Comcast Caps Its Service

Acronym Update 09/24/2008

For those of you who are are Comcast Internet customers, be aware that your provider is now introducing CAPS or limits on its service. This is no reason for alarm or cause for you to change providers. Basically you just need to understand that the verbiage ‘unlimited Internet access’ has come to an end.

Basically, your Internet service will include up to 250 GB of bandwidth (uploads + downloads) per month. This is a massive threshold. Comcast expects it to affect only 14,000 of their 14 million Internet customers. Don’t be surprised if other large Internet Service Providers follow suit.

Here is an idea of how big 250 gigabytes in really is…..
250 GB/month is an extremely large amount of data, much more than a typical residential customer uses on a monthly basis. Currently, the median monthly data usage by our residential customers is approximately 2 – 3 GB. To put 250 GB of monthly usage in perspective, a customer would have to do any one of the following:

* Send 50 million emails (at 0.05 KB/email)
* Download 62,500 songs (at 4 MB/song)
* Download 125 standard-definition movies (at 2 GB/movie)
* Upload 25,000 hi-resolution digital photos (at 10 MB/photo)

Yours truly,

Kevin

Windows Security Risks – 10 Rules To Live By

Acronym Update: 09/17/2008

Dear Readers,

This is a long, but definitely not cumbersome update. Take it seriously! Your wallet and the health of your computer could depend on it. This Update is so rich with information that I should simply call this my October 2008 version of The Acronym. However, I am not going to live on yesterday’s bread when I enjoy writing and meeting your needs so much.

Just when I was beginning to think that Windows XP with the latest SP3 update was approaching the level of security provided by Macintosh OS X 10.5 …. In the spirit of the election season I would like to claim that I DON’T RECALL such a statement. [Begin Southern accent] I did not have relations with that operating system, Miss Windows XP….. I did not lie about it. Uh hum, I just admired her from a distance and just one time.

All kidding aside, it seems those looking to do harm to Windows users are at it again. Detection of these threats and solutions to them are lacking in typical Windows fashion. I am generally referring to a whole host of vulnerabilities, but specifically I want you to know about a malware attack known as Anti Virus 2009. In this attack, an un-authorized web browser will open while you are on the Internet. It will start showing a graphic saying that it is doing a scan of your computer for viruses, spyware, etc. THIS IS A LIE! Do not click on this ad. FALSE ADVERTISING ALERT!!

If you did click on it, you will need some help. The company promoting the product (if you’d call it that…. promoting fraud is what I’d like to say) wants you to pay $50 or more to remove it by actually purchasing Anti Virus 2009. Don’t do it! I’ve read reports online from victims who stated that they were charged far more than that by traveling this route to fix the problem.

The only sure remedy is to back up what files you can, re-format your hard drive, reinstall Windows, reinstall essential programs, and transfer those backed up files onto your computer again. 99% of you cannot do this on your own. This means you will need to book an appointment with me. These tasks I’ve outlined take anywhere from 3 to 6 hours, but don’t worry I’ll take cash, check … even Visa and American Express. (I don’t discriminate like the Olympics do with their silly Visa commercials. That’s what I call bi-partisan.)

Windows users – Kevin’s Security Manifesto. 10 Rules To Live By.

1) Stay current with your Windows Updates. I am a big fan of having Windows Updates automatically downloaded and installed, as long as you are not using a dial-up Internet connection. You can do this by going to your Control Panel >> Windows Updates. If you have not enabled this setting previously or don’t think these updates have been installed in a while, it wouldn’t hurt to go http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com from the Internet Explorer browser.

2) Download the latest version of the Firefox browser and use it as your primary browser. http://www.firefox.com You may experience 1 out of 100 websites that display better in Internet Explorer, so go ahead and use IE for those sites. However, Firefox is much more secure and user friendly than Internet Explorer. On the Windows side of my Intel-based MacBook, I use Internet Explorer as little as possible.

3) Make sure you have a legitimate Anti Virus program installed, ie. Norton, McAfee, AVG, Kapersky. There may be other good ones, but you can bank on one of those for being adequate. After installation, enable automatic updates. Scan your hard drive weekly for viruses. You can choose to schedule weekly scans, but when those scans begin — YOU MUST STOP EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING and allow the scan to finish. On a computer made within the past 3 or 4 years, it’s not uncommon for such a scan to take 45 to 90 minutes

4) Be sure to have Windows Firewall enabled (Control Panel) or use a firewall solution provided by one of the 4 companies mentioned above. Firewall software prevents authorized intruders, ie. people on other computers, from accessing your computer. Sometimes your firewall software can tend to be overprotective, but sites or application that you mistakenly block can always be unblocked.

5) Know that AT&T DSL, Comcast and Cox cable Internet provide security software (anti-virus + firewall at the very least) for free or at a very low cost (Cox) to their subscribers. You don’t have use the software they provide, but it is legitimate and will save you anywhere from $50 to $110 per year. However, if being able to interact with the technical support department of your security software provider on a real-time basis, ie. by phone or live chat, is important to you be sure to check to make sure that the Norton, McAfee, etc. provided by your Internet service provider gives you that option. If this is not possible, and you are the type that likes to talk to tech support a lot — buy your own software.

6) If you have been confused by bundled security suite software in the past, please download the free version of AVG http://free.avg.com and use the Windows Firewall at a bare minimum. Also have one of the following anti-spyware solutions installed….

7) Ad-Aware http://www.lavasoft.com/single/trialpay.php I have recommended the free version for years, but if you want real time, live spyware protection you can buy the paid Pro version for $39.95 a year. The security suite provided by your ISP may include anti-sypware software, so check it out before you spring for a paid version of Ad-Aware or Webroot Spyware Sweeper ($39.95 – 2 years) http://www.webroot.com/En_US/consumer-products-spysweeper.html Some of my clients have found success using this program as well. Whatever anti-spyware solution you choose, make sure you scan your computer weekly.

