartment or even a job!
With so much riding on your credit score, it only makes sense to monitor it regularly. Fortunately, the internet makes it easy to do that. Read the rest of this entry »
Mar 21
There’s no reason to pay big bucks for Windows software. There are literally hundreds of free applications out there that perform the same tasks as the commercial applications. Below are the top 20 picks as selected by The Computer Psychic. Read the rest of this entry »
Feb 18
So, you’ve put in a hard day at the computer – time to put it away and join the “real” world. Did you know you have options as to how you turn off the computer? Depending on which method you use, you could greatly reduce the time it takes to turn on the computer next time. Read the rest of this entry »
Feb 17
The Nastiest Virus Out There Today
There’s a particularly nasty virus going around these days. It goes by the name of Internet Security 2010. This virus, if left unchecked, will progressively inject itself into running processes, block internet access, prevent you from accessing certain Windows features, and eventually render your computer unusable.
Internet Security 2010 infects your computer with the Vundo virus. This virus is often missed by the latest anti-virus programs, meaning even if your anti-virus software is up to date, you may still get infected by the virus.
So, how do you know if you’re infected with Internet Security 2010, or another wrapper for the Vundo virus? First of all, you will see a screen showing a fake security scan. This scan will purport to have found several viruses, with an option to activate the program and correct the issues. Don’t fall for it. This screen is a fake. Yes, you have a virus (most likely, at this point, several) but IS2010 won’t fix them. They will take your money and pretend to fix the issues, but in reality, you will be more infected than ever.
Other symptoms of IS2010 may or may not include:
• Your desktop wallpaper changing to simple text telling you that your system has been infected and will be suspended.
• You may be unable to access certain web sites
• Windows update may be disabled
• Your current anti-virus program may be suspended
• You cannot access the registry
• You cannot boot into safe mode
• If you can boot to safe mode, you may receive these same fake virus warnings
• Your firewall may be disabled
Internet Security 2010 often looks different on different systems. Depending on how long it’s been in your computer, you may not see all of the above symptoms. The longer it’s active, the more infected your computer becomes. In addition, it acts as a “gateway” allowing your system to become further infected with other viruses.
So, it’s a nasty virus, it injects itself in many parts of the system. The question is, how do you remove it. Since it disables many anti-virus programs, removal can be problematic.
First of all, try to boot into safe mode. (Restart the computer. While the screen is still black – before it says Starting Windows – press the F8 key. You will see a menu with various safe mode options select Safe Mode with Networking.) If you can’t boot into safe mode, go ahead and boot into regular mode.
Download and run rkill.com by clicking this link. This app will attempt to stop all IS2010 processes.
Now download and install SuperAntiSpyware free edition by clicking this link. Important: be sure to check the option to direct SuperAntiSpyware to automatically download the latest virus definitions and updates.
Once SuperAntiSpyware is installed, go ahead and run a quick scan. Once it’s done it will present you with a list of infections. Click the button to fix the issues.
After SuperAntiSpyware has performed it’s magic, restart the computer, in normal mode. Now run SuperAntiSpyware again, just to make sure everything has been removed.
Just like that, Internet Security 2010 is removed. So, how did you get it, and how do you prevent further infections? The most common way of getting infected is from the internet. You are contentedly visiting a website and you see a popup saying words to the effect of, “Warning. Your computer is infected with spyware or adware. Click here to download the latest version of Internet Security 2010.” (Keep in mind, the message may vary.) There will be two buttons, one labeled OK and one Cancel. Or maybe one labeled Yes and one labeled No. Or Install and Don’t install. You get the idea. There’s one that says Do It and another that says Don’t. The thing is, no matter which button you click on, the virus will be downloaded. The code behind the two buttons is identical. The only way to safely close this window is to click on the X in the upper-right-hand corner of the window. If there is no X, you can use the Ctl-W keyboard combination to close the window. Or Alt-F4 to close the internet.
So, in a nutshell, be aware of what you’re clicking on when browsing the internet. Keep your anti-virus software up to date with the latest virus definitions, and you’ll greatly reduce the chance of getting infected by malware.
There’s a particularly nasty virus going around these days. It goes by the name of Internet Security. This virus, if left unchecked, will progressively inject itself into running processes, block internet access, prevent you from accessing certain Windows features, and eventually render your computer unusable.
Internet Security infects your computer with the Vundo virus. This virus is often missed by the latest anti-virus programs, meaning even if your anti-virus software is up to date, you may still get infected by the virus. Read the rest of this entry »
Dec 27
So, the holidays are over, the wrapping is in the recycle bins, and it’s time to get back to a “normal” life. And do you have a brand-shiny-new computer now? Great! Before you do much with that computer, here are a few steps to assure that this new computer is as fast and secure as it can be. Read the rest of this entry »
Dec 22
Regular followers of The Computer Psychic know that I’m all about the free software. And there’s plenty of it around. Almost any application that you could pay for has a free alternative available if you know where to look.
Admittedly it can be a chore to track down the desired software, and then run a separate setup program for each application you want to install. Plus, many “free” applications include optional toolbars and other ad-driven components that you simply don’t want to install. Fortunately, the good folks at Secure by Design, Inc. have produced a helpful app called Ninite. Read the rest of this entry »
Dec 03
Have you done it? I know I have. Pressed Delete on a file, just as you realize, “Wait, that’s the wrong file!” Since Microsoft introduced the Recycle Bin, it’s easier than ever to recover a file you’ve deleted. Simply double-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop, find the file you wish to recover, right-click on it, and select Restore. The deleted file will reappear in its original location.
That’s well and good, but what if you’ve already emptied the recycle bin? Or what if you bypassed the Recycle Bin by holding down the Shift key as you deleted the file? Or what if you’ve disabled the Recycle Bin? (Yes, that can be done, but I don’t recommend it.) Don’t worry, using the steps outlined below, you *may* be able to recover the file. Read the rest of this entry »
