CompuClever Blog

How to install Windows Update KB2712808

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Back in August, Microsoft issued an update for Windows 7 64-bit that many, many people all over the world had problems installing on their computers.

Windows Update KB2712808 was defined as a security patch for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems. Typically, Windows Automatic Updates will automatically check for, download, and install updates, usually at a set time each day (some people may schedule Windows updates for once a week).

However, KB2712808 quite often fails to install automatically using Windows Automatic Updates. And if KB2712808 does not install, no other Windows updates can install.

Failure to install KB2712808 results in a serious security risk

Because regular Windows updates are needed to patch your computer against always-evolving threats that appear daily, a failure to install KB2712808 will result in a serious security risk for your computer.

Manually installing KB2712808 often does not work

Generally speaking, if Automatic Updates don’t work, Microsoft recommends manually installing the update. You can do this by searching for it on the Internet, such as searching for the terms Windows Update KB2712808 manual download.

The first result is the update itself, Security Update for Windows 7 (KB2712808), hosted on the Microsoft site.

Genuinecheck.exe is no longer supported

However, manually downloading the KB2712808 update often does not work. Continue reading...

Looking to speed up your computer? Be careful of these guys

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pecon software india crtcLooking to speed up your computer? Be careful of these guys!

As mentioned in a previous blog post about speeding up your computer, many people in North America have been receiving telephone calls (sometimes on a daily basis) from people advertising themselves as security experts.

Victims would get a call from someone claiming to be a computer repairman (and this person will most likely have a heavy accent). Once you pick up, there will be a slight pause as they connect you with a “technician”, who will then start asking you to run various system programs.

The end result is this company will fool you into downloading a computer program, and then making you pay for it.

The bright side? This company has been fined in Canada for violating something called the “Do Not Call List”.

In Canada, anyone can ask their telephone provider to be placed on a “Do Not Call List.” This means that telemarketers are not allowed to call you.

If they do call you, the can be fined.

The federal regulator in Canada says two software companies based in India were making unsolicited telemarketing calls from Canadian numbers to Canadians who had registered their phone numbers on the national do-not-call list. Continue reading...

Java security “exploit” may not receive a patch

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Web browsers including Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome have all been hit by a Java software flaw used to spread malware, and security experts have gone as far as warning people to disable Java software on their computer.

This flaw or vulnerability in Java allows an attacker to bypass Java security completely, making it possible to install malware or execute malicious code on your computer.

Malware, short for “malicious software”, is software used or created to disrupt computer operation, gather sensitive information, or gain access to private computers.

Java itself is used to create “applets” or programs that are embedded in other applications, typically in a web page displayed in a web browser,  in order to provide interactive features to web applications that cannot be provided by HTML alone. Some video games and flash movies are examples of applets.

It’s estimated that Java is installed on more than 3 billion computers around the world, but only about a third of users get updates and patches for the software that close security holes.

As well, sometimes Java security flaws remain “unpatched”.  Oracle, which provides software patches for Java  has only patched two of the 31 flaws reported so far this year. Continue reading...

Top 5 Simple Tasks Every Computer User Should Know

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As computing power has increased rapidly over the past few years, maintaining a computer has become as complicated as looking after a car. And, because of that, it’s easy to miss out on all of the great features and abilities our computers have.

Here are 5 things about using your computer you should know:

Know how to create a computer backup

Computer hard disks fail pretty regularly, which can be traumatic because the hard disk is used to store everything from the computer’s operating system and main programs (Microsoft Word) that can be expensive to replace, to photos and media libraries. Microsoft Windows 7 actually features a Windows backup feature, and you’ll need an external hard drive or a number of DVD’s to do this. To be even safer, you can use a service like CrashPlan to back up your computer online.

Understand how to set up your home WiFi

Understanding routers, modems, and the other things that make up your network can seem daunting, but there are a few basics that can fix most problems that come your way. Does your router constantly need resetting? Make sure it isn’t overheating or clogged with traffic. Is your Wi-Fi speed and range less than ideal?  Continue reading...

More on the difference between Flash and Shockwave Flash

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You may have heard of “Flash” and “Shockwave Flash”. If you think they are the same thing, you might be wrong!

First of all, Flash (or, more correctly “Adobe Flash”, and in the past “Macromedia Flash” before Adobe acquired the company) is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. In a nutshell, Flash usually need to play YouTube video on your computer, and the way to do this is to install the Adobe Flash Player.

Your browser uses the Adobe Flash Player to watch movies, stream audio, play games, and even interact with some web pages. Flash Player is freely available as a plugin for recent versions of web browsers (such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, and Safari) on selected platforms. Google Chrome even integrates the player into its distribution, which means you never have to worry about updating it.

So what’s Shockwave Flash?

Shockwave Flash is actually an “authoring tool” that is used to create content for websites, such as games. You can use more types of files with Shockwave. You could, for example, import a Flash file into a Shockwave movie, but it doesn’t work the other way around – you can’t play Shockwave file in a Flash Player. Continue reading...