Virus Infections from Fake Support Sites

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Virus Infections After a Support Call?

tech support virusOver the past few months, our Computer Repair Business in Melbourne's Western Suburbs has had dozens of customers come to us with virus infections after having called an alleged technical support site for companies like HP, Microsoft, Dell and even Intuit (Quicken and Quick Books).

The support person got the customer to allow them to make a remote connection so they could diagnose their computer. Invariably, they would scare the customer and tell them their computer was in bad shape with spyware and virus infections, Windows problems and hard drive issues. They would tell them that these were the real source of their problems and that they could fix them. Then they gave them a ridiculous price, often $200 – $300 to repair their computers. Gee, we do it for only $130.

5 Tips to Avoid Android Malware: Be Aware When Downloading Apps

android marketEveryone loves free apps, especially Android users (phones and tablets). While most of these apps are legitimate, the number of free Android apps that are actually malware keeps increasing. Android users are more at risk than iPhone and iPad users because the the Android market is much more open than Apple’s.  This means more choices, but also more risk.

Local Computer Repair Service Beats Big Boxes

Local Computer Repair Service Technician

Local Computer Repair Service is Your Best Choice

Local Computer Repair Service shops always beat out Big Box store service. Unfortunately, people often pick big name businesses, thinking big means better. Unfortunately, when it comes to computer repair service, or most any other type of service, the opposite is true.

Why? Because these stores are just that…. Stores! They are retail stores, not computer repair Businesss. Their business is to sell you stuff, not to fix stuff. These big stores add “repair services” as a side business, but it’s main goal is to support their retail sales, in other words, to sell you stuff!

7 PC Security – Virus Protection Tips from the NSA

PC Security - Virus ProtectionPC Security – Virus Protection and Privacy is a huge issue. An article I read recently outlined some security tips and recommendations by the NSA for its Department of Defense and intelligence customers. Seven basic measures stood out that both consumers and small businesses can easily implement to protect themselves from hackers and cybercriminals.

Some of these are very well known standard procedures that I have recommended to my customers, or went ahead and set them up as part of my regular maintenance service. A couple were new to me. Read on and make your computer safer.

iPad Repair More Viable than Android

ipad repairiPad Repair jobs are much more common in our shop than Android tablet repairs. While we replace 4-6 iPad screens per week, we may only see one Android per month!

You may think this is because iPads are more popular, but this is only part of the story. Android has actually gained a lot of ground in terms of market share in the last year.

The main reason is that Android tablets a much cheaper than iPad tablets, therefore may not be worth repairing versus replacing. They have become so cheap they have become “throwaway items”. When they break, people just get a new one.

For example, the new Google Nexus 7 tablet sells for $229. The Kindle Fire is under $200. A full size 10.1″ Android tablet, like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, starts at only $350. By contrast, the iPad starts at around $500. The iPad Mini is around $330.

iPad Repair is Always Worthwhile.

The problem with tablet repairs, is that the amount of work and skill necessary to repair any type of tablet is the same. Therefore the repair cost is the same. The most common repair, a cracked tablet screen, typically costs around $200. Clearly, repairing an Android is not worth it, unless you bought a super high end unit. Even an iPad Mini repair is questionable. A full size iPad repair is the only one that’s worth it.

On a side note, many Android tablets use the popular “Gorilla Glass” for their screens, which is very scratch and crack resistant. Some some silly reason, Apple refuses to use this stronger glass.

In my mind, the Android is a better choice, given you get a more durable device for less money. If you’re unlucky enough to break it, you would end up buying a new, more modern unit for the same price the poor iPad owner pays for just a repair.

If you ever need any type of iPad repair and you are in Melbourne's Western Suburbs, come by our shop and we can help you out with our high quality repair work.

By: coln Clohesy
Owner, Cooltech Computers,

 

Finding Quality Computer Repair Service, Help, Support & Virus Removal Services in Melbourne's Western Suburbs

Computer PC Laptop Repair ServiceWhere can you get quality computer repair service in Melbourne's Western Suburbs? Who can do a virus removal & repair that will last? You may ask, “who can fix my computer that I can trust”?  Can they do laptop screen repairs? What about MAC and MacBook repair? Android repair? Will they guarantee their work?

Before I toot my own horn, I will say there are around six well established computer repair Businesss here in town. These businesses have been around eight years or more, and have good reputations (BBB members).

FBI Virus Removal Cases Still Common

Virus Removal Woes Continue:

FBI Virus Removal CooltechFBI virus removal jobs keep coming to our shop. Will this annoying thing ever go away?

I hate to say it, but the only reason it’s still around is because people are falling for this scam!

Of course, the customers we see, are the ones that don’t fall for it and come to us to remove it. I should mention that along with the main scam, it installs all kinds of other spyware as well.

This is actually typical of most viruses. They bring their friends along! That’s why when we do a virus removal, we don’t stop when the offending virus is removed. We do further analysis and cleanups as well. We use no less than four different scanning and removal tools, as well as some manual work.

Tour of Windows 8 – The Why and How

all in one desktop pc windows8This was a presentation introducing Windows 8 that I made to a local business club here in Melbourne's Western Suburbs. It’s a simple intro showing what it’s like, what the benefits are, and why Microsoft released such a radically new operating system. It’s not as hard to learn as you think.

If you like the slide show, feel free to download it. I’m happy to help people with useful computer tech support and computer tips.

As always, my crew and I are here to help with all your Computer, Laptop and Tablet Repair needs. Visit our Cooltech Local Computer Repair website to learn more about us.
By: coln Clohesy

Malware Virus Attacks Facebook Pages

Virus Malware Facebook

A new Malware Virus is hitting peoples and businesses’ Facebook Pages!

If your page is suddenly crowded with ads, even in your timeline, you got the “Iminent” malware infection. You will notice their logo on the ads, like in the attached photo.

It will install to every browser on your PC! Your antivirus software won’t remove it, because it’s not technically a virus. It’s more like those toolbars that sneak in when you’re downloading something else. It won’t hurt your PC, but it will annoy you and make your Facebook page almost unreadable.How do I know? It happened to me!

It also puts in buttons on the ads do download other things, and I don’t know if those might hurt. The one that made me most suspicious was one telling me I had to download a “special player” to see a video. That’s a dead giveaway to more potential viruses.

To remove it, you must go into the “Add-ons” or “Extensions” area of your web browser and disable it. Then you must uninstall it from your PC.  I then recommend running a Registry Cleaner, like CCleaner or Glary Utilities. Here’s the steps to remove it from the different browsers.

Small Business Computers: Is Office 365 or Google Docs better?

small business computer appsThe release of Microsoft’s new Office 365 brings great new possibilities for Small Business Computer environments. How?  Wouldn’t it be great if your  business computers could get the power of Microsoft Office, with the convenient web based, cross-platform functionality of Google Docs?

Working on the same documents from your PC, Laptop, MAC, Tablet, or even your phone? How about having your documents in the cloud, accessible from almost any device, anywhere? No more thumb drives. No more setting up special VPN connections to your office network!

If you’ve found yourself using Google Docs on your small business computers for the accessibility, but bemoan its lack of power and features versus MS Office, your problems may be over. The new Office 365 is now both a cloud-based program, as well as a desktop program. So should you upgrade and use Office exclusively, or should you stay with your current version, using Google Docs when you need to? I contrast and compare the two below.