Kaspersky's CEO went on record stating that Apple is 10 years behind Microsoft in it's OS security.  He further elaborates that Apple will soon find that they have the same security issues that Microsoft did 10-12 years ago.

We recently built a really nice custom system for one of our long time clients.  When they approached us about purchasing a new desktop for their business I informed them about our Thalo Custom Desktop's.  She was very interested in the prospect after I extolled the virtues of the Thalo Custom Desktop, which can be found in my blog post here, over what you could get from one of the big box vendors.

Move The Recycle Bin To The Taskbar In Windows 7

When the Recycle Bin first made its appearance in Windows 95, I really enjoyed dragging and dropping unneeded files on the trash can icon and watching them disappear. It was just so cool! (Keep in mind that was 15 years ago, and the drag-and-drop capability was a new feature.)

Configure Windows 7 To Run Only Specific Applications

There are situations where you, as the administrator/owner of a network or group of machines, want users to be able to run only certain applications. Parental controls, small business employers, etc.—there are plenty of reasons for doing this and a few methods for achieving it. One of those methods is built in to Microsoft Windows 7 (with the exception of Windows 7 Home) with the Group Policy Editor. This tool is powerful and offers numerous features, including the ability to limit the applications users can run.

Change and Customize Windows 7's Logon Screen Wallpaper

While experimenting with several Microsoft Windows 7 systems recently, I spent a lot of time staring at the Logon screen. During that time, I began to think about changing the Logon screen wallpaper. Now, I have changed the Logon screen wallpaper in just about every version of Windows I’ve used, so I knew there had to be a way to do so.

Restore the Quick Launch Bar in Windows 7

I like Windows 7, and I like the Windows 7 Taskbar interface. However, judging by the cacophony of voices in the Windows blog, there is still a great deal of affection for the Windows XP Quick Launch Bar interface. Now, don’t get me wrong. I like the Quick Launch Bar, too. I still use it on all the Windows XP machines I interact with. But I also like the Windows 7 Taskbar and find it performs the same function as the Quick Launch Bar, at least as far as my computing habits go. But a vocal minority feels differently, so here is how to get Quick Launch back.

Change the launch directory to show all drives in Windows Explorer

One of the most obvious differences between Windows 7 and the previous versions of the operating system is the concept of libraries. In Windows 7, files are stored in a library folder, which is essentially a folder that references other available folders. The idea is that you don’t have to worry about the actual physical folder that houses the file in question because it is referenced in your library—let the operating system worry about where it actually sits.

Reveal Hidden System Files in Windows Explorer

Note: I am using Windows 7 for this tip, but the procedure is similar for Windows Vista and Windows XP.

Open Windows Explorer to any folder. For my example, I am using the root directory of the C: drive. Click the Organize menu entry and then click Folder And Search Options:

Add Internet Search to the Windows 7 Start Menu

One of the features I like most about Microsoft Windows 7 is the ability to search for applications from the Start Menu search box. Rather than navigate through a long list of menus, you can just type the name of the application in the search box and immediately get a list matching what you are typing.

Get the most out of Windows XP Mode with these tips

Windows 7 has several built-in compatibility features that are designed to allow you to run most Windows XP applications right from within Windows 7. But some older Windows XP applications won't run in Windows 7 even with those features. For these types of applications, Microsoft designed Windows XP Mode for Windows 7.

Move and Copy files the old tried-and-true way in Windows 7

Send To

To access the Send To command, simply right-click a file or a folder and select the Send To command from the context menu, as shown here:

Disable Snap in Windows 7

With the introduction of Snap in Windows 7, we now have a completely new way of managing open windows. This feature allows you to arrange open windows, including maximizing and resizing, just by dragging and dropping a window to different edges of the screen. When a window is dragged to the correct position, a ripple effect will emanate from the cursor and you’ll see an animated outline of the window instantly appear in its new position. As soon as you release the mouse button, the window will snap to that location.

IID (Internet Identity®), a provider of technology and services that help organizations secure their Internet presence, recently released its list of the top security trends from 2011. Some specific trends that IID saw emerge over the past year include the extended enterprise coming under assault, the emergence of dangerous mobile applications, and cyber criminals increasingly harnessing the power of social media. This highlights IID's list of the top Internet security incidents and trends from 2011 (in no particular order).

We have had a rash of computers grace our office with some type of malware on them.  If you believe your computer or other computing device (ie phone, tablet) give us a call right away.  You could potentially be hemorrhaging sensitive data across the network without knowing it.  I thought it would be informative to show the checklist we go through in the removal and repair process so our clients can get a feel for the work involved. 

We recently did a Thalo Custom Desktop for a good client of ours. The whole process is broken down into 4 different phases. Phase 1 is the Design phase which includes the assessment of our clients computing needs, software, budgeting, warranty terms, upgrade path, etc., this is the most time consuming phase.

That computer at the big-box store may be cheap at the register. If that isn't your first computer then you already know about total cost of ownership; however, if you are a first time Thalo Custom Desktop buyer you might not be thinking about future costs, service costs or upgrade costs.

The search is over!  No more do we have to wonder "What does a humble geek get for his tech savvy lady this Christmas season?"

Behold the glory of technolust in these lines of tech jewelry:

I was made aware of the severe flooding in Thailand, due to the monsoon season, about 10 days ago.  Western Digital and Seagate, two prominent hard drive manufacturers, have had to stop operations while the water recedes.  They anticipate that they will not be able to resume normal operation until next year!

Found this article and wanted to share it with everyone in the hopes of having a good discussion in the comments section.

From the Journal of Strategic Studies: "Cyber War Will Not Take Place":