e-mail spamming

02.12.11: Beware of false e-mails that ask you to go to a web link. They don't appear to cause problems but are not sent from the sender indicated.

In the last 24 hours, users i have mailed to have been spammed by this technique.

I suspect someone who has received one of my e-mails, isn't using current and up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spamware tools on their computer.

. There is no subject in these e-mails.

. There is a web link (usually ending in PHP) asking you to go there.

. There is no salutation in the e-mail.

As with all e-mails you are unsure of, reply to sender to indicate a problem or concern and then delete the e-mail.

I have two anti-virus and one anti-spamware programs running and they have found no problems on my PC.

Pls check your anti-virus and anti-spamware progams to ensure they are up-to-date.

If you are spending money on these tools, you have FREE options.

The ones I have been using for years are listed here on my Tools site.

If you would like assistance installing, let me know.

Recent Virus Warnings

Recently, there have been a few virus warning msgs circulating. These tend to confuse the average Internet user as they are not sure how to respond.

In all instances this year i am aware of, they are false alarms ... if you maintain current anti-virus pgm.

Of course, anti-virus manufacturers don't object to these circulating 'dire' warnings.

My advice is to not continue circulation of these old warnings.

Careful use of e-mail includes these standard practices:

a .ensuring your anti-virus pgm is current,

b. don't open any mail from someone you don't know,

c. don't click on any link in an e-mail unless you know what it is and someone else has clicked on it without incident,

d. if still unsure, send me an e-mail before clicking or opening one you are unsure of.

Pls update your anti- virus pgm at least weekly or before accessing your e-mail if away for a long tome.

Here are a few of the recent circulating dire warnings that all good anti-virus pgms are aware of:

1. Here you have...

2. Here it is

3. Just for you

AVG is at it again

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10/18/10 - Every once in a while, AVG tries to encourage users to buy their product. They are at it again with this ad.

Just to see what happens, i followed their guidance and did the install ... only to find i would need to pay for it.

So i did the expected - i began to deleted the product.

To my surprise, AVG asked if i wanted to easily convert their Anti-Virus 2011 to the free 2011 version.

I was then immediately/quickly changed to the free AVG version.

You can look at this a few ways:

1. I have too much time on my hands to play with these marketing ploys

2. Before taking any action, ask someone who has the free version what they did

3. You could ignore the ad and continue with the free version installed

My advice is to not take any action to convert a FREE app to a PAID for app until checking further.

BTW, there are still a few very good FREE anti-virus applications available.

I continue to favour AVG as it is it has more auto features than the others ... but you still need to periodically update your definitions database (by just clicking on "update now" every couple of weeks).

iPhone Location Indicator

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10/17/10 - Do you know about location services on your iPhone?

Quite a few apps ask if they can use your current location (golf GPS, road GPS, maps, camera, etc) and you need to allow or disallow. Once you have done this, the app will not ask you again.

As per the attached, it may be not wise to allow or, more importantly, it may be wise to manage this allowable indicator.

In my case, to ensure good battery life (the iPhone battery is not very good), I disable Location Services, Bluetooth, Data Roaming, Auto-Brightness, Sounds Vibrate, and Rings Vibrate.

Turning off Location Services on your iPhone will protect youtr privacy.

Location Services can be turned on and off. When I need a specific Location Service (GPS or map related), I turn Location Services on (with only that specific app enabled). When finished with that app, I turn Location Services off.

This practice has greatly increased my battery life.

Settings -> General -> Location Services -> a specific app

Rogers iPhone Repair Problem

Bottom line - go to the Apple store for any problem with your Rogers iPhone

10.07.10 11am update - problem finally resolved. Went back to the Apple store again for another iPhone ... they had given me an AT&T prepped iPhone yesterday ... and said they were sorry.

As trusting as i have become with lack of technical competence, i took my laptop with me to sync the new iPhone with iTunes. It worked!

I was so pleased to have it resolved, I didn't ask for any compensation.

I haven't told Rogers ... will wait until they advise my replacement iPhone is in stock to tell them it is not required.

