Microsoft Announces Windows 8.1 Preview: Fixes Windows 8 Frustrations

Windows 8.1 Preview Announced

Microsoft kicked off their build conference for developers this week. During the keynote speech, they announced the release of the preview version of Windows 8.1, the next version of their flagship Windows 8 operating system.  Windows 8 has suffered its share of complaints, and Microsoft aims to fix many of the issues that have kept users at bay from the program. The Windows 8.1 upgrade, previously named "Windows Blue,"  offers a number of fixes for common frustrations.


A New Start: One of the biggest complaints about Windows 8 was the disappearance of the start button from the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. While its functionality had been replaced with the new "Metro" interface, the change left many users confused and irritated. Windows 8.1 adds the start button back in, but its function remains essentially the same as opening the Metro screen. One addition is the ability to right-click the button to access power options, instead of having to open the "charm bar."

More Productive Screen-Splitting: Windows 8 offered the option to split the screen between two apps, but had limited options. Windows 8.1 offers a few new default modes for splitting the screen, and adds the welcome ability to snap as many apps side-by-side as desired. For those who work with their email, calendar, writing program, and music all open, this is a god-send.

Bing it On: Microsoft's search platform, Bing, has been implemented into Windows in Windows 8.1 for a more holistic search experience. Whereas the launch version of Windows 8 had a very limiting search ability, users of Windows 8.1 can search for any item from the start screen and see results from their files, system settings, as well as web search results, presented with large, informative previews.

Windows 8.1 offers dozens of other new features as well, but won't be available until the end of this year. The preview version is available  to those curious enough to risk their computer's stability, but the majority of us will have to wait. In the meantime, Microsoft promises to add and refine more new features.

Teens Hiding Online: Study Reveals Shocking Data

What your Teen is Hiding Online: Part 1

A 2012 Teen Internet Behavior study commissioned by the security technology company, McAfee, reveals a surprising chasm between the number of teens hiding what they do on the Internet and parents who are confident that they’re in-the-know about their kids’ online activities. Perhaps most telling: 71% of teens have done something to hide their online behavior but only 56% of parents are aware of this. Over the next two weeks, we’ll explore what your teen may be hiding and how they may be doing it.


In the McAfee study, 2,017 online interviews were conducted in the U.S. Among respondents, 1,004 teens (age 13-17) and 1,013 parents of teens reported on their online habits and behaviors. The information gathered from respondents shows a fundamental disconnect between what teens are actually doing online and their parent’s perception of their activities. A surprising number of parents believe that they are aware of their kid’s activities and/or able to find out with little difficulty, while the majority of teens admit that they hide activities from their parents.

According to the McAfee report, “more than three in four parents express confidence they know how to find out what their teen is doing online, and half of parents live under the assumption that their teen tells then everything he/she does online. In reality, over two in three teens say their parents don’t need to know everything they do online...”

 

Here are some of the most common online activities that teens admit to hiding from their parents:

44.8% of teens visit a website parents disapprove of, but only 23.6% of parents are aware of it. In fact, the vast majority of parents interviewed (73.5%) trust their teens to not access age-inappropriate content online.

43% of teens intentionally access simulated violence online, but only 15% of parents are aware of it.

32% of teens intentionally access nude content or porn online, but only 12% of parents are aware of it.

In addition to visiting unsavory websites, easy access to technology has led many teens to participate in illegal or unauthorized activities. Most common, cheating in school: nearly half of teens interviewed (48%) admit to intentionally looking up answers to tests or assignments online while only 23% of parents expressed concern about their teen going online to cheat in school. A surprising 22% of teens have cheated on a test via online or mobile phones while only 5% of parents are aware.

Pirating of media is also more common than many parents are aware. About a third of teens (31%) pirate music or movies online, while only 12% of parents are aware. Since teens are likely using their parent’s internet connection to carry out the piracy, their illicit activities put their parents at risk of repercussions from entities looking to enforce copyright protection, such as the RIAA.

