BRUCEB NEWS
Apple’s Unforced Error
Two weeks ago Apple announced that iPhones would begin scanning for photos involving sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Sounds like a good thing that makes the world a better place, doesn’t it? I’m sure Apple execs expected a burst of good will. Instead it...
CONFICKER PERSPECTIVE
The press coverage of the Conficker malware has caused some fear and created the teensiest bit of an overreaction. Here’s some common sense advice. You can use your computers on...
R.I.P. ENCARTA
Microsoft announced today that it is discontinuing its Encarta encyclopedia in all of its various incarnations. The DVDs will be off the market by June, existing subscriptions...
INTERNET SAFETY TIP
Here’s a tip in case you find yourself staring at a suspicious window. Most malware is installed on a computer these days by luring you to a poisoned web site that brings up a...
DANGEROUS TIMES
When our first child was a year old, we had a childproofing company come to our house and give us a presentation about the threats that might endanger our baby. By the time it...
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BREAKFAST WITH BRUCEB & MIKE COOK
On Friday morning, March 27, from 7:30-9:00am, join Mike Cook and me at the French Garden restaurant in Sebastopol for continental breakfast and some bits of wisdom about...
WINDOWS XP SLOWDOWNS
Why are our computers running so slowly? I began to notice it about six months ago. Everyone with a 3-5 year old Windows XP computer was complaining that their computers were...
NEVERENDING WIRELESS WOES
I have shared a bit of wisdom with many of you when we’ve talked about setting up 802.11 wireless networks: People who depend on wireless networks call me about connection...
WORD 2007 CRASH
Some random troubleshooting notes. I don’t know why Word 2007 got cranky. My poor computer is working hard these days as I load it up with programs and services, so maybe it was...
ACROBAT SECURITY UPDATES
Adobe has now released all of the updates to fix the security vulnerability reported last month. Here’s my original post about the need for these fixes. On my systems I had to...
THE HUNT FOR CONFICKER
Don’t miss the fascinating article in the New York Times today about the worldwide hunt for the authors of malicious software named “Conficker.” An extraordinary...
INTERNET EXPLORER 8
At 9am PDT on Thursday, March 19, Microsoft is scheduled to release Internet Explorer 8, with a number of new features and under-the-hood security improvements. I’ll let you know...
SENDING LARGE FILES WITH ACROBAT.COM
Adobe’s online service Acrobat.com has been available for almost a year as a place to store files and collaborate. I wrote some notes about it last summer. Now Adobe has...
BACKUPS – ONLINE BACKUPS
Previously:BACKUPS – INTRODUCTIONBACKUPS – DATA vs. DRIVE IMAGEBACKUPS – EXTERNAL HARD DRIVESBACKUPS – SOFTWARE FOR DATA BACKUPS There are dozens of services to help you back up...
ACROBAT SECURITY PATCHES
If your computer has Adobe Acrobat 9 or Acrobat Reader 9, you should have already installed an update to version 9.1, issued last week. Open the program and click on Help / About...