Website Security Question

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Jacklyn Matts > Subject: Re: website security question > Date: August 27, 2012 1:41:49 PM EDT > Cc: Hunter Greene > > A few other options. > > Some vendors may support programs offered by the card issuer, but you will certainly find many sites that don’t. > > Verified by Visa -> https://usa.visa.com/personal/security/vbv/index.jsp > MasterCard SecureCode -> http://www.mastercard.us/securecode.html > > Also, you might check to see if your bank offers disposable credit card numbers. These are single use credit card numbers that link to your account, but will be approved only once. If your bank offers something like this, it’s a good way to keep yourself safe when using new vendors. It’s not necessary, however, for places like Amazon that have a well established reputation. > > Bank of America ShopSafe service -> http://www.bankofamerica.com/privacy/index.cfm?template=learn_about_shopsafe > Article about disposable CC numbers in general -> http://lifehacker.com/5831160/use-virtual-credit-card-numbers-to-shop-safely-online-keeping-in-mind-the-downsides > > The article also brings up my final point, which is that no amount of precaution will keep you 100% safe, either online or at a physical location. Unless you’ve traced the breach of your card’s security to an online vendor, it’s just as likely that it was stolen using a card skimmer, which can be designed to fit over an ATM without attracting attention or carried unnoticed in the hand of a waiter. > > -Jackie >

System Optimizations, Windows

Hi Georgia -

Our office is closed this week, so we will be unable to help you in person.

Here is some information to get you started should you want to tackle part of the repair on your own.

*****

The first thing to do is to uninstall any programs that aren’t needed any longer. You can do so by accessing the ‘Add/Remove Programs’ control panel (start->settings->control panel). Go through the list and uninstall anything you recognize as not needing. Also remove any security software (AVG, Norton, McAfee, Avast, Windows Defender, ClamAV, etc).

The second thing to do would be to download and run this program:

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

It’s called CCleaner, and it can automate some of the cleanup process. You should run both the Cleaner and Registry options on the left – allow CCleaner to fix, delete or repair anything it wants.

After that, run Defraggler, also made by the same company:

http://www.piriform.com/defraggler

After that, check to see if the system has improved at all.

And finally, reinstall your security software. I recommend this program:

http://microsoft.com/security_essentials

It’s free from Microsoft and works very well.

Then run a ‘Full’ Security Essentials scan & allow it to clean up whatever it finds.

Lastly, install all pending Windows Updates (For both Windows XP & 7, a shortcut to access ‘Windows Updates’ is in the Start Menu under Programs).

The above procedure should take the computer 2-4 hours, perhaps longer if there are many Windows Updates pending. If the system does not appear to be any better, it’s possible a complete reinstall of Windows may be in order (sometimes trying to clean a system does not work & starting over is the only solution).

Lastly, it’s possible your system is suffering from a hardware malfunction, especially a failing hard drive. A failing drive will cause unpredictable behavior – poor performance, instability, random crashes. It’s also a very common problem, especially for a laptop.

Regarding your Apple devices. Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed (http://itunes.com). If any of the devices are running iOS 5.01 or newer (you can checking in Settings->General->About), you can update the devices without a computer (from Settings-General->Software Update). The update process can take a long time and partially depends on the speed of your internet connection. On a slow DSL connection, it could take 2-3 hours just to download the software update for a single device.

Good luck.

hunter greene Brainspiral Technologies, Inc.

Need some help, moving from Apple Mail to Outlook

Hi Jayne -

Funny, because I hate Outlook and have switched dozens of people to Mail because of all the problems they have had with Outlook.

1) Not a problem.

Open Apple Address Book. Click ‘All Contacts’ on the left. Then go to the File menu, then Export, then Export vCard. Select a location to save the backup contacts file. The Desktop is fine.

Quit Address Book.

Open Outlook.

If you saved the contacts backup to the Desktop, minimize Outlook (Yellow button in the upper-left hand corner), then drag the backup file to the “O” Outlook icon on your Dock. The contacts will all be imported.

2) Not a problem. Open Mail. From the Mail menu, select Preferences. On the ‘General’ tab, set the ‘Default Mail Reader’ to Outlook. Close the preferences.

Let me know if you have any problems.

hunter

On Aug 6, 2012, at 9:05 AM, Jayne Ryan wrote:

> Hunter, > > Just left vm for you–I’ve been using Apple Mail as Outlook didn’t work properly, but just this morning Apple Mail won’t send or receive so I checked Outlook. Outlook has now upgraded and fixed the bug that existed. I would prefer to use Outlook so I set it up and it’s working except that I need to: > > (1) Transfer my contact/address book to Outlook so I don’t have to re-type all of them. > (2) Change default so that when I click on Link (such as to you right now) it defaults to Outlook send rather than Apple Mail send. Because I am having problems with Apple Mail I had to cut and paste this message from the default of Apple Mail to Outlook, a big pain! But I’m willing to do it until the default can be re-set. > > Hope you understand my issues, glad to discuss by phone and will certainly bring the Mac to you, wherever and whenever. No need for a house call on this I presume! > > Many thanks, > > Jayne