CompuClever Blog

Java security “exploit” may not receive a patch

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Web browsers including Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome have all been hit by a Java software flaw used to spread malware, and security experts have gone as far as warning people to disable Java software on their computer.

This flaw or vulnerability in Java allows an attacker to bypass Java security completely, making it possible to install malware or execute malicious code on your computer.

Malware, short for “malicious software”, is software used or created to disrupt computer operation, gather sensitive information, or gain access to private computers.

Java itself is used to create “applets” or programs that are embedded in other applications, typically in a web page displayed in a web browser,  in order to provide interactive features to web applications that cannot be provided by HTML alone. Some video games and flash movies are examples of applets.

It’s estimated that Java is installed on more than 3 billion computers around the world, but only about a third of users get updates and patches for the software that close security holes.

As well, sometimes Java security flaws remain “unpatched”.  Oracle, which provides software patches for Java  has only patched two of the 31 flaws reported so far this year. Continue reading...

Top 5 Simple Tasks Every Computer User Should Know

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As computing power has increased rapidly over the past few years, maintaining a computer has become as complicated as looking after a car. And, because of that, it’s easy to miss out on all of the great features and abilities our computers have.

Here are 5 things about using your computer you should know:

Know how to create a computer backup

Computer hard disks fail pretty regularly, which can be traumatic because the hard disk is used to store everything from the computer’s operating system and main programs (Microsoft Word) that can be expensive to replace, to photos and media libraries. Microsoft Windows 7 actually features a Windows backup feature, and you’ll need an external hard drive or a number of DVD’s to do this. To be even safer, you can use a service like CrashPlan to back up your computer online.

Understand how to set up your home WiFi

Understanding routers, modems, and the other things that make up your network can seem daunting, but there are a few basics that can fix most problems that come your way. Does your router constantly need resetting? Make sure it isn’t overheating or clogged with traffic. Is your Wi-Fi speed and range less than ideal?  Continue reading...

How to Start Your PC Faster

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speed up windows computer

Unlike super-quick iPhone and iPad mobile devices that turn on and off nearly instantly, PC’s often take forever to “boot up” or start. It’s one of the minor annoyances of owning a Windows computer.

What’s causing all of this?

There are two culprits responsible for preventing your PC from starting up more quickly:

1) Many applications are set up start up automatically when Windows starts without you even knowing or agreeing beforehand!

2) Some of these programs are rarely or never used, and are not needed to run your Windows computer.

It is annoying and painstaking to wait for 5 minutes before your PC finishes booting and is ready for you to use, all on the account of unneeded programs.

It’s not only slow Startup times…

And there’s another problem:

All of those and unused programs that slow your computer’s Startup times can even slow down the process of shutting down your PC!

And PC’s need to be shut down a lot. Windows security patches and updates need to be installed or a low battery, means laptops and PC’s often need to be shut down and booted up on a daily basis.

What’s the solution to slow boot-up and shutdown times? Continue reading...

More on the difference between Flash and Shockwave Flash

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You may have heard of “Flash” and “Shockwave Flash”. If you think they are the same thing, you might be wrong!

First of all, Flash (or, more correctly “Adobe Flash”, and in the past “Macromedia Flash” before Adobe acquired the company) is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. In a nutshell, Flash usually need to play YouTube video on your computer, and the way to do this is to install the Adobe Flash Player.

Your browser uses the Adobe Flash Player to watch movies, stream audio, play games, and even interact with some web pages. Flash Player is freely available as a plugin for recent versions of web browsers (such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, and Safari) on selected platforms. Google Chrome even integrates the player into its distribution, which means you never have to worry about updating it.

So what’s Shockwave Flash?

Shockwave Flash is actually an “authoring tool” that is used to create content for websites, such as games. You can use more types of files with Shockwave. You could, for example, import a Flash file into a Shockwave movie, but it doesn’t work the other way around – you can’t play Shockwave file in a Flash Player. Continue reading...

How to fix Flash on your computer

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If you have ever heard of Flash, you’ve probably asked yourself the question: “How do I fix Flash on my computer?” Flash is a finicky program that often crashes. And it’s not only buggy – Flash can also be dangerous for your computer if it’s not updated regularly.

First of all, what is Flash? Flash is a “multimedia platform” created and maintained by Adobe, and is used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash typically helps your computer play streaming media such as radio broadcast, or, most regularly, YouTube videos.

Without Flash, most computer browsers would not be able to play YouTube (although that may change as new technologies are introduced).

So, if Flash is out of date and refuses to work, it can be extremely annoying because you won’t be able to watch videos or listen to music. Flash also sometimes powers webpages as well.

Why Flash can be dangerous for your computer

Flash is also used to display things like banner ads on webpages. Almost every website we visit has some sort of banner ad. However if your browser’s Flash plugin is not up to date, it can be a serious security issue. Hackers can find vulnerabilities, and can find ways to transmit viruses to your computer via Flash (often this risk is paired with the failure of the website owner to either make sure their own site is updated, or they may have chosen a really inept and risky way to build their website, making it easy for hackers to find a foothold). Continue reading...