How to Keep Win 7 on your PC

Computer Care: Tips to keep Windows 7 on your PC

By Arthur Glazer

glazer.tech@gmail.com
POSTED: May 18, 2013 1:00 a.m.

Windows 8 is great, if you are used to it or if you have a touch-screen laptop or tablet. But more and more of my clients are complaining that they just got a new PC with Win 8 installed — and they hate it. What they really want is that new computer loaded with their old operating system, Windows 7.

What to do? Well, there are options.

Windows 7 machines are still available, contrary to what commissioned sales people may advise you. They are just hard to find and are mostly online.

Alternatively, you could downgrade your Win 8 system to Win 7, but it’s not as straightforward as it used to be to accomplish this task.

There is also the option of using a Win 7 install CD to set up a dual-boot configuration on your Win 8 system.

The simplest solution short of getting used to the new OS is to adjust the settings on your Win 8 system to make it look and behave more like Win 7. Click on the tile labeled “Desktop” on the primary screen of the Windows 8 system to accomplish this. You’ll then have a more recognizable graphical user interface.

There are also Start button apps that can be downloaded (many for free) online.

But let’s start at the beginning. Microsoft says it will support Windows 7 until January 2015, that retailers may sell PCs with the older system until October 2014 and sell boxed versions of the operating system until October 2013.

The problem is finding them. You may have better luck on sites such as overstock.com that sells last year’s technology, some new, some refurbished. Online retailers may also be your best bet for finding copies of Windows 7 when the brick-and-mortar stores advise you that it’s no longer available.

Websites that sell to businesses may have more older systems, even going back to XP computers. 

Dell.com for example has a section for home users and one for business use. You are more likely to find a Win 7 PC on the business side of their site.

The problem with downgrading from Windows 8 to 7 is a hardware issue. Windows 8 computers are designed differently from their predecessors, especially the hard drives. They are configured and partitioned to accommodate the newer, higher tech version of the operating system.

Without getting too technical, the new systems are designed with a new Unified Extensible Firmware Interface. They have secure boot along with fast startup features. The drives are partitioned differently from how they used to be to thwart off malware in the boot sector.

Although all you may see under your Computer icon is your C drive, the other partitions are there, just hidden. This is what makes downgrading to Win 7 difficult. Not impossible, but difficult.

If you have 64-bit version of Windows 7 Pro, it does support the new partitioning. Just choose the advanced setup and make sure you’ve backed up all your documents. The new installation will format your hard drive, wiping the contents of it. You will lose everything.

You may encounter some difficulty activating the new installation and have to phone Microsoft instead of the usual online activation. The number will be provided, should you need it. What you are doing is legal and free, if you already have the CD.

Better option yet, if you have a full copy of the Win 7 install CD (any version), is to set up a dual-boot so both operating systems are there. Win 8 remains intact, but you may choose to ignore it and go right into Windows 7.

The worse part of this is that it will void your warranty if you are making these adjustments on a new computer. It’s your call, but it may be worth it.

Google, “How to dual-boot a Windows 8 system with Windows 7.” It’s not too difficult. Just be sure to find a site with instructions you can understand clearly and follow them exactly.

Whichever option you choose, I think you’ll agree with my clients. Windows 7 is the way to go.

Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.

Love Your Tablet

Computer Care: Learning to love the tablet


By Arthur Glazerglazer.tech@gmail.com
POSTED: May 3, 2013 9:07 p.m.

Since the early 1990s, I’ve had half a dozen desktop computers, five laptops, various printers, a couple of faxes, a plethora of dumb phones and a couple of smartphones. But just this week I got my first tablet computer. As I once initially thought, I had no need for a computer (my dedicated Smith Corona Word Processor was just fine for a writer), I also thought I didn’t need a tablet.

I was wrong. Many times I needed a computer at a client’s home but didn’t feel like packing up my laptop in its case, grabbing the cord and throwing it in the car. Having a tablet is infinitely easier.

If it had 3G, I’d be happier, but it was an extra hundred bucks and my carrier doesn’t allow a la carte data usage on extra devices anyway. So I’m stuck with just Wi-Fi, which is really OK.

