Spyware is software or files that infiltrate your computer without your knowledge. It can be as simple as a cookie (explained below) or a full blown infection which is stealing your internet, downloading pornography or sending spam emails from your computer.

What is a cookie?

Tracking cookies are small text files downloaded to your personal computer when you visit a website. They are a harmless form of spyware designed to help websites recognise your preferences and reading patterns, like the whether you clicked on that pop up American citizenship add when you visited their website.

In most cases they are completely harmless, but other computer users and websites can use them to see where you have visited online. You can avoid tracking cookies by setting your computer to delete your browsing history when you exit the browser. In Internet Explorer 9 find the setting under the menu Tools>Internet Options > Delete Browsing History.

Many common antivirus products completely ignore cookies, as they can’t actually harm your computer.

Detecting Spyware

If your computer seems a lot slower recently, you are getting pop-up advertising on your screen or if toolbars you don’t remember downloading appear in your internet browser, you’re might be infected with more malicious forms of spyware.

They can arrive via website downloads, email and instant messaging services and even as upgrades to old software. Whatever the delivery method, spyware requires the user to install it, often tricking you with false promises of ‘speeding up your computer’ or ‘cleaning your registry’.

‘Piggyback’ spyware often arrives through the back door with other new software that you do want, but the unwanted guest can reset your home page or fill your screen with advertising and slow your system down.

Reputable software does not come with spyware, but there is a risk of it when downloading software from the internet for free from an unknown source.

Symantec, which publishes Norton Internet Security, recommends against accepting free deals and urges users to always read the End User License agreement which will probably detail any extra software you are installing. It also warns against opening suspicious error messages in the web browser which can lead to the download of spyware.

Running a regular scan through your antivirus and antispyware software will detect and remove spyware.  But the best cure is prevention – being vigilant about what you are downloading and installing.

Malware Bytes – http://www.malwarebytes.org/ – offer an excellent free spyware removal tool, and the paid version offers even more protection for the advanced user.

He’s probably got an Apple iPhone or iPad maybe even a MacBook or PC Notebook. But does he have Apple TV? No, it’s not a television channel devoted to the creations of the late Steve Jobs and his team at Apple in the US.

It’s a media player. And that’s where things can get confusing.

Personal computers running the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system come with Media Player and Media Center software installed. The software also comes with some earlier versions of Windows, but we’re not talking about software. Neither are we talking about Apple’s OS X Lion App ‘DVD Player’ or the iTunes software from Apple.

Instead we are talking about a little box, no bigger than an external hard disk drive, that fits in the palm of your hand which bridges the digital gap between your personal computer and your home entertainment system . . . if they aren’t already the same device.

Apple TV, as one leading retailer’s website puts it, has been redesigned to be ‘small in size but big on entertainment’. The idea is that you rent a high definition (HD) movie from an online store like iTunes and stream the movie from the computer to your HD television using the Apple TV device. You transfer music and video files from your computer to the Apple TV and plug it into your television set.

The $170 device has five ports on the back. The first is for power, the second for a HDMI video cable which connects to the television set, the third is a USB port which connects to your computer and enables you to transfer music and video files, the fourth is an optical audio port to connect it to your stereo and the fifth is an Ethernet port to allow connection to your home network.

If the techie in your life is not an Apple fiend there’s a lot of similar options out there which all have the same functionality. After all they are just hard disk drives with special connectors which allow you to plug them in virtually anywhere.

Philips makes a high definition media player which sells at the same price as Apple TV which also has WiFi ability so that you can connect it to the computer network wirelessly. The non-WiFi option from Philips is $99.

You’ll also find a range of similar media players on TradeMe for around $100. They’re not from major names, but they do a similar job.

If you are looking for more functionality from a media player and your budget is in the $500 range, you might consider an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, since both are capable of playing media downloaded from the internet. But both have relatively small hard disk drives compared to a dedicated media player device, but these can be upgraded for more storage by your favourite techie.

Now is a good time to pick up some bargains, with people parting with old tech to make way for the new.

Here are some things to look out for when you’re browsing for bargains. The first rule is – If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. While the auction sites try hard to police auctions, their staff can’t be everywhere at once. If you think an auction is an unlikely bargain, ask some questions. Then you can be sure.
If you’re buying second hand computers such as laptops and netbooks, make sure it comes with genuine software. Machines made by the leading manufacturers like Hewlett-Packard and Dell come with what is known as an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) version of software such as Microsoft Windows or Office which is licensed to those particular machines. If the computer comes with the original software and ownership sticker, you’re fine, but otherwise the software may have been used multiple times or even pirated. OEM software cannot be sold by itself and TradeMe will always remove the auction.

