Tag: Scams

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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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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