While reading some cutting edge stuff on the web today I came across a blog post for getting rid of those pesky built-in-apps installed by default in windows 10. Here’s the original article. Follow-up, if you have trouble using this link and get an error, wait a few minutes and try again. Appartently the host of the site can’t handle too much traffic.
This is about the most exasperating problem that causes many of my customers problems. What happens is during an Adobe download or update (Acrobat (reader), Flash Player, and others) there is an additional download option to also install additional software. Sometimes it’s Google Chrome, sometimes it’s McAfee Security Scan Plus, and sometimes it’s both.
Well, as you install software on your computer, you will somtimes receive a popup that the certain software requires that you allow it through your computers firewall. It will popup a box similar to the following…
So, you click “Allow Access” and now that software can freely access any web-enabled features that it needs. Keep in mind, this could be any software on your computer that you have given special access to.
By allowing (by default I might add) the download and install of “McAfee Security Scan Plus” it contains a firewall, and it doesn’t look at your current firewall settings, it just installs itself in front of it, with its “minimal” allowed configuration. What this does is disable many previous installed applications, and even your network, email, and many other programs.
Yes they will. Don’t misunderstand, we need protection on our computers, and I think the goal of software vendors allowing other products to be downloaded with their updates is an effort for not only additional revenue, but help users safety. As an average computer user, we don’t see the unexpected consequences from what appears an innocent task, after all you just want your software updated.
The most important thing you can do is pay attention to what your downloading. We often click “License agreements” and “Privacy polices” and honestly never read there 50 page content. Don’t assume that just because its a big company that they are looking out for your best interest. If you just did a software update and things are not working correctly check your firewall settings, check for any software installed that you didnt expect or don’t know about.
If you are in the Dallas / Ft. Worth area, call me at 972.571.4808, I offer a $75.00 flat rate computer check-up.
A few months back EquiFax had a big data breech, and almost everyone in the country was affected. When I first heard the story they advertised a link for those affected and would give them a free 12 months of free credit report / identity protection. I didn’t write the URL down at the time because I thought it would be everywhere. That didn’t happen.
At first I did go on the Equifax site and saw there was a free email dark web scan, and then they offered a free trial but nothing about the free 12 months of identity theft protection. I didn’t want to sign-up and get a 30-day free trial and then pay for it. You are the company that got hacked! (hello!). Sneaky huh?
AT&T’s developer program sent me a link for the free 12 month identity protection from Equifax. They wanted developers in their program to know they were working with Equifax to protect information from further breeches.
You click the link, verify your information has been breached and then they sign you up for FREE, no credit card, no sales calls. It was really easy, so to check and sign-up for yours Click this link