I use SOS Online Backup services to protect my valuable data

Every morning I find an e-mail in my Inbox that informs me of the results of last night's online backup. I use SOS Online Backup, an affordable and reliable backup service to automatically backup all of my important data (pictures, music, videos, etc.) to The Cloud. I found that I needed a little help at the start, but the SOS online help team seemed to be always available, no matter the day or the hour, to provide me the help I needed.

One of these days my old IBM desktop PC will fail. If it does so in such a way that I lose data, I feel comfortable knowing that I will be able to restore the backed up data from SOS. 

This is what he body of the e-mail looks like (with apologies for cutting off the right side of the message, but you see the most important data and, I hope, get the idea):

SOS Online Backup - Backup Report for Friday, April 20, 2012
This email is from the SOS Online Backup system to report to you on a backup that you setup. Note that these backup reports are sent to you by default upon installation and setup of a scheduled backup in the SOS Online Backup software. You can disable getting these reports by going to the "Settings" tab in SOS Online Backup, then clicking "Options", and then clicking "Email Backup Reports".
Account Username pcdoc@brpcdoc.com Machine Name IBM8195E9U Backup Date 4/20/2012 10:05:05 PM Files that were not changed 44075 Files that were backed up 35 Files that were not backed up 0 Total Number of files processed 35 Total Data transferred 132.88 MB This email report is auto-generated from the SOS Online Backup system upon the successful completion of your backup session. Making backup simple, easy and affordable.

Revealing Internet Explorer 9’s Menus

Here is a quickie helpful hint from the New York Times. I personally am not a fan of Internet Explorer, preferring instead Mozilla's Firefox, but I know that many of you still use Internet Explorer. I left it behind for security reasons, but believe it is now a lot safer to use than when I left it.

Q&A: Revealing Internet Explorer 9’s Menus

By J.D. BIERSDORFER

 

Q. Where did the Menu bar go in Internet Explorer 9?

A. Microsoft merely tucked the Menu bar, Status bar and various icons out of sight until you need them. To reveal the Menu bar in I.E.9, press the Alt key. You can open the various menus (File, Edit, View, Favorites, Tools and Help) themselves by pressing the Alt key and the first letter of the menu name, as in Alt + F for the File menu (press Alt + A to open the Favorites menu).

To permanently restore the Menu bar to the window, right-click in the empty space next to the New Tab button at the top of the window. In the drop-down menu, select Menu bar and any other elements you want to see each time you use the program.

Walt Mossberg's Annual Spring Laptop Guide

Some up-to-date advice for those of us in the market for a new laptop. Worth watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsNnytJ7d8Y

How to troubleshoot your internet connection before calling your ISP

This comes from the "Call that Girl" website. I look at her blog every day and can learn from another pro like her. She has a good sense of humor, and has quite a going business out there in Minnesota. I even include her phone number as it appeared in the blog, but let's be clear, I want your business! So, although I do offer remote services, if you can't get connected to the internet, and if Lisa's method below does not fix your problem, please call me at (781) 728-9430. If you need a house call, I am located in Acton, MA, and will make house calls in the Greater Boston area.


From Lisa's blog:

"Is it not the most painful thing in the world to call CenturyLink or Comcast/Charter to troubleshoot your modem? I hate it and always say “agent” right away…but that doesn’t matter because you have to continue to go through all the prompts from the fake lady on the other end. What I hate about that fake lady the most is the phony tone they give her, with inflections of emotion? Like she’s real LOL. My favorite, “umm, I’m not sure I heard you right, did you mean you wanted to continue with our telephone button troubleshooting or did you want an agent?”

Me: Agent

Fake lady: “aah, I’m not sure I heard you right the first time, are you really sure that you want an agent or should we continue to try to troubleshoot the long and tedious way.”

Me: (yells) AGENT!!!!

Fake Lady: “OK, it sounds like you want an agent, but before I transfer you over, have you reset your modem? Let’s get started with some simple tips….”

Me: UGH.

So before you call in a trouble ticket, here is what we tell our clients at Call That Girl to do when we get the exact same call. And we do this for free, no waiting in a queue, no yelling at computers.

1.) Start with unplugging your modem power cord for one full minute. After one minute, plug back in and let the modem reset itself and see if all the blinking lights come back on. If you see any that are orange or amber and not green and blinking, you may have a modem issue. The internet company will need to “reset your modem” at this point. But let’s say everything is blinking ok, we will move on to the next step.

2.) After the modem is back to blinking lights, then go to your router power cord and unplug it for 10 seconds. After 10 seconds, plug back in and look for blinking lights. You should see the internet or Ethernet blinking for sure. If that’s good to go…we move on. If those lights are not blinking, then your router may need repairing or replacing. At that point, you can call us to help.

3.) Now you have reset your modem and router the right way, all lights are blinking ok…it’s time to restart your computer. Be sure to do a full restart/reboot so the computer gets a fresh connection to the internet. If you didn’t change anything with the computer settings, the internet should come back for you.

If not, then it may be a good time to call us at 952-681-7969."

Security Baseline

I think every few months or so I should publish this post, especially for those of you who may be new viewers. For those of you who are familiar with my security baseline, I continue to use the same portfolio of free products I used months ago. There are no changes.

I hope you are using these programs. Keep them updated before running!

From time to time I refer to my security baseline. My security baseline is merely a list of programs I use (all free) and recommend for anyone to use to keep their systems secure. This applies to YOU if you use Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7.

Remember, all of these products are FREE, but will do as good a job as any fee products you may use. I make that statement and stand by it based on 44 years of experience with computers.
 
1. Microsoft Security Essentials. This is a very impressive anti-virus program and can replace any you have now. DOWNLOAD HERE
2. Windows Firewall (Standard part of your operating system. Check the Security Center to be sure it is on.)
3. MVPS HOSTS File - download the current month's version and update monthly DOWNLOAD HERE
4. CCleaner - check for newer version than you may already have. Run weekly. DOWNLOAD HERE by clicking on Download Latest Version in the upper right hand corner of the page.
5. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware - run bi-weekly. DOWNLOAD HERE
6. SuperAntiSpyware Free Edition - run bi-weekly in the off week after #5. DOWNLOAD HERE
7. Spybot Search & Destroy - run monthly just before downloading new HOSTS file.  I recommend, for now, downloading Version 1.6.2 under "old versions". DOWNLOAD HERE

I will be happy to assist you with any or all of the above installations. This can be done remotely.

Questions?  Comment below or write me, pcdoc at brpcdoc dot com

Amazing Spam!!!

These spammers are getting very creative. The e-mail looks very authentic. I clicked on the links (not recommended!) and they lead to a file being downloaded. Very dangerous! These are the kind of links that can end up installing a rogue program - OR WORSE!! Be careful and beware.

---

From:	AccountNotify@verizonwireless.com
To:	pcdoc@brpcdoc.com
Date:	Apr 16 '12 10:12
Subject:	Your Bill Is Now Available

	Your current bill for your account is now available online in My Verizon Total Balance Due: $1429.81 Keep in mind that payments and/or adjustments made to your account after your bill was generated will not be reflected in the amount shown above. > View and Pay Your Bill Want to simplify payments? > Enroll in Auto Pay Thank you for choosing Verizon Wireless. My Verizon is also available 24/7 to assist you with: Viewing your usage Updating your plan Adding Account Members Paying your bill Finding accessories for your devices And much, much more... © 2011 Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless | One Verizon Way | Mail Code: 180WVB | Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 We respect your privacy. Please review our privacy policy for more information If you are not the intended recipient and feel you have received this email in error; or if you would like to update your customer notification preferences, please click here.