Even more disconcerting, some teens are engaging in dangerous behaviors and most parents are unaware of the risks their teen is undertaking: 12% of teens have met in person with someone they met online (that’s more than one out of every ten teenage respondents!) while only 4% of parents are aware. In fact, only 21.7% of parents think their teen can get in trouble online. Yet more than half of teens queried have posted private information like their email address or the name of their school online and almost a third (29%) have posted their cell phone number somewhere on the Internet. This puts them at risk for cyber bullying, identity theft, or even real-world victimization by those who’ve found them online.

What seems to be the cause of the disparity between parents’ perception and their teen’s actual behavior online? One in three parents believes that their teen is “much more tech-savvy than they are,” leading to a feeling of hopelessness when it comes to keeping ahead of their teen’s online activities. Many feel overwhelmed by technology (23% of respondents) and feel they can only “hope for the best when it comes to their kids online,” and just as many indicate that they don’t have the time or energy to monitor their kid’s behavior online.

The good news? Half of the teens who were polled stated that they would actually change their online behavior if they knew their parents were watching. Stay tuned next week for the most common ways that teens are hiding their online activities and what you can do to keep your kids safe online.

Find Free WiFi (almost) Anywhere

Find Free WiFi with a Few Simple Tips

You can find free WiFi just about anywhere, particularly if you plan ahead and know where to look. Here’s how to stay productive, or kill some time surfing the net, when you’re on the go.

From Panera to McDonalds to Starbucks or Barnes and Noble, getting online for free in a metropolitan area is just a matter of driving down the street. If you’re on unfamiliar terrain, check the comprehensive list of free WiFi options posted on WiFiFreeSpot (www.wififreespot.com). Start with the huge list of multi-location chain stores that offer free WiFi nationwide, or select your state for an alphabetical city list of individual providers.


Many libraries offer free WiFi – not to mention a quiet atmosphere to enjoy it – or hop online at one of the hundreds of airports that offer free Internet across the country. Click on the “Airports with Free Wi-Fi” link on WiFiFreeSpot’s homepage for an alphabetical list by state, as well as tips to avoid hidden fees. For example, avoid networks named “Free Public WiFi” in airports as it’s likely a fake, unsecure network set up to siphon personal info from unsuspecting travelers.

Free WiFi is available in many unexpected locations. Several bus lines now offer free WiFi, including Megabus (www.megabus.com) and Bolt (www.boltbus.com), as does Amtrak. Many Laundromats are adding WiFi hotspots to make waiting on your laundry more bearable and gyms often provide free WiFi to let you surf while on the treadmill. You may even find a free hookup where you get your oil changed or in the courthouse when you're stuck with jury duty. Call ahead to confirm availability, or if you’re in a major metropolitan area check out www.openwifispots.com to search by address or zip code.

When it comes to finding a hotel with free WiFi, going with a budget or smaller chain is a better choice than a luxury brand. You may think paying more for the room will get you more perks, but many of the “high-end” places (like Hyatt, Marriott, Waldorf-Astoria, Crowne Plaza, etc) charge $10 or more per night for Internet while their “budget” brands (like Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, Holiday Inn, Hyatt Place, etc) offer it for free. Check out the annual report released by Hotel Chatter for a list of best and worst hotel WiFi by cost and reliability: www.hotelchatter.com/story/2012/4/5/21415/90173/hotels/The_2012_HotelChatter_Hotel_WiFi_Report

Being part of the “in-crowd” can also save you a bundle. Airline priority clubs and hotel loyalty programs often provide free WiFi to members. While some of these programs require a minimum number of stays or miles traveled, many offer free Internet access upon sign-up.

Use a program like iStumbler for Mac or WeFi for Windows to plan ahead for WiFi near your destination. WeFi, for example, has an exhaustive list of millions of hotspots around the world, even in places you wouldn't expect like rural areas. They also have an app you can download to your iPhone or Android for hotspot searches on-the-go.

Foursquare devotees can take advantage of the affiliated free app 4sqwifi (available for iOS devices through the iTunes app store). It shows nearby venues which offer Wi-Fi and their passwords, anywhere in the world. Wifi Tracker is a good option for Android users ($1.56 through Android Store). It uses Google Earth to pinpoint your current location and show free Wi-Fi in your area.

