system

Joe in Arizona, for many years a subscriber to Infopackets, recently sent us this question about Windows 8: "Hi there, I recently signed on to my Windows 8 computer and found the system time to be off by an hour. I'm based in Arizona, where we use ... Mountain Time but not daylight saving time. How can I get my system to properly update the time? Thanks for your help, Joe G." My Response: Thanks for bringing this issue to our attention, Joe. It turns out many users are having much the same kind of problem. Synchronizing with a Time Server Windows 8 is set up to get its time from an Internet- ... (view more)

In recent days, Infopackets.com has received several inquires like this one: "Dear Infopackets team: I recently made the switch to Windows 8 and love most of the new features. I understand that Microsoft occasionally releases patches and updates as ... part of their continued improvement to the operating system. Are these updates even important? Is there any way I can stop these updates from automatically downloading and appearing on my system without my knowledge? Love your site! Christopher D." My reply: You might be able to stop the patches, but you really don't want to. Regularly updating ... (view more)

Facebook is testing a new messaging system that will cost people $1 to send a message to a stranger. It's designed to deter spammers from using the site to annoy Facebook members, but some analysts have suggested Facebook could also be looking to ... profit from the new system. Right now you can send a Facebook message to another user for free, even if they aren't your 'friend' on the site. However, in most cases, this message will not find its way into the recipient's 'Inbox.' Instead, it will go into a separate message folder marked 'Other.' Because you won't get alerted in the same way as you ... (view more)

System Ninja 2.4 System Ninja is designed to optimize your Windows computer system's performance by removing all unnecessary files. Removing files and programs with System Ninja is quick and painless, and allows your computer to devote more of its ... resources to servicing the application(s) you are actually using. This program works with Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. http://singularlabs.com WinSpell 1.8 Have problems with spelling? Then you should check out WinSpell, a free software utility which will monitor your spelling behavior and correct any errors you make while entering information ... (view more)

Verizon is developing a new product that would decide what TV advertisements to show particular viewers, based on their past viewing behavior. The new system could even select commercials by taking into account everything about you, right down to ... your mood. Although the company originally filed the patent application in May 2011, only recently has that application gone public. Other firms can now object if they believe the technology described isn't original. According to the application, one of the limits of television advertising is that it doesn't take into account what the viewer is doing ... (view more)

We have received several technical inquiries much like this one from a long-time Infopackets subscriber: "Dear Infopackets: I have converted to Windows 8 and am getting along OK. But I'm worried about losing my data if this new operating system ... should contain a bad bug that hasn't yet been discovered. I knew what to do for data recovery in Windows 7, now I'm lost. You offered me lots of good information in the past, so I'm hoping now you can tell me how to do data recovery in Windows 8. Thanks, Charlene F." My Response: Few people have reported major problems with Windows 8 so far ( ... (view more)

During the past twelve months, malicious software known as 'Eurograbber' was apparently used to steal $47 million in Europe alone. According to reports, the software took advantage of a popular security measure. The security researchers who ... discovered Eurograbber are now warning Internet users that the malware could easily spread from Europe to the rest of the world. (Source: checkpoint.com ) Eurograbber is a modified form of a previously known botnet called 'Zeus.' A botnet is a network of computers controlled by malicious software under the direction of a particular individual or gang of ... (view more)

Facebook is planning to drop a system that allows users to vote on whether or not the social networking site can alter its policies. The company says the site is now too large for such a system to work effectively. Until now, Facebook has been ... tracking comments on posts related to its proposed policy changes. Once there are more than 7,000 "substantive" posts, the proposal automatically goes to a vote of all Facebook users. The voting system began in 2009, when Facebook received complaints about proposed changes to the legal rights it claimed over photos, videos, and other materials its users ... (view more)

A security company has come up with a way to reduce the effectiveness of website hacking. The plan is to split customer passwords and store them in two or more separate locations. The idea for split passwords comes from security firm RSA, which says ... the new technique aims to frustrate hackers who breach website security in order to acquire user names and passwords. Sometimes that data are stored without any encryption. Even when they are encrypted, hackers are often able to break the encryption, given enough time. Such breaches of security can be particularly dangerous if any of the site's ... (view more)

Microsoft has revealed that a new Virtual Private Network (VPN) hack could be used to steal passwords and other sensitive information. It's called a "man-in-the-middle" attack. Security researcher Moxie Marlinspike first disclosed this VPN hack in a ... security advisory earlier this month. After investigating the issue, Microsoft has acknowledged that the threat is legitimate. Hacker Could Take Control of System, Network "An attacker who successfully exploited...cryptographic weaknesses could obtain user credentials," Microsoft said in its own advisory, released earlier this week. "Those ... (view more)