Scott's Computer Emporium

On-Line Safety for Children

2010-07-22T13:41:00.000-04:00

In a world with all kinds of threats it’s most important that we protect our children. In the process of protecting them we also need to protect them while they’re on-line. This protection should start from an early age but it’s never too late to begin. I will be giving some tips and ideas to use that will help you to be a protective parent and still have their respect.

As I said before start early, sit with them while they’re on the computer and show them the sites you would like them to go on. There are many sites that are geared to children. Such as:

To make it easier for your child to find these sites don’t forget to bookmark them or better still add an icon to your desktop.

*** NOTE *** The number one safety rule for your children should be NEVER give their real name, address or password. Also NEVER give out personal information while on the internet.

To make it easier for you to keep an eye on them while they’re on the internet, make sure your computer is located in a spot where your family tends to congregate like the family room.

Monitor any emails they get and monitor their chats if they go on MSN Live Messenger or any other chat program. Be on the look out for Cyberbullying. Most people play nice online, but some use the Internet to harass, belittle, or try to intimidate others. Attacks may range from name calling to physical threats and are rarely seen by parents. If someone threatens or continually harasses your kids, or attempts to lure them into

face-to-face meetings for illicit purposes, report the problem to the police.

Read what they write in their blogs and their profiles on social networking sites. Teach your kids to trust their instincts and to tell you immediately if they ever feel threatened or scared by something that happens online.

Last but not least always make sure you antivirus programs are up-to-date and you have a firewall on your computer.

Other Useful Resources:

www.netsmartz.org

www.microsoft.com/protect

www.isafe.org

www.xbox.com/familysettings

www.kids.getnetwise.org/tools

On Line Privacy. How To Protect Yourself.

2010-05-19T08:24:00.000-04:00

This article was written for a colleague of mine. His name is Brian Bien and his website is www.BienTek.com
Hope you enjoy it.

Net users often take for granted that they have privacy whenever they go online. What many don't realize is that the internet is a double-edged sword: it can gives us all the information we can possibly ask for, but it can be used to take information from us as well.

Even something as innocuous as using a search engine or visiting a website actually leaves traces, information that clue in marketers to our habits and interests, which they can use to further their own goals. If, for example, you do a search on the latest cars, someone can pick up the cookie left behind by your search. The next time you visit your favorite site or check your inbox, you just might see an ad for cars, tailor fit just for you.

You have the right to online privacy and you CAN protect it. Here are a few ways to do just that:

1.Don't make it easy to identify yourself—be very wary of giving out personal information online. One thing to avoid is doing a search of your own name. Because search engines keep their search logs for a period of time, your name can be linked to your IP address, personally identifying you as the one doing the search.

2.Manage your cookies—some websites leave bits of information about you through internet cookies stored on your computer. This information can be potentially be sold to marketers, who may then create a profile about you and your online habits. To mitigate this, you can set your browser's options to delete your cookies whenever you end a session.

3.Mask your IP address—In internet terms, your IP address is like a regular address. It's possible for someone to trace whatever you do online to that address. There are a few ways to hide your address. Firstly, you can use a dynamic address as opposed to a static one. If you can't get a dynamic address from your ISP or server, you can opt to mask it instead. To do this you can use a free program like Tor or a proxy website like Anonymizer, which acts as a buffer between you and the sites you visit.

4.Don't use a search engine where you keep an open account—if, for example, you are logged in to your Gmail account and you do a search with Google, the search engine can connect all your searches to your account. To protect the privacy of your searches, use a different search engine like Bing or Yahoo!.

5.Consider Ixquick as your search engine—most search engines retain their search logs for a period of time. Google for example, maintains their logs for 6 months, while Yahoo keeps theirs for 90 days. Doesn't sound like a problem? Well, in 2004, the U.S. government subpoenaed the search logs of all of the country's major search engines, and everyone but Google complied. Of course, nobody wants anyone looking through their private searches for whatever reason. Ixquick, a Dutch-based search engine, solves this problem by deleting their search logs within 48 hours. It also does not record your IP address. If you're interested in giving your searches a measure of privacy, Ixquick provides an easy solution.

How Safe Is Your Computer?

2010-03-18T14:02:00.000-04:00

Why is it we take precautions to protect our PIN number at the ATM machine but neglect our computers? Did you know that it takes approximately 20 minutes to infect an unprotected computer. I would strongly suggest that everyone take a look at their anti-virus program and make sure that its doing its job. Make sure its up to date and also make sure to update Microsoft Windows while you're at it. With a few simple steps you can have a safe computer and an even safer internet experience. With that being said we must also keep in mind that any anti-virus software on your computer will not be able to protect you 100% of the time. Updating your software will help to prevent viruses.

