Anti-Virus Programs Examined

        Jim Hamm tells us more about AV , Anti-Virus programs, "There are several companies or persons that test various antivirus programs and publish the results. Which AV program is the best? Well, that depends on the type of test, when the test was done, how current is the AV program on loading virus signatures, and other variables. The results vary, and many question (perhaps rightly so) whether to run an AV program on a Mac at all? 

        "Out of curiosity, I enjoy reading about these tests just to see what the testers have to say. I may learn something useful. Following is an AV test performed by a Thomas Reed. The test results are shown in a PDF file, which can be downloaded and viewed from the link http://www.reedcorner.net/mac-av-detection-rates/  and see http://www.reedcorner.net/downloads/malware_scan_results_2013.pdf
        Jim reviews his decision, "As I've written previously, I use the free Avast AV program on my Macs and a PC. Avast has worked fine for me, and I'll stick with it. It came out first in the above test, but it doesn't always do so. Determining the 'best' AV program is a nebulous project at best, it seems to me."
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Keystrokes to Try at Startup

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        Prez Art Gorski gives us food for thought.  "Here's a reminder of all the different keystrokes you can use at startup and what they do. The interesting thing to note is that if you use a wireless keyboard you must press the key AFTER you hear the startup chime in order for it to work."  See the article here: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57570572-263/how-to-manage-os-x-boot-options-with-wireless-keyboards/?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=MacFixIt 

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Java & JavaScript Explained

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        You've seen it, too.  Java.  JavaScript.  Are they related?
         Here John Carter explains what the difference is.  "Java and JavaScript are not the same. Disabling Java in the browser is necessary to prevent the possibility of getting one of the new Java enabled viruses. 
        "You have to have JavaScript enabled on your browser because nearly every web page has some kind of JavaScript in it. Currently, it is not possible to get a virus from JavaScript, but that was once said about Java.
        "JavaScript is language that has become popular with web designers to perform sophisticated operations. To view a web site that contains JavaScript does not require an application on the computer. To view a web site that contains a Java app requires that the computer have Java installed. However, the release of HTML5 may see the end of both JavaScript and Java in web sites."
        And John finishes today's explanation with this, "Updates will come out soon for Java that will make it okay to use with browsers, but like any other 'fix,' the hackers will find yet another undiscovered hole to give them an opportunity to pass on more viruses."

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Concern About Illegal Patent Applications

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         Describing some illegitimate patent applications in the software and Internet fields, and claiming that these patents cause profound harm, an organization, Electronic Frontier Foundation, has been formed to document the issues.  Their website gives more info. https://www.eff.org/patent-busting 

        David Passell found this, and comments, "Here is something completely different that I stumbled upon that might interest some of the crusaders among us." 
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Apple Got Hacked

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        John Carter alerts us to the hacking, "'Apple has identified malware which infected a limited number of Mac systems through a vulnerability in the Java plugin for browsers,' the company said in a statement to AllThingsD. 'The malware was employed in an attack against Apple and other companies, and was spread through a website for software developers. We identified a small number of systems within Apple that were infected and isolated them from our network. There is no evidence that any data left Apple. We are working closely with law enforcement to find the source of the malware.'

        "The company noted that it has been shipping Macs without Java since the release of Mac OS X Lion, and that it also has a software mechanism that disables Java if it goes unused for 35 days. Apple is also releasing an updated software tool to detect and remove Java-related malware."
       John comments, "The sad part of this is that some websites, like GoDaddy, need to have Java enabled in the browser, and disabling Java in the browser is the only way to secure yourself from a Java attack.
        "Just yesterday I got an update from Apple for Java. I installed it. So I don't understand why I'm getting this update if Apple isn't installing Java on new computers. It could be because I already had Java installed and its presence triggered the notification for the update. Now I'm waiting for more news and maybe another Java update about this." 
        Here are several sites reporting on the situation: 
http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-releasing-malware-removal-tool-after-being-hacked-2013-2 
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Deadline for Password Change

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         Commspeed emailed a notice yesterday that on March 1 you’ll lose access to your email account if you have not changed your password by then.  It specified the tougher rules for an acceptable password. 
(So, how’s YOUR password?  Still easy to type in, easy to guess?  Time to toughen it up!  Before you face a deadline from your email provider you might consider a longer, trickier password and fiddle with it now. )
OK, try not to panic.  Phone and ask the tech if it is a genuine email from them.  OK, now dream up a new password, and try and try and try to get it set up online. It won’t go through.  Maybe they’re too busy over there?  Do I have to allow cookies?  What else? 
Three phone calls later, and looking for success soon, it finally worked.  
Look at Mail Preferences and see your account info, mailbox behaviors, and advance settings.  

        Mail  > Window > Connection Doctor shows the connection status.  Why does the drawer show notations in that impossible-to-read  Party Let font?   So, that's it for now. 
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Try on Firefox: "No Style"

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         Find it easier to read black text on a white background?  YES.  David Passell shares this, "if you use Firefox, there is another good trick which I find even more useful for those websites with garish colors and text and photos spread over (and sometimes off the sides) of the screen. 
             In the top menu click on view. 
             Then scroll down to Page Style.
             Click on Page Style and in the menu presented (to the right) you will see 
             No Style and Basic Page Style (the default). 
             Click on No Style.
        The page will change to a more 'linear' presentation. The pictures will still appear as intended, but odd colors and white on black text will be black on white. You will have to scroll up and down to find various links, but not side-to-side when things are off the screen. You can also print the page  and not waste a lot of black ink. Try it on our PMUG newsletter. 
        Unfortunately, I could find no equivalent option for Safari."
        And David reminds us about a previous post about Safari where we had said, "One site came up with those tiny white letters on a black background, so that’s when you can do Command and Option and Control and the number 8 to toggle over to readable text, then toggle back."

