E43TEESGUMZE

Local Internet Marketing

As more and more people search for local businesses, rather than major chains, there is clear potential to dramatically increase your business prospects. If you can build a stronger online presence than your other local competitors, you’ve won a major battle and can look forward to a profitable future as your business grows exponentially.

With more people moving towards local searches, you need to execute a targetd strategy for placing your business in front of actual “buyers” using an array of online marketing strategies, tactics and tools. Couple your online efforts with focused offline marketing methods and you have the potential to create a super lead funnel of targeted prospects for your business.

The internet is dominating the way that people find local businesses. Will they find yours?

You can spend hours and hours learning how to market your business online and then hours and hours more implementing what you’ve learned and hope that you got it right. Or you can let us do it all for you while you focus on running your business.

Trusted Computer and Network Support

When your computer, your server or your network is down, the last thing you want is voice mail when you call for help. If your not getting the level of service and respect that your business requires, try something better.

Brian Alaway
Brian Alaway Consulting
(813) 282-3567

Contact
Fast response and proven results GUARANTEED!
If I don’t take your call directly and call you back within 1 hour,
I will give you 1 hour of service at NO CHARGE, GUARANTEED!

E43TEESGUMZE

courtesy OnGuardOnline.gov

Some auction sites allow sellers to set a price at which a buyer
can purchase the item without competing with other bidders. A buyer can choose
to purchase the item for the price the seller has set, without bidding.

After the Auction: Arranging to Pay and Deliver Merchandise.
At the end of a successful auction, the buyer and seller communicate — usually by email — to
arrange for payment and delivery.

Phishing
Be aware of “phishing”: emails sent to you asking for your
password or other personal information that look like they’ve been sent by an
auction website or payment service. Usually, these emails are fishing for your
information and are coming from someone who wants to hack into your account. If
you get an email or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial
information, do not reply. And don’t click on the link in the message, either.
Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information via email. If you are
concerned about your account, contact the organization mentioned in the email
using a telephone number you know to be genuine, or open a new Internet browser
session and type in the company’s correct Web address yourself. In any case,
don’t cut and paste the link from the message into your Internet browser;
phishers often make links look like they go to one site, but actually send you
somewhere else.

Payment Options
Successful bidders can choose among many options to pay for an
item they have bought on an Internet auction — credit card, online payment
service (which often accepts credit card payments), debit card, personal check,
cashier’s check, money order, or escrow service. Sometimes, the seller limits
the types of payment accepted and posts that information in the auction listing.
Many sellers require receipt of a cashier’s check or money order before they
send an item. Higher volume sellers often accept credit cards directly. To
protect both buyers and sellers, some auction sites now prohibit the use of wire
transfers as a method of payment.

Credit Cards
Credit cards are a safe option for consumers to use when paying  for items bought
on an Internet auction: They allow buyers to seek a credit from the credit card
issuer (also known as a “charge back”) if the product isn’t delivered or isn’t
what they ordered.

Online Payment Services.
Online payment services are popular with both buyers and sellers. They allow buyers to use a credit card or
electronic bank transfer to pay sellers. They also may protect buyers from unlawful use of their credit cards or bank accounts because the online payment service holds the account information, not the seller. Many sellers prefer
online payment services because the services tend to provide more security than, say, personal checks. To use an online payment service, the buyer and seller generally set up accounts that allow them to make or accept payments. Buyers provide payment information, like bank account or credit card numbers, and sellers give information about where payments should be deposited. In some cases, sellers do not have to create an account with the online payment service to receive funds. To complete a transaction, the buyer tells the online payment
service to direct appropriate funds to the seller. The seller then gets immediate access to the funds. Most online payment services charge the seller to receive the funds, but some payment services charge the buyer. Some online
payment services offer protections to buyers if the seller fails to ship the goods or ships goods that are not as described in the auction. Buyers should read the terms under which the protections apply. Usually, if a buyer uses a
credit card to pay for goods or services through an online payment service, charge back rights are available to the buyer who uses the credit card. However, if the service considers the transfer of funds to be a method of sending cash rather than paying for goods, then charge back rights may not apply. If you cannot find out what will happen if you need a refund, or if you don’t understand how the payment service works from reading the website, find a
different service or use another method of payment.

Debit Card, Personal Check, Cashier’s Check, or Money Order.
Many smaller sellers accept forms of payment that are cash equivalents. These sellers often wait to receive the payment (and may wait for a personal check to clear) before shipping the item. Buyers should use this type of payment only when they trust the seller. At the same time, sellers should ensure that checks and money orders
they receive from buyers are legitimate before shipping the goods; they should be suspicious of checks or money orders for amounts that exceed the price of the merchandise. Unlike credit cards or some online payment services, cash equivalents (and wire transfers) cannot be reversed if something goes wrong.