Follow these steps to help protect yourself and your computer while on the internet:

Install anti-virus software: One of the biggest mistakes people make is to assume that once the anti-virus software is installed they are protected. An outdated anti-virus program is no protection at all, make sure it is updated regularly. The program has to be updated so that it can recognize new viruses. For a good free anti-virus program try Microsoft Security Essentials for XP and Vista/Win7
Install a Firewall: A firewall acts as a barrier between your home computer and the internet. It can help to screen out unauthorized access to your system. For home pc users, a firewall can be a software program commonly found in Internet Security packages. It can also be a hardware device such as a router that plugs in between your modem and your computer.
Keeping Your Operating System Up To Date: Download security updates and patches regularly. The popularity of Windows has made it far too easy to attack. Regular updates is a must and most systems can be scheduled to update on its own.
Spyware Scanners: Spyware is a general term used for software that is downloaded, in most cases without your knowledge, and it seeks out information about you or your computer. Some spyware will change your home page or create pop-up ads. Other types of spyware are a little more vicious and can create a great deal of problems. To counter act spyware and anti-spyware program should be installed. I use SuperAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes
Secure Wireless Networks: Always make sure wireless networks are secure by placing a password on the network. Any computer that wants to access your network will require that password. If your wireless network is not protected then anyone can gain access to your network and do whatever they want including downloading inappropriate material.

In upcoming articles I will discuss Safe Practices and How To Protect Your Children On The Internet. I hope you have found this information useful.

How To Choose A Good Computer Technician

2010-02-14T09:41:00.001-05:00

With the economy the way it is many people will hire technicians off of sites such as Kijiji or Craig's List, it is very important that you (as the consumer) find out if your dealing with a legit tech that can do your computer repairs right or somebody you should avoid.

In the years I have worked as a Computer Technician I have seen many people get scammed by dishonest or unqualified Technicians. When you’re deciding on a person to help you with a repair you may wish to consider these points to insure that you’re about to hire somebody that will get your computer repaired correctly.

1. The Technician should have a Business License:
A business license shows that the technician or shop is legal and less likely to be running any repair scam. If a "tech" is doing things "under the table" and cutting corners with the law what corners will they cut with you and your repair?

2. A Professional, Full Time Technician:
Make sure this is how they make their living and not a side job.
Being a Professional Technician is a full time job. Besides being busy doing repairs a good tech is spending much of their time learning about new software, hardware, security updates, and latest virus threats etc...

If it's a side job or hobby they are not putting in the time to stay current and do you know if they will be around when you really need them?

3. Written Warranties and Receipts on all Work Performed:
Make sure any guarantees are written on paper or they are useless. Ask for a copy of their warranty before doing business and read it so you know before you start a repair what your options will be if something should go wrong.

And always make sure you get a receipt, every time no matter what.

4. Realistic Pricing:
You get what you pay for. We all know that. If somebody is offering service that seems dirt cheap find out why. Make sure you know about any extra charges that may come up. Such as travel time. Or rates that shoot up after you used the first block of "cheap" time. Lookout for "deals" that claim to give you free time or hardware.

Everything has to be paid for at some point and it’s the customer that always pays. Otherwise the company could not stay in business. No problem with looking for a good deal. Always look around. But keep in mind that your computer and software cost you a fair amount of money. Do you want to trust it to somebody that thinks their service has less value then a pizza delivered to your door?

5. Real World Contact Information:
If a Technician does not list a phone number and they use only anonymous email accounts such as hotmail ask yourself why? Should they claim it’s to stop spam and telemarketers ask yourself if you want a technician that does not know how to use caller ID and a simple spam filter on their own systems working on yours.

Will you be able to find that anonymous somebody if something goes wrong with your repair? Real businesses list their phone, email and websites as they want to make it easy for you to contact them. If you have to jump through a bunch of hoops to find the "tech" ask yourself why? If you had a business would you hide from customers?

6. Certifications:
Many Technicians advertising online are not certified, so ask if they are and then ask for proof. It’s always a good sign when you can see that the Technician your thinking about using has taken the extra step and verified their knowledge through testing. Never be afraid to ask somebody you’re thinking about using if they are qualified. And if for whatever reason they can not prove it, stay away from them.

7. Experience:
As with most things in life nothing beats real world experience. Ask anybody your thinking about using how much real world computer repair experience they have. If they name just one or two places they have worked at or they are still in school or have less then 10 years experience then more often then not they will not have the level of experience you'll need.

8. Other points to remember...
Don't let yourself be rushed. Make sure you call around so you have an idea what is being offered by different businesses. Ask all of your questions and make sure you feel comfortable. If you’re being rushed or the Technician is too busy to help you then you need to call somebody else.

Does the Technician ask you questions? If they do and listen to what you have to say its a good sign. If they also try to help you over the phone or email then its an even better sign. A real Technician will try and help you if they can before setting up a service call or having you come to their shop.

You have spent lots of money on your computer and its software. It holds information that you use and need everyday and some of its data is priceless to you. Make sure your investment is secure by calling for professional computer help when you need it.

