Feed: ASK LEO!
Is this "Account updates!!!!!" email legitimate?
I recently received the following email, supposedly from MSN, is it
legitimate?
•
No, it's not.
Let's have a look at that email, and the various signs therein that tell us
that it's not legitimate. Looking for those same kinds of things in other
emails can help you decide if something is safe, or a potential phishing
scam.
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Is this "Account updates!!!!!" email legitimate?
Tech Questions?
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Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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How long should a hard drive last?
This article's not borne out of a question, per se. This one's my own
experience that I want to share.
I know my regular readers are probably sick and tired of me evangelizing
(really just a nice term for "harping on") the need for regular and complete
backups. (Perhaps almost as tired of that as they are Hotmail password articles
 .)
But if you're not backing up or you think it just doesn't apply to you - it's
time to rethink and back up. The end is nearer than you think.
The end of your drive, that is.
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How long should a hard drive last?
Tech Questions?
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How should I make my files accessible via the internet?
Like so many people today I have files and photos scattered on 4 computers
and 10 thumb drives. I want to combine them on one easy to use drive and
connect that drive to the internet so I have easy access to all my data in one
place. Some people say I can do this on a home server. Others say to put it all
on your "main" computer and access that computer from the internet. I've also
seen websites that you send your data to and they will give you access to it
for a fee. I need to make it somewhat secure (understanding nothing is
completely secure). What do you suggest?
•
As you might expect, there are several ways to go about this. They range
from simple to somewhat geeky to pretty darned geeky.
And of course which is appropriate for you will vary depending on not only
your own level geek-ness (if that's a word), but just how much data you're
talking about, and how you might want to access it.
I'll review a few approaches.
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How should I make my files accessible via the internet?
Tech Questions?
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Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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How do I convert a PDF document into a Word document?
I am trying to convert a PDF into a word document and there does not seem to
be any free programs that will do this. I have tried several. Can you help?
•
Probably not.
Your question is a common one, but it represents a fundamental
misunderstanding of exactly what PDF documents are and how they were intended
to be used.
I'll put it another way: let me explain why I can't help you.
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How do I convert a PDF document into a Word document?
Tech Questions?
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Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Why won't services just email me my password instead of making me set a new one?
I forgot my password, and I want it back. I don't want to reset it, I just
want [random online service] to tell me what it is so I don't have to create a
new password. Why do they want to make me to reset the password when I just
want them to tell me what the password is?
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They don't know your password.
I'm dead serious. They don't know your password, they didn't store your
password, and they couldn't tell you if they wanted to.
In fact, if they could tell you that means they're doing security
wrong.
So how do they know you got your password right when you login? Well, they
do store something ... it's just not your password.
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Why won't services just email me my password instead of making me set a new one?
Tech Questions?
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Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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How do I remove this error on startup after a virus removal?
I was receiving popped up virus/trojan warnings from Avira. At first, I just
kept ignoring it since it was on the "Deny Access" selection. It continued to
pop up frequently each time I am in the internet. I finally changed the "Deny
Access" selection to the "Delete" selection. As soon as I did this, Windows
Defender also did it's thing. I couldn't remember what the message was from WD.
I no longer get the pop up warnings but each time I log in to my computer, I
get the following error message:
RunDll
Error loading C:/Users/leon/AppData/Local/Temp/cmstpcln.dll
The specified module could not be found.
After I click the OK button, I had no problem getting into the internet. Can
you explain to me why I am getting this error message and how do I get rid of
it? Did I do the right thing by deleting the virus/trojan warning?
•
You did the right thing, absolutely.
It's just that the cleanup performed by your anti-malware tools was just shy
of complete. That's not actually that uncommon, though I'm not sure why.
I'll explain what happened, and how to clean that last annoying part up
manually.
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How do I remove this error on startup after a virus removal?
Tech Questions?
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What's a browser cache, how do I "clear" it, and why would I want to?
