The Conficker Working Group has produced a quick way to check if your Windows PC has a Conficker infection: the Conficker Eye Chart. It is simple and 100% free, no kidding.

If you do find or suspect you have been infected you can download a cleaning tool from Symantec. Download there tool HERE and visit the Symantec web site for more information.

Conficker (aka Downadup, Kido) is known to block access to over 100 anti-virus and security websites.

If you are blocked from loading the remote images in the first row of the top table above (AV/security sites) but not blocked from loading the remote images in the second row (websites of alternative operating systems) then your Windows PC may be infected by Conficker (or some other malicious software).

If you can see all six images in both rows of the top table, you are either not infected by Conficker, or you may be using a proxy server, in which case you will not be able to use this test to make an accurate determination, since Conficker will be unable to block you from viewing the AV/security sites.

If your Windows PC is not infected with Conficker you should see a result like this.

Click to Enlarge - Conficker Eye Chart

This is NOT the chart you need to test with. Visit the The Conficker Working Group to view the Conficker eye chart.

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By adding email notifications and a social networking news feed, Digsby is a single application that sits in your tray and provides you with all of your IM, email and social networking updates. With the recent addition of Facebook Chat and Twitter integration Digsby just keeps getting better.

Digsby also allows you to transfer files to anyone on your buddy list. Video and audio chat is available, but higher quality video and voice chat are coming soon. Here are some highlights of the many features that Digsby has to offer.

Click on the thumbnails for full size images.

Instant Messaging

At the heart of Digsby is its powerful integrated messaging features. With one program you can use all of your favorite IM services. With Digsby you can setup and access your AIM, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, Google Talk, Jabber, and Facebook Chat Accounts.

• Manage multiple conversations with tabbed conversation windows.
• Rename buddy names with an alias so you don’t have to remember that DragonSlayer89 is John.
• Send SMS messages to your friends cell phones directly from the IM window
• Check everyone’s status message in the info box.
• Log and search conversation history
• MUCH more.

MULTIPLE IM's - Click to see a larger image

Email

If you are like me you have multiple email accounts. Digsby allows you to manage and monitor them all from one place. Setting up your email accounts in Digsby in incredibly easy.

• Manage your Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, AOL/AIM Mail, IMAP, and POP accounts right from digsby.
• Get popup notifications when new email arrives. Clicking a popup takes you right to the message with auto-login into webmail accounts.
• The email InfoBox gives you a snapshot of your unread messages with just one click
• Perform actions such as “Mark as Read” or “Report Spam” right from the email InfoBox.
• Send emails to your friends right from the IM window. The email is sent directly from any account digsby is tracking for you.

EMAIL - Click to see a larger image

Social Networking

• Stay up to date with everything happening on your Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and LinkedIn accounts.
• Receive alerts of events such as new friend requests, messages, group invites, etc.
• The social network InfoBox gives you a real time NewsFeed of what your friends are up to. Everything from new photos, to status updates, to upcoming birthdays is just a click away.
• Set your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn status right from Digsby.

FACEBOOK - Click to see a larger image

TWITTER - Click to see a larger image

Notifications

Digsby will sit idle in your system try monitoring all of your IM, email and social networks. When there is an update Digsby with send a small pop-up to your screen. You can interact with the pop-up without opening Digsby so you can quickly respond to an IM or see a status update without leaving what you are working on.

POP-UP's - Click to see a larger image

Personalize

• Customize digsby with application skins to give it a personal look and feel.
• Change the way your conversations look with themes – everything from simple AIM-style windows to 3D conversation bubbles.
• Complete control over the layout of buddies on the buddy list. Change everything from buddy icon size to whether or not to show a snippet of their away message.
• Sort your buddy list how ever you want! You can organize buddies manually, by status, by service, by name or by log size to place those you communicate with most at the top. You can even choose a secondary sorting method.
• Customizable notification system lets you choose what events you want to be alerted about and how.

PERSONALIZE - Click to see a larger image

Give Digsby a try and I am sure you will also find it the best program to sit in your tray. Visit the Digsby web site to download.

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I was able to finally download the ISO last night, but was unable to get a product key. You can still burn the ISO to a DVD and run it for 30 days without a key, but with a key it will be good until August 2009.