If your conscience doesn’t prick you when buying pirated software, which TradeMe will also pull from its site if identified, the thought of losing all your documents, pictures, music and video should. Many pirated software programs contain malicious software – also known as malware – which can cause untold damage to your computer system. Pirated versions of Windows do not connect to Windows Update so when Microsoft discovers vulnerabilities with the operating system your machine doesn’t benefit and becomes a target for hackers.

When buying new tech, especially from overseas websites, be sure to check on what warranty you are getting. Also check to see what sort of electrical adapter the tech has. It’s no good buying something cheaply you get it out of the box and discover you need a converter to plug it into the New Zealand power grid.

If you’re lucky enough to get a new computer for Christmas and you decide to sell the old one on TradeMe, be sure to back up your data to an external hard drive before wiping the hard disk on your old machine. Simply deleting the files isn’t enough, as they still remain hidden on your drive.

Wipe the disk with free software like Darik’s Boot and Nuke (www.dban.com) before reinstalling the OEM operating system and software that came with the machine. That way it’s like a new machine to the buyer, and will not contain any of your personal data.

Have a techie Christmas.

What is a database?

A database is an organised way to collect information about something using a computer. It could be as simple as a list of contact names and addresses or as complicated as the thousands of bits of data your bank or accountant collects about you and your transactions.

How does it work?

We can split a database into three parts to consider.

Part 1 – The Infrastructure

This is the program that stores all the data for you. Some popular database programs include Microsoft Access or SQL, MySQL, Oracle DB and OpenOffice Base. There are thousands of options available. Your accounting software is actually a database, as is any spreadsheet you create (albeit a simple one).

The program requires the data to be stored in a particular structure. It might keep your data on a computer or server, or in the ‘cloud’ (stored on other people’s servers using the internet).

The program uses a ‘language’ to manipulate the data into doing what you want. SQL would be the most well-known language; it stands for ‘Structured Query Language’ and it provides a standard set of specific rules to carry out a specific operation.

Part 2 – The Data

Each bit of information stored in your database would go into a ‘table’. Think of a table as a bit like a spreadsheet – You have columns and rows of information arranged together. Each column holds one type of information and each row is the ‘record’, the related pieces of different types of information you are storing.

Part 3 – The Front End

This is the program, website or form that takes the information inside the database and displays it to the user. Usually it’s not actually part of the database and you might have many different front-end’s accessing the same database.

An internet banking website is a good example of a front-end. It takes information inside a database you cannot see and displays it to you in a simple and secure fashion.

A front-end helps prevent a user changing data in a dangerous way, as it enforces the rules about what types of data the database can accept, and the processes the information goes through.

What can a database do?

Anything you need, really. If you have some information which can be written in text, a database could benefit you. It allows you to alter and update the data in a regulated fashion, following rules which you can control. It can help prevent bad information being collected and uses the information it collects to send emails, create webpages, create readable reports and more.

Some common database functions include; Recording purchases and sales of items, holding financial records, managing payrolls, recording lap times for racing, tracking emails and much more. The internet itself uses databases to keep track of where to find websites and which servers to send emails to.

Can I setup my own database?

Absolutely! If you are new to databases, I suggest starting with something simple to get familiar. Microsoft’s Access software is a great starting point and includes many examples plus a very useful help section and online training.

What if I need something more complicated?

Check your local Yellow Pages for a ‘Database Management’ company or contact your favourite Nerd.

Further Reading

For the true Nerds interested in reading more, check out Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Database or Microsoft’s Introduction to Access databases – http://bit.ly/qdTgRg

What is iCloud?

iCloud is an online backup service provided by Apple. It allows you to back up your critical information and files from your Apple OS device to Apple’s online servers. Imagine what would happen if you lost or broke your iPhone or iPad without a backup of your contact list, or all your calendar appointments!

iCloud allows you to quickly and easily backup this critical data and easily restore it back to the same or a new Apple device via the internet. You don’t even need to plug the device into a computer, all you need is your account information (username & password) and a wireless internet connection. In addition to backing up your info, iCloud can also synchronise your information between multiple Apple devices using the same Apple account.

What can I backup?

Currently iCloud can keep a copy of your music, photos, apps, documents, bookmarks, calendar, notes, books and contacts. Future release will likely add new features, like backing up your preferences and settings, picture backgrounds and email settings, leading to true redundancy. This would mean that in the event of losing or breaking your device, a few clicks will set the replacement up exactly like the original.

Find my iPhone

iCloud also includes the amazingly handy “Find my iPhone” app which can locate your device with GPS co-ordinates if lost and also allow you to send it messages or lock it and wipe all your personal info out if it gets stolen.

What are the limitations?

Right now, Apple is only offering 5GB of file storage for free which could be a little small if you are big music or photo buff. However, anything you’ve purchased from the iTunes store will be backed up without counting towards your data storage limits. Thankfully the price for adding additional storage is quite small (only $25.00 NZ dollars per 10GB per year, when the largest storage available is 64GB), and most users won’t need more than 5GB.

iCloud only works when connected to wireless broadband at this stage but with companies such as McDonalds and various airports and libraries offering free Wi-Fi, you can usually find somewhere to back up your device and check your emails at the same time.

