By Greg Johnston, computer guy

As is the case on the second Tuesday of each month, March 9 was a day for updates to Microsoft’s Windows operating system and to MS Office. This month was actually a quiet month, with only two updates rated “Important”, meaning that the vulnerabilities being fixed can result in a remote user [read: hacker] being able to execute code on your system, but only if a user performs certain actions or other circumstances are present. Continue Reading

By Greg Johnston, computer guy

Are you announcing your house is empty on social media?  This week, a new website has given any who uses social media some food for thought regarding safety and security issues. Continue Reading

By Greg Johnston, computer guy

iPad vs netbooks: “cannonball”, or a ripple?  Steve Jobs and Apple have freely taken aim at netbooks with the iPad’s marketing and pricing. Continue Reading

By Greg Johnston, computer guy

When Apple made its iPad public three weeks ago, I wrote a fairly lengthy article on it for the Beacon, largely based on what was contained in Apple’s showy debut – meaning highlighted features and benefits, and of course the downside left to me, other journalists and the public to find or surmise.  Continue Reading

By Greg Johnston

On February 10, Google announced the search and ad-placement giant would be putting its fingers into yet another pie – in this case, as an Internet Service Provider (ISP), but with a twist – they’re going to build a network featuring speeds up to 100 times faster than American cable and telephone ISP’s currently deliver.  Continue Reading

By Greg Johnston, Computer Guy

You’ve probably heard the expression “It’s not paranoia if they really are out to get you.  This little pearl of wisdom has real applicability to home and small business computer security. Continue Reading

January has started and finished with a bang technology wise – the Consumer Electronics Show early in the month kicked off a month of new tech products, while the Apple iPad announcement bookends the month with more attention-grabbing technology. Continue Reading

By Greg Johnston, computer guy

Apple revealed this morning what is perhaps one of the worst-kept secrets from a company normally famous for secrecy and surprise product announcements. Apple’s new product, the iPad, is Apple’s take on a tablet PC, a niche category pioneered years ago by Microsoft and which Apple has never emulated until now. Continue Reading

By Greg Johnston, Beacon Computer Guy

At some point today, Calgary Beacon readers will likely find their Windows computers informing them that “a restart is necessary to complete updates.”  This is not that unusual a circumstance for Windows to have automatically downloaded and installed updates – although today is not the second Tuesday of the month, the scheduled “Patch Tuesday” date , when Microsoft normally releases security updates and bug fixes for Windows and its other software products. Continue Reading

Many of us now use notebook computers at home and work, either to supplement, or even replace a desktop computer.  They allow us the convenience of working with our documents, emailing, and browsing the web around the house or around the country.  Last week in the Beacon , I wrote about my indignation concerning a client’s tablet PC, which came to me suffering an overheating problem common to that model.  Continue Reading