September 1, 2020 By Mark Computer Techs

How to create a secure memorable password system

Originally posted January 2010. Updated September 2020:

To help prevent unauthorized access to personal information, many websites require a password that consists of six or more characters, numbers and letters, and uppercase and lowercase letters. Creating a password that meets the requirements and being something you can remember doesn’t have to be a challenge.

I have created a password system that you can use or modify to create memorable passwords. The most important part of the system is that a different password is created for each website.

If you currently use the same password for different websites, if the password or website gets compromised, hackers could access your data on all other websites that you use. That would be bad.

The system divides a password into 3 memorable parts that create a secure 10-character password when put together:

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July 31, 2020 By Mark Computer Techs

Watch the world from home

To help pass the time while sheltering or quarantining at home, check out these websites to view live video of webcams featuring scenery and nature.

  • EarthCam – A website and also available as an app on various devices
  • EarthCamTV – Random webcams around the globe displayed on a schedule
  • earthTV – Also available as a live streaming YouTube channel
  • Explore.org livecams – Watch nature and animals
  • WindowSwap – See random views from Windows throughout the world
  • Reno area live webcams – A comprehensive list of location and traffic cameras
  • 511 Home – Local road and traffic cameras viewable on a map
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July 31, 2020 By Mark Computer Techs

How to send a message from your phone correctly

This may happen to you: A few times each month I get an email delivered to my junk/spam folder from an address such as 7755551212@txt.att.net. If I happen to recognize the 10-digit phone number before the “@” symbol I can recognize who it’s from, and respond accordingly. But often times it goes unnoticed or unopened.

When sending messages from a smartphone you typically have 2 options – a “Messages” app and an “Email” app.

The Messages app is meant for sending short messages – usually 160 characters or less – to the recipient’s phone number. The message can be accompanied by one or more photos. If you incorrectly send a message to an email address, it goes through your wireless carrier’s SMS-to-email gateway which converts the message and appears to the recipient as an email coming from “your-mobile-number”@”your-carriers-gateway” – as described in the beginning paragraph of this article. Messages typically cannot be read on a computer – they are meant for mobile-to-mobile communications.

The Email app is meant for sending an email to the recipient’s email address. Emails can contain lots of text, photos, short videos or other attachments, and can be recognized by the recipient in their as originating from your display name and/or email address.

The next time you originate a message or email from your mobile device, make sure you are addressing the recipient in the correct app and correct format – using their 10-digit phone number or email address appropriately.

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July 31, 2020 By Mark Computer Techs

Can you spot “phishing” or a scam? Take the quiz.

How well can you spot a scam? Take the following quizzes to help protect yourself the next time you get an email, text message, website pop-up or phone call.

Scam Spotter

Can you spot when you’re being phished?

OpenDNS Phishing Quiz

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April 1, 2020 By Mark Computer Techs

We can help with many computer issues without coming out to your home

A majority of our customers already take advantage of our remote support service

Remote Support allows us to see your computer screen and operate your keyboard and mouse via your internet connection. This can be helpful if you need a quick-fix to a problem, or other service that doesn’t require an in-home visit. Or perhaps you’d like service outside of our normal in-home daytime business hours. With Remote Support we offer a lower rates than our on-site service. Payment can be made via credit card on our secure webpage at the completion of the service.

Remote Support is available for most services, including (but not limited to):

  • Troubleshoot web browser redirects and fake scare warning screens
  • Help with recovery of forgotten passwords and hacked accounts
  • Virus/malware/adware/pop-up scan/removal
  • PC slowdown issues
  • Software problems
  • Microsoft Office help
  • Data backup and recovery
  • Preventative/proactive maintenance
  • Email setup/customization
  • Training/tutoring

Remote support is not available if you don’t have a connection to the internet. Please contact us if you have questions.

To get started, while talking with your technician on the phone we will have you go to our web page at CTreno.com/help then download and run a small “Remote Support” program. The program will present you with an ID and temporary passcode to tell us, which will allow us temporarily access to your computer only for the duration of the call.

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April 1, 2020 By Mark Computer Techs

Give the gift of computer help or service

Are you looking for the perfect gift for someone who needs computer help or service? Consider giving the gift of computer help or service with the purchase of a Computer Techs eGift Card. eGift Cards can be used towards payment of remote support or on-site services. Click the link picture below for more details, or to purchase now.

