Panda Cloud Antivirus in Beta2

If  you are currently running the Beta1 version (00.08.80.0000) of Panda Cloud Antivirus on your PC you are most likely being alerted that it is set to expire.  You will be required to uninstall the Beta1 version prior to installing Beta 2 (Version 00.08.82.0000).  If during the uninstall process (especially on Windows XP) the uninstaller may not complete. In my case, I went into the Windows Task Manager, under “Processes”, and terminated the process “PSANHost.exe”.  Once that process was terminated I was able to complete the uninstall process on my Windows XP machine.  I encountered no issues on my Windows Vista boxes.

Panda Antivirus is the latest in “set and forget” antivirus programs that relies on synchronization processes that are driven across the internet to your PC. I have been using this software on my PC’s and have been quite pleased. It is a lightweight antivirus package in that degradation to  your system’s performance is minimal compared to other antivirus packages.

Reflected are some of the fixes and enhancements in Beta2:

New – “Undo” Option for Recycle Bin

New – Synchronous Real-Time Cloud-Scan

New – Latency & Response Control of the Cloud-Scanner

Fixed – Slow Scans

Fixed – Recycle Bin Unblock Functionality

Keep in mind, that with any “Beta” level software, expect issues; such as the uninstall issue I experienced.  If interested in reading more about (and even trying) Panda Cloud Antivirus, click [ HERE ].  Past articles of interest about Panda Cloud Antivirus can be found here:

Panda Cloud Antivirus – Is it netbook ready?

Panda Cloud Antivirus – Free Cloud Protection
(courtesy of Bill Mullins’ Weblog – Tech Thoughts)

As an added note, if you opt to remove any antivirus software from your computer, to install another, always check with the software maker to determine the uninstall process.  To assist you with this process I encourage you to follow the links below:

AppRemover… Antivirus and Antispyware Uninstaller!

Uninstalling and Installing Antivirus Software

post to jaanix

[ CLICK HERE TO LEAVE A COMMENT ]

Windows Update to be Updated

Be Aware: Starting in late August, Microsoft will start rolling out an update (or upgrade) to the Windows and Microsoft Update Services. You will automatically receive the upgrade if you have automatic updates set to install download updates. Reportedly this upgrade will enhance the notification process and provide a more detailed description of updates. It is important that you receive this upgrade so that your PC is adequately protected in the future. The Windows and Microsoft Update Services are automated services provided by Microsoft that keep your Windows operating system and other Windows software (such as MS Office) up-to-date.

A “What’s On My PC…” Web Clip!

Microsoft Update Product Team Blog

Latest happenings, developments,
and news from the MU product team…

---

Upcoming Update for Windows Update

---

Please be aware that beginning next month, we will start an upgrade to the Windows Update and Microsoft Update services. As a part of the service upgrade, an update to the Windows Update and Automatic Updates client code will be required. We will start this infrastructure update in late August, and it will take a couple of months to complete the rollout. Updates to the services and Windows code are required from time to time to maintain and improve service quality, reliability, and operations. The last update occurred in November of 2008.

[ SOURCE: Microsoft Update Product Team Blog ]

post to jaanix

[ CLICK HERE TO LEAVE A COMMENT ]

Speed Dial your way in Firefox

Many internet users have specific web sites they visit on a daily basis and often do not venture out beyond that.  If you are a advocate of the browser, Mozilla Firefox, then you know there are browser extensions (add-ons) that you can download to customize and make your browsing experience a more efficient experience.

One of my favorite extensions that I have installed in Firefox is called Speed Dial.  Speed Dial is actually an idea that has been borrowed from another browser called Opera that gives you fast access to your most used web sites.  Speed Dial loads in a tab, and will show thumbnail views of websites you have assigned to Speed Dial. The thumbnails are automatically refreshed in the background when the site changes. Once you have your Speed Dial customized to your liking, you simply click on the Speed Dial button on the browser toolbar to load your thumbnail collection of your most frequently visited sites.  Click on any of the thumbnails to visit the selected site. You can get the Speed Dial extension [ HERE ] .

Features as described by publisher:

Speed Dial will open in a tab, showing the currently assigned websites as thumbnails.

The Speed Dial tab can be loaded automatically in new tabs and windows.

The assigned websites can be loaded automatically by pressing the Control key and it’s assigned number.

Drag & drop reordering.

Add dialog when clicking an unassigned entry.

Automatic refresh of thumbnails by using a background browser (with configurable interval per thumbnail).

Toolbar buttons to access Speed Dial’s functionality (including a drop down of the assigned websites).

Multiple addresses can be assigned to a single dial, similar to the way the home page is handled (separating them with the “|” character).

