Computer Consulting 101-TIPS

It seems when asked the question, "What is the program that I need most of all on my computer to stay safe?" it's really a no-brainer..


An off-site backup service like BackBlaze! This is the program your computer needs the moment it gets online. Why is an off-site backup service like BackBlaze so important? Because the moment you can answer 'yes' to the question, "do you have anything of importance on your computer worth more than the $50 per year cost of recovering it?


Of course you need antivirus but the days of paying for antivirus subscriptions each year you can opt for the free versions like Avast, which I use and recommend, or AVG which I have found to be a bit bloated and more intrusive with regards to pushing the professional products a little much, not to mention on more then one occasion after removing it for Avast and performing a full virus scan, Avast has found things that AVG missed.


Lose the Internet Explorer Browser. Well, not actually delete it, although since Windows 7 you can now turn off the internet explorer, but as I have learned, the moment you do this, if you ever use any other Microsoft product such as "office" then you are going to have many errors as a direct result of the disabling of the Internet Explorer, therefore my suggestion is to simply delete the shortcuts and program icons wherever you see them and install at least one internet explorer-based web browser. You may ask, "But why is it so important to not use the Internet Explorer?"  At the point of this writing (January 2012) My answer would be because there is still the majority of security problems, malware, spyware programs that are getting installed on any given computer, whenever the Internet Explorer is used, even opened... and that is because there are so many 'trial ware' sources out there, that will place a small pop up or 'toolbar' on the Internet Explorer when you first launch the program. This comes with every computer! Yes, the latest version of the Internet Explorer (version 9 as this is written) is 100 percent better than version 8, which was by far the worst!  The problem is on older Windows XP machines, you can only get to version 8 so you are actually better to stay with version 7! But now with the latest automatic roll up to the latest version, which means if you have the automatic updates turned on, on your XP machine, you will get version 8 automatically.. which you can then uninstall and roll back to version 7. But should you do this? Yes, absolutely, because unfortunately with the way Microsoft likes to deal with security versus performance, they seem to figure we all have quad-core (or better) processors and loads of memory that can handle all the additional processes this program uses. The fact is, we are trying to keep it simple here.. just move on, since you are going to be using Chrome anyway!


More on that later, but first..


What you need is an internet web browser that can act like it is the internet explorer without being the internet explorer and my choice for this is the AVANT BROWSER. This browser emulates the Internet Explorer exactly, which means when you visit a website, it thinks you are using the Internet Explorer which means it will display the same way. Therefore if you do get an error message while using it, such as a java update is necessary or an adobe reader update... this is pretty typical and yes, you should update these.


But I'll get in to optimizing stuff much later, first you need to start surfing the web and downloading a few programs to help keep your system working smoothly.. so you need the safest, fastest web browser out there (currently) and that would be the Google Chrome Browser.


It is more important to find the best web browser as it is your main tool while surfing the internet and right now, that would be the GOOGLE CHROME Web Browser.


This means that you should:
1: install Avant Browser and
2: install Chrome.


Why in that order? Because when you first install Avant and if you use the typical install method, it will prompt you if you want to make it the default web browser and you can say 'yes' to this.  This will then change all of the defaults away from the Internet Explorer and direct them to the Avant Browser (which by default, emulates the Internet Explorer but you can have it emulate others if you go in to the options-- no need to as you will be installing Chrome next).. and yes, time to install Chrome. Once installed, you will then go to it's options and make it the default browser. This changes some things, but others will still open in Avant, which would open with the Internet Explorer if you didn't have Avant installed, and the entire reason for installing Avant is so that you NEVER have to open the Internet Explorer... so then you ask, "but why is the Internet Explorer so bad?"

IE 9 Beta is out-should you care?

With the news feeds filled with the announcement of the Internet Explorer 9 beta being released publicly I figured it was also time I gave my two cents on this.

With Microsoft producing without a doubt, their best operating system, Windows 7 and providing the ability to disable the internet explorer (8), it does make wonder.  Also, what's the point when Google Chrome is doing so well, and has proven to be the current speedster of all browsers. Not to mention the integration of other Google products like Docs and Email now that plug-in support through extensions is now available.  Yes sure, I will install the new browser but certainly not the beta and only to be able to know what's what when it comes to what will certainly be malware issues due to this new browser. Why? Because no matter what the current status of which browser is best, the Internet Explorer 9 will start to ship with all new windows computers and that means it will always have the upper hand over the alternatives, even with the browser option window upon initial start up of your new system and that is only because the less knowledgable person will see the familiar IE icon and choose this.  I can only hope Microsoft has learned from its mistakes in the past, but that being said, it shouldn't mean the end user isn't given the choice. My continued problem with the Internet Explorer with the current status within Windows 7 when you do have it disabled, is many programs have been written to launch the Internet Explorer for such things like registering the product once you have it installed, instead of writing the code to launch the 'default browser'.  I first came across this problem when a client was installing Simply Accounting and upon the last step of the setup, the program would crash with an error code that was unknown, even from Simply support. By re-enabling the Internet Explorer, the program would install successfully and sure enough, the Internet Explorer would launch and direct the end user to the registration and activation page.  If the Internet Explorer, version 9 is going to be a winner, it is going to have to be completely self functioning like other third party browsers and since the creator is Microsoft, you can be sure this will never be the case.  I have, for years, promoted the Avant Browser which is ultimately unheard of in the browser community but the simple truth be told, this browser emulates the Internet Explorer to a Tee and for this reason alone, it is a great alternative browser, especially if you currently use Chrome or Firefox as your main browser.

I guess if you wish to give the new IE 9 a try, my suggestion would be to stay away, far far away, from giving the beta a try and leave that for the "experts".. those that know just how to completely remove all knowledge that this beta ever existed on your machine, especially when the final public release comes out. Over the years of dealing with most Microsoft product betas, I am well aware of their track record in this department and know of many third party companies that have done very well for themselves as a direct result of providing 'registry cleaning/removal' products for this exact issue.  

So, if you are one that is thinking of giving the new Internet Explorer 9 beta a try, do yourself a favour and download Google Chrome instead and head on over to the Chrome Extensions and Themes if you want to have some fun. At least you won't be sorry you did! 