Wire Transfers.
OnGuard Online recommends that buyers not wire money (via a money transmitter or directly to a seller’s
bank account) unless they know the seller personally or can verify the seller’s identity. Buyers should be suspicious of sellers who insist on wire transfers as the only form of payment they will accept. If something goes wrong with the transaction, you most likely will lose your payment and not have any recourse.
In fact, to protect both buyers and sellers, some auction sites now prohibit the use of wire transfers as a method of payment.

Online Escrow Services and Bonding Services.
For big-ticket items like computers, cars, or jewelry, buyers should consider using an escrow service or
purchasing from a bonded or insured seller to protect their funds. The primary purpose of online escrow services is to protect buyers and sellers from fraud.
Escrow services accept and hold payment from a buyer — often a wire transfer, check, money order or credit card — until he receives and approves the merchandise. Then, the escrow service forwards the payment to the seller. The
buyer pays the fee for an online escrow service — generally a percentage of the cost of the item. Before using an escrow service, both the buyer and the seller should verify that it is a legitimate, reputable company. Some sellers may state that they are bonded or otherwise insured against fraud. If a buyer intends to rely on a seller’s bonded status or the seller’s insurance to protect against fraud, he should investigate the legitimacy of the bonding or insurance company and then make sure that the seller really is a member of — or certified by — that company. If a problem arises with a bonded seller, the buyer usually has to engage in a dispute resolution process with the seller before being able to submit a claim to the bonding or insurance company.

Types of Fraud

Most people who complain to the FTC about Internet auction fraud report problems with sellers who:

• fail to send the merchandise
• send something of lesser value than advertised
• fail to deliver in a timely manner.
• fail to disclose all relevant information about a product or terms of the sale.

Some buyers experience other problems, including:

• “ bid siphoning,” when con artists lure bidders off legitimate auction sites by offering to sell the “same” item at a lower price. They intend to trick consumers into sending money without delivering the item. By going off-site, buyers lose any protections the original site may provide, such as insurance, feedback forms, or guarantees.
• “second chance offers,” when con artists offer losing bidders of a closed auction a second chance to purchase the item that they lost in the auction. Second-chance buyers lose any protections the original site may provide once they go off-site.
• “shill bidding,” when fraudulent sellers or their partners, known as “shills,” bid on sellers’ items to drive up the price.
• “bid shielding,” when fraudulent buyers submit very high bids to discourage other bidders from competing for the same item, then retract their bids so that people they know can get the item at a lower price.

Escrow Service Complaints.
Another type of fraud occurs when sellers or buyers pose as escrow services to improperly obtain money
or goods. The so-called seller puts goods up for sale on an Internet auction and insists that prospective buyers use a particular escrow service. Once buyers provide the escrow service with their payment information, the escrow service doesn’t hold the payment: It is sent directly to the so-called seller. The buyer never receives the promised goods, can’t locate the seller, and, because the escrow service was part of the scheme, can’t get any money back. In some cases, a fraudster poses as a buyer and, after placing the highest bid on an item, insists that the seller use a particular escrow service. The escrow service tricks the seller into sending the merchandise and doesn’t send the payment or return the goods to the seller.

Fake Check Scams Target Sellers
Sellers can be victims of fraud when buyers send fake checks or money orders that are detected by the bank only after the seller has shipped the goods. A buyer might offer to use a cashier’s check, personal check, or corporate check to pay for the item you’re selling. Sometimes, the buyer sends a fake check or money order that exceeds the cost of the item that has been purchased. The so-called buyer (or the buyer’s “agent”) states that he made a
mistake, or comes up with another reason for writing the check for more than the purchase price. In either case, the buyer asks you to wire back the difference after you deposit the check. You deposit the check, learn that it has cleared, and wire the funds back to the “buyers.” Later, the bank determines that the check is fraudulent, leaving you liable for the entire amount. The checks were counterfeit, but good enough to fool unsuspecting bank tellers.

TIPS FOR BUYERS…
Despite complaints of fraud, online auctions remain a fun, efficient, and relatively safe way to shop — if you act prudently. Here’s how:
Before Bidding
Become familiar with the auction site.
Never assume that the rules of one auction site apply to another. If the site offers a step-by-step tutorial
on the bidding process, take it. It may save you frustration and disappointment later.

Find out what protections the auction site offers buyers.
Some sites provide free insurance or guarantees for items that are not delivered, not authentic, or not
what the seller claims.

Know exactly what you’re bidding on.
Read the seller’s description of the item or service, and if a photograph is posted, look at it.
Read the fine print. Look for words like “refurbished,” “close out,” “discontinued,” or “off-brand” — especially when shopping for computer or electronic equipment — to get a better idea of the condition of the item.
Sometimes this information and other important terms are in a contract that may be found by following a hyperlink in the listing to the seller’s online store.

Try to determine the relative value of an item before you bid.
Be skeptical if the price sounds too low to be realistic. “Brick-and-mortar” stores and price comparison
sites may be good for reality checks.