10.06.10 5pm update - I was successful in replacing my iPhone at the Apple Store ... even though Rogers told me I had to go thru Rogers Technical Support to replace the iPhone.

However, now Apple has created a problem and my iPhone doesn't appear to be mine ... and I need to return to the Apple store with Rogers iPhone proof-of-purchase. One does need a sense of humour when dealing with phone service companies.

I was informed I just needed to restore my apps and everything would be back to normal.

As you might have guessed, the restore didn't work and in addition it appears the SIM card is not valid (I am told it is an AT&T card).

When i called the store, i was advised i had to return to the store and bring my Rogers iPhone proof-of-purchase. Do they think i stole the iPhone from an AT&T customer??

I think they neglected to move my SIM card to the replacement iPhone.

Back to the Apple store tomorrow morning ... what will happen next??

10.06.10 3pm - I am spending approx 5 hours today with Rogers and Apple trying to repair my iPhone 3Gs.

"No Service" appears most of the time, instead of "Rogers", in the upper left corner.

This has to do with the modem not consistently receiving the Rogers 3Gs signal.

It only seems to work when i drive by Rogers' main office on Bloor.

On Sept 24th, I contacted Rogers with this problem and was advised a swap would happen and i would receive a free replacement in 3-5 business days. Being Friday, this meant waiting until the following Friday, without service, for a replacement. I asked them to try hard to deliver it as soon as possible.

Having confidence in Rogers - first mistake - i waiting until the Friday to call them back ... only to discover the replacment order hadn't been placed!

This time, i was advised 3-5 business days once again.

Getting wiser about Rogers infamous service, i escalated from tech support to customer care, when i called on the Monday and was advised of a UPS tracking number. I was advised i should receive the replacement in the next couple of days.

Getting wiser about "Rogers' service", I called this morning and escalated to customer service (from customer care) and then escalated to a manager in customer service and discovered there was no tracking number (even tho they gave me one) and the replacement iPhones were "out of stock" and i would need to wait until they were again in stock.

Getting wiser about the lack of Rogers service, i indicated i wasn't satisfied with "waiting until a replacement was in stock".

The manager, when pressed, indicated i could go to the Rogers store and buy a phone (for less than $100) on an pay-as-you-go service plan and fax the bill to them for a customer credit and use this phone until me iPhone replacement arrives.

Getting even wiser about lack of Rogers customer service, expertise and care, i asked how i would be notified when the replacements were in stock and discovered i would need to check with them daily!

So, to net it out, the iPhone became defective (for no known reason) and I need to go without one until they restock ... but continue to pay for it!

Needless to say, i am getting very proficient in dealing with Rogers by now and demanded a reduction in monthly fees. They agreed to not charge for my data plan for the month ($25). Not being satisfied, once the replacement happens, i will go after more.

As i am stuck with Rogers until the end of the contract, (2.5 years from now), i intend to make life miserable for them, on a continuing basis, for this time period.

Not done yet. I decided to go to the Apple store and am now waiting (1.5 hours) to be served and will try for a replacement from them, as a hardware error situation.

BTW, Rogers advised i could NOT go to the Apple store to resolve the problem, as it was a Rogers technical problem and had to be resolved by the Rogers Technical Support division.

I don't know how i would have proceeded solving this problem, if i was a working person...

RIM has a tough decision to make

08/17/10 - in the Star today.

Is this the beginning of the end for RIM?

Are they giving in to India and allowing government access to user e-mails?
Will it mean every country will have access to user e-mails?
The main reason for gov't access is to screen for terrorist activities... which will happen regardless in "those" countries.
If RIM decides not to concede, it would lose a lot of future sales and this is not the mandate of any profitable corporation.

Somehow, RIM needs to find a middle-ground solution that satisfies everyone.

Talk about gobbledygook ... RIM indicates "maintains a consistent global standard for lawful access requirements that does not include special deals for specific countries".

It will be interesting to see how this concludes ... increased sales of iPhones?

As the financial advisers would say "RIM is not a good buy at this time".

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