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Susan, thanks for the wake-up call! I do have a question, though.

Years ago, I ran across a recommendation to establish at least two user accounts on every computer you own – an Admin account that you would generally use only to upgrade or install software and a Standard account that you would use for everything else, including Internet access. The theory, as I understood it, was that software cannot be installed on your computer without your explicit permission when you are using a Standard account. Using this approach would presumably thwart third-party attempts to install malware on your computer.

First, is my understanding correct? Second, if it is, how successful might this approach be in preventing installation of ransomware?

Thanks!

First, what in the world is the Microsoft Partners Network? Is this actually a group sponsored and supervised by Microsoft? To what end? Woody, it would be helpful if you would educate us on what this is all about – and what role Microsoft plays in managing this “network”.

Second, there is a simple solution to the scam discussed in this article. Step 1 – arrange for Caller ID on whatever phone service you use. Step 2 – get a phone answering device that works with your phone service. Step 3 – never answer the phone if you do not recognize the caller’s name and phone number; if it is a legitimate call they can leave a message and you can call them back immediately and apologize for being so slow to get to the phone. If it is not a legitimate call they typically will not leave a message and you have avoided the annoyance and wasted time of dealing with these creeps. If they do leave a message, you have time to think through the situation at your leisure and decide whether or not to call back.

Our fax machine prints out the phone number of every call that comes to our house, whether answered or not. At least 50% (and probably more) of these calls are from people, companies or organizations that we do not know or have any relationship with – and many of the names are spoofed – IRS, FBI, Customer Service, etc. We have never answered any of them, using the approach discussed above. Saves all kinds of time and aggravation!

It sounds as though you intend to run Windows and Windows-based software on your new laptop (“do I run into licensing issues with Windows/Office/etc transferring from my laptop to the virtual windows machine on the Mac?”).

If so, why not simply buy a new Windows-based laptop? You can still buy some models with Windows 7 pre-installed, or select a desirable model with Windows 8 and learn how to make that OS work for you. (After all, you would have to learn Apple’s OS X should you elect to go that route.) This will get you up and running with new hardware; you can then decide at your leisure if you wish to upgrade to Windows 10 once it is launched and stable. There will be no rush, because Microsoft is committed to support both Windows 7 and 8 for quite a while.

Or, stay the course with your current hardware until Win 10 is out and about and buy a new laptop with it pre-installed. Given current estimates that we will see this new OS launched by mid-2015, the reviews should be in by late summer and laptops with pre-installed Win 10 in stores soon thereafter.

In her article Susan suggests using Bitlocker as an alternative, and states that this software is included with Win 8 and Win 8.1. According to the Microsoft website, this is incorrect. They indicate that Bitlocker is only included with Win 8 Pro and Win 8.1 Pro and their Enterprise counterparts.

Why do people buy new cars? Or new TVs? Or new anything? Many reasons – the item being replaced no longer works satisfactorily, the new item offers something more / better, there are legal or safety issues and on and on. In the end, it is a personal decision

What I don’t understand is all the angst and rending of garments over MS creating a new OS that isn’t exactly like Win 7. Both Apple and Google have had great success creating tablet and smartphone product lines that bring many “computer” features to smaller, portable devices. These products rely primarily on touch. As they become more powerful, many owners are using them more and using their traditional computers less. MS had no meaningful participation in this changing technology scene. They could either do nothing, or develop their own integrated line of products & software to compete with Apple & Google. It makes perfect sense to me. We are already seeing a variety of “convertible” PCs coming to market, that allow users to separate the display from the keyboard or stand and use it as a tablet – or reconnect it and use the device as a traditional desktop or laptop. To me, this is an exciting (and overdue) initiative by MS to remain relevant in our changing computer landscape.

Back in January 2013 I was a happy Win 7 user. MS was offering an upgrade to Win 8 Pro (a $199 value) for $39.99. At that price, why not give it a try? So, I upgraded my laptop and started the learning curve. Bought a reference book. Liked what I saw, so I took advantage of the MS offer to upgrade my desktop. Subsequently upgraded to Win 8.1. Bought Woody’s 8.1 Dummies book. Still like it. Would I have upgraded at the full price? No. Nor should anyone else with decent hardware who is happy with Win 7. But if you need a new PC, or want to take advantage of the flexibility of the new convertible PC offerings, go for it. You get two ways of computing for the price of one.

Vista is something like five years old; Windows 7 has been around for at least three years. As far as I know, in all that time there has been no major security issue involving gadgets. Do you mean to tell us that in five years not one of the bad guys out there has discovered the vulnerability that the people at Black Hat are going to tell us about at the upcoming convention? Further, given Black Hat’s approach, don’t the involved software developers normally hear about a vulnerability before Black Hat broadcasts it to the world – so that the developer(s) can have a fix in place before someone tries to exploit whatever flaw they then tell us about?