Pre-order Windows 7 and Save 50%

Beginning today, June 26, 2009 Microsoft’s newest operating system Windows 7 will officially be available for Pre-order. To support this launch, two editions, Home Premium and Professional, will be made available for 50% off or more. This offer will last through July 11, 2009 or while supplies last, whichever comes first. Windows 7 is a truly exciting new Microsoft launch with great new features including Jump Lists, Aero Shake, Snap, new Device Stage Management, as well as new levels of home group network interaction.

Microsoft Customer Support Email

If you use Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express and you see an email in your mailbox that is from Microsoft Customer Support with the subject of Critical Update For Microsoft Outlook please mark it as Spam or Delete it. Do not click on the link in the email as this email is not coming from Microsoft.

Microsoft doesn't send updates to it's software via email. They do this via the Automatic Updates feature that is part of the Windows Operating System and it usually occurs on the second Tuesday of each month.

I attached a photo of what this Spam email looks like:

Premium Text Message

If you don't know what a Premium Text Message is don't worry cause I didn't either until I was reviewing my wife's cell phone bill. She had a charge on there for a Premium Text Message for $9.99. What kind of message could cost that much was the first thing that went thru my mind. A normal one is $0.20 and a video or photo is $0.25 from Verizon when you don't have a Text Package on your account so this charge is definitely out of the ordinary.

I called Verizon and they were very helpful in explaining what a Premium Text Message is and how to stop them. Basically, you can sign up for a Premium Text Message either on your phone or more commonly a website. Apparently Facebook and MySpace have lot's of offers for Premium Text Messaging services. If you don't read the fine print before you enter your cell phone number you'll miss the part about the monthly recurring fee, which in this case was $9.99. For this fee the service that you sign up for will then send you regular text messages on whatever the specific subject is.

My wife was obviously confused about what she had signed up for and did not know how to stop the messages that were coming several times each week since she signed up for the Premium Text Message service. This is one reason I review the Credit Card, Phone and Cable bills each month looking for weird charges.

The good news is at least with Verizon you can block your cell phone from being allowed to receive a Premium Text Message service. Either the Verizon Customer Service Representative can do this or you can do it online in your account. I also learned that if you subscribe to Verizon's Wireless Internet Service that the little USB Modem you are provided also comes with it's own cell phone number. This cell phone number is also capable of receiving text messages so it's a good idea to block that number as well.

Apple Security Updates & Beladen Attacks

Apple has released new versions of both iTunes and QuickTime which address various Security issues. You can find the latest version of both these programs to download at Apple Downloads. If you don't already have either of these programs installed on your PC then you don't need to update them.

I'm also going to encourage you to try the Secunia Personal Software Inspector to check all the programs installed on your PC for updates and security issues.

The reason you really need to make sure your PC is Protected and you have all available updates is because there is a new threat called "Beladen" which is making the news.

Beladen is every website owners worst nightmare. Somehow the criminals behind this attack are breaking into legitimate websites and placing malicious code on pages which will direct the user to at least one malicious site called beladen.net. Don't go visit this site to see what happens as it will attempt to install malicous programs onto your PC!

Websense is reporting today that at least 40,000 legitimate websites have been hacked. This is scary because you could be visiting one of your favorite sites that you've gone to before and now without even realizing what's happening become a victim of this attack.

So, we've come full circle as to why you need to update every single program on your PC and make sure you have proper Security Software installed. The links I provided above will help you to accomplish this goal...for FREE!