Tag: Call Duane

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These Simple Things Can Lock You Out of Your Computer

I have talked about these things before, but now I have a program to help you make sure these things are in your control so that you will not get locked out of your computer or lose data. The things I am talking about are System Restore and Drive Encryption.

System Restore is a great tool that Microsoft has had for years, but recently I have run across many computers where this tool is turned off by default so unless you check this regularly you may not have access to this tool when you need it. This tool comes in handy when your computer gets stuck in the startup process and can’t continue. This sometimes happens due to an update or just because something didn’t shut down correctly. With system restore you can actually go back to before the issue and restore your settings to that time which fixes the issue. It only affects Windows and settings; it does not touch any documents or other data so it can be safely used regardless of how much data has changed since the last restore point.

Drive Encryption is there to protect you in case your computer is stolen. Unless the thief has your password, they can’t access the hard drive. Even if they remove the drive and try to connect it to another computer, they won’t be able to access it. They will then need a 48-character key, so it is virtually impossible to break into an encrypted drive. This is great unless you have a problem and your drive thinks it has been tampered with. It might require this key from you. If you are not aware of this encryption or don’t know your key this could be a real problem. I have even seen where Windows turns on this encryption without the user being aware of it.

Here is a video that talks about these:

For my business clients I have software that ensures these tools are working properly and that we have the key in case it is needed. I recently started a program for individuals that will do the same thing along with a few other things to make sure your computer is always running smoothly.

This program is my Semi-Annual Compute Maintenance Program. When I set this up, I come to you in person the first time to make sure everything is running correctly and then I schedule a “tune up” remotely every six months after that. You service your car a couple of times a year and you should do the same for your computer.

If you want more information about this program give me a call.

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Let’s Celebrate National Clean Out Your Computer Day!

This year February 9 was National Clean Out Your Computer Day. This is one of those goofy days that you can find on those “Every day is a holiday” calendars. This one allows me to mention some very important computer maintenance items that most people overlook. All of these things are fairly simple but can make a big difference in the performance of your computer.

  • Unnecessary and temp files – Just by using your computer on a regular basis your computer will start to accumulate files that you really don’t need or want. These are temp files created during updates and installs. Sometimes these are removed by the process that created them but many times they are not removed and just sit there taking up space. Also, many people are not aware that if you delete a file, it doesn’t really get removed from your computer, it goes into the recycle bin and it will stay there until you empty the recycle bin. This can be helpful if you accidentally delete something. You can go to the recycle bin and retrieve it. I have worked on computers that ran out of space due to these types of files. Windows has some built in tools to help solve this issue, but I like a free program called CCleaner which does a better job at this. They have a “Pro” version also, but the free version does enough.
  • Desktop – It is very easy to use your desktop for file storage since it is right there, so you don’t have to go looking for all of your files, but when your desktop is full of files and other icons it is easy to miss a new icon that just shows up one day. This happens a lot when you get adware or sometimes even malware. If your desktop is only holding a few shortcuts for programs, it is easy to find those pesky adware icons so you can remove the adware before it causes you problems. I can certainly help with this if it happens.
  • Backup – Are your files only on your computer? Do you use cloud services like iCloud, OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox? This is a good time to verify any backup. I can also help with this and get you set up with a good local or online backup if needed. If your files are in the cloud, it is important to know that cloud services are not backups but syncs. Here is a video that explains the difference –  
  • ANTI-VIRUS – First of all, do you know what anti-virus you are using? This is a very important question since the biggest phishing scams involve fake receipts for antivirus. These scammers will send a fake invoice for hundreds of dollars and the only information on the email is a contact phone number. They use very large amounts hoping you will get upset by it and call the number to complain. Once you call, you will connect to a very nice and helpful person who will handle all of this for you. They simply need to get on your computer to remove their product. Once on your computer they can do many things to steal from you. If you know that you do not have this particular program, it is harder to scam you. As I have stated before, never call the number in the email. If it looks like you paid something you shouldn’t have paid, the best thing to do is call your bank to dispute the charge. Of course, you can also look online, and you will see that there was no charge. But there are other reasons to check your anti-virus. Sometimes malware is successful at getting on your system and the first thing it will try to do is turn off your anti-virus. So, it is important to check it occasionally to make sure it hasn’t expired, is on, and running a daily scan.

