Those with Netflix subscriptions now have even more viewing options. Just released is an updated Netflix app supporting the iPhone and iPod Touch in addition to the iPad.
Netflix app now supports iPhone and iPod Touch in addition to iPad!
I’m a big fan of Netflix with all it’s streaming options and huge library. Okay the convenience of disc rental if you will, is where it all started but to be honest, the moment we could stream movies to our TV through the Wii, PS3 or Xbox 360 was when I was hooked. I could almost care a less about checking out discs (except for the fact the instant queue library is not as extensive). Netflix has become part of our home’s daily routines accessing shows from the Wii, XBox 360, as well as occasionally the computer. Now that we can use the iPhone and iPod Touch is like frosting on the cake providing more viewing possibilities and further solidifying our view of Netflix as an outstanding value and customer experience.
You can download the new version 1.1.0 app from the iTunes store and check out the user comments for more on the good, bad and the ugly in using the app. Cost of the app is zero. You will of course need a subscription to the Netflix service. Use your existing subscription or if you haven’t signed up yet, plans start at $8.99 per month.
What Virus and Spyware protection options should you choose?
I’m often asked that question. The folks at PC Mag put together an excellent must read article covering the free and pay options. Highly recommend looking over their round up and information.
Link to entire article: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2356509,00.asp
Excerpt:
07.06.2010
Everyone needs antivirus and antispyware software, but not everyone wants to pay for them. The for-pay versions are the best, but some of the free security software is great, too—and some is terrible. We tell you which is which.
With the vast number of viruses, spyware, and other malware served up alongside Internet content, there’s no question that everybody needs security software. The problem is, not everybody can cough up the cash to buy that protection. Luckily, there’s plenty of free antivirus software available, running the gamut from impressive products like Panda Cloud Antivirus to stinkers like digital defender free 2.0. There’s a lot of work going on in the free antivirus space: Since my last big-picture piece in this category six months ago, I’ve reviewed updates for three of the products I’d looked at earlier, and I’ve examined three additional entries in the field. What follows is a survey of the best (and worst) of the free security software I’ve reviewed, with a select few of the better paid applications and suites for comparison.
The Commercial Advantage
Don’t get me wrong; if you can scrape up the money, you get better protection from high-end commercial antivirus. Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus 2010 retains the honor of Editors’ Choice for standalone malware protection and Norton Internet Security 2010 is our Editors’ Choice for security suite. I use the Norton suite on my own systems, but I know others have a big hate-on for Norton. If you’re in the anti-Norton camp consider BitDefender Internet Security 2010 or ZoneAlarm Extreme Security 2010 for suite protection.
Free Contenders
Some of the free options come pretty close to those top commercial products. Panda Cloud Antivirus Free Edition 1.1 does an even better job than the commercial products at keeping malware from infesting a clean system, though it’s not as good at cleaning up malware that’s already on board. The free edition of Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware 1.46 does a good cleanup job, particularly against scareware, and because it doesn’t have a real-time antivirus component it gets along well with others.
Like Malwarebytes, Trend Micro’s HouseCall 7.1 offers malware cleanup but not realtime protection. Like Panda Cloud Antivirus HouseCall uses signatures “in the cloud” rather than maintaining a local signature database. That means no time spent updating the database and no disk space devoted to storing it—very nice!
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 9.0, Avira AntiVir Personal 10 and avast! Free Antivirus 5.0 live in the shadow of full-fledged non-free editions. AVG adds more protection to distinguish the paid edition from the free. The other two include all protective features, so unless you intend commercial use you’ll do fine with the free editions. Avast! in particular tested well for malware removal, edging out Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0 for the best malware removal score by a free product using last year’s malware samples.
Free Can Be Costly
Just because a product is free doesn’t mean it will save you money, though. Installing a free product that lets malware steal your credit card number could be costly. IObit Security 360 performed poorly in almost every test except blocking and removing scareware. Immunet Protect Free 2.0 offers an innovative community focus that aims to keep you protected by protecting everyone you interact with. Unfortunately, its performance in testing showed that the protection it aims to share needs more work. digital defender free 2.0 also performed poorly, as did its for-pay sibling digital defender Pro 2.0.
