You Have A Computer Virus... Now What?
by Crestien
 Chris On Tech
Aug 05, 2011 | 5069 views |  0 comments | 24 24 recommendations | email to a friend | print | permalink

Following the steps below, I have been able to remove every virus, malware, etc from the computers people bring to me. Hopefully it will help some of you out. Best of all, these are all FREE!

First of all, this is advice for computers running Windows. Nothing here is meant for Macs. The best way to get these programs is to download them onto a clean computer and put them on the infected computer with a flash drive. If you don't have that option, and your infected computer can still get online, that should work as well.

You need to do all of these in Windows Safe Mode. Restart your computer and tap F8 until you get the option to Boot Into "Safe Mode With Networking." After you run all of these in Safe Mode, I always run them again in the Normal Windows Mode to be sure.

First: Uninstall
The first step is to uninstall any current antivirus & antispyware applications on your computer if you're able to. Don't argue that you just bought them or that they've worked in the past. These programs below are all you will need from today onward and they're free.

Second: ComboFix
A great program, but I can't explain exactly how it works. This will get you back up and running so you can run the programs below.

You'll download this, run it, agree to everything, and let it do it's thing. Very simple and straightforward, but very powerful. If it mentions conflicts or any messages, just do whatever it takes to continue onward. You're computer is already a mess and this isn't going to make it worse.

Third: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes is a great program that will remove just about anything you've got on your system. Download it, install it, get the updates, and then let it run. If you don't have an internet connection then download the manual updates in the second link and use that to bring the program up-to-date before running it. If you do have an internet connection, then you don't need it as Malwarebytes will update itself.

Fourth: Microsoft Security Essentials
Your new antivirus application. Install this, get the updates, and run it. That should do it. It will update as needed. It's created by and maintained by Microsoft and it's free. Do not pay for an antivirus. Ever.

Conclusion:
That should do it. Once you've run all of those programs in safe mode, run them again in normal mode. As long as you're not finding anything when you run them, you're good to go. You can uninstall Malwarebytes and delete combofix now if you want. Leaving them installed won't hurt anything either. You'll leave Security Essentials installed from now on. Take a moment and run your Windows Updates as well. I would venture a guess that you're not up-to-date. That can also help prevent a lot of problems.

My Advice:
You probably got this virus by clicking on something you shouldn't have. Maybe on Facebook. You need to download a more secure internet browser. It's pretty likely that you're using some variant of Internet Explorer. Stop it. Download Google's Chrome browser and enjoy the internet in the best way possible. It's blazing fast, unhackable, and refuses to use plug-ins that are known to let viruses on your system.

Chris Williams, Web Developer, WideNet Consulting

If you have a news tip or a topic you would like to see me write on, please email me at
chris@chrisontech.com or write on my facebook page's wall.


How To: Use Technology to Read News Quickly
by Crestien
 Chris On Tech
Aug 03, 2011 | 2424 views |  0 comments | 16 16 recommendations | email to a friend | print | permalink

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the good ole' fashion way of reading the news, but being someone that likes his tech on the bleeding edge; I have to consume it that way too. I consume so much tech news in a day that I've had to find many different and fast ways to get it. It's just part of my daily routine now and I'm going to share with you how so that maybe you can consume your favorite news in some of the same ways!

Update (3:27pm)

It appears I've left out a rather popular iPad application.  Editions is a new app that is getting some rave reviews right now.  I'd recommend anyone with an iPad give it a good look.

Google Reader

I should probably say “RSS Reader,” but I have a hard time recommending you use anything other than Google Reader when you get started on this winding and glorious path. Google Reader allows me to consume the content off of 131 different websites in the span of about 30 minutes each morning. It takes all of their content, puts it in date order, and makes one giant, readable, user-friendly list out of it. I can’t imagine getting my news any other way.

Once you’ve signed up for Google Reader with your new Gmail account, you just click the "Add Subscription" button and type in your favorite website. If it has an RSS feed, which sites usually do, then it will automatically be added and you’ll start seeing the news stories pop up in Google Reader as the website publish them. As you make time in your day to come visit Google Reader, you’ll see the newest stories automatically loaded in there for you to read. You can begin by subscribing to Chris On Tech’s RSS Feed. Just copy and paste "feeds.feedburner.com/ChrisOnTech" into the "Add Subscription" box and you'll be set to go.  It’s that simple, yet that powerful. 