Maximize that window and stop complaining about the browser!

I am constantly promoting any software I find useful as well, I will also add any program that I find to be 'safer' then what is typically used on the windows operating system. This being said, it is no doubt that most people that read this are also aware of the constant and ongoing windows updates that typically get done automatically if you have set your computer up in that manner. These updates also include any security patches that deal with the Internet Explorer web browser and for that reason alone, I have convinced many people to give another browser a try. In this case I typically suggest AVANT BROWSER which is something I have found to be a treat when it comes to safe, fast and secure issues.

The problem I am faced with when someone complains however, that 'they want to go back to internet explorer" isn't the fact that they can't go back, as the internet explorer is never really removed from your system, simply I have made it not apparent by the use of icons. If you click on the START menu and ALL PROGRAMS, you will still find the Internet Explorer there to use. It is at this point that I should bring up the fact that about 80% of the bugs that I am seeing these days are of a direct result of the web browser itself. Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on the browser as much as the 'plug ins' that end up being installed. This would be anything from the google toolbar, to MSN or Yahoo's toolbars, to the bad ones like 'my search' and 'hotbar'. The bottom line is if over 60% of the world is using windows then that would mean they are probably using the default browser which is Internet Explorer and for that one reason alone, the hackers have their time with that browser. If you have done some testing of other browsers, such as Mozilla's for example, you would find them probably second place, and now, they too are being plagued with security issues. Why do you think MAC users don't seem to complain as much? Simply because of the demand. There are so few users of the MAC, compared to Windows that the viruses are there, just not as prevalent.

So getting back to the browser issues, it would seem the problem isn't really that Avant Browser is the problem, it is usually that it isn't set up the same way as the internet explorer, or on occasion, something doesn't open the way it would with Internet explorer and for that reason you want to give up and go back... Whereas when asked why you want to go back to the Internet Explorer, I find the answers are very similar and usually end up being because of the 'tabbed windows' and that the windows that are opening are either opening 'behind' the current window therefore you are not seeing it, the pop up blocker is on, and you did not see the blocked URL pop up that appears for a few seconds in the bottom right corner (this feature may have been turned off completely from within the options), but from all of these problems, I see the solution as simply MAXIMIZING your window. I don't know how many times I have watched as the person goes to their favorite game site and begins to go through the log in and room location and game table only to end up with three or more windows open, all of which are not maximized and then, the one that you do want to use, you can't type anything at the bottom because there is no scrolling within that window. You can usually thank the webmaster that created the pages, using some sort of java applet that opens to a certain pixel size which, depending on your current screen resolution, may appear off the bottom of the page, or far too small to enjoy.

Say hello to the 'FULL SCREEN' or the 'FULL DESKTOP' modes using the F11 or F12 key on the keyboard or from the available toolbar icon which is also something you can use within Internet Explorer. The biggest difference I see within AVANT however, is because of the tabbed windows and the fact that you can have multiple windows open, this is overlooked and, once it is understood, it is truly amazing and delightful to see the smiles when this is understood. All of a sudden the Avant Browser becomes their best friend again...

This is one more reason why I have always said you should go in to the OPTIONS of the program you are using, not necessarily to change anything, but to see what it is you can do with the program itself. There are many times when I will be seeing certain programs for the first time and are immediately expected to know what the problems are. I will first visit the options of the program to see what it is I can change and to see what settings are set as the 'default' or 'factory standard'. In most cases, you can even RESET TO DEFAULT SETTINGS which will bring everything back to the way it was when you first installed it.

I say stop complaining about the browser, because if you have ventured off and tried out the beta version of the IE7 you will quickly see how they have revamped everything to the point that you are starting from the beginning and if that is truly what you want to do, and learn all over again, then go for it. Typically when I do install the Avant Browser on a clients computer, I will set it up so that, other then the tabbed windows, things look pretty much the same as the Internet Explorer would and that is simply because I realize just how Alien things can look when you have never used a program before, but then again, it is simply a web browser people.. You should have a web address bar where you can enter the address, along with the back/forward buttons, the refresh button and probably the home key and other then that, what and how you set it up should be completely up to you. The advantages of the Avant Browser, as with most any other browser then the Internet Explorer is shear security from the fact you are not dealing with the program that most hackers are attempting to crack.

Just remember to MAXIMIZE your windows as you surf the net on whatever browser you choose, you will find a lot less stress when you can actually see ALL of the page.

As always tips like these can be found through my website's TIPS page and any software I mention can usually be found on the SOFTWARE/SUPPORT page.

Internet Explorer 11 is out for Windows 7-Should you use it? Of course not!

If you know me then you also know just how much I love the Internet Explorer web browser, it certainly gets a lot of my attention when it comes to posting items on this blog.

As it is now out and is part of the 'critical updates' found in the windows update, don't worry as it will be installed automatically in most cases, unless you have your windows updates turned off (probably not a good idea). The question is, should you use it?  Absolutely not! You should continue to use Chrome as your main web browser, and again, if you know me, then you should have the Avant Browser as your backup "internet explorer" browser, since it emulates the Internet Explorer exactly.  The thing is you still do require the Internet Explorer to be installed as it is (still) an integral part of the Windows operating system "internet" operating system. Even though you are not using it as a browser, some of the components of the product are used in the landscape of the windows connectivity to the internet (winsock for example) Therefore having it installed is only going to help with the overall security of when you surf the web on a windows machine.

Getting to the actual Internet Explorer and just why I am so against using it.. the security is quite obviously the first issue but there are so many other reasons. For example, when you first install and use it, you will notice the nice plain and simple look which has changed substantially from previous versions. This is because they are trying to take a page from Chrome in simplicity, but the real problem is they are missing the point in simplicity by doing away with some very basic and serious points, like the Status Bar! When you are browsing the web, having the ability to point at a link BEFORE clicking on it helps to determine if you really want to be clicking on it. Having this turned off by default it a click on a malicious site waiting to happen! The fact that the other menu bars are also turned off are fine except for the fact that any 'toolbar' that was installed as a result of malware already installed on your computer is still completely functioning even without the Menu and Favorites bar being selected to view within the browser, therefore you are actually better off having these selected to view so that you can see what other toolbars are enabled and installed (so that you can remove them using CCLEANER)

The Internet Explorer and the fact that you do not use it will result in less chance of installing malicious products, something I have pretty much tested from the amount of user computers I maintain, but not installing it will also leave your system more open to certain internet/network related security holes that Microsoft continues to patch on a weekly basis. This is why the Internet Explorer is considered a Critical Update and also why the XP Operating system is simply not safe enough to use on the internet these days, since IE9 is the last available version for XP. If you are still running XP then you should be getting yourself a new computer sooner rather than later!