Find out all you can about the seller.
Avoid doing business with sellers you can’t identify, especially those who try to lure you off the auction site with promises of a better deal. Don’t trust emails alone. Some fraudulent sellers have used forged email headers that make follow-up difficult, if not impossible. Get the seller’s telephone number as another way to get in touch.
Dial the number to confirm that it is correct. Some auction sites post feedback ratings of sellers based on comments by other buyers. Check them out. Although these comments and ratings may give you some idea of how you’ll be treated, comments sometimes are submitted by the seller or “shills” paid by the seller.
In other cases, a seller may build up his reputation by selling many low cost items before making fraudulent sales of higher cost items.

Consider whether the item comes with a warranty, and whether follow-up service is available if you need it.
Many sellers don’t have the expertise or facilities to provide services for the goods they sell. If this is the case with your seller, be sure you’re willing to forfeit that protection before placing a bid.

Find out who pays for shipping and delivery.
Generally, sellers specify the cost of shipping and give buyers the option for express delivery at an additional cost. If you’re uncertain about shipping costs, check with the seller before you bid.

Check on the seller’s return policy.
Can you return the item for a full refund if you’re not satisfied with it? If you return it, are you required to pay shipping costs or a restocking fee? Sometimes the return policy is found in the listing, but other times you may have to access it by following a hyperlink in the listing to the seller’s online store.

Email or call the seller if you have any questions.
Don’t place any bids until you get straight — and satisfactory — answers.

When Bidding
Establish a top price and stick to it.
This can help ensure that you get a fair price and protect you from “shill bidding.” Don’t bid on an item
you don’t intend to buy. If you’re the highest bidder, you’re obligated to follow through with the transaction. Some auction sites bar “non-paying” bidders, also known as “deadbeats,” from future bidding.

Save all transaction information.
Print the seller’s identification, the item description, and the time, date, and price of your bid.
Print and save every email you send and receive from the auction company or the seller.
Before Paying

Protect your identity.
Never provide your Social Security number or driver’s license number to a seller. Don’t provide your credit card number or bank account information until you check out the seller and the online payment or escrow service, if you’re using one, and ensure their legitimacy. Examine the online payment and escrow service’s privacy policy and
security measures. Never disclose financial or personal information unless you know why it’s being collected, how it will be used, and how it will be safeguarded.

Protect your funds.
Know what form of payment the seller accepts. If the seller accepts only cashier’s checks or money orders,
decide whether you’re willing to risk sending your payment before you receive the product. Never wire money to a person you don’t know or whose identity you can’t verify. If the seller insists on using a particular escrow or online
payment service you’ve never heard of, check it out. Visit its website. Be suspicious of any site that is generally of poor quality with misspelled words or claims that it is affiliated with the government. Call the customer service
line. If there isn’t one — or if you call and can’t reach someone — don’t use the service. Before you agree to use any online payment or escrow service, read the service’s terms of agreement. If it’s an online payment service, find out whether it offers buyers any recourse if sellers don’t keep their end of the bargain, whether it prevents sellers from accessing their funds if buyers are not satisfied with the product, and who is responsible for paying for credit
card charge backs or transaction reversal requests. If the online payment service cannot recover the loss from the seller, it might try to recover its loss from you, using the credit card or bank account information in its file. To
limit your exposure, consider reserving a separate credit card, stored-value card, or bank account to use just for your online transactions. Be suspicious of an online escrow service that cannot process its own transactions and requires you to set up accounts with online payment services. Legitimate escrow services never do this. Check with the Better Business Bureau, state attorney general, or consumer protection agency — where you live and where the online payment or escrow service is based — to see whether there are any unresolved complaints
against the service. A lack of complaints doesn’t mean that a service doesn’t have any problems. Many scammers change their company names often.

TIPS FOR SELLERS…
Know Your Legal Obligations
Under federal law, you’re required to advertise your product or service and the terms of the sale honestly and accurately. You can’t place “shill” bids on your item to boost the price or offer false testimonials about yourself in the comment section of Internet auction sites. You’re prohibited from auctioning illegal goods; some auction sites have further prohibitions on sales of other items. While many auction sites monitor to ensure that illegal items are not being offered, the responsibility for ensuring that a sale is legal rests with the seller and buyer. Some auction sites post a list of prohibited items. You are required to ship merchandise within the time frame specified during the auction, or within 30 days, if a time frame is not specified. If you can’t meet the shipping commitment, you must give the buyer an opportunity to agree to the new shipping date or cancel the order for a full refund. To learn more about your responsibilities when shipping products, see
A Business Guide to the Federal Trade Commission’s Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule

Advertising Your Product
When describing your item and its condition, state whether it’s new, used, or reconditioned.
Anticipate questions buyers might have and address them in the description of your item or service.
When possible, include a photograph of the item. There’s much truth to the saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words”.
Specify the minimum bid you’re willing to accept.
Specify who will pay for shipping, and whether you’ll ship internationally.
State your return policy, including who’s responsible for paying shipping costs or restocking fees if the item is returned.
Let prospective bidders know whether you provide follow-up service; if you don’t, tell them where they can get it.

