Al Lustie's Tips and Tricks

Suppose you receive an email from your bank asking you to confirm your account number, and maybe your social security number.  It's your bank, right?  They just want to confirm that they have the right email address for you.

WRONG!

Some nasty Offspring of a Nasty Dog is fishing for your information so he/she can steal from you.

• Steal your identity.
• Steal your savings.
• Steal your  credit rating.
• Steal your peace of mind.

It's called "Phishing".  It may come as a web site, an email, even a letter in the US Mail.

What can you do?

Two things will keep you safe.
1.  NEVER give out your bank information or your social security information.  NEVER.  NEVER!

2.  Report it to your local police or sherriff's office.  Most law enforcement offices want to keep track of stuff like that, and when they can they warn their taxpaying supporters and occasionally they can go after these nasty, nasty thieves.

Stay Safe.

I'd enjoy your comment.

I was asked this morning about staying with Windows XP now that Microsoft has stopped all support for it, including stopping any security fixing.  "What should I do?" asked my friend.

I answered as honestly as I can, given that he will not be purchasing a new iMac.  I said, "Upgrade to Windows 8.1 if you can."  I sent him instructions on how to check and see how much memory his computer has (4 GB  RAM is about a minimum) and how to use http://www.crucial.com to find out what he can add, if anything is needed.

Then I mentioned that he would not be advised to get Windows 8.  Go for Windows 8.1.  When he does, if he does, I will recommend that he set it up to start with the Start menu on screen.  Avoid the tiles.  He doesn't use a Windows touch screen, so the tiles are nearly useless and won't get him where he wants to be.

What do you think?  Would you advise him the same way?  Have you experience that says differently?  Leave a comment and let us know.

For computer users this fall is the time of the "New".  New operating systems, upgrades, changes in look, feel and performance -- it seems overwhelming to some of us.  How should a person deal with these changes?

One way is to simply talk to your tech, whether at a retail store or the one you usually work with.  Ask for advice:  "Should I make this change now, or wait awhile? And if I should wait, how will I know when to make the change?"

Another way is to do a tiny bit of homework.  Using your current web browser, check out some of these links:

IOS 7 for iphone, ipad and ipod: http://www.techradar.com/us/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/11-brilliant-ios-7-tips-and-tricks-1179681 for IOS 7.  Or do a search on "When should I upgrade to IOS7?

Windows 8.1 is a free upgrade from Microsoft.  https://www.google.com/search?q=upgrading+to+Windows+8.1&oq=upgrading+to+Windows+8.1&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.8051j0j4&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=119&ie=UTF-8#es_sm=119&espv=210&q=upgrading+to+Windows+8.1&tbm=nws
  This one has a series of  links and advice.  Messing with any Windows product usually requires preparation, and the change from Windows 8 to 8.1 requires some effort on the user's part (or his/her tech's part).

Maverick is the new OS (Operating System) for Mac computers.  http://www.macworld.com/article/2052602/get-your-mac-ready-for-mavericks-os-x-10-9.html
  the Macworld.com site has a good number of articles that are useful and which you may profit from.

If you take the optional way of doing some homework you will be pleasantly surprised to see that:

1. there are a lot a easy to understand resources
2. probably you can make this change successfully
3. upgrading makes sense.

What has your experience been?  Leave a comment and let us know.

I didn't wait.  I updated to IOS 7 for my iPhone, iPod and iPad.  Was it worth it?

Probably.  Maybe the best feature so far is that even when I leave several apps open, IOS 7 sees to it they do not drain the battery.  That is especially nice for my iPhone.  Driving across country it is tempting to leave the Starbucks app, the Google Maps app, my Notes app, and Evernote all open.  It is not smart, or was not when I had IOS 6.  Now -- it's O.K.

Drawbacks:

You have to learn a few new swiping skills.
Down from the top for Notifications
Down from the almost top for the search feature
Double click on the HOME button and then swipe UP to close an app.  And that doesn't always work the first time!

For me, those are the major changes.  I mostly like the new font and the new look.  I like the fact that I can group more apps per "folder" on the screen.  I enjoyed playing with the compass and level (swipe down from the almost top to get the Search box and type "Compass" to find it).

I don't like the new camera icon, but I use Camera! Awesome more often so it's not a big deal.

Have you upgraded?  What has been your experience?  Leave a comment and let us know.

Recently I published a link describing programs you DO NOT need.  Here is a different link listing the Four Essential Utilities you do need.

http://www.howtogeek.com/172860/keep-it-simple-here-are-the-only-4-system-and-security-tools-you-need-on-windows/

Don't just save your money -- spend wisely and work carefully.

Leave a comment with your understanding.

You don't need a lot of the stuff  advertised.  Howtogeek.com has this list for Windows users that I find helpful.  Check it out at:
http://www.howtogeek.com/172839/10-types-of-system-tools-and-optimization-programs-you-dont-need-on-windows/

What do you think?  Do you find this helpful?

