This month we have tips on safe online banking, reviews of Home Servers and why you should install Microsoft’s latest service pack for Windows XP.

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Home servers seem to becoming ever more popular, helped along the way with Microsoft releasing their home server software, Windows Home Server. The idea behind these devices is to let you share all your videos, pictures and music from a central hub to other PC’s or devices in the house. Several manufactures have hubs out to buy ranging in price and functionality.

Our favourite is the Fujitsu Siemens Scaleo Home Server 1900. It is quite expensive at nearly £500.00 but you do get a very well designed and built server with 2x 500GB hard drives plus 2 spare drive bays and Microsoft Home
Server operating software.

An alternative to the Siemens is the HP Media Vault Pro mv5020. This is a low cost and compact home server that has room for expansion. It uses a Linux based operating system to help keep costs down and only comes with one 500 GB drive. It does have a built in iTunes server, consolidating the music libraries of all connected clients.

Windows XP service pack 3 Released

Microsoft has now put service pack 3 on general release. This service pack includes all of the previously release updates plus a few functionality updates. We recommend that you install this latest update if you have Windows XP, bringing your PC up to date with all the latest security patches. We have installed this on several PC’s and it has installed every time without a hitch. Get this update by going to http://update.microsoft.com

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8

AVG have released the latest version of their free anti-virus software. The user interface has been updated, making the programme easier to use than the last 7.5 version. As with the previous version all you get is the virus scanner and spyware scanner of it’s paid for cousin. Which isn’t bad for saying its free! There are some nags to get you to buy the full internet security suite but you can forgive that. However, the full version gives you complete protection. You get a firewall plus several other tools to help keep you safe while surfing or chatting on the internet as well as free technical support, prices start from £39.99. The free version is a fantastic start and is available from http://free.grisoft.com/

Hints & Tips

Safe online Banking

Many of our customers feel online banking is too much of a security risk and so don’t use this service, which is a shame as it is a fantastic service as long as you use it correctly. Most banks these days have very secure websites and allow you to do most of the things you would do in the branch but from the comfort of your own home such as transfer money and viewing statements. Just follow our simple tips to help keep you safe.

• If your bank wants answers to memorable questions then don’t choose ones that could be easily answered by looking at your social networking profile.

• Don’t use the same password for every website you visit.

• Don’t bank on public PC’s such as internet cafes or at work.

• NEVER respond or even click on emails that claim to be from your bank, no matter how plausible or urgent they may appear, (this is known as phishing).

• Don’t log on from easily hackable wireless networks.

• Never disclose your full password or PIN to anyone, not even your bank.


Manage your Thumbnails

In our never ending quest to help you get your PC running smoothly and quickly I would like to talk to you about your thumbnails, for those of you with a puzzled look on your face I shall explain. The thumbnails I’m talking about are the mini versions of your pictures that display in your folders. They are a good way to view what pictures you have but are of little use otherwise and can be turned off which will speed up viewing folders, or if you must have them then make sure the thumbnail cache is on. In Windows XP open the My Pictures folder then at the top click on Tools, Folder Options, View and make sure that ‘Do not cache thumbnails’ is not ticked. To turn them off in a folder where you don’t need them then simply click on View and select icons or list depending on your preference.

In Vista, thumbnails can only be turned off or on using the folder options. The cache is always on.