Tech Republic has a blog entry 10 things you should know about Internet Explorer 7 Security

With IE7 now available and soon (or already) being pushed as an automatic update, I recommend reading this.

There are a lot of news articles about flaws that still exist in IE7 — but few are pointing out that IE6 has a LOT more flaws and that shifting to IE7 can be a big boost to your computer’s security.

For example, some Active-X programs (a.k.a. controls) will NOT run automatically now. They’re disabled by the Active-X Opt-in function.

Get ready. Read the article and learn why IE7’s security is better than IE6’s.

Getting a new computer, or your first computer, is not like getting a toaster. You have to decide among many options and buy for the future. Computer For Christmas

A new computer is more like a new car — you need the “dealer prep” (which you can do) before you ever take it out for a spin on the Internet…

Buy the computer. Set it up. Make your recovery CDs. Get your firewall, your antivirus, your antispyware all operational. Then, surf the Internet or do email.

Read more at
Computer For Christmas and in the
Computer For Christmas BLOG

Why Run an Anti-Spyware/Anti-Adware Program?

I believe that all computer users should have an anti-spyware/anti-adware program that runs all the time. Periodic scans are not a precaution — they are an attempt to identify a problem after it already exists and then to try to cure it!

Prevention is the key. Why let your computer get infected and then try to clean it? An always-running program can prevent many spyware/adware infections from occurring. We should also have deep-scanning programs, that run on a schedule, to find anything that might have gotten through the blocking efforts.

CounterSpy is my personal choice for both always-running prevention and periodic scanning for adware and spyware.

Until October 31, 2006 at Midnight (Eastern Standard Time — U.S. East Coast), you can buy CounterSpy for only $13.13 — if you use coupon code HALLOWEEN at the time of purchase.

Mitch Keeler has a new article suggesting Firefox extensions called “Top 12 Firefox Extensions for Regular Folks”

These look interesting, but I have to admit that I’m not using any of these — I did use StumbleUpon for a while, but haven’t reinstalled it after having to install a new hard drive.

Most of the extensions that I use are focused on web development. The exceptions are OpenBook (an improved Bookmark Manager for Firefox) and Image Zoom, which does just what it says.

Of course, you can zoom text in Firefox by holding the Control key and rolling your mouse’s scroll button.

I found a site with some good tweaks for Firefox 2.0.

You’re probably familiar the concept of “Extensions” for Firefox — these are small programs that you can download to add features to Firefox. As of Firefox 2.0, Extensions have a new name — “Add-ons.”

But, I’m not talking about extensions or add-ons now..

Firefox also has a huge number of configurable parameters…

Read more in my blog entry Firefox 2.0 Tweaks at www.PCRepairSite.info.

Terry”s Computer Tips newsletters October 22nd

My weekly email and on-line newsletters are now available:

• free weekly Terry”s Computer Tips email newsletter
• weekly on-line Terry”s Computer Tips newsletter

This week’s online articles include:

*   Buy a Windows XP Computer or Wait for Vista?

*   Updates Last Week discusses updates from Microsoft and other software publishers whom I track

*   It’s A Scary Thought…

*   A Free Firewall Alternative

*   Receiving Duplicate Email Copies

*   My Computer Security Software Recommendations updated.

*   A Command Shell Replacement

If you subscribe to the email newsletter now, you will get instructions on how to request automatic copies of the two most recent issues.

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