When you download something you want, WATCH! the install program.  Often they have a box already checked so they can download a browser toolbar or other bit of clutter.  Uncheck the box.

Leave a comment.

The nasty scammers are at it again.  They call, pretend to be working for or contracting for Microsoft, and say a problem has been detected on your computer.  For $XXX.xx they will fix it.  The cost was $349 for a year's protection quoted to one of my clients.

It's a SCAM!

This one was from India, but they can be from anywhere.  They love to prey on seniors.

Don't fall for it.  Just hang up.

Microsoft does not know anything about your computer unless you send them an error report.  They do not hire contractors to call you offering to help.  Save your money and your computer and your peace of mind. please.

I'd love to come over and help get the malware off your computer if you get suckered, but I would charge you.  Ditto! for other computer techs.

I would RATHER you didn't need to call.  When in doubt, hang up, turn your computer off and unplug it for an hour.  Or overnight.

The time has come.  For some of us it came yesterday or the day before.  Or others . . . not yet.  Users of iPhones, iPads, and iPods can download IOS 7 for the device(s) they use.  What can you expect?

First, it's not for every device.  If you device is too old, IOS 7 will not work on it and it will not download to it.

Suppose, for instance, that you have an iPod 3.  Sorry.  No IOS 7.  What has been working, however, will continue to work.  Apple did not abandon you to ownership of a piece of junk.

Suppose you have an iPhone or iPad and your Apps icon does not divulge that you have an update to IOS 7 waiting for you?  It's a new enough device, but when you tap the App icon, nothing is downloaded.  What can you do?

Tap on the Settings or System icon.
Tap General
Tap Software Update.

If your device is eligible it will probably tell you that you could download the new IOS 7 and install it.  Or, it might tell you that you don't have enough memory, and you need to choose which apps to uninstall.  Or music to uninstall.  It helps you figure that out and do it.

I recommend plugging in your device so that it has plenty of power for the ten or twenty minutes it will take to download and then install this important update.

What next?

I recommend going to the iBooks app, open it by taping on it, and search for IOS7.  There is a free book you can download and read that provide most, if not all, the help you need to use the new commands.  If you are a MacWorld subscriber, and get their emails, you will find help there.

Enjoy.  I am.

Leave a comment and let us know what you think.

I have been working with computers for 33 years now.  From an Atari 800 to my current MacBook Air, from Windows 3.1 to Windows 8, I have worked with, experimented with, and generally used these interesting devices.  I have a "gripe" worth sharing.  Maybe you do as well.

Here it is:  I get a uew, improved version of my workhorse.  I'll pick on Mozilla Thunderbird as an example, but various other programs and apps would work as well.  Somewhere along the line the developers and programmers and user-interface people get it "right" -- for me.

I would be happy if these people kept beefing up the security, maybe made it work faster, or let me hook other programs into it more easily.  But. . .

You know, when you hear the word "But" what a person really wants to say is coming next.

"But". . . leave me a way to keep using the program with the interface and features I love!  Don't force me to accept changes that are useless to me.  Don't sabotage success.

If Microsoft wants to make a version of Windows designed for social networking folks (Windows 8) fine.  But leave me the option of a Start button and the things that work for me efficiently and well.  Beef up security, make it work better with Mac computer and Linux computers -- but essentially leave me a ten or fifteen year window to keep working the way I want to.

Ditto, Thunderbird.  I have given it up.  Reluctantly.  It doesn't work right anymore.  I had features I don't need or use and they get in the way.  They may be great for someone, but let me keep using the older version with better performance and security.

Is that too much to ask?

I think of my friend and his hamburgers.  He like hamburgers.  He likes them with onions and pickles.  He does not like them with cheese!  And he does pretty well getting restaurants to provide him with hamburgers without cheese.  He goes back to those eateries and has not had to give up hamburgers.

Software developers -- take note!

What do you think?  Leave a comment and let us know.

When you travel these days you probably take more than a change of clothing.  Let me suggest some things to take that may stimulate your mind so you take what you need.

First -- a flashlight.  With fresh batteries, so that you can find your way around in a strange room at night.  Yeah, a flashlight may be old fashioned, but it is technology.  So is a pencil and a pen, for that matter.

Moving on, take a power strip with four or more outlets and at least a three foot cord.  With the outlet strip take the required number of chargers for your devices.  My wife and I each travel with an iPad (2 total) and an iPhone (2 total).  With the outlet strip we can charge them at night, and use them when not sleeping.  I take an iPod with audio books checked out from the public library, but we can charge that in the car as we drive and listen.

We happen to not have found a laptop necessary as we have Evernote on the iPads and a keyboard/case to use for heavy duty typing.  Ours is a Zagg, but other good ones are available.  The case makes it a bit heavier, but protects it.  We can access and write email, the web, the Starbucks app (must find the nearby coffee outlets) and make notes about whatever we see, hear or think.

