Nerd Guy collects coats for kids

By Justin Averette Published 10:46pm Thursday, December 16, 2010 

Clanton Advertiser Article

     The Nerd Guy, the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce, as well as representatives from Pristine Cleaners and the Chilton County Adoptive Parents Association (CCAPA) all came together Thursday to begin giving away coats donated during The Nerd Guy’s recent coat drive.The two-month drive was held to provide foster children with warmer clothes for the winter. Along with 104 coats of all sizes, scarves, gloves and winter hats were also donated.

Angie Handley, Mary Mims, Shelby Handley, 

Stacy Owens, Tammy Carden and Shannon Abrams 

pose for a picture during The Nerd Guy’s coat drive 

sorting Thursday. 

 

Read more by clicking the link below: 

Clanton Advertiser Article

Internet Explorer Crash (Yahoo Toolbar Issue)

In the last 24 hours we have had 3 customers call/come by asking how to deal with an error they were receiving about yahoo toolbar and Internet Explorer crashing. If you receive an error stating such please CLOSE ( X ) out of Internet Explorer. DO NOT click on the bubble that may appear that states: Click here to solve problem, Download new toolbar. STOP! If you do not feel comfortable with the following please call us...... Go to the control panel, add or remove programs (programs and features), and WAIT on the list to load. Scroll down to yahoo toolbar and click change/remove (uninstall). Allow windows to go through the process of removing. Once finished restart computer. Problem should be resolved. If you feel uncomfortable doing this please call us or bring computer to store.

Computers for Sale

     Needing a computer for your child?  Parent?  Yourself?  We now have several used Dell desktop computers  that would make excellent CHRISTMAS PRESENTS! The prices start at $200.00 with a 90 day warranty on parts and labor.  If you would like more information please come by or call us.

 
    Also, we have 2,4, and 8G thumb drives available in different case designs.  Pricing range from $11.99-$24.99.  In addition to that we sell the Trend Micro Antivirus Software and Trend Micro Internet Security.

     Please feel free to stop by for a cup of coffee or hot cocoa, look around, and ask questions!

You have donated 55 coats!! We need at LEAST 45 more . . . .

and we have until December 9th to get them in and deliver them to needy children here in Chilton County! Remember, drop your coats off at The Nerd Guy and we'll deliver them to Pristine Cleaners who is donating cleaning services. Then we will deliver your coats to the Chilton County Foster/Adoptive Parents Association. We need your coats of all sizes for these kids of all sizes! Thank you!

Why should your small business HAVE a website?

Explore this question and many others with experts in the industry at Infomedia on October 29, 12 noon - 1:30pm. Here's the link to their website:

Workshop: The Perfect Small Business Website

It's free, they serve GREAT food, and it is interactive. You get to ask your questions and get them answered. I have been to two of their seminars, and I've learned a great deal about social networking (Facebook) for my business. Reserve your seat today.

The Nerd Guy Coat Drive

     The Nerd Guy crew is hosting a Coat Drive.  We would appreciate any (presentable) coats you could donate.  You may drop off at our location until Dec. 9th.  The donations will go to the Chilton County Foster/Adoptive Parents Association.  If you have any questions please contact us. 

Pristine Cleaners has offered to clean the coats before delivering them.  If you would like you can drop off at The Nerd Guy or at Pristine Cleaners (let them know what a nice offer that is).

TOP TEN WAYS to GET a VIRUS (so don't do these)

10.  Ignoring Updates (Windows Security Patches or Virus Definition Updates) can get you into trouble. Just check to be sure they are REALLY from Microsoft or your virus software manufacturer.

9.  Free Self-Fix sites (these sites make your problem worse and more costly to repair...free virus software, driver downloads, registry tools...)

8.  FREE STUFF--games, software, music....all this awesome free stuff usually include free virus infections as well.

7.  Following unknown links - the ones that you have no idea where you will end up....don't click on it just because it says Click Here  [unless - of course - it's from us ;-)].

6.  Ad Bars-- if you click on these - beware. These are displayed across many of the most popular sites....(facebook, yahoo, myspace...) the companies paying for them don't even know they have been laced with viruses.

5.  Toolbars (Google, Yahoo, My Web Search) of any kind --  these not only slow down your computer and internet connection, but they bypass your virus protection software leaving an open link to the internet that is virtually unprotected.

4.  Clicking on pop-ups - these little guys almost always lead to trouble, but really how can you live without those cute little smiley faces? If it costs you $100 to get rid of the viruses they cause, you'll loose that loving feeling.

