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!
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!
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!
It’s that time of the year again, and no matter what holiday or tradition you choose to observe (or even if you choose to observe nothing), it’s not unusual to spend time with friends and family, share good food, exchange gifts, and go out of your freaking mind in the process. The retail push that bombards us from September onward – a double entendre appropriately labeled ‘Christmas Creep’ – is a minefield of spam that sheds any dignity as it comes at us in many forms. Store displays, television ads, printed fliers, and of course, endless email messages, are merely directives from retailers informing us that while we’ve been good all year, they fully expect us to go deep into debt come December 25th.
Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Call it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or whatever you prefer, this time of the year will test even the strongest of us, leaving nothing but a quivering mass of jelly by the time it’s all over – a likely reason why so many people voluntarily pickle themselves on New Year’s Eve. If that wasn’t bad enough, it’s made worse by the sobering realization that, like retailers, scammers are out in full force this holiday season, preying on people who are so inundated with the stress and flurry of activity that they often can’t tell the difference between a legitimate email and a spam message.
Spammers are opportunists. They use human weakness to their benefit, exploiting people and capitalizing on the things that make us vulnerable. We see these exploits all the time, but no time of the year is more dangerous than right now. Brian Krebs writes, “Malware purveyors and spammers are blasting these missives by the millions each day in a bid to trick people into giving up control over their computers and identities.” He’s talking specifically about ‘order confirmation’ emails, and while those among us who live for security can spot these things from a mile away, remember that most people aren’t attuned to the tactics of scammers, and they’re not naturally skeptical.
The order confirmation is particularly wily, and you have to admire it for what it is. Emails are blasted out to mailing lists, well-crafted messages designed to look like the real deal. Scammers choose retailers that trick people into believing it. Walmart, Amazon, Target, Costco, and so-on. These scams work because the general public is trying to deal with the flurry of activity and stress that come with the holiday season. Krebs points out that seasonal scams are “a perennial scourge of the holidays, mainly because the methods they employ are reliably successful. Crooks understand that it’s easier to catch would-be victims off-guard during the holidays. This goes even for people who generally know better than to click on links and attachments in emails that spoof trusted brands and retailers, because this is a time of year when many people are intensely focused on making sure their online orders arrive before Dec. 25.”
Krebs says that, according to security firm Malcovery, order confirmation scams typically began around American Thanksgiving in late November. Thanksgiving is the symbolic and de facto beginning of the retail feeding frenzy that engrosses people during the holiday season. The order confirmation scams, according to Malcovery, “use both booby-trapped links and attached files in a bid to infect recipients’ Windows PCs with the malware that powers the Asprox spam botnet.” Asprox is a Trojan that harvests credentials from infected machines, turning the host into a zombie and committing Asprox malware attacks. “The malware also deploys a scanning module that forces hacked PCs to scan websites for vulnerabilities that can be used to hack the sites and foist malware on visitors to that site.”
Keep in mind that this is just one of the many exploits that scammers utilize to compromise unwitting users. But it’s worth detailing because of it’s particularly nasty implications. People order online, and with each passing year, more people are realizing the benefits of staying home and making purchases in front of the warm glow of the computer monitor. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, has always been the biggest retail day in the United States, and while it’s recently taken off in other countries as well, this year saw a drop in Black Friday sales, while Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving) has shown marked increases, 15.7% over last year, according to one report. More online purchases means more likelihood that spam order confirmations will reach unwitting users who are ready, willing, and able to click those malicious links.
To add insult to injury spammers are compromising email accounts as well as social media in the guise of sharing holiday photos. Recently we saw a customer whose mail was compromised via a phisihing attempt claiming a friend had wanted to share images on dropbox. Subsequently the contents of their email address book was used as fodder to spread the dropbox scam and as a final kick in the pants her webmail address book was deleted.
When it comes to email, be cautiously pessimistic before you click on anything… To all you scammers and spammers lost in the interweb of broken dreams you helped create, we share this warm holiday greeting.
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.
Find yourself with a new Window 8 or 8.1 computer and wish you could take a chainsaw to it?
Are you tired of living in the land of apps when all you really want is a desktop?
Isn’t it great to have a touch screen designed interface on a device sold without a touch screen!
Do you just wish they left well enough alone and you could hop back to an experience you are familiar with?
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Windows 8/8.1 optimization and tweaking package promo.
