There has been some confusion lately among AVG Anti Virus users. When they log on they get a message “STAY PROTECTED: Your AVG Anti-Virus Free 7.1 will be discontinued on 15. January 2007!”. The thoughts are that the AVG Anti Virus by GRISOFT will no longer be Free.

That’s not exactly true. Here’s what’s happening. GRISOFT is discontinuing Version 7.1 as of January 15, 2007, and replacing it with Version 7.5. The new 7.5 version offers improved performance and full compatibility with the latest Windows Vista version.

Learn more about the new AVG 7.5

To download the latest Free Version of AVG, Click Here then click on the Go For Free Button.

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Just a week after Microsoft released IE7, Mozilla released Firefox 2.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF. – Oct. 24, 2006 – – Mozilla today released Firefox® 2, a major update to its popular and acclaimed free, open source Web browser. Firefox is developed by an international community of contributors working together under the umbrella of the Mozilla Foundation, a non-profit, public-benefit organization dedicated to improving the Internet experience for people everywhere.

In less than two years, tens of millions of people worldwide have discovered the easier, faster and safer online experience that Firefox provides. Translated into more than 35 languages at its release, Firefox 2 is available in a native language version for more people around the world than any other Web browser.

Firefox 2 is immediately available for Windows, Mac or Linux operating systems as a free download from www.getfirefox.com.

“Firefox 2 delivers the best possible online experience for people today,” said Mitchell Baker, CEO, Mozilla. “The improvements Mozilla has made to the ease of use, performance, and security in Firefox 2 reflect our ongoing, singular focus on meeting the needs of Web users all over the world.”

For a list of What’s new in Firefox 2 Click Here.

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Some 18 months after Bill Gates pledged to revamp Internet Explorer, Microsoft is ready with the final production version of IE 7. The new Web browser, which has been in testing for months, is now available for download from Microsoft’s Web site.

On the feature side, Microsoft is playing catch-up in many areas. It has added support for Web standards, RSS Web feeds and tabbed browsing. The new browser also offers protection against phishing sites–malicious Web sites designed to trick users into handing over their personal information.

Those who have been beta testing IE7 will begin receiving the final version via automatic updates this week. Microsoft plans to push down IE7 via automatic update to IE6 users starting next month, though they will get to decide whether they want to install it.

Although Microsoft will begin making the browser available through Automatic Update next month, it could take many more weeks to get the application to all PCs in the United States. The software maker is staggering the release, in part to make sure it can handle the support calls. It will make free phone support available, as it has done since the Beta 2 version of IE 7 was introduced in April.

Read the whole story at ZDNet

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Apple Computer warned on Tuesday that some of its latest iPods have shipped with a Windows virus.

The company said that a small number of video iPods made after Sept. 12 included the RavMonE virus. It said it has seen fewer than 25 reports of the problem, which it said does not affect other models of the media player, nor does it affect Macs.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company apologized on its Web site for the problem, but also used the opportunity to jab at Microsoft, its operating system rival.

“As you might imagine, we are upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses, and even more upset with ourselves for not catching it,” Apple said on its site.

Apple Vice President Greg Joswiak told CNET News.com that the virus was discovered last week and said the company has been working around the clock since then to discover the root cause of the problem. Joswiak said it was traced to a particular Windows machine in the manufacturing lines of a contract manufacturer that builds the iPods for Apple. The company declined to name the maker.

“It’s more important to say we now have processes in place to make sure this won’t happen again,” Joswiak said. “Very few units actually went through that particular station, fortunately.”

The company said that computers using a current antivirus software and with default settings should detect and remove RavMonE, as it is an identified virus. It is urging iPod users without such protection to install antivirus software.

Read the whole story on ZDNet

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It isn’t over yet, but 2006 is already a record year when it comes to security vulnerabilities.

There is, however, a silver lining: A smaller chunk of the flaws are high risk.

Last year, researchers at Internet Security Systems identified 5,195 vulnerabilities in software. On Monday, the count for this year stood at 5,450, according to the Atlanta-based company’s survey, and the projected total for the whole of the year is almost 7,500 bugs.

