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updates

The importance of updates and why you should consider an alternative to Internet Explorer

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Microsoft and individual software makers release updates for their products to patch security holes and improve functionality of the software. If you are not updating the software when prompted, you are leaving your computer vulnerable. Some windows updates require a system restart and even after restarting there may be additional updates that need to install.

Windows Updates

Microsoft regularly releases system updates the 2nd Tuesday of every month. Any critical system updates will download and install as they are released. To check for windows updates you can follow the instructions below

Windows XP is no longer supported and will not receive regular system updates. If you are still using Windows XP you should consider upgrading your computer to help minimize the risk of online threats.

Windows Vista / 7 – Click on your start menu and type in windows update the windows update option will populate in your start menu list and once selected you can check for Windows updates. Be sure to install any critical system updates and restart the computer if necessary. You may also see some additional recommended updates which you can install at your convenience.

Windows 8 / 8.1 – Press the windows ÿ and S keys together (located to the left of your space bar between ctrl and alt) or locate the search window by moving your mouse to the top right hand corner of your screen to bring up the charm bar. Now press the magnifying glass (search) and make sure “everywhere” is selected in the drop down box. Type Windows Update in the box and choose check for Windows updates.

Software Updates

Programs may also need updates to add additional features, improve performance or patch security vulnerabilities. Users are being targeted through false update prompts for popular programs such as Adobe Flash player. To ensure you are receiving the update for your programs and NOT a virus you can update directly through the application or by visiting the software developers website.

To update through the program open up the program that is prompting you for an update. For example Adobe reader. Once you locate and open Adobe reader you will see an option to check for updates in the program under the “help” option . If you are unable to find where to update through the software visit the developers website for adobe you would visit www.get.adobe.com. Another program that

frequently updates is Java you can visit the java website to look for any updates by visiting www.java.com/download

Alternate Web Browsers – Updated 6/25/2016

Windows 10 users will now see a new default browser – Microsft’s Edge browser. While we like many of the new features Windows 10 has to offer the Edge browser is not one of them. In the past we have always recommended installing a third-party web browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Each of these are used independently from Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge and can be used in place of Internet Explorer.

In Windows 10 you will need to take an additional step to change your Default browser. Follow the steps below to change your default browser in Windows 10.

  • Click on your start menu and then choose settings
  • Select system
  • From the selection available choose default apps
  • Scroll down to where it lets you select your default browser
  • Click on the default browser (or plus sign if you don’t yet have one set) and select the browser you want as your default.

If you would like to download one of the web browsers we suggested be sure to verify that you are downloading these and any other applications you may download in the future from a trusted website before continuing. To download one of these browsers visit the websites below from the developers trusted link.

Chrome – www.google.com/chrome
Firefox – www.mozilla.org/firefox

For quality computer repair services visit Jester’s Computer Services located at 5135 Fairfield Road. Visit www.jesterscomputers.com or call (717) 642-6611 for more information!

 

Protect your data now

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In the last few weeks we have received a half a dozen computers that were infected with a type of ransom ware that attacks your Word documents and Excel files. One of the computers also had the picture files infected. If you get infected with this ransom ware you will lose all access to your files. The infection will have to be removed but the damage to your data is irreversible. If you do not have a backup of your data to restore, your files are lost.

CryptoWall is a file-encrypting ransom ware program that was released around the end of April 2014 that targets all versions of Windows including Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

When you are first infected with CryptoWall it will scan your computer for data files and “encrypt” them using RSA encryption so they can no longer be opened. Once the infection has encrypted the files on your computer drives, it will open a Notepad window that contains instructions on how to access the CryptoWall Decryption Service where you can pay a ransom to purchase a decryption program. The ransom cost starts at $500 USD and after 7days goes up to $1,000. This ransom must be paid in Bitcoins and sent to a Bitcoin address that changes per infected user.

CryptoWall is distributed via emails with ZIP attachments that contain executables that are disguised as PDF files. These PDF files pretend to be invoices, purchase orders, bills, complaints, or other business communications. When you double-click on the fake PDF, it will instead infect your computer with the CryptoWall infection and install malware files either in the “AppData“ or “Temp“ folders. Once infected, the installer will start to scan your computer’s drives for data files that it will encrypt. When the infection is scanning your computer, it will scan all drive letters on your computer including removable drives, network shares, or even Drop Box mappings. In summary, if there is a drive letter on your computer CryptoWall will scan it for data files.

When the infection has finished scanning your computer, it will also delete all of the Shadow Volume Copies that are on the affected computer. It does this because you can potentially use shadow volume copies to restore your encrypted files.

