Computer Support Blog

After a two-year investigation known as Operation Ghost, a group of Eastern European cyber thieves was caught by the FBI, according to an article by ABC News. The story is yet another reminder of some of the problems with global Internet security and the need to get professional virus removal. The group used a complex scheme that even infiltrated the computers of U.S. government agencies, which shows how susceptible Internet security can be even at the governmental level.

The group made $14 million in “illegitimate income” before the FBI put an end to the scheme, according to ABC News. The group infected over four million computers with malware that played an essential role in their advertising scheme. The seven hackers known as the Rove group compromised the Internet security of users and targeted sites like iTunes, Netflix and even the IRS, reports ABC News.

The malware that they used to infect the compromised computers sheds light on a serious Internet security and virus removal problem. According to the article, the malware prevented users from installing virus removal programs that could potentially defuse it. This is an example of an emerging challenge to virus removal programs, as it marks an increases level of stealth and sophistication on the part of malware. Not only are hackers writing malware to breach Internet security, but they are also programming it to strongly resist virus removal efforts. In other words, malware is becoming more conscious of the fact that it is malware, making basic virus removal much more difficult for the average user.

The hackers allegedly partnered with a variety of Internet advertisers to enact a scheme based on targeting users’ Internet security to generate profits, reports ABC News. Advertisers paid the hackers to generate traffic to certain advertisements and websites. They did this by using the malware that they designed to redirect casual Internet users to advertisement websites. By doing so, the hackers increased click results and generated profit from their partner advertisers.

This story also shows that threats to Internet security go beyond the programming level and into the field of international organized crime. Hackers frequently operate internationally, breaching users’ Internet security in one continent while operating in another.

The fact that a group of seven hackers made approximately $14 million dollars by spreading malware is a scary reminder that the incentives to target Internet security is real and, for many, great. That is all the more reason to make every effort to protect our Internet security.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Most mobile phone networks run on traditional radio wave technology. But one emerging carrier plans to run on freedom. At least that’s what the carrier, Republic Wireless, is calling its mobile phone service plan. Republic Wireless is offering a plan that covers voice, text, and data for $19 a month. The plan offers unlimited talk, text, and Internet with no annual contract.

In a time where average mobile phone plans by T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon are roughly four times the price of Republic’s, it seems just too good to be true. Rest assured, it’s not. Republic is truly offering an unlimited plan for $19. Whether or not there’s a catch to all of this depends on how you feel about the technology that the carrier is employing to make this possible.

To bring down the costs of operation to a point that allows the company to offer a $19 unlimited, monthly, no-contract plan, Republic Wireless utilizes “Hybrid-Calling” technology that works by automatically switching to Wi-Fi to make calls, text, and surf the web whenever a wireless connection is available. When Wi-Fi is not accessible, Republic’s system automatically switches to traditional cellular service, and so on. When Republic users aren’t connected to a Wi-Fi network service, their phones switch to Sprint’s cellular service.

Because the carrier is just emerging, its services are still limited. The company refers to customers as members, which gives it a nice egalitarian feeling that the big four (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint) lack. Republic is slowly admitting new “members” to its ranks, but right now, available spots are limited. Interested users can subscribe to an announcement service on the carrier’s website that informs them when more spots become available.

To start using the service, users are required to enable at least one Wi-Fi network on their devices. This is where the nuances of the “unlimited” plan emerge. Republic users will have unlimited everything whenever they’re tapped into the Wi-Fi end of the hybrid service. According to the carrier’s website, even if users have 0% Wi-Fi usage, relying only on the cellular usage, they’re allowed approximately 550 minutes and 150 texts.

For some critics, this seems like a pretty serious catch, but Republic maintains that the plan is in fact unlimited for several reasons. The first is that given most people’s access to Wi-Fi, there won’t be that big of a need to switch to cellular. The second is that there are no actual overage fees. If members use too much cellular service, they receive several warnings. Eventually, users who do not comply with what Republic calls the “community fair use” threshold, get the boot.

If you’re ok with these guidelines, then it’s a pretty sweet deal. If you don’t think you’re around accessible Wi-Fi enough, then maybe Republic isn’t your best choice.

For now, Republic is only offering one, low-end Android phone, the LG Optimus with Android 2.3 “Gingerbread.” The initial cost is to join and get the phone is $199, though a special ongoing promo currently gets you the phone for $99.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

As cool as tablets are, they still have to overcome plenty of tech support issues before they join the realm of standard computing devices. The biggest tech support issue facing tablets is functionality. Tablets operate largely like fancy smartphones. Even Apple’s iPad is closer to an iPhone than to a laptop. Additionally, tablets need a lot more tech support to tackle problems relating to connectivity, storage and usability.

