Grundig Consulting

There has  been a lot of attention paid to the potentially damaging capabilities of the Conficker worm, which has been circulating on the Internet for several months now, but which was set to markedly increase this month with new attacks.   Whether on not you have been affected, the attention to this virus / worm does raise some good points regarding protection of your PCs in general.

1. Install a good antivirus program which automatically updates itself with the latest definitions.  Check periodically to see that it is functioning normally.

2. Make sure that automatic updates is enabled if you have a Windows operating system.  The Windows vulnerability that is targeted by Conficker is addressed through automatic updates.  Many other fixes are regularly repaired through the automatic update mechanism.

3. Use anti-malware / anti-spyware such as Malwarebytes

4. Run the Malwarebytes every other week - do the full scan

5. Don’t browse Porn or Casino sites.  A lot of junk comes from these areas, as well as from illegal file sharing platforms.

6. Consider getting a Mac for security reasons, but remain aware that Macs can be attacked, also.

Any other suggestions?

As the holiday season approaches, more and more people are asking for my advice on which computer system to purchase this year? This pertains to home users as well as those in a business environment. In my opinion, there are two major choices which must be made: PC or Mac? Desktop or laptop?

PC or Mac? There are a lot of great systems available right now are very good prices, especially on the PC side, made by manufacturers such as Dell and and other. I recommend purchasing one of the midrange systems when shopping for a PC, whether a desktop or laptop. More installed memory, as always, improves performance. However, the extremely versatile lineup of Macintosh computers from Apple always begs inspection. The iMac, Macbook and Macbook Pro models which are available are suitable for most home or small business users. Keep in mind that by using Bootcamp, which is built into the newest version of the Mac operating systems, you can run Windows XP or Vista on a Mac without sacrificing any performance.

Desktop or laptop? These days, the price difference between laptops and desktops has narrowed, while laptops are are also nearing desktop systems in performance. Laptops can be used at home, at work or on the road. As a result, more laptops are now being sold worldwide than desktops. I recommend that you seriously consider a laptop in any debate between a laptop and desktop system. Port replicators, external monitors, keyboards and mice can be attached to a laptop systems to give it a more ergonomic feel which being used in the laptop or at home. The easy portability of a laptop is usually worth the extra cost.

What do you think are the best computer systems available this holiday season? We’d love to hear your input or answer any questions that you have.

Best wishes for a happy and productive holiday season.