Dealing with Bidders
Respond as quickly as possible to bidders’ questions about the item you’re auctioning or the terms of the sale.
When the auction closes, print all information about the transaction, including the buyer’s identification; a description of the item; and the date, time, and price of the bid. Save a copy of every email you send and receive from the auction site or the successful bidder.
Contact the successful buyer as soon after the auction closes as possible; confirm the final cost, including shipping charges, and tell the buyer where to send payment.

Arranging for Payment
If you accept credit card payments from the buyer directly, bill the credit card account only after you’ve shipped the product.
If a buyer insists on using a particular escrow or online payment service that you’ve never heard of, check it out by visiting its website or calling its customer service line. If there isn’t one, or if you call and can’t reach someone, don’t use the service. If the service claims to be affiliated with a government agency, that’s a sign of a scam.
Before agreeing to use an online payment or escrow service, read the terms of agreement. If it’s an online payment service, find out who pays for credit card charge backs or transaction reversal requests if the buyer seeks them.
Examine the service’s privacy policy and security measures.
Never disclose financial or personal information unless you know why it’s being collected, how it will be used, and how it will be safeguarded.
Don’t use an online escrow service that does not process its own transactions, but that requires you to set up accounts with online payment services. Legitimate escrow services never do this.
Check with the Better Business Bureau, state attorney general or consumer protection agency — where you live and where the online payment or escrow service is based — to see whether any unresolved complaints are on fi le
against the service. But remember that a lack of complaints doesn’t guarantee that the service has no problems.

Look Out for Fraudulent Checks or Money Orders
Sometimes, your bank may not alert you that a fake check or money order has been returned until after you have shipped the merchandise. If you are suspicious about a check because it is written by a third party or for any other reason, call the person who wrote the check to verify that they have authorized it. If you receive a check or money order for an amount that exceeds the successful bid, and the buyer asks that you wire the excess funds back to him or to a third party, do not wire the money. Instead, return the check to the buyer, and do not ship the merchandise. If you accept payment by check, ask for a check drawn on a local bank, or a bank with a local branch. That way, you can make a personal visit to make sure the check is valid.
If that’s not possible, call the bank the check was drawn from and ask if it is valid. Get the bank’s phone number from directory assistance or an Internet site that you know and trust, not from the person who gave you the check.

FOR BUYERS AND SELLERS…

Where to Turn for Help
If you have problems during a transaction, try to work them out directly with the seller, buyer, or site operator. If that doesn’t work, file a complaint with:

• the attorney general’s office in your state.
• your county or state consumer protection agency. Check the blue pages of the phone book under county and state government.
• the Better Business Bureau.
• the Federal Trade Commission. File a complaint online at ftc.gov.

What To Do If Your Personal Information Has Been Compromised

The bottom line for online threats like phishing, spyware, and
hackers is identity theft. ID theft occurs when someone uses your name, Social
Security number, credit card number or other personal information without your
permission to commit fraud or other crimes. That’s why it’s important to protect
your personal information. If your personal information is accidentally
disclosed or deliberately stolen, taking certain steps quickly can minimize the
potential for the theft of your identity.

If the Stolen Information Includes Your Financial Accounts

Close compromised credit card accounts immediately. Consult with
your financial institution about whether to close bank or brokerage accounts
immediately or first change your passwords and have the institution monitor for
possible fraud. Place passwords on any new accounts that you open. Avoid using
your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social
Security number (SSN) or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.

If the Stolen Information Includes Your Social Security Number

Call the toll-free fraud number of any one of the three
nationwide consumer reporting companies and place an initial fraud alert on your
credit reports. This alert can help stop someone from opening new credit
accounts in your name.

Equifax:
1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian:
1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion:
1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division,

P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

An initial fraud alert stays on your credit report for 90 days.
When you place this alert on your credit report with one nationwide consumer
reporting company, you’ll get information about ordering one free credit report
from each of the companies. It’s prudent to wait about a month after your
information was stolen before you order your report. That’s because suspicious
activity may not show up right away. Once you get your reports, review them for
suspicious activity, like inquiries from companies you didn’t contact, accounts
you didn’t open, and debts on your accounts that you can’t explain. Check that
information—like your SSN, address(es), name or initials, and employers—is
correct.

Brian Alaway Consulting

Tampa Computer Repair
Service and Support

What is the hosts file?

The hosts file is a simple text file that is located (for
NT/2000/XP) in the %systemroot%system32driversetc directory
where %systemroot% is a wildcard that points to the location of your Windows directory
(e.g. C:Windows). For Windows 95/98/ME it’s in the main %systemroot%
directory.