If you subscribe to cable Internet, you may have access to their WiFi hotspots around town. Some companies even partner with other cable providers to extend their network. Check with your cable company for availability.

Finally, try asking for the WEP password if your mobile device finds a network you'd like access to. Many shop owners are happy to oblige.

Take Better Photos with these Smartphone Photography Tips

Smartphone Photography Tips for Better Pictures

We take our Smartphones with us everywhere, so chances are when you're ready to snap a quick picture of your kid or four-legged friend doing something especially cute, you're not going to have your fancy-schmancy camera handy. Yet more often than not, these fast photo-ops end up looking dark or fuzzy and out-of-focus. Here are a few tips for making your Smartphone photos go from blah to beautiful.


Experiment with apps. You can generally take better pictures with your phone if you're using an app to do it. Photo apps often have settings that may not be offered with the standard camera on your phone. There are tons out there to choose from, so experiment to find one that matches your own personal style. Better yet, download a couple so you have some variety from shot-to-shot. Start with CameraZOOM FX for Android (http://www.androidslide.com/camerazoom) or Camera+ for iPhone and iPad (http://campl.us/) – both are great for beginners while offering cool features.

If you want to make your photos more unique or "interesting,” Hipstamatic (http://hipstamatic.com/), Instagram (http://instagram.com/#) and FxCamera (http://fxcamera.com/) emulate old, cheap cameras with digital effects. Doesn’t sound like a selling feature? The end result is a retro, unique style for your photos and easy-to-use options to modify colors or tweak your photos on the fly.

Camera settings. Once you've settled on the app that's right for you, make sure you perfect the settings before you start shooting. First, make sure the camera’s resolution is set to the highest quality. The last thing you want is to take some really spectacular photos only to discover they're completely pixilated when blown up on your computer screen. Next, enable the "stable shot" setting on your application. Sometimes it's hard to hold the camera steady and prevent picture blurring - this setting won't allow you to snap until your hand is stable. Lastly, allow your phone’s camera to acclimate to the current lighting conditions and then adjust for white balance and exposure within the application. Experiment with different exposure settings to find the vibrant photo you're looking for.

Lighting. This is good photography 101, but it really can make or break your photo. Make sure your subjects are facing the light source and if the lighting in the room is dim, turn it up before you shoot. Better yet, move your subjects outside if you can - natural lighting makes for a much better photo. Watch the flash, too. Sometimes the flash goes off when you really don't need it and people's faces in your photo end up washed-out and pasty-looking. If it's dark and you're sure you need the flash, try muting it with a piece of tissue paper or a white sticker. That way, you'll still get some light from your flash, but it won't produce as much glare. When trying to capture a photo at night, take advantage of your camera's night mode (if it has one). It can make the difference between getting the shot you want and a totally-black picture.

Get the cool shot. Try to focus on one subject, rather than the scenery around it. Get up-close and personal when you can - you'll get a much more detailed photo. Aim to get at least a few pictures on-the-sly (you know your kids never want to "pose" anyway). Your subject’s demeanor will be a lot less stiff and self-conscious. Shy away from using the digital zoom. You can avoid some really lousy (read: blurry) pictures, and frankly that's what your fancy-schmancy camera with the mega-lens is for. Last but not least, always keep your camera lens clean; you know how dirty cell phones can get.

Back up frequently. It's so easy to forget to back up the pictures taken on your Smartphone - much more so than even your camera when you've been out-and-about shooting. Downloading your pictures directly to your computer is best (rather than emailing from your phone), because it will preserve the highest resolution possible. Then you can run those photos through your computer's photo editing software for last minute color adjustments. Experiment with black and white rendering too - it's always better to take your photo in color, and then change it to black and white later. If the image is well-composed, you can do some rather cool things with software to make it even better.

Big Developments for Apple at WWDC 2013

Apple WWDC 2013 Makes Big Changes

On June 10, 2013, Apple held their annual World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco, CA. The event serves as a forum for Apple to announce upcoming product releases and innovations so that developers can begin to create supporting applications and hardware. It has become a reveal party for Apple fans. Here are some of the highlights of what you can expect from your iPhone, iPad or Apple computer in the months to come.


