Shane Speer joins as Network Specialist   It is our pleasure to introduce you to the newest member of our team, Shane Speer. Shane comes to us after six years at DePaul Community Services, where he supported facilities that stretched from New York to South Carolina. The main focus of his job there was desktop computer repair, network management and network requirement planning for new sites. In addition, he was the manager and trainer for Digital Video Surveillance and Access Control.   His philosophy (and favorite pun) is “IT’s awesome!”   “I love working on computers,” says Shane. “Especially ones with unique problems—they keep me sharp and on my toes. There is no greater feeling than that first time you figure out the fix on your own with no help, and you never forget it. I love what I do and the people I meet and I enjoy researching the latest and greatest, finding new ways to do a job with ease.”   We are happy to have Shane working with us. He handles desktop and server support for our business customers...

Maintenance tips for a safer, smoother computer experience   Although we can help with whatever computer quirks come your way, it’s not a bad idea to have a few tricks up your sleeve when it comes to standard computer care. Here are a few of our favorites to help keep you running right!   General Computer Maintenance Tips: Keep all of your working files in one folder: The “My Documents” folder created by Windows is exactly for this and the benefits are multiple. It keeps all your files in one place, makes backing up simple and keeps your machine running faster. Invest in a good surge protector and plug in your computer and peripherals to it. Practice safe computing. Don't accept software or downloads for which you didn’t ask. Delete any suspicious...

Here are some top tips!   Wireless routers can create confusion for people because of the wireless signals, the proliferation of highly marketed products and all the touted “bells and whistles.” We’ve compiled a checklist to help you find the perfect router for your needs.   Questions to ask: Do I Need A Wi-Fi Router? A home router controls the traffic flow between your network traffic and your Internet connection. A wireless router connects wireless devices (as well as wired ones) to connect and communicate with other devices and the Internet.   If you only have ONE PC that is directly connected to a modem, and you don’t need to move your device, you may be fine with a WIRED connection.   However, if there are multiple users in your home, tablets, gaming consoles...

The Brain of Your PC Keeps Things Moving Fast When you are looking to purchase a new computer, one piece of the puzzle is the processor (also called CPU, short for Central Processing Unit); it is the "engine" of a computer. In fact, it is the most important component in determining how fast the system will operate.  It’s important to think about what you will be doing with your computer to make the best pick for your needs.   There are two main manufacturers of CPUs in the world, Intel and AMD. When choosing a computer CPU it usually comes down to two choices: AMD or Intel. The CPU wars between these two corporations have been going on for years. They even resulted in antitrust charges filed against Intel more than once! Both companies have created some amazing and some unsuccessful products...

No way to access the Internet? Try tethering.   Tethering allows you to use your cell phone or other Internet-enabled mobile device as a modem for another device, such as a notebook or PDA. You can make the connection with a cable (USB or serial) or wirelessly through Bluetooth. In situations where there are no other means of Internet access (such as a Wi-Fi hotspot) tethering can really help.   Also, if you are paying for data service on your cell phone—and your provider doesn't require extra fees for using your cell phone as a modem for your laptop, tethering can save you money. You don’t have to pay for separate mobile broadband service or buy additional hardware.   A tethered cell phone also allows you to surf the web more securely because your information is...

Here is another popular topic from our home users: “My computer is making a strange noise and I don’t know what it is or if I should worry.”   We’ll take a look at several of the common noises and what they might mean in this blog posting. If you don’t see your specific noise listed here, give us a call and we’ll help you out.   Initial Steps This is our listing of components within the computer that might cause unusual noises. Before you can determine what is causing your issue, verify that lights on your hardware devices (such as your CD-ROM drive) are not on. If you are only encountering excessive noise when a specific device is being used, it is likely that device is causing your issue.   If the noise occurs the entire time the...

