This post will be the start of 12 ways to Avoid viruses

Here at the shop we get asked alot "how do I get these viruses?"

Well Chris and I came up with a list that will alot of people out.
so, here we go!!!

1. You know not to except email attachments from people that you do not know, but most viruses are spread from contacts that you DO know. Avoid “chain” emails from friends. Do you have a friend that sends you jokes, inspirational emails, “look at this video?” Where did your friend get the email from before they sent it to you? Ask your contacts not to send you these or simply do not open and delete them.

2. Avoid email scam artists and spammers: Many scam artists send email that may look like it’s from an institution that you know, but is not. Pay attention to the reply address. For example, someone from Bank of America would have an email that ends with @bankofamerica.com…a scammer might use @bank-of-america.com or @security-bankofamerica.com. Your best bet is to not reply by email and call your institution by phone or, at the very least, go directly to their website. Do not follow (click) any links from an email claiming to be a company that you know, especially one that handles your finances. If it’s not an attempt to steal your money, then it is likely an attempt to hijack your computer…and then steal your money.

3. Avoid using “file sharing” sites or torrent programs like Limewire, Kazaa, Morpheus, etc. These resources are cesspools for viruses. Households with kids or teenagers are most at risk as they tend to look for songs, video games, ringtones and other things they cannot afford to pay for. It’s never free. You will pay a much higher price for computer repairs then you will to buy a CD at the store or legitimate download.

4. Stay away from “risqué” websites, such as gambling, pornography, free torrents, or anything of an adult or illegal nature. If this is your purpose for using a computer/Internet you are destined to pay for repairs. Also be weary of websites that offer you sales and deals that are ‘too good to be true.’

5. Be careful of external media such as CDs, DVDs, thumbdrives, external hardrives, even digital cameras and ipods..unless it is yours and you are absolutely certain that they are safe. Have you ever seen those digital picture frames at Wallmart that you upload your images to and then hang on your wall? Recently a virus, missed by the manufacturer, was found on a line of those products. Of course, something like that is unlikely, but it just goes to show, there are threats EVERYWHERE.

6. AVG and other virus protection programs have capabilities that will help you when you use a search engine like Google. You will see a green check-mark (meaning safe) next to each link or a warning that the site may be dangerous. Look for and heed these warnings.

7. Windows Users: If you’re ever in a situation on the Internet where something questionable pops up on your screen, immediately hit control+alt+delete, go to the “task manager” and find the “applications” tab (usually it will already be selected), highlight your browser application (ie Internet Explorer, Firefox) and then hit the button marked “end task” (near the bottom). While you want to do this quickly, don’t feel rushed, get it right. Hopefully it wasn’t a real threat but, if you're lucky, you will end the process before anything bad can happen..this is your best response at that moment. Wait a minute or two and see if there is any odd behavior. If there is, turn off the computer and consult a technician. IMPORTANT: Today’s browsers are made by default to open the last page visited. Your browser likely has an option to turn this feature off. We recommend doing this. Use the ‘help’ option of your browser or visit the developer’s website to learn how to achieve this.
Suggestion: Open your web browser and practice using control+alt+delete to end the process before a problem happens. This way, if a situation arises, you will be prepared.

8. Viruses for Apple/Macintosh are heavily on the rise. Don’t think because you use a Mac that you are completely safe on the internet. The same goes for Linux users. Although Linux viruses are very unlikely, Windows/Mac viruses can still be stored in a file on a Linux machine and inadvertently transferred to your other machines by way of external device. Use the same caution as if you were on Windows. You have nothing to loose by practicing safety.

9. When it comes to computers, treat your friends as strangers. Don’t allow friends or family members to run external media (thumbnails, CDs, SOFTWARE PROGRAMS) on your machine. Even if not a virus, everyone’s machine is their own personal space, why put yours at risk? If your friends have pictures, music, or videos to show you, look at it on their machine or on Youtube.

10. If you are on a business network and use “shared files” or perhaps FTP transfers, be careful. Just open what you need to. In the event of a virus or malware, it is a lot easier for a technician to investigate the source when the user knows exactly what might have caused the problem.

11. If you download a file, before you open it, right-click on that file and choose to scan it first with your virus protection software. If you are downloading music or other media from a questionable source, be weary of zip or compressed files. These are often used in an attempt to avoid detection.

12. AVOID THE FAKE REMODY: Once you have a virus or malware, you may get prompts conveniently directing you to that special virus removal tool on the internet that you can download for a certain price. This is a scam! Don’t buy it! The truth is that the virus you currently have was likely repackaged by a scam artist that DIDN’T CREATE IT…and doesn’t know how to remove it either. They just put their Paypal address on it and will scam you out of your money. Many viruses are designed to make your legitimate Norton, AVG or whatever removal program you use ineffective so that you will feel desperate and look for another remedy..got it?

One other bonus note, if you think you’ve gotten a virus, DO NOT use the Windows System Restore (to an earlier date) Function. A virus is a program and the restore function does not remove programs. By using System Restore, you will likely cause other mistakes in configuration and/or make it more difficult to remove the problem.