3.  All File Transfer Sites -  any time you are moving information from someone's personal computer to your own and this information hasn't been scanned or guarded by some type of protection, you are welcoming any problems that computer has into your own.

2.  Porn -- nuff said   (yes I misspelled that, but really who's checking spelling if they are looking at porn).

1.  UNPROTECTED  internet activity - Letting your protection expire is worse than not having it in the first place...several people have asked me which protection is better....all of them are possible to break through, anything is better than nothing. We RECOMMEND Trend Micro AntiVirus (since 2001).

From: Tammy, the Service Technician @ The Nerd Guy

Verizon has to pay refunds to customers

Apparently, software inside many of their phones caused Verizon's customers to be charged with lots of incorrect charges. Verizon will be required to pay refunds to these customers. Read the full article at this link.
Article about Verizon Refunds

Handy Nerd Tips

Tips to keep your computer clean:

Instead of keeping massive amounts of photos on your computer, move those to an external hard drive.

Any programs you do not use go ahead and uninstall those. To uninstall, you must use the uninstall command under Programs & Features in the control panel. Moving the application to the recycle bin will not uninstall it.

Remove any spyware.  Minimal internet use can fill your computer with junk that slows it down.

The New Twitter

New design

You will now find @mentions, retweets, searches, and lists just above your timeline – creating a single, streamlined view on the left of the screen. On the right, you can see the features you’re familiar with, including whom you recently followed and who recently followed you, favorites, and Trending Topics.

View photos, videos, and other media content

See embedded photos and videos directly on Twitter, thanks to partnerships with DailyBooth, DeviantART, Etsy, Flickr, Justin.TV, Kickstarter, Kiva, Photozou, Plixi, Twitgoo, TwitPic, TwitVid, USTREAM, Vimeo, yfrog, and YouTube.

To see more info regarding the new twitter click this link: New Twitter Info

Facebook changes the way you "friend" people.

It just became a lot harder to turn down a friend request on Facebook. Used to be you could click ACCEPT or IGNORE. Yes or no. But the company quietly changed those options this week to ACCEPT or NOT NOW. And it's a pretty big step.
If you choose Not Now, the prospective friend goes into a kind of limbo. They get an up to date feed of all your status updates, photos, anything you do on Facebook. That's if you leave your privacy settings in the "share with everyone" position, which is the default setting.


I copied a segment of this article from American Public Media's "Marketplace." Follow this link to the entire article.

Facebook Friending

Dell and Trend Micro get together on business security issues.

Businesses are more at risk for security threats than ever before. To combat cyber-crime, Dell and Trend Micro have come up with a plan.

Dell & Trend Micro Partnership

Did I TWEET that?

The "on mouse over" incident occurred on Twitter and has been completely fixed. To read more, follow this link.

Twitter Incident

"Here You Have" Virus comes in an Email. Watch out for it.

PC Magazine Article

Click the link and read the article on a NEW THREAT that comes in the form of an email. Be looking out for it and report it here if you get the email. DO NOT OPEN LINKS IN THAT EMAIL!

Computer Class for Seniors

Our customers have been inquiring about us teaching basic computer skills.  We are informing you of a computer class being offered now.

Jefferson State Community College will offer a basic computer class for SENIOR CITIZENS (ages 55+).  The class begins Sept. 27th and runs through October 14th. Class will be held on Wednesday from 9am til noon.  The deadline to register is September 20th. The cost is $50 for the 4 weeks. 

The class will cover basic tasks using Windows, file management, typing on a word processor, navigating the internet, and working with email. For more information call 205-280-8231

Directions to Jefferson State Community College-Clanton branch-Travel South on I-65 to exit 212 to the giant peach and take a right onto Lay Dam Road (Highway 145) and travel approximately one mile. The site is on the left across from the Pumpkin Patch.

NEW Business Hours at The Nerd Guy

We are changing our hours of business to better serve YOU.

Starting today, September 8, 2010, we will be open Monday - Friday from 9am - 6pm.

Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus + 2011 - review from PC Magazine

Read the following review from PC Magazine. Follow the link. 

PC Magazine's Review of Trend's 2011 Product.

Computer running slowly? Try these things:

Open your add/remove programs control panel and allow it to populate the list of programs your computer is running. Look at each program and evaluate your use of it. If you "rarely" use it, consider removing it from your system. If you eliminate several programs that you rarely use, it may free up your computer to run more smoothly.

Check your anti-virus software. Be SURE that you have a virus-protection software up-to-date and running at all times. If you aren't sure, check your anti-virus software and run a manual check.

