Showing posts with label xp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label xp. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Microsoft Internet Explorer Vulnerability ~ Fact and Opinion


As you have most likely heard, Microsoft is scrambling to fix a major bug which allows hackers to exploit flaws in Internet Explorer 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. The company has also confirmed it will not issue a fix for web browsers running on Windows XP after it formally ended support for the 13 year old operating system back on April 8th.

The vulnerability was discovered by cyber security software maker FireEye Inc. which stated the flaw is a ‘zero-day’ threat. This means the first attacks were made on the vulnerability before Microsoft was aware of it. FireEye also revealed a sophisticated hacker group has already been exploiting the flaw in a campaign dubbed ‘Operation Clandestine Fox’, which targets US military and financial institutions.

FireEye spokesman Vitor De Souza declined to name the hackers or potential victims as the investigation is ongoing, only telling Reuters: “It’s unclear what the motives of this attack group are at this point. It appears to be broad-spectrum intel gathering.”

For its part Microsoft has confirmed the existence of the flaw in an official post: https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/2963983

Now, Internet Explorer has always been a vulnerable browser and has exploits created/identified against it everyday. This is why for YEARS I have pushed my customers to use an alternative Web Browser such as Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome. As previously mentioned, both of those web browsers are safer to use than Internet Explorer and are both immune from the recently identified exploit!

What makes this recent vulnerability stand out from the others, and why this particular vulnerability is making all the headlines, is that the problem is pretty widespread; affecting 1 in 4 Windows based computers and ALL Windows XP systems.

A Temporary Fix
While Microsoft rushes to fix the bug, FireEye gave concerned users two workarounds .
  1. Use another web browser other than Internet Explorer
  2. Disable Adobe Flash. “The attack will not work without Adobe Flash,” it said. “Disabling the Flash plugin within IE will prevent the exploit from functioning.”
*Adobe has released a new patch/update for their Flash Player! Allow the Flash Player to update or manually download and install the latest version here: http://www.adobe.com/support/flashplayer/downloads.html

No Hope For Windows XP
Microsoft has confirmed that no fix will be rolled out for Windows XP because support has officially ended and there are no plans to make an exception. It states:

“An unsupported version of Windows will no longer receive software updates from Windows Update. These include security updates that can help protect your PC from harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software, which can steal your personal information.”

The company’s advice to Windows XP users has remained the same for some time: upgrade to Windows 7 or 8 or buy a new PC. It has also repeatedly sent a pop-up dialog box to reachable Windows XP machines with the following end of support notification.

For users unsure whether their existing XP PCs can support Windows 8, Microsoft offers a software tool called ‘Windows Upgrade Assistant’ which can be downloaded here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=321548

If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to get in touch!

Jon Pienkowski
Pacific NorthWest Computers
www.pnwcomputers.com
360-624-7379

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

How to Clean up a Slow Performing Computer ~PLUS~ a few Mac tips too ;)


Many think that when a computer starts performing poorly it's time to buy a new computer. Does your desktop or laptop often hang on the hourglass or swirling circle for several minutes at a time? Does "Not Responding" sound familiar to you? Is it slow to load files or applications, and does it take a long time to boot? Even if you're extremely careful about how you use your computer and never download questionable material, over time it is inevitable that your system will accumulate unwanted registry entries, errors, clutter, and debris. Here's how to clean your computer up and get it running faster again!

Things YOU can DO:

  1. Update and Scan with your Security Software:
    (Link to more in-depth PC/computer clean-up guide)
    Antivirus software helps protect you from viruses and other malicious files that can spread through emails or downloads. It performs regular system checks and detects when foreign files are trying to infiltrate your computer.
    We recommend using Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for comprehensive protection.
    Click the link below for a list of the security software that we recommend and use:
  2. Do not use Registry Optimizers or so-called Clean Reg Tools.
    Most of these cause more harm than good in the long run.
  3. Clear up space on the hard drive.
    Deleting unnecessary files is an easy way to free up memory and improve performance. Use BleachBit for a thorough cleanup of your PC, and Onyx for your Mac.

