With a new year comes new ways for hackers to attempt to gain access to your personal information and data, and 2016 is no different. Actually, 2016 is foreseen to have the most frequent cases of the most malicious viruses ever: ransomware. Security Magazine predicts ransomware attacks to grow this year because “greater numbers of inexperienced cybercriminals will leverage ransomware-as-a-service offerings which could further accelerate the growth of ransomware.”
Ransomware is a virus that stops you from using your PC, and holds your PC or files for ransom. Some versions are called “FBI Moneypak” or the “FBI virus” because they use the FBI’s logos to trick people into sending the hacker money. The virus will often claim you have done something illegal with your PC and you will be fined by your local or federal government agency. Obviously the claims are false, but if you pay the fine to the supposed agency, then there is no guarantee that paying the fine will give you access to your PC or files again. Here is an example of a page that may pop up to convince you that you are paying the government for your illegal actions:
The virus can prevent you from accessing Windows, encrypt your files so you can’t access or use them, and stop certain apps, such as your web browser, from running. The hacker will demand you to do something to regain access to your PC or files; it is usually to send them money in the form of BitCoins over the internet or a MoneyPak. Ransomware has been known to charge over $1500 to give your data back, but of course that is not always the result of this expensive transaction.
A family of these ransomware viruses is called FakeBsod. FakeBsod uses a malicious piece of JavaScript code to lock your web browser and show a fake warning message when you visit a compromised webpage. The message says to “contact Microsoft technicians” because of an “Error 333 Registry Failure of operating system” on a blue screen. If you call the number shown on the blue screen, you will be asked to pay money to “fix” the issue. This is an example of the fake warning message:
After the ransom note has been displayed, the virus begins encrypting files. When a file is encrypted, the ransomware generates a key for each file that only the hacker knows. This means that the hacker holds your files hostage paying the ransom is no easy feat and there is a good chance that after you empty your wallet, your files may still be irretrievable.
Unfortunately there is no easy or guaranteed solution to restore a PC or its files after they have been infected with a ransomware virus. However, there are some steps you can take to protect your data from it:
Back up your data regularly. Simply putting your most important files on a $10 thumb drive from Staples could save you hundreds of dollars in the event of a ransomware infection.
Verify email sources. Many virus infections come from emails, so make sure you check the sender’s email address before opening any link or downloading anything from your email. Even if it seems enticing, don’t do it!
Bookmark websites. Bookmarking your frequently visited and trusted websites can prevent you from visiting a malicious website by accidentally typing the wrong web address.
Update your security software. Update any antivirus or security software you may have to provide an extra layer of protection for the latest ransomware viruses.
Use specialized software to block encryption viruses. Computer Doctor can install specialized software to help protect you from this specific attack.
Hopefully you will be lucky enough to avoid these harmful and cruel viruses and you take the necessary precautions to protect your valuable data. In the horrible event that you believe your computer is infected with ransomware, please call the Computer Doctor at 862-7019 as soon as possible! The sooner you catch the infection, the more likely it is that your information can be retrieved. The Computer Doctor has dealt with ransomware countless times and is the best resource in the area to return your PC and files back to you— without encryption and at a much better price! He has a customized and tiered approach to ransomware. For your own specialized software to prevent a horrific infection, look at our Crypto Innoculation page!
Come see us at 50 Main Road North in Hampden, in the same building at River Town Family Eye Care. You can call us at 862-7019 if you have any questions! We also do Remote Support Sessions as well as House Calls. If you bring in your computer for a virus removal, mention this article until February 15 and receive 10% off!
We want to wish you a Merry Christmas from us at the Computer Doctor! We appreciate all your support and want to thank you for your continued business!
If you or anyone you know is going to receive a new computer or laptop this holiday, then we suggest letting that person know about the default privacy settings in new Windows 10 systems. If you are part of the minority of people who read the Privacy Statements or Terms of Service Agreements, then you probably already know about the lack of privacy in Windows 10. However, if you are part of the majority who doesn’t read them, we’ll let you know what to look out for on your new computer!
You would be surprised by the amount of personal information Windows 10 collects from its users—information including phone numbers, GPS location, credit card numbers, and even video and audio messages. All of this collection of data is outlined in the Privacy Statement that you would most likely agree to without reading (because who has the time to read the whole thing anyway?!).