Weather status, which can locate your position automatically based on your IP (courtesy of GeoBytes). Clicking on that dial will provide the full weather forecast.

post to jaanix

[ CLICK HERE TO LEAVE A COMMENT ]

Geek Squeaks of the Week (#19)

The “What’s On My PC…” blogroll community continues to produce tech articles that are comparable, in content, to commercial blog publications. It is an honor to be associated with such a great bunch of authors that produce and deliver information with the objective in mind of helping other people.  Reflected is a sampling of posts, created by these authors, from  the past week.

TTC Shelbyville
U.K., not North Korea,
source of DDOS attacks, researcher says

The Abbey Rose
Remove the Search Box

Technize
Software Wars – Microsoft’s Battle Ground

AKS-Feel The Change
Fusion of Google, Bing and Yahoo

Tech-for Everyone
A Great Resource For The Traveler

AllThatsNew
Tumblr Launches Community Submissions

Bill Mullins’ Weblog – Tech Thoughts
Spam and Botnets – Who’s Responsible?

411-Spyware.com
How to Remove AntiVirusPro

The Spyware Biz Blog
How secure is your password nowadays?

Carol’s Vault
Surf safer, faster and smarter with OpenDNS and WOT

Snakebytez
Free Network Drive Mapper

Crazy World of G
The Yellow Gun Project

Rarst.net
Easily cut and trim MP3 files with mp3DirectCut

EvilFantasy’s Blog
Use Revo Uninstaller
to terminate unresponsive processes

Plato on-line
What Not to put on Plastic

Free PC Security
Advanced System Care from IOBit

Piyada’s World
Automatic transfer images from Camera
to Computer with WIA-Loader

Lifehacker
Microsoft Office 2010 in Videos

post to jaanix

[ CLICK HERE TO LEAVE A COMMENT ]

A FREE Personal Information Manager for your Flash Drive

There are some FREE programs that I use on my PC that I could continue to write about each time they are updated; because they are that good.  One such program is EssentialPIM.  This application is a personal information manager (PIM) that I use on a daily basis to manage my life’s appointments, tasks, to do lists, notes, contacts and email messages.  EssentialPIM continues to get better all of the time and is updated and tweaked on a regular basis.  Recently EssentialPIM was updated to include email.

There are (2)-two FREE versions available.  One version you can install on your PC and a second version that you can install on your portable flash drive.  In my situation, I have the FREE portable version of EssentialPIM installed on my flash drive so that I have my life’s information available to me at home and at work.  There are also “paid” versions available, as well; with a ton of added features.  In my opinion, for everyday use, this app is better that the high powered PIM’s out there and the portability feature alone is something many of the other PIM’s do not offer.

[ Visit EssentialPIM – SCREENSHOTS HERE ]

MAIN FEATURES:

Tools to satisfy your calendar, contact management, to do list, notes and email needs.

Synchronization with Outlook, Windows Mobile devices, Palm, iPOD, Google Calendar.

Simple printout of any or all modules and quick export of your data into the most useful formats (iCal, vCard, HTML).

Strong data protection using Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm.

Intuitive interface in many languages including German, Italian, French and Spanish.

post to jaanix

[ CLICK HERE TO LEAVE A COMMENT ]

Make your mouse smarter with these productivity tools…

The author of Piyada’s World recently contacted me and indicated that after reading the article “Control your sound volume with your mouse wheel…” he was going to put together a listing of utilities that you could install and control with your mouse.  Today, Piyada’s World has given us a list of (20)-Twenty “mouse” tools (utilities) that will help automate our computer experience.  I can tell you as a blogger, to research and compile a listing such as this, is a whole lot of work. I encourage you to visit Piyada’s World (Your Daily Tech Digest) to read and comment on the  “20 Free Tools To Increase Your Mouse Productivity”.  I am sure there is something on that list that will you will want to try.

post to jaanix

[ CLICK HERE TO LEAVE A COMMENT ]

Atypical Ways of How Your Data Can Be Stolen

A reader of the recent blog post titled “Are Wireless Keyboards Secure?” shared this article with me that I clipped for you to see.  It is fascinating to see what lengths a determined person could go to steal your data. It is using atypical methods of hacking that we would never dream of.  For example your own webcam, using special software, could be used against you to record and analyze your keystroke motions without you even being aware of it.  This all may sound like James Bond material; but hey, someone out there came up with these methods of intrusion and posted it on the internet for all to see.

A “What’s On My PC…” Web Clip!

[SOURCE: www.scientificamerican.com]

---

How Hackers Can Steal Secrets from Reflections

---

Information thieves can now go around encryption, networks and the operating system

---

By W. Wayt Gibbs

---

Key Concepts

---

Even with the best network security, your electronic data may not be safe from a determined hacker.

---

Researchers have extracted information from nothing more than the reflection of a computer monitor off an eyeball or the sounds emanating from a printer.

---

These attacks are difficult to defend against and impossible to trace.

I encourage you to read this article at “Scientific American”.

---

post to jaanix

[ CLICK HERE TO LEAVE A COMMENT ]