As always, if you aren't sure about something just ask me and I will help in any way I can, hopefully making your time with technology a fun experience!

Internet Explorer--stop using it!

Since Internet Explorer version 6 I have said to my clients "stop using the Internet Explorer". I have purposely installed the AVANT Browser as it emulates the internet explorer but does not result in security issues when you use it. That being said Chrome is the browser of choice these days but there are still some websites that demand you use the Internet Explorer. YOU DON'T HAVE TO!  So long as you have a web browser that has the ability to emulate the Internet Explorer code.  As you can see from the most recent security issues even now, in Windows 10 as the Internet Explorer takes a back seat to the new Edge browser, it still can cause problems if not patched.

 

Gmail and the Avant Browser

It seems as of late, those that use the Avant browser are getting an error when they sign in to their GMAIL account, stating the following:

It looks like you have enabled Internet Explorer Compatibility View.

Gmail works best if you turn this off.  

Even though this is followed by two links, "find out how to do this" and "dismiss", I am of course getting numerous calls/email stating they can't do what it is asking of them from the instructions and this would be because you are not actually using the Internet Explorer but a web browser that emulates the Internet Explorer.  

So what's the solution?  Click on DISMISS and ignore it for starters, that's if you really want to use the Avant browser but what I suggest and have been suggesting for some time is to start using the Google Chrome browser as your main "default" browser and keeping the Avant browser as the backup for those occasions a website doesn't appear quite right within Chrome and/or the website states you must be using the Internet Explorer.  Since the Avant Browser is 100% compatible to the Internet Explorer, you DO NOT need to use the Internet Explorer but simply use Avant and all should appear fine.

It is always good to have a backup browser installed on your system and since the Internet Explorer can be disabled within Windows 7 (I typically do this), you should have a browser that does emulate this IE browser.

If you aren't sure how to make Chrome the default browser, you can follow these simple instructions.

Is it time to change web browsers?

I woke up this morning to one more story/report from zdnet regarding saying goodbye to Internet Explorer, but as I read continued to read this cute anecdote it ended up with the same results.. more discussion about Mozilla's Firefox as the alternative.

Now I have talked about this before, offering my opinion of a few others, and certainly promoted the change to something other then Internet Explorer what with all these problems that are very much because of the browser the user has been using. So I always give a new program a try and then use it for a while, either until I just don't like it, or until I feel it is not the program I would use and then get rid of it. This is no exception with Mozilla's Firefox browser version 1.0 I have tried a few earlier beta versions and didn't quite understand all the hoopla over the "tabbed browser" features, especially when most of the other browsers offer this. Sure I like the "open source" issue so that security should not be a problem since the guru programmers should always be able to work around security issues that do arise as this web browser becomes more popular.

Popularity seems to be the key and to get that popularity it appears the more that is written about it, the more likely you are to download it and try it out. That is, so long as you read the reviews and feel it is worth a try, Being a consultant, I believe it is part of my job to try out all the different versions of software available to do the same thing, such as web browsing, or email or instant messaging. In any case, I have now downloaded and installed Firefox 1.0 which I have used for all of about 30 minutes, I believe I have tricked it out to the best of my ability with what I am given..Knowing that there will be scads of "plug-ins" that I will eventually find and also install. Now to me, this is not what I call a browser I am going to like. Why? Because I like to have most of my features of what I use in browsing at my fingertips. Maybe this is because I have actually already been spoiled with AVANT BROWSER. I have been using it pretty much as my main browser for over a year. Why? Because I too do not like to have to fight the security issues within the Internet Explorer, but faithfully continue to keep it on my task launch bar for things like webpage updates. You see, I use Microsoft Front Page for that and since the websites I work on all have front page extensions, it is very easy to browse to the page, click on the EDIT icon and viola, front page opens and I am ready to make changes. Also the fact that I need to try and stay on top of the changes, I pretty much need to be fluent with all the changes and problems Internet Explorer has since that is still the most widely used web browser.

But I guess that is slowly changing with Mozilla? I'm not sure why, because to be honest, after playing with it in only a short period of time, I am already missing key features, like my "links" bar, tabbed browser functionality (yes firefox has it, but it isn't quite the same as you would find with Avant).

I am not sure by AVANT is not getting the publicity it deserves because from the way I see things, it packs a lot more punch then Mozilla's latest browser right out of the box. It too deals with internet security by simply updating whenever there is a new version available, which seems to be ever few weeks. To me, that is peace of mind, when you can start your browser and have it tell you that there is a new version available and you click "OK" and it takes you to the download site, installs and has you back up and running with the newest version within usually less then a minute. So what is so good about mozilla and why is AVANT not raising more eyebrows? I guess because people just aren't talking about it.. So here I am, talking about it.. Pushing what I believe is the best browser to date, being Avant Browser. Yeah sure, if you want to get away from Internet Explorer, I suggest trying another browser, but do give it a fair trial period. Just because I have played with Mozilla's for 30 minutes and don't like it as much, I am not going to just quite using it. I will continue to try it out for about a month before deciding whether or not I will keep it around as a likely replacement in the big scheme of things. If that is the case, I will need to be up to date on issues so that I can repair them when the time comes. After all, that is part of my job.. To make sure my clients computers are running at top performance and to educate those that are willing to listen to me on the do's and dont's of the internet.

With the added security features of the Internet Explorer and the pop up features, it has given the Internet Explorer more life but I still do not find any browser that compares to Avant. But then, don't take my word on it alone, you must give these new browsers a fair trial. If you do like Avant however, I might suggest passing the word around to your friends, much like what is happening with the rumor mill on Mozilla's firefox.

