Today I was talked into trying Spotify instead of my usual Pandora.  If you don’t have a Spotify account, the only option is to sign in with Facebook.  I never do this, for a variety of reasons, but primarily because I want control over where I put what information.

I knew I could disconnect the Spotify App, so I signed up and quickly went to Facebook to disconnect it.  What I found was amazing.  I am VERY careful with my information and there were over 20 apps that had permission to access my Facebook account!

You Need to Review These Facebook Settings

Even if it’s just to know what’s there, you need to review these settings to make sure you know what’s out there.

Go into Account Settings

Facebook General Tab

Under the General Tab, click email and uncheck the “allow friends to include my email address in Download Your Information” unless you want your friends to have your email address in their archive.  Since they are your friends, it’s probably not a big deal, but I uncheck it anyway.

Linked Accounts:

I don’t have any linked accounts, but  from the Facebook Help Center,

Sounds super secure to me.

 Facebook Security Tab

Click through each of these and check your settings.  The one I found most interesting was the Active Sessions where it listed my iPhone and noted where it was.  You may be surprised to see where Facebook thinks you are logged in from.

Facebook Notifications Tab

The envelope with the number by it is the number of things Facebook is allowed to email you about.  As you can see from mine, They are not allowed to email me about much of anything, whereas my wife has a dedicated email account for all of the Facebook notifications she receives.  This is where you turn off all of those emails.

 Facebook App Settings

This is the one that really surprised me.   

I had over 20 applications listed here that had access to my account.  As I said before, I am very careful about where I put my data na dhow much access I allow, so to have 20 apps here was shocking.  If you don’t want the app to have access anymore you can simply click the x next to the edit link and it will disable access.  THIS WILL NOT REMOVE YOUR DATA FROM THE APP!, Yes, you read that correctly.  In the past, when you disabled a third party app, Facebook requested your information be removed from their database.  With the latest release of their TOS, that is no longer the case.  If you no longer wish them to have your information, you need to contact them directly and request it to be removed.

If you want the app to still be able to access your Facebook account, at least click on the edit link to see what it is accessing.  As you can see from Hootsuite below, it has pretty much full access to my account.  For apps like Hootsuite, I allow this because of the type of tool it is.  For apps like Yahoo! or Slate, they get no access and therefore have been removed.  You can click on the x to remove certain access as well.

 Facebook Ads

No matter how many times I change this setting, they keep moving it and defaulting it back to “on”.  This setting allows them to use your pictures in their ads to your friends.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t want them using any pictures of me to promote their crap to my friends.

That is all for Account Settings, but don’t forget to check your Facebook Privacy Settings as well.

Google is Skynet

Facebook is the Borg.

1. MSconfig was designed to be used only as a temporary debugging/troubleshooting tool. It was not meant to be used for long term solutions.
2. MSconfig does not show all startups anyway.
3. If you uninstall programs while they are being disabled with MSconfig, they will not be uninstall properly and you will have to resort to manual registry editing to properly get everything removed. MSconfig will leave orphan entries if/when installed software is uninstalled while under the control of MSconfig . When/if MSconfig is turned back to normal startup, it will give errors on boot due to those orphan entries.
4. MSconfig and Services:
1. If you uninstall programs while you have some of the programs services being controlled with MSconfig, the programs will not be uninstall properly and you will have to resort to manual registry editing to get everything properly removed.
2. When you uncheck a service in msconfig, you completely disable it. If you uncheck the wrong one, you may not be able to restart your computer.
3. It is safer to control services by using Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services (this runs services.msc).
5. You can lock malware items into your registry that you may not see anymore until some point in time where you switch back to Normal Startup mode and now you can cause total reinfection of your PC with the malware. You need to remove the malware not mask it.

If you still don’t understand why not to use MSconfig, see what Microsoft writes here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310560The key point is stated as such:

Computer get bogged down with unneeded applications, adware, cookies, and massive amounts of background processes.  These issues hinder PC performance, decrease productivity, and increase the amount of time spent dealing with IT problems.

