Why Upgrade to Windows 7?

1.        Get quicker access to all of your stuff
Use Pins and Jump Lists to keep the programs and files you use and access the most, right at your fingertips.

2.        Manage your opened windows more easily
Resize and arrange windows simply by dragging their borders to the edge of your screen.

3.        Quickly find what you’re looking for
The all new Windows Search finds a specific File, Program and even an email in seconds.

4.        Share files and printers among multiple PCs
Sharing across Windows 7 PCs is now more simple than ever before.

5.        Stay entertained effortlessly
With Windows Media Center you get one place to enjoy your Photos and Music, Watch and Record live TV and watch free Internet TV.

6.        Easily Create and Share Movies
Create great looking Movies and Slideshows and share them on places like YouTube and Facebook in just minutes!

7.        Connect to Networks easily
View and connect to any available wireless network in as few as three clicks.

8.        Do more and wait less
With improvements that can accelerate sleep and resume as well as make your PC more responsive help you get more done.

9.        Manage devices more easily
Manage Printers, Cameras, Music Players and other devices from a single consistent place.

10.     Performance improvements all around
With a smoother running platform requiring less grunt Windows 7 can improve the performance on an old machine running XP.

Why Purchase an Antivirus Program when you can download one for Free?

Taking care of your system these days seems to be a less complicated task than it used to be a few years back. Now, protection against malware and viruses begin the moment you install your operating system. Windows 7 offers some basic security through Windows Defender and also provides a better solution under the shape of Microsoft Security Essentials.

Although, let’s not forget that more often than not, paid security software is the way out of tight high risk situations for most users. The reason behind this choice is given by the extended set of options such paid solutions come with, but also by the myth that paid antivirus comes with better detection and elimination capabilities. Although the engine is the same, there are some differences between the paid and free versions of security software with regards to the protection components offered.

In other words, the engine components available in the products are what you are paying for. Thus, free apps may have antivirus or anti-spyware capabilities, but a paying customer definitely receives increased protection for the system through a bunch of components (such as email scanner, web shield, behavioural analysis, etc.) not included in free edition of certain products.

Microsoft issues warning on phone scam

Microsoft today warned Australians to be wary of a phone scam that has left some victims hundreds of dollars out of pocket.

Scammers are using several well-known brands, including Microsoft, to fool people into believing that something is wrong with their computers. The scam typically unfolds in the following manner:

• A cold caller, claiming to be a representative of Microsoft, one of its brands or a third party contracted by Microsoft, tells the victim they are checking into a computer problem, infection or virus that has been detected by Microsoft.
• They tell the victim they can help and direct them to a website that then allows the scammers to take remote control of the computer.
• The cold caller will then spend some time on the computer trying to demonstrate where the ‘problems’ are and in the process convinces the victim to pay a fee for a service that will fix the computer.

“In reality, there is nothing wrong with their computer but the scammer has tricked the consumer into believing there is a problem and that paying the fee is the best way to get it fixed. Often they will also push the customer to buy a one year computer maintenance subscription.  They are just trying to scam innocent Australians out of money,” said Stuart Strathdee, Microsoft Australia’s chief security advisor.

Strathdee also said that the callers presented themselves in a professional manner and sounded genuine.

“Don’t be fooled, Microsoft is not cold calling consumers in regards to malfunctioning PCs, viruses or any other matter,” he said.

 “We strongly advise Australians to simply hang up if they receive a call of this nature and not to respond to any communications from these scammers.

“If you’re not sure, contact Microsoft on 13 20 58 or the Police,” he said.

For more information, Microsoft recommends the following resources:

Microsoft Online Safety site - http://www.microsoft.com/australia/security/default.mspx
Australian Government - http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/693900

For help and support contact Microsoft Support on 13 20 58