Ok, its going to happen

In my last blog I said I was waiting my turn to up a business downtown. Well, it’s my turn. I am going to sub lease from a business that will give JP Computer Consulting the best visibility I could ask for. My sign is the works right now. In other news we just started airing our commercial on Kick 103.3. We are doing all HS football, Tarheels and Panthers..Looking forward to what that might bring us.

The waiting game.

As I wait for my turn to open my own store in Downtown Lenoir NC I wonder to myself. Is this really the next step in owning my own company.

A few things that make me go HMMMM!!
There are a few downtown store fronts that have not been rented in years, but they don't want to budge on what they want for rent. I don't understand. Would you rather have 500.00 a month or nothing? In this case nothing. I know you are asking 700.00, but that number doesn't make sense. I still don't get it.

Another thing, why doesn't the City help new businesses that want to open something up. Instead they would rather collect tax money from folks that doesn't even live here and watch the building go to HELL.

I think its time to MAKE A CHANGE!!!

Cloud Computer Really Safe

Stormy weather could be on the horizon for cloud computing as security experts warn not enough is being done to make sure one of the hottest IT trends is safe.

"There are many motivations for why an individual or a company would want to engage in cloud computing," said Thomas Parenty, managing director of Parenty Consulting, a Hong Kong-based information security consulting firm. "None of them have to do with enhanced security."

Woogle

Check out how google fiber would change my biz model if we got it.
http://www.youtube.com/group/hickorylenoir#p/a/46/G2vAov8kj1U

SLOB movement

Come and join the SLOB movement.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=329498782363

check this link out...

Please give us feedback on what you all thing

http://www.jpcomputerconsulting.com/caldwell-computer-service.php

News Topic

Well, I made the front page and had a whole front page of the business section talking about my company and me. It's amazing, I want to thank Nathan Key for writing it and news topic..I will post it soon.

Alienware went from amazing to what the hell(sellouts)

So, back in the day Alienware was the best gaming machine around. Their service was amazing and the machines were even better. Now, Alienware is just horrible. My story as it unfolds. I bought a gaming machine back in in 10/08. I was so excited. When I got the machine it wasn't even what I order and on top of it the video card was so choppy. I sent it in!!! I got the machine back and OMG...no way....still the same thing. Well, I got a new laptop and it cost me about 1200.00 more. Now I got 3500.00 into a laptop..what the hell was I thinking. Well, after a year later, my 9800 video blow up. Now, i have sent the laptop in 3x and it has come back in the same way I sent it out. I mean..WTF!!! How is that even possible....Lemon law? Can this really happen. How do you send something in 3x and it doesn't even seem like they looked at it....Please...Mr. Dell sell Alienware back to someone that wants to give it the love it needs. Also, can I get someone that can speak English...DAMN IT!!!!

AT&T

I have become an ATT solution provider. Now I can sell ATT solution to clients that want to get off Charter. :)

Crazy things Happen

As the title says crazy things happen. 2 days ago I had a job to do in Boone, it was 15 out and the wind was blowing like mad. I was working on a low box (climate control box that sit outside) when my phone rings. It's a guy I know from the local college. They asked if I would teach intro to web servers class. Now I am teaching a class on Wednesdays from 10-12. While I was in this meeting, the local news paper called and they want to do a business profile to put in the news paper. Crazy.....completely crazy...but, I am loving it also.

Kyle's Eye foundation

I was watching TV a couple of years ago and saw this amazing kid swinging a golf club. As I watched more and heard more about the story I had wanted to get involved.
Check out the website and hear their story.

http://www.kylelograsso.org/

What to look forward to in 2010

#1 prediction is that despite all the competition next year Apple will sell the largest amount of iPhones yet.
#2 Apple will launch the iPhone 4G (that will apparently feature a 5 megapixel camera - link) in the summer of 2010.
#3 Due to be announced in a few months is the 8GB iPhone 3GS — that will probably replace the lower-end iPhone 3G line of products - link.
#4 Apple will be announcing an “iTablet” - a touchscreen based iPhone-like computer/netbook/phone hybrid (depending on who you ask) as early as next month, according to industry insiders.
#5 iPhone apps and iPhone AppStore will become a major internet security threat this year, according to McAfee Labs - link.

Iron Man 2
Diablo 3 by Blizzard
Knight of the Old Republic MMO by Bioware
Health care will scare 85% of us.
Facebook will be bigger than Second life..its close now.
I will win the lotto at least once for more than 5 dollars this year..I swear it..

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Windows 7 and VMware

VMware has added support for Windows 7 and expanded the ability to handle virtual processors in Workstation 7, the new version of its platform for running multiple OSes simultaneously on a PC.
The new version of Workstation, announced Oct., supports the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7. VMware Workstation 7 also works with features in the Windows 7 interface -- Flip 3D and Aero Peek -- to show live thumbnail pictures of a user's virtual machines.