1.  Kill Background Processes

Most programs that start automatically on computers are optional and usually unwanted by the user, which increases boot time. In addition, because these optional programs continue running in the background, they interfere with the ongoing performance of a computer. Lab testing showed that removing three resource-intensive startups decreased boot time by 41%. That’s equal to a 117 second improvement. Some mis-informed people will tell you to use a built-in utility called msconfig.  Please do not use MSconfig to control startup.  Look in the program for an option not to load when Windows starts and disable it this way.

2. Update

Software makers are constantly releasing new versions of a software you’ve already paid for. These updates can include enhanced features, and more importantly, patches against vulnerabilities. Microsoft, Adobe, Java, and others put out regular updates that contain bug fixes and help improve PC performance. In fact, vulnerabilities from using out-of-date software are one of the most common ways that malware infects a system. Software updates and patches often pop up automatically. Don’t put them off, and when possible, remember to manually check for updates.

3. Clean out the junk.

A computer can become cluttered with junk files, temp files, logs, and browser bloat very quickly. Junk like this can affect PC performance tremendously over time. This is especially true for computers using traditional hard drives (non-SSD). By committing to regular maintenance of your drives, you can save yourself from the hassle of a bogged-down system and the sluggish performance that accompanies it.

A great free utility is ccleaner.

4. Get Rid of unused programs

Programs take up space, and if they don’t serve a specific purpose, they are essentially dead weight. This is also true of browser toolbars, plugins, and extensions. Here too, having a clear sense of what is not necessary, and then removing those items, is a big step in improving PC performance.

5. Defrag

Unless you have already upgraded to a solid-state hard drive, defrag your disk regularly. On hard drives, as you save and delete files, the data gets placed in ”sectors” on the hard drive. This causes ‘fragmentation’ and can increase the time it takes for the computer to find the specific item you are looking for; defragmenting files on the disk will save your computer a great deal of time seeking what it needs.

A great free utility is defragler.

What will it cost to fix?

At the cost of today’s computers, if your needs are basic, many times it is cheaper to buy a new computer rather than fix the old one.  At CODE29 we offer free diagnostics and we will tell you if it’s worth fixing or not.

What will it cost to replace?

If your needs are fairly basic, hit up Costco or BestBuy and pickup a cheap HP.  They are a lot of bang for the buck.  If you have higher needs CODE29 can build you a custom PC that is faster than all your friends for about 1/2 the price.

New Stuff Coming:

Intel Ivy Bridge:  If you have some time, the  Ivy Bridge processors are coming out this summer which means the Sandy Bridge processors are going to drop in price.

Microsoft Windows 8: Microsoft will be releasing Windows 8.  The release date has yet to be confirmed but many believe it will be available in the Fall of 2012.   While the emphasis of the release is on tablet computers, there will be other benefits, including enhanced security and better remote access.  Consider that many new laptops and desktop computers purchased today may be upgradable to Microsoft Windows 8, they may not take full advantage of some of the new features of the new O/S.  Unless you are looking for a lot of frustration and headaches, please don’t do this.

Mountain Lion: Apple is expected to release a new operating system called Mountain Lion O/S later this Summer.  Also expect a new lineup of the Macbook Pro and possible upgrades to the  Mac Air.  Insiders suggest the new lineup of laptops will be thinner, lighter and have longer battery life.  As with Windows 8, unless you are looking for a lot of frustration and headaches, please don’t do this.

CODE29 can help you navigate through all of this technology stuff.  Give us a call or stop by the office.

858-461-7275.

A recent Harris Interactive online survey found that only 7 percent of respondents backed up their data on a daily basis, while 23 percent said they performed backups every month – those are scary statistics! For some technology users, such as those who only use their devices to checkout Facebook or surf the internet, consistent data backups may not be a big deal. But for those of us who rely on our technology for work, school, finance, pictures, etc., data loss would be a major upset in our lives. Depending on where you fall in the spectrum determines what type of data backup is right for you. Finding the right data backup solution is where things get tricky because there are a lot of options available.