Handy List for Computer Terminology

       OK, which is the new, proper way to write antivirus?  Is it anti-virus, AntiVirus, or just abbreviated AV?  We've seen it each way!  A search on Google brings up this site:  http://www.computerhope.com  It's amazing how many terms have been developed for computer lingo.  Take a look at this site for definitions, today in computer history, the latest computer news, a discussion forum.  

Comparing Anti-Virus Programs

        It's important to have the latest info on anti-virus programs.  Here, Jim Hamm discusses what's new.   
        "The current issue of the 'Ask Bob Rankin' newsletter discusses lab tests of various anti-virus programs by a German company, AV-Test. On the summary page, you can click the three lists of rankings to make them larger and readable. The program I use -- Avast -- comes in about the middle of the rankings. 
        "It's interesting to note the OS most likely to be attacked by a virus (Windows), Microsoft's own program -- Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) -- comes in last in average protection. Microsoft doesn't agree (naturally) with the findings of AV-Test. Click here for more details. 
        "I'm running Avast on my Macs and MSE on my Windows 8 PC. Rankin provides a list of free anti-virus programs here. I don't get too excited by the ratings and rankings, because they can change. I do like to read, though, about the various test results and opinions of the various anti-virus programs. I think it's wise to use an anti-virus program -- at least it is for me -- because someday it might just help.
      And Jim closes with, "One program not listed or tested -- Malwarebytes -- I've read and heard good reports about. It's not tested because it's more of a malware detection and removal tool instead of virus protection. There is a free and paid version. I've not used this yet, and I think it may only be for PCs and not Macs."

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See What Tim Cook Said

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        Ever on the lookout for news Jim Hamm passes this along, "If you're interested, here's some of Tim Cook's comments at the recent Goldman Sachs technology conference."   
        It's a fascinating assortment:  Cook talked about iPhone, screen plays, market shares,  taking stock (Apple's massive cash stockpile),  acquisition decisions,  innovation,  iPad, cannibalization, and Genius Bars.  This is a report from MacWorld dated 2-12-13. 

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A Tip on Mail

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        A tip on Mail comes from John Carter who informs us, "If you're using the Mail application to read and write email, and if your email protocol for the account is IMAP, you may have noticed that when you are creating a new message that quite a few copies of your unfinished (and finished) message shows up in the Trash. This is because you have an option set in Mail Preferences for you email account to store Draft messages on the server.

        "You can remedy this, and reduce the amount of Trash you get, by unsetting that option in Mail Preferences for that, and any, IMAP account.
        "The reason for the multiple copies of the incomplete messages is that Mail performs a save operation quite often (not a programmable feature). For any IMAP account, each save gets sent to the server, and the server then puts it in the Trash, and that Trash then gets sent back to Mail. So even if you just sit on a message before sending it, multiple copies of that draft will get sent to the server and then sent back to you as trash."  
        Thanks to John we know more than we did before!  (You did remember to click on the screen shot to enlarge it?  Good!) 
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New CPR Technique

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              "You may already be aware of this CPR technique. Even so, it's well worth watching again as a refresher." Jim Hamm passes on this video link.  http://medicine.arizona.edu/spotlight/learn-sarver-heart-centers-continuous-chest-compression-cpr   The forwarded email says, "This short video illustrates the best demonstration and gives the simplest explanation of exactly what to do if someone near you collapses and is presumably having a heart attack.  You could very well save the life of a friend of a loved one.  Someone you share this video with might save your life!" 

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Emergency Flash Update

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        Here's a warning to heed right now, according to Jim Hamm.  "I recommend you read this article and update the Adobe Flash Player in your browser for security reasons. An easy way is to click here. If you're using the Chrome browser it will update Flash automatically."

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Bing and Botnets (What?)

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        "Here's an interesting article on how automated botnets are searching Microsoft's Bing to find a weakness, or something they can harvest for nefarious purposes," begins Jim Hamm.  
        He explains, "Google, for example, has a 20-person team fighting this type of search all the time. The hackers are always looking for a weakness in a website, a bank's or retail database, or your computer, to try and steal something. 
           "It's no wonder sites and computers get hacked — the search by hackers is relentless," is Jim's final comment. 
        So now we've learned about Bing and Botnets.  See, we do need to keep up!  

Make Your Own Magazine Cover?

         On a website that advertises "Thrilling Tales of the Downright Unusual" Art Gorski passes this notice to us, "Make your own custom pulp magazine cover to amaze your friends and confound your enemies!"  After designing your own custom pulp magazine cover you could have it placed on a coffee mug, an iPad case, a spiral bound notebook, or on cards or invitations.  http://thrilling-tales.webomator.com/derange-o-lab/pulp-o-mizer.html 
Click to enlarge the illustration, then click on it again to return to this page.