Tablets are gaining a lot of popularity among business travelers and people who need light, portable computing devices, but such users often discover that connecting their tablets to printers is complicated and messy because tablets significantly lack printing tech support. To connect a tablet to a printer, it is often necessary to use a third party app, as tablet makers haven’t provided sufficient tech support yet.

Another tablet limitation is web browsing. Tech support for tablet web browsers is also limited, often forcing users to use multiple browsers to access different websites. One exception to this may by Amazon’s Kindle Fire, which is due for release next week. The Kindle Fire comes with its own web browser, SILK, which was designed exclusively for the device. SILK does not operate on any tablet or device other than the Kindle Fire. Because it was created for the Kindle, rather than made to work with it, Amazon says that browsing using SILK will be a super fast and a very smooth experience.

Tablet computer repairs are another major limitation of the devices. Computer repair work for tablets is usually tricky because of the devices’ delicate and compact nature. Taking risks with cheap or self-help computer repair work can be very risky. It’s always better to seek out professional tablet computer repairs that have a history of excellent computer repair work than to trust amateurs. It’s easy for the inexperienced person attempting to provide tablet computer repair to damage the device by merely trying to take it apart.

Software computer repairs aren’t as risky, but that’s no excuse to take them for granted. Again, always seek out professionals as your first option. Don’t wait for an inexperienced provider to try—and fail—at fixing your tablet. Bad computer repairs can cost you to lose valuable data.

Because tablets are still in their Alpha phase, we can expect that they will continue to need plenty of tech support. And who knows, perhaps enough time and advanced tech support will actually succeed in making tablets a standard computing device, a title still monopolized by computers and laptops.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

There’s plenty of exciting technology out there. There’s so much of it, in fact, that it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Laptops, MP3 players, Smartphones, e-readers, digital cameras, and of course, tablets. Technology addicts should inform themselves well before buying new gadgets.

The golden rule, here, is that you get what you pay for. The more expensive the device, the more reliable it’ll probably be. More money spent upfront often means less money spent on tech support and computer repairs. For example, even though Apple’s iPad comes with a hefty price tag, it’s still by far one of the most reliable tablets on the market. A cheaper tablet that claims to function in the same way as an iPad will probably require more computer repair down the road. Cheaper tablets are usually less sturdy and less powerful. This difference doesn’t necessarily apply to tablets like Amazon’s new Kindle Fire, for example, because even though that tablet is a lot cheaper, it targets a different audience and functions differently from computing tablets like the iPad.

Buying cool gadgets can be costly, but that’s a onetime cost. What can really break the bank is the occasional need for computer repairs and tech support. There are several things you should keep in mind when it comes to computer repair costs, as well as tech support.

When you buy a fancy gadget, be it a tablet or a smartphone, remember that prevention is the best cure. Take care of the device’s physical structure to delay the need for computer repairs. For example, avoid placing your smartphone in your back pocket, which might cause you to accidentally damage it by sitting on it; keep your tablet away from water; protect your e-reader from scratches. You’d be surprised at how effective simple practices can be in offsetting expensive computer repairs.

Also, get your gadgets regular tech support when that’s applicable. Tech support can take the form of regular security updates or software patches and upgrades. Smartphones and tablets that operate using a version of Google’s Android OS are especially susceptible to viruses and hacking efforts, which is why such devices require regular tech support. Providing regular tech support is an essential practice to offset computer repair costs.

Ultimately, you get what you pay for. But with time, what you have to pay will become less. You’ll find that resisting the urge to buy the latest gadgets as soon as they come out can save you higher initial costs, the need for lots of tech support, and computer repair expenses.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Perhaps no other communication device gets as much physical wear and tear as these mini-computers do. Smartphones are often glued to their users’ hands. They’re an extra appendage and often an active member in a conversation. With the increasingly active role that smartphones play in our lives, it’s hard to keep them sheltered and scratch-free for long. Odds are, a significant number of 4S iPhones could already use some kind of iPhone computer repair. Even though advanced technology is by no means a novelty anymore, we should still not take it for granted. In other words, there’s no need to be careless with our smartphones just because we all use them!

When it comes to smartphone computer repairs, here’s a list of the worse three offenders.

Coins and Keys: You’re probably thinking, how exactly do keys or coins induce smartphone computer repairs? The key (no pun intended) to seeing how these culprits cause their harm is by looking at their long-term effects. Keys can scratch a smartphone’s touch screen, causing it to require smartphone computer repairs. The same goes for coins. Computer repair work for screens can be costly because it sometimes involves replacing more than just the screen. To avoid screen-related computer repair work, avoid putting your keys, coins and smartphone in the same pocket.

Water: Though waterproof phones are on their way, they’re not here just yet. Until then, water damage is still one of the most common problems requiring smartphone computer repairs. An accidental coffee or drink spill can require serious smartphone computer repair. It’s often cheaper to buy a new phone than to pay for smartphone computer repairs.

Drops: As fun as it may seem to drop smartphones and watch them break, such a practice is best watched on YoutTube and not imitated. In real life, dropping a smartphone can cause serious damage that requires costly smartphone computer repairs. Drops can crack a screen, damage the internal hardware or damage the camera lens, all things that require professional computer repair. Protect your smartphone with a sturdy cover in case it does fall. The money you spend on a case is almost certainly going to be less than what you’ll spend on smartphone computer repairs.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Using your network service to do your holiday shopping has many advantages.  There are no lines or crowds.  If you want to see another store’s price for a product, that information is a click away.  Even better, you don’t have to worry about parking at the mall – shopping has become as easy as turning on your computer and starting the network service. Shoppers who used their network service to buy gifts accounted for more than thirty billion dollars in sales last year.  Taking some quick and easy precautions will ensure that you can participate in this exciting new marketplace without compromising your Internet security.

Read more »

The debate over turning computers off or leaving them on continues to come up every once in a while. Regardless of which side of the debate you fall on, everyone involved is merely trying to provide the best kind of computer support and avoid the need for costly laptop repairs. Leaving a laptop on all the time isn’t a great practice, but it’s also not a bad one. How you should approach the issue depends on your needs and work habits.

One of the most commonly cited reasons for keeping computers on all the time is a fear of the effects of internal temperature fluctuations. Some people fear that frequent temperature changes can damage parts or cause connections to break, requiring professional laptop repair. So in the attempt to provide better computer support, people think it’s beneficial to always leave computers running. Sure, rapidly and consecutively turning a computer on and off can create long-term damage to some internal circuits which eventually requires professional laptop repair, but powering down your device once at the end of the day is not only harmless, but it also provides indirect computer support.

Leaving a computer running all the time means that its fan is constantly sucking in air dust. Eventually, the accumulation of dust and other dirt can coat a computer’s internal components and require professional laptop repair. Therefore, always leaving a computer on can create laptop repair issues related to overheating. By turning your computer off at night, at least, you are providing a precautionary form of computer support.

Turning a computer off at the end of the day is also an easy way to provide software computer support. Constantly running Windows allows poorly written software to clog up the RAM and system resources. Turning off your machine clears out the memory every day and starts up again with a fresh windows boot.

So for the most part, it’s not a bad idea to power down your device at night. There are some exceptions to this, though. If your computer is part of a work network, you might find it necessary to leave it on all the time in order to get network computer support that includes updates and security patches. Especially when a device is part of a network, it’s important to get strong anti-virus computer support to avoid threats to other devices in the network. Home laptops or computers also need the occasional computer support that comes from regular Microsoft and anti-virus software upgrades, which can delay the need to get professional laptop repairs.

In the end, a happy medium is the best approach. Leaving your laptop on all the time can waste energy, overheat it, and fill it with dust, eventually requiring professional laptop repair. At the same time, it may be necessary to leave a computer running through the night if it’s part of a network in order to get network computer support.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Smartphones, just like ordinary computers, need regular tech support and are certainly not immune to needing smartphone computer repairs. It’s not uncommon to delay getting smartphone computer repairs because we can’t part with our devices for more than a few hours. Still, when a smartphone remain without the right kind of tech support for long, smartphone computer repair may become inevitable.

To delay the need for expensive remedial tech support or smartphone computer repair, try to keep these tips in mind.

1)   Leave the heavy stuff for the pros—if the back cover of your smartphone is scratched, you probably don’t need any kind of serious smartphone computer repair. Simply buy a new cover and replace the damaged one. When the damage is more severe than a scratched cover, though, you’re better off not messing with your device and getting professional smartphone computer support. Internal hardware failure, especially, is not something you even want to try to fix. Trying to provide your own smartphone computer repair can end up costing you more than a professional smartphone computer repair service.

2)   Keep it healthy on the inside—when your device gets clunky with apps or folders, consider taking it to an expert to get the right kind of tech support. Most smartphones have auto update functions for their software but if you notice your smartphone not doing this, you should get expert tech support from a tech support provider with a proven track record of providing excellent computer and smartphone tech support like Rescuecom.

3)   Keep it healthy on the outside—when you accidentally hit your hand against the desk and it bruises, you usually don’t panic too much. In a few days, it’ll heal itself. Sadly, smartphones don’t have regenerative cells. When the case gets scratched, it’ll stay scratched. The same goes for the screen: it will need professional smartphone computer repair. Be gentle when using your phone. Buy a protective shell to reduce the risk of damage from an external physical force. Accidents happen, so make sure you ensure your phone against those nasty drops by using a sturdy cover.

Smartphone computer repair can be pricey. A small problem with the screen might require extensive smartphone computer repair to replace the entire outside shell, for example. And as always, prevention is the best cure. Regular tech support and graceful handling can delay the need for smartphone computer repair.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Apple’s iPhone computer support personnel gave a press release on November 2, 2011 about customer complaints concerning their iPhone 4S.  Specifically, customers complained that the battery of the iPhone 4S was draining too quickly. Apple’s iPhone computer support staff said in the statement that the problems are the result of bugs in the iOS5 operating system.  This could mean trouble for Apple’s holiday sales, since other phone network service providers are standing by to pick up any slack.

The iPhone 4S hit shelves last month, and shortly after that, complaints began to come in to iPhone computer support hotlines.  Some customers reported that the iPhone 4S was drawing power even while in stand-by mode, and would go from a full charge to empty in as little as four hours.  Others stated that using the phone network service for as little as ten to fifteen minutes resulted in a ten percent loss in battery life.

The statement released by Apple’s iPhone computer support staff acknowledged the problem while avoiding any mention of a specific cause.  What the statement made clear is that the problems with the phone network service stem from a software issue, and that iPhone computer support personnel expect to release an update in a few weeks.

Here are a few things you can do to extend your battery life until iPhone computer support publishes the fix:

1) Turn down the brightness of your screen.   Less light emitted means less power drawn, which leads to a longer-lived battery.

2) Turn your wireless connections off when you’re not using them.  Many phone network services have features such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or 3G wireless connections, which run in the background of the phone and increase power drain.  Turning these phone network services off when you don’t need them will help extend the life of your battery.

3) Be aware of the locator feature.  The iPhone 4S phone network service is constantly pinging GPS and cell-towers to find the phone’s location.  This allows the phone network service to do things like give you a local weather update, or find restaurants in your area.  While this feature enables the phone network service to do some neat things, the constant pinging is a real drain on your battery.  Some users concerned with their battery life have taken to turning this feature off unless they need it for something specific.

Though following each of these steps will result in slightly increased battery life, they are not a solution to the problem.  For a real solution, we’ll just have to wait until iPhone computer support releases their update in a few weeks.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

A study appearing this week in First Monday highlights a serious threat to users’ Internet security—underage users, that is. Millions of kids under the age of 13 are on Facebook, according to the study. One of the most significant findings is that parents willingly help their children join Facebook, despite the dangers this practice poses to children’s privacy and Internet security.

According to a CNN article on the study, 95 percent of parents of 10-year olds know that their children are on Facebook. In fact, they helped their children create the account. Though this is not necessarily a surprising finding, it should certainly be an upsetting one. Parents are essentially desensitizing their children to the need to have strong Internet security while online. By helping kids join at such an early age, parents are telling their kids that it’s ok to share pictures and other personal information, that being vigilant about Internet security isn’t necessary.

Perhaps one cause of this growing disregard for Internet security is the fact that people take Internet security for granted. Users assume that there is no imminent threat to their children’s—or their—Internet security because they’re using a secure home network service or because they have firewalls and other kinds of protection set up that. However, the main Internet security threat is not one that comes from network services. The most imminent Internet security threat facing younger users is the loss of privacy.

Last year, Consumer Reports found that 7.5 million children under 13 were Facebook members. Such a figure may not seem too significant relative to Facebook’s 800 million users, but in reality it is very alarming. There are almost as many underage kids on Facebook as there are people in the greater Boston area. Shouldn’t kids be playing outside or reading Harry Potter instead of slowly becoming naturalized to ignoring Internet security, living in a cyber world that cannot substitute for healthy, real social interactions?

The trouble is, as network services become abundant everywhere, it’s hard to prevent children from wanting to join Facebook or going online 5 hours a day. In fact, as the study shows, parents tend to allow their children to join Facebook precisely because it has become a standard communication tool across network services. The rising complexity of network services makes it hard to separate online media and stick with one form of communication only. Email, chat, Facebook, and calendars are increasingly becoming one large network service, which makes it hard to limit online activity to only email, for instance.

For parents, there’s no easy solution to the problem. Balancing the need for strong Internet security and protecting kids’ privacy with the need to be involved in an increasingly interconnected online world is just one of the many perks of parenting.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com