There are so many ways to backup data. There is the fairly easy way which includes backing up data to an external hard drive, thumb drive, or CD (do people still backup to CDs?). The downfall to this method is that all hard drives, thumb drives and CDs will fail – it is not a matter of if they will fail but rather when they will fail. One way to counter this problem is to make multiple copies and store them in different locations in the hope that if one fails, the others will still be okay. This process can become cumbersome if it is not automated. Luckily, a good technology company will have the capacity to automatically backup your data every day and store it in multiple locations – yes, this is of course a shout-out to CODE29 who can provide this service.

Another way to backup data is to use the ‘cloud’. What is the ‘cloud’?  That is a question that would take many blogs to cover. But for now, the cloud is basically having your data stored on someone else’s server so you don’t have to concern yourself with the hardware aspects of storing data. The nice thing about the cloud is that you can access your data from any computer device, including your mobile phone or tablet computer. For non-business related stuff, this may be a great backup data option for you. The cloud provider options seem endless, but luckily, CODE29 can help you through the cloud provider maze since we are a partner with many, including but not limited to Mozy, iBackup, iDrive, Carbonite, SOS Online, etc.

A special note for businesses – There are numerous statistics around the idea that businesses that experience a major data loss go out of business within 1-2 years. I was able to find some reputable supporting statistics and a lot more scare tactic statistics on this topic but the general message is valid. Backup data storage and recovery are critical for businesses so it is important to consult with a trained professional to ensure your business has the appropriate backup disaster and recovery plan in place to ensure business continuity – and yes, that was another shout-out for CODE29 who loves consulting on this fun stuff!  We swing through the backup data jungle every day and we know the ropes (or vines if you will). I am inspired to type in the Tarzan call but I cannot figure out how to spell it!

If you are interested in learning more about the right data back solution for you or your business, please contact CODE29 Technology Repair for our upcoming FREE Back It Up Workshop.  As a result of attending this workshop, you will be equipped with the right information to ensure you do not suffer from data loss.

1. What is your RTO?
2. What is your RPO?
3. What is your budget?

RTO - Recovery Time Objective -How Quickly Can Your Business Recover?

Your Recovery Time Objective (RTO) is the maximum amount of time your systems can be out of commission — from when a disruption occurs to the moment your system is available again. Another way to think of this is “how long can you afford to be without your email, accounting, order entry, etc.?”

On-line Backup

Recovering data, applications and system files over an internet connection sounds easy enough, but it can be a painfully slow process.  You have to consider not only the download bandwidth of your own network connection, but the amount of bandwidth alloted by the company, Mozy Online, iBackup,iDrive, etc. that you use. Typically there is a very large pipe to back it up anda very small pipe to get it back.

RPO – Recovery Point Objective – How Much Data Can You Afford to Lose?

RPO is a measure of the maximum time period in which data mightbe lost if there is data loss, not a direct measure of how much data might be lost.  The RPO is expressed backward in time from the instant at which the failure occurs, and can be specified in seconds, minutes, hours, or days.  Once the RPO has been defined, it determines the minimum frequency with which backups must be made. This, along with the Recovery Time Objective, determines the optimal disaster recovery technologies and procedures.

• If your backup runs once per day and is taken off-site once per week, your RPO is 1 week.  You could conceivably lose 1 weeks worth of data.
• If your backup runs once per day and is replicated offsite once per day, your RPO is 48 hours.  You could conceivably lose 48 hours worth of data.
• If your backup runs every 15 minutes and is replicated offsite throughout the day, your RPO is 15 minutes plus replication time which depends on your internet speed.  This could be as low as 20 minutes total up to several hours if you have a slow connection.

RTO and the RPO have a very significant effect on the design of your Backup and Disaster Recovery Solution.

Budget – What Can You Afford?

How much money do you have available to protect your data and systems? You may want local and offsite, high availability, instant recovery, blah, blah, blah, until you see the price tag. The lower the RPO and RTO limits are, the higher the price.  You have to find a balance between your pain threshold and what you can afford.

We can help!

Call today for a Backup and Disaster Recovery evaluation and assessment.  Our engineers can help you with all of this.  For more information call 858-461-7275.

