Book Reviews and Money Saving Tips

What is Scareware?  From the ZdNet blog  “Basically, scareware, also known as rogueware or put in simple terms, fake security software, is a legitimately looking application that is delivered to the end user through illegal traffic acquisition tactics starting from compromised web sites.”  The ultimate guide to scareware protection posted by Dancho Danchev at ZdNet is a must read.  It is dismaying to discover how well organized the malware folks are and how determined they are to separate you and your money.   Read the article, it is long but it is worth reading.   The following is a list of real malware cleaners provided by Dancho Danchev at ZdNet.    Legitimate online malware scanners offered for free by their vendors include, but are not limited to: TrendMicro’s Housecall Kaspersky’s Online Malware Scanner F-Secure’s Online Malware Scanner ESET’s Online Malware Scanner BitDefender’s Online ...

In the immortal words of Pink Floyd , “Is there anybody out there?” As contests go, this is a bust so far. Not one comment this week, butkus, zip, zero. NO WINNER. It seemed simple enough, comment on one of my blogs and be entered, the more comments on more blogs the more entries. Alas I have stooped to add the sure fire key word, naked, to the title to see if anyone reads this particular post. It is possible that my prize of a Tripplite Circuit Tester is insufficiently attractive to get someone to read my driveling prose. On the other hand, since this is a geek focused blog, why wouldn’t you want a circuit tester unless, of course, you are sufficiently geeky that you already have one. I guess I should be thankful that I have the occasional reader who accidentally stumbles into the twilight zone of my half-witty rending. If my satisfying self expression is predicated on readership I am doomed to a pathetic page rank. However if satisfying self expression is just the act itself of self ...

Who reads my blog? Damnifino! There are so few comments and none of those have been very revealing. I am no looking for names but whys. Who are you and why do you care what I write? My insatiable curiosity has provided me with a wealth of amusing incidents over the years. My earliest recollection of being burnt by my curiosity is kindergarten. Early in my kindergarten career, prior to any reading skills, I noticed a bright red button on the wall, near the steps outside our classroom. Several times I endeavored to push it but my mittens prevented me from fully depressing the button. One day I left my mittens at home so I wouldn’t be forced to put them on. As we went up the steps for recess, I was finally able to fully depress the pretty red button and set off the fire alarm. After the evacuation and re-entrance to the school, my sixth grade sister was instructed to walk me home. I clearly recollect that she was not happy with me. I vaguely recollect that my Dad w...

Why I am blogging. Getting the hang of blogging is somewhat problematic. For a guy who is seldom at a loss for words, I find myself staring at the keyboard wondering do I have anything remotely intelligent to offer today. In some ways it is like a commitment to exercise. You know it is good for you, you know it needs to be done regularly but you often have difficulty getting going. Oddly enough, I have always had a desire to “help”. Astrologically I am a Libra and if I bought into that stuff, it might explain that desire. I put nearly 30 years into the tech environment and it seems senseless to let that experience just whither away to nothing. I am cognizant that in my age group my skill set and technology interest is somewhat unusual. Those of you 20 years or more younger than me probably don’t need input on technology from a guy who text messages at about 1.5 words per minute. (I have big thumbs and these darn phone keyboards are really small.) Anyway, I am trying ...