In closing, one item of interest was the slogan I read from Mozilla as I was downloading the firefox. It read "the fastest browser on earth". Funny.. Because that has been and still is, Avant Browsers claim to fame. I guess this isn't a registered trade mark slogan which means it is up to you to decide just which is the fastest browser on Earth.

Certain updates are very important, but which ones?

It goes without saying that when an update for a particular program is available, you probably should go and retrieve it, especially if it points this out when you first run the program. The reason I say this is because if the software is smart enough to recognize you are using an older version and the software has the ability to let you know this and even go as far as pointing you to where you retrieve the latest version then by all means, you should be doing this! That being said, windows itself has this built in feature, but does that mean you should be installing whatever they "recommend"? NO, by no means would I suggest you simply believe everything is necessary nor it is recommended. I say this because quite often there may be certain updates that are deemed 'critical' by Microsoft however this would seem only true if you had that certain piece of hardware that was requiring the software patch. A lot of the critical updates are directly related to the Internet Explorer and if you say "I'm not using the Internet explorer so I don't need this" then you may only be partly right. Since the Internet explorer web browser is one thing, but unfortunately windows xp relies on the 'explorer' part of the Internet explorer to handle pretty much any Internet related activity as it follows this 'path' through the various security functions of the operating system. To help make you understand this better. Take a look in the control panel and you will find the INTERNET OPTIONS relates back to the same place as if you were to click on TOOLS from within the Internet explorer and choose INTERNET OPTIONS. You will find that it is actually the very same place. Therefore no matter what web browser you use, even though it will have its own options, a lot of these will also depend on the INTERNET OPTIONS of the control panel itself. So if you are uncertain as to what exactly you should be installing, I always suggest you choose CUSTOM whenever you are prompted about something, no matter if it says "for experienced or advanced users", believe me when I say that you can choose CUSTOM option and the only difference is you will now be prompted more often, and, if you are uncertain as to what option you are supposed to choose, by simply clicking the enter button will automatically choose the software's default options, just as though you had chosen the 'recommended' installation, but the difference is now you will be seeing these specific prompts as to where the installation will be installed to (the program path) as well as quite possibly, the ability to choose exactly what features you want installed, which may save you a lot of time later on when you find that all of your settings have changed due to this program now becoming the 'default program'.

I recently blogged about the fact that maybe it is time to turn off the automatic windows update feature and go back to using a simple 'notify' so that you will see there are updates available but now you can choose if you really want to install them or not. Or, better still, if you are uncertain, a simple email to someone that is more qualified then you feel you are should be able to help you out (yes, I don't mind receiving email regarding this sort of thing if it is going to save you troubles down the road).

I personally use the AVANT Browser as my choice of web browsers and because it is not a Microsoft product, it is up to the program to let me know there is a newer version of the web browser available, and it does this by a prompt when you go to use the program. Thing is, if you select NO to not go and retrieve it, there is a good chance that you will never be prompted again, as in a lot of software, they are set to prompt only once on this and so if you select NO then that will be the last time you ever see this and now you are using an older web browser, which is certainly NOT recommended as with any browser updates/patches, they are a necessity to make sure your system does not become a sponge for spyware and other malware and possible trojan horse viruses. This is also the reason why I have created the SOFTWARE/SUPPORT page, so that you have the ability to go to one place to retrieve your updates, without finding you have installed the wrong items by clicking on the wrong file to download. As with most software programs, they will utilize some sort of 'sponsored' website to host the installation files and therefore you can quite often install not only the update you required, but some other 'free trial' software. Avoiding this sort of thing is key so if you know of a place where you can go and trust that you are only getting what you need, then take advantage of it, just like I suggest you take advantage of any other services your technical friends can help you with if you are uncertain!

Education on using the Correct Web Browser

A recent email I sent to a client with a very old computer running Windows XP (which had been upgraded from windows 98?..

....You probably noticed, as you were

currently using it, the reinstalled Avant Browser.. thank you first of

all for not going and opening the internet explorer browser which had

been removed and will be reinstalled with the correct version for your

computer.  The simple fact is, Google Chrome browser is by far, the

only browser to be using from now on, until some other browser even

comes close to it's power. Not to mention the safety/security of using

it and the fact that it automatically is always up to date.  This is

one of the biggest complaints I do have with the Avant browser, is not

only because it does a very good job of emulating the Internet

Explorer but it also is suseptible of the security problems that the

internet explorer has but is fixed by updates. Although later builds

of the avant browser now have the ability to notify you of when an

update is available but that too can be disabled and is normally what

happens...The reason I do keep the Avant browser installed is because

it emulates the internet explorer exactly but is more safe and will

not automatically launch all the malware/spyware applications that

will launch when you run the internet explorer, but also with windows

XP operating system, it can be used to safely install the windows

updates without the need to launch the internet explorer. The thing

is, the Google Chrome browser is the 'default' browser which should be

all you ever use. For about that last two months I have not once

witnessed the need to even launch the avant browser because every

website I have come across (as I ask my clients to simply send to me,

any url that doesn't open correctly and suggest to copy/paste that in

to avant browser address bar and try it there). for a while this was

the way to fix any website that didn't open or look right within

chrome, but this has not been an issue for at least 2 months now.. the

big thing people mention or 'complain' about is the fact that they are

so used to using the computer one certain way and then I come along

and say to use it a different way.. fact is I see just how many issues

are caused when the wrong programs are being used, not to mention the

inefficiencies since chrome opens a website so much faster and this

becomes a big problem on the older (slower) computers....

As you can see, I am still dealing with many computers under my own umbrella and it all starts with simple education of why using the right tool for the job makes it so much easier and this goes for something that is as simple as surfing the web!

K.I.S.(S)

Keep It Simple (Stupid)... something I try to remember every time I find myself questioning something I have to figure out my way through. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. These are things we know.. and so it should be no surprise that your computer will perform better when it doesn't have a bunch of programs running in the background, monitoring things, including over all performance.  Just using your computer and not worrying about the maintenance would be very nice and it can be made pretty simple, but there are a few things you are going to want to have installed. All of these I make mention of in an OPTIMIZING TIP, as well, as provide links in the SOFTWARE/SUPPORT section. Many of these programs are utilities to help clean out the unnecessary files, etc, etc.   

