Computer Troubleshooters - Medway

Cold Calling Scam Continues

medway — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:19:56 +0000

I had a phone call today from a customer I haven’t spoken to in a while. They wanted some professional advice. They were getting calls from someone claiming to be from Microsoft telling them there was a problem with their PC. I was able to put their mind at rest and advised them to hang-up as soon as it happens again. If you need advice on PC security or any other matter related to computing then give your local computer troubleshooter a call. Local Service backed by Global Strength is more than a marketing tag.

Computer Virus Problems.

medway — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:03:06 +0000

A customer gave his daughter an Acer Laptop for Christmas. These come with an anti-virus pre-installed and he upgraded the subscription to one year. After using the laptop for one day it became infected with a fake anti-virus trojan called Security Shield. He phoned the anti-virus company and after a wait he got an incident number. He phoned again (remember he had a years subscription for their product) and waited patiently until he could talk to someone who could help. They tried a few things, gave him a new incident number, and then said they would have to charge for further technical support. Surely as a paid up subscriber he should have got this support for free! What is more he paid for a service that didn’t work as it failed to prevent the infection or remove it or even recognise it was there! So how bad is that??? After removing the infection I will be advising him to try for his money back and a switch to the security system we recommend. Otherwise I can see this scenario being repeated.

Another type of virus to watch out for is called ransom-ware and there is a particularly nasty one about which claims to be from the Metropolitan and Strathclyde police. It locks the computer, says it has detected Illegal Activity, and if you don’t pay up you are in big trouble. Further details can be found at http://blogs.technet.com/b/mmpc/archive/2011/12/19/disorderly-conduct-localized-malware-impersonates-the-police.aspx

If you have a virus problem, or want advice on the best way to protect your home, business or portable devices then call Computer Troubleshooters – Medway.

We wish all our readers a Happy New Year !

Microsoft Windows 8 to Drop Support for Flash on Tablets

medway — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 13:17:02 +0000

Windows 8 tablet machines will not support plug-ins like Flash. This is because it uses a new touch browsing interface called Metro. Flash will still be supported on normal desktop Windows 8. The move follows Apple who do not have Flash on their ipad tablets. Adobe Flash is easily the most common browser plug-in and is used to allow media rich web pages and interactive web sites. Microsoft argue that the new Metro interface works in a different way and not allowing plug-ins will keep it running efficiently. Plug-ins are often the cause of browser failures. More on this story can be found on the BBC technology pages here.

Troubleshooting web browser problems is one of our common tasks, and we normally reset Internet Explorer back to its default settings and uninstall toolbars and “browser helper objects”.

The death of E-mail ???

medway — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:00:01 +0000

I have been hearing a lot just lately about the death of email. The argument is that people are switching to more instant forms of communication such as mobile instant messaging like that one on the blackberry. Corporates are banning internal emails and using tools like Office Communicator. Email still suffers from huge amounts of SPAM (80% + ) and is no longer a productive or efficient method of communication. In fact it’s not so much a way of communication as a marketing tool. How many firms are now using email to inform customers of deals, discounts, special offers and so on? Its become a different thing, a monster consuming our in-boxes and eating up our time and hard drives. I remember when email was text based only, when you had to send a command to your modem to see if it had a dialling tone and another at the end of the message to tell it to hang-up the line. I like email because unlike the telephone you dont have to respond at the same time. I can catch up with my emails first thing in the morning, but instant messaging, by definition, requires instant response. Email leaves a paper trail. Some people still print out and store emails in strange looking devices called filing cabinets.Where would we be if emails couldn’t be hacked into, leaked or presnted as damning evidence in the High Court or Public Enquiry? I like email but I do see that it has become cumbersome, especially when people want it with them wherever they go. So I am coming round to the realisation that old friends like POP3 or IMAP have to be ditched. Its web based email for me from now on but I will leave the Instant Messaging to the facebook twitterati.

If you want to know more about a Hosted Email server or other options for business communication then why not give us a call. You can even send an email or get in touch through the contact form on our web site.

