With the release of Java v7.13.02, 50 Java vulnerabilities were patched this weekend by Oracle including one that is actively being exploited by virus authors (http://goo.gl/Xfg92). Our My ITXpert clients should see the update within hours. Normally Java can take up to a month to 'auto' update, leaving your PC vulnerable to infection. But our My ITXpert clients (http://itxpress.biz/services/my-itxpert/) see the updates much faster. So share with your friends so they can make their PC safer by updating or signing up for My ITXpert!

My ITXpert

I promise not to always post specials like this, but some are too good to not pass on. If you are looking for a new desktop computer – this is a fantastic deal ($399 Free Shipping). The AMD A8 processors are fast and have full blown graphics card processors in them. I suspect these will sell out by the end of the day. Gateway is owned by Acer and are quality systems these days. Don't forget, IT Xpress can help set your new system up with the latest software, anti-virus, security settings, and more.

Newegg.com – Gateway SX2370-UR10P (PT.GCRP2.003) Desktop PC A8-Series APU A8-3820(2.50GHz) 6GB DDR3.
www.newegg.com
Buy Gateway SX2370-UR10P (PT.GCRP2.003) Desktop PC A8-Series APU A8-3820(2.50GHz) 6GB DDR3 1TB HDD Capacity AMD Radeon HD 6550D Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!

This is a must if you use GMail. If someone gets into your main email account, they can cause a LOT of damage, reset passwords, and all sorts of things. And if you REALLY want to secure your Google account, enable two factor authentication.

Turn on Phone Notifications for Suspicious Activity on Your Google Account
lifehacker.com
If a hacker gets access to your Gmail account, the results could be disastrous. Google has long notified users via email if their account passwords have been changed or there's a suspicious login attempt, but now you can also set up phone alerts.

I rarely share 'deals' like this, but if you're looking to get a new computer screen – this is a deal. Acer LCD screens are fantastic. We have 7 of them in the shop. $109 Free Shipping for a 23" LED backlit LCD monitor. If you're a new NewEgg customer, you can save $10 on top of that with the NEWCUSTOMER code (unless they prohibit the 2nd coupon). This special ends tomorrow, but they may run out of stock before then. NewEgg is a great company and one of the largest computer parts online retailers in the world. Share with your friends!

Newegg.com – Acer G236HLBbd Black 23" 5ms Widescreen LED Monitor 200 cd/m2 ACM 100,000,000:1 (600:1
www.newegg.com
Buy Acer G236HLBbd Black 23" 5ms Widescreen LED Monitor 200 cd/m2 ACM 100,000,000:1 (600:1) with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!

This is not a joke or typo. Hard drives were insanely expensive when they first came out. 10MB!!! Imagine all you could store on that! And the funniest part in our online world? Look at the bottom of the ad – if you wanted more information, you circled a number on an inquiry postcard, sent it in, and the magazine would tell the vendor to send you some info. Took weeks!

Old Computer Equipment

Like having your own IT expert for your computer year round! Get more details at http://itxpress.biz/services/my-itxpert/

My ITXpert
Like having your own IT expert for your computer year round! Get more details at http://itxpress.biz/services/my-itxpert/

Getting ready for our Intro to Windows 8 class today at 4PM! Live in the Mebane area and want to learn about the new Windows operating system everyone is talking about? Come on down! 109 N 3rd St, Mebane, NC 27302. Cost $35. Walk in registrations welcome! If you have a laptop, bring it!

We are seeing an influx of customers who have been infected by the FBI MoneyPAK virus. The most common infection method seems to be websites which claim you have an outdated version of Adobe Flash. When you download the 'update' and install it – you actually install the virus. Adobe Flash automatically updates as of v10, so you should always have the latest version. Always *be careful* when website prompt you to upgrade software – the safest thing to do is go directly to the appropriate site (say Adobe for Adobe Flash) and download the latest version if you think you need to upgrade. Anti-virus programs are NOT catching this infection. Share with your friends to help keep them safe!

This was such an odd problem, I wanted to share it in case any of you encountered the same thing.