I ruled out Apple products mainly because I believe they are just too expensive. I considered a Windows tablet (also another extra $100), but went with what I already have on my phone: Android. It’s easy to use, has an abundance of free apps and is the cheapest type tablet on the market.

For less than $200, I got a mobile computer that, although won’t replace my laptop, will certainly complement it. Much of what I did on my phone and some of what I did on my computers, I now do on the tablet, and do it with mobility.

It’s a great tool for business. It allows me to chat, connect to a Windows computer remotely and I can now check email on the fly without having to use the crowded keyboard on my phone. It also allows me to browse the Web and actually see where I’m going and speak my search criteria, should I prefer not to type it.

I have a memo and to-do list, and I’m finally able to use a calendar that’s large enough to actually see. I can take decent videos and photos with the tablet, although I mainly use my DSLR for that.

It comes preloaded with Polaris Office Suite, that allows you to create and edit .doc, .docx text documents as well as .xls, .xlsx spreadsheets and .ppt or .pptx presentations.

On the light side, I can watch movies, TV shows or YouTube videos with my 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 model with its high quality 1024 x 600 display. I can read e-books, use it as a universal remote for all of my electronic devices and listen to online music. There are a ton of games available. Admittedly, I do subject myself to the occasional Mahjong challenge.

Granted, it obviously lacks the surround sound audio quality of a home theater, but for a device that’s less than 3/8 inches thick, the sound is surprisingly good and the video quality is fantastic.

It has a dual-core, 1 GHz processor with 8 GB of flash memory which allows it to go from page to page flawlessly.

The tablet, like many, also has dual cameras, so I can video chat with my girls or clients, if necessary.

After I logged on to my Galaxy Tab for the first time, all my cloud-based docs and photos were there for me to view because it synced to my Google Docs and Dropbox accounts. That was a nice surprise.

There are some drawbacks though, to using a tablet. There is obviously no keyboard; it uses a touch-screen. It ‘s smaller than a laptop, but larger than a phone.

There is a photo editor installed on it and although the Google Play Store has thousands of apps to download, other editors included, I do miss my Photoshop.

I also miss the availability of a USB port. That was a disappointment. I will have to resort to either sending my tablet files electronically or put them on the Micro SD card I added to the system. It only came with 8 GB of on-board storage space, so I added an additional 16 GB (it takes ups to 32GB). It does have Bluetooth, though.

Typing is easier than with my phone, and although I can dictate via the microphone app, it lacks the handy Swype feature of my Smartphone.

Just as I was once surprised that I liked my computer, I like my tablet. It’s a versatile mobile device.

It would be the perfect device if it only had a phone in it.

Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.