Microsoft goes through 3 ways to use your personal data: “(1) to operate our business and provide (including improving and personalizing) the services we offer, (2) to send communications, including promotional communications, and (3) to display advertising.”
“To operate our business…” essentially means that the Microsoft applications that you use require your personal information to operate. For example, the application Maps needs your location to assist you properly. However, Maps is not the only application to use your location. Cortana, (the Windows equivalent to Siri), also uses your location and the only way to prevent that from happening is to not use Cortana at all. Microsoft also collects data to improve applications and try to fix any bugs, but this also means they track your usage of these applications. For instance, if you are using Microsoft Office and it crashes, then Microsoft will be able to see all of your documents that were open during the crash.
“To send communications…” means that Microsoft needs to make sure it can reach you if the primary means of communication fails. Microsoft discloses in the Privacy Statement that it collects your phone number, email, and mailing address; but claims that it uses this information to send promotions— and also to share with Microsoft partners. Click here to manage these communications.
“To display advertising.” is similar to the tracking that Facebook and Google uses to sell ads. Microsoft generates revenue from ads and sells demographic information to third-party advertisers. You even have your own advertising ID for your interest-based advertisements. You can choose to opt-out of these interest-based ads, but it won’t prevent data collection or less ads. If you don’t want to be tracked on the internet or if you want less ads, then we recommend installing this free extension for your browser.
To protect your personal information and data, then go to your privacy settings by clicking Start, then Settings, then Privacy. From there you can change how your computer uses your information from your location, microphone, camera, etc. You might also want to click on Feedback & Diagnostics and change the Feedback Frequency to “never” and Diagnostic and Usage Data to “basic” to prevent Microsoft from gathering random information.
If you are concerned about your private information, then you should not create a Microsoft account at start up. By not creating an account, your activity and information will be local to your computer and won’t be sent to Microsoft to further piece together your identity. To delete or mange your Microsoft account, go to Settings, then Accounts, then Your Account.
Your privacy is also at stake when you are using the internet. Microsoft Edge, (the new version of Internet Explorer), sends your internet browsing history to Microsoft to improve Cortana. To prevent the sharing of your browsing history in the settings for Microsoft Edge, go to Advanced Settings, then click View Advanced Settings, and under Privacy and Services turn off “Have Cortana Assist Me in Microsoft Edge.” And while you’re at it, back in the Privacy and Services menu turn off “use page prediction to speed up browsing, improve reading, and make my overall experience better.”
Cortana seems to be one of the most intrusive components of Windows 10 because she has to gather so much information from you. She collects anything from location, to contacts, to even speech and handwriting data. And all your interactions with Cortana are stored in the cloud. If you are suspicious about the data Cortana collects from you, you can adjust your settings and clear your data that she has learned from you.
While Windows 10 is very customizable and has a lot of neat features, there are some security aspects that could be concerning. At Computer Doctor, we want to protect you and make sure all your personal information is safe.
If you are worried about your privacy or need assistance in setting up your new Windows 10 computer, please give us a call at 862-7019! You can also stop in at 50 Main Road North in Hampden or come to Reboot Computer Services at 88 South Main Street in Brewer.
Merry Christmas and take 25% off any service if you come see us and mention this article before January 25!
No matter what type of shopper you are– the early bird who has everything wrapped up before Thanksgiving, or the mad-dasher that goes to grab everything the night before, it is easy to lose track of everybody on your gift list. There is the challenge of making sure that nobody gets the same present twice, especially if the same lists are circulated throughout your family. Here are a few tech tools that you can use to organize your holiday gift giving.
Keeping track of what you want to get for somebody, or what you have already purchased for others is challenging, particularly in large families. What good is planning ahead if you forget what you bought and where you hid it last month? How can you really keep your budget in mind when you are just wandering the store shelves aimlessly buying random gifts? If you have an iOS device, you can get the Santa’s Bag app. This gift giving app helps keep track of what everyone wants, how many gifts you have bought for each person, how much money remains in your budget, and even whether or not you have wrapped the gifts yet. You can add recipients as you go, as well as input what they want or what you think they want into a “gifts and ideas” list. You can set a certain budget for each gift recipient, sort out what store you will be buying the gift from, and set the status of wrapped or unwrapped, and add a gift location so that you don’t forget where you hide it!