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March 16, 2020 By Mark Computer Techs

How to clean and disinfect your screen, keyboard and mouse

Cleaning and disinfecting your screen – including the one on your smartphone or tablet – as well as your keyboard and mouse can be done with some common items that you most likely already have around the house.

For cleaning your computer and smartphone screen you can use a soft lint-free cloth and a mix of isopropyl alcohol and water or disinfecting wipe. Turn off your device before cleaning, be careful not to scratch the surfaces or allow liquids to seep into any holes, and allow time for the surfaces to thoroughly dry before turning it back on.

Cleaning your keyboard includes turning it over to knock loose any debris. Then a small amount of isopropyl alcohol and water mix or disinfecting wipe can be used clean the surfaces of your keyboard and mouse.

For more information see this external article.

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January 29, 2020 By Mark Computer Techs

Why you should keep your computer ON when not using it

If you use a desktop computer, we recommend leaving it ON when not using it. Here’s why:

  • Your computer does important maintenance tasks when “idle” – basically the time when you walk away from it for 5-10 minutes or more. To be idle the computer needs to be left ON – not in sleep mode, standby, logged off, nor powered off.
  • Maintenance tasks include scanning for and installing Windows Updates, virus/malware scans, disk defragmentation, and any other updates that may be regularly checked by other apps.
  • If you are in the habit of turning on your computer, doing your business, then immediately turning it off – your computer may never get the chance to do maintenance tasks, or may eventually try to do them while you’re trying to use the computer. This can cause your computer to be much slower while you’re trying to use it.

If you use a laptop computer, we don’t recommend leaving it ON all the time, but rather leave it idle for a few hours once a week so that it can perform maintenance tasks while you’re not actively using it.

The rare occasion that we recommend turning the computer off is if there are currently thunderstorms approaching your area, or high winds that may cause the power to brown-out or completely go out. In those occasions it would be good to unplug the power and wired internet cables from the computer to help prevent any electrical surges from damaging it.

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July 31, 2019 By Mark Computer Techs

What you need to know about the Summer 2017 Equifax data breach

Updated 7/31/19 to include Equifax Data Breach Settlement information:

In July 2019 Equifax agreed to a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and 50 U.S. states and territories. The settlement includes up to $425 million to help people affected by the data breach. For more information including a lookup tool to see if your data was affected by the data breach, see the following official FTC website: ftc.gov/Equifax

Beware of scammers who’ve put up fake websites meant to look like the official website. Also you may receive unsolicited email or phone calls from scammers who may try to charge you to file a claim, or ask you for private information such as your social security number.

Originally posted 9/11/17. Updated 9/13/17 to include information from Consumer Reports:

Equifax, one of the large credit reporting agencies in the U.S. recently announced a data breach that may affect 143 million Americans. In case you’re not familiar with the population of the United States, that number is equal to just about every adult who’s ever applied for credit. Initial reports indicate that exposed data may include names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and, in some instances, driver’s license numbers. Note that Equifax DOES NOT have access to passwords to your financial accounts.

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January 31, 2019 By Mark Computer Techs

Email scam uses data from breached websites to craft authentic looking email – How to check if your data was exposed

A new email scam has been quickly spreading with different variants that claims to have hacked the recipient’s email account and includes a password used by the recipient. One variant further claims to have caught the recipient looking at pornographic websites, and demanding “ransom” in the form of Bitcoin payment to prevent the release of webcam photos being sent to all the recipient’s contacts. An example email is shown below.

If you’re the recipient of such an email you may think “how does a hacker break in and know my password?” The answer: they didn’t hack your account.

Here’s how they have the information: Data breaches from companies such as LinkedIn, Yahoo and countless others have exposed the email addresses and passwords of millions of users. Clever scammers have taken widely available information from the data breaches and crafted emails that forge the recipient’s email address and insert a password used on a breached web site. With the addition of potentially embarrassing information, the “sextortion” scammer asks for money in the form of Bitcoin to prevent the release of information to everybody in your contact list (which they don’t really have).

In summary, just ignore/delete the email and change the password on any websites that match the password in the email. You shouldn’t be using the same password on multiple sites anyways.

To find out if your email address(es) have been exposed in a data breach, you can safely enter your email address in the following website: https://monitor.firefox.com

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