Friday, March 26, 2010

What is a Key Logger

The link here shows a little device that fits between a computer and a keyboard. It can be used with a PC or a Mac. And it captures every keystroke. The concern? You are on a public computer somewhere and someone may be spying on everything you type, the websites you visit, your user names, and your passwords. The spy doesn't need to install any software, just unplug the keyboard and insert the device inline. My point is that you need to be careful! A key logger can also be software that is installed on any PC or Mac. You can check your computer with the software here (designed for Windows XP but may work with other Windows versions). If the program detects a key logger, you might try the program here to remove it.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Windows Updates

About once a month Microsoft pushes updates that help make your computer run better and improve security. It's important that you install these updates. There are actually two different products. Windows Update is the older of the products and just handles software updates for the Windows program. Microsoft Update is the newer, and includes all Microsoft products. It's good to update your MS Office programs as well. For a great explanation of the Microsoft Update process click here. In its entirety it's a long read, but very worthwhile.

You should make sure that your computer is configured to automatically download and install Windows updates. If you are using Windows XP, follow these steps:

  • Click "Start"
  • Right Click on "My Computer" and select "Properties"
  • Select the Automatic Updates tab and configure appropriately for your situation.