China Passes U.S. as World's Biggest Market

BEIJING—China for the first time has passed the U.S. to become the world's biggest personal-computer market, highlighting the growing importance of a country where big U.S. PC makers have struggled to compete against China's Lenovo Group Ltd.

The shift underlines rapid industry changes in the PC industry world-wide. Consumer demand for PCs has soared in emerging markets, while it has faltered in developed markets. Meanwhile, the rise of smartphones and tablet computers, most notably Apple Inc.'s iPhone and iPad, has raised concerns that purchases of such products could eat into demand for traditional desktop and laptop PCs. Reflecting those challenges, HP Co., which is the world's biggest PC maker but has lost popularity with Chinese consumers, last week said it is considering a sale or spinoff of its personal-computer business.

To Read More Visit http://online.wsj.com/article /SB10001424053111903461304576525852486131230.html?mod=dist_smartbrief 

Facebook Simplifies Privacy Features

USA Today Article from August 24th.

Tackling a complaint that has bedeviled it for years, Facebook on Tuesday announced simplified privacy settings.

The easier-to-use settings will be prominent whenever a user posts a comment, photo or shares their location on the popular social-networking service. Previously, those settings were buried on a back page that many users never saw or used.

Though not life-changing, the features are an important nod by Facebook toward nagging concerns among some of its users. The changes go into effect starting Thursday.

Facebook wants to "make it clearer and clearer" who its 750 million users share their photos, news feeds and location with, says company spokeswoman Meredith Chin. Starting Thursday, Facebook says it plans to phase out its Places check-in service.

"Our intent is for our users to never have to ask the question, 'Who can see my post or photo?'" says Chin. She said Facebook worked for months on the tweaks with several privacy groups, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Center for Democracy & Technology.

The simplification of Facebook's oft-criticized privacy settings is its strongest admission yet that privacy remains — and will continue to be — an issue for Facebook and others as their social networks grow and their millions of users freely exchange data with one another. Of late, Facebook and Twitter have been targets of hackers.

The company also faces pressure from the Federal Trade Commission over complaints from privacy advocates. "While a good move, more must be done by Facebook to provide control to its users over data collection used for advertising," says Jeffrey Chester, a vocal critic of Facebook's privacy policies.

"One of the biggest criticisms of Facebook after they revamped their sharing controls (in December 2009) is that their controls were confusing and constantly changing, and that Facebook was pushing people to share more than they wanted or understood," says Justin Brookman, director of Center for Democracy & Technology's consumer privacy project.

Speculation in advance of Tuesday's announcement had centered on Facebook launching a redesigned site, improved search and mobile functions, a music-streaming service — even an iPad app for Facebook.

The social-networking giant's new features break a prolonged silence on the product front. Save a deal with Internet calling service Skype and a new application for Facebook Messenger, Facebook has been conspicuously quiet since Google unfurled Google+, its own social network, in late June.

Save Rural Broadband

What do you think about this issue?

In February 2011, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed new rules that place broadband network investments and operations of rural telecommunications companies at risk, to the detriment of rural consumers and small businesses.

Rural telecommunications companies serve approximately five million rural consumers throughout the United States. These companies work hand-in-hand with government and private investors to deploy broadband-capable networks throughout their service areas; often, these companies are the only source of broadband in their communities. 

Click Here to Read More: http://www.saveruralbroadband.org/

This Month's FAQ – Do Mac Users Need To Worry About Viruses?

This Month's FAQ – Do Mac Users Need To Worry About Viruses?

Let's start with the big picture. Worldwide, about 90 percent of the computer market is comprised of PC users with about 10 percent being Mac users. Cybercriminals are well aware of these statistics and tend to focus their virus efforts on the "bigger slice of the pie." So traditionally, Macs have been known to experience fewer viruses.

However, Mac security has been in the news again lately due to the MacDefender malware and its variants. MacDefender masquerades as antivirus software, showing a webpage that looks like a virus detection screen, and then prompting the user to complete the install process. If completed, the malware will ask for credit card information to eliminate nonexistent viruses.

Do Mac users need to worry about viruses? The short answer is yes. No computer is completely immune from threats and Apple recommends that Mac users keep antivirus software updated and take precautions when downloading files, opening email attachments, etc. If you're in the 90 percent with a PC, you should be practicing these security measures as well.

Malware Warning – Microsoft Reports On Fake Windows Support Calls

Beware! Computer scams don't just happen on computers. A recent study commissioned by Microsoft describes how scammers are now calling people on the phone and tricking them into installing computer software designed to steal money, identities, and passwords.

Here's how it works: The scammer calls and, after sharing their "credentials," tells the victim that his/her computer is at risk. The scammer directs the victim to view a harmless error report that the scammer claims shows how the victim's computer has been compromised. The scammer then asks for a credit card number for the victim to "purchase" software that will solve the "problem." Or they direct the victim to install software that places a virus on the victim's computer, enabling the scammer to gain access to critical information.

Microsoft recommends these do's and don'ts to help prevent becoming a victim:

DO

• Be suspicious of unsolicited calls related to a security problem, even if the caller claims to represent a respected company.
• Use up-to-date versions of operating system and application software.
• Make sure security updates are installed regularly.
• Use strong passwords and change them regularly.
• Make sure your firewall is turned on and that antivirus software is installed and up to date.

DON'T

• Provide personal information, such as credit card or bank details, to an unsolicited caller.
• Go to a website, type anything into a computer, install software, or follow any other instruction from someone who calls out of the blue.

If you think you may already have been a victim of a phone scam, do the following:

• Change the passwords for your computer, your main email account, and financial accounts.
• Contact your bank and credit card companies to alert them to the potential breach.
• Scan your computer with the Microsoft Safety Scanner (microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx) to find out if you have malware (virus) installed on your computer.

Remember, there is no security software that can protect against this kind of threat so your best defense is to be informed and be prepared.

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