The New Internet Explorer 11 is a Hoover....

Some of you are running Windows 7 and have had Internet Explorer 11 thrust upon you, much to your unhappiness. Apparently many websites do not like version 11 (among them RenWeb, Wordpress and several anti-virus programs).

Here is a way to revert to the previous version of IE and save a little bit of stress until the rest of the WWW catches up with Microsoft.

First you should fix Windows Update so it does not automatically install stuff you don't want.

1. Go to Windows Update page - START>Windows Update

Click on CHANGE SETTINGS

Look at the drop down box under the heading Important updates that you will change as follows:

You're done with that portion so hit OKAY and then  'X' out of that window and go to Step #2:

2. Uninstall Internet Explorer 11

Go to CONTROL PANEL and and then Uninstall programs (Look at #1 for display type and then click on #2 to get to uninstall applet):

Click on View Installed Updates

Scroll down and find  Internet Explorer 11 (Under Microsoft Windows heading).

Highlight it and then click the Uninstall button at the top of the page. You should then see:

This may run a few minutes. Then it will ask whether to restart or not.

You can do it now or wait, but the process won't be complete until you do restart.

My only suggestion is that you do not let your Windows Updates (other than Internet Explorer 11) go too long without updating. Most updates are good and contain security fixes that you need.

Also, remember that Optional Updates are just that, optional. Feel free to ask if you have questions about what you need or not. Personally, I do not install the Bing-related ones.

I hope that this is helpful. I would guess that by January 10th or so, RenWeb and others will play more rationally with IE 11.

Maybe...

New Apple OS - Oh Boy!

Apple has released a new operating system called OS X Mavericks.

BEFORE you update your MacBook, you should backup your MacBook using the Time Machine function.

Many of you have been doing this all along, because it just makes good sense to have a copy of your "stuff' in case your computer crashes, dies, gets damaged or is lost.

You want to have an external hard drive of at least 320 GB (I use one that is 1TB) and run Time Machine at least once a week. If you haven't been doing this, the new software release of OS X Mavericks is a perfect time to start.

HOWEVER, my advice (after years of seeing new updates come from Apple and Microsoft) is to wait a few days before you update. Let other folks around the world be the Guinea pigs, in case the software has problems.

Good luck and good computing!

So,

you broke your MacBook and now you are sad. We used to say 'Take it to The Core", but not now.

Take it to:

615 Queen city Blvd

Tuscaloosa AL 35401

205-342-2422

http://www.tuscom.com/

They were always the ones who did the repair work for The Core, so nothing has really changed, except now YOU have to schlep it down to them, as opposed to The Core sending it.

Proxy Server Blues?

So, your browser won't connect to the

World Wide Web?

Some settings get reset by bad programs and (sometimes) good ones.

Open Internet Explorer:

Start Internet Explorer
Click TOOLS
Click INTERNET OPTIONS
Go to CONNECTIONS tab
Click LAN SETTINGS button
Make sure the "Use a proxy server for your LAN" is NOT checked

Only the "Automatically detect settings" box should have a tick mark in it.

Click OK, then again click OK

Maybe that will work. if not, you may have larger issues going on!

Windows 8? -- Nooooo!

TA says "No!" to Windows 8
 

New Computers Should Be Bought Through TA, So Win 8 is not an issue!

Fujitsu computers bought through TA come with Windows 7 Professional!

"Windows 8 is the new operating system for Windows computers.

We STRONGLY suggest that you do not upgrade your computer until (at least) next school year.

Let other folks test it, find the bugs, have Windows fix them and then we can discuss it.

If you buy a new PC computer elsewhere, try to get Windows 7 on it.

If it comes with Windows 8, it is NOT easy to downgrade to Windows 7. There are technical things to know before you try it. Unless you have some computer tech ability, it could be problematic.

History tells us that new OS's from Windows have lots of problems. They have already released critical patches and fixes for it and a HUGE new update is due almost any day. Will if fix or foobar? And why should YOU be the guinea pig?