A great gift giving app for those who do not have iPhones is the Christmas Gift List for Android. This app tracks ideas for what you want to get each person. The Christmas Gift List app also has quick click icons that let you update the status to bought, or from unwrapped to wrapped. Much like Santa’s bag, you can set personal budgets for each recipient- and see how many gifts you still need to buy at a glance. There is additional room for notes about each gift such as how you wrapped it, how large it is, and what color it is. This app is great for keeping you on top of your holiday gift giving.
The apps mentioned above are great for staying on track of your own gifts, but for those who need to coordinate with friends and family to avoid gift overlap, consider using Google Sheets. Google Sheets will help you form a complete gift giving spreadsheet, with each recipient having their own tab. The only downfall of this system is that users will
be able to see when a gift from their list has been crossed off. The best thing about Google Sheets is that it is free and can be accessed from any device that has an internet connection. All you need is a Gmail account, and family members can see who has added what. As soon as an item is purchased, it can be removed from the wish list so that no item is gifted twice. Although Google Sheets was designed to be more of a tool for school or business, it is surprisingly effective for use as a gift giving organizer.
Of course, there are some families that are spreadsheet challenged. For those families, there are several online wish lists that are good for beginners. MyRegistry allows you to add gifts from any online store, as well as sync any existing registries you may have at places like Amazon, Target, Walmart, Macy’s, and more. You can also use the smartphone app to scan bar codes of items that you find in physical stores. After you have compiled your list, you can share it on social media, a custom link, or allow people to search for it using your name. People with whom you have shared your list can update an item to show you when it is purchased. If every member of your family signs up for a MyRegistry account, everybody gets what they want and nobody ends up with three of the same gifts. MyRegistry is probably the most comprehensive tool for organizing your gift giving, but it does not work unless everybody is on board.
No matter how many people are on your holiday shopping list, staying organized can be a challenge. When it comes to gift giving, it is best to stay on top of things and not wait until the last minute, but no matter what your holiday shopping approach is, these tech tools will surely help organize your gift giving.
At the Computer Doctor, we can help you give the best gifts to your loved ones. We have an iMac in the shop, as well as two laptops ready to go– one of which is touchscreen! A newly refurbished computer by a certified and trustworthy technician is the perfect present to give this season.
Call us at 862-7019 or stop by and visit us at 50 Main Rd N in Suite B in Hampden, ME to check out our selection! If you mention this article, you will even receive 15% off!
With a couple days still to go until one of the biggest shopping days of the year, a mixture of leaks and early announcements have revealed the best product deals at some of the biggest retail chains!
DealNews performed a study from Black Friday Season 2014 to help you score the best deals for anything you are looking to buy!
Because of the Blue law in Maine, almost all businesses must be closed on Thanksgiving Day, particularly the big department stores.
This means that the DealNews Editors’ Choices that vote in favor of deals on Thanksgiving Day won’t apply to us Mainers.
As of now, not very many sales have been advertised for Cyber Monday. But as a general rule, Cyber Monday is a tech-holiday for tech-minded people.
Fortunately, Amazon has announced some of its deals for Cyber Monday. The announced deals are primarily Amazon-exclusive products, such as various Kindle models and a year of the Amazon Cloud Drive storage.
The official Amazon Cyber Monday Deals hub has some limited-time offers that are going on right now which is definitely something to check out if you’re hunting for the best deal on a specific product!
A lot of deals on Cyber Monday will already have a certain percentage taken off of the full retail price, but I have found that most websites will also accept additional coupon codes for you to get an even better deal.
Here are some Apple coupon codes to redeem on the Apple store website, while RetailMeNot is my personal favorite website for finding more coupon codes to redeem on nearly any retail website.
To get the best deal for Apple products, try not to purchase them directly from the Apple Store, even if you use a coupon code. Purchasing from a department store will actually save you an average of $36 on any given iPad on any given day– not even including Black Friday or Cyber Monday! The same can be said for other Apple products as well, but this site has presented the savings data for iPads as of April 2015.