Experiment!
If you buy a security tool and later decide you don’t like it, you’re stuck, at least until it’s time to renew. Not so with a free product. You’re free to play around, try different choices, and choose the one you like best. You can even experiment with multiple free products, as long as you’re careful not to run real-time malware protection from two at once—that can cause problems as they’re likely to fight each other. Whatever you decide, the important thing is to use something. An unprotected computer is dangerous to you and to everyone you contact—so get some protection. An empty wallet is no excuse!
The blurbs below provide brief thumbnail sketches of our much longer, fully tested reviews. Click through to the links to read the full reviews. Note that the blurbs below do not represent all our AV reviews, paid or free—just the ones who are good (or bad) enough to merit inclusion in this roundup. Check out our full complement of reviews at PCMag.com’s security landing page.
Again for full review, PC Mag ratings and information, please go to http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2356509,00.asp
Free Products Mentioned in this Article
avast! Free Antivirus 5.0
Avira AntiVir Personal 10
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 9.0
digital defender free 2.0
Immunet Protect Free 2.0
Trend Micro HouseCall 7.1
IObit Security 360
Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware 1.46
Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0
Panda Cloud Antivirus Free Edition 1.1
Non-free products mentioned in this article
BitDefender Internet Security 2010
$69.95
digital defender Pro 2.0
$25.00 Direct
Norton Internet Security 2010
$69.99 Direct
Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus 2010
$39.95 direct
ZoneAlarm Extreme Security 2010
$69.99 Direct
Tags: antimalware, antispyware, antivirus, Free Spyware Protection, Free Virus protection
Best Practices – How to identify and avoid Phishing
Having personally received a new rash of Phishing email messages; these types of attacks are clearly still a very real and dangerous threat.
“To Click or not to Click”
This is the question
The answer is not to click! Just don’t do it!
Financial institutions will not send you an email asking you to click or otherwise provide your detailed personal and account information. They will not do that period. If you have questions regarding any account, go directly to your financial institution’s website. Simply said, open your web browser and enter your financial institution’s web address. This is how to go directly to any particular web address. Do not trust or click on a link in an email or otherwise.
Phishing scams nearly always use fear to trigger a response from you.
“Phishing” involves the use of fraudulent emails and copy-cat websites to trick you into revealing valuable personal information.
Phishing scams may use any or all of the following tactics to trick you:
- Names of Real Companies
- “From” an Actual Employee
- URLs that “Look Right”
- Urgent Messages
Below is a screen shot of a recent such message.
I have highlighted tale tale areas in yellow. It utilizes all of these tactics. Additionally the entire message – the complete body of the email not just the supposed link is a hot click-able area. In other words, if you click anywhere in this message, you will be taken to the fraudulent site and may be compromised. Again an example of “not to click”!
How to avoid
Your first line of defense is your own common sense. If or when you receive an email asking you to click to provide or verify any personal or account information or activity, do not click. Whether it looks legit or not, do not click. If you have valid questions or concerns regarding any account’s activity or information, go directly to that institution’s website or call them.
Second line of defense is proper anti-phishing software. Not all include anti-phishing protection. Check the features and reviews carefully. One award winning and highly recommended package is PC Tools Spyware Doctor with Antivirus 2010. It offers phishing protection on top of absolutely critical anti-spyware and anti-virus protection. Or contact your anti-virus vendor of choice regarding phishing protection. I can’t stress enough the importance of proper software protection, just remember common sense is your first line of defense!
PC Tools Spyware Doctor with Antivirus 2010
Covers up to 3 Computers. For one purchase price, you can install and protect up to three computers. That’s a great value!
Price: *$39.95
*Price at the time of this article
Additional information and references:
“Phishing” Fraud: How to Avoid Getting Fried by Phony Phishermen
Related articles:
Tags: anti-phishing, anti-spyware, anti-virus, email fraud, Phishing, phishing scams, security