If you are driving, a plugin for the car that can charge an phone or table or iPod as you go is very handy.  Let me tell you what we discovered a couple of weeks ago.

The adapter was plugged in, but the phone was not charging.  I got the Prius manual out and discovered (not easily) that there are two ways of turning the car one.  Our usual is to put a foot on the brake, press the "ON" button and we are ready to go.

But. . . no charging.

Keeping the foot off the brake pedal while hitting the "ON" button sets up a different set of circuits.  Only then do we put the foot on the brake pedal and press the "ON" button again.  Now it will drive and charge the car.

What works for you?  Leave a comment and let us know.

I'm traveling.  At one motel with WiFi I used my iPad to choose settings, WiFi, and a wireless network.  The wrong one.  Didn't matter.  The right one was not shown.  I couldn't log in, couldn't get email, etc.

For people who regularly travel with their laptop for business I have nothing new to offer.  But for folks who are going on vacation, or going to a music festival, or journeying to see one or more family members, I have our experiences that may shed light on your planning.  

I love to read.  I have learned to love reading electronic books.  Over the past several years I have been selling or giving away vast quantities of books.  I don't need books on Windows 3.1, or Windows 95, or WordPerfect 4.1.  In fact, physical books not only require three men and a boy to move, they take up incredible amounts of space.  For much of my life I kept buying bookshelves, and trying to find a place in my house or office to place them.  How much better to have electronic books I keep on the cloud, except for a few on my electronic reader!

Yes, I enjoy holding a book, the slight smell of ink and paper, and the feel of turning the pages.  So, I check books out of the local library.

But more and more when I purchase a book, I purchase an electronic book.

I was an early Nook owner.  I went through the gymnastics of downloading a book from the library, moving it into the Adobe Digital Editions app and then downloading it via USB to my reader.  It disappeared when it was due.  Convenient, lightweight, easy to take on a trip.  It was wonderful.

Then I purchased an iPad.  I downloaded the Nook app and the Kindle app, and used the Apple iBooks app.  This got me through some painful nights recovering from a knee replacement and has been the way to go not only for traveling but for reading at home.

Nook?  Kindle?  iBooks?  Kobo?  Is there one that is 'right' for you?

I think each contributes.  What do you think?  Do you use downloadable books?  Which reader works for you?  Leave a comment and let us know.

I had an interesting tech call recently.  My client's cat had sat on her keyboard.  In fact, the cat napped on the keyboard.  The computer was on.

When the cat's owner came home, the picture on the screen was turned 90 degrees to the usual orientation.  So, she would have to turn the monitor on an edge to use the screen (or get a really bad crick in her neck).  What would fix that?

It turns out there is a keyboard shortcut that does the job.  (This is Windows, by the way.)

Control + ALT + Up Arrow

Kaboom!  the screen was rotated.  She was happy.

At some point we change.  Some move from Windows XP to Windows 7, others from Windows Vista to Windows 8, and yet others from Windows to a Mac, or from a Mac to Windows.  That's just the computer operating system, or platform. Think about the change from Word to Pages, or from Libre Office to Word or Pages.  Don't fret if the names don't mean much -- please stay with me.

The trick is figuring out how to figure stuff out.  When I taught one of the first things I taught people was the use of the F1 key.  In most programs that takes you to "HELP".  It is really, really useful.

The second useful trick is to use the HELP menu, usually on the far right of the menu bar (top of screen).  In our current generation of software and operating systems clicking the HELP menu usually brings up a search function so that if you are trying, for instance, to set TABS, you can type "set tabs" in that search area and hit enter.  The Help program will take you to whatever the help program has on what you typed.

I am typing this on a version of Google Docs (on the Web) from Blogspot.  Hmmm.  No F1 key.  No Help menu.  What can I do?

I can use Google or Bing or Ask or another search site and type my question in.  (I would look at the little menu bar first.  I might find exactly the command I needed right there.)

In fact, in our world of 2013, learning to use the search function on the Web might be the number one skill a person needs to make a change.

What do you think?  What do you do?  Leave a comment and let us know.

Making computing easier is one of my goals.  I constantly figure out ways to use my Mac and my Windows PC with less trouble.  Keyboard shortcuts help me.  I like not having to take my hands off the keys and still get things done.

So, here are some of my favorites.

Control + A selects "ALL" on a page, in an email, etc. Experiment with it.  you can press
Control + D to DESELCT.

Control + C Copies what you have selected.
Control + X Cuts (think of scissors) what you have selected
OK.  You want to copy or cut a selection.

Probably you want to PASTE it somewhere else.
Control + V Pastes.  It puts what you cut or copied where you want it.

You have the document or worksheet or web page as you like it.

Control + S will Save it.

Don't forget the Arrow Keys for moving around, selecting something, etc.  And, for a few more ideas, go to:
https://support.google.com/mail/answer/6594?hl=en

What do you think?  Leave a comment and let us know.