Any move toward being 'paperless' or using less paper means PDF files. Here at IT Xpress, we store invoices, receipts, and more in PDF files. With the new search tools in Vista and Windows 7, we figured we could easily search a folder looking for an receipt that had a certain product. Apparently not. If you use a '64-bit' version of Windows, Adobe has not released a filter that allows you to search PDF documents. Annoying! But thankfully it can be fixed…

1) See if you are running a 64-bit version of Windows. Click the Start Menu icon and right click on 'Computer'. Select Properties and look at the 'System Type'. If it's 32 Bit – you can already search PDF. If it's 64 Bit – you can't and need to do this.
2) Go here and download the necessary search filter: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4025
3) Unzip the file and double click the installer. Accept all defaults until it's finished.
4) In the control panel, (Start -> Control Panel) click on Index Options. Click the Advanced button, allow it to run, and click 'Rebuild'. This will rebuild your indexes and include PDF files in the search database.
5) Wait. A Loooong Time. Indexing is slow to avoid dragging your system to a crawl, so it may take hours or even days to reindex all your files. Once that is done, you should be able to search inside PDF files!

Oracle is not the only one. Most free software packages will try to get you to install 'extra' toolbars and software. Most will spy on your browsing and sell that info to advertisers. Browser toolbars are useless – disable them. Don't install apps like Ask, Rebate Informer, DealIO, MyWebSearch, Conduit, Coupon Printer, Shop To Win, FunWeb, ALOT, InBox, WildTangent, and so many many more. One of the steps that takes the longest when we do tuneups is removing all this 'junkware' (Our My ITXpert service allows us to disable this junk remotely). So when you install something, pay CLOSE attention to any screen that asks permission to install something else. Curious if you have any of these? Check 'Add/Remove Programs' (WinXP) or 'Programs and Features' (Vista/Win7/Win8) in the Control Panel for programs you don't recognize. Unsure if it's something you should remove? Post a comment and ask! Share with your friends so they can check as well and Like if you wish vendors would stop this sleazy practice.

Oracle, please stop sneakily foisting third-party toolbars on us with your Java updates
nakedsecurity.sophos.com
If you're installing a critical security update on your computer, caused by the software vendor's sloppy code quality, you probably wouldn't dream that your software vendor is trying to make some m…

Many of our clients saw this appear on their screen this morning as we pushed out a number of important security updates and also tuned up their boot times…

My ITXpert

Just got done helping a user configure their network printer after their ISP changed out their Internet router. Since they have our My ITXpert service we were able to do this remotely and it didn't cost them a cent. You get 1 hour of free remote support for each computer subscribed to this service!

My ITXpert Service
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 Xpert service, our experts can remotel…

This is not a smart move by Microsoft… When they first announced you could upgrade to Windows 8 for $40, that put them in line with Apple's upgrade cost and people thought that was a good price point for the upgrade, especially given how 'different' Windows 8 is. But after this month, you're looking at $120 to upgrade a personal PC and $200 to upgrade a business PC. Add in the cost of having someone do it for you, and it will cost almost as much as buying a new computer!!! So if you considered upgrading your existing PC to Windows 8, you'll need to do so before Feb 1st to take advantage of the $40 license pricing. IT Xpress can do these upgrades as well for an additional $90-$149 depending on your current operating system.

Maximum PC
www.maximumpc.com
Windows 8 has tons of post-sale revenue potential, so is $200 too much to ask?

Are you spending $70+ dollars a year on anti-virus software? Would it surprise you to learn that most AV software will only detect 5% of 'new' viruses? One of the best strategies to protect yourself is to ensure the software on your computer is up to date. Our My ITXpert service (http://itxpress.biz/services/my-itxpert/) will ensure programs like Java, Adobe Reader/Flash, and your web browser are up to date with the latest security patches. Plus you get hardware monitoring, crash repair, and an hour of free remote IT support! All for as little as $129/year. So install a free anti-virus like MS Security Essentials or Avast and put that $70 towards keeping your system secure and running smooth all year long!

Outmaneuvered at Their Own Game, Antivirus Makers Struggle to Adapt
www.nytimes.com
Consumers and businesses spend billions of dollars a year on antivirus software, but these programs rarely block freshly minted strains, because the malware creators move too fast.

Have a new computer with Windows 8? Take our "Intro to Windows 8" and learn all about the many changes as well as how to make it more like Windows 7. Classes are scheduled for January 22nd and 26th! Share with any friends who may have new computers!

Intro to Windows 8
itxpress.biz
Our Intro to Windows 8 class is ideal for anyone who has purchased or is considering purchasing a desktop, laptop, or tablet running Windows 8 or Windows RT. We’ll cover all that has cha…