For details on how to download the ISO and the most tricky part, obtain a product key. Read this article on the IT Managers Inbox web site.

I was able to obtain a key after about 35 minutes using this method.

One WARNING. BACKUP ALL OF YOUR MP3 FILES!

Microsoft Technet reports that the first 3 seconds of your MP3’s will become corrupted on your computer and any computer hooked up to your network. Be sure and read about this at the bottom of the article and download the appropriate hotfix and install it after you install Windows 7 beta.

For a really good article on how to install Windows 7 beta in a dual-boot mode with Windows Vista or Windows XP read this article on LifeHacker.

Remember this is a BETA version so some software and drivers may not work. I would not recommend anyone using this as their primary operating system at this time.

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Hopefully you presently have some sort of backup system. External hard drive, DVD backup or online solution. The worse thing you can do is bury your head in the sand and think that nothing bad will ever happen to your computer. By nature all computers and hard drives WILL eventually fail.

Backup solutions range from buying an external hard drive for under $100 to online backup. Mozy is a good online alternative and best of all they offer a 2 Gigabyte service for FREE. Should you need unlimited online backup space you can get a full MozyHome account for just $4.95 per month.

Mozy is easy to setup and use. Just log on to their web site and create and account. Download and install their software and select the files or directories you want backed up.

Other features include:

• Open/locked file support: Mozy will back up your documents whether they’re open or closed.
• 128-bit SSL encryption: The same technology used by banks secures your data during the backup process.
• 448-bit Blowfish encryption: Secures your files while in storage, providing peace of mind that your private data is safe from hackers.
• Automatic: Schedule the times to back up and MozyHome does the rest.
• New and changed file detection: MozyHome finds and saves the smallest changes.
• Backs up Outlook files: Disaster-proof email protection.
• Block-level incremental backup: After the initial backup, MozyHome only backs up files that have been added or changed, making subsequent backups lightning fast.

I currently use an external hard drive to backup my important data to. It is fast and convenient. What it is not is secure and protected. Portable hard drives can just up and walk away taking all of your important data with it. Plus what happens if it goes bad or becomes infected along with your computer? Not to mention if there were a fire or theft and both your computer and external backup were destroyed.

Experts agree that off-site backups are the best way to ensure your important files are protected. While I will continue to use my external hard drive backup solution, as extra insurance (free at that), I will use Mozy to store documents and files that can not be replaced.

MozyHome supports Windows 2000, XP, and Vista, and Mac OS X (10.4 and 10.5). For more information visit the Mozy web site.

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Microsoft will also add Microsoft Visio Professional 2007 design package, Microsoft Office Language Pack 2007 and Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade beginning September 8, 2008.

Software Specifications

Microsoft® Office Ultimate 2007 (USD$59.95): Perpetual license, which includes the following applications:

• Access® 2007
• Accounting Express 2008 *(see Obtaining Software below)
• Excel® 2007
• InfoPath® 2007
• Groove® 2007
• OneNote® 2007
• Outlook® 2007 with Business Contact Manager
• PowerPoint® 2007
• Publisher 2007
• Word 2007

Microsoft Office Visio Professional 2007 (USD$55.95): Perpetual license, which includes the following application:

• Visio® Professional 2007

Microsoft Office Language Pack 2007 (USD$9.95): Perpetual license for a single language pack, which includes the following application:

• Office Language Pack 2007

Windows Vista® Ultimate Upgrade (USD$64.95): Perpetual license, which includes the following application:

• Windows Vista® Ultimate Upgrade*

*You must be a licensed user of one of the following products to be eligible for purchase of Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade License.

Promotion Duration

This offer commences on July 1, 2008 and all purchases must be made via the Promotion web site by December 31, 2010 at which time the offer ends.

Promotion Eligibility

This offer is good only to eligible students who attend an educational institution geographically located in the United States. This offer is non-transferable. One of each product may be purchased per eligible student (but not required).

