VIPRE 4.0 has been released to customers. While that is interesting, the best part is: current customers of VIPRE have the ability to upgrade to 4.0 for FREE!

If you are a customer, or visitor, that has purchased VIPRE and you missed the prompts to upgrade the program, you can simply visit http://shop.sunbelt-software.com/upgrade/ to obtain the latest antivirus technology. Make sure to have your license key handy!

If you have any questions, please let us know!
Justin

This should sum up a response to nearly every “I’m sorry” I receive: No one is perfect, you really aren’t bugging me, and I enjoy helping people. Plain and simple, and it’s all true. I’ve answered the phone at 6am on Monday to hear it, I’ve been woke up at 3am to hear it and typically hear it three to four times during a normal business day.

I’ll give anyone else this advice too: If your technician gets annoyed at you for calling over “simple” questions, it’s time to find someone else.
Justin

Protocol16 is insured by The Hartford. They fit the requirements of our business for on site and in shop insurance requirements and they offer more protection, in terms of computer repair work, than any other insurance company out there.

The next response is normally: “Oh, I hear they’re expensive…” Yup…
Justin

While most of us barely use the “F” keys at the top of the keyboard, they do certain things. For instance, the F1 key typically allows you to bring up the Help menu for the application you’re in.

This week, Microsoft stated that XP and Server 2003 users should stay away from the F1 key due to a vulnerability found that can cause security problems for your system. Microsoft is working on a patch for the Bug, but no notice on when it’ll be released. For now, keep away from the F1 key!

On a lighter note, other neat buttons are:

• F3: Shortcut for CTRL-F, otherwise known as “Find”.
• F4: The address bar. If you know what web address you’re going to type, why use the mouse?
• F5: Refreshes your screen, great for working on websites or refreshing that PowerBall page while waiting for the numbers to change.
• The magical F11 key. This key, in Internet Explorer or Firefox, makes the webpage go full screen. This is neat, but it can confuse people since the start bar goes away – so be careful when you test it (F11 again to get out of full screen mode).

So, again, stay away from the F1 key in Internet Explorer while using Windows XP, and make sure to install the updates when your computer wants.
Justin

According to Angie’s List, fewer than 2% of the company’s listed with them get to the Honor Roll status, and we’re excited to be there!

Lets hope Protocol16 continues to climb up the virtual ladder on all the review sites.
Justin

A Unique Take on Infections - Image From SunBelt Software (VIPRE Antivirus)

While on calls in Beaverton or elsewhere, I always get the dreaded “How’d I get infected?” question. Unfortunately, it’s too broad of a question to answer the right way.

The reason I say this is that there could be hundreds of programs installed, each with their own security problems, windows updates missing, Antivirus and anti-spyware programs missing or not updated, firewalls turned off, etc.

Then, we have the “Adobe Affect”. I call it this as a lot of security researchers feel that the majority of attacks will come from Adobe this year. On top of this, there is a huge amount of vulnerabilities in the Adobe Software already. Unfortunately, the software company is typically slow to release security patches as well, so Zero-day flaws, are slow to be fixed.

Today, Sunbelt Software, the writers of VIPRE Antivirus, notified their followers, via their blog, of a flaw that allows attackers to get into your computer after the Adobe Updater Runs. That’s right ladies and gents, the simple fact of updating Adobe to patch security issues can now infect your computer. How to stop this issue? First, reboot if you see that Abode has updated.

It’s sad to see such software cause infections. Adobe Flash and Reader are some of the most popular programs installed on computers today. Well, it’s not sad – I should say that it’s disheartening. Adobe has a huge target on their back, just like Microsoft. Sadly, Adobe doesn’t really seem to be taking the issues head on, like Microsoft does with their anti-spyware, IE page blocking, etc.

So, the moral of the story is – don’t trust any software to be perfect. The more software that is installed, the bigger the target you have on your back. Keep your computer updated and for peets sake – STOP running in Admin mode with UAC turned off!
Justin

Microsoft stated that removing the offending malware caused the computer to be able to boot. This means that if your computer rebooted, blue screened then rebooted again (rinse and repeat), you had a malware infection you didn’t know about.

Read more about this issue on PCWorld.

The affected file is the atapi.sys file, which a lot of computer repair places have seen infected and causing problems recently, but a lot of people just didn’t notice. If you’re still having problems with this isuse, give Protocol16 a call and we’ll be more than happy to help out.
Justin

Well, today, a customer passed along a nice link that was a 3-part interview with a “419″ scammer. You’re not the only person out there that receives these emails – even Protocol16 receives them…

We always recommend that our customers educate themselves, and this is some very good reading to see why you should just delete these emails as quickly as you can.
Justin

It appears that one of the most recent Microsoft Updates is causing computers all over to have problems with Blue Screens. Attempting to get into safemode results in the same issue.

This update seems to mainly affect Windows XP, but according to the patch that is causing most of the problems, it can affect 2000 through Server 2008. But again, we’re mainly seeing this with Windows XP.

If you haven’t already applied these patches, don’t do so.

If you have applied these patches, please feel free to give us a call.
Justin

UPDATE: Microsoft has publicly commented on this situation, on their blog.

I try to keep personal stuff off Protocol16, but to anyone on the East Coast, I feel your pain. I suffered through the Blizzard of ‘96 in PA and remember digging out a Pathfinder after an airport-sized snow blower blew 8 feet of snow on top of it… I just hope that all of you are keeping warm inside, and sane, while cabin fever tries to take over.

Niki – you can still make me laugh!
Justin