Social Media

I didn't really mean to start reading news via Facebook, but I've noticed more and more that I do. On Facebook I've "Liked" Mashable, Techcrunch, Lifehacker, AnnistonStar, and many other of my favorite sources. So when I look through my Facebook news feed, I get a steady stream of curated and important news as well as updates from my friends. I find this a brilliant use of Facebook and my time.

Twitter can be a little overwhelming and confusing for people, but a great use for it is to consume news in an immediate fashion. Most major news sources push their stories to Twitter. You can follow all of the people I mentioned earlier on Twitter and get their news delivered via updates to your phone, desktop, tablets or wherever you might have installed a Twitter App. It’s definitely more of a “pushed” news tool, so if it’s important to know right away, this might be a great way to go about it.

On Your iPad / Tablet

There’s a whole host of iPad News Apps, but Flipboard is the original and the best. In 2010, it won Apple’s coveted iPad Application of the Year award. Flipboard continues to push the envelope by adding even more content partners and sources to its available list to customize your interface. News.me is another source that has the backing of more than 20 major media organizations. However, as might be expected with heavy backing, it comes with a price tag. Browse through the App Stores and you’ll find quite a few apps to consume news. It’s really become quite a popular use of all tablets since the screen is so much larger.

News Aggregating Websites

These sites having fallen off in total viewership, but they are still a great way to find quality content quickly. Sites like Digg and Reddit will regularly have incredible news stories on their front pages that you can quickly skim over. Both of these sites are curated mainly by user voting, so they can be a little skewed in their views, but generally it’s a good source for breaking news.

My Advice

Go to Google Reader and subscribe to my blog.  Start adding your favorite sites every day and enjoy the good life!

Chris Williams, Web Developer, WideNet Consulting

If you have a news tip or a topic you would like to see me write on, please email me at
chris@chrisontech.com or write on my facebook page's wall.


Digsby = IM Email Social Networking Client
by Crestien
 Chris On Tech
Aug 02, 2011 | 1556 views |  0 comments | 11 11 recommendations | email to a friend | print | permalink

Digsby is my goto application for instant messaging, email, and social networking notifications.  It's an application that has gone through it's good reviews and bad, and has rightfully deserved the bad reviews when it got them.  However, today it is a great IM application with a clean install.  Just pay attention as you go through the install process and uncheck anything unnecessary.

What Will It Do For You?

Digsby excels at two things, bringing all of the aforementioned services together into one application in a visually appealing way, and only making you do it once because it will sync across all of your computers automatically.

Instant Messaging

All of your IM accounts (Facebook, AIM, Gmail, Yahoo, MSN Messenger, etc) can all be added to this one application.  This is nothing new, but Digsby does it well and it is half of the reason I use the app.  Each new chat you have open can be contained within one chat window and the conversations are separated by tabs. There are many chat features, but nothing worth mentioning.  It's all done well here.

Email

If you're like me, you like to use a webmail interface to access your email instead of a desktop application like Outlook.  One of the biggest disadvantages to this approach is that you don't get pop up notifications or have any other way to quickly identify if you have an email that needs to be addressed without logging into the website.  With Digsby, it will not only pop up little notifications upon new email arrivial, but it keeps it in a handy interface to quickly look them over and even interact with them such as archiving, spamming, or deleting them straight from Digsby.  I currently manage 4 email accounts through Digsby and find it very effective.

Social Networking

Just like with your email, Digsby will pop up little notifications when something happens at a social network like Facebook or Twitter.  It will also let you interact with those networks in very useful ways.  In your Facebook feed on Digsby, you can leave comments, "like" things, and also view larger versions of pictures without ever leaving the application.  It's truly one of the main ways I'm able to keep up with these things at all because of the limited amount of day time I have to spend on these sites.

Conclusion

All in all, I highly recommend Digsby as an IM client more.  It's become an essential part of my work day and almost the sole way I interact with Twitter.

http://www.digsby.com

Please let me know if you have any questions about the app and your opinion on it if you've given it a try.

Chris Williams, Web Developer, WideNet Consulting

If you have a news tip or a topic you would like to see me write on, please email me at
chris@chrisontech.com or write on my facebook page's wall.


