Ask Leo! #490 – Automatic sign-in, end of support, spamming spammers, jerks and more…

*** Quick Reminder

Maintaining Windows 7 - Backing Up

I mentioned last week that you can buy a copy of Maintaining Windows 7 - Backing Up, register it using the link in the book, and you'll also get immediate access to downloadable digital copies of the two books that update and replace it: Saved! - Backing Up with Macrium Reflect (which applies to Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8) and Saved! - Backing Up with Windows 7 Backup.

Yep, that's three books for the price of one.

The reminder? That offer ends today. Don't wait.

*** Featured

Why would a website's automatic sign-in suddenly stop working?

I recently used PestPatrol and deleted everything it came up with. I believe I deleted something that has to do with the automatic sign in for Comcast and Hotmail accounts. I cleared out everything in the log of PestPatrol too, so I can't recover anything. QUESTION: Is there any way to get the automatic sign in to work again?

Some of the spyware scanners will report cookies as possible spyware because they could potentially be used by a site to track who you are.

In this case, those cookies are actually quite useful.

Continue Reading: Why would a website's automatic sign-in suddenly stop working?
http://askleo.com/?p=2197

*** Answercast

Answercast #151 - End of support dates, spamming spammers, password vault safety, copying email and more...

Ever wonder about end of support for Vista or Windows 7? What about 8? Are you wanting to add names to emails you receive or stay logged into your password vault? Is Macrium Reflect really better? All that and more in this Answercast from Ask Leo!

Listen
Listen Now!
(Includes the raw transcript on which the articles below were based.)

Why do you prefer Macrium Reflect over Windows 7's backup program?
Macrium Reflect is clearer than Windows 7, it's easier to understand what it's doing, and ultimately, I trust it more.

Continue reading: Why do you prefer Macrium Reflect over Windows 7's backup program?
http://askleo.com?p=13826

How do I get a recipients email address and name to show in the To: line?
You have control over what recipients see in the "from" field when they receive email from you. But the "to" field when you're receiving a message? Not so much.

Continue reading: How do I get a recipients email address and name to show in the To: line?
http://askleo.com?p=13830

Is it safe to stay logged in to my password vault?
Remember, the goal is to keep malware off your computer, not to try and manage it once it's watching you. But there is another security hazard you may not be thinking about.

Continue reading: Is it safe to stay logged in to my password vault?
http://askleo.com?p=13836

How do I copy email from Outlook to Gmail?
It's easy to get email providers and email programs mixed up. So the first step in setting this up is to understand which does what.

Continue reading: How do I copy email from Outlook to Gmail?
http://askleo.com?p=13839

Can't we just spam the spammers to death?
Unfortunately that then turns you into, yes... a spammer! There are many many problems with this idea. I'll explain a few.

Continue reading: Can't we just spam the spammers to death?
http://askleo.com?p=13843

When does support end for other versions of Windows?
Microsoft publishes its end-of-support schedules well in advance. It would be wise to plan for that turnover, to stay both current and safe.

Continue reading: When does support end for other versions of Windows?
http://askleo.com?p=13845

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*** Featured Reader Comments

Why am I getting security certificate errors?

lincar4000 writes:

WOW!!!!!! I cant believe that my clock ( in which the month was off because I looked at the month before to see what day a certain date was and accidentaly left it on that old date ) would cause so much mahem. Chrome, IE and Firefox all had security issues. Changed the month back and all is back to normal. Thanks. I never would have figured it out. Unbelievable.

I've lost the password to my Windows Administrator account. How do I get it back?

Jack writes:

Even with both the BIOS and Windows password unknown, couldn't someone just take out the hard drive and connect it to another computer, and get all the information in the file system (documents, etc.)?

Leo writes:

Typically ... YES. This is when whole-disk encryption (sometimes associated with a BIOS password) can help.

Is there software that will allow me to keep all the software on my machine up to date?

kptech writes:

I'm not necessarily opposed to using drivers supplied by Microsoft or other sources... Just not as my first choice. I worked for a computer manufacturer in my corporate life and we performed thorough compatibility testing on every new device driver for use on our systems. If problems were encountered, we worked with the device manufacturer to resolve it. This often meant that we would skip version(s) of driver software released on our web site. So I guess my point is that, at least in my opinion, drivers delivered by the computer manufacturer are usually the safest alternative. --Certainly not the only one though...

*** Leo's Blog

Why does the internet make people jerks?

You're full of crap. That didn't work.

This was a comment on my Facebook fan page. "That" referred to a tip I'd recently posted. Apparently, the feature I was discussing (an option to disable auto-play video) either hadn't yet been made available in the commenter's account or they couldn't find it.

And apparently, I was at fault for trying to be helpful.

Now, I get this kind of thing from time to time; more often than you see. Abusive questions are ignored and inappropriate comments are deleted. In fact, the poster of this comment apparently thought twice about leaving it up. Shortly after I replied, "A personal attack? Wow," his comment disappeared.

But it got me to thinking … is the internet turning more people into jerks?

Continue Reading: Why does the internet make people jerks?
http://askleo.com/?p=13887

Additional Comments

I had the privilege of volunteering at the site of the Oso mudslide on Sunday.

I've shared some of my thoughts on my personal blog.

Leo
Leo A. Notenboom

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*** Leo's Books

Saved! - Backing Up with Macrium Reflect Saved! - Backing Up with Windows 7 Backup The Ask Leo! Guide to Routine Maintenance Backing Up 101 Maintaining Windows XP - A Practical Guide

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