Now that your computer’s data has been fully encrypted, it will display the DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.TXT and DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.HTML files that were created on your Desktop. These files contain information about what has happened to your data and instructions on how to pay the ransom. In most cases, once CryptoWall launches this document it will remove the infection files from your computer, as they are no longer necessary.

Unfortunately, at this time there is no way to retrieve the private key that can be used to decrypt your files without paying the ransom on the CryptoWall Decryption Service. Brute forcing the decryption key is not realistic due to the length of time required to break an RSA encryption key. In addition, any decryption tools that have been released by various companies will not work with this infection. The only methods you have of restoring your files is from a backup, file recovery tools, or if you are lucky from Shadow Volume Copies.

In summary, even if you have a backup drive those backup files will be encrypted also. We would suggest that you only attach your backup drive during the backup and then remove it. DVD’s are a good choice to back-up your data on as they cannot be altered. System images are also a good choice because individual files cannot be accessed.

Unfortunately, their antivirus did not protect the infected machines that we serviced. Norton, McAfee, Microsoft Security Essentials (not a very effective antivirus) and Avast were ineffective. AVG (which we use and recommend) has so far not been tested. So you must protect your data now or take a chance on losing it. Good luck.

If you are in need of PC computer repair or services please visit Jester’s Computer Services located at 5135 Fairfield Road, Fairfield, PA. You can also reach Jester’s Computer Services by phone at (717) 642-6611 or send an email to: customerservice@jesterscomputers.com

For help with learning how to use a PC computer, mobile technology, web design, or graphic design contact Jester’s Computer Tutor for help! You can also visit our website at www.thecomputertutor.info or like us on Facebook to receive free tips and tricks! You can contact the tutor via email at help@thecomputertutor.info or by phone at (717) HELP-4-ME or (717) 435-7463

By Bob Jester

Windows 8 Recovery

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Windows 8 computers do not ship with recovery disks. You must use the manufacturer’s built-in utility to create and burn your own recovery disc set. Windows 8 is not very repair friendly. When things go wrong and Windows 8 automatic repair fails you are left with two choices.

Choice one is a factory refresh.  A factory refresh will restore your computer to its original state and preserve your existing files.

Choice two is a factory reset; this option will restore your computer to its out-of-the-box state and delete all your personal data. Both choices will require that you re-install all of your programs, printers etc.  These options are not fail-safe and often do not work. This leaves your computer in an unusable state. Your only choice at this point is to recover your system with your recovery disks. If you find yourself in this situation and did not make recovery disks, your only recourse is to order them from the manufacturer, often at a cost. Unlike previous editions of Windows, you cannot use any Windows disk to reload your operating system and activate it with the license on your sticker. Windows 8 PC’s from most major computer manufacturers do not have a “Microsoft license sticker.” Your license is embedded in a chip on the motherboard electronically and must match the recovery disks from the manufacturer.

In a previous article, we discussed a system image. In a way, restoring the system image is more convenient and thorough than using recovery disks. A system image is an exact snapshot of your computer when the image was created. This saves you the time and hassle of reloading all your programs, inserting license numbers, installing your printer and even setting up your email. A system image will restore your system to the state the computer was in when the image was created, often in less than one hour. This beats spending a day reloading your system and tweaking it to the way you like it.

It is in your best interest to create your recovery disks. Make no mistake – when Windows 8 fails to boot and cannot automatically repair itself, you will need those recovery disks. The day will come so be prepared. Create and save a system image to preserve your files and settings, and/or backup your data. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, take your computer to your local repair shop and asked them to do it for you.

We are hopeful that future editions of Windows will return us to the day when using the computer did not require a PhD and repairing a computer to fix the problem at hand did not require you to start from scratch all over again. The good folks at Microsoft need to listen to the end-users and stop making the operating system more and more complicated to use. If this trend continues, Microsoft might as well shutter their offices as more and more of their customers migrate to Linux. Linux is not buggy and is free!

If you need quick, quality, computer repair services, contact Jester’s Computer Services located at  5135 Fairfield Road, Fairfield, PA or you can reach us by phone at (717) 642-6611 or send an email to: customerservice@jesterscomputers.com (see our ad on this page)

If you need computer advice or would like to seek help, Jester’s Computer Tutor provides one-on-one classes and assistance in your home as well as on-site service calls for troubleshooting and networking.  Please contact them at (717) 435-7463 or online at help@thecomputertutor.info. You can also visit their website at www.thecomputertutor.info or like them on Facebook to receive free tips & tricks!

 

By Bob Jester, Owner/Technician