The browser cache comes up a lot in answers, more than questions,
but in doing so it probably causes even more questions. Even when
following instructions to clear it, it's not at all clear what this
piece of magic really is, and why clearing it would do anything at
all.
Let's review the browser cache, what it is, and why it exists. Along
the way, we'll review the steps to clear it in both Internet Explorer
and Firefox, and try to dream up some reasons why that sometimes
helps.
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What's a browser cache, how do I "clear" it, and why would I want to?
Tech Questions?
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How do I automatically forward my Windows Live Hotmail mail?
I'm changing email accounts, but I don't want to lose people who have my
Hotmail address. How do I automatically forward all my incoming Windows Live
Hotmail messages to my new account?
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Not long ago Microsoft added to Windows Live Hotmail a couple of frequently
requested features.
The ability to forward your email to another address was one of them.
However it appears that there are certain restrictions in effect by default.
I'll look at what readers have told me they might be, and how to get past
them.
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How do I automatically forward my Windows Live Hotmail mail?
Tech Questions?
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Someone has created a fake social media profile with my name - how do I remove this fake account?
Somebody is using a fake orkut account of my name. How can I remove that
account without knowing the person who is using fake profile of my name? Plz
help me. I'm in a great trouble. If possible,send me the process to hack the
profile.
•
Hack the profile? You're in trouble, and you're saying that you want to get
into more trouble by breaking the law?
I don't think so.
Let's look at this from a more rational point of view, shall we?
The news isn't great, but there are steps you can take.
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Someone has created a fake social media profile with my name - how do I remove this fake account?
Tech Questions?
Get Answers! -
Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Get the Ask Leo! Newsletter in your inbox every week.
Is using RAID a good backup alternative, and if so, which RAID should I use?
Do you think RAID 1 is a viable alternative for backing up?
•
No.
In fact...
No. No. No. No.
and No.
RAID is not backup, and no RAID array should ever be considered a
replacement for backup.
I'll review what RAID is, and most importantly what it is
not.
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Is using RAID a good backup alternative, and if so, which RAID should I use?
Tech Questions?
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Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Should I Install Windows 7 Service Pack 1?
I've heard that Windows 7 SP1 is out. Is it safe to install? Should I?
•
Once it's released, probably.
Before that? Definitely not.
Windows 7 SP1 has been released in Beta form for testing by IT
professionals. I grabbed a copy and gave it a whirl.
I'll share what I think you should do, and show you what I saw.
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Should I Install Windows 7 Service Pack 1?
Tech Questions?
Get Answers! -
Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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How do I get Hotmail to close my stolen account?
My old e-mail was stolen and my contacts asked for money. I have a new
e-mail, but just learned that my old one is still open (though I can't get into
it). It worries me that some of my contacts are sending to my old e-mail and
what they send may be seen by the thieves. HOW DO I GET HOTMAIL TO CLOSE MY OLD
ACCOUNT SO THAT ANYONE SENDING TO IT WILL GET A FAILURE NOTICE?
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Account theft - particularly of Hotmail accounts - seems rampant right now.
Lots of people are asking questions similar to the above.
The news is not good, but I'll walk you through some of your options so you
can at least try.
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How do I get Hotmail to close my stolen account?
Tech Questions?
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Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Do external drives commonly fail?
I've had two external hard drives fail in the past few months. One was an
older drive that required external power in addition to a USB connection (to my
Windows XP computer which has lots of RAM). The other was a newer, smaller one,
just a year old, which was connected via USB alone. Is this kind of failure
common? How do I make sure all my data is not at risk if I dispose of these?
And will the new, larger capacity USB flash drives work as well for
back-ups?
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I'm not quite sure what "this kind of failure" might specifically refer to,
but yes - drives do fail.
If you're asking about the timing - well, I've had two drives from the same
manufacturer die within a few months of each other, and then had no failures
for a couple of years.
My case is a little different than yours and I was able to draw a
conclusion.
In your case my conclusions are little different.
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Do external drives commonly fail?
Tech Questions?
Get Answers! -
Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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