Security Solutions
Hi Leslie -
I presume the Norton notice you received was through email, as I do not believe the Norton software had been installed on your workstation. We have never been a big fan of Norton. Aside from the annual subscription, We have not seen Norton’s ability to keep a system secure to be any more effective than other security solutions like Microsft Security Essentials, AVG or TrendMicro. Furthermore, Norton is a big, clumsy, bloated program that tries to rule your life – storing passwords, scrutinizing the websites you visit, slowing down your system and often times, without cause of alarm, entering a ‘stealth’ mode that blocks all access to the internet. The best course of action is to make sure you are installing Windows Updates as they become available & allowing Microsoft Security Essentials to run its routine scans & updates.
To search documents, simply click on the Start Menu (bottom-left hand corner), and enter a phrase or name in the search box at the bottom of the box that opens. That search mechanism searches through all your files. It mostly works (I say ‘mostly’ because compared to Apple’s Spotlight functionality, it is pathetic). Many people actually prefer to use Google Desktop (http://googledesktop.blogspot.com/).
For backup, I would highly recommend an off-site solution, like this one:
You can back up your data to CrashPlan’s own systems or we maintain one ourself that many of our clients prefer to use.
Hope all is well and that you find this information useful.
Best,
hunter greene Brainspiral Technologies, Inc.
Virus?
Hi Nancy -
It doesn’t sound virus-like. Someone was probably just trying to ‘spoof’ your email address (use the address without your knowing it – easily and commonly done) – and you received all the left-overs from it. It has nothing to do with your computer.
To set IE as the default browser:
Open IE Go to Tools->Internet Options On the ‘Programs’ tab, make sure the checkbox next to ‘Tell me if IE is not the default web browser’ IS checked. Hit OK. Close IE Open IE When prompted to set IE as the default, select yes. That should do it.
Happy New Year
hunter
On Jan 6, 2012, at 7:43 AM, Nancy wrote:
> Good morning, Hunter, > > This morning I received a bunch of returned e-mails, saying that my message had been interrupted by spam protections. But these are messages that I don’t think I ever sent. > That makes me nervous and I wonder if I’ve been infected with some weird thing? > > Also apparently my default internet connection is Mozilla Firefox instead of my Windows Internet Explorer. Perhaps someone could check with me to see how to change it back to Explorer. > > Thanks, and Happy New Year. > Nancy > >
SPAM and Malware
Jacklyn Matts Brainspiral Technologies, Inc. jackie@brainspiral.com (413)770-3042
Begin forwarded message:
*From:* Peter Charbonneau
Over the last couple of days, there has been a concerted effort by spammers and malware providers to infect users thru Adobe email – well, fake Adobe email.
Two days ago, it was fake Adobe Reader updates. Yesterday it was “here is your new InDesign CS4 license key”. The key is in a zip file attachment.
A takeaway?
“Remember – computer security is not just about keeping your anti-virus software properly updated. It’s also about realising that companies are not in the habit of emailing you unsolicited attachments out of the blue.” **Sophos Naked Security 7 Dec 2011
PeteC
Peter Charbonneau Sr. Network and Systems Administrator Williams College (413) 597-3408 (office) (413) 822-2922 (cell) OIT will NEVER ask for your password!
New iPhone 4S Mischief
Hi Michele -
The behavior you describe makes it sound like battery was dead and the phone turned off. Are you sure that the phone was properly charging? Or can you confirm that the battery wasn’t dead or very weak?
Yes, it is possible there is a defect. Overcharging properly didn’t have anything to do with it (These new devices can’t overcharge. They just stop charging).
The water drops are part of your background image. The fact that they are still there is a good sign that nothing was lost in the reset process (not that you could lose anything – it’s all on your laptop anyway).
hunter
On Nov 1, 2011, at 4:25 PM, Michele wrote:
> Hi Hunter– > Something weird happened with my new iPhone today and I thought I better check in with you to see if this is any concern while I presume I am under warranty. (Or is it that my phones always have some strange voodoo?) > Anyway, this morning I was just changing a phone number for one of my contacts and the screen froze. Then the screen went black. In the center of the screen was the outline of that symbol that twirls when the device is receiving something, but it wasn’t twirling. I tried turning the phone on and off several times…no change. I then consulted the manual for my 3GS and it advised to reset. I held down the power button and the home button simultaneously for several seconds until I got the Apple symbol to appear on the screen. Then I was advised to reset all my general settings. I tried to do that but is there anything particularly important I should know about settings? Now the phone seems to be working fine. > > My questions: > 1) Did the fact this happened indicate any defect in the phone? > 2) Could it have been a result of overcharging (the phone had been plugged in for quite some time)? > 3) I was using my old charging cord (although it looks perfectly in tact). > 4) Also, when I open my screen it still has all those water marks/drops. Is that significant? > > Thanks, Hunter. I really don’t think this incident was human error.:-) > > Best–Michele > >
Time Warner Service Outage 10/26/2011
The skinny on Time Warner’s service outage this morning is still up in the air. The Bangor Daily News shed some light on it:
It’s hard to say exactly what happened, but many of Brainspiral’s clients were affected by the outage.
Time Warner is still a better alternative for phone and internet services over Verizon. We also prefer them for digital television services.
Kindle Touch & Tablets
Hi Sam -
The Kindle, Nook and iPad will all work with WiFi, so it will work in your house without any problem.