It can be edited using Notepad. Be sure that it is
saved WITHOUT a file extension of any kind, including type txt.
If you make changes and then save the changes, browse to the
file through Windows Explorer or My Computer to make sure that
the file reads as hosts with no extension. Note: Be sure to set
Windows to show file extensions.

Think of the hosts file as an address book for
web sites. Windows will look in the hosts file BEFORE attempting
to locate a web site by using the Internet domain name servers
(DNS).

How can we use the hosts file to trick bad sites?

The idea here is to give a bad website the wrong address so that any attempt to
direct our browser to that address will fail. We do this by telling Windows that
the website exists on our computer. Since it does not, the website will fail to
load.

If we want to block the browser from going to
a particular web site, e.g. badsite.com, we can simply add an entry as follows:

127.0.0.1      badsite.com

The address 127.0.0.1 is the

loopback address of OUR computer, therefore the page will not be found
and the lookup will fail.

Automate the procedure….

Spybot S&D, Spy Sweeper and many other
anti-spyware programs contain their own list of malware sites
that can be added to your hosts file from within the program.
For example, Spybot – from the menu, Mode/Advanced/Tools/Hosts file
- click on the Add
Spybot-S&D hosts lists.

More hosts file info….

Do a search of the Internet for “ad
blocking hosts file” and you will locate many lists containing
bad sites that can simply be copied and pasted into your hosts
file. Click on

Easy hosts file management….

Download the Hostess utility from
Ray Marron’s Hostess page.
Hostess is a free utility for maintaining your Hosts file.

Cons…..

NOTE: If you use this method be prepared to see
“Action cancelled” or an x where otherwise you might
see an ad or image. This is to be expected since the website
that the ad or image points to has been blocked via the hosts
file.

Brian Alaway Consulting

Tampa Computer Repair
Service and Support

© 2005 BAC Group Inc., All Rights
Reserved

Think of a password as a lock. You hopefully have locks on the doors to your
home. In order to enter, you (or those not so welcome visitors) have to use a
key. Most people accept the inconvenience of having to unlock the door to their
home in return for the security it provides. Since your computer may hold
information that’s as valuable as most things in your home, why would you NOT
use a password for your computer(s)? Well, probably because you don’t like the
inconvenience -get over it – or you don’t know how to implement a password
policy for your computer – you’ll learn here.

How to implement a password for your computer:

Windows XP:

First lets examine the account types and what they can do:

Let’s create 2 accounts in addition to your current account:

Start/Control Panel/User Accounts/Create a new account

Give the account a name – this will be an administrator account but we do NOT
want to tip that off by including any part of administrator in the name – for
our example we’ll just call this account JD.

Click Next

Pick account type Administrator and click Create Account.

Now, while viewing all the user accounts, double click on this new
administrator account (JD in our example).

Click on Create Password

Create a strong password (see Suggestions… at the bottom of this page),
confirm and enter a hint to help you recall

Now let’s rename the default administrator account:

Instead of creating a new administrator account, select the existing
Administrator account and select Change the name.

Once the Administrator name is changed we can create a fake administrator
account by creating a new Limited type account and naming it Administrator.

While this method of obscuring the real local administrator account is well
known to hackers it will at least keep some of the mischievous kiddies occupied.

You now know how to create or change an account and how to create or change
an account’s password.

Suggestions for creating passwords:

A single word can easily be forgotten, especially if it’s a strong password
(recommended) containing NO dictionary words. Here’s a suggestion for creating a
strong yet easy to remember password: use a passphrase. For example: Starting
with the phrase- Ask not what your country can do for you- we can simply extract
the first letter of each word to arrive at Anwyccdfy. Now add your favorite
number to this – for example: Anwyccdfy7

Passphrases tend to be easier to remember and can result in stronger passwords.

Bonus Tip: visit my Tampa
Computers blog for a great FREE utility for securely storing
passwords.

Brian Alaway Consulting

Tampa Computer Repair
Service and Support

© 2005 BAC Group Inc., All Rights Reserved

Step 1

• Understand if you are accessing your broadband (cable or
  DSL) connection through a cable or DSL modem; through a cable or DSL
  router; or through a combination of modem and router. Call your Internet
  Service Provider (ISP) or hardware manufacturer if you are unsure.

Step 2

• Install a hardware firewall. Most basic cable and DSL modems
  supplied by ISPs do NOT have a built-in firewall. Most cable and DSL
  “routers” do. If you are using a modem without a firewall then it is
  imperative that you install a firewall A.S.A.P. Inexpensive routers, with
  firewalls, are available from ISPs and at most local box stores (Wal-Mart,
  Best Buy, Staples, etc.) as well as online. These routers are considered
  hardware firewalls. This hardware firewall is in addition to the software
  firewall which gets installed on each computer.

Step 3

• Open the routers management console. The management console is
  usually accessed by typing the IP address (e.g. 192.168.1.1) into the
  address bar of your web browser. Change the administrator username and
  password that is used to access the management console of the router.
  Make sure the firewall is turned on – some are off by default.

