As Malware attacks on Smart Phones Increase, the iPhone Looks Like the Best Best

When Apple released the iPhone in 2007, they did not release an SDK that developers could use to create native apps. While many people were angered by this or claimed this would be the phone's downfall, it ended up being a good decision on Apple's part. When they did release development tools in February 2008, they were full featured and polished.

Apple and its defenders argued that opening a mobile phone platform to full scale development would necessarily lead to a less stable environmental. Having a crashy PC can be worked around if if it is for home use. If you are a bank running mission critical services — crashing is not an option. Apple saw the phone as a mission critical device. It has to be able make calls without crashing. Its battery had to last. In 2007 the Palm Trio and Windows Mobile (both of which had an app development eco-systems) had trouble on both fronts. To this day, Apple still keeps a tight control over app development and distribution.

This issue has becoming even important now that Android based phones are are open for any developer to release software for. In resent weeks android phones have been under attack from several different vectors. According to research by Tech Daily, there are 44 known peices of malware that target Android phones. There is also at least one known botnet running on Android phones on AT&T's network. Simmilar attacks have targeted Blackberrys and some Nokia phones.

Until Next Time,
Mike
Chicago Virus Removal

Crapware Filling new Android Phones

Windows starting going down hill as soon as Microsoft and its OEM partners began selling advertising space on new computers. This unwanted software drags the performance of new computers down straight out of the box. Until recently, smart phones were free of this crapware.

Recently being the watch word. Mike Jennings at PC Pro Reports:

On Friday, I eased the Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro from its box, turned it on, and was greeted with a message urging me to set up McAfee WaveSecure before I’d even set up the phone with my Google account. Delving into the app drawer revealed more unwanted software, with a host of apps neatly summarising Android’s perennial fragmentation issues: alongside the official Market, the Xperia Mini Pro comes loaded with four different app stores. There’s also other McAfee apps installed as well as a Popcap Games trial and a selection of media management tools.

Sony Ericsson isn't the only one. HTC and Samsung are all coming with pre-installed software and demos. Unlike Windows, you cannot uninstall the unwanted software. This crapware comes hard coded into the phone's OS.

Short of rooting your phone and installing a clean version of the OS (which is going to violate the warranty) LauncherPro is your best option. LauncherPro will let you hind unwanted apps and reskin your UI.

Until Next Time
Mike
Chicago Virus Removal

Thunderbolt vs. USB 3.0

This story is not a repeat from 2000. We are once again talking about transfer speeds and the relative qualities of  two wired transfer standards. Thunderbolt and USB 3.0.

A little background. USB 3.0 is the latest version of the long standing data transfer standard. Yeah, there are about 15 different connectors but the basics are all the same. Every computer made after 2000, no matter the OS, supports USB 2. USB ups the transfer speed around 110MBps. As other parts of the pipeline get better, that should reach 640MBps or just shy of SATA3 speeds. 


Thunderbolt is a new standard from Intel and is currently only available in some Macs. Intel's goal is to create a standard that can stand up to professonal video development. When maxed out, Thunderbolt can reach a transfer speed of 1.2GBps. Nothing on the market short the highest end sold state hardrives can move that much data. Intel and Apple also tout Thunderbolt's ability to push video out to large monitors along with enough power to power 2 30 inch LED monitors. 


At the end of the day, neither really stand up. USB 2 is not that much faster than USB 3. Since it uses the same ports, it will simply replace the current standard. After 10+ years, not much has changed. Thunderbolt has no place on the consumer. Most people are moving to notebooks and wireless standards. 


For Now,
Mike
Chicago laptop repair

Google Bakes Malware Warnings into Search Results

It is good to see Google doing some due diligence when it comes to malware and virus detection. Importantly, more computer infections spread websites at the top of searches. Google's search spam team works really hard spammers from game the search algorithm. Searchers for “insurance”, “loans”, “mortgage”, “attorney”, “credit”, and “lawyer” are filled sites designed to scam unwitting people.

Last week Google Engeneers discovered some search traffic was being rerouted through proxies, likely as part of a PPC scam. When Google detects this, they are placing a large warning box at the top of search results to warn people that their is malware trying to jack links.

For more information about virus and malware removal visit our website

The HTC Status

Its an Android 2.3 phone with a small screen and a smallish physical keyboard. But it has a Facebook button! So you can Facebook! How awesome is that! Opening an app from the home screen is sooo hard.

I think the CNet review sums it up pretty well: "The HTC Status offers stellar hardware and a fantastic Facebook experience, but it's hampered by a tiny landscape-oriented screen."


If you are looking for a replacement for a dying feature phone the HTC Status might be the best option for you. Otherwise, give it a pass.


Visit our website for more information about virus removal from your neighhorhood computer company.