"Mac Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts" by Drew Provan appeals to me.  In a colorful, easy to use format I have learned about many shortcuts and a few third party add-ons that make life better as I use my iMac.  The same would be true for using my wife's MacBook.  I recommend it!

What to do if you have gotten distracted and fallen for a scammer?

1.  Hang up, or in whatever way you must, get rid of the guy.  If he has your email address, use your filter options to send his/her email directly to JUNK or DELETE.  If you have Gmail, Xfinity, MSN, Yahoo, etc -- use the filter on the web site so the email never gets to your personal computer.

  If this scammer phones you, ask for a phone number and then call your local sheriff or police and report the person.  Most law enforcement folks have someone who takes the reports.  If a number of people are getting 'hit', they may try to do something about it.  (Probably not, but it never hurts to make the report.)

2.  If the scam has gotten an email through to your computer, or you have clicked on a button on a scam site, turn your computer OFF.  Just hold down the power button and power down.  When you turn it back on, press the F8 key several times and choose "Safe Mode".

  PREPARE FOR THIS EVENTUALITY:  Purchase Malware-Bytes Anti-malware program and keep it running all the time.  http://www.malwarebytes.org/   It will work with most anti-virus programs.  Oh, yeah.  Keep your anti-virus definitions updated and keep that program running all the time.  Make a careful record on paper of your license keys, passwords, user names, etc.  You will need this information. . .

3.  If you can, do a system restore and go back to the last "good" restore point.  You may not be able to do this, but if you can, then do an in-depth scan using both your antivirus and anti-malware programs.

4.  If you had not gotten malware-bytes anti-malware program, get it (at least the free version) and run it a couple of times.  Ditto, run you antivirus program.  Don't use "Quick Scan" -- do an in depth can for each of these.

5.  If none of these tactics work (and they won't unless you power down very quickly) you will probably need to use a program like "killdisk" and scour your hard disk.  Before you do, back up all your DATA including pictures, bookmarks, contact lists, emails, and downloads if you have not downloaded any "junk", etc., to an external hard disk.

6.  Reinstall windows.  (Mac users usually don't have this problem, but it you do, reinstall OS/X.)

    Reinstall your antivirus program and do an in-depth scan.  Then do a similar scan of the data you saved on the external hard disk.  Delete/clean any errors you find.

    Reinstall Malware-bytes program, and run an in-depth scan of your computer and then your external data.  Clean/delete any errors you find.

7.  Reinstall programs, not including any programs the scammer(s) persuaded you to download.

    Do anti-virus and anti-malware scans again.  Clean/delete any problems found.

8.  Bring your data back.  I recommend scanning again but that may be redundant.

9.  Change passwords, including the password to get logged in to your computer, and if you bank online, ask your bank/credit union to watch for unusual activity in your account.

10. Now, set a restore point.

This takes a lot of time, care and effort.  Prevent, prevent, prevent -- if you can.

Any comments?  Let us know what you are thinking. . .

I got a call from a client yesterday.  Someone from a company claiming to be a Microsoft support company had called (from India) to tell him he had issues with his computer.  Could he have access to his computer to fix it before it got worse.

Can you spell "SCAM"?  There are lots of companies doing this.  My friend started to fall for it, then hung up and called me.  I scrubbed his hard disk, reinstalled Windows and his programs and his data.  Maybe the scoundrel had not put anything [yet] on his computer, but we don't want to take chances.  I also asked him to call his bank and alert them to any possible problems.

BE CAREFUL!

Microsoft has no way of knowing what is going on with your computer unless YOU call them or YOU email them.  Windows does not send them problem reports.

Join me and others and let's, together, not let the bad guys win!  (There are other names for "bad guys" but I'll be decent.)

Leave a comment and let us know what you think.  Oh, if you are a scammer, instead of leaving a comment why don't you either reform or jump off a high building onto a frozen lake surface.

I put a date in the title because this may not be the only IE 10 problem that comes my way.  My client brought the computer over because he had been upgraded to Internet Explorer 10 on his Windows 10 Home Premium computer.  Then it did not work. 

I took a look.  Surprise.  It would not connect to the network, or to the internet.  Not wirelessly.  Not with a CAT5 cable. 

I explored some more.  His network adapter drivers were OK, his hardware showed health.  Still, no network.  We ran his antivirus program.  We rebooted.  No joy.  We could had get System Restore to work.  His recent IE 10 update did not show.

Finally I did the infamous Control+Alt+Delete and selected Task Manager.  I got into the "services" area and discovered that something had turned ALL his network related services OFF.  As I examined the column, I found that most services had been turned off.  But the network was my concern.

I right-clicked each service required for a network connection, selected properties, utilized the drop-down menu and chose "Automatic" and clicked Apply.  After doing this 12-20 times (I wasn't counting) I thought, "Let's reboot and see whether these hold."

After rebooting we did the three-finger salute, selected Task Manager, and looked.  Not only were my changes holding, we could connect to the internet. 