So, there it is, how you can celebrate National Clean Out Your Computer Day! As always, I am available if you need help with any of these items or anything else computer related.

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Minicomputers, small in size but very big with computing power.

I have helped many people replace computers in the past year due to Windows 10 not being supported any longer. For many of those I had recommended these minicomputers. My go-to brand is GMK Tek. I have also used the brand Minisforum.

As I said in the title, they are very small but very powerful and also fairly inexpensive. When I compare these to the big computer names like Dell, HP or Lenovo they are usually a few hundred dollars less for similar specifications.

These computers come in two different forms; one is about 4.5 inches X 4.5 inches and about 2.5 inches tall. The other is 7 inches X 7 inches and about 1.5 inches tall. Here is a picture of the first size. I placed a standard wireless mouse on top of it for scale.

If you happen to go into a bank, you might notice one of these mounted on the back of the tellers’ monitors. Many banks have been using these for years.

So, the next time you need a new desktop, you might consider one of these mini powerhouses. But, just like any other computer it is best to really check them out because both of the companies I listed above sell good powerful computers, but they also have some that are really inexpensive and those come with a processor that I am sure most people would be unhappy with. As always, I am available to help you shop or even do the shopping for you when it comes to new computers.

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Multifactor Authentication

I have talked about the ways to protect yourself from having your accounts taken over before but this month I want to take it further and tell you how to ensure you don’t lose any account access when you get a new phone.

Recently I ran into a customer of mine that just got a new phone and he was not able to get into his business email account with Microsoft. He knew what the password was but since he had a different phone his Microsoft Authenticator app didn’t work for this account. This also happened to me about six months ago when I got a new phone except I was locked out of a few accounts for some companies that I manage email.

The problem is that you can’t automatically move your authenticator entries to a new phone. Microsoft says all you need to do is back up your authenticator into your Microsoft account and then restore it onto your new phone. This is technically true but only works for entries that are connected to your personal Microsoft account. Not for other accounts like your work or business email.

Since this was my customer’s business account the entry was not backed up by his personal account and he was locked out. Luckily, he knew his password, and he was able to contact Microsoft since he is a paying customer, and they helped him reset his authenticator for his business email. He works for himself and is the admin on his account so reaching out to his company admin was not an option. When this happened to me, I was also able to get my authenticator entries back because I set up every option available when I initially set up each account in my authenticator. So, I was able to receive text messages or  codes to alternate email addresses.

Why am I telling you this? The simple fact that I didn’t stop with just the authenticator app and decided to also set up texting or alternate email options for the accounts I manage made it easier for me to get back into those accounts after getting a new phone.

This is an option when initially setting up a new account, but it is also available in your Microsoft account so you can add other options at any time. This is also good if you initially set up your account with an old phone number or email that you no longer have access to because you can login to your account and update with the new phone number or email account. Do these things now instead of waiting until you have a new device and it is too late.

If you are not sure how to update this information or even how to set up an authenticator I can help with this also.

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Hey Google, Is This A Scam?

(Reprint from Email Scambuster Monthly Report)

You can Google to verify scams. This works with phone numbers that are in questionable emails, but you can also Google certain phrases as well to check for scams.

Most people are aware of the “Nigerian Prince” scam. This is when you receive a long letter from a supposed Nigerian prince who is hiding from his government and just trying to get his fortune out of his country and needs your help. He will pay you handsomely for just using your account to transfer his money into. If you receive this letter or any other potential scam letter you can copy the first few sentences and drop them into Google search. When you do this, you will usually find many similar versions that others have posted about the scam. It is a quick and easy way to verify a scam.

As I mentioned before, this can verify if it is a scam but if you don’t find any information don’t assume it isn’t a scam. It might just be too new to be searchable yet. This is just another tool to spot scams.