Be on the alert for this frequently encountered threat   Fake antivirus is a frequently-encountered and persistent threats you may find on the web. This is a class of malware that uses social engineering to trick users into going to infected websites using a technique called blackhat Search Engine Optimization. FakeAV or Fake AntiVirus (also known as Rogue AntiVirus, Rogues, or ScareWare) displays false “alerts” claiming there are computer security threats that do not really exist. They prompt users to visit a website where they will be asked to pay for these non-existent threats to be cleaned up. Those who do that wind up on a site run by cyberthieves. It tells you that you need to buy their antivirus program (a fake) in order to fix the security problems.   The programs may also attempt to extract and exploit personal...

Our second take on keep your computer and accounts safe

 

Many of our home users ask us for tips about creating strong passwords, so here are some basic tips to keep you safe.

 

If you keep just two things in mind, use these 2 tips:

Tip #1: Stick to a password length of at least 8 characters—The more characters, the better. This makes it harder to crack. We recommend 10 characters or more.

 

Tip#2: Create a password with adequate complexity—Use at least one character from the following groups, go for a minimum of 4 characters made up of the following.

Lowercase letters Uppercase letters Special characters Numbers  

Just by using these guidelines, you will have stronger passwords than many people.

 

Here is another idea to try—create a phrase that you can remember and use the first letters to create a password you can remember. Let’s say your favorite band is The Rolling Stones and your favorite album by them is...

Adding geographical information to your images can pose dangers   Geotagging is the process of adding geographical information to your photographs, videos, websites and SMS messages. It can be helpful because it allows friends and family to know where you were when you shot that terrific sunset photo that you shared on Facebook. Some camera makers also record information such as your shutter speed, flash, etc. as well. Geotagging also helps with organizing and arranging photos. Also, starting this year, all mobile phones in North America will be required to record your location as part of enhanced 911 emergency services. Since most mobile phones also have cameras, they can also store GPS data (geotags) in photos.   However, there is a risk with all of this information being published in cyberspace,...

Vipre has one of the most efficient scanning engines with a small scan footprint

 "...a very good standalone anti-malware tool with some interesting bonus tools... overall VIPRE tested out better than most of the competition."—PC Magazine



Vipre is one of our favorite anti-virus tools because it is so streamlined. Not only does it keep your machine clean, it also boasts a simple interface that is intuitive and easy-to-use. With an installation that only takes a few moments as well as extras other anti-virus don’t offer (such as a secure file eraser that writes 1s and 0s over deleted files, a history cleaner that goes far beyond just what's in your Internet-browser cache, and PC Explorer, which looks for and reveals processes and services running that are suspect or known to be malicious),...

From Operating Systems to Battery Life

 

Although Apple’s iPad hasn’t even been around for two years, it’s success has helped to put tablets on the map. In fact, around 80% of tablets sold are iPads. It sells many more than rivals like Motorola, Samsung, or RIM. 

 

Tablets are smaller than a laptop and bigger than a Smartphone, which makes them a perfect size for when you are on the go. It is a powerful tool that enhances productivity and your online experience for business or personal use.

 

Here are some of the things you can do with a tablet:

Browse the Internet Create and share presentations Video conference with clients Stay connected to corporate email Download books, games and videos Watch movies Share photos ...

One of our clients recently asked what we would recommend for a laptop Christmas present, so here are our two top picks-one for a desktop and one for a laptop. They both provide excellent bang for the buck! We've provided the specs as well.

Dell VOSTRO 260 MT I3-2100 2GB 250GB DVDRW Windows 7 Professional 64BIT 1YR Warranty  $409

Dell Vostro 1540 15.6" LED Notebook - Intel Core i3 i3-370M 2.40 GHz $449

A failing hard drive can cause problems, being aware is your best bet   Most people have a great deal of personal information on their computers and files that either cannot be replicated or would take a great deal of time to create again. By knowing the signs of a hard drive that is going bad, you can take steps to protect your files before a crash.   Turn on your computer. If it is giving you hard drive errors or your computer won’t load the operating system, many times this indicates the hard drive is bad. Use an error-checking tool such as the built-in Windows disk utilities. In addition, Windows itself has a built-in program, Scandisk, that will look for and try to repair your hard drive. Listen for unusual noises. Anything from strange whirling and clicking to metallic or other loud...

