Using Windows XP? Here comes the end.

OK, a bit over-dramatic with the title, but literary license means I can, so I did.

Seriously now, on April 8, 2014, official support for Windows XP will end completely. This means no more updates, patches, fixes, or anything else from Microsoft for Windows XP.

Windows XP has stayed alive for almost 12 years now because quite a few people strongly said "NO!" to Windows Vista. But there is not going to be another reprieve for users that choose to hold on and stay with Windows XP.

This deadline does not mean that your computer running Windows XP will not work anymore, you will be able to use it just fine. But you will notice an eerily quite Patch Tuesday that you have become accustomed to.

Windows updates are a line of defense against not just malware, but system issues and problems as well.
I must say that I will be sad to see Windows XP go. I have fond memories of using it, of just looking at the wonderful default desktop wallpaper, of enjoying its simple to use nature.

For those whose computers cannot support a newer operating system, I am sorry. You need to buy a new computer. Most likely the new computer will run Windows 7 or 8.

I recommend Windows 7 because it is easy to use once you get the hang if it. It's faster, it has better graphics, and you are in control of a lot of things. This is just my personal preference over Windows 8 though, so you may want to test drive both to see what trips your trigger.

As always if you have any questions, comments, or you just want to tell me how awesome I am, be sure to comment below. It's free and always will be.

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What Does It Mean: Firewall

Despite its name, the word wall really is not a good way to describe a firewall unless you have the firewall set to block everything, good, bad, and indifferent. In that case it really would be a wall, but this also means no internet which means you can't read your favorite anti-malware blog. : (

A better way to think of it would be like a guard station, the guard checks all the internet and network traffic that comes in and goes out of your computer. And if anything shows up sketchy, it stops it until it knows what to do either by preset rules, or by telling you that something going on and asking you what you want to do. If you tell the firewall to block it, it will block the traffic and stop the network or internet connection. Some advanced firewalls can also think for themselves and decide to allow or block the traffic depending on how it looks.

There are three kinds of firewalls: There are inbound only firewalls which only scan inbound traffic. There are outbound firewalls which only scan outbound traffic, and there are firewalls that do both.

Firewalls are often included with high end antivirus software but they can also be standalone programs with just the firewall included.

Firewalls are used to block malware coming from the network. It also blocks programs from connecting to the internet if you do not want them to.

I would have to say that my favorite type of firewall is one that thinks for itself and is inbound and outbound. The ideal firewall should think for itself, because you do not want to be bothered with making all of the decisions. Why? Because an alert saying "something.exe is trying to connect to the internet. Allow or Deny?" is not very helpful to those that don't know a whole lot about computers. And if you deny everything, that again means no internet which again means you can't read your favorite anti-malware blog.

I hope that this post helps explain what a firewall is and what it does. If you have a question, comment, or you want to tell me how awesome I am, be sure to leave a comment in the box below. It's FREE and always will be.

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Haters Gotta Hate, Noobs Gotta Imitate.

The first big announcement is that my blog has reached 25,000 Pageviews! It's insane, right? The second announcement is that my blog is at this point being targeted by haters and imitators.

As for the first point, I have been subject to personal attacks on the web because I am sharing information on how to prevent you from being a victim. People calling me names, refusing to listen to reason when I tell them that the point that they are arguing is not the case at all.

As for the second point, I have noticed quite a few bloggers that have now been making posts quite like mine, they are attempting to actually imitate what I am doing. It's good that I am sparking interest, but this is dangerous and I will tell you why.

The people imitating me know very little about the subject they are trying to talk about, and while imitation is usually the highest form of flattery, it actually insults me here. This is because the imitators are sharing information and modifying it to claim it as their own. The problum? They are skipping steps, adding in steps that could ruin a computer. And the first rule in malware fighting is "First, do no harm." This translates that you should not be talking about something without knowing what you are talking about.

I don't know what I will do about any of this and likely will not know for some time. I don't even know about the fact that this blog post is an April Fools Day joke.

Wait.... What?

As much as you are laughing now, think about how my early drafts of this post must have been.

April Fools Everyone. Now get back to work! :D

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