April/May 2012 Newsletter

Happy Easter and Passover. I hope you are keeping fit and well.

Here’s a quick roundup of the latest computer news:

Security Warning for Hotmail & Yahoo Mail customers.

I’ve have about 6 customers in the last few weeks whose email accounts have been illegally accessed. I’ve received emails from people with a link, which when you click on it, takes you to either a virus download or pornography website. The sender doesn’t know that an email has been sent out in their name to their contacts, until they get response asking why they have sent this email out. It is particularly prevalent to Hotmail users, but Yahoo and in one case, Gmail, are susceptible too.

I don’t know how hackers manage to get into people’s email accounts, but the results can be devastating, particularly when someone clicks on a link, which then downloads a virus or malware into their computer.

So, what can you do to prevent this?

Firstly, if you receive an email from a Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail account, even from somebody you know, which tells you to click on a web link, or even just has the link with no other text, DO NOT DO IT. Check first with the sender to make sure they actually sent it to you. If they haven’t, just delete it from your inbox and your deleted items folders.

Secondly, if you are a Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail customer, change your log in password and security question (e.g. Mother’s maiden name) immediately, and try and do this once a month. I realise this is a pain, but prevention is better than cure.

Thirdly, make sure your anti virus is updated and it’s always wise to run a full manual scan regularly.

I only use and recommend NOD32 anti virus, as some of the free ones don’t offer full protection.

If you need any help or advice, please call or email me.

HTC Flyer

I have played this week with the new HTC Flyer tablet. It is the Android equivalent to the Apple Ipad. Its FANTASTIC, and the best bit is that it is half the price of the Ipad.

It has a 7” screen and come with either 16 or 32Gb memory, in either WiFi or 3G connection.

Now firstly I must say that my first choice is still the Ipad, but the HTC Flyer has some great additional features such as Flash support, so will display websites written in Flash properly, which the Ipad doesn’t. Also it has a stylus which is good for handwriting notes on the screen. It has a slot for SD memory cards, and because there is no ITunes, transferring music is simple drag and drop.

Access to the Internet is very fast and is really good for taking HD videos with excellent playback and sound quality.

They start from £219 from Amazon, for the 16Gb WiFi version, which is perfect for lite users, going up to £379 for the 64Gb 3G version, which can connect anywhere you can use a mobile phone, connecting to the cellular network, as well as WiFi.

If it’s of interest, click on this link to take you to the Amazon page where you can see all the available models. I like to read the customer reviews at the bottom, to hear what customers who have bought this, feel about it.

However, if you are thinking of buying a tablet, and you can afford the additional cost, you can’t beat the Ipad, for style, usability and the massive selection of Apps available. You pays yer money, you takes yer choice, as they say.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dcomputers&field-keywords=htc+flyer

Add if money’s tight, but you really want a tablet computer, the best value for money is this one, called Scroll Essential, which is only from £69.99. My father in law has one and it is remarkable for the price.

http://www.storageoptions.com/products/scroll/tablets/scroll-essential-7

Apple Virus Warning.

One of the reasons why people buy an Apple Mac is that are supposedly free from virus or malware threats. However, that is NOT 100% true. Although it is very rare for an Apple to get a virus, its NOT impossible.

This week, a new Trojan virus specifically designed to attach Macs has been discovered, and has infected over 500,000 Apple computers.

Click on this link to read the BBC news story about this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17623422

My best advice for Mac users would be to have good Anti Virus and Malware protection installed. As I said earlier, I only recommend NOD32, which has a Mac version available. Call me for any help or advice.

OMG!!! A Chocolate Printer!

You are NOT going to believe this. They have just brought out a printer that prints 3D chocolate images. OMG.

You will soon be able to create a design on your computer, and send it to a local supplier, who will then convert your drawing or message into real life, and print it out in CHOCOLATE. OMG! If you’re a chocky person, you’ve got to watch this video. I do luv choc! Yummy. Sorry to any diabetics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIFi8but3Vw

Spring Clean Time.

All computers, like cars, do need servicing to ensure they are running to their best ability, and are safe and secure. If you have found your computer is not running as well as it used to, or is just not as good as was, then it’s time for a spring clean and tune up. For a fixed fee, I can come and give your beloved PC a spring clean and tune up, to restore it to its former glory and make sure it is free from viruses, malware or other nasties. Please call or email to arrange a convenient time.

And Finally…….

So many people tell me they can’t view the 3D stereograms I put at the end of my newletters. Well here’s an easy one for beginners. Get your face close up to the screen and just stare in the middle of the picture, let your eyes relax, and eventually you should see it transform into a 3D image. In this example, see how many balls you can see. At first it appears there are 5, but when you look more intensely, that will change.

For new users only, email me back and tell me how many balls there are once it goes 3D. The winner wins an amazing prize, a litre of petrol!!

That’s it for now. Let me know if I can be of any help or assistance to you.

Best wishes

Henry