	POSTED: May 3, 2013 9:07 p.m. Since the early 1990s, I’ve had half a dozen desktop computers, five laptops, various printers, a couple of faxes, a plethora of dumb phones and a couple of smartphones. But just this week I got my first tablet computer. As I once initially thought, I had no need for a computer (my dedicated Smith Corona Word Processor was just fine for a writer), I also thought I didn’t need a tablet. I was wrong. Many times I needed a computer at a client’s home but didn’t feel like packing up my laptop in its case, grabbing the cord and throwing it in the car. Having a tablet is infinitely easier. If it had 3G, I’d be happier, but it was an extra hundred bucks and my carrier doesn’t allow a la carte data usage on extra devices anyway. So I’m stuck with just Wi-Fi, which is really OK. I ruled out Apple products mainly because I believe they are just too expensive. I considered a Windows tablet (also another extra $100), but went with what I already have on my phone: Android. It’s easy to use, has an abundance of free apps and is the cheapest type tablet on the market. For less than $200, I got a mobile computer that, although won’t replace my laptop, will certainly complement it. Much of what I did on my phone and some of what I did on my computers, I now do on the tablet, and do it with mobility. It’s a great tool for business. It allows me to chat, connect to a Windows computer remotely and I can now check email on the fly without having to use the crowded keyboard on my phone. It also allows me to browse the Web and actually see where I’m going and speak my search criteria, should I prefer not to type it. I have a memo and to-do list, and I’m finally able to use a calendar that’s large enough to actually see . I can take decent videos and photos with the tablet, although I mainly use my DSLR for that. It comes preloaded with Polaris Office Suite, that allows you to create and edit .doc, .docx text documents as well as .xls, .xlsx spreadsheets and .ppt or .pptx presentations. On the light side, I can watch movies, TV shows or YouTube videos with my 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 model with its high quality 1024 x 600 display. I can read e-books, use it as a universal remote for all of my electronic devices and listen to online music. There are a ton of games available. Admittedly, I do subject myself to the occasional Mahjong challenge. Granted, it obviously lacks the surround sound audio quality of a home theater, but for a device that’s less than 3/8 inches thick, the sound is surprisingly good and the video quality is fantastic. It has a dual-core, 1 GHz processor with 8 GB of flash memory which allows it to go from page to page flawlessly. The tablet, like many, also has dual cameras, so I can video chat with my girls or clients, if necessary. After I logged on to my Galaxy Tab for the first time, all my cloud-based docs and photos were there for me to view because it synced to my Google Docs and Dropbox accounts. That was a nice surprise. There are some drawbacks though, to using a tablet. There is obviously no keyboard; it uses a touch-screen. It ‘s smaller than a laptop, but larger than a phone. There is a photo editor installed on it and although the Google Play Store has thousands of apps to download, other editors included, I do miss my Photoshop. I also miss the availability of a USB port. That was a disappointment. I will have to resort to either sending my tablet files electronically or put them on the Micro SD card I added to the system. It only came with 8 GB of on-board storage space, so I added an additional 16 GB (it takes ups to 32GB). It does have Bluetooth, though. POSTED: May 3, 2013 9:07 p.m.

Smartphone Security

Computer Care: Keep your smartphone secure against malware, infections

By Arthur Glazer

glazer.tech@gmail.com

	POSTED: April 20, 2013 1:00 a.m.

Today’s smartphones allow us mobile access to so much more information than ever before. We can take charge of our schedule, email, texts, social networking, computing, Web browsing, banking and more. But what if you weren’t the only one that had control of all that sensitive information in your mobile phone?

Security applications are currently available for smartphones and most of them are free, but few of us take advantage of them. All it takes is for you to download and install an app that clandestinely allows another user to have the same access and control over your phone’s information as you do. There goes your contacts list, your photos and perhaps your checking account.

According to Symantec, there have been hackers who installed their own code in apps that were downloaded from the Internet that allowed full access to mobile phones, sensitive data and banking info included.

Last year, more than 32 million Android phones became infected with malware. That’s three times the amount of the previous year.

Currently, Android phones are more susceptible to these rogue infections than iPhones, simply due to the fact that Apple only allows downloads from its app store. With Android, you can get an app from anywhere.

The best course of action is to scrutinize what you download to your phone and use only trusted sources for those downloads.

If you must live on the computing edge as I do, at least install some protective utility to your phone. Most anti-virus companies that have apps for computers, also have apps for phones, and as I mentioned, many are free.

I now have a comprehensive utility called Advanced Mobile Care 3.0 on my Android. It is from Iobit, the folks who created Advanced System Care for your computer. So far, so good. It’s easy to use and to my knowledge, I have not been infected.

What they call a Swiss Army Knife of tools for the mobile user, it scans for viruses and malware, cleans clutter, has a battery saver, protects your privacy and has the ability to kill tasks, if necessary. It’s available from iobit.com or from Google Play on your phone.

The folks at AVG, McAfee, Symantec, Trend Micro, Dr. Web, ESET, Avast, Kaspersky, F-Secure, Sophos, Lookout Security and others have similar apps for download. Just as with tools for your computer, most offer free utilities as well as their premium versions of the same programs with more bells and whistles and better security. In the end, you get what you pay for.

You need to decide which you want by trying one or two. See how they work on your phone. Is the interface easy to use? Does it use too many resources that finding your way to other apps become encumbered? Does it have the intended protection?

Go to the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android) to see what’s currently being offered. Remember what’s at stake here. Even the paid premium versions of the security app cost only a few dollars. For what you get in return, it’s worth a few bucks for the protection.