You have your choice of web browser to use while surfing the web and this is where you must start, at the beginning of your journey 'online'.  So stop using the Internet Explorer as the first step and you have probably eliminated 50 percent of the problem in the first place, or prevented.. however if you have already been using the Internet Explorer, as pretty much everyone has no choice since it is the only browser that initially comes with the Windows operating system.  Next, it would be keeping that browser up to date. Therefore when you get the prompt that there is an update available, it is usually a good idea to be getting that update.  I recommend the AVANT BROWSER as an alternative to the Internet Explorer for many reasons, but the main one is that it emulates the Internet Explorer from other websites, therefore if tech support asks what browser you are using, and you tell them AVANT BROWSER and you get the typical "Oh you have to be using the Internet Explorer".. you don't, because the website thinks you already are! It also has very useful features like creating your own account which then stores your bookmarks, as well as 'autofill' information (with multiple levels of security).  I always suggest having two browsers on your system (besides the Internet Explorer).  Currently Google Chrome would rank to be the fastest (and just look at how clean it looks, without the ability to bog it down with the plug-ins) and Firefox currently being the second most widely used browser world-wide. The only "problem" with Firefox is that pretty much everything will require a plug-in, but from a user point of view, that could be a good thing. Lets just say you should have some computer chops if you want to seriously utilize all the available Firefox plug-ins, but if you do, you can find yourself loving all the flexibility and efficiencies of a productive surfing experience.  Avant Browser however, is the only one to use if you hate having to re-enter your password information on the various websites because if you do use CCLEANER as I suggest you do (daily), then you will find yourself always entering username/password because CCLEANER wipes it clean but because you are logged in to your AVANT BROWSER account your auto fills are good to go.  True, Firefox has the 'master password' and other plug ins available, you still need to initially log in to this so it is yet another step to take. 

Next, you are dealing with the various web sites that want you to install the various 'plug-ins' in order to view the material. Here is where you will find, depending on the material of the website, in the case of an online banking institution, they are going to want to not only use the best possible method of security, but have a way to make sure the browser that is connected to (your account) is in fact, secure.In Canada, the CIBC website is promoting Trusteer Rapport. great, so how about installing yet another piece of software?  No thanks... why?  Here's why:

1:  Unfortunately the staff are only told to tell people to go and install it because it will make things safer, without really knowing what is going on.

2: This is NOT required to log in to your bank account so just how is it that I am making anything safer?  Think about it!

3:  When you have anything that is common, that is what will be attacked first, in any security threat, because any time you have something in common with MORE COMPUTERS the better it will be.. (you must always think negatively when dealing with security matters)

4: The fact that you install something means this is something either the website does not automatically implement, which may even question the level of security that website is providing, but when they all guarantee you from fraud, just how 'secure' does your browser need to be? It seems to me it is your account information that you want protected!   Any time you install a program in order to provide either a higher level of protection, or to 'optimize' the connection, you are adding another potential crash point or some may call it 'bottleneck' for disaster.

5: If you are using a good web browser, then this information should present itself within the browser, such as the level of security the web page has.  Installing another program that simply adds a pretty icon telling you it is safe or not shouldn't be the way you feel secure. Read #2 again as to the reason they are wanting you to install this software in the first place.

What you can always do, once you have completed your banking, is run CCLEANER, for example, which will ensure all data traces have been removed, but keeping it simple and choosing any number of available browsers other than the Internet Explorer, and staying away from unnecessary plug-ins is sure to help.  One interesting thing I quite often witness during a malware/spyware scan, is the amount of 'crap' that is actually found and then stored within a database for that program, which means you have nicely placed all the information you had hoped to protect, to one "Common" location for the malicious user to be able to use... one more reason to keep it simple.

Internet Explorer 8 is now available-but do you really want it?

Anyone that knows me will also know I am not a fan of the Internet Explorer web browser but if you have to have this browser running on your windows machine then I suggest you download it and install it. (Note: The new Windows 7 operating system gives you the opportunity to uninstall the IE browser as I mentioned in this previous post) Once you have it installed, it will automatically become the default browser. Once you have run it once and it sets itself up as the default, simply close it and open your normal web browser you use, which should be either the AVANT BROWSER, FIREFOX, or CHROME.

I am saying it is a good idea to install the latest IE8 simply because it is more secure than the older versions of the Internet Explorer. This is key, especially when some programs installed on your computer that utilize the internet, automatically open the internet explorer (ie.exe) and so, when this happens, you can rest easy knowing you are not opening the older, less-safe versions of the Internet Explorer.

I forgot to mention, this install of the IE8 browser is only available for Vista and Windows Server operating systems (right now). So if you are still running Windows XP you will have to hold on until the new Windows 7 O/S is released at which time you are going to want to get the upgrade since the new Windows 7 rocks!

Internet Explorer 9-Should you install it?-TIP

With most windows computers running the automatic windows updates will most likely come across the prompt that a critical update, Internet Explorer 9 wants to install. Should you click YES, why yes you should!
If you know me, you would also know that I have been an Internet Explorer hater for years...IE7 was ok, still had it's problems from the very solid version 6, but regardless of the version, it was because the IE comes with every computer and so the first thing you have to do to get "online" is to click on the Internet Explorer. No problem, you can then go and install CHROME and AVANT. Chrome being my first choice, quite simply because it is fast, safe and secure. It didn't get hacked at the recent conference. Avant is my Internet Explorer alternative. Quite simply, you need to have an IE based system installed if you don't want to use IE and this is because some websites will just not display and act correctly using Chrome. Maybe some day that will be different but for now, you are best to get IE 9 installed as it does place your windows system in to a more secured environment, although you will probably find yourself having to turn down the amount of security in some cases where you get too many annoying prompts. Note that most 'annoying' prompts are only annoying because you have not selected the option to 'not display' this anymore. There are many tips you will find the more computer-literate you become by the amount of time you spend on it. With IE 9, they have trimmed the fat and it does operate much more quickly. They have taken a note from the Chrome/simple interface and have removed most of the buttons. But then you are going to want to change your default search to Google, unless you have become a Bing person.. again, this is completely an individual preference. Once IE 9 is installed, if you don't plan on using it, be sure to open your normal web browser and confirm it is the default. Then I suggest starting IE9 at least once so that you can choose NO to making the default and de-select the option of warning you (one less annoying prompt for the next time you accidentally open IE). So as you can see, I am saying it is great to install, but I'm still not going to say to use it.. Chrome rules and that's all there is to it. If you are like me, you will also delete the IE icons to prevent any accidental clicking.