Take advantage of iCloud for your PC too!   Some people compare iCloud to a “hard drive in the sky.” In reality, it is much more than that, allowing access to music, apps, latest photos, and more from whatever device you are using at the moment. All of the “syncing” and management is automatic, you don’t need to do a thing. By using the iCloud Control Panel, you can oversee your iCloud account from the control panel in Windows. The Control Panel allows you to view at a glance how much available storage space is available—and it enables you to control how the space is used.   If you have Microsoft Outlook installed, it can sync your email accounts, contacts, calendars, browser bookmarks, photos and tasks. It can also be used as a storage location, coming with 5 GB of space for free.   You can download...

A little while back we talked about using AVG  to help keep your computer secure, in this post we’ll focus on its features that keep tabs on what your kids are doing while they are on the computer.   Here are some of the benefits to using AVG:   Set up profiles by child You can create unique logins and accounts for every child, as well as enabling Block, Warn, or Monitor modes according to their age and maturity   Keep an eye on content You can enable 58 categories of protection from questionable content across over 60 million websites Monitor their searches on popular engines and filter their search terms   Track social media activity Restrict access to chat rooms...

Don’t make rookie mistakes   We recently wrote about ways that accounts can be compromised, but we thought it was worth taking the time to explore ways to make your passwords more secure.   First of all, don’t fall into the trap of making your password short and simple (and easy to guess) or risk using the same password everywhere. This puts you at a significantly higher risk of a security breach or identity theft.   Guidelines for creating a more secure password: Use at least one upper case letter Use at least one lower case letter Don't use repeating characters Don't use spaces Use a number Use a symbol character from this special set: ' ! @ $ % ^ & * ( ) - _ = + [ ] ; : '...

Put your media just where you want it, with today’s technology for the home   We’ll just ignore the debate about whether your bedroom is a great spot for technology—and side with those who think it is! Besides, you spend practically a third of your life in there, so why be without your gadgets and gear?   First of all, you’ll want a wireless set up in your house so you can control your tech. This way it’s easy to link to content for your electronic book reader. There’s been a great deal written lately about the launch of Amazon’s Fire, designed to take on both the iPad and the Barnes & Noble Nook. (Here’s an article from PC Magazine comparing the Nook and the Fire—it’s a good, quick read to help you decide what’s right for you) Now you can sit in bed and click, instead of flip, your pages....

Even a great password can still become compromised

 

So, you have created a password that is so obscure and secure that there is no way it could ever be discovered; but—be aware—there are still ways your account can be hacked. Here are some other ways you need to be on the lookout for yourself.

 

Issues include:

A Key Logger—A keystroke logger is a program that is installed by viruses or spyware. Once your computer is infected, it could be recording every keystroke you press. This information is sent out to “hacker central” where it is analyzed so that login IDs and passwords can be extracted.

 

Public Computer Login—Public computers put you at the mercy of the habits of others and they are often infested with malware of all types, including key loggers. This is just another place where your information...

From cooking to mood music, technology impacts one of the favorite rooms in the house   Technology in the kitchen used to be limited to coffeemakers with built-in timers, but today, it can impact everything from how you cook to organizing your family. Whether you hook up a PC or Xbox or use a tablet, there are many ways technology can help. Although we aren’t quite to the Jetson’s futuristic kitchen yet, what can happen today is still pretty cool!   The kitchen is often the dumping place for calendars, notes and sticky notes. Digital solutions can help clean it all up for you.   Try Rememberthemilk.com for a free digital assistant. Just enter your information and it will send...

We’ve compiled a list of fun and helpful Apps for your family.

 

White Noise: Just what the name says—and so much more! crickets chirping calms both kids and adults, so use this to give everyone a calm moment of listening and relaxing. It includes a library of sounds (even frogs!).