PLUS, this was designed for the new tablet from Windows and their phones. It will not be as cool or easy to use on a regular latop or computer. Why? Touchscreens! Ah ha!

The University of Alabama agrees with this decision. From their Office of Information Technology:   

    Microsoft will release Windows 8 on October 26, 2012. OIT has been testing this version for compatibility and has found that there are a number of significant issues with software commonly used on the UA campus. Device drivers are also not yet available for many of the printers and other devices we commonly use. For those reasons, we are advising all faculty and staff to not perform Windows 8 upgrades or to purchase computers with Windows 8 installed at this time. OIT will continue testing and advise when this version of the Windows OS can be used without major issues in the UA environment. 

Email Mr. V if you have questions:"

mrv@taknights.org

TA Says "No!" to Windows 8 (For Now)

TA says "No!" to Windows 8

 

New Computers Should Be Bought Through TA, So Win 8 is not an issue!

Fujitsu computers bought through TA come with Windows 7 Professional!

"Windows 8 is the new operating system for Windows computers.

We STRONGLY suggest that you do not upgrade your computer until (at least) next school year.

Let other folks test it, find the bugs, have Windows fix them and then we can discuss it.

If you buy a new PC computer elsewhere, try to get Windows 7 on it.

If it comes with Windows 8, it is NOT easy to downgrade to Windows 7. There are technical things to know before you try it. Unless you have some computer tech ability, it could be problematic.

History tells us that new OS's from Windows have lots of problems. They have already released critical patches and fixes for it and a HUGE new update is due almost any day. Will if fix or foobar? And why should YOU be the guinea pig?

PLUS, this was designed for the new tablet from Windows and their phones. It will not be as cool or easy to use on a regular latop or computer. Why? Touchscreens! Ah ha!

The University of Alabama agrees with this decision. From their Office of Information Technology:   

    Microsoft will release Windows 8 on October 26, 2012. OIT has been testing this version for compatibility and has found that there are a number of significant issues with software commonly used on the UA campus. Device drivers are also not yet available for many of the printers and other devices we commonly use. For those reasons, we are advising all faculty and staff to not perform Windows 8 upgrades or to purchase computers with Windows 8 installed at this time. OIT will continue testing and advise when this version of the Windows OS can be used without major issues in the UA environment. 

Email Mr. V if you have questions:"

mrv@taknights.org

How do you know if you have bad programs on your computer?

Here is a list of stuff I have cleaned off of student computers in the LAST MONTH!

Bearshare

Babylon Toolbar

Dealcabby

DefaultTab

Searchqu Toolbar

RebateInformer

Funmoods

Savepath Deals

DownTango Launcher

PC Optimizer Pro

Free Download Manager

PriceGong

GamingWonderland Toolbar

Genieo

Win7 Defender Plus 2013

Inbox Toolbar

Protected Search

PC Power Speed

Smart PC Cleaner

Speeditup Free

Unfriendapp 

Strongvault Online Backup

These are all bad, Bad, BAD! If you have any of these you need to either clean your computer or bring it to Mr. V. 

If they are not actively destroying your data and openign your computer to more of their "bad friends" they are, at least, sending your personal information out into the World where it WILL be used by bad folks.

Now you know. 

And, why the robot picture: Because he is famous amongst many as saying "Danger! Danger, Will Robinson". So now you've been warned!!!!

 

How Can Parents Control the Internet?

I know that many of the students will not be happy with this post, but you have to know that protecting you from yourself is one of the jobs that parents sign up for when they start the whole family process!

Parents want to know how to control your computer and I have to give them the answer. It's:

http://www1.k9webprotection.com/

It's free for personal use and here are its traits:

Block web sites in more than 70 categories, including pornography, gambling, drugs, violence/hate/racism, malware/spyware, phishing

Force SafeSearch on all major search engines

Set time restrictions to block web access during designated times

Configure custom lists for "always allow" and "always block"

Override a web page block with password

Trust the enhanced anti-tampering, even children can't break

View easy reports to monitor and control web activity

Real-time categorization of new adult and malicious sites

Best free parental controls software/internet filter available

Compatible with Windows or Mac machines

So, STUDENTS, choose wisely so your parents do not have to choose for you!