To read more about iCloud or check out your account and data usage, click on Settings > iCloud in your Apple device or visit www.icloud.com

‘Find My iPhone’ is a free app provided by apple. It can be used on either an iPhone, iPod touch or an iPad. The purpose of this app is to allow the owner of the device to locate their iPhone, iPod or iPad if it has been misplaced or stolen. ‘Find My iPhone’ app allows you to track where your device is. You can choose to send a message or play a sound on your device to enable you to find it. You can choose to remote lock or remote wipe the device (erase all your data and settings). A slight downfall is that the device must be turned on for the app to locate it. If the device is powered off you can select an option for the required action you choose to take place once the device is turned on.

The ‘Find My iPhone’ app can be downloaded through the iTunes store or by using the App Store on your device. Once the app is downloaded you need to create a mobile me account on your device which is done under Settings > Mail > Mobile Me.

Apple has made this clever little app very easy to use. All you need to do to use the ‘Find My iPhone’ app is login to the mobile me website at http://www.me.com from any pc or laptop using your apple ID and password. So basically anyone that has an iPod touch, iPad, or an iPhone should download and install this free app if they haven’t already. That way if your device is stolen or lost you may have a chance of recovering it and at the very least at least you can wipe all your personal information from the device.

But what is an operating system (or OS)? And why should I want to buy a new one?

An operating system is software which manages computer hardware and becomes the platform on which all other software runs. Apple overtook Microsoft in OS revenue a few years ago but despite this Microsoft’s Windows operating system still runs on 90 per cent of the world’s personal computers. It comes pre-installed on most off the shelf models. Windows 7 is Microsoft’s current offering, launched in 2009 to replace Windows Vista and its predecessor Windows XP. Windows 8 is probably still about a year away. Reuters recently reported that sales of Microsoft’s flagship operating system (Windows 7) have increased only 2 percent from equivalent quarter the year before.

So what about Windows 8?

If your personal computer works fine and you can run all the software you want to on your existing machine, there’s no need to upgrade. Windows 8 will include additional features designed for touch enabled hardware such as HP’s new Touchsmart PC range. Windows 8 will also run seamlessly on a new range of tablet computers being designed to take on Apple’s iPhone and iPad. It looks like a radical style shift for the end user but under the hood it will still do the same tasks (email, internet, games and so on), although faster and more reliably than previous versions.

Portable devices, such as the iPhone and iPad as well as Android phones and tablets and Windows phones have their own operating systems. Apple devices run the iOS operating system. Unlike Windows, which is available on disk for installation on any hardware (include Apple’s own personal computers), the Apple iOS can only be installed on the genuine Apple hardware – whether it be a computer, iPad or iPhone.

The rarest operating system is also the nerdiest. It’s usually open source (which means it’s free) and it’s called Linux. Many Linux enthusiasts, who make up less than one per cent of the world’s computer users are also in the position to write computer code and can adapt Linux for their own computing needs. Some even share their adapted version with the Linux community online and the modified operating system becomes a new Linux distribution. Most Linux packages come packed with free programs, and a whole host of others are available to download, like Open Office, a Microsoft Office replacement. It’s particularly popular in developing countries where old computer hardware is recycled. Some, wanting the best of both worlds, install Linux on their PC alongside Windows and set their machine up to give them a choice of which to start when they boot.

Ubuntu is a free distribution of Linux you can find at www.ubuntu.com. If you want to try it out, ensure you have a good backup first as replacing your operating system can cause you to lost your files, emails and programs.

It can sometimes be the most reliable component in your computer, still soldiering on when just every other component has been replaced but more often it is the first thing to go boom. Sometimes you’ll get a warning, it will start making an awful racket or a message will flash up on screen in Windows suggesting you replace the drive. But usually, you won’t get any warning.

Here at Need A Nerd we’ve seen too many people lose valuable data not to keep reminding you about backing up your data. You can use Windows’ backup utility to do it automatically, a third party piece of software, or do it yourself with the drag and drop method – however you do it guard your machine from disaster. If you suspect something is wrong with your hard drive try running a diagnostic program. You might even have one pre-installed on your machine. Norton 360 Version 5 from Symantec includes a PC Tune-up function which can be used to check your personal Computer. Diagnostic Reports can detect problems with your hard disk.