You should only have ONE active anti-virus software running at all times. If you have more, than can conflict and slow you down. I have several tools for staying clean that I use on my computer, but only the Trend Antivirus is a constantly running program.

If your Outlook seems sluggish, here are a few suggestions from Monty.

* Inbox: Keep it cleaned out. Never have more than a couple hundred emails in there at a time. Just archive your old items and delete unimportant ones.

* Sent Items: Same policy - keep newer stuff and important things, delete unimportant ones, and archive the old ones.

* Junk Mail (spam): USE the junk mail tools to let Outlook know which items are junk - select "add to blocked sender" on those. Delete junk mail daily.

VIRUS ALERT: September 2, 2010

I just had an attempted attack online. A new tab opened in Mozilla FireFox that had a red shield with these words: WARNING: Errors were detected in your computer's registry.* The asterisk below all the bold type was tiny words that said this was a commercial advertisement!! SNEAKY!!

AND you canNOT close a tab in your browser with the task manager - you have to close the browser and restart it.

Also, I had an unrequested tab pop up for "moms working at home" - it happened twice today AFTER installing the newest version of FireFox. I have NEVER had weirdy stuff like this happen in FireFox. I've run all my tools on it and there were 27 malicious doo-hickies in my registry! WOW - but no viruses were found. Man, we gotta stay on our toes!

IMPORTANT NEWS:

Click on the links below to learn more!

Mozilla Security Update for Firefox

Windows XP Security Patch

PC Magazine - Best Antivirus . . . .

PC Magazine - Dangerous Places to Surf

LAPTOP USERS: SAVE YOUR LAPTOP!

If you currently use a laptop computer, get a laptop cooling device for between $18 and $25 at any discount store. They will save your computer from overheating which can ruin your hard drive, your motherboard, or your cpu. Those repairs are usually between $130 and $250 (and up).

RECYCLE your old empty ink cartridges, laser toner cartridges,
cell phones, and other electronics.

The Nerd Guy is supporting the CCHS Marching Band by providing funds to the Band Boosters! We will get cash for recycling these items - from 50 cents to $80.00 depending on the item.

Does your company have empty cartridges sitting in a closet? Does your company provide cell phones to employees?

If so, please ask them to support our marching band by donating their "dead" or empty items. We will have drop-off boxes at the school, at The Nerd Guy, and at other locations as we gain support.

We will pick up from businesses, too. Just let us know what you have, and we'll be happy to take it and recycle it for you!

Thank you for supporting our fund-raising efforts!

New Virus Problems

The most frequent (and most vicious) virus problem we are seeing at The Nerd Guy is the "yellow shield" virus. That is the very sneaky virus that pops up on your screen telling you "you have a virus infection" and saying "click here" to fix. Don't click it! Anything you click on that window is an invitation to a virus that NO virus software can prevent because YOU are clicking "okay" unintentionally. Just right click on the tabs at the bottom of the screen and close them or open Task Manager by holding down the control-alt-delete keys on the keyboard and close the window from there. THAT is the only way to keep this one out.

Much debate has happened (at least at my house) about what is safe and what isn't as it relates to getting a virus. I'm going to be updating this post for the next few days as I collect opinions, but I want to let you know the WAYS people are getting viruses while they surf.

FaceBook is one way viruses are getting into people's computers. Here is my best advice: don't use the little "apps" like farm stuff, mafia stuff, etc. Whenever you use one - even the FamilyLink (which I was really excited about) - you have to grant all these permissions for the application. Well, that makes those applications the ideal way to transmit a virus! The virus will come in on the application you've given permission for and just begin INFECTING away!

Last week (August) I received 2 facebook chats from my fb friends, each asking me to try to beat their IQ score on some quiz application. I knew for a FACT one of the friends wouldn't have sent that chat on that day because we'd been debating politics earlier and weren't feeling "warm and fuzzy" toward each other. I sent him a private message in the facebook message center and asked him if he'd sent that. I told him that if he didn't send it, he had been hacked and he needed to report it to facebook and change his password.

I've also seen messages in my inbox on facebook that don't really look like something my friend would send. My friends wouldn't send me something about winning a free iPod or playing facebook games for money, because they know the amount of time I spend preaching on here! If you see an odd message like that, do NOT open it. Delete it. Then compose a new email to let your friend know and ask them to report it to facebook.
More to come . . . .

Samsung S8500 Wave Smartphone Problem:

An addition to the roster of digital devices that have been shipped with malware, Samsung, too, seems to have accidentally distributed malware along with the new Bada-powered Samsung S8500 Wave smartphone.