There are a few ways you can get the best deal for the Apple product you are looking to buy, and that usually means taking the time to research when and where you need to be to get it! Here is a basic breakdown of Apple deals this coming Friday.
Best Deals for iPads this Black Friday 2015:
iPad Air 2: The 16 GB is $399 at Best Buy and Walmart or $374 at Staples.
The 64 GB is $499 at Best Buy or $449 at Staples.
If either size is bought at Target, you will receive a $150 gift card with the full purchase price.
iPad Air: At Staples, the 16 GB is $319 and the 32 GB is $359.
If either size is bought at Target, you will receive a $100 gift card with the full purchase price.
iPad Mini 4: The 16 GB is $299 at Staples. At Best Buy, the 64 GB is $399 and the 128 GB is $499.
If any size is bought at Target, you will receive a $100 gift card with the full purchase price.
iPad Mini 2: The 16 GB is $239 at Staples or $199 at Walmart. If bought at Target, you will receive an $80 gift card with the full purchase price.
Best Deals for Apple Watches this Black Friday 2015:
Best Buy claims you can save up to $100 on Apple Watches, with the regular price $349-$699.
Target will give you a $100 gift card with any Apple Watch purchase.
Best Deals for iPhones this Black Friday 2015:
At Target, you will receive a $250 gift card with $0 down for an iPhone 6s or 6s Plus installment plan.
Or, for those that are eligible for 2 year contracts with Verizon or Sprint, you get $50 off the 16 GB iPhone 6s or 6s Plus (now $150 and $250 respectively).
At Walmart, you get $100 off any iPhone as well as a $100 Black Friday Gift Card.
Apple Macbook and iMac deals are a bit harder to come by. Best Buy’s Black Friday ad claims you can save $200 on a brand-new Macbook Pro or an iMac, making them $900 each. However, to get an even better deal on an iMac, stop by the Computer Doctor at 50 Main Rd N in Hampden to check out our $650 21-inch iMac.
Our technician refurbished iMac in the store has similar specifications to the advertised Best Buy one– with 1 huge exception: our iMac has a blazing fast Solid State Hard Drive. In addition to the obvious computer speed difference, our iMac will also have a full 6-month warranty following the purchase and you can expect nothing but the best technical support from the Computer Doctor for the entire computer’s lifetime.
Call us at 862-7019 or stop by our store to get the best deal on computers this holiday season. Even receive 25% off any purchase if you mention this article before December 25!
We have all experienced that frustrating moment when Netflix suddenly stops loading and the room goes silent. For some reason, the WiFi signal dropped again, and the binge watching is put on hold until this annoying issue is fixed. Sometimes, just walking a bit closer to your router will revive your program, but what about those of us who believe WiFi should be everywhere and we should not have to walk a foot to access it? Routers often do not get as much attention as they deserve, which is why we put together a few recommendations for how to improve WiFi signal. From a simple solution like changing the location of your router, to a more high tech option like a high-range antenna or signal repeater, there are ways to ensure your WiFi signal reaches every corner of your home.
The first step in improving WiFi signal is to make sure your router is set to the proper settings. Some older routers still support 802.11g or 802.11n. 802.11ac is now much speedier and has been available since January 2014. Older technologies will likely slow down internet speeds. This can be checked in your router settings, and if you do not see an 802.11ac option on a router you have rented from your service provider, contact them immediately and request an equipment upgrade. A simple solution for how to improve WiFi signal is to put a password on your network to lock out any unwanted users. The fewer devices on a network, the faster the connection will be. Once you have confirmed that you are using the “ac” option and have set a network password, the next tip for how to improve WiFi signal is to physically move your router to a more centralized location.
Most of us install our routers and set them up, then leave them in a corner or a cabinet until they have an issue. Some of the best advice for people who ask how to improve WiFi signal is to put your router near the middle of your home so that its signal can reach all areas. A relatively good place to keep your router is behind the television in your living room. If you have a two story home, be sure that the router is near the ceiling if placed on the first floor and near the floor if it is on the second floor; this way both floors will have more even coverage. Although walls and barriers do weaken the signal from a router, interfering signals can have a much larger impact. Be sure to check for interfering devices such as baby monitors, Bluetooth devices, cordless phones, and microwaves. The signals put out by these devices can weaken the WiFi signal from your router drastically.