You only need WiFi or 3G to download books anyway. Once you have the books, you don’t need any access at all.
The Kindle is probably the most popular book reader while the iPad is definitely the most popular all-around tablet (outstanding for email, browsing the web, research).
Hope that helps -
hunter
On Oct 7, 2011, at 6:13 AM, Sam wrote:
> Hi Hunter: May I pick your e-brains for some info about Kindle? Dottie’s birthday is coming up and I want to give her one those devices as a present. I’ve looked at the ads for Kindle Touch which seems to be the best option, but the map the ad showed for E-G wireless availability blocks out parts of Williamstown. Is that true and Kindle wouldn’t work from our house? What would you advise? > Sam >
iPad Frozen
Hi Beth -
Probably tomorrow. But have you tried holding down both the power on/power off button at the top AND the home button simultaneously? It should force the iPad to reboot.
I have found that since many applications are not written particularly well, it helps to reboot the iPad from time to time (or at least close all the open apps – double click the home button, then tap and hold on any app from the list of apps that appears at the bottom, then click the little ‘x’ over each app to close it – Apps remain ‘open’ unless you reboot the iPad or specifically close them).
hunter
On Oct 1, 2011, at 8:53 AM, help@brainspiral.com wrote:
> a form has been submitted on October 1, 2011, via: /contact [IP 74.106.85.193] > Contact Us > Name beth > Email > Message Holy crap, Batman, my iPad is not cooperating (not powering off-spinning circle-Yikes!) AND I use it with my students everyday. When will you folks be in town? > powered by cformsII
Adding a Google Calendar to iCal in Mac OS X Lion 10.7
Hi Natasha -
That’s an easy one.
Open iCal
Go to iCal->Preferences
Click on the Account tab.
Click the + button at the bottom left to add a new account.
Select ‘Google’ as your Account Type and enter your Google username and password.
Hit Create.
That’s it.
If you want additional calendars to iCal that are currently linked to your Google Calendar, go back to iCal->Preferences. Click on Accounts. Go to the Delegation sub tab and check all the calendars you want to sync with iCal.
hunter
On Sep 24, 2011, at 7:00 PM, help@brainspiral.com wrote:
> a form has been submitted on September 24, 2011, via: /contact [IP 70.17.159.44] > Contact Us > Name Natasha > Email > Message Thanks Jackie for installing Lion! Does anyone know how to get iCal to coordinate with Google Calendar? I seem to be able to subscribe to Google Calendars, but then I can’t update them from iCal. Somehow I managed to connect one as a Google calendar in iCal, but I cannot for the life of me figure out how I did it. > powered by cformsII
iPad Question
Hi Chip -
The latest news is that the iPhone 5 *might* be out this fall. They normally release new iPhones in June, but because of other Apple releases (including their new operating system, Lion, and new computers) they wanted to wait.
Yes, the iPad is great. We’ve sold and set up dozens of them. That’s all I brought with me to Paris (and some clothes).
The 3G doesn’t have to be activated, but I would recommend getting a model with it. Verizon is definitely the best. All models come with WiFi.
The 32GB is fine. 64 is probably overkill.
I wouldn’t bother with the warranty either. Those devices (iPhone, iPod, iPad) only break when physically damaged (dropped, abused or liquid), and the warranty won’t cover them.
Currently you can only get the iPad online from Apple and a handful of resellers (like B&H Photo, over the phone). You can also buy them in Target (ironically).
I doubt Apple will release a new iPad for at least another year. They will undoubtedly release new software, but all devices will be compatible with the new software. New software offers new features.
Hope that helps.
Best,
hunter
On 30 Jul 2011, at 13:20, Chip Chandler wrote:
> Hi Hunter, > > We are thinking about getting our son an iPad 2 for his birthday. He has been pining for one for a couple of years, and I am considering getting the one with Verizon that is 3G, Wi-fi, and 32KB. The rationale is that he travels a lot on business and needs the 3G; Verizon has the best coverage; and he does not need 64 KB since he has a computer on which he will store much of his data. He just needs enough memory to store his music and any books or music he downloads. Are there any other factors we should be considering, like a new model that is about to come out, accessories we should consider, or the need for an Applecare contract? Here’s the link I have been using: http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad/select?mco=MjE0OTI0MDI > > Also, any more news on when the iPhone with international capability and Verizon configuration will be out? > > Best, > > Chip
Atop TV Sets, a Power Drain That Runs Nonstop
Energy consumption is wasteful, but our biggest issues with these boxes is that they generate a TON of heat. A Scientific Atlanta 8240HDC DVR generates more heat than a Russound C-Series whole house audio system. This makes installing the boxes difficult: they cannot be located in enclosed spaces without proper ventilation. Otherwise, they can damage themselves by overheating their chips or other electronics contained within the same space.
hunter
Begin forwarded message:
> From: blairprints@gmail.com > Date: June 29, 2011 10:26:52 AM EDT > To: hunter@brainspiral.com > Subject: NYTimes.com: Atop TV Sets, a Power Drain That Runs Nonstop > Reply-To: blairprints@gmail.com > > > > > > > This page was sent to you by: blairprints@gmail.com > > U.S. | June 26, 2011 > Atop TV Sets, a Power Drain That Runs Nonstop > By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL > Television cable boxes and DVRs have become the single-largest electricity drain in many American homes. > > > > > Copyright 2011 The New York Times Company | Privacy Policy >