DNSChanger-Don’t forget to check you system before Monday

CNET’s Topher Kessler has a great article he posted today called

“How to detect and fix a machine infected with DNSChanger”.

Take a little time to look at this and double check your machine for this malware scam. On Monday, July 9th, the FBI will close down a network of DNS servers that have been helping people with infected machines to access the Internet. When they do this, any system depending on these servers will lose access to the Internet. So take the time to double check you machine. Take a look at the article listed above to see how to do this. Good Luck and happy surfing!

Do you need to lock down your tablet

Kensington has a whole series of different cases that will secure your iPad to a location. Ranging in price from $49.99 to $129.99, these cases come in different colors and form factors that should fit most any situation that you might need to resolve.

Google’s Nexus 7

Well, I have finally bit the bullet and have placed my order in for the new Nexus 7 tablet. I am really looking forward to its arrival. As you probably have noticed I have been a staunch IOS device user since the iPad was released but I have been thinking about android based tablets for awhile. With all the reports I have seen and the specs of the unit I decided to get my hands on one to try it out. I’ll obviously report more on this once I have it in my hands. I think with the introduction of Android 4.1 “Jelly Bean” the Android experience will be a much happier one for me. The only drawback with the Nexus 7 that I see is that it doesn’t have an SD slot for adding more memory. It would have been nice to have that as well but I’ll have to live with storing my stuff in the cloud instead.

With the addition of this new device in my toy box I am going to have to begin entertaining the thought of getting a mobile WiFi device that I can share with all of my devices. I just wish that the data plans weren’t so darn expensive. To help supplement this I will probably discontinue my iPad data subscription and just use the mobile hotspot to get by in areas where I don’t have WiFi access.

Microsoft News…

This has been a busy couple of weeks for Microsoft with the introduction of the Surface RT and Surface Pro tablets. StatCounter has stated that Windows 7 has garnered more than half of the worldwide operating system market. Windows 7 is officially more popular than Windows XP by their count.Net Applications claims that Windows XP still holds 43.61-percent of the OS market, with their data showing that XP edges out Windows 7 ever so slightly, with Windows 7 sitting at 41.59-percent. Who ever you wish to believe we are seeing the acceptance of Windows 7 as a primary Windows Platform.

So what about Window 8? Microsoft is hoping that you will take advantage of their upgrade pricing they have announced. There are two options available for you to choose from. If you purchase a new Windows 7 computer between June 1st and the end of the year you can get a Windows 8 pro upgrade for about $15. That’s a pretty good deal. They have also announced that you can get Windows 8 and Media Center for download for anyone that is running Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 for $39.99 or if you want your own media it will cost you $69.99. This upgrade will run through January 31, 2013.

Windows 8 Pro upgrade settings, files, apps migration details:

• From consumer Windows 7: Can bring everything, which includes Windows settings, personal files, and apps.
• From Windows Vista: Can bring Windows settings and personal files.
• From Windows XP: Can only bring along personal files.

"You will be able to create your own bootable USB or .ISO file, which can be burned onto a DVD for upgrade and backup purposes. If you prefer, you also have the option of purchasing a backup DVD for $15 plus shipping and handling," Microsoft said.

Be careful of what you post to the Internet

Judge rules that public Twitter posts can be used against you in court and accessed without a search warrant. This ruling is sure to have far-reaching consequences for how online speech is treated under law. So, what you say publicly online, via a Facebook update, Tweet or other posting services can be accessed and used against you in court without the need for a search warrant.

"The Constitution gives you the right to post, but as numerous people have learned, there are still consequences for your public posts," wrote Sciarrino in his ruling. "What you give to the public belongs to the public. What you keep to yourself belongs only to you."

For most of you, this won't ever be of any concern, at least not in and of itself. However, if you are ever arrested or involved in a legal matter, or your Tweets or Facebook updates ever become of interest to the courts, this ruling means that law enforcement can gain access to them without a search warrant, even if you have deleted them.

Cisco stumbles with its Cisco Connect Cloud

Owners of E2700, E3500 and E4500 models recently discovered that their router login credentials stopped working following an automatic firmware update, and instead they were asked to sign up to the new Cisco Connect Cloud platform to regain access. If they sought to avoid this by rebooting the router, they reportedly lost control over their advanced settings.

To make matters worse, the Connect Cloud service came with a supplemental privacy policy that explicitly allowed Cisco to peek at a user's "internet history," "traffic" and "other related information." If Cisco discovered you had used your router for "pornographic or offensive purposes" or to violate "intellectual property rights," it reserved the right to shut down your cloud account and effectively cut you off from your router. Cisco has deleted this offending paragraph but the initial intent of it is disturbing.

The new Cisco Connect Cloud app helps either manage the router itself (think parental controls) or tap into other devices around the home, including AirPlay sharing and remote camera monitoring. There's even a new SimpleTap hardware integration platform that will pair third-party WiFi gear.

While all of this on the surface sounds great, I can’t help but wonder if this is just another one of those services that doesn’t take off. There is a lot of promise but if they don’t get other vendors onboard it isn’t going to go anywhere.

For more information on this service go to Cisco Cloud Connect.