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Archive for Security – Page 4

Adobe Flash Player Update Error

by KW · Comments (0)
Jul 15 2012

Over the past week or so, I have encountered several workstations with a pop-up error window reporting that “Adobe Flash Player Update Service 11.3.r300 encountered a problem and needed to close.”

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If you search the Internet, you will see that many people have encountered this issue. Early reports was that it was only affecting Mozilla Firefox users. But users have since reported getting the same error on workstations without Firefox. So it is not a browser-based issue.

For now, here is what I am doing as a quick-fix (hopefully) when I encounter this on a workstation:

  • Startup the Flash Player Settings Manager
    • Go to Control Panel, and if necessary switch away from ‘Category’ view, then double click on the Flash Player icon
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    • Alternately, you may click Start –> Run –> FlashPlayerCPLApp.cpl
  • This will open the Flash Player Settings Manager
  • Click on the Advanced tab, and then click to select “Notify me to install updates”
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  • Then click on the Storage tab, then click “Local Storage Settings by Site”, and remove any sites that you cannot identify.
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  • Reboot your computer

Hope this helps you!

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Categories : Security, Windows
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LinkedIn Security Breach

by KW · Comments (0)
Jun 06 2012

Please do not take this lightly!

LinkedIn reported today (June 6, 2012) that a list containing 6.5 million encrypted passwords of LinkedIn users was stolen and posted to the Internet. They say hackers are busy trying to unencrypt these passwords.

I strongly encourage you to go to LinkedIn’s website and change your password ASAP. For more information, please read this PCWorld article on the security breach.

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Categories : Malware, News, Security

Windows Defender Offline

by KW · Comments (0)
Apr 27 2012

Microsoft recently released Windows Defender Offline (WDO), which is a standalone CD/USB bootable rootkit/malware scanner program. If you have a computer that will not start up properly because of malware, try WDO.

WDO is essentially the new name for the Microsoft’s Standalone System Sweeper (MSSS).

There are separate versions of WDO for scanning 32-bit and 64-bit systems. From a “good” computer, download the appropriate version of WDO and run the executable. It will prompt you to install it on a CD, create an ISO image, or create a bootable USB stick. You can then use the CD/USB on the infected computer.

WDO can be used to scan Windows XP (SP3), Vista, and Windows 7 systems.

My recommendation for I.T. technicians is to grab two USB sticks, and install the 32 bit version on one, and the 64 bit version on the other, and keep them in your toolkit.

One nice thing with WDO is that if the infected computer does have internet access, when you boot up WDO, it will go out and look for updated definition files.

Finally, you may find Microsoft Resources and Guidance for Removal of Malware and Viruses helpful.

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Categories : Malware, Security, Windows
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SPF Record Wizard

by KW · Comments (0)
Apr 26 2012

The OpenSpf organization used to provide a tool for creating an SPF (Sender Policy Framework) record for mail server/domain. But that tool has been retired.

Microsoft offers their own Sender Id/SPF Wizard tool that is very easy to use, as seen in these screenshots:

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Step 1: Enter your domain

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Step 2: Obtain current publicly published DNS records

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Step 3: Configure your SPF options

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Step 4: Generate your SPF record

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Now go to your domain control panel or contact your vendor to add your SPF record. You may then test your SPF by sending test emails, as described on the OpenSpf organization’s website.

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Categories : Exchange, SBS, Security

Microsoft Security Essentials for Your Business!

by KW · Comments (0)
Sep 24 2010

For the past year, I have been recommending Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) to my residential customers for anti-virus/anti-malware protection. Yes, it’s free! Yes, it works! However, MSE was initially released for single-PC personal/home use only.

But, starting in October 2010, Microsoft will become free to use for small businesses (up to 10 computers). Click here to read more!

Over the past year, the product has won awards and certifications from a number of independent agencies, such as ICSA Labs, West Coast Labs and PC Advisor, and last January, PC Advisor named Microsoft Security Essentials to its list of the “Best Free Software.”

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Categories : Security
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