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You recommend MoveOnBoot for files which can’t otherwise be removed. I used that one for a long time, and found it good, but I switched to Unlocker http://www.majorgeeks.com/mg/getmirror/unlocker,1.html. It removes many files without having to reboot first.

Lots of spam comes from Romania, other former Soviet republics, and African countries.

Are the email addresses on your website? if so and if you are on a linux server you can block IP addresses for countries to stop the spam robots getting to your email address. Loads of spam robots are in Russia and China

I recently replaced my eee netbook with an Acer Aspire V5 11.6″ touchscreen. At first the touch screen was just a novelty, but I find my self using touch more and more. In so many cases, it’s easier than dragging the pointer with my track pad. One thing I find extremely helpful is swiping to open the dreaded tile interface and typing the first few letters of the program I want to run. (Oh, so the Modern Interface isn’t inspired by Satan after all). One major problem with touch is that many websites and programs weren’t designed to work with touch yet, and sometimes it’s still necessary to use the track pad. One particular problem is that sometimes swiping scrolls the page, while other times it highlights text. Web and program designers now have the added task of making their products touch friendly. This is still a lot simpler than the transition from DOS to Windows where programmers had to learn a completely new system. And, oh yeah, the greasy screen.

on second thought, I clicked on the download link on the Start8 page and was directed to CNET. The last time I downloaded something from CrapNET, I got some stubborn spyware, even though I opted out from all their additional toolbars and options.

I’ve used Classic Shell for years, originally because I preferred to get all of my programs on 1 screen and hated to scroll for them in Vista/7. Now in Win8 it is no longer a convenience but a necessity. I expect this and Start8 to become staples on most Win8 computers. I’ll stick with Classic shell over Start8, simply because Classic Shell is free and does all I want ans see no reason to pay $5 for a program taht does the same for free. If I hear Start8 is better I guess the price of a latte would be worth it.

It’s highly unlikely that MS will include a mail client in WIndow 8. MS removes the mail client for legal reason, not technological ones. The EU made them remove the mail client to allow competitors to have a fair advantage in the mail client arena. Since the EU hasn’t changed anything on this, you’ll have to download Live Mail or Thunderbird or what ever.

You mentioned this in your article, but I believe it’s so common and so dangerous that it merits an article all to itself.

Sometimes I get an email from a friend or relative. It looks legit after all, it’s from a known source. Most of the time it contains a spam link to a web site selling something. Not pleasant but harmless. Other times it contains an executable file or a link to a more dangerous malware injecting website. Is it really from my friend? No, somehow their webmail address book or email client was hacked and emails are sent out to all in the address book by the hackers. In the case of an email client hack, it means that ther is a malware program running on their computer sending it out. In the case of web mail it could a couple of things: The hacker is logged on to your web mail account and sending out spam or malware wit it; or the hacker simply copied your address book and is sending out emails to your contacts in your name.

In the case of the email client hack, do a good virus scan, using an online (malware often compromises your email program) virus scanner from one of the reputable anti-virus companies (Google online virus scanner. I don’t want to promote one over the other, the top 5 choices are all good).

In the case of web mail log on, change your passwords and security questions.

As for prevention, never open an executable file from an email unless you’ve communicated by phone or a separate email that they are sending you this file. The same to a lesser degree goes for links.

I had this problem once. I phoned up MS and a guy with an Indian accent gave me a new one without any problems. The cause of the problem, I can only guess, but one possibility is some hacker with a keygen may have got your number registered before you did.