Another recommendation for how to improve WiFi signal is to use a dual bandwidth router. Most electronic devices run on a 2.4Ghz band, which means that interference will come from all of the devices on this bandwidth. If you can, switch your router to use the 5.0Ghz band, as it will be less crowded and offer less resistance. If replacing your router seems like a step too far, we have a few alternatives for how to improve your WiFi signal with simple additions to your router.
We have discussed ways to improve your WiFi signal, but what about range? By adding a high-range antenna to your router, the perimeter that is reached by your WiFi signal will increase, meaning that those troublesome corners of your house can once again become WiFi hot spots. Most routers have external antennas that can be unscrewed and replaced; we have done research and this antenna seems to be the best value. But, if your router does not have an antenna, consider investing in a network repeater or range extender. Netgear’s EX3700 WiFi Range Extender costs about $60 and is very easy to use. Simply plug it into an outlet and it is capable of transferring speeds over dual bandwidths up to 750MBps. Adding an antenna or extender is a great answer to how to improve WiFi signal without adjusting any router settings or getting a new router altogether.
If you are hesitant to perform any of these upgrades or changes on your own, feel free to call us at 862-7019, or click on Request Service on our website to connect directly with our technician. If you are struggling with how to improve WiFi signal in your home, don’t fret, just give us a call and we can get your network roaring in every corner of your home or office. Don’t bother dealing with your internet provider who will leave you on hold for hours only to tell you to try turning your router off and on again; get real help from the real Computer Doctor!
We are located at 50 Main Road North in Hampden, Maine. If you mention this article, you will receive 10% any at-home service!
You’re scrolling your Facebook feed and checking your email when you remember you left those cookies in the oven! You set your laptop down on the couch and run to the kitchen. Your trusty golden retriever follows you everywhere, so when you run off the couch, he follows! But his excitement moves your laptop just enough to slide off of the couch and land sideways on your hardwood floor.
Ouch!
It isn’t until you go back into the living room to gingerly inspect your laptop for damage. You open it up and see the devastation that has occurred– the display has lines everywhere in all different colors and keeps flickering, not to mention the crack that is spreading across the screen.
Does this sound similar to a situation you’ve been in? We understand how hard it is to look at your beloved laptop and see a shattered screen or a rainbow of colors that shouldn’t be there.
The Computer Doctor can help you! There are two highly skilled technicians in the shop that will remove the broken screenn right now and install a brand new one for you. The parts we use are the highest quality; this means your new screen won’t be flimsy and easy to break. It will be the same quality as the screen you received with your laptop originally or higher!
We often find ourselves fixing the mistakes of others. Many repair shops don’t have technicians that have the experience and training we have, so they are fixing devices without the skills required to do a competent repair. What ends up happening is that those devices develop problems after the repair, and often the screens they install can be of inferior quality and can easily crack. I don’t think there is anyone that would want that to happen after just getting their laptop repaired.
At the Computer Doctor, we specialize in all types of computer repairs. Computer Doctor is a full service repair center; we repair hardware and software ailments on all brands of PC’s as well as the full range of Apple products, from iMac’s to iPod’s. We have you covered!
We are located at 50 Main Road North in Hampden, Maine; across the street from the Circle K in the same building as Rivertown Family Eye Care. You can also call us anytime at (207) 862-7019.
Mention this article and receive an additional 5% off your screen replacement for any device until December 9, 2015!
Although Macs are well known for their dependability and relative long life, they can still get bogged down and benefit from . Here are some services we can do for your iMac, MacBook, or even Mac Mini to prolong it’s useful life.
Memory Upgrade
It is very common for a laptop or computer to only have 4GB of RAM. If you upgrade to 8GB of RAM, that would be comfortable for most people’s computers and would noticeably speed up your Mac. If you need storage for huge amounts of data, such as video editing or graphic design, then 16GB would be ideal— but that would be too much unnecessary space for your thousands of pictures from vacation or a few videos of your children blowing out candles on their birthdays!