TROJAN HORSE VIRUS ON THE LOOSE

UPDATE-SOLVED: Ok so after messing around with things, it appears it is NOT the Avant Browser's problem but AVAST antivirus's latest update that screws things when you launch your Avant Browser. (I am still diagnosing WHY this is happening but you only want your computer to work right so read on for the instructions if you want to do it yourself or CONTACT ME if you want me to do it for you [existing clients that I have the ability to connect to directly].

To solve this yourself: first RIGHT CLICK on the Avast Icon on the systemtray and choose ABOUT AVAST and then click on the License Key and (copy/paste this  C90591623H1200A1113-RKNATNJP  )

Then, CLICK HERE to download the latest set of virus definitions. (Choose RUN or SAVE and then Run when download complete).

RESTART your computer after this is done. That should do it. Now, if you had the virus already remove the avant browser, you can reinstall it by DOWNLOADING IT HERE.

UPDATE: This is very new so please understand I am working on it now. It appears the problem is within either the Avant browser and/or the antivirus with which it recognizes the "IAS" or internal account of the avant browser. As you may or may not know, when you open your avant browser, it will automatically connect to your own account where your bookmarks and autofill are saved and if there is an error connecting to that server, in this case, it is trigering the antivirus as a trojan detected. Therefore the best solution at this time is to cancel whatever the antivirus tells you to do, restart your computer and DO NOT use the avant browser. Use the alternative web browser such as Google Chrome and/or Mozilla's Firefox. I do not nor ever, suggest using the Internet explorer in this case especially since the Avant Browser emulates the Internet explorer exactly, the problem may also show up if you try to use that browser.

As my phone is ringing off the hook, it appears there is a trojan horse virus on the loose and I suggest not opening any email or visiting websites you are unfamiliar with. It appears to be blocking access to your normal home page and if you do have a secondary web browser (such as mozilla firefox or google chrome) I suggest trying that.. Note for those that do use the AVANT BROWSER, this emulates identically to the Internet Explorer therefore as in most cases the Internet Explorer will always be the first thing to get hit, which means the AVANT BROWSER may work very similarly... if you haven't already contacted me on this, please do as I will add you to the ever growing list of computers to connect to and take a look. Note however, I can not connect to you if your computer is not connected to the internet, therefore if you are having troubles, I suggest choosing to power down your computer. Wait 30 seconds and then power it back up and do nothing more, do not try opening the internet web browser or checking email, simply leave it as is and call me ASAP.

Switching Back to Internet Explorer

It seems as of late, I am getting a handful of people asking me or telling me, that they have gone back to Internet Explorer. For one reason or another, it always seems to point to security. I say this because the main complaint that I hear are things like, "It blocks too much", and "it doesn't remember my passwords". The simple fact is that yes, it may block MORE then Internet Explorer and yes, it may not save your passwords, but that is because they have elected to make this a separate option available through a third party password manager system, which in my opinion is great, since now you have the ability to use a separate password manager program that does a very good job of keeping these things safe. As for the blocking too much, simply choose not to use the pop up blocker then! But to take a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle then place the pros and cons to each browser, I truly can not see any reason why you would go back, other then because you "just like the old fashioned way of doing things". Now I am not making slight of this, however, those that are stuck in time, should really think about their first experience with a computer and to where they are today. It isn't because of people like you! It is because of people with forward thinking that keep technology moving and the human thinker thinking. The simple fact is that Internet Explorer 7 is soon to be released to the public for real and not in beta form, but for those that have tried the beta form will tell you that IE7 is nothing like the internet explorer you are currently using. So to think you have long before you will be forced to change your ways, only makes sense to see what your options are. This is the number one reason why I have found and have stuck with Avant Browser, because it is completely interchangeable to the likings of each individual. You don't have to use the tabbed windows, you don't have to use the pop up blocker. As for security, heck, you can turn it off so that you are flying by the seat of your pants if you want to, just as you can in most computer programs, you have the ability to make adjustments, some programs more then others, but you should have some control to what it looks like. Did you even know you can skin Avant Browser?

I guess I shouldn't make this in to a plug for a different browser then what the title of this blog is about, but the simple fact at hand for now is that IE 7 has NOT been released other then in Beta form and for anyone that has used beta software before knows that the final thing typically is quite different in many ways. Yes, I am sure you will be able to make IE7 look and feel much like the old one as this is common for any Microsoft product to include the "classic" button somewhere within the options. Regardless of this, IE7 is not IE6 which is currently what peoples choice is to use, other then some other type of browser and simply because I happened to be using and promoting Avant isn't because I like the way it works personally as much as I see how much LESS problems from resulting trojan horse viruses that I end up cleaning out of my clients computers. It is quite laughable really, when I look at two clients which I might consider similar in internet/computer uses and the one with the forward thinking has always had fewer major bug problems then the one that is shall I say, afraid to change. Okay so if you are one of these people, shame on you! No, really I am kidding, of course you are allowed to think and do as you like, and that is the beauty of being able to change or make changes, to your own individual needs or.... Not! All I might say to you is don't be afraid! It is also you that is the eager one to use something that you have been using for a long time, only now you understand a specific feature of it and are totally in love with it. This is what I see when I simply make a change in the options, explaining things to that person and to see how they smile and can't believe "how much easier that is"... Yes, believe it or not, most changes that you see are not because the designers/engineer of the program wanted to be difficult and hard to get along with, but because of YOU, the user that tests the betas and as you use the program and send in your complaints or questions on how to do this or that. This is why you see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) at most website product manufacturers, because they are faced with so many.