Years ago, I was watching a talk show that was about Romeo scams. This is where a lonely senior, male or female is having an online relationship with a hot young single from another country. They connect romantically by writing love letters and even having long loving conversations and eventually asking for money and usually lots of it.

In one of these cases, they took one of the love letters and ran that through Google and it came up with multiple versions and talked about all of the scams it was used in. They were actually able to get the victim to believe it was a scam due to all of the sites that had the same letter word for word. Scammers don’t invent something new if they can steal a scam from someone else.

Some of you know that I write another newsletter every month in addition to this one. It is called Email Scambuster Monthly Report. The purpose of this newsletter is to highlight current scams and educate those that are most vulnerable to scams.

I charge an annual fee of $30.00 for this newsletter because it has been proven that if you give someone information for free, they are less likely to read it and see the value of it. The information in these newsletters is too important for people to ignore.

This article is from that newsletter. I hope you see the value in it and if you know of someone who would benefit from this on a monthly basis, please click the link below and sign them up for it.

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Windows on Snapdragon: Great Battery, Broken Apps

There is a new choice when purchasing laptops. For years your choice of processors on your computer was either Intel or AMD. Over the years one or the other would exert their dominance and make the fastest processor and then lose that title the next year. It didn’t really matter which you chose because they both were fairly similar and comparable in terms of speed and either one would run all available software that was made for the PC.

Since 2018 there has been a new contender in the processor field called snapdragon. These were initially made for things like tablets and phones and their claim to fame was longer battery life. This made the jump to laptops noteworthy since battery life is very important in the laptop world but the 2018 chips were not very powerful so there were not a lot of early adopters. That changed in 2024 when a newer, more powerful version of the Snapdragon processor came out. The newer processors were powerful enough to gain attention and the laptops made with them were inexpensively priced.

Why am I telling you about this? This is a warning. I purchased a couple laptops for a company before I knew much about these processors and once I found out the truth, I quickly returned them swearing I will never again purchase another snapdragon processor laptop.

The laptops I purchased needed more storage, so I purchased 2 new 2 TB drives to add to the laptops. I have done this many times. I just needed to install Windows on the new drives, and everything would be fine. That is when the trouble started. Snapdragon processors need a different version of the installation, or they will not work. I did a little more research after that and discovered some of the programs that this company needed won’t work with the Snapdragon processors. This seemed like too much trouble, this is why I decided to never buy one again.

Yesterday, I was at a customer’s house setting up a computer they purchased without consulting me. I really didn’t pay any attention to the specs of the computer because I was busy setting everything up. While installing software for them I found a few programs that would not install and there were weird error messages. Finally, one message said something about not being supported. I quickly checked the processor and found that it was a snapdragon. I could not install the scanner for their printer; they had a few older games that would not install and the version of office they had also did not work.

They decided to keep the laptop, and I found work arounds for most of their installation issues but some of the things just would not work. This is why I always offer to find a computer for my customers or at least have them send me the specifics, so they don’t buy too much, too little or just the wrong computer.

So, my offer still stands. I am happy to help when you are looking at a new computer to make sure you end up with what you need.

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Horror Stories from Business Owners that did DIY IT services.

Half of my business is supporting small companies. Many times, when I am contacted by a small business owner it is because they have been trying to handle everything themselves or worse, they just have each employee set up their own stuff. In the past 13 years I have seen many issues that these scenarios can cause. I thought I would share some of the scarier issues to hopefully prevent others from going down the same road.

  • Allowing everyone to set up their own computers/technology. Sometimes when new entrepreneurs are just starting out, they will go and buy a new computer for their new employee and hand them the box and tell them to go ahead and get it set up and start working. In theory this might seem to be very efficient. The employee can set it up just how they feel it needs to be set up, and it also saves the owner the time it would take them to set it up. I have actually been called many times to help a business owner break into a computer because the employee that set it up and used it is no longer working for them, and they don’t know the password and can’t reach the ex-employee. I have a disk that allows me to delete the password so we can get into the computer and reset the password.

