Google Puts SearchWiki Out Of Its Misery, Replaces It With Stars

Personalized search is something that we all know Google feels strongly about. Today, the search giant is adding a new feature to help users mark searches: Stars. So when you see search results, you can click to mark a star next to a result that you feel is relevant. The next time you perform a search relevant to a starred item, the result will appear in a special list right at the top of your results.

The feature will be rolled out to users over the next few days and will be available to users who are signed into their Google accounts. Google says that stars will make it it easier for users to remember their favorite results because they don’t have to keep track of them after they star them. Google will essentially do all the heavy lifting by remembering starred items and presenting those results when appropriate. Stars sync with your Google Bookmarks and the Google Toolbar, so you can access your list of starred items in one place if you’d like to see them. Stars can also be used to mark pages when browsing the web; you can click the star icon in Toolbar to create a bookmark, which will show up in your starred items.

Google says that stars in search will replace SearchWiki tool which we weren’t very fond of. Searchwiki allowed users to customize search by re-ranking, deleting, adding, and commenting on search results. Apparently others felt the same way, because Google said that users disliked changing the order of Google’s “organic search results.” Stars appears to be an effort to personalize search results in a simpler way.

Google notes that if you have been using SearchWiki, your edits will be preserved with your Google Account.

I have an anti-virus program I trust, do I need to worry about rootkits?

Rootkits, NOPE, not Root Touchup Kits, those are different...

SO what's a rootkit?

As security companies have stepped up efforts to stop malware, attackers have found new ways to force their way into your computer. As a result, their programs are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

A great example is the rootkit. These programs have been around for some time. However, a Microsoft presentation at a security conference brought them to the forefront. They are a potential nightmare.

A rootkit is not a virus. Rather, it is a small program that burrows into the most basic, most powerful level of Windows. It can then tell Windows it is not there. That makes it impossible for anti-virus and anti-spyware programs to find it.

Here's an analogy. A rootkit is like an invisible person who invades your home. You do not know the person is there, nor do you know what that person is doing. You cannot see whatever damage that person is causing. You may eventually see the results, but you would not know what hit you. It's really that bad!

Rootkits are not common in Windows. But they have been around for some time in the Unix operating system, where they are better understood.

Anti-virus and anti-spyware programs cannot touch them. When you run these programs, they search lists of files for suspicious entries. Rootkits can intercept the lists and remove specific file names from them. That renders the security programs ineffective.

Rootkits are difficult to understand and develop. That's probably why they haven't appeared in malware yet. Traditionally, viruses and other garbage have been developed by maladjusted people, often teenagers, who have little professional knowledge.

However, recent years have seen quality improve sharply, especially in spyware. Much of that work comes from rogue programmers in the old Soviet Union. Often they work with criminals. Or the programmers may in fact be the criminals. These people probably can develop rootkits.

Microsoft has a prototype anti-rootkit program called Strider Ghostbuster. This program scans your computer system. It then scans it a second time from another computer over a network. In the second scan, your computer is not running. So the rootkit cannot protect itself. Strider Ghostbuster then compares the two lists of files, looking for differences.

There is another tool available now for scanning. That is RootkitRevealer, from Sysinternals. It may be able to find a rootkit, depending on its sophistication. But there is no method of removal. Only a re-format of the hard drive will clean it. If you want to do a scan, RootkitRevealer is available here.

So, to address your question: Do you need to worry about rootkits? They aren't a threat yet, to my knowledge. They may eventually become a threat. Hopefully, the good guys will develop antidotes by then. In the meantime, they certainly are worth watching.

Is it worth up grading to windows 7

A client recently emailed to ask: Is it worth up grading to from Vista to Windows 7?

We installed windows Vista for this client about 18 months ago (despite my better judgement and recommendations). After installing the new PC with Vista we had a really tough time getting their computer working with their older software and hardware (Eventually they purchased a new printer/scanner and the most recent version of Quickbooks to get everything working).

They later agreed with me that we should have stuck with windows XP, but we were well past regrets at that point. I realize in retrospect I should have perhaps been more forceful with my insistence that they stick with XP, but sometimes clients overrule my better judgement and do what they think is best. And sometimes I have to let them.

The short answer to the clients question now was again No, Despite my dislike of Windows Vista it's working, lets not mess with success. However should we need to add any new computers to the office in the future, Windows 7 will be the way we go.

Overall I'm pretty happy with Windows 7, and based on the rate of questions and problems I'm hearing from clients where I am installing it, it's doing fairly well.

I'm a strong believer in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" if your computer is working, working well, and you're doing what you need to get done with it, why take any additional risks at all? I don't care if you're running Windows XP or Vista - if it's working for you (and of course that includes being safe and secure), then I would not upgrade to Windows7.

