Fix Your PC Problems For Free

 There is a new service (currently in beta) from Microsoft providing diagnoses and fixes for common PC and connected devices. The free Fix It Center offers a set of online and offline tools for helping you fix your computer.

Consolidated into a single solution is a variety of support resources that have been scattered throughout Microsoft's web site and even in Windows itself. Windows version XP through Windows 7 are supported. Fix It Center will not only solve known problems, but scans your PC for potential problems and suggests fixes for them.

Fix It Center requires very little technical input. Just choose the category of the problem and it will launch the correct diagnosis program. The correction to some problems are automatic. Remember that this program is still under development and is for common problems. It may not work for the white elephant problems out there.

Here's how it works.

• Set up Fix It Center by going to http://fixitcenter.support.microsoft.com/Portal/ and click the “Try It” button. This will download a small program.

• Run the downloaded program and accept the licensing agreement. This will then start the download and installations of the full Fix It Center program. 

•  The program will install several solutions based on the configuration or your PC. To take advantage of the full program you will need to setup an online account with Microsoft. This will give you not only the Fix It Center troubleshooter solutions and access to the Microsoft knowledge base. Clicking the Fix It Center icon on your desktop will launch the program and step you through the category choices, diagnosis and correction.

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Beware Of Mac Malware Attacks and Trojans

With the release of the new OS 10.6 (now 10.6.1) There was never any doubt that hackers would try to reap benefits of the upgrade and new user community. Many people (no, not me) will or have undoubtedly looked or tried to get a free copy of the new operating system.  BEWARE!

"Information Week reports, there are web sites claiming to offer free copies of Macintosh OS 10.6, but they are actually trying to hack your computer.

With regard to security, Trend Micro said that one its researchers had discovered several Web sites advertising free copies of Snow Leopard. What's actually offered is malware, specifically, a DNS changing Trojan known as OSX_JAHLAV.K.

"Once executed, OSX_JAHLAV.K decrypts codes, which include a script that downloads other malicious scripts," said Trend Micro's Bernadette Irinco in a blog post. "The said script then alters the DNS configuration and includes two additional IPaddresses in its DNS server. Users are thus possibly redirected to phishing sites and other fraudulent sites. In fact, some of these bogus sites are reportedly hosting FAKEAV (rogue antivirus) variants and components."

According to Trend Micro, OSX_JAHLAV.K may be downloaded without the user's knowledge following a visit to a malicious Web site. The Trojan, however, has a "low" overall risk rating. From Information Week.

Remember that there are no free copies of Mac OS X Snow Leopard, or Microsoft 7 for that matter.

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