New MacBook Airs

Not only did Apple release the newest benchmark version of its OS this week, but they refreshed the MacBook Air. From CNET:

On the larger 13-inch MacBook Air, the default 4GB of RAM and 128GB SSD feels like enough for everyday use. On the smaller 11-inch model, you only get 2GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD for that much-hyped $999 entry price. Of that 64GB, only about 48GB is available to use after accounting for the operating system and preinstalled apps. With a big music or video collection, or lots of high-end games, that can start to feel crowded pretty quickly. Upgrades to both 128GB and 256GB drives are available for the 11-inch, and adding a 256GB drive brings the price to $1,499. Both sizes can also trade up to a Core i7 CPU, which costs $1,349 for the 11-inch and $1,599 for the 13-inch.

For more information about computer virus removal and local computer support.

How will Google+ Effect you?

A Great summery of Google+

In broad strokes, Google+ lets you organize and communicate with your contacts in several different ways. First, Circles lets you organize contacts in an intuitive way. We already think about our relationships in terms of "groups." It is a logical leap to organize email and chat contacts into Venn diagram-like circles instead of a flat table. Circles lets you communicate with these groups across a number of methods: Chat, messaging, or send status updates to just the people who need to see them.

Google+ is going to be very useful as a way of networking with colleagues and for inbound marketing. It is going to be yet another important channel for outsourced marketing services firms connect you with new leads.

Beware of Old Router's in New Packages

What is Balkin thinking? Last month, Balkin announced the new line of N-Series 802.11n routers. The only thing is that they are is they are almost identical to the N-Series routers released last year. The only difference is something they are calling "MultiBeam." MultiBeam is a new antenna technology that processes to increases the gain to 6db. 

When you go into your local computer repair shop, see if they have any old models. you might be able to save yourself some money.

Switchfast Offers IT Support in Chicago

Switchfast Technologies, a Chicago based IT Support and Marketing firm, brings its unique brand ROI focused IT Support to Chicago.

They offer:

• During business hours, callers will be on hold for less than five (5) minutes
• Switchfast resolves basic issues within sixty (60) minutes
• Switchfast resolves 80% of all issues remotely or over the phone
• If a voicemail is left after hours, a return call will be made within fifteen (15) minutes
• If onsite support is required, a Switchfast technician will arrive within one (1) business day

SMB Markeing, SEO and Google +1

A great look at the impact of Google +1 and it effect on Small Business Marketing and SEO

The idea behind +1 is a simple one. In search results, and later directly on websites, searchers will be able to up-vote search results they like. These sites will be bookmarked on your profile page. When the same site appears in the search results of a friend, a tag will appear underneath the snippet indicating that you liked it. Google will show you +1's from your contacts in Gmail, Buzz, and Google Reader.

New Apple Service Provider in Chicago!

Switchfast Technologies is now an Apple Authorized Service Provider!

Auditing your IT infrastructure – Security

As small businesses become more reliant on technology, IT security has coming become more important. But you are not an IT security expert. An technology audit will be able to identify patterns and security holes that might be making your business venerable.

Securing your Network

Networks are a thing of mystery to many people. When setting up an office, your first impulse is to buy a plug and play router like you have at home. While that is a good place to start, they are not great at handling a large number of computers. They are also not the most secure. Since they are designed for consumer use, the makers are not always as fast at providing updates that might fix security holes. An technology audit will help you find and fix issues before something happens.

Securing your computers 

We all know that we would be running anti-virus and anti-spam software on our computers. An IT audit will identify potential issues with data verification and ensure backups are in place for day-to-day need and disaster recovery. This minimizes the risk of data loss or theft from your network. 

Auditing your IT infrastructure - Finding Inefficiencies

As small business open and grow the technology we employ to makes work easier gets in the way. When you first open a business money is tight and your first reaction is to go for value over quality. When you only have two or three computers sharing an internet connection, an off the shelf router is going to be enough. That all-in-one inkjet printer from home gets the job done when you only need to print a few pages a week. Any off the shelf Dell computer is going to be fine when you are just invoicing a few clients.

But as a business grows these tools begin to get in the way. That router suddenly begins to fail when there are 15 people trying to share a connection. The all-in-one inkjet printer can no longer keep up with all the printing, copy, and fax when you are going two a case of paper a week. That Dell computer is now 5 years old and has been crashing a lot. All of these things are going to slow down your business. What happens if the computer’s hard drive fails or the fire sprinklers go off in the middle of the night?

The goal of an IT audit is to take a holistic look at your business’s entire IT infrastructure and determine where the inefficiencies. After looking at all aspects of a business’s technology, the auditor will present a report with suggestions, time lines and goals. This outline can be used a roadmap for upgrading your IT needs and eliminating Inefficiencies.

For more information about IT auditing visit switchfast.com