Mobile devices get an OS overhaul. Slated to be released this fall, iOS 7 is a major redesign of Apple’s mobile operating system, updating the look and capabilities of your iPhone (4, 4S or 5), or recent generation iPod touch, iPad or iPad mini. New icons will look more like those found on the Windows phone in terms of color and design. Double clicking the home button will show preview panels of all active applications (that you can quickly scroll through) for easier multitasking, instead of iOS 6’s icon-only list that appears at the bottom of the screen.

AirDrop will allow you to instantly share files, photos, contacts, or anything with an in-app “share” option by listing any fellow iOS 7 users in range and letting you click to share. Updates to the camera include panorama mode and built-in filters for making your images unique and photo organization will be more automated.

The App Store will offer suggestions of apps that are popular in your current geographical area or among your friends, and anyone who has longed for a more masculine automated-assistant will have the option to select a male voice for Siri interactions.

OSX Moves from cats to California. The next generation of Operating System for Mac desktops and laptops, Mac OSX Mavericks, promises more responsive scrolling and web surfing (via an update to the Safari browser) and improved battery life by managing power usage. With its release this fall, multiple displays will be better supported, iBooks will be available on your Mac, and iCloud keychain will encrypt, store and generate passwords to allow you to improve your online security without requiring a super-human memory.

Mac Pro sports a whole new look. At just 9.9 inches tall and 6.6 inches in diameter, the sleek, black cylinder is an unexpected design. It will easily fit on your desk, and Apple promises it will be faster and run cooler than previous generations.

MacBook Air aims to work all day. Previewed MacBook Airs are even thinner and lighter, and a new CPU draws less power, supporting improved battery life – the 11-inch version promises to keep on chugging for nine hours, the 13-inch version up to twelve hours. They should hit shelves any day and prices start at $999.

Google gets kicked to the curb. Apple seemed to be repeatedly suggesting, “Google? Who needs them?” Siri will default its web searches to Bing; iWork for iCloud aims to replace Google Cloud as a web-based document creation, management and collaboration tool; Safari will sport Chrome-like tabs; and Apple’s Maps app will be integrated with Mail, Contacts and Calendar in OSX Maverick.

Pandora is put on notice. iTunes Radio will offer streaming radio, similar to the service available through Pandora or Google Play. ITunes Radio will track what you listen to across platforms (such as on your Mac or through your Apple TV) to personalize suggestions. Create playlists based on music you like and listen for free, provided you are willing to listen to ads. ITunes Match subscribers will get ad-free tunes included with their $24.99 annual subscription.

To see Apple’s announcements yourself, go to www.apple.com/apple-events/june-2013/ for roughly two hours of footage from the conference.

Zeus Trojan Steals Bank Account Info via Facebook

Zeus Trojan Steals Bank Account Access

A nasty Trojan virus nicknamed Zeus has been spreading quickly through social media forums like Facebook and via links to fake webpages. Once a system is compromised, the virus lays in wait until the user accesses a banking account or credit card website wherein it captures login and personal data. That information is then transferred to servers controlled by cybercriminals who sell the data or drain the victim’s bank account.


Zeus began circulating the net about six years ago, but has seen resurgence in recent months according to Internet security firm Trend Micro. The New York Times’s Nicole Perlroth (http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/03/malware-that-drains-your-bank-account-thriving-on-facebook/) reports that millions of computers are already infected, most of which are in the United States.

Much of this malware’s recent rapid disbursement is via links posted on Facebook. Culprits set up fake profiles and post links on popular fan pages or hack user accounts to spam links to “Friends.” In many cases, links take the user to a website where they’re prompted to purchase knock-off designer goods. After entering credit card info to complete the purchase, the victim’s credit card number (along with name and address) is sold or used to place fraudulent charges. In other cases, the website link takes the user to an infected page that installs malicious code when accessed by the unsuspecting victim.

The virus is also spread from compromised email accounts: the Trojan accesses an infected user’s contact list and then sends emails with links to malware-infected pages. The sender address is spoofed to appear as though the email was sent by the infected account, so anyone in the infected user’s contact list receives a message that appears to have come from a known source. If you ever receive a suspicious-looking email with a link or attachment, even if you recognize the sender, do not click the link. Instead, contact the sender to confirm that the email was truly sent by them.