White House Aide Says Tweets Influenced Debt Ceiling Deal
by Crestien
 Chris On Tech
Aug 01, 2011 | 1575 views |  0 comments | 15 15 recommendations | email to a friend | print | permalink

I love social media and the power it has. I believe it to be one of the best and worst things that could have happened to our culture at the same time. It helps spread valuable information and ideas more quickly than was previously thought possible. However it spreads lies, rumors and hate at the same speed. If you can push past all of that by vetting information before you spread it, you can really get some incredible things done. We just saw history as the White House staff turned to Twitter to ask everyone to get in contact with their representatives and let them know how you feel about our current situation. The results are in, and most believe it really made a difference.

"A White House aide said Sunday night that Twitter influenced the recently announced agreement on the U.S. debt ceiling. This came after President Obama asked people to tweet at their congressmen Friday to get them to come to an agreement on setting the debt ceiling. He asked that people use the hashtag #compromise, and then his staff spent the day tweeting out the names of Republican legislators from every state."

Read More And View The Tweets At Mashable

 

Chris Williams, Web Developer, WideNet Consulting

If you have a news tip or a topic you would like to see me write on, please email me at
chris@chrisontech.com or write on my facebook page's wall.


iPhone 5 Launching in Mid-Late September?
by Crestien
 Chris On Tech
Jul 30, 2011 | 3251 views |  0 comments | 12 12 recommendations | email to a friend | print | permalink
iPhone 5 Mockup
iPhone 5 Mockup
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iPhone 4 & 5 Case Comparison
iPhone 4 & 5 Case Comparison
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That's what the rumor mill has churned up. The rumors and speculation around Apple products have always been wild and inaccurate. However, sometimes a true leak makes it out and people go crazy. Someone who claims to be an AT&T employee has tipped off Gizmodo stating all vacation will be denied for the end of September. AT&T has done this previously when new iPhones have launched, so it's highly likely that this is true.

One rumor I keep seeing is that the iPhone 5 will be redesigned to sport a larger, higher resolution screen that goes all the way to the edge. To support this there have been unconfirmed iPhone 5 cases spotted all throughout China that point to a thinner and slightly larger iPhone 5. Here's a quote below from 9to5 Mac.

"Our new images are clear and there are appears to be a slight – not major – tear drop in the design. The case goes thick to thin from top to bottom. In addition, the sources who provided us with these two new cases have shared some dimensions. According to them, the case is 5 inches tall and 2.8 inches wide. These are tight cases so the iPhone 5 dimensions should only be a few millimeters smaller than those numbers. For comparison, the iPhone 4 is 4.5 inches tall and 2.31 inches wide."

As a current and dissappointed Droid X owner, I have to say I'm ready to get back onto the iPhone bandwagon. If there's one thing I have enjoyed about the Droid X it's the larger screen. So if the rumors are true about the size increase, I'm going to be one happy camper come this Fall.

My Advice:

Do not buy a cell phone (or an iPad since the iPad 3 is heavily rumored for the Fall too) right now if you can help it. With the Fall lineup looking to be full of new tech, it would lead to nothing but tech envy and frustration at being a product model behind one month after you dropped $200 on a brand new phone.

Chris Williams, Web Developer, WideNet Consulting

If you have a news tip or a topic you would like to see me write on, please email me at
chris@chrisontech.com or write on my facebook page's wall.


Today's Events
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Wednesday, 19, 2013
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Pond Spring- The Gener... 3:50 PM
Oxford Farmers market 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM
Join us for the kick-off of Oxford's first...
Oxford Farmers market 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM
Join us for the kick-off of Oxford's first...
Hip Hop Hope Vacation ... 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM
$0 The Living by Faith Ministry will host Vac...
George Smith: I just love watching Ozzie ...
Jun 19, 2013 | 87 views |  0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print

WEDNESDAY’S LIST . . . of beans ’n greens ’n other things:

***

DON’T TELL me I’ve nothing to do.

From the window of my barn I see Ozzie coming through the hedgerow from next door. I like Ozzie a lot, but I’m not sure he feels the same. Efforts to pet and feed over the years have been a flop at best.

What Ozzie likes to do is hunt. I mean really hunt.