The big hard disk manufactures such as Seagate and Western Digital have their own hard disk utilities which you can download from their websites and run on your computer. See their respective websites for details of what’s on offer and how to run it. Another, generic, piece of software favoured at Need A Nerd is HDD Scan which stands for Hard Disk Drive Scan. Get it at www.hddscan.com. The free program can test all manner of storage devices, from conventional drives to the new solid state drives, for errors. Some tests require you to burn the software to an optical disk, such as a CD or DVD, and boot your machine from that. Again, the instructions are on their websites. Sometimes the manufacturer specific software can fix errors with the disk. The software may not tell you what the problem is, but it will tell you that you have one.

Now might be time to call your favourite computer maintenance firm or, if the machine is still under warranty, return it to the store. It’s worth knowing that most stores won’t perform a hard drive while you wait so be prepared to lose your PC for a day or two.

Testing your hard drive on a regular basis and paying attention to the results could save you a whole lot of trouble down the digital track.

The first is to install antivirus software. The rule is you get what you pay for with antivirus, so consider any free software as less secure and protective than any paid version.

The second is to ensure your copy of Windows is up to date.

You can access Windows Update on your computer by clicking Start> All Programs >Windows Update. Once in, we recommend clicking “Change Settings” and ensuring that ‘Important Updates’ is set to Install updates automatically (recommended).  There are all manner of updates released by Microsoft. Like the anti-virus software you have installed, Windows updates help protect your operating system and your data against malicious software (malware) and other security threats. Other updates patch security flaws which have been discovered in the operating system or upgrade existing functions and add new ones to Windows.

Every now and then Microsoft rolls a bunch of such updates together into one big download it calls a ‘Service Pack’. Windows Update does use valuable internet bandwidth so there can be times when you don’t want it to run, such as when you are playing online games or towards the end of the month when you have exceeded your internet usage.

To turn Windows Update off go back to the Change Settings panel and select Never check for updates (not recommended). This is not recommended because not having updates exposes your computer to more security risks. If you do switch Windows to ‘Never check for updates’ make sure to remind yourself to turn it back on when you have a decent internet connection.

Another option ‘Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them’ could also be useful in this situation, giving you more control over update timing. Those who like full control over their computer and what is downloaded to it can choose this option. Installing updates can require the computer to shut down and reboot. If a reboot is needed, Windows will offer you the choice of delaying until a later time, or rebooting immediately. If you aren’t at your computer, it will reboot without your input. In earlier versions of Windows, updates sometimes interfered with other software installed on the machine but this is largely a thing of the past these days.

Nevertheless, if a problem does occur, Windows will save your system state with a process called ‘System Restore’. That way if disaster strikes you can roll your system back to when the update was installed. You can find System Restore under Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools. System Restore will keep your files intact, but return your software and updates to the way they were at an earlier data, potentially curing problems you might encounter since they were installed.

It wasn’t long ago that we only had one device to receive email, and that sat on a desk in the corner all the time. Internet service providers (ISPs) the world delivered your email via office protocol 3 (POP3). Like regular postal mail, the POP3 service was designed for “one time only” delivery. Email messages sent to your POP3 accounts were deleted from yours ISP’s server as they were downloaded by your email program.

It made no difference whether it was Outlook Express, the full blown Outlook, Eudora or Mozilla Thunderbird. Email delivered via POP3 servers was easily saved in folders within email clients, but would not be available on your server anymore.

Then webmail & smartphones arrived on the scene and changed everything. Suddenly people needed to be able to access their emails from lots of different devices and also be able to KEEP the messages they were getting safe on the server. Ditching POP3 for Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) or other webmail services like Microsoft Hotmail and Google’s Gmail allows you to download your email to your PC or smartphone of choice, in the same way POP3 did, while leaving a copy of the mail on the server. This means you can access the downloaded the same email on your main device and as many other devices as you wanted.

Webmail gave you the option of reading and responding to emails via an internet browser, like Internet Explorer, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, making it very portable and easy to access when travelling or just at a mates place. When you sign up with an ISP, its worth asking whether the email address they supply will support POP3 or IMAP or webmail access, and also how much storage space you will receive. If it’s POP3 and you want to use on multiple computers, or leave the messages on the server to be available via webmail, you can tweak your email client to work in your favour.

All email clients include the ability to “Leave a copy of messages on the server”, so browse around your account settings to find this setting and turn it on. You MUST do this on all devices that use this email account, otherwise one of them will delete the emails after it gets a copy, meaning no other devices will see it.

To do this in Outlook 2010, on your main PC, click File>Account Settings and double click your email address to call up the Change Account window. Click More Settings . . .>Advanced and tick the “Leave a copy of messages on the server”.

The alternative is to use a Hotmail, Gmail or another website based email service as your main email address.

If you are running a business, even a home or small business, consider purchasing a “domain name” and having your own @mycompany.co.nz email address.

Free services such as Hotmail are not suitable for running a business as it is possible for your email account to be hijacked. You will not be able to make a phone call to sort it out as the services are based overseas and do not offer phone support, so stick with NZ based companies.