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[av_two_third first av_uid=’av-58n9fj’]Computer Doctor of Hampden is offering a special package which will optimize the performance of your computer and return your desktop to its rightful place, and give you a real start button! Don’t worry your Apps will still be around just not in your face as much. While we have your system in the shop we will do a free hardware check and have a look at your security software.[/av_two_third]
The last thing most people think about when they unpack there shiny new Windows’s computer is… “Man, I really need to get a great security package on this computer before I start using it on the internet”. The fact is most people fly through all the initial prompts during setup and end up agreeing to everything in a mad dash to the desktop, and yes there really is a desktop in Windows 8!
I mention antivirus software because we have been seeing a recent trend of Windows 8 viral infections. While the actual virus that cripples the machine varies in each case, the one unifying thread is the fact that their Norton Antivirus 30 day trial had expired within the last 7 day.
One problem with the bundled antivirus is that it will disable the native (poorly rated) Windows Defender. That leaves folks wide open for malware infections.
If you are plagued with pop ups, stymied by internet searches brining lousy results and being redirected to the last places you want to be, chances are you may have a malware problem. Many times Computer Doctor can remotely connect to your computer clean the infection, optimize and tweak the performance of the computer, clean out the garbage software, fix the issues with your web browsers and install a new antivirus solution without the computer ever leaving your home or office.
The clock has ticked and the days are numbered for Windows XP. Since October 2001 the operating system had taken the world by storm. With only a few weeks left of support from Microsoft, Windows XP still holds over 25% of the Windows Operating system user base.
While no one is sure exactly what will happen when regular security patches are no longer being sent from Microsoft. The general consensus is that exploits are being stockpiled to target the operating system. Without the regular updates and support from many third party vendors, the already vulnerable operating system may become unstable and become a security risk to your home or business network.
Should you upgrade your current system or replace it? Good questions. There are many computers that came with XP that can comfortably run a more modern and secure operating system. Here are some guidelines:
How old is your computer? It is 2014, yes I know that doesn’t seem possible, but it is. How long have you had your computer and have you done any upgrades? If your computer is over 6 years old and has had no upgrades, it is time to move on.
What type of processor do you have? If you have a single core processor, Pentium 4 or Athlon single core processor, basically anything that does not support 64 bit processing it is time to move on.
How much ram do you have? For Windows 7 to be happy our bench mark is a minimum of 4 GB of ram. Can your machine support that much? Click here to find out.
Have you upgraded your hard drive? If your hard drive is anything less than 250 GB it might be a good assumption that it is over 6 years old, as with all mechanical parts there is a finite lifespan, hard drives slow over time and start to collect errors on the drive. Here is a great tool to run a quick check on your drive.
So here are some options for your XP machine: If it doesn’t meet the guidelines for upgrading you can always try Linux. Linux Mint and Ubuntu are two popular distributions. This is option is not for the faint of heart, while Linux has come a long way, you might want to give us a call before you explore this option. If your machine is worth upgrading or can have a few simple cost effective upgrades to have it work well with a new version of Windows then you need to choose between Windows 7 which is more similar to XP or Windows 8 which while it has grown on me, I still receive regular feedback from clients who are less than thrilled with the new user interface. Whatever route you take be sure to back up your data files before making any changes to your system.
For everything there is a season, that certainly rings true for computers and technology. Windows XP first released in August 2001 turned out to be a huge hit for Microsoft and a relatively stable operating system for the following decade. The mostly widely adopted computing platform ever released up to that point. It’s simple and relatively logical interface, improved plug and play detection and great hardware support made it a favorite of millions.
As of April 8th 2014 Windows XP enters End of Life status, what that means to the average user is that the patches that keep the operating system secure will cease. Over the last 2 years I have been moving customers to the Windows 7 platform, especially business users. While Windows 8 continues to grow on me, I am still not a huge fan and prefer the straight forward desktop based interface that we have grown proficient at navigating.
Some customers still drag their feet, there are many businesses that are scraping by and do not have the capital investment for an IT make over. With residential customers I have been giving them the EOL talk and what that means moving forward. Most systems that came preloaded with XP are getting rather outdated at this point, aside from slower single core processors, the amount of ram is usually insufficient. There are situations that make sense to upgrade current hardware to Windows 7. If you have a system that has been upgraded over the years, has a dual core processor and 4+ GB of ram and a hard drive that is not older than 5 years.
New systems can still be purchased with Windows 7 but usually need to be ordered as the big box stores have long since gone to Windows 8. For you small office, home office users, it is time to move on. If your computer is connected to the internet when support ends, all bets are off.
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 nig...