Ask Leo! #432 - Hubs, Switches and Routers, "Your computer is at risk" messages and more... - Confident Computing

The Ask Leo! Newsletter

*** Featured

What's the difference between a hub, a switch, and a router?

What's the difference between a hub, a switch, and a router?

In a word, intelligence.

Hubs, switches, and routers are all devices that let you connect one or more computers to other computers, networked devices, or even other networks. Each has two or more connectors called ports into which you plug in the cables to make the connection. Varying degrees of magic happen inside the device and therein lies the difference. I often see the terms misused, so let's clarify what each one really means.

Continue reading: What's the difference between a hub, a switch, and a router?
http://ask-leo.com/C1862

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*** Answercast

Answercast #95 - Your computer is at risk! Javascript errors, backup tips, anti-virus tools and more...

Do you want to print while you are traveling, or fix your speakers? Wonder how much virus protection you need or why you get strange warning messages on your computer? Has your spam increased or Javascript errors started popping up? Find all that and more in this Answercast from Ask Leo!

Continue reading: Answercast #95 - Your computer is at risk! Javascript errors, backup tips, anti-virus tools and more...
http://ask-leo.com/C6318

Do I need to make a new recovery disc each time I backup my system?
You don't need a new recovery disc after each backup you make. Same is true of those rescue discs you make when you first boot Windows.
Continue reading: Do I need to make a new recovery disk each time I backup my system?
http://ask-leo.com/C6319

Can I print to my printer at home while I'm on the road?
Cloud printing may allow you to print to your printer at home while traveling. But is that really going to be trustworthy?
Continue reading: Can I print to my printer at home while I'm on the road?
http://ask-leo.com/C6320

How do I resolve Javascript syntax errors suddenly popping up on most web sites I visit?
Javascript syntax errors on web pages could come from a number of sources. We'll start with a thorough malware scan.
Continue reading: How do I resolve Javascript syntax errors suddenly popping up on most web sites I visit?
http://ask-leo.com/C6321

Why don't my speakers work?
If your speakers don't work, and you've checked all software settings, then it might be a very simple, even silly, solution.
Continue reading: Why don't my speakers work?
http://ask-leo.com/C6322

Why do I keep getting this random "Your computer is at risk" message?
If you get a message, "Your computer is at risk," it's a scam. The solution is to follow computer safety (so you know you are not at risk) and then determine where the message comes from.
Continue reading: Why do I keep getting this random "Your computer is at risk" message?
http://ask-leo.com/C6323

Why has the spam I'm seeing increased?
If spam has increased in your Gmail account.. it's just a fact of life. The question is whether or not Gmail's spam filter is catching it.
Continue reading: Why has the spam I'm seeing increased?
http://ask-leo.com/C6324

Do I need both disk cleanup and CCleaner?
Disk cleanup and CCleaner can both be run on your computer - but do you need to keep them both?
Continue reading: Do I need both disk cleanup and CCleaner?
http://ask-leo.com/C6325

Why didn't my anti-malware tool catch malware that was delivered when I visited an adult site?
Anti-virus tools won't catch all malware, all the time - especially in real-time visits of questionable sites.
Continue reading: Why didn't my anti-malware tool catch malware that was delivered when I visited an adult site?
http://ask-leo.com/C6326

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*** Last Issue's Articles

*** Featured Comments

The Most Important Attitude

Lee Guptill writes:

Great pep-talk, Leo. I have to confess that I absolutely did not want a computer, and my husband MADE me get one around 7 years ago. Not only did my reluctance put my kids at an extreme disadvantage educationally (I did not realize it at the time--I thought computers were just plain evil), but I found that I was really missing out on life. I now have this all-consuming hobby that is computer based and brings me the greatest joy in my life (next to my husband and family). It would not be possible without the WWW. So thanks for the reminder that attitude is just everything. This article will be logged into my thankfulness journal today:)

Why did Microsoft not provide the option of Windows 8 without Metro?

Ken B writes:

but fundamentally, the innards of Windows 8 is Windows 7

Even Microsoft, internally, agrees. Despite the names the marketing department gave them, XP is Windows version 6.0, "Windows 7" is really Windows 6.1, and "Windows 8" is really Windows 6.2, making them "minor" version upgrades.

*** Thoughts and Comments

I'm on sabbatical this week. Today's newsletter contains a featured article which is a selection from The Best of Ask Leo!, and a new Answercast, pre-recorded before I left.

I'll be back on April 1st, 2013.

Leo
Leo A. Notenboom
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