Hard Drive Replacement
A Solid State Hard Drive will revolutionize your experience on your Mac. It will feel much more responsive, and even if you have a small amount of memory, swapping to a Solid State Hard Drive will also help because an SSD is especially fast at the transfer of data from the memory to the hard drive— much faster than an ordinary hard drive. An SSD is nearly 100x faster than an ordinary hard drive, and can even extend the battery life in a laptop as well!
Solid State Hard Drives have no moving parts, so they are much more reliable because over time the ordinary hard drive parts will wear down and fail with use. SSDs also generate no noise and significantly less heat than an ordinary hard drive does.
Utilize Your Additional Storage Options
Computers perform badly when their main storage drive is full. A common rule is to leave at least 10 % of your drive free—so consider adding additional storage and offloading files you don’t use often to it. This might be external storage, such as a USB flash drive or external hard drive. Getting those extra files that you don’t need on-hand off of your hard drive will free up some extra space and make your computer run more efficiently.
Update your Operating System
It is highly recommended to install the latest Operating System on your Mac for the increased security and features. Technologies such as App Nap— a feature that pauses apps not being used and reduces power usage— and compressed memory in OS X 10.10 Yosemite can actually improve performance on weaker hardware, such as your original hard drive.
Updating your Operating System can be tricky. The newest version of OS X for Mac is El Capitan, but we have seen some issues with completing the upgrade and computers not rebooting quickly afterward. If you tried to update your operating system and there was a problem with the install, then we encourage you to bring your Mac to us to get it back on track. If you bring your computer in to the Computer Doctor in Hampden for us to update your operating system, then you will receive $10 off if you mention this article!
The benefits to updating your OS X definitely outweigh the drawbacks— that is, if you have a newer Mac. If your Mac model is older than 2008, then it might not be the best idea to update it to the newest operating system. We’ve heard horror stories of older Macs completely grinding to a halt under the strain of the new OS X, and there’s definitely a danger with older Macs that newer operating systems will demand too much. At the Computer Doctor, we have every Mac operating system since Snow Leopard came out in 2009. We can install any of the operating systems that have come out in the past 6 years directly onto your Mac, and we will advise you which one would be the most efficient for your computer.
Apple has produced a line of outstanding products, and at the Computer Doctor we have found Macs to run better, quicker, and be more dependable than other brands of computers. If you bring in any Mac computer, laptop, or mini on or before November 28, 2015, then you will receive 10% off any service if you mention this article!
Come see us at 50 Main Road North in Hampden, Maine; across the street from the Circle K in the same building as Rivertown Family Eye Care. You can also call us anytime at (207) 862-7019.
Viruses and malware take advantage of any gaps in security your computer might have. The Computer Doctor of Hampden has years of experience in getting rid of viruses; and although he doesn’t have a prescription pad for your computer’s virus, he does have some tips to prevent it from getting infected.
Keep your Installed Programs Updated
Viruses and malware can slip right past antivirus programs and infect computers via outdated and unsecure programs you already have installed. Java and Adobe Flash and Reader are programs that have been known to lack security features. If you don’t use some of the programs you have installed on your computer, then uninstalling them will minimize the safety threat. However, we are not encouraging you to get rid of the programs you use, we are just advising you to update all your programs frequently.
To make sure your programs are always updated, Secunia Personal Software Inspector will automatically update unsecure programs to maintain protection for free, as well as limit the countless pop-ups and notifications of the new updates.
Be Careful with the Programs you Install
Viruses disguise behind programs and applications you think are safe so you install or run them. These are the most common ways to contract viruses, but can be easily prevented by being especially careful and using common sense.
These are the easiest ways to avoid unknowingly installing viruses:
Never open emails from unknown senders, especially messages with intriguing subjects!
Avoid visiting unsafe websites. Websites that begin with https:// and the lock icon are secure. Otherwise, get off of that site quickly!
Use strong passwords and have a few different passwords for different websites.
NEVER provide sensitive information by email, even if you think you know the recipient. If your bank is asking for your account or personal details via email, give them a ring just to make sure it’s actually them.
Keep your Operating System Updated
Just like viruses and malware use outdated and unsecure programs to infect your computer, they can use your operating system security vulnerabilities. Make sure you have the latest security patches and Service Packs installed to prevent viruses from getting into your system.