    When I set up computers for my customers, I first set up an admin account and only the business owner and I know the password. I then set up an account for the user, and I don’t give them admin rights. This way they can’t download and install any unauthorized software. This helps prevent viruses and malware along with pirated software issues which could cost a small business thousands of dollars. I also add antivirus/antimalware and monitoring software to make sure this computer will continue to work seamlessly for business.
  • Business Owner uses their personal accounts to set up employee’s computers. I have had a few instances where the business owner has used their personal Microsoft account to set up computers in their office and by doing this, they were inadvertently sharing all of their personal documents and even their personal accounts (banking and credit cards) and passwords with all of the office computers.

    Imagine the business owner’s surprise when they realize that all of their employees have access to their personal Amazon account, bank account and credit cards. They also have access to their personal documents which include some of the business financial data. This was discovered because he saw a picture of his child as the desktop background on an employee’s computer. The same picture he had on his. This employee’s computer was mirroring his personal computer.

    When I set up computers for businesses, I never allow people to share accounts. This keeps everyone’s information separate so that no one can see information they shouldn’t, and no one can read other’s email or worse, respond as someone else. The list goes on and on with potential problems when accounts are shared.

These are just a couple of the potential issues of being your own IT person. Many of the things I do and suggest to my business customers actually save them time, money, and productivity. My processes can also keep their information safe and confidential. If you are currently doing it yourself, I would love to help.

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Anti- Virus Protection

October 2025.2 Blog Graphic- Anti- Virus Protection

I get asked about anti-virus protection a lot. Questions like “do I really need anti-virus?” “What anti-virus is best?” Also, I get questions about specific anti-virus products and my opinion of them. So here are my thoughts on various types and brands of anti-virus.

  1. Do I really need an anti-virus program? Yes, every computer, whether it is Windows or Apple, should have an antivirus installed on it. Even people that are very cautious about using their computers can still accidentally click the wrong thing or accidentally allow something harmful onto their computers. I know Apple used to claim their computers don’t get viruses, but I have removed many viruses from MACs, so this is not true. Windows computers all come with Windows Defender preinstalled. If you don’t have another anti-virus installed this will give you a little bit of protection. After spending several hundred dollars or more on a computer that holds all of your precious documents, why wouldn’t you spend a few dollars a month to protect all of it?
  2. Are the free versions enough?  No, there is only one reason that a company gives you something for free. They give it free so they can then sell it to you in the future. All of the “free” products are really just marketing companies that constantly try to upsell you more products based on fear. I always feel like these companies have become the thing they should be stopping. They just keep popping up with new scary things and offer more products to protect you from those scary things. Most of those scary things are not real or needed. I have also installed a paid anti-virus on many computers that have a free version and during the initial scan the paid product finds things the free one never found. If your antivirus keeps telling you about new scary threats and offering to fix it for a price, give me a call and I will tell you if the threat is real or not. Many times, starting with a free version can end up costing hundreds per year if you fall for the scary pop-ups they use.
  3. What anti-virus is the best?  That is not a completely straight forward question. It really depends on whether you are using a personal computer or a work environment computer. Sometimes it makes sense to use a product with an add on if you were going to purchase that add on from someone else. For instance, if you want a VPN because you use public wifi a lot you can get an anti-virus that has a built-in VPN. For personal computers I like two different A/Vs. My go-to products are ESET and Webroot. They both do a good job, and they don’t constantly try to sell you more stuff. For business machines I recommend endpoint protection. The difference between endpoint and traditional A/V is that the endpoint version is managed by a console where all company machines are monitored and remotely fixed if there is a threat present. Another great feature is that an employee, or a bad actor, can’t even uninstall the endpoint. It can only be done from the console. If you have a couple of computers in your company, I can help you get this important coverage, and I will handle the monitoring for you. The actual cost is a lot less than you would think for this type of coverage.
  4. My computer came with a free trial from McAfee, should I just keep that one? I call McAfee the virus of the antivirus world. Their biggest marketing move was offering this free trial to all computer makers. They get a kickback from McAfee for adding this to their computers and whenever someone purchases from this trial. In a few instances I have pulled a computer out of the box and while setting it up I could not access the internet. After trying to fix it in the McAfee settings I ended up removing McAfee and then I could access the internet. They are probably the worst at pop-ups, trying to scare you and sell you more unnecessary stuff. They also give Adobe and a few other companies a kickback for allowing their product to download with the real software that you wanted. When downloading anything, watch out for check boxes to avoid getting things you don’t want. This extra product can slow down your system. It is always best to only have one antivirus on your computer. If you have more than one, they can cause issues for each other. More is not better.