It has been reported that the 1GB micro-SD cards included with the mobile phone units shipped to Germany came preinstalled with Windows-based malware. It attempts to infect users’ PCs with the file slmvsrv.exe once connected to the smartphone. It arrives on users’ systems via the infected micro-SD card.

Trend Micro detects this malicious file as WORN_AUTORUN.WAV, which connects to various websites to possibly download even more malicious files. It may also expose users to backdoor programs and spyware.

According to TrendLabsSM engineer Karl Dominguez, it is easy to identify the malware in removable drives or, in this case, the micro-SD. However, the difficult part is removing it from the affected system because of its rootkit capabilities. It also disables booting in Safe Mode, thus, making it harder to remove the malware.

To address the infected AUTORUN.INF, users are advised to disable the autorun functionality in Windows. It is also important for them to secure their systems by protecting their removable drives. Users can also pick up some countermeasures in our blog entry “How to Maximize the Malware Protection of Your Removable Drives.”

Though the malware-laden 1GB memory cards were only limited to the initial German production run, this incident should nonetheless serve as a cautionary tale for smartphone users. It is similar to the off-the-shelf Vodafone incident that happened a few months ago.

Attacks on Twitter:

What do the “FIFA World Cup” and Gaza attack have in common? They are both currently being used as social engineering ploys by a couple of malware campaigns seen on Twitter. TrendLabsSM senior threat researcher Ivan Macalintal spotted several malicious programs being distributed via the popular microblogging site. These malware campaigns take advantage of noteworthy events to lure users into clicking malicious links in Tweets.

The first malware run makes use of the upcoming “FIFA World Cup” (set to see record levels of global interactivity according to CNN) by sending the following Tweet:

Clicking the link leads users to download a copy of a backdoor detected as BKDR_BIFROSE.SMK, which connects to IP addresses that allow a remote user to perform malicious activities on affected systems. These activities include sending and receiving files, keylogging, and retrieving user names and passwords. It also has rootkit capabilities, which enable it to hide its processes and files from its victims.

The second campaign, on the other hand, sends out the following Tweet related to the Gaza attacks:

This time, the malware that is downloaded from the link is BKDR_BIFROSE.PAB, which opens a hidden Internet Explorer (IE) window and opens TCP port 788 to listen for commands from a remote malicious user who may initiate a denial-of-service (DoS) attack to target systems using specific flooding methods.

Range of Wireless Networks

How far can you be from your wireless access point and still get signal? The short answer: it varies. Read more for the long answer.

Each access point has a finite range within which a wireless connection can be maintained between the client computer and the access point. The actual distance varies depending upon the environment; manufacturers typically state both indoor and outdoor ranges to give a reasonable indication of reliable performance. Also it should be noted that when operating at the limits of range the performance may drop, as the quality of connection deteriorates and the system compensates.

Typical indoor ranges are 150-300 feet, but can be shorter if the building construction interferes with radio transmissions. Longer ranges are possible, but performance will degrade with distance. Outdoor ranges are quoted up to 1000 feet, but again this depends upon the environment.

Signal boosters are available if you have the need for greater distance capabilities. Just call and ask!

