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 … [Read more...]
January 31, 2019 By Computer Techs
September 19, 2018 By Computer Techs
Is your smartphone or tablet slowing down? Closing your open apps could help.
If your smartphone or tablet is slowing down, closing your open apps could help speed it up. When you "close" most apps on a smartphone or tablet, it actually remains in memory running in the background. Over time you may have dozens of apps running in the background which can make it feel slower. Read the instructions in the articles below to close open apps. How to force an app to close on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch Find, open & close apps - Android Help … [Read more...]
May 28, 2018 By Computer Techs
FBI urges home users to reboot their routers to disrupt the spread of newly discovered malware
The FBI is urging owners of routers used in most homes and small offices perform a power-cycle (reboot) of their device to help disrupt the spread of a newly discovered malware targeting such devices. Vulnerable routers include popular devices from Netgear, Linksys, and TP-Link - however this is not a complete list. A reboot is done by unplugging the thin/black power cable from the rear of the router, waiting about 15 seconds, then plugging it back in. After a few minutes all of the lights on the front of the router should return to normal and your internet connection re-established. If you need help with rebooting your router, call your internet service provider at the phone number … [Read more...]
May 15, 2018 By Computer Techs
Is it time to replace your Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi enables you to use your computing devices wirelessly throughout your home. If your Wi-Fi router or internet gateway (provided by your internet provider) is over 5 years old, it’s time to replace it with newer, more secure technology. Over time security flaws have been found in the Wi-Fi protocol that’s used in all routers and gateways, and patches have been released as firmware updates for only the newest routers manufactured in the past few years. A benefit of replacing your Wi-Fi not only fixes current known security vulnerabilities, a new Wi-Fi router can increase the range, reliability and speed of your Wi-Fi connections. The latest mesh networking technology can blanket your … [Read more...]
April 17, 2018 By Computer Techs
How to find your lost or stolen mobile smartphone or tablet
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...]
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 sites. Fortunately there are a few solutions that will improve Wi-Fi and wireless cell coverage in the home and other small-to-medium size buildings where coverage is weak. Wi-Fi coverage In the past few … [Read more...]
November 8, 2016 By Computer Techs
How to manage your passwords – easily and safely
Updated June 2025: 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 information to gain access to other websites of value - such as your email, financial and shopping websites where you may have credit card information on file. … [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. Computer Techs recommends that you set-up 2-step verification now, as a pro-active preventative measure to keep hackers from accessing and/or taking over your email account. 2-step verification, (also … [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 logo prompts users to initiate the download, then receive a notification when the operating system upgrade is ready to be installed. However just because it's free doesn't mean that you should … [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" menu that is more like what Windows 7 had. It also brings back the Windows 7 Backup & Restore feature. New to Windows 10 is improved search capabilities, and a new voice powered virtual assistant, … [Read more...]