Can I transfer Carbonite to my new computer?
October 30th, 2009 - Posted by Kent
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: I purchased your product about a month ago then I bought a new computer because my old one was so stinking slow. Can I transfer Carbonite to my new computer (It even has my old hard drive in it)?
A: It's a great question, but first we should clarify that while we do review and provide links to Carbonite, NextAdvisor.com is a separate company. With that out of the way, here's the answer to your question:
In short: Yes. That's the great thing about a subscription-based services like Carbonite. I found these instructions on the help section on Carbonite's web site. I'm assuming you reformatted your drive when you put it on the new machine, so the first step probably doesn't apply to you. The main thing you need to do is access your Carbonite account online and transfer your subcscription to your new computer, but here are detailed steps:
1) If the computer that Carbonite is currently installed on is still in use, Uninstall Carbonite (using Add/Remove Programs from Control Panel). Otherwise, proceed to step 2.
2) Log into your account from your new computer (the computer to which you would like to transfer your subscription)
Click the My Protected Computers tab
3) If you want to transfer your subscription without restoring any files, click the Transfer button. To transfer your subscription and restore files to your new computer, click the Restore button
4) Follow the instructions to download and install Carbonite
Again, some of these steps will depend on whether or not you reformatted your drive. And if you did reformat the drive, you can use Carbonite to restore the files that were on your old machine.
Lunarpages web hosting discount for a happier Halloween
October 29th, 2009 - Posted by Kent
One of our favorite top-quality web hosts, Lunarpages, is celebrating the spooky season with a discount on its two-year plans. Normally, if you want their $4.95-per-month price, you have to go for a five-year plan. Currently, the discount code "Halloween" gives you that same $4.95 price on a two-year plan. This is better than their previous Football-themed discount which saved you $33.00 on the sign-up.
We really liked Lunarpages when we reviewed it. We praised the site builder and the speedy data transfer, as well as its simplified control panel. It's a great price on a really great service.
To get the discount, follow any of the links to Lunarpages from NextAdvisor.com. Select the two-year plan, and enter the code "Halloween" before hitting the "next" button.
Don't open that email from the FDIC…
October 28th, 2009 - Posted by Caitlin
Because it isn't really from the FDIC. There has been a recent rash of phishing emails that appear to be sent by the FDIC. The emails say, "You have received this message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account. Recently FDIC has officially named the bank you have opened your account with as a failed bank, thus, taking control of its assets." The emails also ask recipients to download and open a "personal FDIC insurance file" to check their deposit insurance coverage. This download is certainly not an FDIC document, and is most likely some form of malware. The emails also contain links to malicious websites.
If you recieve an email that appears to be from the FDIC and prompts you to visit a website or download a file, delete it. Do not click on any links within the email and do not download any attachments. The FDIC is working to uncover the details of this scam, but in the meantime, recipients are instructed to "consider the intent of the software as a malicious attempt to collect personal or confidential information, some of which may be used to gain unauthorized access to online banking services or to conduct identity theft."
To protect yourself from this and other phishing scams, be cautious when downloading attachments or clicking on links in any unexpected email from an unknown source. These emails often appear to be from banks or other trusted institutions. You should also be sure to install Internet security software on your computer, and you may wish to consider investing in identity theft protection, since identity theft is often the ultimate goal of phishing scams.
ZoneAlarm offers 50% off: Virus and identity theft protection in one
October 27th, 2009 - Posted by Kent
ZoneAlarm is offering a deal that almost seems to good to be true. ZoneAlarm is taking 50% off of the regular price of its Internet Security Suite which comes with one-year of Identity Guard's Good Start identity theft protection. At $24.95 a year for a three-PC license, it's by far the cheapest Internet security software we've reviewed.
While we weren't completely in love with ZoneAlarm's virus warning system, we did appreciate many of the other new features. The inclusion of Good Start is a sweet bonus. All-in-all, this is a good deal for those looking to try out basic identity theft protection and anti-virus software, but aren't ready to make a huge investment in either. You can read our complete review of ZoneAlarm and see how it compares to the competition with our Internet security software reviews.
The death of a web host; the Internet says goodbye to GeoCities
October 27th, 2009 - Posted by Kent
In the relatively short history of the web, GeoCities is a bit of a marker. The service has been providing beginning web publishers with free web hosting since 1994. That is, up until yesterday when Yahoo! finally shuttered the site. Things on the web have changed in the last fifteen years, and the ad-supported service was feeling like a relic from a time before blogs, Facebook, wikis, and inexpensive web hosting.
In my usual role of 'old guy on the web' at NextAdvisor, I remember when a lot of sites were hosted on GeoCities (along with the surprisingly extant Angelfire). In 1999, when was I testing search engine relevance for one-time search-giant Inktomi (coincidentally, it too was bought by Yahoo!), GeoCities sites were often in the results. By 2009, as they say, not so much. Now, GeoCities is a custom 404 page.
In 1994, no one would have thought web hosting was important enough to justify spending $60 to $120 per year. Only universities and a few well-known web-savvy brand names had their own domains. Now many people count web hosting costs as a necessary expenditure, right up there with their cel phone, cable, TIVO, and NetFlix fees.
So, farewell GeoCities. You helped make the web what it is today.