 

GoodFoodNearYou: This app offers a variety of dining choices for those who are health-conscious or striving to be so. You simply enter your location and it will provide listings of ideas from dining destination in the immediate area. Great to use when traveling so you can avoid fast-food joints.

 

Sit Or Squat: If you need to find a bathroom quickly, punch in your location and the simple interface will provide you with options. There are stats for cleanliness and search options for changing tables and handicap-accessible facilities....

Technology enables home users to run everything from entertainment to productivity tools   Computers today act as information hubs, enabling us to control our entertainment to socializing with our friends—from pretty much anywhere in the house!   The main categories include: Social—Social media (such as Twitter, Facebook, youTube), email and Internet connectivity Productivity—Software such as Office, QuickBooks and much more to keep our lives organized and efficient Entertainment—Digitally storing and sharing our own videos and photographs, entertainment media centers and streaming (Hulu, Netflix)   It is pretty amazing to think of everything we can do right in our own homes. Remember when Bill Gates built his fully automated smart technology house where automation controls everything from lighting to security? It was certainly a glimpse into the future...

How to cut down on germs and ick



Did you know that your computer keyboard has more germs than a toilet seat? In addition, hair, dirt and dust can build up and cause it not to function properly; so let’s walk through the steps to clean and care for your keyboard.

 

Dirt, Bacteria and Dust

Be sure to turn off your computer’s power or, if it is a USB, unplug it. If you don’t unplug it, you might accidentally hit keys that cause computer tasks you don’t want.

 

Some people try to clean their keyboard by turning it upside down and shaking it, but using compressed air is a much better method. If you aim the air between the keys, you’ll be able to blow away dust and dirt.

 

Once you have removed the dust and dirt, then it’s time to disinfect....

From recording TV shows to creating slide shows—it’s all here   Windows Media Center is included in Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate editions.   It Allows You to: ·       Watch and record TV (it’s better than TiVo, we swear!) ·       Play DVDs and CDs ·       Play songs from your music library ·       Create slideshows ·       Show and share photos and other media   With a Windows Media Center Extender and the right setup, you can stream the media stored on your Windows 7 computer to another room in your home. To do this, your computer and your Extender must be connected to your home network. You can run your son’s Xbox, the movies in your living room, the music playlist in the kitchen…the possibilities go on and on!   All of the media in your house can be managed digitally and played back anywhere. Let's say you recorded your favorite...

Tips and ideas to help your family   We help families develop action plans to keep both their computer usage and their computers themselves safe. Since we field these kind of questions frequently, we thought we’d talk about some tips here.   First of all, it’s worth the time to utilize online protection tools. We’ve covered several on our blog and you can click to read one here. These tools can do everything from controlling access to restricting content. They can also keep personal information from being sent online as well as tracking activities. Make sure to take the time to educate your kids about potential online risks and have them create a screen name to protect their real identity.   Tips for Becoming Involved in Your Children’s Online Activities: Become...

Here’s How to Make It Secure

More and more homes are setting up their own WiFi, which is great for using mobile devices all over the house. However, many people either don’t take the time to secure their WAP (wireless access point) or they don’t know how.



If you have open WiFi, there are two basic concerns:

Someone can use your network to access your personal information Someone can inject information into your network  

Your WAP allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using WiFi, Bluetooth or other standards. The connection is most often made through a router and can relay data between wireless devices and wired devices. A home wireless network usually only has one WAP to...

We recommend Zoobuh! as part of your family safety strategy

Zoobuh! was developed specifically to provide a safe email experience for kids. It provides features kids like (fun fonts, cartoon emoticons) with controls to help parents. Your child can log into a safe email account that you can control and monitor from anywhere. With the easy-to-use parental controls, monitoring tools and other features, it’s a great way to help ensure that online communications remain safe, interactive, and fun.