The Beatles make their debut on iTunes - 2010

Middle Ages Tech Support

Busted by the FBI?

New Internet Scam
‘Ransomware’ Locks Computers, Demands Payment


There is a new “drive-by” virus on the Internet, and it often carries a fake message—and fine—purportedly from the FBI.
“We’re getting inundated with complaints,” said Donna Gregory of the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), referring to the virus known as Reveton ransomware, which is designed to extort money from its victims.
Reveton is described as drive-by malware because unlike many viruses—which activate when users open a file or attachment—this one can install itself when users simply click on a compromised website. Once infected, the victim’s computer immediately locks, and the monitor displays a screen stating there has been a violation of federal law.
The bogus message goes on to say that the user’s Internet address was identified by the FBI or the Department of Justice’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section as having been associated with child pornography sites or other illegal online activity. To unlock their machines, users are required to pay a fine using a prepaid money card service.
“Some people have actually paid the so-called fine,” said the IC3’s Gregory, who oversees a team of cyber crime subject matter experts. (The IC3 was established in 2000 as a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center. It gives victims an easy way to report cyber crimes and provides law enforcement and regulatory agencies with a central referral system for complaints.)

	Podcast: Reveton Ransomware

“While browsing the Internet a window popped up with no way to close it,” one Reveton victim recently wrote to the IC3. “The window was labeled FBI and said I was in violation of one of the following: illegal use of downloaded media, under-age porn viewing, or computer-use negligence. It listed fines and penalties for each and directed me to pay $200 via a MoneyPak order. Instructions were given on how to load the card and make the payment. The page said if the demands were not met, criminal charges would be filed and my computer would remain locked on that screen.”
The Reveton virus, used by hackers in conjunction with Citadel malware—a software delivery platform that can disseminate various kinds of computer viruses—first came to the attention of the FBI in 2011. The IC3 issued a warning on its website in May 2012. Since that time, the virus has become more widespread in the United States and internationally. Some variants of Reveton can even turn on computer webcams and display the victim’s picture on the frozen screen.
“We are getting dozens of complaints every day,” Gregory said, noting that there is no easy fix if your computer becomes infected. “Unlike other viruses,” she explained, “Reveton freezes your computer and stops it in its tracks. And the average user will not be able to easily remove the malware.”

Backup Your MacBook!

You never know when it will crash, get damaged or become "misplaced". Clever or clumsy friends, malicious miscreants, whatever...

Mac Basics: Time Machine

Summary

Learn how to set up Time Machine to perform backups, how to restore items (or your entire system) from a Time Machine backup, how to migrate existing Time Machine backups to a new Mac, and more.

Products Affected

Mac OS X 10.6, OS X Lion, OS X Mountain Lion, Time Machine

Time Machine is the built-in backup that works with your Mac and an external drive (sold separately) or Time Capsule. Connect the drive, tell Time Machine to use it, and relax. Time Machine automatically backs up your entire Mac, including system files, applications, accounts, preferences, email messages, music, photos, movies, and documents. But what makes Time Machine different from other backup applications is that it not only keeps a spare copy of every file, it remembers how your system looked on any given day—so you can revisit your Mac as it appeared in the past. Time Machine keeps hourly backups for the past 24 hours, daily backups for the past month, and weekly backups until your backup drive is full.
OS X Lion and Mountain Lion let you encrypt the Time Machine backup external drive using FileVault 2.
Time Machine in Mountain Lion also lets you encrypt Time Capsule backups.
Collapse All | Expand All

Setting up Time Machine backups using an external drive

Setting up Time Machine is as easy as connecting an external drive to your Mac via Thunderbolt, FireWire or USB. You can also use a secondary internal drive if your desktop Mac has one (that is, a drive that you don't start up from).
If you haven't specified a Time Machine backup device yet, Time Machine asks if you would like to use the disk for backups the first time you connect it.

