This may explain why Google 'glitched' yesterday.. I suspect they were upgrading their network to help fight stuff like this. If you use GMail (and Facebook) and haven't activated SSL/https Always and 2-Step or 2-Factor authentication where you must enter a PIN code txted to your phone to login for new computers… You should.

Gmail accounts targeted by 'state-sponsored attackers' using Internet Explorer zero-day vulnerabilit
nakedsecurity.sophos.com
Both Google and Microsoft have put out alerts about an unpatched, zero-day hole in Internet Explorer that is actively being exploited in the wild.

If you haven't tried Evernote, you really should. A fantastic cloud based system that lets you clip and store all sorts of information, from web pages, emails, and more and organize them into notebooks, with tags, and more. Accessible from anywhere (Mac/PC, Phone, Tablet, Web). We use Evernote extensively at IT Xpress for service reports, on site service logs, reference material, and more.

Evernote for Windows: Know What's Happening In Shared Notebooks With Activity Stream
blog.evernote.com

If you have an Android phone or tablet, Malware IS a threat. You should consider running some type of anti-virus. Sophos has a free version available as do many others (Lookout, etc)

Revealed! The top five Android malware detected in the wild
nakedsecurity.sophos.com
No-one is in any doubt that Android malware is on the rise – but what is the most commonly encountered malware on the platform? Find out, and download a free anti-virus for your Android device.

Lots of updates pushed out to fix a number of security vulnerabilities. Make sure you install updates when prompted!

Patch now! Adobe and Microsoft push out critical security fixes
nakedsecurity.sophos.com
Multiple vulnerabilities in Adobe and Microsoft products revealed – make sure that your computers are properly patched.

Both Java (6.0.32) and Adobe Flash (11.2.202.235) have new versions available. Be sure your system is running the latest versions to help protect you against virus and malware infections, or consider letting us handle it for you with our My ITXpert Service. We've seen some particularly nasty virus infections lately getting in via old versions of Java. Like if you've updated and share with your friends to help them stay protected!

My ITXpert Service | IT Xpress
itxpress.biz
Frustrated with your PC? Now you can have your very own IT expert to help keep your PCs up to date, secure, and running smoothly all year long! With the My IT

Many IT Xpress customers use MS Security Essentials for the anti-virus protection. It's lightweight and just 'works' as good as any AV program can. A new release (v4) just hit Windows Update that has even better performance and a simple user interface. Kick off a Windows Update and it will update for you. Like if you use MSE and Share with your friends!

Microsoft Security Essentials Updates with Better Performance, Virus Detection, and Interface Change
lifehacker.com
Microsoft Security Essentials is our favorite antivirus software for Windows, and a new version is out that's even lighter and easier to use than ever.

Please share this with ALL your FB friends. Remember SOPA? CISPA is worse. The entertainment industry will not stop until they control the Internet and all content distribution. Be sure to educate yourself and contact your legislators!

Your Privacy is at Risk – Help Defeat CISPA!
facecrooks.com
Citizens across the country rallied in January to put defeat SOPA, a dreadful bill that could have wrecked the Internet as we know it. The proponents of SOPA didn’t wait long to strike again. The new legistative threat the House is scheduled to vote on this week is CISPA – The Cyber Intelligence …

If you don't already have a cloud drive … it's time to get one. I've used Dropbox, Sugarsync, and Box. Google is making a significant play with Google Drive and the integration with Google Docs is fantastic. Definitely worth a try – you get 5GB for free and now can sync files between computers effortlessly. Have questions or need help setting it up? Let us know! Like if you think Google Drive is cool and share with your friends!

Official Google Blog: Introducing Google Drive… yes, really
googleblog.blogspot.com

A common misconception among computer users is that you 'know' when you are infected. The worst virus infections are those so hidden, you think your computer is fine while all sorts of information is collected or you are redirected to sites you didn't intend to visit (that are clones so you think it's fine). The FBI has recently taken down a large criminal enterprise that had millions of PCs referencing bogus Internet information. Curious if your computer might be infected with DNSChanger and if you'll lose Internet connectivity in July? It's easy to check – just use the website linked in this article – you click one link and see green or red. Easy!

The Feds Will Shut off Your Internet If You Don't Clean Your Computer by July 9
gizmodo.com
When the FBI and Estonian authorities finally crushed the DNSChanger Trojan network in January, they set up a temporary DNS exchange to maintain connectivity for the millions of infected users until they could wipe the bug from their systems.

So the Malware authors are getting crafty in their approach. When in doubt – don't click! But if you were worried enough to open this attachment, well… 🙂 Can't stress enough how important it is to keep your system up to date and be careful when you click – the latest virus infections have been particularly destructive and difficult to repair.

IMG0893.zip – Your photo all over Facebook? Naked? Malware campaign spammed out
nakedsecurity.sophos.com
SophosLabs is intercepting a spammed-out malware campaign, pretending to be an email about a revealing photo posted online of the recipient. The emails, which have a variety of subject lines and…

Our apologies for any of our customers who had trouble contacting us the past week – a combination of phone, domain, and internet issues had us offline for a while. But everything is back on track (thanks Time Warner) and we're here! help@itxpress.biz 336-525-5005

How do you think you are most vulnerable online? What account, by far, is the most dangerous to have compromised, yet is probably the easiest to compromise? Answer in the comments and Share with your friends so they can learn how to improve their online security in a few simple steps. I'll throw in some answers in a bit.

Mac users – this is an update you want to install ASAP. Not only does it update Java to close some security holes, it also includes an automatic malware removal tool in the event your Mac was infected with Flashback. Simply select 'Software Updates…' from the Apple menu and let it roll.

Apple pumps out yet another Java update
nakedsecurity.sophos.com
Apple has delivered – or so it says – on its promise to provide a Flashback malware removal tool, wrapped in another Java update.

Replacing An Amazon Kindle Display
While it makes no sense to repair a $79 Kindle, some 3G models cost well over $150, so it made sense to replace the screen on this one. So if you've ever wondered what a Kindle looks like on the inside, here you go. Definitely one of the more interesting repairs we've done at IT Xpress

Macs are *absolutely* more secure than Windows machines, but they are not immune. Up until now most infections required users to mistakenly enter their admin password. Not any more – this infection has spread quickly and most victims don't even realize they have it. Here's how to check…

Mac Flashback Trojan: Find Out If You're One of the 600,000 Infected
gizmodo.com
There's a new Mac trojan that's been floating around, and it's terrifying everyone. It's written in an unknown language, doesn't even need your password to compromise you, and now it's apparently infected 600,000 users.