Use and Update your Antivirus Software
At the Computer Doctor, we highly recommend Avast Pro Antivirus. If you have brought your computer in with a virus, it is very likely we have already installed Avast on your computer! Avast has automatic software updates similar to Secunia, and scans your network for security threats to help prevent attacks to your router and network, and therefore, your computer. It has maximum financial security for banking and paying bills as well, and we have found it to be the most effective protection for your computer.
If your computer has a virus, we will gladly take in any infected computers or laptops and try our best to make it healthy again. He is the Computer Doctor for a reason!
If you bring in your device to the Computer Doctor before November 16 and mention this article, you will receive $5 off any service or 10% off a virus removal with tune up!
We’re located at 50 Main Road North in Hampden, Maine; across the street from the Circle K in the same building as Rivertown Family Eye Care. You can call us anytime at (207) 862-7019.
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There are many factors that affect the speed of your computer. If you find yourself getting extremely frustrated with the (what seems like) long hours to simply log on to your email, then we have some tips for you to try.
1. Reboot Your Computer
A reboot is when a working computer system is restarting. Try not to do a “cold” reboot, when you would unplug the power or physically press the power button, because it could cause some damage. If possible, do a “warm” reboot by choosing the turn off or restart option in the start menu. In either situation, please do not actually kick your computer.
2. Close Background Programs
Open your Task Manager to see what programs are running in the background and close them if they are not necessary. If there is an antivirus scanner or spyware protection program running, then wait for the scan to complete before you close the program.
3. Delete Temp Files
Temporary files are stored on the hard drive as a computer runs programs, but it can also take up space. Use the Windows Disk Cleanup utility to delete temporary files.
4. Free Hard Drive Space
Check to see that you have at least 200-500 MB of free hard drive space. Click on either Computer or This PC on the desktop to see a small percentage bar of how much disk space is being used on your hard drive. If you need more space, it might be time to delete all those blurry photos from vacation last summer.
5. Bad, Corrupted, or Fragmented Hard Drive
Run ScanDisk to verify there is nothing physically wrong with the hard drive, or Defrag to ensure data is arranged on the hard drive in the most efficient way.
6. Scan for Malware
Spyware and malware can slow down a computer. Even if an antivirus scanner is installed on the computer, it is recommended you run an additional malware scan, such as the free version of Malwarebytes.
7. Scan for Viruses
If your computer is infected with a virus, it can cause your computer to run very slow. If you do not have an antivirus program installed, it is highly recommended you purchase one.
We install Avast Security on most devices infected with viruses that are brought in to the Computer Doctor, and have found that program to be the most efficient.
If you do believe you have a virus, we encourage you to bring your computer to us; we are the onlydoctor in the Bangor Area to get rid of these types of viruses.
8. Update Windows and Internet Browsers
Make sure you have the latest Windows updates installed on your computer by checking online.
If your computer is especially slow on the internet, make sure all browser plugins are up-to-date.
In Internet Explorer and Firefox, browser plugins are called add-ons. In the menu bar, select Tools > Add-ons. A list should pop up of the currently installed add-ons or plugins.
In Google Chrome, plugins are called extensions. Click on the wrench in the upper right-hand corner of the browser, and navigate to Tools > Extensions. You should see a list of the currently installed extensions.
Make sure all plugins are up to date, and try to disable any that you don’t use often.
9. Upgrade Memory
If you have had your computer for more than 2 years, you may need more memory, or RAM. At the Computer Doctor, we can increase your computer’s RAM quickly and easily.
10. Clean Out the Dust
If your computer is overheating, the processor speed will automatically be reduced to help compensate for the heat. Dust, dirt, and hard constrict proper airflow inside your computer. If you have a computer case on, make sure it is clean and the fans are not obstructed.
11. It’s Time to Buy a New One
If your computer is more than 5 years old, simply the age could be slowing it down. Newer software programs are optimized for newer computers, and older computers are not able to perform as well.
At the Computer Doctor, we can assist you in all your computer needs. If your computer is frustratingly slow and you have seriously considered hitting it with a hammer…
Please don’t!
Just bring it down to us and we’ll get it back up to speed!
