Personal Computing Demystified.
Personal Computing
Read PDF Files? You might be asleep at the wheel and headed over the cliff..
Jul 7th
Back in March of this year a security expert figured out a way to use a specially-crafted Adobe PDF file to cause your computer to run an executable file embedded in that PDF document. If you understood what I just wrote there’s a pretty high likelihood that you heard about the flaw and did your Adobe update last week when the patch was released. If you didn’t really get any of that you’re probably one of millions of people who don’t pay attention to the little blinking update icons sitting down there in your system tray. If that’s you, you need to change your ways! Most of the virus and malware issues I see are a result of two things: outdated virus subscriptions and missing system updates. Updates, especially Windows updates can be tedious. This is one of those things that you just have to do, so make the time!
Important Updates to do:
- Antivirus (it should be doing this automatically)
- Windows Updates (I’m not a fan of auto-applied updates – do them manually as the icon pops up)
- Java updates (these are less frequent, do them as they come up)
- Adobe updates (also infrequent, so catch them when they arrive)
Software updates are a fact of life on any platform – including Mac and Linux. In fact.. Linux updates come out much more frequently than Windows updates. Manage these little annoyances and you’ll have fewer computer issues!
Step away from the computer!
Jul 6th
We all need time away from technology, whether we know it or not. I had one of those rare weekends when I had the chance to leave the laptop in the bag for 71 of 72 hours and spend a great deal of time with my family and friends, both old and new. The time was refreshing and just what the doctor ordered..stress free. We headed down late Friday afternoon to see one of my high school buddies and his family in Peachtree City, Georgia (@PTCTourism) which is about 20 minutes south of the Atlanta airport. Peachtree City is known for its abundant green space and the laid back lifestyle – so laid back that most residents use golf carts to get around on the 90 plus miles of golf cart path that interconnects almost the entire city. What a novel idea.. taking your time to get somewhere! It is a truly special place.. something you have to really experience. My friend Greg (@gferrara) is a worship leader and songwriter and he credits the environment down there as part of the reason he’s able to concentrate and write music that glorifies God. Greg’s wife Dawn also finds time to think and blog a bit.. go see her at her Unwind Out Loud blog. Greg and Dawn are truly blessed people and I’m thankful to have them in my life.
I got to take the time to meet new people as well.. Greg’s good friend and neighbor Tom (@TomRoyce) turns out to be a very successful blogger and all-around good guy.. take a minute and have a look at his very successful Real Estate blog.
All those URL’s and Twitter feeds aside.. I didn’t meet any of them online. That makes all the difference, I think.. Not gluing myself to my laptop made my weekend. You should try it sometime.
How do you like the new look?
Jul 6th
I’ve changed Wordpress themes to make the site a little easier on the eyes.. so let me know what you think! While you’re at it, take a look at a new feature I’ve added – a discussion forum! Click on the “Forum” link above to get there – you’ll need an account here to post there. Ask me a question.. collaborate.. just keep it clean.