Some of these utilities offer more than others, so take a few out for a test drive. Security is what we are after here, but if a junk cleaner or battery extender is thrown in, it may be worth considering.

When I look for an app to download, I take heed in what other users have said about it in feedback. Google Play is similar to CNET’s download.com in that there is user feedback. If too many users agree the utility is hard to use or it freezes their phones, I move on to the next one.

Often it’s the phone that had issues, not the app. So pay attention if it’s all HTC users or everyone with a Samsung that can’t use certain apps; it may not be the app.

Don’t feel too superior if you are an iPhone user. Just as with Apple computers, you are not invulnerable. Virus and malware writers have focused on PCs due to the sheer volume of them versus Apple products.

Now that Apple has a huge market in the mobile phone arena, it’s only a matter of time until the iPhones begin to become infected, too. It’s time we all took a hard look at our mobile phone security.

The ACLU recently argued with the FTC that AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile do not offer adequate security for their mobile customers. Although Google has beefed up security more with each new version of its Android Operating System, the phone companies have not.

Be it so, or not, I wouldn’t wait for your carrier to provide a defense against hackers for your mobile phone. It’s your phone, your data and ultimately it’s your responsibility.

Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.

Operating System Alternatives

Computer Care: Windows still rules, but there are other alternatives

By Arthur Glazerglazer.tech@gmail.com
POSTED: March 22, 2013 10:43 p.m.

I have been a fan of the Windows operating system since its inception. With Windows XP back near the turn of this century, things started getting better. Wireless and USB support were introduced and many enhancements were added with that edition. Improvements were made to the computer hardware, the operating system and software; it all began to run faster than ever before.

Windows, in one incarnation or another, has been on my computers since the ’80s (Win 3.1) at the time when I had DOS installed on it. Things have gotten progressively better with each release, with the exceptions of the Millennium Edition, or Win ME, as it was infamously known, and, of course, the much-maligned Vista.

Those two versions were an annoyance to consumers and must have been an huge embarrassment to Microsoft. Still, they created superior versions after each one of those fiascos.

I’ve had clients who hated Vista so much they downgraded back to XP. If you have the CD, you can legally put it on any one machine of your choice.

Windows XP Pro has caused me only a few problems over the years and I still have it on my desktop computer. Win 7 Ultimate is on my laptop and is a strong OS, although every now and then I think I’m using Win ME again.

Once in a while, I can’t initiate a system restore or find that the computer has an inability to rename a file or folder. Even with updates turned off, I find myself waiting at a reboot while my system configures updates. My 64-bit laptop has 6 GB of RAM installed and still, the mouse will freeze on occasion. I work on these machines for living and even I get stumped at times.

What to do? Usually things happen for a reason; sometimes though, they are unexplainable. The first thing to do is reboot. Oddly enough, that little fix does a lot of good for an operating system. It refreshes the memory and repairs little issues within the system. It takes only a couple of minutes, so try a reboot first.

Should that prove ineffective, do some scanning. Let your antivirus and malware utilities both run full scans of your C drive. All it takes is a virus or Trojan horse to make a computer run a little crazy.

Scan results may reveal unspecific intruders, often listed as PUPs, or Potentially Unwanted Programs. They should always be terminated and removed. If your utility wants to remove something and asks you for permission, always allow it.

After that, run Windows Check Disk. All of these scans may be time-intensive, so don’t be in a hurry. All totaled, they can take hours, sometimes many hours to complete.

A last-case scenario in times of large issues is to reinstall Windows. This alternative will not fix the problems on your computer; instead it will erase them and put a fresh copy of your operating system on the hard drive.

There are other alternatives. You could try another version of Windows. If you have XP, try upgrading to Windows 7; if you have Win 7, try Win 8. Should you not want to give up one for the other, consider a dual boot or a dual config. This option lets you choose which version of Windows to boot the computer to, without deleting the other.

Google this option for instructions. I could explain it, but it would be a column in itself. It’s really not that difficult to accomplish.

Windows 8 was clearly designed for a tablet or other computer with a touch-screen interface. If you already have Win 8 and are dismayed at the lack of the familiar start button, there is help.