I downloaded the free version of the malware-bytes program and ran it.  It found 19 instances of problems, which I removed. 

We rebooted and, again, could get on the internet.  My client has DVD's made at home, so he decided that rather than have me keep restoring his services one at a time he would re-install Windows.  I haven't heard how that went, but I suspect he's doing fine.

Have you had this problem?  Leave a comment and let us know. 

In my last post I suggested a useful method of enhancing (not  guaranteeing) your computer and identity security.  Today I want to suggest ways of making your passwords stronger.

First, some links where you can get more information:

http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2008/06/the-ultimate-guide-for-creating-strong-passwords/

Note the 8 4 Rule.  It's OK, but an editor of "Wired" magazine recently was hacked and his password was nineteen (19) characters long and a hacker figured it out.  So, there are no guarantees, but generally longer is better.

Password Generators exist:

http://www.random.org/passwords/
  Random.org has one

Perfect Passwords (https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm) is another.

Or, you can purchase a password storage program like RoboForm.  Links to such programs can be found here:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2381432,00.asp

For the Mac (OS/X) there is 1Password.   https://agilebits.com/onepassword  It is very strong, and quite useful. 

You have to remember the strong password you have for this program, but beyond that it lets you store and manage your passwords for handy retrieval.  Most also have a password generator to help you devise strong passwords. 

Remember to have regular backups going, maybe one to the "cloud" but certainly one to your external hard drive or to a DVD you burn every so often. 

Is this a pain?  Yes, and so are locks on the doors of your house or apartment, locks on your car dorrs and for the trunk of your car.  So is being very alert when you go for a run or walk, being aware of your surroundings at all times.  That's the kind of world we live in.

In my home state of Colorado they talk about reintroducing wolves and grizzly bears and other predators.  In the home state of computing, predators are already here, and hard at work.

What do you think?  Leave a comment and let us know. 

According to various watchdog groups, including most anti-virus software producers, there are massive new threats to our computers and to our electronic transactions "in the wild" right now.  The watchdog group that blacklists spammers was just hit with massive spam flooding.  Some of the new malware is nearly impossible to detect until is has infected a computer or stolen your contact list, or made off with your passwords.

Most of my clients use their computers from home.  Here is a tip:

Create separate, tough, hard to imagine passwords for each account you have -- email, bank, credit union, insurance company, each site you purchase things from.  Both Windows and Mac computers let you have more than one program open at a time.  So. . .

 Open a word processor (like MS Word), a spreadsheet (like Numbers or Excel) or a text editor (like Notepad or TextEdit) when you start updating your passwords.  If you use something that lets you create a table, create one with these headings:
    Name of account      Username                       Password

You might have something like this in the boxes:
     Gmail                      myname@gmail.com      X13$fy*71

Every time you update your password or create a new account, put the information in this document.  If you con't know how to create "strong" passwords, check the next tip. 

If you can, encrypt this document and remember the password and write it down somewhere.  Print this document and store is near your computer in a safe place.

I don't recommend this for your work enviroment where coworkers or passers-by could find and filch your document,  But at home, especially if the kids are grown up and gone, this is pretty safe.  You could include it in a folder or three-ring binder with an innocuous label on it that only you understood (and your personal representative in the case of your death). 

While this is inconvenient, so is having your savings wiped out or applying for all new credit cards. 

What do you think?  Leave a comment and let us know. 

My friend and client was having repeated troubles booting his computer.  Repair, Safe Mode, and finally an opportunity to log in.  Then, often, two rounds of Repair, Safe Mode, another Repair, another Safe Mode.  He asked me to fix it. 

Easier said than done.  The dreaded Blue Screen of Death began appearing.  Another friend had backed up his data.  I used a disk scrubbing program (Killdisk) to wipe the hard disk clean.  My friend did not have system disks, so purchased a new copy of Windows 7 (64 bit) Home Premium.  I did a clean install.  After restoring his data, doing a couple of reboots, I returned the computer.  Blue Screen of Death again.  Darn!

I did it all again, and this time went to the manufacturers site and download all the known drivers for the chipset.  I burned them to a CD, on my iMac while cleaning off the hard disk (again) and reinstalling Windows.  Then I booted and installed all the drivers (for the video, network, wireless, keyboard, trackpad, mouse, USB ports, etc.)  Then I installed MS Office, restored his data, and set up his Internet Explorer.  We had decided to "keep it clean" so I did not download Firefox or Chrome or any other utilities.  My friend says he will monitor his fingers and the mouse when he sees the word "Download" on the screen.

I forgot his printer and had to install that as well. 

So far it's working.  It took several hours, and he actually could have purchased a new computer for what I charged him.  Think about that when you are tempted to download something that will speed up your computer, or clean up your computer, or somehow magically make your life better.  Even recent Windows updates can be damaging. 

What do you think?  Have you had experiences like this?  Leave a comment and let me know. 

