Category Archives: Identification

For any given product, listings of autoplays and startupware entries.

How to Close Those Full-Page Scams

Hoax web page that is NOT from Microsoft. Don't call that phone number.

Full-page scams are those HOAX scary web pages that say your computer is infected (or worse) and you MUST call some phone number now (DON’T), and Microsoft has detected an issue. (NOPE). Microsoft doesn’t want your phone call, can’t identify ‘suspicious activity’ on your computer, and would not be able to match your computer to a random web page visitor. It’s impossible, implausible, and completely evil. I’ve had reports back from users who called the numbers: The ‘Department of Windows’ wants to log into your computer, give you the totally FREE and BUILT-IN Windows Defender, as a special $400 lifetime edition. Or worse, much worse. Don’t call those numbers, ever.

Those hoaxes are all full-screen and hard to exit. Press F11 to exit full screen mode, and then close the browser. Or use Alt-F4 to close the browser. Or use the keyboard method to go to task manager with Ctrl-Alt-Delete, and then close the browser. If all else fails, turn the computer off.

After restarting the computer, if your browser then asks “Restore prior pages?” answer NO. It’s also a good idea to go into the browser’s page history and clear out the last dozen pages or so, or use the ‘clear browsing history option’ and select ‘last hour’ or ‘today’ for the time range.

How to Turn off Whatever THAT is…

There’s a picture in the Windows 10 Search bar. This started after the May 2022 Windows Update, and so far, I’ve seen either owls, a swimming turtle, tennis, a tea cup with what might be mint, or a purple flower and a bee. No idea what this kiddy cartoon is called other than looking very much look a toolbar added by malware. Or a BHO, also known as a browser helper object. Maybe a widget, a gadget? Maybe it’s a distant relative of the old Clippy, the Talking Paper Clip from Office ’97? Microsoft has used so many names for extra screen clutter over the years that this is clearly a Whatever. Yes, whatever that is.

Windows SearchBar Tennis

Here’s how to turn off the Whatever: Right-click the Search box, and the menu will pop up as below. Uncheck ‘Show search highlights’. Done.

Windows 10 Cup of Tea with Mint?

If anybody knows what that setting changes beyond adding cartoons to the bar, let me know and I’ll update this.

Windows 10 bee and flowers
Windows 10 turtle searchbar

Updated May 21st with the tea cup. And on May 22nd with the Tennis image. And so on…

Good Riddance, Vista

Windows Vista, RIP April 11th, 2017

Windows Vista reaches the end of “extended” support on April 11th, 2017. It couldn’t be too soon.

The end of ‘Extended Support’ means there will be no more security patches, and no online technical assistance from Microsoft after April 11th. Existing support pages will still be available online, but will no longer be updated. Google Chrome ended support for Vista back on April 1st, 2016. If Microsoft follows the pattern of Windows XP, phone activation for re-installs will only be available from the automated system, and not from an actual human on the phone.

If you are still running any Vista-based computers, it’s time to upgrade them, retire them or disconnect them from the Internet. Most computers that shipped with Vista can run Windows 7 faster, and many can run Windows 10. (Call any local tech for help identifying if any particular system is worth an upgrade.) And if there are still any Windows XP machines out there, it’s time to melt them down. Secure erasure and safe recycling is free for my customers.

Microsoft Office 2007

Microsoft Office 2007 will reach the end of extended support October 10th of 2017. If you’re running Outlook 2007, plan ahead. Running an unpatched email program isn’t safe. Now is a good time to switch to Thunderbird, or upgrade to Office 2016.

Calendar

PC410.com maintains a short list of the end-of-life dates of the most popular software products, here.