We’re located at 50 Main Road North in Hampden, Maine. Across the street from the Circle K in the same building as Rivertown Family Eye Care. You can call us anytime at (207) 862-7019. If you mention this article, you will receive 10% off any service until November 7!
For years we have been recommending leaving AOL and Yahoo behind, initially do to their poor spam control and the abundance of ads they subject you to. We also see many yahoo email accounts being hacked and AOL is not much better. Lets face it if you have an AOL email address your are officially 2000 and late…
The horrifying and yes horrifying is the right word, outcome of this inundation of ads by these providers is the lack of policing of the content, now the worst virus for home and business users alike is spreading like wildfire.
CryptoWall V2.0 now uses poisoned ads on dozens of major sites like Yahoo, AOL and Match.com to infect networks. Malicious ads are nothing new in themselves, but second-gen ransomware using them is worrisome
Reports show that the sites themselves were not compromised; rather, the advertising networks upon which they relied for dynamic content were inadvertently serving malware. This means a so-called drive-by-download where the user does not have to click on anything. Up to now, CryptoWall was spread via spam with infected email attachments and download links sent by the Cutwail botnet.
The website visitors hit by this malvertising are people who run unpatched versions of Adobe Flash. The poisoned ads silently ‘pull in’ malicious exploits from the FlashPack Exploit Kit, hence the “drive-by-downloads”.
According to security researchers at Dell SecureWorks, more than 830,000 victims worldwide have been infected with ransomware, a 25% increase in infections since late August when there were 625,000 victims.
The first ransom usually has a deadline of 4-7 days and demands about $500. Even the bad guys understand it’s not always easy to get your hands on Bitcoins quickly. But when this first deadline is not made, the ransom doubles to roughly $1,000, depending on Bitcoin exchange rates.
Counting the ransom payments to CryptoWall’s Bitcoin addresses, Proofpoint estimates that the attackers make $25,000 per day. Recent data taken directly from the CryptoWall ransom payment server shows since August 2014 an additional 205,000 new victims have been claimed.
Want to know how well your practice or business is protected from todays’ and tomorrows’ ever evolving threats?
Let us provide your small business with a comprehensive security and threat assessment and get your security holes patched and vulnerable software updated.
Additionally we can install our CryptoInoculator software to help stop this virus before it infects your home or business network and causes irreparable damage to your pictures, documents, spreadsheets etc.
Below is some excellent information provided by the US Department of Homeland Security US-CERT Security TIP. Although this post from the Computer Doctor of Maine ...
We have all experienced that frustrating moment when Netflix suddenly stops loading and the room goes silent. For some reason, the WiFi signal dropped again, an...
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internet connection. All you need is a Gmail account, and family members can see who has added what. As soon as an item is purchased, it can be removed from the wish list so that no item is gifted twice. Although Google Sheets was designed to be more of a tool for school or business, it is surprisingly effective for use as a gift giving organizer.
your list can update an item to show you when it is purchased. If every member of your family signs up for a MyRegistry account, everybody gets what they want and nobody ends up with three of the same gifts. MyRegistry is probably the most comprehensive tool for organizing your gift giving, but it does not work unless everybody is on board.
Memory Upgrade
A Solid State Hard Drive will revolutionize your experience on your Mac. It will feel much more responsive, and even if you have a small amount of memory, swapping to a Solid State Hard Drive will also help because an SSD is especially fast at the transfer of data from the memory to the hard drive— much faster than an ordinary hard drive. An SSD is nearly 100x faster than an ordinary hard drive, and can even extend the battery life in a laptop as well!
Viruses and malware can slip right past antivirus programs and infect computers via outdated and unsecure programs you already have installed. Java and Adobe Flash and Reader are programs that have been known to lack security features. If you don’t use some of the programs you have installed on your computer, then uninstalling them will minimize the safety threat. However, we are not encouraging you to get rid of the programs you use, we are just advising you to update all your programs frequently.
computer in with a virus, it is very likely we have already installed Avast on your computer! Avast has automatic software updates similar to Secunia, and scans your network for security threats to help prevent attacks to your router and network, and therefore, your computer. It has maximum financial security for banking and paying bills as well, and we have found it to be the most effective protection for your computer.
1. Reboot Your Computer
8. Update Windows and Internet Browsers