The Internet can bring a wealth of useful help to you.  If you have a PC problem, or a software problem, or don't know how to make something happen on your iMac, try a search on the internet to find answers.  Here are a few examples.

Your PC takes forever to boot.  Open your favorite browser (Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.  Maybe Opera.  In the search window, type "PC boots slowly"  or "Fix slow booting on PC" or some such other phrase. 

Press Enter/Return. 

Then take the time to read some of the responses, or watch some of the videos.  You might be surprised as the possibilities.  (I hope one you find suggests that when you turn your computer on you start pressing the F8 key and then go into Safe Mode.) 

If you are on a Mac, and cannot get a program to stop running, you might type in a search phrase like, "How do I make a program stop running on my Mac?"

I think you are getting the idea. 

Oh -- do NOT get sucked in to downloading a PC Repair program, or other miracle program.  Those answers, those pop-up ads, those scams are probably part of what slowed your computer down in the first place. 

Ask.  Read and watch answers.  Keep your fingers and mouse pointers off the download button.

What do you think?  Leave a comment and let us know. 

The folks over at Windows Secrets are asking that we share this article.  Please READ IT and be aware.

By Fred Langa

• "This morning I received a telephone call (the second such call in two weeks) about infected files on my computer; the caller then offered to fix the problem. Suspecting a scam, I decided to play along.
  "I think it was the same caller both times. He had a strong accent, the kind I'm used to hearing on outsourced help lines. I asked the caller's name both times; the first time he replied, 'Mike Tyler,' and the second time he was 'Andrew.' He began the call by saying that he's with Microtek, an authorized supporter for Windows operating systems. (My spelling of the company's name was a guess; the caller never spelled it out.)
  "I asked immediately whether this was a sales call. Without directly answering my question, he launched into what sounded like a script. He stated: 'Our servers have received information from your computer that indicates it is infected.'
  "When I questioned him about his company, he told me I'd find 'Microtek' listed on [an online business directory] — as if a listing in the directory were proof his call was legitimate! When asked where the company was located, he replied, 'Houston, Texas.' I then asked for his employee ID; he gave me 'MSCE079502.'
  "(After the call, I ran an online search and came up with a Microtek in Houston; it's a training facility for business computer users — not a technical-support center. I assume the caller just picked Microtek's name off the Web. I don't believe the real Microtek had anything to do with the bogus tech-support call.)
  "Changing topics, I asked how he knew my computer was infected. He replied that his company is an authorized Microsoft Partner and, because I use Microsoft Windows, my computer sends notifications to Microtek servers.
  "I then asked how he knew about my specific computer; he stated that his server gets updates from my PC. He then asked whether I ran Windows Update. When I said yes, he went on to say that Microtek servers got the information about infected files in my system via Windows Update.
  "I countered, stating that Windows Update goes only to Microsoft servers — not Microtek servers. But he simply repeated that Microtek is an authorized Microsoft Partner.
  "Next, I asked him which one of my computers was infected (I have several at home), to which he said something vague about a MAC address. When asked which MAC address he had for my machine, he would state only that, for 'security reasons,' he couldn't tell me the MAC address (even though it was my own PC).
  "At this point, I expressed my doubts about all this information. But he was quite persistent; he stated that 'some of our clients in your area have been affected by the infected files on your machine.' He then claimed I had upward of '1,000 infected files.' When asked who these local clients were, he said he couldn't tell me that (of course).
  "I asked how his clients' machines could possibly be affected by my home computer. He didn't answer this but went directly to the following: 'OK, I'll show you the infected files on your computer.' He instructed me to enter .inf into the Start menu search box, then declared that all these files were 'infected' (that .inf stands for 'infected' or 'infection').
  "At that point, I said I didn't believe that was true; it was my understanding that .inf was a particular type of file that comes with software installed on my computer.
  "At this point, he ended the call — probably because I knew that .inf didn't refer to infected files. As it was, I'd had him on the line for a good 15 minutes.
  "As I mentioned, this is the second such cold call I've received in about two weeks. The pitch given in the two calls was very consistent; I surmise there must be many others who have been presented with the same scam."

• Microsoft or one of its partners made the call: False! Microsoft flatly states:
  "Neither Microsoft nor our partners make unsolicited phone calls (also known as cold calls) to charge you for computer security or software fixes. … Do not trust unsolicited calls. Do not provide any personal information." (See the full text on Microsoft's "Avoid tech support phone scams" page.)
• Windows Update collects personally identifiable information: False, again! Even if it wanted to, Microsoft — or a Microsoft Partner — can't track you down and cold-call you via information acquired by Windows Update. You'll find more details on the online "Windows Update privacy statement" page; a more colloquial version on the "Using Windows Update" page states unequivocally: "Windows Update is committed to protecting your privacy and does not collect your name, address, e-mail address, or any other form of personally identifiable information."

I went to a computer store last week to help a man purchase a computer.  He has used Windows, and for various reasons was not ready to switch to an iMac or a Linux computer.  He was looking into a PC running Windows like his old computer -- but newer.