The following conditions serve to define student eligibility for the promotion:

1. .edu: Individual must possess a valid e-mail address at a U.S. educational institution which contains the domain suffix .edu; OR
Pre-Approved School List: Enrolled in a U.S. educational institution included on the pre-approved school list; OR
Submission of school enrollment: Submit verifiable school enrollment via the validation process; AND

2. Individual must be a student at a U.S. educational institution and must be actively enrolled in at least 0.5 course credit and be able to provide proof of enrollment upon request. Microsoft or an appointed vendor may contact you to verify that you are a current student. If documentation is not provided indicating that you are a current student, you will be liable to reimburse Microsoft for the difference between what you paid and the estimated retail price of the software.

Obtaining Software

Eligible students can obtain the software by downloading or ordering a disk from the official Promotion web site. The cost for ordering disk(s) is USD$13.00. Microsoft Office Language Pack 2007 is not available on disk.
*Business Contact Manager and Office Accounting Express requires a separate download. If ordering a disk, Business Contact Manager and Office Accounting Express are each included on separate disks.

For more information visit the Microsoft Ultimate Steal web site.

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Three Versions

IronKey USB thumb drives come in a variety of sizes from 1 GB to 8 GB. You can pick from three versions depending on your need.

• IronKey Basic is the core technology platform for the IronKey family of secure storage and authentication products.
• IronKey Personal is a revolutionary personal security device designed to protect your data, passwords and online identity on any computer.
• IronKey Enterprise is the world’s most secure hardware-encrypted USB flash drive. IronKey devices are easy to use, and there is no need to install software or drivers. You can remotely administer policies across thousands of IronKey devices with the IronKey Enterprise management service. With its embedded strong authentication capabilities, IronKey Enterprise is also a scalable platform for deploying innovative secure enterprise applications.

IronKey Basic

The world’s most secure flash drive

• IronKey Basic is an ultra-secure encrypted USB flash drive, ideal for military customers. FIPS 140-2 Validated.
• Always-on, hardware-based encryption protects all data written to the device
  Cryptochip manages encryption keys, password brute force attack defenses, and self-destruct
• Supports Windows Vista, XP, 2000 SP4, Macintosh OSX and Linux without installing drivers
• Industrial-grade SLC flash chips deliver long life along with high transfer rates
  Physically hardened metal casing is waterproof and tamper resistant
• Designed and assembled in the USA

IronKey Personal

Secure your files & protect your identity

• Safeguard all aspects of your digital life with IronKey Personal. Protect your files, encrypt your web surfing, and manage all your online passwords.
• Hardware-based encryption of up to 8GB of files on the IronKey
• Optional IronKey online services protect your web surfing with the portable Firefox web browser and Secure- Sessions service
• Store and protect your online pass- words with the Password Manager
• Top-grade flash memory chips deliver long life as well as the performance to run portable email, MP3 libraries, photo managers, and other applications

IronKey Enterprise

Remotely manage and enforce policies on IronKey flash drives

• Enforce policies and eliminate the risk of lost or stolen flash drives.
• Always-on hardware encryption with no software or drivers to install
• Remote centralized administration of IronKey drives
• Enforce your security policies such as password length and strength
• RSA SecurID ready
• Full cryptographic capabilities include embedded Public Key Infrastructure and digital certificates
• A high speed and reliable platform for virtual machines to carry your desktop operating system and applications

Visit the IronKey web site for more information.

Note: Amazon prices are lower than from IronKey’s web site.

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There are several options such as TinyVNC, but most require technical knowledge and can be difficult to setup. There has to be an easier way! There is, and it’s called CrossLoop. CrossLoop is free screen sharing software that is extremely easy to use and very secure.

It is Real Simple

Both computers must download and install the CrossLoop software from the CrossLoop web site. Once installed you tell the person you are trying to help to open the CrossLoop program and select the Host tab. They will then need to give you the access code that is generated for encryption and click the Connect button.

On your computer click on the Join tab and type in the access code you were given and click on the Connect button.

They will get a dialog box asking them if they want you to control their computer. Tell them to click on the YES button.

The first time you run CrossLoop you will need to click on the Unblock button unless it has already been installed and configured.

Now you are in control of their desktop and you can fix whatever problem they are having.

See, it IS that easy! CrossLoop has configuration options that will allow you to tweak the connection. You can also transfer files from one computer to another.

You will be asked to create a CrossLoop account, but this is not needed to use the software. CrossLoop has a marketplace when others offer their services.

For more information visit the CrossLoop web site. You will find a short animated video and a Getting Started Guide to help you.

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