Step 4

• Consider the physical security of any computer(s) that’s attached to
  your Internet connection. If you plan on being away for any length of time,
  think about securing the computer(s) and the modems/routers.

Step 5

• Secure your network, especially if it’s wireless.

Brian Alaway Consulting

Tampa Computer Repair
Service and Support

© 2005 BAC Group Inc., All Rights Reserved

Step 1

• Understand the Basics: Home Network Security

Step 2

• Secure your wireless network
  • How to Secure Your Wireless Home Network with Windows XP
  • Top 7 Tips for Wireless Home Network Security
  • Securing your Wireless Network
  • Beginners Guides: Wireless Network Security

• Secure your wired network
  (Note: these apply to wireless networks also)
  • If you don’t need to share printers and files across your
    network, turn off “File and Printer Sharing”.
  • Start/Control Panel/Network Connections
  • Right click Local Area Connection and select Properties
  • Clear the check mark next to File and Printer Sharing for
    Microsoft Networks
  • Click OK

• Disable the Server service on each computer as this will prevent
  the automatic creation of administrative hidden shares.
  • Start/Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Services
  • Scroll down until you find “Server”
  • Double click to open the Server Properties window
  • Using the dropdown, change Startup type to “Disabled”
  • Click OK
  • Close the Services window

• Do not use the same name and password for the local
  administrator accounts.
  • Start/Control Panel/User Accounts
  • Open the Administrator account
  • Change the Password

Brian Alaway Consulting

© 2005 BAC Group Inc., All Rights Reserved

NOTE: There are many additional steps that
can be taken to secure your computer, network and Internet connection. These
steps are meant as a starting point for the average home user and is by no means
all inclusive. However, if you follow
these guidelines you will have taken an important first step on the road to a
secure computing experience.

IMPORTANT: BACKUP YOUR COMPUTER BEFORE PROCEEDING.
INCLUDE ANY AND ALL IMPORTANT DATA, VIDEO AND AUDIO FILES.

NOTE: Even if you use an alternate browser, e.g. Firefox, you should implement
the steps outlined below for Internet Explorer as it will still be present with
any copy of Windows. It is all but impossible to completely remove Internet
Explorer despite the ability to “apparently” remove it via Control
Panel/Add/Remove Programs.

Step 1 – Update Windows with latest service pack

• Identify which version of Windows your running
  • Open Control Panel then Open the System icon
    • On the General tab under the System section note your
      Windows version; also note the Service Pack number (if no
      service pack is listed, note that too)
  • Alternatively, right click on the My Computer icon and choose Properties
    from the popup menu
• Check here for Windows
• Check Update in Windows Vista
• Check here for Windows XP

Step 2 – Enable Automatic Updates

• Turn On Automatic Updates
  • Open Control Panel/Automatic Updates
    • Select Automatic (Recommended)

  To install manually:

  • Open Internet Explorer and from the menu bar select
    Tools/Windows Update
  • Choose Express Install and follow the on screen directions
    to install latest updates
  • Note that if you want to check your computer for software (driver) updates
    for your computer’s hardware, choose Custom. Then in the left column under
    “Select by type” click on Hardware. My experience has been that this works well
    for most of your hardware with the exception of printers. For printers you’re
    better off searching the manufacture’s website.
  • If you use other Microsoft applications you may want to consider installing
    Microsoft Update as opposed to just using Windows update. Microsoft update will
    scan your Microsoft applications (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.) for
    updates in addition to Windows updates.

Step 3 – Secure Internet Explorer

• Clean up your Internet Explorer 8 browser and adjust it’s settings
  • From the menu bar select Tools>Internet Options>Delete
  • On the General tab click Delete
  • Check “Temporary Internet Files”
  • Optionally, you may select other items to delete
    • If you suspect your Browser may already be infected, then I would
      suggest also deleting the History and Cookies.
  • Click Delete
• For Internet Explorer 6
  • From the menu bar select Tools>Internet Options
  • On the General tab under the “Temporary Internet files”
    section
    • click on Delete Cookies and OK to confirm
    • click on Delete Files and OK to confirm
    • click on Settings and under the “Temporary Internet files
      folder”
      • adjust the slider bar to show the Amount of Disk Space
        to use to 50 mb
      • confirm to go back to the tabs window
    • On the Advanced tab, scroll down to the Security section
      • Put a check next to item “Empty Temporary Internet files
        folder when browser is closed”
    • On the Security tab,
      • click on Internet and make sure the Default button is
        grayed out, if not click on it
      • click on Local Intranet and make sure the Default button
        is grayed out, if not click on it
        • click on the Sites button then the Advanced button,
          remove any unknown sites listed under the section Web
          sites
      • click on Trusted Sites and make sure the Default button
        is grayed out, if not click on it
        • click on the Sites button and remove any unknown
          sites listed under the section Web sites
      • click on Restricted Sites and make sure the Default
        button is grayed out, if not click on it
    • On the Privacy tab
      • make sure the Default button is grayed out, if not click it
      • Click OK to close Internet Options