There are legal hacks to make the interface more familiar, but why should we have to tweak a new system? It would have been better with options. But if you do want that start button back, there are apps out there to download, most free. One may be found at www.startbutton8.com.

You could also try a different operating system altogether.

Linux is a viable alternative. Ubuntu is a version, or distro, as it is called, of Linux that has been popular for years. Not only is it a good, solid operating system, it’s not any harder to learn than Windows, and it’s free. This open-source Windows replacement also comes with various free utilities and applications, with more available to download. Find it at www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop.

Chromebook is yet another choice. Google released it a few years ago as an alternative to Windows. It’s lighter and cheaper than most laptops. With Chromebook, the operating system is Chrome OS and everything, including your data, is in the cloud. Security is built in and updates are automatic. Made for online computing, they start at $249.

OK, then there’s the Mac. There, I said it. But why buy an expensive Apple device when you already probably own at least one or two Windows CDs? Plus, Chromebook is inexpensive — and Linux is free.

Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.

Make your PC defensive

POSTED: March 9, 2013 2:00 a.m. Computer Care: Keep your PC protected from bad bugs

Computer Care: Keep your PC protected from bad bugs By Arthur Glazerglazer.tech@gmail.com POSTED: March 9, 2013 2:00 a.m. Too many computers that I’ve worked on recently have had insufficient protection. Some had anti-virus apps or Internet security suites installed, but they were not properly configured. Some were so outdated they were completely ineffective. Your system needs a good defense. This means programs that will have your back and warn you when rogue programs or websites are attempting to infiltrate your computer. If you have an anti-virus alone, then I suggest you supplement it with a utility like Malwarebytes, Advanced System Care, SuperAntispyware or Malware Fighter. You can have as many of those installed on your system as you like but only one anti-virus app. In that case, more is not better. If your system has an Internet Security Suite, you’re all set. Many times, though, it will tell you that there is a conflict with a utility already on your system and ask you to remove it. Whatever you use, be sure you always have the latest version and that it updates its virus and malware definitions regularly, usually daily. The app needs to be configured past the default settings. Make sure it scans what you want it to, not just your “C” drive. If you have a partition or use external drives regularly, have them scan them as well. Be sure to set up a schedule in the settings area. If you are online every day, you should have your system scanned daily. If you don’t, it’s not a matter of if you will get an infection but when. There are plenty of free products to download. Avast, Avira, AVG, Panda and others all have free and paid versions. The latter includes support. Vipre is also a good choice and although it lacks a free version, it does offer a free trial, as do most. In most malware apps, there are no schedulers on the freebies, one reason alone to get the paid version. While you are downloading, be careful as I mentioned in previous columns. You may not get a malware infection from a reputable website, but you can still get bloatware or junkware, call it what you will. If you don’t scrutinize each box that is checked, you may end up with add-ons you didn’t ask for like a screensaver, pop-up, toolbar or some other freebie that will slow down your system. Do take note to the many offers of security for your smartphone, though, while you are downloading. Most are free. The next wave of infections will not be on your computer but on your phone, so get ready. All of the major players have these to offer. Even with the best protection, it is still possible to get an infection on your computer. The reprobate-geek on your block may have just written a virus and sent it to the Web to be spread around. Before Avast, Norton, McAfee and the rest of them get a chance write a defense against the infection, you can get it. Sometimes you simply fall through the cracks of the Internet. All you can do is be as best prepared as possible and when that fails, get rid of the infection after the fact. Although it is best to be proactive, sometimes you just have to play the cards you were dealt. Windows has built-in tools like System Restore and Safe Mode that will let you fix issues with the operating system. System Restore is like a time machine. It allows you to set the system to run as it did in the past, when it functioned properly. Safe Mode loads only the essential components of the operating system, allowing you to probe and repair without a bunch of superfluous apps running in the background. The Internet itself is my favorite tool. When I don’t know how to fix something, I Google it. There are many articles, forums and YouTube videos to help with just about anything. Someone, somewhere, has had the same issue that you are experiencing and there is assistance on the Internet concerning it. The only time I suggest you don’t try to fix your computer yourself is when you get a “Fatal Error.” They manifest themselves as “Blue Screens Of Death.” When you see a blue screen with “Fatal Error” on it that is accompanied by a STOP code, a series of numbers, it’s time to throw in the towel. Often, the more you mess with it, the worse it gets. So just walk away from this one. This is the worse-case scenario, when your head starts pounding and your eyes begin to bleed. This is when you call someone and pay them to fix the computer. Sometimes it’s just worth it. You wouldn’t try to fix a crown in your mouth or the transmission in your car. You call a professional. With a BSOD, that’s what you need to do. Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.