Cold Calling Scammers

medway — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 08:49:58 +0000

A number of our customers have fallen victim to the fake “Microsoft” callers who tell them they have serious issues with their PC. This is not new and we were warning people of this two years ago. Indeed the local press carried an article we wrote alerting local people to the scam. Instead of going away it seems to have got a lot worse. Even the BBC technology reporter Rory something Jones was called up by them and he recorded the conversation for his blog. That might be funny but the reality is not because a lot of vulnerable people are being caught out. The going rate seems to be about £75.00 for the “fix” but then you have a problem with ID theft and the malware they leave behind. If you report the scam to Trading Standards they say they can do nothing because the fraudsters are in another country. True. If you report it to the police they say the same thing. Being on the Caller Preference List to stop cold calling doesn’t work for the same reason. Is it possible to identify the source of these calls and block them at a telephone network level? There must be something that can be done to stop this. It is also giving the legitimate IT support industry a bad name as remote support sessions and constant monitoring get mixed up in the public mind with these underhand and crooked catch-penny traps.

If you think you have fallen victim to this scam, or want advice on computer security issues then please call Computer Troubleshooters Medway on 01634 867800.

Online Backup

medway — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:06:21 +0000

Many people today are using computers at home, at work and while on the move. Devices often contain important information relating to both their owners personal and business life. With greater use and mobility has come an increase in the likelihood of damage, loss or theft. The need for a flexible and reliable backup system has never been greater.

In the past the backing up of data, particularly for businesses, involved complicated routines and the operating of tape or disk systems. It relied on human intervention, someone had to remember to change the media or make the backup. The tapes and disks had to catalogued, rotated and archived. If data needed to be restored someone had to know where that data was and how to get it back.

Today many businesses and home users use external or network attached storage to provide their backup safety-net. However they often overlook the fact that these drives can also break down. They are often kept in close proximity to the computers they protect, and in the event of a fire, flood or theft they will not be able to recover their vitally important data because the backup system has been lost as well.

Online backup is the answer and Computer Troubleshooters offer a system that overcomes all of the above problems. Firstly it is cheap (and becoming cheaper) relative to hard drive based solutions. Once setup it is automatic and works in the background. The restoration of lost data, folder or file, is quick and easy. Data is copied to a secure data centre within the UK and is encrypted to maintain security and privacy requirements. We monitor the backup constantly and can tell if any errors occur or if the backup has failed to run.

Online backup is fast becoming the method of choice for both Home and Business customers. Our service costs only £4.95 per month (inc VAT!) and is suitable for most clients.

Can the Internet Improve your Business?

medway — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:57:37 +0000

Our newsletter this month discusses some of the aspects of using the Internet to improve your business. Cloud Computing Soilutions can allow file and data sharing between your employess, your suppliers or your customers. E-mail can be used as a marketing tool as well as an efficient method of communication. If you are still unsure about these areas have a read of our newsletter at http://www.ct-medway.co.uk/november-news/ and to learn more contact us on 01634 867800

Avoid Internet based Hoaxes

medway — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:42:18 +0000

This month our newsletter gives sound advice on avoiding hoaxes and scams that come via e-mail, internet or phone. Even people who think they are not easily fooled have become victims to some of these criminal schemes. http://ct-medway.co.uk/october-newsletter/

Running a Business from Home

medway — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:12:19 +0000

Our newsletter this month focuses on the technology needed to run a business from home. We look at the type of equipment needed and how it can improve productivity, record keeping and marketing. A successful business requires a successful IT strategy, and thats where Computer Troubleshooters can help. To find out more read our July Newsletter .

Security Audit Tool

medway — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 11:25:05 +0000

Keeping your business and information safe means far more than software alone. By understanding the threats and how they are relevant to you – you can get the level of protection that’s right for the way you work. Complete your security audit now and receive a tailored IT security action plan covering people, policy and technology. The security audit tool can be found here.