  Step 4 – Remove unnecessary/unwanted programs

  • Remove any unwanted, unnecessary or unknown programs
    • Open Control Panel then open the Add/Remove Programs icon
    • Remove accordingly

  Step 5 – Clean up your hard drive

  • Clean up the hard drive
    • Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Cleanup
      • Make sure, at a minimum, that Temporary Internet files,
        Recycle Bin and Temporary files are checked
    • Defragment the hard drive (for performance)
      • Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Defragmenter
        • Click on the Defragment button

  Step 6 – Install an Anti-Virus program

  • Install an Anti-Virus program
    • If you don’t have one installed already, I recommend this one.
    • Make sure that whatever program you use that Updates are set to
      Automatic
    • Schedule a scan of the Windows and Document and Settings folders
      at least once a week
    • Schedule a complete scan of the computer at least once a month
    • IMPORTANT – If you use a program which requires an annual
      subscription fee to receive definition updates – KEEP THE
      SUBSCRIPTION PAID UP AND CURRENT

  Step 7 – Enable your Firewall

  • If you have at a minimum, Windows XP Service Pack 2, make sure that
    Windows firewall is turned on.
  • Or you can install a third-party software firewall (a.k.a. personal firewall)
    • You can purchase a firewall or download one of the free firewalls
    • Windows built-in firewall PRIOR TO WINDOWS XP SP2 is NOT recommended (a good firewall
      protects both incoming and outgoing communications – the Windows firewall prior to Service Pack 2 for XP protects only incoming. This was changed to protect in both directions with Windows XP service pack 2). If you are using a third-party firewall, turn off the Windows firewall as it is NOT recommended to use more than one personal firewalls on the same computer at the same time.
      See the following:
      http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/ic_firewall.htm
    • To enable or disable Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall
      • Open Network Connections.
    • Click the Dial-up, LAN or High-Speed Internet connection that you want to protect, and then, under Network Tasks, click Change settings of this connection.
    • On the Advanced tab, under Internet Connection Firewall, select one of the following:
      • To enable Internet Connection Firewall (ICF), select the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet check box.
      • To disable Internet Connection Firewall, clear the Protect
        my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this
        computer from the Internet check box.
    • To enable or disable the Windows Vista firewall:
      Click the General tab, and make sure that the Block all incoming connections option is selected
    • To manually configure or verify the configuration of Windows Firewall
      Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then click Security.
    • Under Windows Firewall, click Allow a program through WindowsFirewall. Because this task requires Administrator rights, you will see a User Account Control dialog box.
    • On the Exceptions tab, scroll down the list and locate the entryfor Media Center Extenders. Select the check box next to this entry,if it is not already enabled, and click Apply.

  Step 8 – Install Spywareblaster

  • Prevent the installation of spyware and other malware
    • Install Spywareblaster from Javacool Software,
      http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html, it’s free
      • Be sure to check for updates frequently. In the free version you must do
        this manually.

  Step 9 – Install an Anti-Spyware application

  • Install an Anti-Spyware/Adware application
    • If you don’t mind paying, I recommend this one.
    • After installing, be sure to check for updates
    • Set Updates to Automatic (method will vary depending on application
      and free versions may require manual update)

  Step 10 – Disable unnecessary services

  • Adjust and/or Disable unnecessary services
    • Open Control Panel, open Administrative Tools then open Services
    • Disable the following services:
      • Unless your computer is connected to a local network (LAN) AND you are
        sharing files or a printer with other computers on the LAN then you can
        safely Disable the Server service:
        • Double Click the Server service and change the Startup Type dropdown to
          Disabled
      • Disable the Messenger service
      • Disable the Indexing service (only to improve performance)

  Step 11 – Prevent unnecessary programs from starting automatically

  • Adjust the startup entries (programs that will start automatically when
    Windows starts) for Windows
    • Start/Programs/Startup
      • Remove any unnecessary, unwanted, or unknown entries (deleting
        items from the startup folder does NOT delete the application it only deletes a shortcut to the application and prevents it from starting automatically when Windows starts)
  • To adjust startup entries in the Windows registry it is recommended that you use the msconfig utility that is built-in
    to Windows XP and Vista. Some Anti-Spyware applications (e.g. Spybot Search & Destroy) also allow you to safely disable these entries. That way if disabling them causes problems, you can easily re-enable them.

  Step 12 (optional for performance)

  • If you have a broadband Internet connection (cable modem or DSL modem), optimize your TCP settings
    • Download the TCP Optimizer
      http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2104.html
      • On the General tab, click on Optimal settings, Apply and
        confirm reboot

  Brian Alaway Consulting

  Tampa Computer Repair
  Service and Support
  
  
  © 2005 BAC Group Inc., All Rights Reserved

  
  

Implement a few simple action steps and
eliminate your computer repair bill.