Social Networking Tips

From Trend Anti-Virus:
Be Prepared
Parents, teachers, and others who care for young people who are socially active online should first set reasonable expectations.
Forbidding young people to use social networking sites may force them to go “underground” and find other avenues (e.g. library
computers, mobile phones, friends’ computers) to continue their social life online. A positive alternative is to teach them how to
think critically about what they are seeing, reading, hearing and sharing online.
Below are some guidelines for young people to follow when they are using social networking sites, chat rooms, blogs, or message
boards:
1. Use a nick name or code name.
It is best not to use your real name or to use names that might be sexually suggestive or offensive to others in any way. This can
help reduce the likelihood of your being harassed online.
2. Set your profiles to private.
Social networking sites can be a great tool for connecting with others. A good way to stay safe using these services is to set your
profile to private – this way only people you invite can see what you post.
3. Keep personal information to yourself.
It is best not to share your address, phone number or other personal information online, with strangers. Don’t reveal your actual
location or when and where you plan to be somewhere.
4. Think about what you post.
Be cautious about sharing provocative photos or intimate details online, even with people you know or even in a private email or
text conversation. The information or conversation could be copied and made public by anyone you share it with - and tough to get
removed. Remember: what you say in a chat room or instant messaging session is live - you cannot take it back or delete it later.
5. Keep your security software up-to-date.
Social networking sites are very popular. Because there are so many people using them, cybercriminals have been known to use
stealthy tactics in order to infect the computers of people who use them.
6. Read between the “lines.”
It may be fun to meet new people online for friendship or romance, but be aware that, while some people are nice, others act nice
because they are trying to get something. Flattering or supportive messages may be more about manipulation than friendship or
romance.
7. Avoid in-person meetings.
The only way someone can physically harm you is if you’re both in the same location, so – to be 100% safe – don’t meet them in
person. If you really have to get together with someone you “met” online, don’t go alone. Have the meeting in a public place, tell a
parent or some other solid backup, and bring some friends along.
8. Be nice online.
Treat people the way you’d want to be treated. Harassing or bullying anyone online, if considered threatening, can also be
considered a criminal offense.
9. Think about how you respond.
If someone says or does something that makes you uncomfortable, block them and don’t respond. If they continue, let your
parents or another adult know. If the messages are threatening in any way, save the messages and tell your parents as this may
be considered a criminal offense.
10. Be smart when using a cell phone.
All the same tips apply with phones as with computers. Except phones are with you wherever you are, often away from home
and your usual support systems. Be careful who you give your number to and how you use GPS and other technologies that can
pinpoint your physical location.

Phishing: Just Say NO!

Protect Yourself Against Phishing: This week, you may have heard about some new phishing websites that were created to look identical to authentic Facebook pages. Phishing is common across the Internet, but the security team at Facebook has been working to halt the spread of these latest malicious sites.
The fake sites, like: www.thisisnotfacebook.com, use a similar URL to Facebook.com in an attempt to steal people's login information. The people behind these websites, known as "phishers," then use the information to access victims' accounts and send messages to their friends, further propagating the illegitimate sites. In some instances, the phishers make money by exploiting the personal information they've obtained. How you can help to combat these threats, we need to your help, too. Protect yourself by always following a few key rules of thumb when you're online: Use an up-to-date browser that features an anti-phishing black list. Some examples include: Internet Explorer 8 or Firefox 3.0.10.Use unique logins and passwords for each of the websites you use.Check to see that you're logging in from a legitimate Facebook page with the facebook.com domain. Be cautious of any message, post or link you find on Facebook that looks suspicious or requires an additional login.

http://www.facebook.com/security

Internet Safety: Content Concerns

Dear Parents:

I have teens and young children in my home, and I know we all want to protect our kids from inappropriate content on the Internet. We also need to keep in mind there are PREDATORS out there who find their victims in chat rooms. Here are some ideas for you to help keep your kids safe.

1. Set up different "user" accounts for logging onto the computer. This way, you can tell which person is going to which site. They will each need their own password that they keep secret from each other. (You must know all passwords.)

2. Learn more about the Internet. Learn about the great resources available on the Internet and about the dangers. Find out for yourself what your kids are doing while they surf.

3. Set rules. Keep your computer in a public area of the home. Limit time online, too.

4. Use technology. Use the parental control feature of your computer security software. This allows you to block access to many categories of websites. Learn more about types of security software you can implement. Some of them are free.

5. Talk about the Internet. Talk to children - especially teens - about what they like to do on the Internet and why. If they love Facebook, ask them to show you how great it is. Talk about Internet safety and agree on which websites are O.K. and which type of website is off-limits.

HELP! My computer is running slowly!

If you want to try a few things yourself before you break down and bring your computer in for some work, look at the following ideas. They can help.

Watch your computer while it starts up. There may be way too many start-up items that are completely unnecessary and can be easily eliminated.

Check your virus protection. Are you expired? Are you updated frequently so that it can protect you from new threats? Run a deep scan and see what your software finds.

Check your programs. Got to your Control Panel and look at the list of programs your computer has installed on it. Evaluate each one and remove those that aren’t needed. DON’T remove files from Adobe, Microsoft, HP or Dell (or your computer’s manufacturer) etc. Look for games, utilities, and other “junk” that you can do without. Remove them and restart your computer. See if it runs better!

Listen to your computer. Do your hear grinding or scraping noises? That’s always bad.

LOOK! Get down on the floor and look for dust clogging the vents on your computer. Dust can build up and block air flow causing heat to build up. Eventually, your fans will overheat and seize, and the resulting build-up of heat can destroy your motherboard. If you are uncomfortable dealing with the physical insides of your computer—come in for a Tuesday Tune-up ($20—$25) and ask for a “physical” cleaning, not a virus one.