I was struck immediately by one astounding fact:  most of the desktop PC's were sold running Windows 7.  I knew you could "downgrade" but he did not need to.  For a modest price he bought a name brand PC with Windows 7 Premium. 

Unless you are a person who loves to learn, tinker and try new things, consider doing what my friend did.  Buy a PC running Windows 7. 

Windows 8 works, but there is a tough learning curve to it, at least for people with lots of Windows experience.  What you get with the latest version of Windows may not translate into something that is worth it.

Leave a comment if you have an opinion here.  Thanks. 

My optimism was dashed yesterday.  The Brother laser was on a different outlet, different UPS, and it turned the iMac off when I started to print.  When I turned the iMac back on, and it booted up, the printer then printed the PDF. 

What I am saying is this:  I think I have an electronically defective printer and will have to recycle it at a nearby recycle place.  The major issue now is this:  when?

If it annoys my wife too much, we will do it immediately.  If she can live with it, we will use up as much toner as we can first. 

Any insights or comments?  Please share your understanding with us.

After talking with Brother support I unplugged the Brother laser printer, then moved it to a UPS strip on a different electrical outlet (as they suggested).  I rebuilt the settings for both VMWare Fusion (Windows 7) and the iMac OS/X Mountain Lion. 

So far moving the printer off the same outlet as the computer has done the trick.  Simple, but who knew?

Leave a comment and let us know what your experiences have been.

A In November of 2012 my wife's Brother laser printer began a new era in her computing experience.  When she sent a PDF as a print job the iMac she uses shut down.  Once in awhile it restarted, but usually it shut down, turned off, died.

Word documents went through; PDFs killed the computer.

She uses VMWare Fusion and Windows 7 as well as Mountain Lion, and it seemed that printing from Mountain Lion with Preview as the PDF reader worked OK.  Well, it worked OK for awhile. 

Then printing from either side -- Windows or Mac OS/X shut the printer off.  Then Word documents began to shut the computer off. 

VMWare had a tech work with me for hours.  We achieved this:  only the first document sent to the printer after not printing for awhile turned the computer off.  After a start, we could print successfully for several hours as long as she kept printing something every few minutes, even every hour. 

The Brother tech with whom I talked did some research and said that it's the surge of power the printer gets when we send a job to the printer.  It robs power from the computer.  Solution suggested:  plug the printer in on another surge strip or better, another circuit. 

I'll be trying that out this afternoon.  More later.

Have you had this problem?  Leave a comment with the way you solved it. 

I use my iPod 5 as a handy camera a lot.  Last week I was in the Northwest, and coming our of the motel I caught this sunrise on my iPod. 

I used Snapseed to enhance the picture a little:

And I tried  Alt Photo to get this:

What do you find helpful?  Leave a comment and let us know. 

One of the apps I use pushed us to get our first iPad, and iPad 1.  Star Walk  is a fantastic app in many ways.  We love it, our grandkids love it, our friends love it.  If you have a newer iPad, one with a Retina display, it even looks better. 

If you enjoy radio, or music, try  Pandora  If you are in a space with other folks, use your ear buds or earphones, but find the kinds of music you like and enjoy.

My wife used the Timer+ app in teaching, and I used it regularly when doing the physical therapy part of recovery from a knee replacement.  It can be set up for six different times, with descriptive names, and with various sounds than play when "time's up!" 

I use Numbers (made by Apple) for basic spreadsheet work.  Specifically, I have an invoice form ready to go.  I fill in the services I did, the client name, etc., the time spent, and my hourly charge and I can email it from my iPad to the client while still on site.  It can also be saved in Numbers format, Excel format and as a PDF.  Or printed to a wireless printer using PrintCentral. 

Let me mention Print Central.  It's not perfect, but it works.  Epson and HP also make printing apps for their printers, but I prefer one that I can use with almost any wireless printer.  Printer Pro gets great reviews.

What do you use?  Leave a comment and let us know. 

Windows Secrets email newsletter mentions today that the "program cannot open" scam is roaring back.  The message wants you to download a program to clean the infection off your computer.  Instead, the downloaded program infects your computer.

During the install on Windows the computer will probably try to warn you.  You are in the habit of clicking an "OK" or "Yes" and Bam!  you get infected.

Again I warn you -- be very careful, and don't download when you get these kinds of messages.  It is best to SHUT YOUR COMPUTER OFF!  Yes, hold down the ON/OFF button for 5-10 seconds and shut it off.  Get away from that as quickly as possible.  When you turn the computer back on it may ask if you want to boot into Safe Mode.

Do it.

Then restart after it is fully booted.  You will be in regular mode and probably avoided an expensive situation and the corruption of your computer.

See the link to Windows Secrets and become a paying member.  Even $10 a year helps, and you get these warnings.  Even one is worth the price.  I usually charge about $185 to clean off a computer after backing up data, and leave reinstalling programs to the client.  If I install, I charge more.  And I am less expensive than most.

