Windows shortcut exploit, the solution

Since the public became aware of the latest Windows flaw in the form of an icon/shortcut execution exploit, there has been a lot of chatter as to what is the best way to get protected against it.

Microsoft released a work-around that was dumb (although effective) that blanked out the icons making them ugly white boxes. August 2nd they release an actual patch but with mixed results, all the way from successful to blue screen of dead.

The effectiveness of the patch is only one issue. The actual procedure to install it has gotten mixed results depending on whether you applied the work-around or not. Some say to reverse the work-around before installing the patch, others say reverse it after. Too confusing and unclear as Michael Horowitz describes on his post at http://blogs.computerworld.com/16677/when_to_install_a_patch_is_not_always_obvious.  But we are not ones to give up. We found a better solution. Even though Microsoft doesn’t endorse third party apps this one works. The great folks at Sophos.com created a Windows Shortcut Exploit Protection Tool. Feel free to download and install it. They have made it available free of charge.

If you want a full explanation of the bug and fix, watch the video below, then install the fix. You don’t want your computer hacked, do you?

Annoying Fake Anti-virus Warnings

A few days ago I had the displeasure of stepping into an infected site that installed an annoying rogue program into my Windows 7 machine at home. I had seen these before on other people’s computers and I have helped remove them. It wasn’t until I personally stepped in it that I though I would share a couple of links with instructions on how to remove them. Some of the variants are nastier than others so your exact procedure may vary slightly. However, follow the directions on these links and you may rid your computer of the unwelcome fake programs.

In the article How To Remove Antivirus Live and Other Rogue/Fake Antivirus Malware published in howtogeek.com, you will find detailed, easy to follow, step-by-step instructions on how to clean your computer. They even provide links to download the REAL antivirus software you need. The other link you may want to know is to the Microsoft Malware Protection Center. They offer technical information, instructions to remove malicious software, and other recommendations on how to keep your computer safe.

7 Tricks to Land the Appointment

bNet.com has some of the most compelling and useful business materials around. This post titled 7 Tips to Master Every Meeting is no exception. In this post, Robert Pagiarini the author of The Other 8 Hours, outlines seven steps to consider when looking to land the appointment you are seeking. Whether it is a job interview or a sales opportunity, these tips will help you put some fundamentals behind you efforts to increase your effectiveness.

The seven tips are:

1. Determine the “one thing.”
2. Focus on three talking points.
3. Create an agenda.
4. Nail the intro and the close.
5. Call to action.
6. After the meeting.
7. Listen.

You can read the full article here. Try the tips for your next appointment and let us know if they were useful.