If you’ve lost your mobile smartphone or tablet, or if your device is stolen, you can often find its location by going to a dedicated website on your computer. But before your device can be located, your mobile device needs to be setup to allow it to be located. Now is the time to check and make sure your device is setup – before your phone gets lost or stolen. … [Read more...]
April 17, 2018 By Computer Techs
November 24, 2016 By Computer Techs
How to improve wireless coverage at home
Do you have poor Wi-Fi coverage inside your home due to low signal or interference from other nearby Wi-Fi routers? How about poor wireless cell coverage at home due to wireless carriers having trouble locating their cellular transmission antennas, towers and poles in residential neighborhoods? Resident complaints that cell towers will decrease property values or become eyesores within the landscape have persuaded elected officials to deny the permits needed to construct new cell … [Read more...]
November 8, 2016 By Computer Techs
How to manage your passwords – easily and safely
Updated June 2026: When helping clients log in to their computer or websites, often we'll see them pull out a scratch pad or sticky notes with various passwords scribbled on the page. There’s a better organized and more secure method to keep track of your login information. First of all, it's important that you are not using the same password for multiple web sites. The danger in doing so is that when your login information is exposed in a data breach, hackers will attempt to use that … [Read more...]
November 8, 2016 By Computer Techs
Secure your email and other accounts with 2-step verification
With email account hacking being a common occurrence, email providers Google, Microsoft and others introduced a 2-step verification process that can keep unwanted people from accessing your email account, or help you regain access to it in the event of a forgotten password or if it has been taken over by a hacker. It is important to note that you must setup 2-step verification for your account before hackers have a chance to do it first - and potentially lock you out of your account. … [Read more...]
March 15, 2016 By Computer Techs
Microsoft prompting users to get free upgrade to Windows 10
Updated 3-15-16 to include information on how to back-out of forced installation and how to rollback. Microsoft's Windows 10 became available on July 29, 2015, and computer users have been seeing upgrade prompts ever since. If your computer has Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, you may have noticed a mysterious new icon has appeared on the right-hand side of your taskbar. The icon is Microsoft's notification that invites users to register for their free Windows 10 upgrade. Clicking the small Windows … [Read more...]
September 7, 2015 By Computer Techs
Windows 10: The Good, Bad & Ugly
Microsoft’s Windows 10 became available on July 29, and we've helped several clients who have purchased a new computer or upgraded their existing computer from Windows 7 or 8/8.1. On older computers Microsoft’s notification invites users to register to download a free upgrade to Windows 10 - an offer which will be good until July 2016. But just because it's free doesn't mean that you should do the upgrade. The Good: Windows 10 is an improvement over Windows 8/8.1. It brings back a "Start" … [Read more...]
December 8, 2014 By Computer Techs
Why your most important password is the one that secures your email
You may think that nobody would be interested in reading your email, therefore your email password doesn't need to be secure. However if a hacker accesses your email, consider the following common occurrences: A hacker can change your password and lock you out of your account. A hacker can go to financial and shopping websites and have password reset requests sent to your email address. With access to your financially related websites in the hands of a miscreant, you could potentially … [Read more...]
May 27, 2014 By Computer Techs
Does your computer have adware?
Adware is advertisement-supported software that is usually is bundled with other programs that are downloaded from the internet. For example you may download a free program from the internet, but in order for the website to make money they typically bundle the program with adware, browser toolbars and/or browser hijackers. These Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs) will display advertisements, re-direct your internet search results and even change your browser home/start page. Adware should … [Read more...]
April 30, 2014 By Computer Techs
How to change your email password
Updated May 2024: Below are links to instructions for changing your password at most major email providers. Please review how to safely manage your passwords when creating a new password. AOL Mail AT&T/Yahoo email - att.net, sbcglobal.net, prodigy.net, nvbell.net Charter email Gmail Hotmail/Outlook.com Yahoo Mail If you access email on your smart phone, tablet or email program on your computer, don't forget to update the password on those device(s) with the new … [Read more...]
April 15, 2014 By Computer Techs
Microsoft offers cheaper Office 365 subscription and free online version
Microsoft now offers a cheaper subscription option to their Office 365 suite. For $69 per year (or $6.99 per month), you can use the full suite of Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook and others on 1 computer plus 1 tablet computing device. Their original subscription option which is still available allows the use of the full suite of Office products on 5 computers plus 5 tablets in a household for $99 per year (or $9.99 per month). Last month Microsoft … [Read more...]