For me, I guess I can only go by my own experiences and by that in which I see on a day to day basis with my "repairing" of problem computers. It is for this reason that I have a website that is virtually full of TIPS and SOFTWARE/SUPPORT that in some way will help you enjoy your computer usage time all that much more. Yes, I have admitted that I am a geek and, yes, it actually now feels good in admitting that. For years I would say "no, I'm not a geek, sure I love gadgets and technology, but that doesn't make me a geek does it?" We all have to be labeled with something and I guess that can be my curse just as it can be a gift. Because I only like to see people enjoy, excel, be entertained when using technology, I also like to see it being used by people of all ages. One thing I like to do is measure time and age with technology by either pointing to a device and going back to when it was first invented (or brought in to your own user experience for point in measuring then and now). For example, if you were asked a question that required you to do some research on it, what would be your first method of finding it? If you answer, to look it up in the encyclopedia, then odds are you probably don't use the computer all that much! And by this, I certainly am not trying to slight you again in any way, simply to point out that your brain automatically reaches for what it knows! To a child, ask them what an encyclopedia is, and they won't know that answer, because in most new parent homes, they won't have a set of encyclopedias for their children to grow up using for homework assignments, since the computer/laptop is showing up in virtually every room in the house through wireless home networking. Why shouldn't it be like this for all things in technology. Much like the hair dryer is in todays society, there are those that towel dry their hair even if there is a device that can do it for them, there will always be people that are quite content to stay using something they are familiar with. That is never going to be a fault that I would say of someone, but to not honestly weigh the pros to the cons when knowing that things have and will always be changing is simply not acceptable.

If you are a staunch IE6 user, good for you, but when IE7 comes out and has been out for say, 8 or 10 months and you have been using it, I will ask you read what I have said today in this blog and see where you see yourself on the geek scale!
1: you have gone back and continue to use ie 6, something you will do for as long as you can
2: you have accepted the new look and feel and are quite happy with the IE7
3: you have actually gone back to Avant Browser, now that you have had a chance to use IE7 and didn't know that you could actually go back to IE6 (at least until it is no longer functioning which will happen when you attempt to visit a website and it tells you that certain features are not visible or available without upgrading your browser)
4: you have switched to some other browser since you were frustrated with IE7 and knew that you didn't want to have to go back to Avant because you didn't like it either.
5. You have been using Avant Browser as your main browser because you like it, and have given IE7 a try and use it on occasion just like you did with IE6


If you find yourself wanting to switch back to something, in this case Internet Explorer, certainly do it and never feel bad doing it, if you have a reason, any reason whatsoever, that is your right. From those that use my computer services, this blog is also part of those services, where I hope to either give you the heads up on something to look out for, good or bad, when it comes to technology. The computer is only one part of technology albeit a key part, communication is what I consider the key to everything good!

Uninstalling the Internet Explorer in Windows 7, yes you can! (technical)

One of the biggest security problems within windows is the simple fact that the Internet Explorer is part of the windows operating system and it requires this to utilize the Internet (network)..that is, up until now. As reported through the LifeHacker Blog, you can now uninstall the Internet explorer, kind of, at least enough so that the miscellaneous programs you have installed have no way of ‘accidentally’ opening windows through some sort of script. This is a big step for Microsoft to make, but one that I see as a positive move in the right direction, just as I praise the new Windows 7 operating system. To date, I have had absolutely NO PROBLEMS whatsoever, with any installation of windows 7 and I have now installed it on a few laptops and desktop machines.

UPDATE: After posting, I proceeded to actually do this and recognized a glaring fact that I had not even allowed the IE 8 to install (even though it is supposedly version 8 already installed on windows 7) therefore if you are like me and have never actually clicked on the Internet explorer and allowed it to completely install in the first place, you may not witness what these instructions state. Also, note the LifeHacker Blog post does provide you with the IE8 uninstall link that actually explains the procedure. Since I do not have IE8 installed, what I am planning on doing is actually installing IE8 and then going through these steps in hopes that it will in fact disable any further scripts from opening in IE since the IE.exe file will be removed as explained in these instructions.

What I want for Christmas...

What I want for Christmas is: 


 -World Peace, but I'm pretty sure that will not happen as there is always someone pissed off at someone else unfortunately. 


 So keeping it closer to home, what I would like for Christmas is:


 -My clients to think of contacting me first, BEFORE they attempt to perform those updates and/or other installation that they are unsure of, or if they are thinking of buying a new piece of technology, whether it be a computer or phone or remote control.. contact me BEFORE spending any money. As a result of contacting me, I am going to not only give you my opinion but hopefully a number of options on where to get the best deal on whatever it is you are in the market for! This will hopefully prevent you from contacting me after the fact, all frustrated because you can't get the stupid thing to work correctly or wonder why it doesn't seem to install the way the sales person said it would. (this is a common problem when buying a new printer lately)


 -My clients to stop using the Avant Browser as their main web browser. Yes I know I am the one that pointed you in the direction of using it many years ago but that is my point here.. it is no longer the browser of choice. That would go to Google's Chrome browser. Why? For many reasons, but the main one is for the speed, security and the fact that it updates itself. Since this is the program you use to surf the web, it is important for the browser to always be up to date and that is by far the main reason why you shouldn't be using any other browser. The fact is the Avant browser emulates the Internet Explorer web browser which has been garbage pretty much after IE6.0 which was the last "good" release of that browser. But the web has changed a lot since then and now the only reason I do keep the Avant browser installed on my client computers is because it does emulate the internet explorer and therefore will be used on the odd occasion some other program on your computer calls for the Internet Explorer, as well as being the secondary browser in the odd scenario that Chrome doesn't appear to work for the website. This can happen if you visit a website that has not updated the code to work correctly with anything but the internet explorer (but this is something I have not had the need to worry about for over 2 months now so really don't see any need for you to be using it at all) 


 -My clients to stop worrying about the maintenance and simply using their device, leaving the technical updates and cleaning to me. -My clients to remember I am a key click away, so long as you are connected to the internet and if you need to contact me via telephone, to utilize my toll free number or text!

I think most of all, I want all that read my blog posts to have the best possible time you can at this 'festive' time of year, wishing you nothing but the best of health and happiness to you!

Internet Explorer 7 is now available-should you care? No!