Once infected, the Trojan virus runs silently in the background, harvesting users’ private data. In some cases, compromised systems redirect victims to dummy websites made to appear like the user’s bank or credit card account login page so that more valuable personal information (such as social security number, date of birth, address, etc) can be collected.

Many of the fraudulent links used to spread Zeus via Facebook in recent months have ended in .tk (where you’d typically see .com or .org). This domain indicates that the website is hosted via Tokelau, a small territory part of New Zealand which is, according to Jerome Segura of the anti-malware software company Malwabytes, “a hotbed for all sorts of online fraud.” As infected webpages are identified and blocked by browsers and/or antivirus software, cybercriminals simply set up a new web address, so there’s no easy way to eradicate Zeus and its variants from the net.

While Facebook has partnered with web security specialists WebSense and Web Of Trust (WOT) to identify, flag and alert users of potentially fraudulent links, it’s ultimately up to the user to exercise caution when clicking links on Facebook, in emails, or anywhere on the net. Keep in mind that links to Zeus-infected pages are cropping up all over the Web, from comments on articles or blogs to sponsored ads, so users must remain diligent about avoiding weblinks from anywhere but a completely trusted source.

In a blog posted to Trend Micro’s “TrendLabs” (http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/zeuszbot-malware-shapes-up-in-2013/), Jay Yaneza recommends that you bookmark trusted websites so that you don’t inadvertently mis-type an address and end up re-directed to an imposter site. He cautions that users should avoid visiting unknown websites and keep their system’s anti-malware software up to date to reduce the risk of exposure.

Mobile Malware Explodes in 2013

Mobile Malware Gains Ground in 2013

The numbers are out: McAfee's report on viruses in the first quarter of the year shows mobile malware, which exploded last year, is showing no signs of stopping. Smartphones, which just recently outnumbered “dumb phones” worldwide are increasingly becoming the targets of the same sorts of viruses and malware that we've worried about on our computers for years. McAfee, a large security firm owned by Intel, reports that 28% of all malicious smartphone software has appeared in the first quarter of 2013. The year previous saw a huge spike in which the rest of the 50,000 programs emerged, although some estimates claim there are up to a million mobile viruses at the time of this writing.


The most common form of mobile viruses is the age-old Trojan Horse virus. This virus pretends to be another sort of software and coaxes the user into installing it. After being installed, it spreads throughout the system and locks down many of the phone functions, essentially turning the phone into a zombie under the control of the hacker. The zombie phone will then send out text messages to infect its next targets. For instance in South Korea, a widely-spread virus poses as a coupon app for a coffee shop and then takes control of the user's phone.

There are a number of security products for smartphones on the market. One such app is AVG's Antivirus for Android http://www.avg.com/us-en/antivirus-for-android. It will also help you locate your device in the event that it's lost or stolen. It's only available for Android, which is also the only system that runs a high risk of infection. However, some research shows that mobile antivirus programs aren't nearly as effective as their PC counterparts, due to the way antiviruses access the phone's system http://www.informationweek.com/security/antivirus/does-mobile-antivirus-software-really-pr/240008673.

The best antivirus for iPhones running iOS is Lookout Mobile Security, which is available for free. While there are fewer viruses on iPhones, Lookout also notifies you of connections to unsecured networks and allows you to track your phone if it's lost.

So how do you tell if you have a piece of this mobile malware? The warning signs are largely the same as on PCs: applications will start to slow down and strange things will start happening. Make sure you've installed an anti-virus first, but if it's gotten past that, you may be out of luck. Call a phone repair company or use a service like Sugar Sync to back up your personal files from your phone and follow your provider's instructions to reformat and reinstall your Android phone.

For now, the best way to keep your smartphone free of mobile malware relies on vigilance from you. Make sure not to download any apps that you didn't go looking for. If it comes to you, it's probably too good to be true! Make sure to only download from authorized sources. And as always, don't give your passwords to anyone you don't trust. If it looks sketchy, it almost certainly is! If you think you may have been the victim of mobile malware, call a smartphone repair company that can salvage your data and restore your phone.