#8 Back up your important files regularly. If you have less than 100 document files on your computer and maybe a few photos, a 2 to 4 gigabyte (GB) flash drive will suffice. Go out and get yourself one. If you don’t have this, it’s like driving a car without brakes. If you are one of those limited backup type of users, save all of your documents, pictures, etc. under one main folder, ie. My Documents (sub-folders are OK), and every week drag that folder onto to your flash disk overwriting the previous contents. If you have kids, have downloaded music, and large numbers of photos and documents — YOU MUST GET AN EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE. I recommend selected Western Digital and Seagate models, with comprehensive backup software and a 3 to 5 year warranty. If you have multiple computers in the house, a high speed Internet connection and a wireless router, you may want to choose an external hard drive with networking capabilities. Otherwise, you may want to buy a separate external drive for each computer. At $100 to $150 for a 300 to 500 GB drive, i think buying a separate drive for each PC may indeed be better unless one of those computers is a laptop and you can easily move it to the location of the external hard drive. Recommended external hard drive backup: monthly or more frequently depending on the importance of your data.

9) No porn websites / no file sharing websites. The Anti Virus 2009 scam I mentioned at the beginning of this post was primarily caused by malicious web code inserted on pornographic video and file sharing websites. I have been selling the best parental control product on the market, Safe Eyes, for over a year now. It is 49.95 per year and can be installed on 3 computers (Windows or Mac). Here is the link http://www.internetsafety.com/affiliate/default.php?id=1093 Support your independent computer consultant. Vote NO on those schmoes from Best Buy!

10) If all of this information has been particularly troubling to you and you realize that maintaining your computer will take too much effort, buy a Mac!! Check out the Apple Store: http://store.apple.com

While I give my seal of approval to all of the security software mentioned in this post, I do not know each of them in the utmost detail. I am personally quite familiar with the Windows Firewall and the Norton security package provided by AT&T DSL. If you have specific questions about your security software, consult the help / tutorial section of the software first. Next, contact the software provider for help. If those two steps fail to address your question adequately — contact me for an appointment. I cannot sufficiently help you with the operation of your security software over the phone, however a REMOTE APPOINTMENT can likely be scheduled saving both you and I time.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this write -up as much I have.

This election season, VOTE NO ON DIET SODA AND NO ON FOODS WITH CORN SYRUP IN THEM !!

Yours always,

Kevin

Macs Only: MacBook Cosmetic Issues

Dear Mac Users,

My regular clients and readers ARE NOT GETTING THIS MESSAGE!  This is exclusive to you and you alone….

There is a growing problem with Apple’s MacBook laptops.  The plastic area where you rest your wrists has been known to chip off in sliver like pieces.

On my MacBook, purchased in Feb. 2008, a 1.5 inch by 1 mm. slice of white plastic came off of the keyboard cover on the right wrist rest.  Similar issues are affecting thousands of Mac Book owners.   Typically the affected area of defect is exactly where the magnetic closures above the screen meet the wrist rest area, ie. when the screen is closed.    You did not do anything wrong if this happened.  Note:  this does not happen to all MacBooks.

If this affects you directly:  your local Apple Store’s Genius Bar, aka. tech support, has been authorized by Apple to fix the problem.   Due to their work flow it could take them 3 to 5 days to fix this.   It is a multi-hour process and the keyboard cover section will be replaced for free if you are still under your Apple Care warranty.    Your laptop came with an 1 year warranty when you purchased it.   I likely recommended that you buy the extended Apple Care plan which gives you 3 total years of warranty, phone support and service from Apple or authorized facilities.   On the 13 inch MacBook this warranty costs $249 retail, but could be cheaper if you shop around.  The student / faculty price is $183.  Buy it.  This is one of the few extended warranties I’ll recommend buying because all of you live near an Apple Store — in the event of warranty repair service becoming an issue.

Note:  MacBook Pro laptops, with the aluminum casing (15 and 17 inch models) are not affected.

Have a great day,

Kevin

False Advertising and Hydrox Cookies

Dear Readers,

I want to debunk one false advertising myth being being shared across your TV airwaves.

Comcast is running several ads alluding to the notion that they have more HD channels than other providers.  The number one competitor they tend to target in these ads is DirecTV.  Comcast doesn’t exactly say HD channles, they use language like ‘HD offerings’ or make offer an example of watching a program in HD at 7:11 PM.

Fact:  In most cable markets, the local provider offers no more than 30 HD channels.  DirecTV and DISH Network both offer 100 or more HD channels.   Comcast’s claim to fame is that they offer a couple hundred programs OnDemand in High Definition.  Obviously you need an HD cable box for this, but I think it is false advertising for them to add all of these programs together and think that the buying public will think these are HD channels.

For the record, I do not own an HD TV and don’t plan to buy one in the near future.   If you love watching TV and have a place for one of these premium TV’s in your budget, they are great!   You should seriously consider the Vizio brand.  They make an affordable product and they are the only U.S. based HD TV company with corporate offices in California, I believe.   In fairness to the cable companies, during last night’s heavy storms in Connecticut, most cable broadcasts were not disrupted.   Satellite reception was severely affected.

Big announcement:  As I promised, Hydrox cookies are back!!  They are being sold in stores like Wal-Mart and by major grocery chains for a limited time only.   Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Hydrox …. the original creme filled chocolate cookie.   I will post a picture of me with a package of Hydrox very soon.

Yours truly,
Kevin