TrustedID introduces Identity Threat Score
October 27th, 2009 - Posted by Caitlin
TrustedID, our favorite identity theft protection service, has just added a new feature to help determine your personal risk of identity theft. TrustedID will assess millions of records on hundreds of public and private databases and analyze that information for patterns that could indicate if you have been or are about to be a victim of identity theft. Your personal risk will be represented by your Identity Threat Score, a number between zero and 500. That score will make it easy to understand your risk level, and it will also help TrustedID's protection specialists ensure that the necessary steps are taken to protect your identity. Since your financial and personal information is constantly being updated, your Identity Threat Score will be automatically recalculated regularly.
This new feature makes TrustedID's protection even more comprehensive. New TrustedID customers will enjoy this additional layer of protection at no extra charge.
To learn more about TrustedID and other identity theft protection services, see our reviews and comparison chart.
It's easier to steal a passport than a television
October 26th, 2009 - Posted by Caitlin
A British insurance firm recently conducted a survey of burglary victims, and found that many burglars are looking for personal documents. In 2008, 15% of British burglary victims were targeted specifically for sensitive information, and 74% of burglaries resulted in the theft of some personal or financial documents. LV, the firm that conducted the survey, said that credit cards, passports, and other sensitive personal documents are easy for burglars to sell on the black market. And they're certainly easier to steal than a television or other bulky possession. John O'Roarke, the company's managing director, suggested that homeowners store personal documents securely and, if possible, separately, since several documents with the same identity can be sold for a great deal more money.
It's unlikely that British burglars are the only ones who've caught on to the potential value of personal documents. Identity theft is easier and more lucrative than theft of possessions. And while victims rarely suffer financial losses in the long run, the time and effort required to restore your identity can be an even harsher consequence. You probably have homeowner's or renter's insurance. To spare yourself the suffering that comes with identity theft, consider investing in identity theft protection.
Will a reduced credit card limit hurt my credit score?
October 26th, 2009 - Posted by Caitlin
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: My bank is lowering my credit card limit, even though I always pay on time. Will this hurt my credit score?
A: Unfortunately, yes. Lately, many lenders have been cutting credit limits, even for consumers with high credit scores. And the ratio of the balance you carry to your available credit is an important factor in calculating your credit score. Sometimes, a credit limit is cut due to underuse, rather than failure to make payments. So if that is a concern, be sure to use your oldest credit card, or the card with the highest limit, from time to time. Depending on the limit and the balance you carry, you may also be able to offset the negative impact by paying off more of your balance. Or, if necessary, it may make sense to open a new credit account with a high limit.
See our reviews and comparison charts to learn more about credit reports and scores and credit cards.
Protect Your Identity Week: Even more identity theft myths
October 23rd, 2009 - Posted by Robert Siciliano
Robert Siciliano is a NextAdvisor.com Expert Guest Blogger
The National Foundation for Credit Counselors, which sponsors Protect Your Identity Week, has compiled a number of identity theft myths. To support their efforts, the Santa Fe Group Vendor Council Awareness and Education Subcommittee has helped to clarify some common misinformation with regards to this increasingly common crime. This is the third and final post on the subject.
Myth #8: I don't use the Internet, so my personal information is not exposed online.
Your personal information appears in more places than you might realize, whether it's your medical records, a job application, or a school emergency contact form. Many of these records are kept in electronic databases and transmitted online. Social networking sites are another good source of personal information for identity thieves. Even if you do not use them yourself, your friends or members of your family may be sharing personal information about you. Not using the Internet may offer some protection, but it won't keep you safe from online criminals.
The identity theft resource center has compiled a list of high profile data breaches.
Get Safe Online offers tips on safe social networking.
Myth #9: Social networking is safe.
Social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter can be fun to use. But they can be dangerous when it comes to your identity. These sites are used by thieves and others to steal information, trick people and promote a variety of scams. To protect yourself, avoid making personal information available to large groups of "friends," take advantage of the privacy controls offered by most of these sites, and use common sense.
I blogged about social networking websites for the Huffington Post.
Myth #10: It is not safe to shop or bank online.
Like social networking, shopping and banking online are safe as long as you use common sense and make good choices about where and how you do it. Most importantly, always take care to confirm a site is legitimate before you use it, watch out for copycat sites, and keep your computer safe from viruses.
Get Safe Online offers tips on safe online shopping.
The FDIC offers tips on safe Internet banking.
Invest in identity theft protection and prevention. Not all forms of identity theft protection can be prevented, but identity theft protection services can dramatically reduce your risk.
Robert Siciliano, identity theft speaker, discusses hacked email on Fox News.
Robert Siciliano is CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, an identity theft expert, professional speaker, security analyst, published author and television news correspondent. Siciliano works with Fortune 1000 companies and startups as an advisor on product launches, branding, messaging, representation, SEO and media. Siciliano's thoughts and advice on all these matters appear often in both the televised and print news media including CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX, Forbes and USA Today. He has 25 years of security training as a member of the American Society of Industrial Security. He is the author of two books, including The Safety Minute: Living on High Alert; How to take control of your personal security and prevent fraud. He's also partnered with Uni-Ball to help raise awareness about the growing threat of identity theft and to provide tips on how you can protect yourself.
Internet security software and Windows 7
October 22nd, 2009 - Posted by Kent
Windows 7 launched today to generally positive reviews. As you decide whether or not to upgrade, you might be wondering about your favorite Internet security software. The 2010 versions are all made to work with Windows 7. We've added this info to the system requirements section at the bottom of each of the reviews.
We'll continue to add more as they become available to us for testing. The most recent Internet security product to get the 2010 update is CA.
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