You see, Ozzie is a brindle, bob-tailed, three-legged cat and he loves to feed on whatever he can find in the hedgerow across my back yard, including field mice and squirrels.

Ozzie is flat out deadly, too.

Since losing his right front leg to a tumor a couple of years back, he has taught himself a new way to hunt. He keeps stalking to a minimum. But with the patience of Job, he settles down and waits for a meal to come within striking distance.

When the meal does, it’s “Wham” and Ozzie heads for the dinner table.

He’s a wonder to watch ...

^^^

IT IS A typical day at the Smith Estate. I am out in my barn kicked back in what I call “Archie’s Recliner.” I am reading a book, listening to Merle Haggard on the stereo, and watching TV (how’s that for multi-tasking, huh?) The blonde is out and about.

The phone rings. It is from the blonde. She is at Sears in the Quintard Mall ...

“Sweetheart, I’m at Sears looking at vacuum cleaners. I can get a small one to go with a regular one. What do you think I should do?”

Recovering from the shock of her asking my permission for anything, I agree to the double dip and then make a mistake with “What’s going on, you asking my permission?”

From the other end, there is a happy laugh with:

“It’d be different if it were shoes and a dress.”

I managed a quiet goodbye (without choking), hung up, and went back to singing along with Merle. It seemed fitting he was in the middle of “I’m Gonna Sit Right Here And Drink” at the time.

^^^

JOE ESTEP deserves a standing ovation. Joe runs the Calhoun County Sports Hall of Fame and, this past Saturday night, put together another classic.

Held at the “new” Oxford Civic Center, the 2013 induction played to a near packed house.

Outstanding Joe, outstanding.

^^^

FOR THOSE asking, the Peach Man’s tomatoes are a week away, but Ken Easterling will be at Regions in Oxford on Friday morning at 6 with another load of Chilton County peaches.

If no sell-out in Oxford he heads for the Anniston post office along about 8 . . . but don’t bet he gets there.

^^^

IF YOU’RE lining up at the Walmart deli at Lenlock, I hope you get lucky and a young lady by the name of Vanesa Durham waits on you. She did for me a few days back and while I’ve had an unpleasant moment or two there, Vanesa left me feeling pretty good.

Walmart could use more like her.

^^^

BIRTHDAYS: June 12 – Annette Vice; June 14 – Sage Snow; June 15 – Twins Brettnie and Dakota Smith; June 17 – Aiden Lloyd; 11; June 18 – Don Beabout.

And Jeff Jones, June 17. A member of a vanishing breed (The Great Generation), Jeff drove a “weasel” jeep ashore at Normandy, June 6, 1944.

^^^

QUOTABLE: “My doctor tells me I should start slowing it down - but there are more old drunks than there are old doctors so let's all have another round.”

                       --Willie Nelson

Thanks for visiting ...

-----

George Smith may be reached at 256-239-5286 or email: gsmith731@gmail.com.

 

 

