Defensive Computing- Page 2

Choosing a Netbook--a picture can be worth a thousand words

If you are in the market for a Netbook computer there are many decisions to be made. The pictures here may help with a couple of them. Shown below are an Acer Aspire One and an Asus Eee PC 1000.

The machines are as different as any two Netbooks can be. The Acer runs Windows XP, the Asus runs Linux. The Asus has an SSD, the Acer a traditional hard disk. The Asus supports Wi-Fi N, the Acer doesn't. The smaller Acer machine has a weaker battery and was significantly cheaper.

But the picture above points out other differences (see a larger version of the picture).

The smaller Acer has a 9-inch screen, the larger Asus is 10 inches (approximately). Measuring the other sides of the triangle, the Acer screen is (approximately) 7.5 by 4.5 inches, whereas the Asus screen is 8.5 by 5 inches. Both screens have the all-but standard Netbook resolution of 1024 x 600, which means that everything is just a bit bigger and easier to see on the Asus machine. … Read more

Beware e-mail messages from UPS

I have a lot of e-mail addresses and thus attract my fair share of unwanted and malicious e-mail. The latest malware spreading e-mail to land in my in-boxes has purported to be from the package delivery company UPS. Thursday, I received two of these, but there have been other similar messages recently.

As you can see in the picture below, it came with an attached ZIP file.

ZIP files are commonly used as a container to transmit malicious software. The number in the name of the ZIP file is probably there to evade detection by antivirus software; the numbers were … Read more

How to install Java in Windows

Chances are, there is a copy of Java on any computer you walk up to. According to Sun Microsystems, the company behind Java, it has been installed on more than 800 million computers. There are versions of Java for many operating systems, including Windows, OS X, Linux, and Solaris, just to name a few. You can see if Java is installed on a computer by visiting Javatester.org.

If there is a copy of Java on a computer you own or maintain, it may be old. JavaTester.org not only reports the installed version but gives you some idea of … Read more

Should you install the new version of Java?

Sun Microsystems released a new version of Java for Windows, Linux and Solaris a few days ago. Should you rush out to install it? Probably not.

First a bit of level-setting. Version numbers are an ongoing annoyance with Java, and this latest go-round is no different. The new release is identified with six names:

1.6.0_10 (from the Java runtime) Update 10 of Java Standard Edition 6 Java (TM) 6 Update 10 (in the Add or Remove Programs thingy in the Control Panel) Java SE 6u10 6.0.100.33 (by the Secunia scanner) 1.6.0_10-b33 (a property … Read more

Another Netbook under $300

I previously pointed out a couple of Asus Netbooks selling for less than $300. Now, one of the HP Mini-Note series has joined the elite group of really cheap Netbooks.

Liliputing, a Web site dedicated to Netbooks, reported Saturday that the HP 2133 Mini-Note just fell in price to $299 at Amazon.com.

This the bottom-of-line machine from HP's initial Netbook foray back in April.

Originally, HP sold it for $500. On September 24, it was $432, after a rebate. On October 20, it sold for $380. A couple of days later, it was $330. Now, October 25, it'… Read more

Secunia's Online Software Inspector

Secunia's Online Software Inspector (OSI) is a great free service, one that all Windows users should avail themselves of regularly. OSI is an online scan of a Windows computer (Macs and Linux are not supported) that looks for software with known security flaws. Any computer that gets a clean bill of health from OSI is better defended than one that doesn't.

As I write this, only 7,019 scans have been run in the last 24 hours. More Windows users need to be made aware of the scanner, and I hope this posting does so. That said, OSI … Read more

Time to patch Windows again, ASAP

If you use a Windows computer connected to a network, a newly discovered bug makes it possible for a bad guy to wreak havoc on the computer without your doing anything. The most vulnerable versions of Windows are XP, 2000 and Server 2003. Vista and Server 2008 are also vulnerable, but not as badly. Microsoft considers the bug important enough to issue the patch immediately rather than waiting for their normal once-a-month patch Tuesday.

Susan Bradley, writing for the Windows Secrets newsletter recommends immediately installing the just-issued patch. Then she offers some unusual advice, suggesting people first restart their computers &… Read more

Different approaches to off-site computer backups

The New York Times published an article today about making off-site (a.k.a online) backups that contained some debatable advice.

The point I most disagree with is this: "As long as your credit card keeps working, there's no need to think about the backups unless disaster strikes." The problem with this advice is that if something is automated too much, it can break without your knowing it.

The classic example of this was the magazine Business 2.0 (which has since ceased publication). After they deployed an automated backup system, they ignored it. At some point … Read more

Defensive Computing for Lawyers

Frank Hayes, writing in Computerworld, does a great job recounting how an Excel to PDF conversion resulted in Barclays Capital making a multi-million dollar mistake in their offering to buy part of Lehman Brothers. In and of itself, it's an interesting story, but Hayes concludes with this advice for using technology:

Keep it simple.Don't make assumptions.And never, ever trust tech more than you really have to.

Agreed.

See a summary of all my Defensive Computing postings.

More cheap Netbooks

My What is a Netbook posting briefly mentioned some low end models both because those are the ones that interest me and because that's where I think the future of Netbooks lie. While many Netbooks sell for over $500, it's debatable whether any laptop computer priced over $500 can be considered a Netbook.

Brad Linder at Liliputing just compiled a list of low end Netbooks called 13 netbooks for $399 or less.

One thing missing from his brief descriptions is whether the screens have a matt or glossy finish. To me this is a big deal, I much … Read more