Update: The Safari crash bug has now been fixed - according to APPLE
A strange bug is affecting many Safari users today, causing crashes on iPhone, iPad and Mac. For many users, simply tapping in the URL bar will cause the browser app to crash completely.  The exact issue causing the crashing has not been locked down, but it appears to be related to Apple’s Safari Suggestions service. It’s a very annoying bug that is affecting a lot of people all of sudden today.  When you type a URL, Apple sends what you type to its servers, returning a response with autocomplete search queries, Top Sites and other info. There appears to be a bug in this server request that is causing Safari to randomly crash. Users are discovering some potential workarounds until Apple fixes the problem properly … Disabling Safari Suggestions seems to be helping resolve the bug for many people on iOS. On your iPhone or iPad, go into Settings, tap Safari, and toggle off the ‘Safari Suggestions’ switch. This will fix the crashing, obviously its only a temporary fix until Apple sorts its servers out as it will disable the Safari Suggestions functionality.  Another option is to enter Private Browsing mode. In private browsing, by design Safari does not contact the suggestions server for intelligent completion options, so the server is never contacted and the crash never arises.

Apple just released two software updates for Mac, iPhone and iPad. These are minor software updates focusing mostly and bug fixes, security fixes and performance improvements. On the Mac, OS X 10.11.3 fixes a bug with external 4K displays and a handful of security patches. As for iOS 9.2.1, it includes similar security fixes. 

As of January 12th 2015 - Internet explorer 8, 9, and 10 are no longer supported.  End of support for these versions of Internet Explorer means there will be no more security patches or technical support. If you continue to use these browesers you can be open to attack.  Internet Explorer 11 will, however, continue to be supported, and Microsoft recommends first upgrading to IE 11 before removing IE 8, 9, or 10.  If you still have Microsoft Vista you cannot upgrade to IE 11 - therefore it would be wise to upgrade to windows 7, 8.1 or 10.

We get several calls a week of customers that have hit this scam - they go to a website that tells them they are infected with a virus, malware or it says their computer is about to crash.  It then tells them to call a Microsoft tech to fix the issue.  These so called techs then will try to remote into your computer and charge you $250 to $300 to fix issues that you do not have on your computer.  This is indeed a scam, the blue screen that tells you that your computer is infected and gives you a number to call is just a website page and is in fact NOT a message from your computer or windows.  They are just trying to scare you into calling their number and paying a huge amount of money to fix issues that are not there.  If you get this message and it does not allow you to exit your web browser - just turn your computer off by using the start menu - or just hold your power button down for 10 to 15 seconds.  When you restart the screen will be gone.  Remember that Microsoft will never socialite you to call them and Microsoft will never call you on the phone telling you that your computer is infected.  Another piece of advice - never let anyone you have not met personally get remote access to your computer.  If you are worried about this scam or would like us to look at the security of your computer - please feel free to call us for more information.