WyzGuys Tech Talk

As many of you know, I have taught a Community Education Class about computer security issues since 2002.  Over the course of time, the nature of computer security threats have changed, and the exploits have become much more sophisticated.  Instead of pimple faced script kiddies writing mass mailing worms in their mom’s basement, we now have sophisticated software exploits that are underwritten and managed by organized criminal gangs.  What they are infecting your computer with cannot really be called a ...

I occasionally post answers to computer questions on Yahoo Answers under the screen name bobwyzguy.  Many times I have had to bite my metaphorical tongue when writing an answer – some of the questions are just so clueless.  But I avoid the easy sarcastic shot, and leave a straight answer.

Well, PC World has posted and article titled “The 20 Dumbest Questions on Yahoo Answers”.  This is worth a read, especially if the pre-holiday crunch has left you all ...

I have had a number of questions from readers of last month’s newsletter about Windows 7.  Are there problems or issues that people are having with Windows 7?  It is worth the effort and expense to upgrade?  Should I upgrade my existing PC or buy a new one?  To I have to upgrade?

To answer the last question first – no, you do not have to upgrade.  If you are running Windows XP or Windows Vista, and are happy with your ...

Here is an interesting article from Trendwatching.com that discusses what it sees as the emerging trends of the new year and decade. (Yes – we are entering the second decade of the 21st century already.  Time flies.  Having fun yet?)

Here are the key points, with links to the longer article.  I think it is worth a look.

1. Business As Unusual

Forget the recession: the societal changes that will dominate 2010 were set in motion way before we temporarily stared ...

I am very interested in the gigantic Battle of the Smartphone Titans that has started between Apple (iPhone) and Google (Android).  This is a battle between exact opposites.  Apple is the epitome of a closed and tightly controlled development environment.  Google is completely open-source.  Apple manufactures their own handsets, Google lets anyone write to any handset.  Apple applications developers need to be approved to get into the AppStore, anyone can write applications for Android enabled smartphones.

The iPhone got the jump ...

Big alert for Verizon users.  Emails from Verizon claiming that your account is over its limit and advising your to download and install a “Balance Checker” program are a hoax.  The program will install a Trojan Horse program that will give computer criminals access to your system.  This email started going out about 1:30 am Friday (CST).

If you ran the program, you have security problems that will require professional help.  See the article on IT World for more ...

Those of you considering Windows 7 can use AVG Internet Security, our recommended security suite, with the new operating system.  For those of you upgrading from Vista, you will probably need to reinstall the application and register your license key again.  Your remaining subscription time will remain in force.

AVG recently released version 9.0, which is available to current subscribers as a free upgrade.  PC World magazine recently featured a laboratory comparison of the top security suites, and AVG came in ...

Those of you who bought a Vista machine and hated it can take some comfort in knowing that it will be reasonably simple and not too expensive to upgrade to to the far superior Windows 7 operating system on Thursday.

I have run across several Personal Antivirus infections lately and just read an article on PC World that does a great job explaining what the attack looks like, but then revealed that on of the infected sites that Personal AV used to generate the fake pop-up warning was the New York Times web site.  I recommend you click on the link and read this article.  If you have been to that site lately and got a pop-up warning ...