As anyone that knows me or has read any of my previous blogs about the AVANT BROWSER then you will have no need to care nor wonder what IE7 is all about. Why? Because you can be better off not being another one of those statistics that get struck with every spyware/spam issue known to mankind. Oh okay so maybe I am being a little harsh about this. But seriously, think about the fact that every windows computer system comes with the Internet Explorer already installed so think about just how many people that means have to be 'trained' to NOT use this program! I have started to get many calls and emails regarding the fact that there is a new IE available and wondered if they should be worrying about it... to the point that even their Internet providers are sending out in there newsletters that it is available.

Let me make it perfectly clear.. the fact that everyone is mentioning this is because yes, if you are using the Internet Explorer then yes you will want to upgrade, but NO, by no means should you even worry about it if you aren't using it in the first place. Why? Because when you install this new version it does a number on the windows security, as in many ways, it sets everything back to "windows defaults' where the Internet Explorer becomes the default browser. Yes, of course you are given this option after you install it, just as you are given the option if you want to use the new phising filter which of course you should, but wait a minute, just what is this doing to the rest of the computer? Well folks, that is yet to be determined and as I mentioned initially in this blog.. why not wait and see, since you should be more then happy with the latest changes made in the Avant Browser which already has no issues with these security problems!

As always, you can get the latest version of the Avant Browser from my SOFTWARE/SUPPORT page.

Advantages of NOT using Internet Explorer

I have had a few people recently ask me why they should "switch" to Avant Browser and not continue just using the Internet Explorer. Since there are nothing but choices out there for each individual to use many different web browsers or for that matter, they can use more then one at a time if necessary. It means the answer should be more like why SHOULDN'T you use Avant Browser--since it is quite apparent by all the news on 'vulnerabilities' within the INTERNET EXPLORER

If you wish to learn more about the new features of the Avant Browser, you can from this link which you will quickly learn just how 'on top of it' these people are in fixing small issues, especially since the latest version 11 release. Unlike the Internet Explorer which will typically wait for the weekly windows updates that may be available, unless they deemed this problem to be severe in which case it will be placed as a 'critical update' and will begin the download/installation to your computer immediately upon recognizing your automatic update features. Now since Avant Browser is not a Microsoft product, it will not have this automatic feature but it does have the ability to notify you that there is a newer version available, but as I have found, this doesn't always notify you of the absolute latest version (I was using 11 build 8 and when I checked by clicking on the 'check for new version' , I was told there was a new version 'build 11' in which I immediately clicked YES that I wanted it and within 30 seconds, was up to date).. yes, it is that simple and well worth it as you can see the many updated and new features that this browser has for you. If you want to keep things simple you can, but I highly suggest checking the OPTIONS of this browser and then setting it up to your liking. The latest capabilities of saving your data online I find to be a wonderful feature as I am working at many different computers whereas I can simply log in and viola--all my bookmarks and settings are there!

Chrome as your default Browser

As many of you loyal followers of my work. That would be clients who, over the years has pretty much used whatever programs I suggest to use, including the Avant Browser as their default/main web browser, simply because we all know just how badly the Internet Explorer has been, not to mention riddled constantly with security problems. The Avant Browser is still my choice as the Internet Explorer (IE) replacement, since it emulates the Internet Explorer exactly. Whereas websites will think you are actually using the Internet Explorer as it loads the page the same way. 

You should be now using the Google Chrome browser as your main/default source for web browsing, for many reasons. The first being security. It is the only browser that was not cracked at the recent hackers convention (IE was first).  Other reasons to use Chrome as your main browser would be because it provides built in .pdf support, flash support and automatically updates to the latest version each time there is a new release. Note the Avant browser is now providing this ability by notifying you which is great, and they have  added  download manager/sandbox support which is great too, but I am still finding after updating of the Avant browser, certain settings within your profile are not being saved and/or certain settings are being returned to the default status, causing a number of people to question what the heck is going on and because this is typically something I would connect and correct for you, I am trying to limit the need to connect each and every time there is a new browser update which is quite often if the browser people are on top of the security issues, which they typically are.

If you haven't made the switch as of yet and aren't sure how to proceed in doing so, simply contact me and I'll point you in the right direction, I hope, as I believe I haven't steered you wrong yet if you are still one of my loyal followers!

TIP-Windows 7 first things to do

As today marks the beginning of the new Windows 7 era there will be many TIPS and tricks I am sure I will be posting. I figured I would start by a no-brainer and that is to turn off the Internet Explorer. Of course you will first want to download two other browsers. Why two? Because you always want to have a back up in case a certain page will not load or looks strange, you can always check it on a different browser. My personal choices would be the Avant Browser as well as the Google Chrome browser as it currently ranks as the fastest browser-great for researching. With all the features of "autofill" and "saved information in your account" that the Avant Browser offers as well as being 100percent "internet explorer emulation compliant" there is no need to have the Internet Explorer and now you have that ability--to turn it off. Go to the control panel and click on PROGRAMS AND FEATURES and then from the top left menu click on "TURN WINDOWS FEATURES ON OR OFF" and from the list, de-select the Internet Explorer and agree to the prompt that you are aware certain programs may not function correctly...

While you are at it, you might want to turn on STICKY NOTES and you do this by confirming the TABLET PC COMPONENTS is checked then download the gadget here.

UPDATE: The above link actually installs the original 'vista gadget' however to use the newer Windows 7 Sticky key the first time read on!

Not only does the windows feature have to be turned on as I learn from the windows help:

What happened to Sticky Notes?

The Sticky Notes program and the Sticky Notes gadget that were available in previous versions of Windows have been replaced in this version. If you used either Sticky Notes or the Sticky Notes gadget in a previous version of Windows and have upgraded your computer, any notes that you had (either ink or text) should be available in the new version of Sticky Notes.

This version of Sticky Notes doesn’t support voice notes. Voice notes created with the previous version of Sticky Notes are saved in the C:\Users\your user name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Sticky Notes folder, where C is the drive that Windows is installed on.

By entering "sticky notes' in the search and clicking on the available 'click to open sticky notes' it was really that simple!

Remember with Windows 7 the first thing and what you will eventually learn is the most thing you will be doing is using the 'start menu button (or windows key) and typing whatever it is you are wanting to use and you will immediately get a list of things as you type. The more you use this the quicker you will learn that you do not need to know where everything is!