malware

February 1 2022

Staying Secure on the Internet

jcs@jesterscomputers.com Computer Scams, Facebook, PC Tips, Security, Security & Safety, Tips and Tricks malware, Network and Internet, passwords, phishing, pop-up scam, scams, security, two step verification, viruses, wireless security

By Aysë Stenabaugh

Staying secure on the internet is a lot more complicated than just having good antivirus. Good virus protection software is a good start but there are many other areas aspects of security that may go overlooked. Having good overall network security, keeping your software and account information up to date, and using a good quality search engine can have an impact as well.

No antivirus is ever going to be 100%. Why? Because the malware and viruses that they are preventing are written by cybercriminals. It takes time to determine and catch a virus and to write code that prevents it from causing damage. That doesn’t mean you should stop using your antivirus, chances are it has stopped many threats without you ever being aware that it was doing its job. Think about it as if you’re the passenger in a car. Most people will put their seatbelt on, not because they are EXPECTING to get into an accident but to help prevent injury or damage if it occurs. Antivirus works in a similar way acting as a preventative against potential damages.

Network security is important because without good security vulnerabilities on your network could leave personal data exposed or easy to access. Last year Apple released an iOS update that started alerting users who were using wireless networks with WPA/WPA2 TKIP security. The message was a bit confusing as it was meant to let users know that they were not meeting Apple’s recommended Wi-Fi security standards, instead many users thought that the notice meant their devices were unsecured which was not the case. Although the execution wasn’t great, Apple’s intentions were good. If you receive this message on an Apple device, have a Wi-Fi network that is “open” (no password required), or want to ensure that your wireless security is up to date, you will either need to access your device’s software to update security if an update is available, older wireless routers may need to be replaced to comply with new security protocols. Unbeknown to many users, like computers, routers often have firmware updates that resolve both performance and security flaws.

Keeping your account information up to date is crucial for several reasons. Your account information includes your name, date of birth, email address, and phone number. The primary reasons are to help users regain access to their accounts. This can be because you forgot a password or because someone else has gained access to your account. Not having accurate information can prevent the services you are using from verifying your identity. Facebook for example is a common target for criminals. We have seen users have their entire accounts taken over by criminals including their business page and even when you provide proof of your identity it may not be enough. So, what else can you do? Users should consider setting up two-step verification. Two-step verification requires users to both their password and a code generated either by an app or sent via text message or email. This prevents unauthorized users from accessing your account without also having access to your devices. If you do find that your account has been compromised and you are able to regain control of it, we highly recommend enabling this feature immediately.

Search engines are often a starting point for surfing the web. Not all search engines are created equal. Some search engines will allow paid advertising for content that so it’s important to choose a good search engine with good quality results. We often find that users end up with garbage on their computer related to attempting to install a device like a printer. To provide an example we searched for HP drivers on both Ask.com and Google search engines. The results from Ask.com first included 3 Advertisements for websites trying to sell a product followed by “results from the ask media group network and finally ended with web results which led me to HP’s website. The first results on Google’s search engine took me directly to HP’s website, no advertisements were listed. We are not saying that Google’s search engine is the best or is perfect, but it is far better with results than the likes of Ask.com which can easily lead users to websites that are of poor quality.

Technology is constantly changing, staying up to date with security and features can be tough. If you find yourself wanting to increase security on your computer or home network or require computer support Jester’s Computers can help! For over 20 years our family-owned, and operated business has been providing repairs and technical support services for home and business users. Find us on the web on Facebook or at www.jesterscomputers.com. We are located at 5135 Fairfield Road in Fairfield Pennsylvania and can be reached by phone call or text at 717-642-6611.

January 1 2020

Say Goodbye to Windows 7

jcs@jesterscomputers.com PC Tips, Security, Security & Safety, Tips and Tricks, Windows 7 malware, security hole, security risk, security updates, software security, viruses, windows 7, windows 7 end-of-life

By Aysë Stenabaugh

On January 14th, 2020 Microsoft ended extended support for the popular Windows 7 operating system. Those who’ve already upgraded their Windows 7 machines won’t be affected by the end of support, those who haven’t should highly consider either upgrading or replacing their device. While you cling to your good reasons not to switch, we are going to give you reasons why it’s time take the dive.

Security, security, security, it can’t be said enough. Just because you CAN continue to use your device, doesn’t mean that you’re able to do so safely. Of course, this doesn’t mean that when January 15th rolled around, that every Windows 7 machine still on the internet was accessible by hackers BUT, it does mean its potentially much easier to gain access to your device. You see, when a company releases a product they typically intend on supporting that product, whether it be the physical hardware or the software on that device for a limited amount of time, and for good reasons. With new products coming out every day, resolving issues between old hardware and software and new hardware and software get increasingly difficult as time moves on. To ensure that the best quality of support is provided, there has to be a cut off date.

Updates that were once received by Windows 7 devices which provided bug-fixes and critical security patches are no longer going to occur. This also means that there will be no performance improvements or features added to the OS. If they haven’t already, software companies will discontinue support for Windows 7 as well. Ending support for older products and software helps to ensure that new innovations will get the majority focus.

Support for products that you use with Windows 7 will cease to exist and you may have limited resources available if you run into issues. This change won’t happen overnight but it will happen and users who rely on software for business will either be unable to get support for issues or if offered, pay a hefty premium for limited support. In the long run, bringing your hardware and software up to date will oftentimes be more cost–effective than prolonging the inevitable.

Learning about new hardware or software is frequently what prevents people from switching to Windows 10. Keeping your hardware and software up to date can seem costly but you have to consider a few important things. First, when old hardware or software is broken or not functioning right, productivity is decreased. Second, updates software can include features that can alleviate issues currently faced that can’t be resolved with unsupported software. Lastly, the learning curve may not be as bad as you think, when you upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 the majority of the programs that you currently use will continue to work and function the same way. The most obvious changes to Windows 10 are cosmetic and don’t affect normal use.

Now that we covered the shortcomings of continuing to use Windows 7, it’s important to consider if you should upgrade your current computer or replace it altogether. We get this question a lot, to facilitate understanding let’s consider this analogy; when your car gets a flat tire, do you replace the car or fix/replace your flat tire? Most of the time a flat tire isn’t a reason to junk a vehicle unless of course there is an underlying issue. Similarly, if there’s not a significant reason to ditch your device and it meets the requirements for Windows 10, weighing out your options is a good idea. One major consideration should be your existing software. If you upgrade your device compatible software will continue to work if you purchase a new device your software will need to be re-installed which may require the original disc or license.

Technology can be scary but it doesn’t have to be! At Jester’s Computer Services we pride ourselves on gauging our customer’s experience and needs to provide the best recommendations. In addition to offering upgrades from Windows 7 to Windows 10, all customers unfamiliar with Windows 10 receive a mini one-on-one tutorial to help answer questions you may have when using Windows 10 for the first time. Visit www.jesterscomputers.com to access our free tutorials, tips and tricks! We can be reached at (717) 642-6611, on our Facebook page or visit us at the shop located at 5135 Fairfield Road Fairfield, PA 17320.