A: You need a personal geek…

Personal Trainers, In-home Chefs, Chauffeurs…  Where’s the Personal Geek?  I mean, doesn’t the normal lay-person have the right to their very own personal geek?  I say, “Yes!”.  And you should too.

Rebuttal

Personal Geeks are so 2008.  This is a different generation with different problems.  What the parent of today teens needs is a Network Ninja! A person with the style, grace, and no-nonsense approach to fixing a wide range of technological issues with ninja like speed.

The Decision?

Network Ninja by a landslide.

If I had my way you all would have your own personal geek, network ninja, or someone from the “geek squad” on 24/7 alert for you tech needs, just a phone call away (a big red phone of course).
But, the reality is you don’t and you probably never will so… what’s a parent to do?  Ask us questions of course!  This month we are your person geeks, your network ninjas, you’re one-stop tech question help!  So dial us up with your questions.  We’d love to answer them. Just email us at ninja@nplb.net and we’ll get back to you with ninja like speed and/or post your questions/answers directly on our site.

Executive summary:

For free tech help by a network ninja email your questions to ninja@nplb.net
Yup, FREE… just because we like parents like you.

Last links

None this time.  Just shoot us an email.  ninja@nplb.net

I’m writing this article from inside my car, in a car wash. I bought all the extras, plus the undercarriage wash so that I’ll have time to tell you what I need too. Why I am in a car wash you ask?

Well, thanks for asking… let me tell you. It’s because of the spyware… It all started last week. I saw the ad pop up that said that I had won a free new IPod. Seriously, who can resist a free IPod? So, after I filled out the 2 surveys I clicked on that button that said it would make my computer faster… BAM! Kick it up a notch huh? Well, not exactly. Now my computer is running slower than a herd of turtles stampeding through peanut butter… in the winter… in Alaska.

So, here I sit in the car wash so “they” don’t find me… ya… the spies. Can you think of a safer spot? I didn’t think so. Not only am I enclosed in my car, in a building, but I’m also covered with soap and that’s got to be worth something. Anyway, I’ve got the spyware on my computer and now I bet it’s letting in all of it’s other spy friends, from all over the globe.

So, what do I do now to get it all off of my computer? Well the soap doesn’t seem to be doing a thing but I do have some other options.

Spyware Cleaning Options:

1. Spybot Search and Destroy (make sure it is the safer-networking.org link) http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html
   • This is a nice little program. Download it, Donate to keep it free, install it, and then do what the prompts say. It will get your computer “fairly clean” in no time.
2. AdAware (click on the Free version) ( www.lavasoft.com )
   • Good 2^nd option. I like to run them both… but then again I’m the paranoid one writing this from the above said car wash.
3. Bit Defender Online Scanner (or paste this link into your browser: http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/# )
   • This one seems to take care of it all… viruses, Trojan horses, Spyware, Adware, you name it. Try the online scanner but make sure that you change the 2nd action to “quarantine” not delete (just in case it is something that you did want).
   • Currently Bit Defender is ranked in the top ten of many antivirus/antispyware articles!

If those don’t work you might go find a professional and let them take a gander, which would be the most prudent thing to do.

You could always take it to a car wash if, but it doesn’t seem to be helping mine… uh oh.. here come that final blower thing. I’ve got to go, until I get this Spyware all removed I’m going to have to go into hiding. I can’t afford anymore car washes.

Good luck, stay clean. Air Dry Done. … Got to go.

Last Links

Bit Defender Online Scanner (see above)

AdAware (see above)

Spybot Search and Destroy (see above)

Microsoft: What is Spyware (decent article on what spyware is and isn’t)

Going deeper: What is Spyware (very nice, concise article on spyware)

Step 1: Don’t click on links until you know what they are to.  Basically if it has a link, especially in the subject line, be wary.

Step 2: Search out the subject line text and/or link.  Simply put the subject line of the text into google (highlight it, cut and paste) and you will see a list of sites that are shouting for you to not click your virus infected Facebook link.

Step 3: Delete any messages that are in your inbox that you know are infected.

That’s it.  Short and sweet.  Have a nice day and be cautious!

So the question is, “Do you really need one?” Valid question.  Thanks for asking.  We’ll get right to it and give you the Pros, Cons, executive summary, and of course some quick links to help you make up your mind if you don’t believe us.  Let’s go!