 

The features are pretty comprehensive:

Parental Controls and Options—Several options are available to keep your child safe:

superior spam filtering receive email from contact list only send email to contact list only receive email from siblings...

Our Top Recommendation is RoboForm

 

"It Knows All Your Passwords (But Promises Not to Tell)."— Alan Krauss of the New York Times

 

"Like me, you probably have more usernames and passwords than you can remember. Let RoboForm recall them for you."—Bloomberg

 

RoboForm—the product name might make you think of sci-fi movies, but the security it offers is more like a Brink’s truck.  In case you are not familiar with what a password manager can do for your home computer, here’s a quick overview.

 

A password manager is software that helps you organize passwords and PIN codes. They can also work as a form filler, which saves time. They come in three types:

Desktop—desktop software stores passwords on a computer hard drive. Portable— portable software stores passwords and the program itself on a mobile...

Tips to Help You Pick the Perfect Machine for Your Needs Since summer is moving along so quickly, we thought this was time to touch upon something that just wasn’t on the back-to-school lists when most of us were kids: buying a computer for your teenager. Here are a couple of thoughts to keep in mind: Determine if the computer will be used only a home or if it will be going to school as well—be sure to check school policy. Consider saving money with a reconditioned machine—this gives the teens a chance to use a grown-up machine without costing as much for the parents. Do you need a laptop, desktop or netbook? Desktops are usually cheaper than laptops, but—obviously—they do not have the portability a laptop has. You can also look into a netbook. They are designed for surfing the web, email and casual computing, a netbook can supplement your home computer....

Zero disruption and no per computer fees

 

Carbonite is a leading provider of online backup solutions which provide customers with “anytime, anywhere access” to their stored files. their product, Carbonite Business, was created specifically for small and medium sized businesses, or SMBs.

 

It addresses the backup requirements, budgets, security and accessibility needs of SMBs, while extending the company’s commitment to simple, automatic, affordable and secure online backup solutions. Their small business solutions are tailored to meet the needs of two distinct small business groups – smaller offices with multiple computers and larger offices that also require server backup.

 

Both solutions include:

Secure, offsite backup for an unlimited number of computers Continual automatic or scheduled backups...

And how to fix the problems!

We thought we’d take a moment to touch upon common home user questions in the next couple of weeks. Here is one we frequently get called about.

My computer is running slow. I think I’ve got lots of adware. What can I do?

First of all, look over these hints to see if it seems like your computer is loaded up with adware.

There are advertisements within applications When you type in the address of a familiar website, you are taken to another, unfamiliar website There are a new home page, toolbars, and new online favorites or bookmarks on your Internet browser that you did not set Shut down and start up are slow Your Internet connection is running slowly Your system freezes up or crashes for no particular reason; you might also get system shut-downs and automatic restarts for no clear reason Software on your computer begins failing There are pop-up ads on your desktop There are new programs in your start up...

Quick Fixes to Try

 

If you have ever sat down to use your computer after the kids have and found it doing crazy things, don’t panic! Here is a listing of common things kids manage to accidentally do to computer—and how to undo the “damage.”

 

What Your Kids May Have Done to Your Computer:

 

Fix an Upside Down Screen: Yes, everything on your screen is upside down! Right click anywhere on the desktop, then to “graphics options” and then “rotation.” Then just rotate the screen the amount of degrees it will take to get it back to the correct location.

 

For Windows 7: Right click on your desktop > Screen resolution > Orientation: Landscape

 

Close Magnifier: Whoa! Is everything blown up to epic proportions? It’s time to close the magnifier. To close it, hold down the windows key on your keyboard and press the “minus” button a few times. Your screen image should return to the usual size.

...

“It wasn't until I got a virus on my laptop that I realized how many important photos, documents, and songs I had saved on my computer. It was incredibly time-consuming to get them all back after I lost them.”—Shannan, Backblaze user

 

“Backblaze is the simplest way yet to backup your PC files.”—U.S. News & World Report

 

Backblaze is another product we love because it is the only backup service that doesn’t need you to pick folders or file types. It also offers unlimited storage in one low monthly price. Most people know they should set up some kind of ongoing backup program to protect their important data. Just think what would happen if you lost your laptop, suffered a hard drive crash or even a coffee spill. You would be out music, photos, documents—everything you need for our electronic society.