    • For Windows 10 and 11: Open Settings, go to System, then Storage, and use the built-in Disk Cleanup tool.
    • For macOS: Go to the Apple menu, select About This Mac, then Storage, and use the Manage button to find options for optimizing storage.
  4. Uninstall useless programs or programs you rarely use. These can include games, media files, or redundant software.

    • For Windows: Go to Settings, then Apps, and uninstall programs that are no longer needed.
    • For macOS: Drag unwanted applications from the Applications folder to the Trash, then empty the Trash.
    • When uninstalling programs be sure you don't need them! Some programs are needed for the operation of the computer. So if you are unsure about a program then leave it alone or do a quick search on Google to see if you can find out whether it's good or bad.

  5. Clean Up Junk Files.
    BleachBit is a powerful, open-source tool that helps you clean up unnecessary files and free up disk space on your computer. Follow these steps to use BleachBit to clean your system:
    • Download and Install "BleachBit," and then find and click on the application to open it.
    • Choose What to Clean:
      1. In BleachBit, you will see a list of cleaners on the left-hand side. 
      2. These cleaners correspond to different types of junk files and applications.
      3. Check the boxes next to the items you want to clean. 
      4. Common selections include:
        • System: Temporary files, logs, memory dumps
        • Web browsers: Cache, history, etc
        • Careful deleting cookies as they store your saved login data.
        • Applications: Temporary files from installed applications
        • Deep Scan:
          • For a more thorough clean, you can enable "Deep Scan" under the System section. 
          • This option will scan for and delete more obscure temporary files and caches.
          • Be cautious with deep scanning, as it may delete files you were not expecting.
      5. Preview (Optional but Recommended):
        • Click the "Preview" button to see a list of files that will be deleted and the amount of space that will be freed.
        • Review the list to ensure no important files will be deleted.
      6. Clean:
        • If you're satisfied with the preview, click the "Clean" button to delete the selected files.
        • BleachBit will begin cleaning the files, which may take a few minutes depending on the amount of data.

  6. Defragment your hard drive if you are using a traditional HDD. 
    *SSDs do not need defragmentation.
    1. For Windows: Open the Start Menu, search for Defragment and Optimize Drives, and run the tool.
    2. MacOS: Mac operating systems manage disk fragmentation automatically, so manual defragmentation is not needed.

  7. Check your RAM.
    If your computer is running slowly, you might need more RAM.
    1. For Windows: Right-click on This PC, select Properties and check the installed RAM. Consider upgrading if you have less than 8GB for modern systems.
    2. For macOS: Click the Apple menu, select About This Mac, and check the Memory tab. Aim for at least 8GB for general use.

  8. Optimize startup programs.
    Reducing the number of programs that run at startup can improve boot times.
    1. For Windows: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), go to the Startup tab and disable unnecessary programs.
    2. For macOS: Go to System Preferences, then Users & Groups, and select your user. Click the Login Items tab and remove unnecessary items.

    Other Tips:

    • Only install software that you intend to use regularly.
    • Be cautious with free downloads; they can come with spyware, malware, or viruses.
    • Regularly clean up your computer using tools like BleachBit.
    • Ensure safe internet browsing by using a firewall and a secure browser.
    • Schedule regular scans with your antivirus and anti-malware software.
    • Always back up your important data before running any cleanup tool.
    • If you're unsure about specific options, stick to the default settings.

      Warnings:

      • When uninstalling programs, ensure they are not essential for your system's operation. If unsure, do a quick search to verify.
      • Use anti-malware programs carefully and follow instructions thoroughly. Incorrect changes to the registry can worsen performance. If you're unsure, clean only detected items marked in red, or consult a knowledgeable friend or professional.

    Further Reading/Related Articles:

    How you can get infected & what you can do to try to prevent it: