Please take note: Microsoft DO NOT phone computer users, nor should your Microsoft Licence expire.

We previously informed you of calls being made by similar people from “Microsoft” stating that your machine is infected and that they could remotely log in and resolve the issue. We have been assured from Microsoft Ireland that these calls are not coming from them. These calls are normally made to landline numbers and are randomly selected from an automatic dialer with an (01) prefix. Once answered, these calls are automatically routed back to a foreign country to be answered and dealt with from a call centre.

The aim of these calls is to get remote access to your computer, run very little and then request payment by credit card for the service. Please do not entertain these callers, do not let them access to your computer or give out your credit card details.

We hope you have not been affected by these calls.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Tablet-style computers and smartphones provide convenient access to your information and to the internet, from wherever you are. Unfortunately, the downside to their portable nature is that they don’t stay within the secure confines of your office. They can be easily left at another location by mistake or even stolen. So, this month we look at the 5 things that you should do before you lose your gadget.

1. Add Identification – If you found someone’s tablet or phone, you’d look for any identification that told you whose it was, so you could return it. Just as parents label their children’s clothing, add some form of identification to your device. This could consist of a business card in your tablet case, a power-on message with your contact phone number or even engraving your phone number or business name on the device.

2. Password Protect – Most portable devices allow you to set a password or number that must be entered when the device is turned on. This will help prevent a stranger from gaining access to the information you have stored on it. You may also be able to set a ‘time out period’, which will automatically lock your device with the password after a period of time of inactivity.

3. Sync - Most tablets and smartphones copy (or ‘synchronize’) their information to another computer or to an internet-based service. Check that your synchronization is configured and working correctly, with no errors. Then if you do lose your device, you’ll have somewhere else where you can log in and access a copy of your information.

4. Backup – Not everything on your tablet or smartphone may ‘sync’ to another location. A great example of this is contact information that is only stored on your phone’s SIM card, or information that you have entered into an application that only exists on your portable device (such as notes). Make sure you have a plan for regularly taking a snapshot of this information too and storing it in a secure place, just as you should for your office-bound computers.

5. Add Remote Control & Tracking – For tablets and smartphones that have a GPS function, applications have been developed that will show you where your device is located, based on its GPS data. Most of these applications need to be installed or configured before you lose your device. In addition to locating your device, some services will allow you to remotely lock your device or even remotely wipe all of the information on it. Check out Find my iPhone, Find my iPad, Where’s My Droid and Samsung’s DIVE. Security software manufacturers are also starting to release anti-virus software for portable devices with remote locate and remote wipe features.
Talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter about the best protection mechanisms for your portable devices, or about any of your technology needs … before it’s too late!

Here is our list of service standards practised by our Franchise offices every day.

From your Computer Troubleshooter, you can expect the following:

RESPECT
Everyone (customers, suppliers and colleagues) will be treated with dignity & respect at all times.

ETHICS
Everything is done honestly and ethically, including complying with software licence agreements.

ON TIME OR CALL
Your Computer Troubleshooter will arrive at your service call on time or you’ll receive a phone call if they are unavoidably delayed.

PROFESSIONAL
Your Computer Troubleshooter will dress professionally, act professionally and communicate professionally at all times.

EFFICIENCY
Your Computer Troubleshooter will use the technology tools available to them (e.g. remote support) to deliver
your service as efficiently as possible, whenever possible.

RESEARCH
Your Computer Troubleshooter will check our extensive global knowledgebase to see if a resolution has been recorded for a problem similar to yours. If it hasn’t, they may share your problem (without acknowledging your personal details) with our group of over 1,000 technicians, to see if anyone has a suggestion. They may also share any resolution details so the answer is available for the next Computer Troubleshooters client.

FOLLOW-UP
You will receive a call after your service to confirm that everything is still working correctly.

CONFIDENTIALITY
Your privacy will be respected and your files will only be reviewed if they are necessary to completing your service. However, your Computer Troubleshooter is obliged to report any issues that may show evidence of a crime.

EDUCATION
Your Computer Troubleshooter will tell you your options for resolving your problem or for improving your technology. This won’t be a pushy sales pitch, but if they don’t tell you then you won’t know what’s possible.

REVIEW TO IMPROVE
Your service call will be reviewed by your Computer Troubleshooter to ask how the situation could be resolved

The computer:

We’ll ignore comparing brands and the Apple versus PC debate, but let’s look at ‘workstation versus laptop’. If your computer really doesn’t need to move from your home office, you’ll get more computing power for your money with a workstation. Consider investing those savings in a dual-monitor setup if your work involves a lot of data entry, writing or graphic design. But remember, there’s nothing stopping you using a laptop if you want to sit outside in the sun occasionally!

The printer:

As with any office, the key consideration for a printer is how much do you print and how often, and is that printing primarily text or pictures? Home offices also may have to consider how much space they have, so a printer with a smaller ‘footprint’ would be better. It’s also handy to have the ability to send faxes, especially when dealing with signed documents, so either look at software for faxing and a document scanner, or consider a multi-function printer with a built in fax. If you occasionally need to print large volumes, it may be cheaper to use a printing service at a store for large volumes, instead of buying a fast, high-volume laser printer that hardly ever prints more than 5 pages at a time. Remember to also compare replacement ink costs before you commit to a printer purchase.

The Internet:

A home office can feel quite isolated, so your internet connection is an important gateway to the outside world. Out of all of your technology components, this one will drive you the craziest if it’s slow or if it drops out. Use a reputable internet provider and invest in the fastest internet speed you can afford with a monthly data limit that matches your needs.

Email:

Without a corporate email system, you still have a few choices for email services. Don’t think that you have to resort to using @hotmail.com or @gmail.com for your business email communication, when you can have @yourbusinessname.com without the expense of your own email server.

File sharing:

Do you need to share files with anyone outside of your home office? Instead of just emailing attachments, consider other file sharing methods if you collaborate with others on large documents or if you regularly need to send large picture files. Your options vary from USB storage with security mechanisms (e.g. encryption & passwords) to secure internet file sharing services or even direct file transfer between computers.
Next month, we’ll look at backups, security and other considerations for your home office. If you are thinking of starting a business from home, or moving back home, or if you’d just like some advice on your current home office setup, talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter.

“Back-To-School”
Tune-up
If your machine is running slow, freezing up, displaying errors of Pop-up messages…. PHONE US Today!
A Computer Troubleshooters Tune-up can help!
CALL 091 867888 NOW

Special Offer
“Back-To-School” Tune-Up
Special Offer for the Month of August, drop-off your PC/Laptop to our office and we will run a Tune-Up service for the special rate of:

€60.00

“Tune-up” Consists of:

* Verify Virus & Spyware protection
* Remove unnecessary Temp files
* Remove unnecessary start-up programmes
* Optimise Registry files
* Apply Critical Windows patches and updates
* Remove unused programmes & invalid shortcuts
* And More

1. Find immediate areas for improvement – If you’re thinking of replacing your computer, an audit may reveal that upgrading the memory would give you a significant performance boost. It could also highlight incorrect system settings or poor security configurations that could easily be fixed. With a clear picture of what technology you have, it might be easy to find some quick, inexpensive areas for improvement.

2. Budget for longer-term areas of improvement – An audit may reveal out-dated hardware that should be replaced with newer, faster components. It could also highlight disks that are close to their capacity, but still have some spare space. You can then plan and budget to address these areas in the future, instead of having to react tomorrow to an unforeseen full disk.

3. Know what software is on your computers – If your employees are able to install software onto your computers, do you know what they have been installing? An audit will reveal if your computers have illegal file sharing software or other programmes that may be relevant to their hobbies, not their work (e.g. share trading).

4. Know you have the correct software licences – In some cases, it is a software manufacturer’s right to randomly audit your business and check that you have the correct licence number and the right kind of licence for their software. If you’ve taken on more staff since you started, or you’ve had employees installing software on your computers, an audit can reveal where your software licensing might need some attention.

5. Compile an asset register – Your business will have certain assets listed for accounting purposes. That audit may not include many of your IT devices that are under a certain monetary value. If a theft or natural disaster hit your business, wouldn’t it be great to have a full list of all of your technology components? Ask your I.T. guy to store a copy of your audit results, off site, in case you need to refer to that asset list to make an insurance claim.
The outcomes of your audit should be a comprehensive list of your I.T. assets and recommendations for improvement that fit in with your business plans (both short and long term). If your I.T. guy uses your audit as an opportunity to sell as much of his products and services as he can, call Computer Troubleshooters for an independent trusted second opinion.

Here are some very simple things you need to keep in mind.
1. Make sure you have the basic protections in place – an anti-malware application, i.e., anti-virus, anti-spyware and a firewall.
2. Keep definitions up-to-date on your anti-malware application. This is a no brainer right? There are 70,000 odd new malware releases every day. That is right – every day!
3. Keep your applications, including Windows updated. These patches are there for a reason – to clean up vulnerabilities – don’t let them be in vain. Programmes like Flash, Java, and Adobe Reader need to be kept up-to-date. They can become weak links in the chain if not kept up. Go to Microsoft and let them check if Windows has updates:

Microsoft Updates Check

4. You should know this one without my even writing it – Don’t download or open pictures or files from strangers.
5. Look before you click on a link in an email to make sure you are not being phished (right click on the link and look at the address).

Courtesy of Sunbelt News.