Click "Use as Backup Disk" to confirm you want to use the drive for Time Machine backups.  Time Machine preferences will then open with this drive selected as your backup destination.
Check "Encrypt Backup Disk" if you want to encrypt the Time Machine backup external drive using FileVault 2 (OS X Lion and Mountain Lion only). Note: If you want to use Encrypt Backup Disk, but the choice is dimmed (grayed out), you'll need to turn on FileVault 2.
That's all you have to do for Time Machine to automatically backup your Mac.

Manually preparing a new disk for Time Machine

1. If you want to erase a disk before using it with Time Machine, follow these steps:
2. Open Disk Utility (located in the Utilities folder).
3. Connect the disk if it isn't already attached.
4. In the left side of the Disk Utility window, select the disk you want to use with Time Machine.
5. Optional: If you want to partition the disk, click the Partition tab and select a layout. Make sure "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" is selected in the Format menu for the partition that will be used for backups. Click Apply.
6. Click the Erase tab.
7. Optional: If you want to securely erase the disk, click Security Options to configure, then click OK.
8. Click Erase.
9. After erasing, open Time Machine preferences in System Preferences and configure as described in the section above.
    

About the first backup to an external drive
You may want to set up Time Machine in the evening so that the initial backup can be done overnight because it may take a while depending on the size of your OS X volume. You should not interrupt the initial backup. You can continue to use your Mac while Time Machine backs up.
Once the initial backup is completed, Time Machine performs subsequent hourly backups of only the files that have changed on your Mac since the last backup (as long as your backup drive is connected).
Tip: You can manually initiate a Time Machine backup cycle at any time by choosing Back up Now from the Time Machine menu, even if you have Time Machine preferences set to off.
Changing your backup drive
You can manually select another backup drive in Time Machine preferences.

1. Select Time Machine menu > Open Time Machine Preferences…
2. Click "Select Disk…"
3. Choose a drive where backups will be stored, then click “Use Backup Disk”

Note: Every available drive that can be used to store backups is listed. If you’ve partitioned a drive, the available partitions are listed. Time Machine can’t backup to an external drive that's connected to an AirPort Extreme, Time Capsule, or a drive formatted for Microsoft Windows (NTFS or FAT format).  If you select an NTFS or FAT-formatted drive, Time Machine prompts you to reformat the drive. Choose a different drive or reformat the drive in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. Because reformatting erases any files on the drive, only do this if you no longer need the files or if you have copies of them on a different drive.
The most common format for a Time Machine backup drive is Mac OS Extended (Journaled)  format, but Time Machine also supports Mac OS Extended (Case sensitive, Journaled) and XSan formats.
If the drive is partitioned using the Master Boot Record (MBR) partition type, some partitions may not be available for use with Time Machine. The GUID Partition Table (GPT) or Apple Partition Map (APM) partition types are recommended.
Time Machine works best if you use your backup drive only for Time Machine backups. If you keep files on your backup drive, Time Machine won’t backup those files and the space available for Time Machine backups will be reduced.
OS X Mountain Lion, OS X Lion v10.7.2 and later: Starting from the recovery partition of a Time Machine backup drive
Hold down the Option key at startup to boot into the startup manager. Select the Recovery system of the Time Machine backup to start from. Once started, you will have all of the functionality of Recovery.

Setting up Time Machine for backups using a Time Capsule

Selecting items to exclude from the backup

Restoring data from Time Machine backups

Additional Information

Backup drive fills up

Important: Information about products not manufactured by Apple is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute Apple’s recommendation or endorsement. Please contact the vendor for additional information.

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• Last Modified: Nov 16, 2012
• Article: HT1427

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