Printer Problems?

Computer Care: Printer glitch? Best to start over

	By Arthur Glazerglazer.tech@gmail.com

	POSTED: February 23, 2013 2:00 a.m.

	While recently attempting to print a document on a printer I’ve had installed for over a year, Windows suddenly advised me that I in fact, had no printer installed. I could see the Officejet across the room; I just used it the night before and my wife had printed something on it earlier that morning, so I knew it worked. Rather than going into panic mode, I did the same thing I did the last time this happened: I reinstalled the printer. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, this seems to be a common occurrence. This is a relatively easy task, yet not quite as straightforward as one might assume. The first thing to do is remove the USB cable, then remove the printer from your computer. Go to the “Printers” window from either the “Start Menu” or “Control Panel.” Right-click on the printer icon, choose to delete it and then reboot the system. Your printer is now uninstalled. Next, find an updated version of the printer driver and software package on the manufacturer’s website. This is better than using the CD that came with the printer, as it may have some bug fixes and enhancements that the disc lacks. It never hurts to check the Web for a newer version. That bug fix may stop your printer from crashing next time. Look for a “Support,” “Downloads” or “Drivers” section on the website (www.hp.com,www.epson.com, etc.). It will either be a hot link — maybe off to the side or a tab at the top of the page. After you find it, type in or choose your device model and then choose your operating system. Next, either just choose to download the driver to get your printer running again, or get the whole package with greeting card and calendar maker and all. Run the installer after you download it. Don’t plug in the USB cable until you are prompted to do so by the software. Even if you are connecting a wireless printer, it may ask you to temporarily connect via a USB cable, so have one ready. With a wireless installation, choose the 802.11 option and be ready to recognize your network name so you can choose it. After the installation, reboot again and go back to the printer window to be sure yours is listed and chosen as the default. Right-click and choose “Default,” if not. Next, test your printer. Right-click the icon again and choose “Properties” and click on “Print Test Page” or just try to print a document. If you’ve had this device for a while, it wouldn’t hurt to clean and align the print head. Old ink coagulates on the head, degrading the print quality and sometimes stopping it completely from printing. All printer software has these utilities built-in. Look in the “Properties” area or for a “Tools” or “Utilities” tab. This maintenance may take a while, use up some ink and a few sheets of paper, but will absolutely improve the quality of your print output. To save some ink, change your setting from the default to “Draft” mode. It uses a lot less ink, prints much faster and chances are you won’t notice the lack of ink. If printing photos though, go for the full amount and choose the “Photo” option under quality. Also be sure to change the paper type to glossy, if that’s what you’re using. While in the settings area, familiarize yourself with some of the other options there. Aside from changing paper type and ink quality, you can choose to print in grayscale, in black only or set up for pamphlet printing. This will print on both sides of the paper with two pages per sheet. You can also choose to set up poster or banner printing here, using anything from four to 25 sheets of paper. If you have a long list of docs that failed to print, you may have a jammed print queue that’s stopping the device from printing. To confirm this, right-click on your printer icon in the task bar and choose to open the device. You should be able to see all of your stalled prints. You may be able to highlight each one and choose “Cancel,” but they may be stuck there. To fix this, open a command prompt box by typing “cmd” (without quotes) from the search box or Run dialog. Then type “net stop spooler” (no quotes) and hit the Enter key. Wait for a confirmation from the system, then type “net start spooler” and again hit Enter. This clears the queue by stopping the service, then starting it again. Printers are just like everything else mechanical: Anything can go wrong. On the grand scheme of things that can go wrong with computer systems, this is really not that big of a deal. It shouldn’t cost you anything (unless you’re out of ink) and the time involved is minimal. Including the download, you should have remedied this situation in about an hour. Take a deep breath and say, “At least I don’t have to reformat my hard drive.” Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.

