Don’t push that button!  I would recommend NOT upgrading to IE7 when your Windows Updater prompts you to do so.  There are still some major issues.  Frankly, I’m surprised Microsoft would release it like this, even with Microsoft’s so-called reputation for putting out products that aren’t quite ready.  Complaints about computers crashing, unable to browse anything, IE freezing up are pouring in on forums and newsgroups.  Personally, I can say, though I readily installed it in order to start testing websites I’m working on in the new version, I can no longer use IE as my main browser (Firefox to the rescue).  Basically, it fails to load so many pages on the first try (saying ‘there must be problem with your internet connection or the website you’re viewing).  Refreshing the pages allows me to continue on my merry way, but who wants to hit ‘refresh’ for nearly every page they browse to. 

Again, I’m shocked they would release the product this way.  Perhaps their beta group is not representive of real people?  I know several techs who installed it long ago with no issues.  Unfortuntely, I’m not one of them.  I do plan to try a reinstall but if that doesn’t work and I can’t revert to IE6, I will be switching completely to Firefox until MS can correct the issues.

In case you’re stuck with no way back to IE6, you can find Firefox with the link below.  Its nice and fast and has given us the option for ‘tabbed’ windows(something MS is introducing with IE7) for a couple of years:

There’s a new fad getting pushed by part of the internet marketing community selling paid one-way links on something called ‘Cloud’ sites or ‘500 words’ where there are just various words on their web?site up for bid/purchase as a link text for inbound links. These sites are selling the fact that more one-way inbound links help increase your link popularity and are factored into your ranking and site positioning for keywords used in your inbound link text.

This is reminscent of the recent ‘pixel’ page ad sites where the site owners sell one or more pixels on a website for supposed visibility and inbound links to website owners who want to advertise their website. However, the problem with these sites is that your inbound links are only as good as the site they are on.

First off, hundreds of these flash-in-the-pan sites are popping up and most of them have no ranking or traffic themselves. So you can’t expect to have these help YOUR ranking or traffic. In fact, in my opinion- you should never pay for a link on a site less than PageRank 4. I don’t think there is any problem having free links from sites with PR down to 0, as PR changes and not only is there no penalty for links for lower ranked sites, but search engines like Google expect you to have links from a mix of sites.

Second, many of the major engines often pull ’spammy’ sites from their results altogether. These sites have no real content and are just a bunch of links. They aren’t likely to be in the major engines listings- another indicator that you will not receive any real traffic from them.

Evaluate paid-link or banner ad opportunities wisely. Is the site content related to your site, therefore targetting an audience appropriate to your site? Does the site bring in real traffic? Get some proof of page views and unique visitors. Does the site have a good ranking in Google, MSN or Yahoo?
Don’t be a victim of the latest advertising fads. Use techniques that are proven winners.

Need help finding effective ways to prospect for new customers?
YNot Web can help. Call 916-225-5266 today.

This is my plea that when you receive an email urging you to do it, please don’t send it “to everyone you know.”

Emails that urge the recipient to pass the message on to everyone they know generally fall within 3 categories:

1. Chain Letter
2. Internet Hoax
3. Warning/Safety issue which may actually fall into category 2.

1. Chain Letters.? These may be cute, they may be inspirational, but I bet you still might want to carefully consider who you send these out to.

2. There are hundreds of hoaxes and urban legends spread like wildfire by email.? Some of these hoaxes have been around nearly a decade, yet it seems impossible to kill them.

PLEASE check stories, warnings, sounds-too-good-to-be-true offers out on one of the many Hoax listing sites before you have that knee-jerk reaction to “send this to everyone you know.”

My favorite Hoax listing site is the CIAC’s Hoaxbusters at http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/I particularly encourage you to read the section titled The Risk and Cost of Hoaxes.  You can also check out the list maintained by Trend Micro.

3. Warnings/Safety issues.? These messages?try to appeal to you that “you may be saving the life of a loved one.”? Alot of times these fall into the #2 category, because they have been floating around for so long, the issue has been resolved or the concern no longer valid.??Be sure check the above hoaxbusters sites and perhaps just do a quick Google search to try to determine the age of the warning.? Again, some of these make the rounds for years when they are no longer relevant issues. How can you tell when a message that gets forwarded just says “last week there were 3 reported cases…”.? When was “last week”?? When a message continues to make the rounds on email it is impossible to tell.

So think hard before you add to the problem of the email avalanche we face today.

?

Just a heads up that there is a new wave of viruses spreading to web sites and through html email (that’s any email that has any pictures, graphics, special fonts). Many times the virus is spread through a website that’s been infected unbeknownst to the web site owner.
To best protect yourself and prevent the spread of malicious viruses, you should utilize the following four tactics:

• Install virus protection and keep it up to date. My favorite anti-virus programs are from Trend Microand Computer Associates. For more information on some of their products, check out this review.
• Use an internet browser with a pop-up blocker (don’t forget to enable it!) or install a third-party pop-up blocker.  I personally use the Google Toolbar on top of the built in Internet Explorer pop-up blocker (version 6 and up).
• Use Anti-Spyware programs like Ad-Aware and PestPatrol.
• Make sure you download the latest patches and security updates from Microsoft if you’re using the Windows platform.

Everyone, and I mean everyone should have anti-virus software installed if they use a computer that is networked in any way, shape, or form. (If you’re reading this you are on the largest network alone- the Internet!) If you don’t, you are not only putting yourself and your data at risk, but pretty much are putting the rest of us at risk as well (especially those you have the most contact with via email or other online communication).

Even if its been a long time since you installed it or updated it -perhaps you bought a computer in 2001 with Windows 2000 (or worse, you may still have Windows 98) on it and you had a ‘trial’ version of some anti-virus software that you’ve never upgraded or updated- you should probably consider one of the new generation anti-virus programs.

My current favorites are from Trend Micro and Computer Associates.

Trend Micro has a place on my recommended list because when some of the other big companies seemed to be just sitting on their laurels, Trend Micro was making great advancements and incorporating new technologies into their products. Plus I have a soft-spot for a company that gives you free tools and good prices. Trend Micro was the first anti-virus to offer a free online scan- with Housecall. Although scanning online will not protect you from viruses, it will let you find and destroy them if you’re already infected. Plus its nice to have a ’second opinion’ for peace of mind if you do have some sort of outbreak with another anti-virus product.
Anyway, your best bet is to install their PC-cillin Internet Security which gives you all-in-one antivirus, antispam, firewall for your PC and PDA. They are also offering $25 Competitive Upgrade Rebates until the end of 2006, if you need that nudge to upgrade that five year old version of McAfee you are fooling yourself into thinking is protecting you.

The second company I prefer is Computer Associates. They also have Internet Security Software that is effective, easy to use, and affordably priced. They also acquired Pest Patrol and have started incorporating anti-spyware into their products as well as offering FREE Scans. I currently run EZ Armor myself with PestPatrol on the side.