Wireless carrier T-Mobile is expanding their services to include Home Internet in some areas of Reno/Sparks. Assuming you are in their limited service area – should you switch? Why you may want to switch If you’re on a budget, at $50/month TMHI is less expensive than most AT&T and Spectrum internet plans.*TMHI is available in some rural areas that are under-served by AT&T and Spectrum.If you’re in an area served only by AT&T’s legacy DSL service with speeds less … [Read more...]
June 28, 2022 By Computer Techs
June 24, 2022 By Computer Techs
Keep your smartphone safe
Today's smartphones retain a lot of personal data that you likely wouldn't want to get into the wrong hands. Below is a list of just some of the data that can be accessed if someone got into your smartphone: Someone can receive one-time passwords via text message or authenticator app that can be used to reset account passwordsImpersonate you by being able to send and receive calls, email and text messages on your behalfImpersonate you through any social networks apps that you useAccess any … [Read more...]
June 24, 2022 By Computer Techs
Is Zelle Safe? How To Protect Yourself When Using Payment Apps
Payment apps like Zelle and Venmo are a customer favorite because they are a convenient, fast, and easy way of electronically exchanging money between others. Zelle’s popularity and quick exchange of funds between one bank and another attracts more than just new customers. Unfortunately, it attracts hackers and scammers too. With so many headlines about Zelle scams on the news lately, many users can’t help but wonder about the platform’s safety. Scammers target Zelle users and siphon off … [Read more...]
June 10, 2022 By Computer Techs
Has Your Computer Been Hacked, or Is It Another Phishing Scam?
How many times has this happened to you? You’re on your computer reading, catching up with friends on Facebook, or searching the internet when a pop-up window shows up claiming that your browser has been hacked or blocked. If it's your first time seeing such a message splash across your screen, you've been lucky until now. Every day millions of computer users all over the globe see such messages whenever they surf the internet. And no, it doesn't mean that your browser has been compromised. … [Read more...]
May 20, 2022 By Computer Techs
4 Dangerous Scam Text Messages You Should Delete Immediately
Email open rates typically range between 20 and 30 percent while SMS stands at a staggering 98 percent. 90 percent of texts are opened within three seconds of receipt. The average text is read within 90 seconds of receipt while that number is 90 minutes for email. This characteristically rapid response for text messages makes them a popular avenue for SMS scams and phishing – sometimes called “smishing”. Scams after all require that the target respond quickly before they have a … [Read more...]
May 18, 2022 By Computer Techs
How and Why to Use Browser Tabs
The internet is a huge part of our daily lives. Whether you’re communicating with family over Zoom, checking what your friends are up to on Facebook or buying your weekly groceries, you no doubt use an Internet browser most days of the week – either on your computer, tablet or smartphone. Internet browsers have a host of cool tricks and functions that make the browsing experience more pleasurable and straightforward. To make the most of these features, you need to understand what … [Read more...]
May 13, 2022 By Computer Techs
How Can I Tell If My PC Might Be Infected with Malware?
Data theft, file loss/corruption, system disruption, email/SMS spam, unauthorized popup ads and remote control. When your PC is infected by malware, these are some of the major risks you could be exposed to. Prevention is the best-case scenario. But no antivirus can guarantee 100 percent protection from malware. No antivirus can guarantee 100 percent protection from malware You must brace for instances when malware does seep through any defenses you may have. It’s vital that you know the … [Read more...]
May 9, 2022 By Computer Techs
How to Browse Privately if You Don’t Want Relentless Advertisements
Have you ever looked at a product on an e-commerce website and noticed that, later, an advertisement appears for that same product on another website? This is the work of advertising ‘cookies’ and other tracking tools, which monitor your online browsing activities to present you with relevant, targeted advertisements. This can be a great thing. Targeted advertisements can help you to discover new products and makes the browsing experience feel more personalized. In … [Read more...]
April 25, 2022 By Computer Techs
Avoid Online Surveys If You Don’t Want to Be Profiled
The next time you’re browsing on your computer, and you see a quiz on Facebook or another social media site that looks appealing, think before you click. With the political season back upon us, you need to be aware of how the data you share in these quizzes might be used. You might not think that a quiz about your favorite foods or personality type will be beneficial to political parties but, these days, you never know. Any data you share could ultimately be used for political … [Read more...]
April 11, 2022 By Computer Techs
What Is a QR Code Used For?
Updated 5/6/24: QR is an acronym for quick response – which makes sense as QR codes respond very quickly to requests to use them. Essentially, a QR code is a square-shaped barcode that you can scan with your smartphone to load a website, application or setting. It's quick and saves time vs. typing a long web address, searching for an app or setting, or typing a long password. QR codes can also be used to load phone numbers, passwordless login pages, and Wi-Fi details. In a restaurant your … [Read more...]