 

Or, think of it this way, if your computer dies and the data needs to be recovered, you’ll find yourself paying anywhere from $500-3,000; without any guarantees that your data will actually be recovered. Backblaze costs $5.00 per month and your data is safe!

...

Don’t Leave Home Without Reading!

Now that summer is (finally!) upon us, many people will be taking vacations so it felt like a good time to address this topic.

 

Whether you are in an airport or a coffee shop, Internet access is something many of us take for granted. And, many of us don’t give much extra thought to how insecure a network might be. Luckily, common sense and a bit of technology can help protect your various devices.

 

Solid Ways to Keep Mobile Devices Secure

1. Keep your software up-to-date. Software updates contain important security patches, so it’s worth taking a moment to go to the manufacturer’s website to make sure you have the latest.

 

2. Use strong passwords. Develop a combination of at least 8 characters that uses letters,...

Families are always looking for guidance about how to keep their kids safe online. Although the best way would be to keep them in a yurt without Internet access there are other options available.

 

According to Consumer Reports, there are 7.5 million U.S. children under the age of 13 on Facebook and more than 5 million under 10—and many of them are savvier than the adults in the household. In fact, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children one in five children is sexually solicited over the Internet. Normal safeguards and security may not be sufficient to protect children. Their characteristics of innocence and curiosity, their desire for independence, and their fear of punishment require additional measures. By considering these characteristics,...

"Internet security shouldn’t take up time – it’s important, but if it just gets on and does its job, and has been designed well, you should be able to forget about it. That has been our experience with AVG over the past 5 years." —Simon Mills, Network Manager, Waingels College

 

We’re strong supporters of AVG’s Anti-Virus Business Edition. It may not have a sexy “.com-boom” name, but it provides top-notch protection for small- and medium-sized businesses. It isn’t a scaled down version of something originally designed to protect thousands and thousands of computers. It was built with small to midsize organizations in mind.

 

AVG’s features fall into three general categories:

Endpoint security for laptops and PCs File Server protection to keep your network malware-free Automated Security Updates  

It also addresses current trends in computing such as cloud computing....

Customers are always looking to us to help them navigate through the oftentimes confusing world of protecting their home computers. We make it part of our jobs to sort out various products, test them and do our best to “poke holes in them.” Only after a product survives our scrutiny will we begin integrating it into solutions for our customers. After all, it’s up to us to provide guidance and support for those of you who would prefer to spend your time doing something—perhaps ANYTHING—besides working on your computer’s upkeep and security.

 

Here’s one example of what the Barracuda Web Filter can do; one of our customers was getting infected with spyware pretty much every other month. We would have to go in and clean it for him, we recommended that we install Barracuda Web Filter software on his PC and Laptop. Now we never hear from him—and the software is saving him time and...

Our clients really like using Ninite.

Simply put, here's why:

Frees up time by managing software installation and updating It’s ultra fast and can be carried from machine to machine on a USB key Saves time and bandwidth by eliminating duplicate downloads Runs without bothering users because they don’t see it Top-of-the-line app management Keeps your office secure and in compliance Freeze switch that bundles all the updates into one executable that can be used in a secure, locked down environment  

Just think about it would mean for your time if you didn’t have to monkey around making sure that all the software on every computer was up-to-date!

 

We are happy to discuss setting up Ninite for your office, just give us a call at 585-466-4662.

...

If you are like many home users installing anything on your PC is bothersome. It takes time, you may not be 100% certain what you are doing, and there’s the danger that you might install things you don’t intend along the way. We recommend giving Ninite a try.

PC Results provides professional IT consulting and computer help for small businesses in Rochester, NY.