“Three-quarters through the year, 2006 is looking to be a huge jump in terms of security vulnerabilities,” said Gunter Ollmann, director of X-Force, the research and development group at ISS.

The number of problems found has increased as bug hunters and software makers have become more skilled at finding them and as access to automated audit tools has improved, Ollmann said. Also, there is more code to comb for security holes, because people use more complex software than ever.

Read the whole story at ZDNet

Keep those Operating Systems updated folks.

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Two Important Security Updates were released this week, one for Microsoft Windows computers and one for Apple Macintosh computers.

Microsoft issued a “critical” security fix for Windows on Tuesday, two weeks before its scheduled release date.

The company is breaking with its monthly patch cycle to fix a flaw that cybercrooks have been using to attack Windows PCs via Internet Explorer. Malicious software can be loaded, unbeknownst to the user, onto a vulnerable Windows PC when the user clicks on a malicious link on a Web site or in an e-mail message.

Read more about this important Update by visiting ZDNet.

Apple Computer released an update Friday for Mac OS X to fix several vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to execute code on unpatched systems.

A total of 15 security vulnerabilities are fixed in the update, which is available on Apple’s Downloads page or through its Software Update service. The update fixes flaws in certain features of Mac OS X and Safari, but also Adobe System’s Flash Player.

Read more about this important Update by visiting ZDNet.

Be safe, keep those operating systems up to date, and have a great weekend.

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Need free icons for your blog or web site? Icon Buffet currently has 43 Sets which are Free for its members. You just need to sign up for an account and they will send you one set. They also give you 5 deliveries which you can share with friends or trade for other sets. They will send you more sets as they are released. Included in each set are the Icons in various sizes and formats ( BMP, GIF, Mac ICN, PNG, TIFF and Win ICO )

Then go to the Icon Buffet Forum where you can trade with other members. In no time at all you will be able to collect all the sets.

Here’s a Pic of one of the recent sets:

Enjoy your collection!

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Here’s a question I get asked quite frequently. I just updated my Operating System to (or I just bought a new computer with) Windows XP and now many of my software programs won’t work. Is there anything I can do as I like these programs?

Many of the older software titles were designed for Windows 95/98/Me. If you
are having trouble running your program on Windows XP there may be a way to
get it to run using the Compatibility Mode feature. Try one of the following:

(1) If the Program Installs but does not run properly:

Click on Start
Click on All Programs
Go To the Program Folder
Put your mouse pointer over (name of the program) to highlight it and RIGHT
click once with the RIGHT button of your mouse
Click on Properties in the Menu that appears
Click on the Compatibility Tab at the Top
Put a check mark next to Run in Compatibility Mode for Windows 95 (or
Windows 98/Me), and put a check mark next to Run in 256 colors
Click Apply & OK
Insert the CD into the CD-ROM drive
If a window appears asking if you want to run the program click “NO”
You will need to start the program every time from the programs list
Click on Start
Click on All Programs
Go To the Program Folder
Click on (name of the program)

(2) If an Error Message appears during Installation:

It is probably a generic error message.
Insert the CD
If auto run comes up, exit out.
Go to Windows Explorer and find the setup.exe .
Right click on the setup.exe file
Click on properties
Click on the compatibility tab
Put a check in “run this program in the compatibility mode”
Select win Windows 95 (or Windows 98/Me) as the operating system
Click OK
Run the setup.exe program

Some times it will get you past the error message and you will be able to
install the program.

Broderbund also has some good tips for installing and using programs in Windows XP. Click Here to view their tips.

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Welcome to Synchronicity Stores. Honesty and Integrity are the foundation of our business and the keys to our success. Shop Synchronicity Stores with confidence. We have over 3,000 satisfied customers worldwide. Customer Satisfaction is our No.1 goal.

Our Blogspot will be an informal way for you to get to know us better as well as to give readers some tips and tricks from time to time. We will also have some featured specials so check back often.

Check out one of our stores and browse around a while. Just click here

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