That being said, Microsoft announced this week it was retracting software support and updates for Windows XP (with Service Pack 2 applied) this summer, so if the upgrade is to avoid missing out on crucial security updates, then I am a fan of "Fix it if you know it's GOING to break."

If you want to upgrade just because you dislike the Vista user interface changes, Windows 7 is not likely to help; it's much more like Vista than XP. If that's a serious issue for you, then you might consider actually downgrading to XP, for as long as that's available. (Though, of course, my real recommendation is to learn to accept the new interface, since presumably at some point Windows XP will no longer be an option for any number of reasons.) There are also some tweaks you can adjust in Vista and 7 that let it look more like XP.

If you have "older peripherals" - things like printers that have been around for a few years, you'll want to ensure that they're actually supported by Windows 7 before deciding if it's right for you. Vista was notorious for not supporting older software OR hardware, Windows 7 is better, but still don't expect your 1984 HP BubbleJet to work.

At the other end of the spectrum, if you're getting a new machine, then by all means get Windows 7 preinstalled. That's a particularly easy recommendation since pre-installed OS's bypass a number of the issues people might run into with an upgrade.

But if perhaps for some other specific reason, you just want the latest and greatest (You know who you are). The important point here is that as long as your machine meets the requirements I'm not going to wave you off and say you shouldn't.

As I've alluded to above, I feel strongly that the safest approach is a reformat/reinstall - or rather:

• Backup your computer
• Reformat your hard disk (as part of the Windows 7 setup process)
• Install Windows 7 from scratch
• Reinstall your other applications
• Restore your data

As you can see that's a bit of work. But in my experience, it's the safest approach, and has the highest probability of resulting in a working machine with all the unnecessary stuff that accumulated prior removed.

The one option I don't recommend is to run an upgrade installation, if it's even available. If you are running Windows XP, this isn't an option, but if you're running appropriate versions of Windows Vista you can have the Windows 7 installed upgrade in place, preserving all the installed applications, data and settings. In my experience, if there's going to be a problem with an upgrade, this is where it occurs.

The bottom line is that Windows 7 is a fine operating system, and I'm quite happy with it. I have no hesitations recommending it, with the caveats above.

Did you know Microsoft has sold 90 Million copies of Windows 7 in the last 4 months?

New Service Can Help You Identify Your Target Market

One of the things small business owners aren't very good at is determining their target market. Most of the time when I ask one, "Who is your target market?" I get a deer in the headlights look or the response that it's everyone who buys [fill in the blank]. Ugh.

Folks, you have to know who your market is to you can zero in on them and make your business grow.

I was intrigued when a press release for a new service called Ask Your Target Market landed in my email box. According to the release, they claim businesses of all sizes can now have instant access to customized target market research consumer panels for under $30.

"Ask Your Target Market isn’t just an online survey tool, like those offered by other existing companies. We give our businesses access to a built-in consumer panel that they can filter by demographic points to fit their target market," explained the press release.

Using a simple dashboard, survey creators define their selected market by refining demographic criteria, including gender, age, geographical location, education level and others. Surveys with multiple choice responses can ask specific questions and include multimedia elements that allow companies to test the effectiveness of site design, advertising, logos, and other visual elements of their businesses. While response times vary based on defined panelist criteria, a 50-person survey with standard parameters can be completed in hours.

A three question survey deployed to 50 panelists with standard parameters costs only $29.95. The company allows customers to add a number of premium features and increase survey size up to 400 respondents. Once completed by panelists, survey creators can view vivid customizable charts and graphs, and download reports in a variety of formats.

Might be worth checking out if you need some market research completed. I haven't used the service and would gladly pass on any feedback from anyone who has. Just let me know.

Microsoft To End Support For Windows XP

Windows XP SP2 is nearing the end of official support period.

Microsoft is warning customers that support for some older versions of the Windows operating system will end in the first half of this year.

Support for Windows XP SP2 ends July 13.

The termination of official support for the products means Microsoft will no longer issue security updates for them.

We recommend that those of you still on Windows XP SP2 install the latest service pack available via the Microsoft Update Web site—Windows XP Service Pack 3—or look at moving to Windows 7.

Keeping your PC up to date and as safe as possible is something that people need to think about beyond just being on the latest service pack.

I want to remind everyone of the benefits of keeping Windows Update turned on. Through Windows Update, not only are you provided with the latest security updates and service packs for Windows at no cost, but also the latest updates to products such as Internet Explorer 8 and Microsoft Security Essentials.

Is your Windows Update turned on? Is it working? Are you on Windows XP Service Pack 3 already? When was the last time your small business had an IT Security and Longevity Audit?

Pickup the phone today and call The Technology Coach for your no-cost small business technology audit for qualifying small business owners.