Computer Downloads: Caveat Emptor

Computer Care: Even safe downloading sites should be approached with caution

By Arthur Glazerglazer.tech@gmail.com

POSTED: February 9, 2013 1:00 a.m.

	There are good places to go on the Internet for downloads and there are not-so-good places. Often when you think you are navigating to a certain website, you end up somewhere else, possibly on a rogue site. You have been redirected. This redirection can be initiated from malware that has infiltrated your system or it can be that you were duped into clicking an online link that was similar to your destination. The similarity could be in the site spelling or it could be a different suffix. You may have wanted a .com and ended up at a .biz instead. Alternatively, you may have clicked on an ad in your search results, rather than on a bona fide hit. I never thought too much about being redirected. Hey, I am careful. No, not me. I always watch what I click on. Alas, even your local tech writer was taken in by a recent installation of AVG. After clicking on "Decline" various times during the installation of the anti-virus program, I assumed I'd dodged the optional toolbars offered by AVG. Most of those attach themselves to Internet Explorer and since I use Google's Chrome, I wasn't immediately aware they were in fact clandestinely installed, without my knowledge (or permission). It was only after careful scrutiny, when I ran the free utility AdwCleaner, that I realized the registry had been altered and there were components added to my system that I neither requested nor desired. AdwCleaner is a good utility, but it, like Combofix, another good free malware cleaner, requires interaction on the part of the user. If you are not comfortable making decisions about what should or should not be deleted, get outside help from a tech-savvy friend or perhaps find different utilities to clean your system. Although technically I wasn't redirected to another site, I was still redirected to install a rogue application. Only recently have I been made aware of similar tactics on a site I've sent you, my readers to, many times in the past. Download.com, the large computer information site run by CNET, has fallen to letting malware attach itself to some of its downloads. It was usually safer to go to an author's site and download an application from its origin, but now they refer you to websites that are clearinghouses for downloadable programs and allow garbage to be piggy-backed onto their apps, for a price. Program authors and websites subsidize their (free) offerings by allowing these installers to be attached to their programs. They earn a fee each time one is downloaded. I've said this before, but allow me to reiterate: There are no free programs. In the past, I have encouraged my clients and readers to use download.com. Now all I can say is, caveat emptor. You are on your own guys. Be careful out there. MajorGeeks.com, is another site that offers downloads and computing advice. BleepingCompter.com is good for help, but has no programs. Be ever-vigilant while installing anything. Run a scan daily, and always after you install something to your computer. A virus checker looks mostly for viruses. It's best to (carefully) install one or more anti-malware utilities as well. You can only have one anti-virus app installed. More is not better in this case. You can however, use multiple anti-malware programs. Many work well in conjunction with one another since they either work differently or seek out different types of malware. By definition, malware is simply bad software. This encompasses adware, spyware, pop-ups, toolbars, hijackers, keyloggers, Trojans or anything else that you didn't ask to be put on your system. Aside from the apps I mentioned above, I recommend Malwarebytes (see malwarebytes.org). Even the free version is great, but for a few bucks, the paid version has a scheduler and is well worth the small investment. This, by the way, is a clean installation. They only try to get you to try the Pro version, but you can decline it. Nothing else is added. SuperAntiSpyware, with its superhero name, is a also good program. Again, they offer free and paid versions. Just remember, sometimes certain utilities ask you how you want to respond to an issue. If you are unsure, leave it alone. A change to the Windows registry cannot be undone. If you don't know what you are doing, my best advice is to refer to a professional. We techs have fixed more computers that users have attempted to repair on their own. Whether you click a link, install an application or sign up for a newsletter or sweepstakes, you are susceptible to malware installation on your computer. Watch what you agree to and what boxes are checked before you click, "Next." Then run a few scans just for good measure. Run updated, full scans daily for viruses and malware. Remember, if you only have a virus checker, download a good malware utility or two. Be careful even downloading it. Nothing is sacred anymore. I hate to say you can't trust anyone anymore — but you can't. Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.