1. Avoid free peer-to-peer file sharing programs. Peer-to-peer file
sharing programs have

been known to carry adware/spyware payloads.

2. Make sure that your anti-virus program is scanning all your email attachments
in addition to

the files on your computer. Verify emails with attachments by calling or
emailing the sender for

verification.

3. Check website security. Whenever inputting private financial information
into a web form,

make sure the site hosting the form is secure. The URL web address should begin
with https

instead of just http. Also, in Internet Explorer and Firefox you should also
notice the lock icon in the

lower right of the browser frame. Double click on the icon to view the page
security.

4. Update Windows with the latest service pack. To identify which version of
Windows

you’re running: Open Control Panel then Open the System icon. On the General tab
under the

System section note your Windows version; also note the Service Pack number (if
no service pack

is listed, note that too). Alternatively, right click on the My Computer icon
and choose Properties

from the popup menu.

5. Enable Automatic Updates – open Control Panel>Automatic Updates, select
Automatic

(Recommended).

6. Make sure that you are using the latest version of your web browser,
whether it’s Internet

Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Opera or another browser. To find the version, choose
Help>About from

the menu bar. For Chrome, click the wrench icon then About.

7. Install an anti-virus program and make sure that it is scheduled to
receive updates

automatically. Several years ago it was acceptable to update your anti-virus
definitions once a

week. In today’s virus ridden environment the best anti-virus programs update at
least once or even

twice a day.

8. Install an anti-spyware program. There are many free anti-spyware
programs such as

Spybot Search & Destroy, Spywareblaster and Malwarebyte’s Anti-Malware. Be sure
to update

them regularly. Most of the free versions require manual updates so consider
spending a few

dollars for the paid version and get scheduled updates automatically.

9. Use a “software” firewall. Make sure that you are using a firewall
program and it is active.

Windows has a built-in firewall; just make sure it’s active by checking it’s
settings in Control Panel.

There are also many free firewall programs. Google “free firewall” and include
the quotes.

10. Use a “hardware” firewall. If you have a broadband Internet connection
through a router

you most likely have a firewall built-in to the router. Gather the make and
model number of your

router, go to the manufacturer’s website and find the installation and
configuration manuals to

ensure that the firewall is active and configured properly. Do not assume it is
check and verify. This

“hardware” firewall should be used in addition to the software firewall on your
computer. If you just

received your router you can contact the provider to insure it’s configured
correctly.

Brian Alaway Consulting

Tampa Computer Repair
Service and Support

Prerequisites:

The following applies to Outlook 2003 although this method will work for Outlook
2007 as well. This method also assumes that you have Microsoft Excel installed.

It also assumes that you have created a custom calendar in Outlook.

Problem: If you import a calendar file (vcs or ical) into Outlook, by default
the items will be imported into your Outlook default calendar. But let’s assume
you have created a custom calendar (for this example we’ll call it Sports) and
you want to import the items into your custom Sports folder.

Solution 1:

Drag & Drop from your default calendar

You could import the items into your default calendar then drag and drop them
into your Sports folder. However this can get tedious when dealing with a large
number of items across many different dates.

Solution 2:

Import & Export via Excel

1. Create a new Outlook profile (Control Panel>Mail>Show Profiles>Add>create
your new profile and you can put in a real email address or just a fake one as
only the calendar will be used)

2: Change Outlook to prompt for a profile when starting up (Control
Panel>Mail>Show Profiles>Prompt for a profile to be used)

3. Start Outlook and when prompted, select the new profile that you created

4. Import the calendar file into Outlook (File>Import and Export>Import an
iCalendar or vCalendar (.vcs) file>browse to the calendar file you want to
import, highlight and click OK. Open the calendar and verify that all the items
were imported successfully.

5. Export the calendar file (File>Import and Export>Export to a file>Microsoft
Excel>Calendar>Give the file a name and make sure it’s saved as an Excel file
with the .xls file extension

6. A window will open that prompts you to select the date range to export. Make
sure the beginning and ending dates capture all the items that you want to
export

7. Close Outlook

8. Open Outlook and when prompted choose your original profile (NOT the new one
you just created)

9. Import the Excel file (File>Import and Export>Import from another program or
file>Microsoft Excel>browse to the Excel file you just created, highlight and
click OK. When you see “Select destination folder” select your Sports folder.

10. Click Finish and you’re done.

Optional:

Change Outlook to open your original profile automatically (Control
Panel>Mail>Show Profiles>Always use this profile>select your original profile
and click OK)

If desired, you can also delete the new profile you created as it’s no longer
required. (Control Panel>Mail>Show Profiles>highlight the new profile and click
Remove)

Brian Alaway Consulting

Tampa Computer Repair
Service and Support