Come and Check this out!!!

We have a new company page on facebook. Come and be a fan and find hot deals on this site.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/JP-Computer-Consulting/194285561157?ref=mf

Veeam and Vmware

When you think of VMware, most of us think of Veeam. Veeam with their freeware tools that help season pro's. Now has a new product out for Backup and replication.

I am very excited about this new product. Along with the monitoring, reporter and so many other great tools this will be the topping on that cake...and Yes I like my cake.

Here are just a few of the high points:

2-in-1: Backup and replication combined

As virtualization increasingly handles mission-critical production workloads, organizations must be assured of effective backup and appropriately fast recovery of the virtual infrastructure. Balancing cost with flexibility is the key: some data requires replication to ensure business continuity, while other data is best backed up and recovered using less expensive hardware and techniques. Veeam Backup offers both techniques – backup and replication – through one interface, in one product, at one price.

The new product has so many new feature in it.

Heterogeneous file-level recovery in seconds

Backup is easy, but recovery can be hard – and that’s when the clock is ticking loudest. But with Veeam Backup & Replication, fast recovery is easier than you ever thought possible. Veeam’s fast file-level recovery feature allows you to restore individual files from your image-level backups and replicas in seconds to the latest state, or to a specific point in time. Veeam’s file-level recovery does not require extracting the full VM image to your local drive, or backing up your data twice in order to have both file-level and image-level recovery options readily available. Unlike competitive solutions, file-level restores are performed directly from image and support most of the major operating and file systems, including Windows, Linux, Unix, BSD and Mac.

Native support for vSphere

NEW Veeam Backup & Replication now offers not just compatibility, but full and native support for VMware vSphere, including all new vSphere functionality:

• Native support for thin-provisioned disks for faster full VM backups and restores, and to reduce the amount of storage required to host your production VMs.
• Ability to leverage ESX4 changed block tracking for lightning-fast incremental backup. For instance, if a VM only had 5 percent changes since the last backup, the incremental backup time will be 20 times faster.
• Support for virtual applications (vApp) for more flexibility with job setup.

Veeam Backup also fully supports the new vStorage API – the next generation of VMware Consolidated Backup, the vStorage API for Data Protection is the recommended API for VMware vSphere backup going forward. For example, the backup of vSphere Fault Tolerant VMs will only be possible with the vStorage API. While Veeam is still committed to supporting VCB as long as our customers will require it, native support for the vStorage API makes Veeam Backup the most future-proof solution currently available on the market.

Near-CDP replication at a fraction of the cost

NEW Veeam Backup & Replication 4.0 leverages the new vSphere ESX(i) 4 functionality to be able to provide extremely fast incremental replication cycles. This ability to run replication jobs as often as every few minutes allows extremely low recovery point objectives, thus providing near-CDP replication at a fraction of the cost. Unlike competitive solutions, Veeam Backup & Replication does not require that replicated VMs run with open snapshots that prevent Live Migration and DRS.

Database-consistent backup for application recovery

Veeam Backup & Replication leverages Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) functionality to ensure consistent hot backups of the applications within your running virtual machines. Unlike other vendors featuring limited VSS support, Veeam provides the most complete implementation of VSS support, equipping you for proper restore of VSS-aware applications (e.g. Active Directory, Exchange) from the created backups.

Finding the right word.

Ever have trouble when typing a letter, in word and you can't think of the right word to use. Here a quick tip. Click on a word and hit Shift-F7 to automatically look up a synonym, antonym or alternative choice, using a thesaurus or other available tools.

Cloud Computing

So, the new buzz word is Cloud Computing. I will give you some insight on what Cloud Computing is.

Cloud computing is Internet- ("cloud-") based development and use of computer technology ("computing").[1] In concept, it is a paradigm shift whereby details are abstracted from the users who no longer need knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure "in the cloud" that supports them.[2] It typically involves the provision of dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources as a service over the Internet.

Thank you Wikipedia....Ok, even more confused.. Let me break it down for you.

Pretty simple concept here is it: basically virtual servers available over the Internet.

There are new of companies joining the band wagon of Cloud Computing everyday, even ATT is on board.

I ran into a company I thought was cool as hell, A-server. A-server has created a java app that allows you to create you own datacenter online and its up and running in minutes. You can even do VoiP.

With so many companies cutting back and scaling down, these companies work well for them. Their biz model is PAY AS you go...Sounds great.


Don't forget to check out our weekly News spot coming soon @JPcomputerconsulting.com

JP Miller

Project for the City of Lenoir

Tomorrow is the big day. I start the VM project for the City of Lenoir. I will post updates soon.


wwww.jpcomputerconsulting.com

Radio Ad

JP Computer Consulting Radio Ad starts monday..You can listen to it off our web site.


I want to thank the Chamber and all the members that showed up for the ribbon cutting. I would like to Thank my wife and mother-in-law for all their hard work in the kitchen, the food was sooooooo good.