Leave a comment and let us know your experience or your opinion. 

More apps I use include Scrabble for the iPad.  Granted, it can't add, and it cheats, but I enjoy the practice, training my brain and eye so that when I play with humans I am a bit better.  I'm working on increasing the number of words that use all my tiles these days. 

For further recommendations I took my granddaughter's advice and downloaded Spell Tower.  It's another great word game.

A Mahjong solitaire game is fun, but I get tired of it fairly quickly.  I'll keep looking for a better one.

I enjoy Toy Physics, but don't play it as much now that I am not able to spend time with my granddaughters.  It's a great game and helps with vector physics as well. 

Finally, I have a game of Klondike Solitaire that I enjoy, especially when on hold while using the home phone.

On my iMac the Scrabble game quit working when I upgraded to Mountain Lion, and the maker of the game won't answer support questions.   But Solitaire 3D gives me challenging variety in solitaire games, but not as good as the Windows Spider Solitaire, for sure. 

What do you enjoy for recreation on your iXX device or computer?  Leave a comment and let us know. 

On my iPhone 4s I use the Phone app.  Seems obvious, but when I don't need a phone I use my iPod 5 or iPad.  I also use the Messages app, but not as often as I do not text much.  I find that in a hospital, however, sometimes texting is the only way to get out without messing up instrumentation. 

I would like to use the Passbook app, but only have three vendors that might accept it.  So far, it is only a dream.

Goodreads is a fantastic app.  In addition to letting me keep track of hardback and paperback  books I read I can scan the ISBN barcode and it will enter the information on the book automatically.  Very convenient.  I can share with others the books I am enjoying as well. 

Did I mention Google Maps?  I use it often, but as I don't use the 3G or 4G option very often, I don't use it as a substitute GPS.  I had a tire going flat the other day, however, and used the Google Maps app on my iPhone to find a tire shop. 

Contacts and Calculator both get quite a bit of use.  I sync with my gMail account and a Comcast account and have my contacts all loaded, and I use the calculator for quick arithmetic when I get lazy. 

What apps do you use the most?  Leave a comment and let us know. 

I use my iPad, iPod and iPhone.  Probably I don't use them like anyone else, and probably no one else uses them as do I.  Let me share a few apps I use nearly every day.

Reminders -- I may be walking, a passenger in a car, in a meeting or worship service, and when something crosses my mind (including topics for blog articles) I use reminders to jot it down.  Whether on my iPhone, iPod, or iPad, they are all synchronized and I can retrieve my ideas or "to do's" easily and quickly.  I have versions of Reminders and Notes on my iMac so I can catch what I have jotted down on my desktop computer.

Notes -- Ditto for notes.  Books to read, ideas from someone in the coffee group, possibilities for blog articles, names and phone numbers I don't need in my contact list and even addresses are all in my Notes.

Both of those apps come with IOS.  No extra cost.  I use them all the time.

Evernote is useful and I am finding it an expansion of Notes -- more flexible, and maybe more useful.  I use the free version and sync between my iDevices and my iMac. 

My iPod Touch takes good pictures, and I take quite a few.  So, the Camera app that comes with IOS on my iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch gets a good workout.  I have several editing programs, but do not yet have a favorite.

Finally, for today, I use the Kindle app every day.  As I increase the number of eBooks I read, and decrease the number of printed books that take up space, I find the Kindle app a nearly constant companion.  It is also free, and our public library has some Kindle books to borrow.  Not enough, so I do buy most of mine.

What apps do you use, and how do you use them?  Leave a comment and let us know. 

Maybe "Curse" is a bit too strong, but printing has been the difficult part of computing since computing was started.  I have been struggling with printing, dare I say, "As usual", for several weeks. 

My Brother multifunction printer printed our Christmas letter well.  Then it would no longer print any black ink.  I had a new inkjet cartridge.  No Black.  I got another new black cartridge.  No Black. 

So I now have an HP.  Brother has served me well, but newer Brother printers do not seem to be my friend.  I couldn't get any support, either.

About that time my wife, who has a Brother color laser printer that has been her workhorse for a couple of years, began to notice. that when she tried to print from Windows (VMWare Fusion, Windows 7, on an iMac), the iMac would shut down suddenly.  Not always, but usually the first printing of the day. 

It was most pronounced when printing .pdf files. 

Then it began doing the same from the iMac side, especially .pdf files. 

A tech from VMWare worked with me for several hours, and we thought we had it fixed.  Today, the first print job, and the machine shut down.  The print job was on the iMac side, not the Windows side.  So I called Apple (we have an Applecare contract.) 

He was helpful, but no luck.  "Check with Brother -- maybe it needs a firmware upgrade." 

So I did, and Brother suggested plugging it in to a different outlet, and using a new USB cable.  I have done that. 

It is printing well so far.  We'll know more tomorrow.  Stay tuned.