Executive summary

The Kindle is an electronic reader device for e-books that uses a reflective e-paper type technology that basically makes the screen look and act like paper.  Let’s be honest.  Who really likes to read from a computer screen?  I sure don’t and I have one of the nicest brightest screens around (LED backlit) but it still doesn’t compare to the kindle for readability or for power consumption.  Yep, the Kindles battery can last for days!  It can do this because the Kindle only uses power to put the words on the screen and then it turns off the power leaving your words statically in place.  Turn the page, power flashes on, puts the new page up and shuts back off.

So, “great” you say but why buy it?  Especially at just ofver $350.  Thank you.  Another great questions.  Read the “Pros” below and maybe you can answer it for yourself.

Pros:

• Can surf the web from the Kindle for free… Anywhere (that’s right, download Kindles light browser and surf the web from the Kindle!) The internal Antenna connects to a cell network WITHOUT a monthly fee!  3G network!  Free! Very nice.
• Readability!  The screen technology is even better in bright light, just like paper.  So, read away.
• Amazing battery life. Will let you read any of the 90,000+ books available for almost 7 days without recharging.

Cons:

• A bit ugly and only black and white.  The electronic ink technology hasn’t gotten color down, maybe in a few years.
• The price.  $359.00 currently but you do get free access to 3G wireless networks in the USA.  Definitely a perk.
• Can’t flip a page.  It still doesn’t replace a book for sure. Can’t flip ahead to see how many pages till the end of the chapter.

Overall it still doesn’t replace a book but for avid readers and commuters you can’t beat it especially since you can surf the web, check email and read your books all on one device without a monthly fee… I guess you just pay for it up front.

Last Links:

• Amazon’s official page with specs and a video http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00154JDAI/ref=pe_36320_11963560_pe_t3
• A well written review on Squido0 for the Kindle 2  http://www.squidoo.com/AmazonKindleReview
• How the Kindle 2 works. Hey you better be able to tell people how it works when they see you reading this cool device.

Staying safe is pretty basic really, just follow this easy advice:

• Play the Anti-Phishing Phil game to get educated quickly!  (It’s fun too!)
• Don’t go to websites that have all numbers in the address (216.33.42.1/bankofamerica.com)
• Search for the name of your bank/account holder instead of following the link.
• Call your bank, ebay, online seller, etc if you get a “phishy” email from them.
• Play the anti-phishing phil game!  It’s amazing and could save you your money!

So, go play anti-phishing Phil, stay safe and don’t get hooked.  (Just FYI I got hook 3 times on level 3!  The two “v” that made a “w” in “bankofthevvest” (see the 2 v?) got me! doh.) Clever, clever, clever.

Last Links

http://www.uakron.edu/its/learning/training/docs/PhishingTrifoldPhil.pdf Good quick guide to phishing resources

http://www.sonicwall.com/phishing/ Nice test on your phishing knowledge

http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/computer-security.aspx 7 tips to protecting your online info (extensive article on all aspects of protecting your info/pc)

http://cups.cs.cmu.edu/antiphishing_phil/ The official game that teaches you how to keep from getting hooked!

Watch the video from Common Craft under our video tab or click here

Phishing Scams in Plain English by the folks at Common Craft.

The first Category is “Protect Your Kids”. Articles written in this area will have to do with topics that help you do just that, protect your kids. General info, software that can help, and the best practices of the nitty-gritty “how to” of it all will be wrapped up in this important category.

Category #2, entitled “Protect Your Computer” is once again simply that, info on how to protect your computer. Spy-ware, Ad-Ware, Bloat-Ware… and what every other type of “ware” they might think up will be covered in depth with way to fight against these programs and keep your computer safe. Viruses, Trojan Horses, Firewalls and other things that you never thought you would want to learn about, but now need to, will all be covered along with “how to” sections to keep your computer safe.

Category 3, one of our least favorite topics but also one of our most valuable. How do you “Protect Your Info” anyway? Why do you need to? What crooks are trying to get it from you and what are some of the easy ways to keep from having your info snatched. Phishing Phil… who is he? Well check it out and see.

Category 4, what is it you ask? Well our most fun category to date of course! Once you have gotten your fill of knowledge to keep your kids, your computer, and your info safe then hop on over here and start to have some fun! Become a Power User! Learn the Teen Tech Trends and learn some new exciting things to impress your friends and make your life easier too. You might even learn some cool tech that you can be the first to show your kids and their friends too! Wouldn’t that be a fun role reversal!

So, stay tuned. You keep your cup handy and we’ll keep it full of all the tech that you need to know… and maybe a drop or two more!

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