Monthly Archives: August 2010

Emerge Desktop

If you are looking for a way to customize the “look and feel” of your Windows Desktop, try downloading and installing the Emerge Desktop.  It supports Windows versions from Windows 2000 to Windows 7, (in both 32 and 64bit versions).

Emerge Desktop is a replacement for the Windows explorer window manager.  It provides a system tray, a taskbar, and virtual desktops.  It replaces the start button with  a desktop right-click menu for accessing all your programs.  Emerge Desktop features can be enabled or disabled optionally for complete customization.

It certainly gives the traditional Windows desktop a look that is more consistent with a “linux-like” look and feel.  Give it a try and see what you think.

More Malware Scams

I saw a new TV ad today for a website called maxmyspeed.com.  This is yet another website giving away a “free” antivirus/antispyware scan sponsored by CyberDefender.  Don’t fall for these scams!  I absolutely hate these websites that try to trick unsuspecting customers into downloading their software and and then try to extort money from them to remove the imaginary viruses and malware.

If you are still unsure about CyberDefender, (the software that you have to download and install), then just Google “Cyberdefender scams” and see what happens.  Seems like CyberDefenders’ new tactic is to go after anyone that writes a bad review.

Stay away from these guys at all costs.  Make sure that your system is protected with valid antivirus/antispyware software.  We highly recommend using Vipre, (see the banner ad below), a lean and mean AV solution for your PC.

Updating your Software

Whether you are using Windows, Mac, Linux, or Unix based operating systems, you must keep them current with the latest updates.  Security holes, (re: vunerabilities), are in every operating system.  For Windows users, you must not only keep up with the latest OS updates, but you must also keep updated antivirus and antimalware software.

As though keeping the OS and antivirus software updated is not enough, you must also keep all your other software updated and patched.  Using any software that is out of date, just gives the “bad guys” one more place to enter your system.  The list of software that needs updating just keeps growing.  From browsers, (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, or Safari), to media players, (Windows Media Player, VLC,), to chat clients, to office software, (MS-Office, OpenOffice).

One of the advantages of most distributions of Linux is that there is a central updating system for all software, operating system and all other software.  This makes is a lot easier to keep your system secure.

Note:  As I’m writing  this post, WordPress is prompting me to install an update!