Tim Tebow works out at a Patriots practice. (AP photo)
Tim Tebow works out at a Patriots practice. (AP photo)
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All-Calhoun County girls soccer: Cain led Jacksonville girls to a special season
by Brandon Miller
Jun 18, 2013 | 100 views |  0 comments | 6 6 recommendations | email to a friend | print
JACKSONVILLE — Everything came together for the Jacksonville High girls soccer team this year, and its hard work paid off. “This year we were trying to get a theme of excellence and a spirit of excellence into everything they did in life,” said Sam Cain, who is The Anniston Star’s Calhoun County girls soccer coach of the year. “One of my girls, Allison Judge, was valedictorian this year. Being successful off the field is what I think transferred to the field for the whole time.” Cain knew going into the season Jacksonville had a special team, which wound up going 8-0 against Calhoun County teams and making the quarterfinals of the Class 1A-4A state playoffs. The squad also was fourth in the state rankings, the highest of any girls team at Jacksonville, and won a school-record 16 games. “I just knew this was probably one of the best teams that we’ve probably had up here because they’ve been around for a long time and I knew the character and make-up of the team,” Cain said. “They looked out for each other and wanted to play for each other more than just themselves. I just felt that since they liked and wanted to play so hard for their teammates so much that we’d have a good season.” Jacksonville fell to Guntersville 2-1 in the state quarterfinals, but Cain said the reaction to that loss was the biggest memory he will take from the season. “Even after defeat, the emotion that the girls showed after game made it all worthwhile,” Cain said. “It meant a lot that it meant so much to them that they were upset about a loss and their hearts were into it. “It was heartbreaking to see, but it felt good to see they cared that much.” One of the players that didn’t take the loss lightly was senior star Sharon Osterbind, The Star’s girls soccer player of the year. “We worked as hard as we could in the last game and it just didn’t go how we wanted it to, but I wish I could have scored another goal or someone else would have scored another goal and we would have won or tied,” she said. “But it just didn’t work out.” Although Cain loses five seniors to graduation, he still has confidence looking ahead. “It’s going to be hard to replace those girls, but those girls set a good example for the ones coming up,” he said. “One of the younger girls kept talking this year about wanting to be like her older teammates, so I think most the ones coming back want to follow the same path.” Brandon Miller covers prep sports for The Star. He can be reached at 256-235-3575 or follow him on Twitter @bmiller_star.
All-Calhoun County girls soccer team -- complete list
by Brandon Miller
Jun 18, 2013 | 120 views |  0 comments | 8 8 recommendations | email to a friend | print
FIRST TEAM Kiyana Bullock So., 5-8, F • Anniston Noteworthy: Bullock handled a versatile role to the Bulldogs, playing nearly every position on the field. She finished in the season with seven assists and three goals. Laura Davenport Fr., 5-7, MF • Oxford Noteworthy: Davenport worked the hardest for the Yellow Jackets and led the team in goals this past season. The freshman was also one of the team’s captains. Marissa Davis Sr., 5-1, D • Donoho Noteworthy: Davis was a team captain the past three seasons and brought relentless play to the Lady Falcons’ defense. Allison Judge Sr., 5-7, ATH • Jacksonville Noteworthy: Judge played nearly every position for the Golden Eagles. Jacksoville’s valedictorian scored two goals and had eight assists. Mattison Lowery Fr., 5-5, GK • Jacksonville Noteworthy: Lowery allowed an average of only 1.1 goals a game for the Golden Eagles. She made 112 saves and recorded seven shutouts. Quenteeria Mooney Soph., 5-10, D • Jacksonville Noteworthy: Mooney was a relentless defender who won half of her battles last season. She also recorded three assists and a goal. Sharon Osterbind Sr., 6-1, F • Jacksonville Noteworthy: Osterbind led the Golden Eagles with 44 goals and 18 assists, but also played a larger role for the run. The UAB signee served as a coach on the field and played the largest role in Jacksonville’s state quarterfinals run. Virginia Poe So., 5-10, MF • Jacksonville Noteworthy: Poe defended and scored for the Golden Eagles. The sophomore finished the season with 37 goals and 17 assists. Miranda Schoening Fr., 5-11, GK • Oxford Noteworthy: Schoening kept the Yellow Jackets in most games with her outstanding play in goal. The freshman was also the heart of the defense. Katherine Westbrook Sr., 5-9, MF • Donoho Noteworthy: Westbrook provided steady leadership on both sides of the ball for the Falcons. The senior recorded 16 goals this past season. Leslie Williams Jr., 4-10, F • Donoho Noteworthy: Williams broke onto the scene as the Falcons leader in goals scored with 27, as she helped Donoho make a second-round playoff run. Maddy Oblena Soph., 5-3, MF • Sacred Heart Noteworthy: Oblena was all over the field for the Cardinals, leading Sacred Heart with her offensive and defensive play. Second TEAM Anniston — Raven Cooley, Tahlyia Knox; Oxford — Tristan Lackey, Aniya Mahaffey; Jacksonville — Ashton Wells, Elizabeth Poe, Cindee Tang, Jordan Terry, Kaila Green; Donoho — Lily Wiedmer; Sacred Heart — Haili Clark.
Sharon Osterbind had 44 goals and 18 assists in helping Jacksonville advance to the Class 1A-4A girls state soccer quarterfinals. (Photo by Bill Wilson/Anniston Star)
Sharon Osterbind had 44 goals and 18 assists in helping Jacksonville advance to the Class 1A-4A girls state soccer quarterfinals. (Photo by Bill Wilson/Anniston Star)
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