I hope this has been helpful. Antivirus should not be expensive, and it should run in the background and not bother you too often. You should know what antivirus you are using so that if you happen to see another one on your computer you can quickly get rid of the extra one. I am always happy to help with questions about this topic.

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Screen Takeover Pop-ups

October 2025.2 Blog Graphic- Screen Takeover Pop-ups

This is one of the oldest scams out there. I keep thinking that surely everyone has heard about this one and is aware of how to resolve it, but I keep hearing from people that they fell victim to this scam. Please pass this on to anyone that might not be tech aware and needs to know about this.

Here is a video of what I am talking about:

This gives an example of what it can look like. There are many versions, some of them even turn your volume to full blast also. You can also get this on a MAC and a Chromebook. I did a Google search for Microsoft popup scams, and this is just a tiny bit of all the search results. As you can see this can take on many forms, but they all do the same thing.

As the video says, the safe way to get rid of this is to completely turn off your computer and when you turn it back on do not restore your browser session. If you have a desktop computer just pull the power cord out of the wall and then plug it back in and start up your computer. If you are on a laptop, it is a little harder. The power button on laptops usually is set to put the laptop to sleep when you tap the button. The way to get it to turn off completely is to press and hold the power button for 30 seconds. Once you turn it back on you should get the entire startup where it shows Dell, HP, Apple, or whatever company logo and then your operating system will load. If it quickly goes to your sign in without the full startup, it did not fully shutdown.

Please make sure that you and everyone you know are aware that NO COMPANY IS MONITORING YOUR COMPUTER. Any pop-up like this is fake. Also, no government agency monitors your computer. So, if it says FBI, CIA or Justice Center it is also fake.

As always, if you are unsure about something on your computer you can call me or forward an email to verify if it is real or not.

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Overrun with junk emails!!

I often get questions from customers about how to cut down on the flood of unwanted emails they receive every day. Many hope there’s a magic button to stop it but unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

The right approach depends on the type of email you’re dealing with. Here’s a quick guide to the most common kinds of messages and how to handle them:

1. Legitimate Companies (Retailers, Restaurants, etc.)

These are emails that clearly come from a business you recognize, such as “sales@target.com” or “marketing@tacobell.com”. By law, these companies must include an unsubscribe link. Using that link is safe, and within 7–10 days you should stop receiving their promotions.

2. Affiliate Marketers and “Deal” Sites

These come from sketchier addresses like “jayne@yourbestdealsnow.com”. Technically, they’re supposed to follow the same unsubscribe rules—but often don’t. Be cautious: some “unsubscribe” links simply redirect you to more ads. Before clicking, hover over the link to see where it actually goes. A safer option is to use your email provider’s block or report button. This often pushes future emails straight to spam and, in some cases, can even get the sender shut down.

3. Fake or Spoofed Emails

These are the trickiest—and most dangerous. Examples include fake purchase receipts, antivirus subscriptions, or alerts from banks you don’t even use. These messages often come from throwaway or stolen email addresses. Never click “unsubscribe” on these. Doing so could add malware to your computer and tell scammers your email is active, which will only get you more junk. Instead, delete them or mark them as spam.

This list isn’t exhaustive, but it covers the majority of junk mail you’ll run into. If you’re ever unsure, you can forward a suspicious email to me, and I’ll verify whether it’s real.For small businesses, I also offer tools that automatically block scams and spoofed emails before they ever hit your employees’ inboxes. In the past year alone, my system has stopped nearly 1,000 scam emails for my customers. It’s affordable protection that could save your business thousands in lost time and money.

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