3.5 Seconds to shut down.

17.5 Seconds for BIOS and POST (Unfortunately I can’t make this faster with this motherboard.)

8.2 Seconds to boot Windows!

For $1,800 you too can have a PC that reboots in 29.2 seconds.

I hear that all the time, but it’s simply not true. According to an announcement yesterday from Dr. Web, there are over 600,000 Macs infected with the Flashback Trojan. The original variant posed as an Adobe Flash Installer (maybe Steve Jobs was right about “dirty flash“), the most recent targets a java vulnerability. The hole was patched by Oracle in February, but Apple didn’t send it our until earlier this week after news began to spread about the latest Flashback variant.

According to Dr. Web, the 57 percent of the infected Macs are located in the US and 20 percent are in Canada. Like older versions of the malware, the latest Flashback variant searches an infected Mac for a number of antivirus applications before generating a list of botnet control servers and beginning the process of checking in with them. Now that the fix for the Java vulnerability is out, however, there’s no excuse not to update—the malware installs itself after you visit a compromised or malicious webpage, so if you’re on the Internet, you’re potentially at risk.

If you think one of your machines may be infected, F-Secure has instructions on how to use the Terminal to find out. The below snipet shows a clean machine.

If you don’t want to do this yourself, bring it in to the shop and we’ll check and fix it for free.

Ughhhh! is right, to the inaccuracies and poor recommendations presented in this article. The worst part is that she has so over 15,000 folowers on Facebook. At as of the time of this writing there are over 7,000 Facebook likes, 350 tweets, 258 LinkedIn and 158 g+ (I guess we know where g+ really falls). With that large of an audience, please don’t do them the dis-service of spewing mis-information.

STEP 1: Back Up Documents, Photos and Videos.

Save your important data to an external drive BEFORE this happens! I agree, that if you haven’t done this, now is the best time, but seriously, Back the F:\ Up! Do this regularly. Here is a better article about backup.

STEP 2: Reboot in Safe Mode

Great advice, but the part where she says “Safe mode runs only the Windows operating system and a few key programs. It’s a way to limit any malware from launching.” and “Choose “Safe Mode with Networking” so that you can still get on the Internet.” is laughable. There are plenty of viruses and malware that run in Safe Mode with more coming every day. The whole point of these malware programs is to get on the Internet and pop up a window for you to enter your credit card. Why would you give them internet access? Boot into Safe Mode w/out networking!

STEP 3: Download Virus Scanner/Removal Tools

I can’t argue with the MalwareBytes, but the others, whatever. She didn’t mention the two most powerful and important tools rkill and combofix. Download these on a different computer, put them on a thumb drive and run them on the infected computer. Most of these viruses/malware will block the download of these programs so even if you are in safe mode with networking, you most likely won’t be able to download them anyway.

STEP 4: Run Virus Scanners

This is a no brainer. Good recommendation!

STEP 5: Reboot Normally

Best part of the whole article. Run all the scanners again. Then plug in your USB drive that has your life’s memories on it (from step 1) and run all the scanners again on that drive.

STEP 6: Add Security

Good advice to add security, but don’t waste your time with the free scanners. Spend the $35/year and get Eset. It’s the best out there. Of course nothing is 100%. The only thing that is 100% is to unplug from the Internet. Please, please, please, don’t use Symantec products. (Norton, Norton 360, Norton Internet Security, etc). That’s like hiring a security guard who’s blind and deaf with one leg. It’s slow, and it’s not going to catch anything.

If you need help removing a virus, call the shop at 858-461-7275 or come by for a free diagnostic.

2. Your PC runs on the Windows Millennium Edition operating software.

3. You still have your 9 digit CompuServe Email address.

4. The only social media site you are on is Friendster. You check it everyday, and you wonder why no one ever writes you back.

5. You still use “MySpace.”

6. Your latest tech purchase was a Casio B.O.S.S.

7. Your idea of “check-ins” is at the front desk of a hotel.

8. Your cell phone still has an antenna. It can do two things: make calls and turn on/off.

9. Anytime someone uses the phone at your place, you lose Internet connection.

10. You still have and actively use a fax machine.

11. Your computer still has a floppy disc drive, which you still actively use.

12. You have a rotary phone on your desk.