Jan 6, 2011

The Mac App Store is Open!

The Mac App Store is a digital distribution platform for Mac OS X applications developed by Apple Inc. It was released on January 6, 2011 as part of the Mac OS X v10.6.6 update.

After you install the 10.6.6 Update for OS X and reboot, you'll see a new icon in your dock, right after the Finder icon. Click that to launch the app store. If you don't want it taking up dock space, you can also get to the Mac App Store through the Apple menu, right under Software Update.

The Mac App Store looks and works almost exactly like the iPad App Store, featuring the a home page of new and popular apps.

My List of Essential Applications for your Mac will be updated with links to the App Store as they are added.

Jan 1, 2011

Microsoft Security Essentials 2

Since its release in 2010, Microsoft Security Essentials has proven to be one of the best antivirus programs for Windows, and it's free! It has now been upgraded to version 2.

If you're already running MSE, check your update tab for an upgrade notification - your system tray icon may also be orange if the update is available. You can also download Security Essentials 2 manually and install over the old version.

MSE 2 adds several key improvements, not the least of which is a heuristic scanning engine and better integration with existing Windows features, such as Windows Firewall and Internet Explorer to offer increased protection against network and Web-based threats. There's also a new network inspection feature which uses the Windows Filtering Platform in Vista and Windows 7 (XP users won't benefit from this feature).

Microsoft Security Essentials works with Windows XP (SP2 or SP3); Windows Vista (SP1 or SP2); Windows 7; and Windows XP Mode in Windows 7. MSE is a free download from Microsoft Microsoft Security Essentials.

Beware!

There are many bogus security tools being offered to the unsuspecting PC user. If you are on a Web page and a window pops up with a warning such as "Virus detected!" or "Your PC is insecure!" The pop-up then offers to fix the problem — for a price. The slicker offerings closely mimic the look of real security warnings, making it hard to tell they're fake. If that weren't bad enough, the fake software that victims then download and install is usually malware, and it can be extremely hard to remove - often requiring legitimate, fee-based repairs.

When you see one of those "Your PC is infected!" warnings, close the dialog without clicking any of its links. Go directly to a security site that you know and trust, and run their on-demand scanner. Sites with good, free, on-demand scanners include McAfee (Security Scan Plus), Trend Micro (HouseCall), Symantec (Security Scan), and ESET (Online Scanner).

When you want to permanently install a security tool, do so directly from the vendor's own site — not through unknown, intermediate pages or links.

Nov 1, 2010

Support for Windows XP SP2 has Ended

Microsoft stopped supporting Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows 2000 on July 13, 2010.

The official Microsoft recommendation is to upgrade to Windows 7 but the other option is of course using Windows Update to get XP SP3 or just downloading it from Microsoft. Windows 2000 isn’t so lucky, it looks like its time is up for good. If you are still using Windows 2000, it's time to upgrade to something newer.

On October 22, Microsoft pulled the plug on sales of Windows XP, ending the operating system's spectacular nine-year run.

Microsoft plans no further Service Packs or feature enhancements for the XP. Microsoft says it will provide XP security updates through April 2014.

Oct 10, 2010

Fix another Office 2007 / 2010 Annoyance - the Missing Menu Bar

UBitMenu will emulate the Office 2003 style menu in Word 2007, Excel 2007 and Powerpoint 2007 and also the 2010 versions. If you have spent agonizing minutes trying to find features in Word, Excel or PowerPoint ribbons after upgrading to Microsoft Office 2007 or 2010 that would have been at your finger tips in Office 2003 you will soon appreciate UBitMenu.

Go here to download and install the Classic Menu for Office 2007 / 2010 (UBitMenu). Free for personal use.

Jul 7, 2010

Windows 7 Administrator Account

In WiIndows 7, the built-in Administrator account is disabled by default. To enable it:

1. Open an elevated command prompt (Run the Command Prompt as Administrator)
2. Enter:
   net user administrator /active:yes
   and press Enter.
3. Now you will see the Administrator icon on the logon screen.
4. Login to the Administrator account and set a password.

Oct 8, 2010

Make the IE 9 Menu Bar Permanent

1. Back up the registry before making changes.
2. Log on as an administrator.
3. Close all instances of IE.
4. Open the registry editor and navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Policies \ Microsoft
5. In the right pane, right click and select New, then Key.
6. Name the new key 'Internet Explorer'.
7. In the Internet Explorer key, create a new subkey and name it 'Main'
8. Now you should be in the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Internet Explorer \ Main
9. In the right pane, right click and select New and then DWORD Value
10. Name the new value 'AlwaysShowMenus'
11. Double click the new value and in the value data field, enter 1.
12. Click OK.
13. Close the registry editor and open IE9.

If you don't see the menu bar, press ALT to display it. Now it should be there every time you open IE.

Apr 22, 2010

Make the Firefox Address Bar Easier to Read

Before:

After:


If you have trouble seeing the Firefox address bar because your monitor is very large or your eyes are very old ;-), this hack will fix that.

1. Close the Firefox application.

2. Go to the Firefox chrome configuration folder
(you may need to un-hide hidden files and folders in the Folder Options Control Panel):

Windows Vista and Windows 7:
C:\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\.default\chrome

Windows XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\[UserName]\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\[random string].default\chrome

OS X (Leopard & Snow Leopard):
Macintosh HD/Users/[UserName]/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/[random string].default/chrome

3. Look for a file named "userChrome.css". If it is not there, then copy "userChrome-example.css" to "userChrome.css".

Use Notepad (or TextEdit on the Mac) to edit userChrome.css. Add this line at the bottom of the file and then save:

  #urlbar { font-size:20px !important; height:37px !important; }

4. Restart Firefox.

Apr 20, 2010

Fix Infected Windows Systems That Won't Boot!

AVG has released a free Rescue CD that is a bootable CD that launches a Linux based interface to scan your Windows or Linux operating system for viruses and other malware. This is ideal for when the effects of the virus are preventing the operating system from booting.

The rescue CD also includes other tools such as a file manager, a registry editor, Hard drive recovery tool, Ping and some common Linux programs including the VI editor.

If your computer supports booting from a USB drive, you can also install to a USB Thumb drive.

Go here to download the AVG Rescue CD.