Microsoft Security Essentials

Microsoft is getting into the anti-malware market. Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) is a replacement for Windows Live OneCare and, I think, Defender. Did I mention it’s free? Paul Thurrott has a good write-up on MSE on his SuperSite for Windows. Since I’m already running the Windows 7 release candidate, I figured why not give this …

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I hate those fake AV trojans!

Today I had to clean another one of those fake anti-virus programs off of a machine at work. This one was called Personal Antivirus and bore a striking resemblance to AVG Free (which I use myself and usually recommend to others). Here’s the AVG console: And here’s Personal Antivirus: Look familiar? In this particular case, …

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Two thumbs up for “Up”

Today on Father’s Day we went and saw the latest Disney Pixar movie, “Up.” It’s an amazing stat: every one of Pixar’s movies have been consecutive hits. “Up” is the 10th and it keeps the streak going. From a technical standpoint, once again the animation quality is incredible. Clouds, fire, sweeping vistas, the physics in …

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Windows 7 Problem Steps Recorder

I stumbled across another neat feature in Windows 7: the Problem Steps Recorder (PSR). Run psr.exe from the command-line and you’ll see a utility window you can use to record your session: Click “Start Record” and then replicate the problem. Click “Stop Record” when you’re done and the tool will prompt you to save a …

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WIJFR: Eastern Standard Tribe

Cory Doctorow’s Eastern Standard Tribe is a soothsaying jaunt into the not-so-distant future, where 24/7 communication and chatroom alliances have evolved into tribal networks that secretly work against each other in shadowy online realms. The novel opens with its protagonist, the peevish Art Berry, on the roof of an asylum. He wonders if it’s better …

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