Ask Leo!: Web en-us 2008 Leo A. Notenboom and Puget Sound Software, LLC Sun, 25 Sep 2011 13:04:54 -08:00 Sun, 25 Sep 2011 13:04:54 -08:00 720 http://img.askleomedia.com/altile144.jpg Ask Leo! http://ask-leo.com 140 140 Tech Questions? Get Answers! Ask Leo! What is Windows Live? http://ask-leo.com/what_is_windows_live.html I see “Windows Live” everywhere, but I can't decide if it's a program or a website or something else. From what I can tell, Windows Live has almost nothing to do with Windows. I'm confused. What is Windows Live all about?

]]> I'm actually somewhat surprised that this is a common question, but on reflection, it actually makes sense.

I've long held that Microsoft doesn't do product names well. It's not that the names are bad - it's just that they're often chosen without regard to just how confusing they are or may easily become.

Windows Live is just one such example.

It's not a product at all, it's a "brand".

And yes, it didn't really occur to me until just now, but very technically, Windows Live actually has little to do with Windows.

Sigh.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Sun, 25 Sep 2011 13:04:54 -08:00 Technology Can I trust https certificates in my browser? http://ask-leo.com/can_i_trust_https_certificates_in_my_browser.html In Internet Explorer, when I open or log-in to some websites, like PayPal, the Address Bar color changes to green with certificate information. If I click it, a digital certificate appears in a new dialog box. Can I trust each and every website that shows a digital certificate in this manner? Are there any chances that I may get fooled by such type of websites?

]]> Of course, there are no absolutes, but the chances of getting fooled are actually pretty small, particularly when it comes to the so-called "green bar" site validation.

I'll review what those mean and what to look for to make sure that the site that you visit is the site that you think it is.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Sat, 16 Apr 2011 11:51:25 -08:00 Technology How do I fix "Error on page" when visiting a website? And what does "Error on page" mean? http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_fix_error_on_page_when_visiting_a_website_and_what_does_error_on_page_mean.html On some websites, occasionally including my online bank sites, the IRS, etc. etc., I sometimes get the message "Error on page," and the links don't work. What causes this message to appear and is there anything I can do to avoid it? I assume that the problem is with the site and not my computer, which makes me think I can't do much, but I thought I'd ask. It's very inconvenient. I use Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 8.

]]> Taken quite literally, "Error on page" means exactly that: there's an error of some sort on the web page that is being displayed in your browser.

There are three common reasons why this message can appear.

With two, you can try to do something about, but with the other, you can't.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:05:12 -08:00 Technology What's a "fraudulent certificate" and should I be concerned? http://ask-leo.com/whats_a_fraudulent_certificate_and_should_i_be_concerned.html A few days ago, Comodo apparently issued nine certificates used for https on behalf of a third party without properly making sure that the person requesting the certificate was indeed the person authorized to do so for that domain.

Put another way, someone in Iran can apparently set up an https connection that could work and fool your browser into thinking it was validly connecting to httpS://www.google.com and nine other sites, when in fact it was not.

I'll explain how certificates work to confirm you're connecting to who you think you are, what happened here, and what you need to do to stay safe.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:27:06 -08:00 Technology I visited an online store and someone else's information appeared; should I be worried? http://ask-leo.com/i_visited_an_online_store_and_someone_elses_information_appeared_should_i_be_worried.html When visiting an online shopping site I didn't log on - I just clicked the site from a google search. Someone else's shopping cart and info popped up. I'm concerned because I ordered from them recently. Of course it gave the option 'if I'm not "user name" click here', but why would I get someone else's information in the first place?

]]> That's a little scary.

I'd want to see the amount of information that was presented before I passed final judgment, but even so - even if it was something as simple as their full name I'd consider that a privacy breach.

And I'd seriously reconsider shopping at that site again.

Let me review how this might have happened.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Sat, 30 Oct 2010 08:00:00 -08:00 Technology