Beware of “Pizza Techs”

2009-11-15T09:51:00.002-05:00

This article was written by Larry Sabo, and it does reflect my opinions.

“Pizza Tech” is a derogatory term that legitimate PC repair businesses use to describe low-priced, fly-by-night computer repair people who repair computers for just enough money to buy pizza and beer. Their rates are extremely low and reflect their lack of technical qualifications, business registration and ethics. They see nothing wrong with using or installing pirated, illegal or unlicensed copies of Windows or computer programs and will offer to install them for a very low price or for free. So why beware of them?

Their lack of ethics and working for cash under-the-table aside, they can make a real mess of your PC and end up costing you far more than you bargained for. After they have finished with your computer, you may end up having to call a qualified technician to undo their handiwork, fix the original problem as it should have been the first time, and possibly recover your trashed data. One of my customers was charged more than the price of a brand new PC to repair her old computer – after a Pizza tech spent six hours working on it while his tag-along child ran unsupervised throughout her house!

Some Pizza Tech customers may find that their system will not pass Microsoft’s periodic validation checks, leaving them with a system or software they can no longer access without paying Microsoft to make it legal. And would you trust your personal data to the prying eyes of someone patently dishonest, with no morals or principles? Can you be confident that your computer will be free of password-stealing keyloggers, trojans and spyware after a Pizza Tech is done with it? Theft of credit card data and identities is rampant. One of my clients had $13,000 removed from his bank account without his knowledge or approval, so it's not a hypothetical risk!

After returning from vacation last year, I received a call from one of my customers asking me to come and repair his computer, half-jokingly admonishing me to never go away and leave him alone like that again. In my absence, he had called someone else to fix a problem and swore he’d never to do so again. I said it can't hurt to try another tech, to which he replied “Oh yes it can!” To reduce the risk of it happening again, I have added Remote Desktop Support services that enable me to fix most problems remotely and still enjoy a vacation once in a while.

How can you spot a Pizza Tech, other than by unbelievably-low prices/rates and offers of free or low-cost software? Ask if they are a registered business and charge taxes on repairs. All computer repair businesses in Ontario are required to collect PST and those with revenues over $30,000 are required to collect GST. Ask for their business registration number for verification. Will they give a receipt and provide proof of identity?

Do they have a website with their own domain name (e.g., businessname.com or .ca) and does it have their business street address? (A small claims court summons can't be served to a P.O. Box!) Is their phone number in Canada411’s Reverse Number Lookup? If neither of the above, how do you expect to retrieve your computer or contact them in case of a problem or dispute? Do they have testimonials on their website by people whose names you can find in Canada411 or are they fictitious? Depending on the answers to the above, you will have to decide whether or not they are legitimate, qualified and trustworthy.

There is nothing wrong with shopping around for someone to repair your computer, just make sure he/she isn't a Pizza Tech.

I have a friend who knows computers?

2009-08-20T10:00:00.000-04:00

With the economy the way it is we are all trying to save a little money. When it comes to certain things, we tend to go the cheaper route and get someone to perform a task for free or at a greatly reduced price. But at what cost? When it comes to our computers most people will take the cheaper repair route. It seems like everyone has a friend that knows about computers and can fix it for free. With everyone losing their jobs there seems to be more so called computer techs opening up their own shops offering cut rate repairs. Please keep in mind cheaper isn't always better.

I have run across a number of people who have used the cheaper route to repair their computers but ended up spending more because it wasn't done properly in the first place. Think of it this way would you really get your neighbor's kid to repair your car or install a new furnace? Technician's are trained professionals who have gone to school to be trained in what they do. These professionals also have certificates to prove their knowledge. Professionals charge what they do because of their knowledge and training.

In the computer industry we have a name for those techs who charge cut throat rates. We call them Pizza Techs, because they are only in the business to make a quick buck and they charge enough to buy a pizza usually the $20 - $40 range per repair. These pizza techs are not professionals and you can usually tell by how they address the customer. Often their appearance alone will give away the fact that they really don't know what they're doing. This type of competition does not bother me because eventually their customers come to me for a proper repair, in most cases they go out of business because they soon realize they can't make the fast buck they were hoping for. All I can say is buyer beware. Be careful who you choose for a computer technician because it could cost you more in the end.

New Computer VS Upgrading

2009-03-25T13:43:00.008-04:00

This is something I get asked all the time, should you upgrade your current computer or buy a new one? This is an age old question that doesn't have a simple yes or no answer. The choice is really up to you but here are a few things that I point out to my customers.

First: what is it that's wrong with your current computer? If its something what I consider major like a motherboard which will probably require a new processor (CPU chip), then it might be cheaper to buy a new computer. But if its a new hard drive, video card, memory, or other easily replaced components then by all means upgrade. You can often find deals on these components.

Second: Is your current computer meeting your needs? Consider this, if all you do is surf the Internet or send/receive email, then why do you need a new computer when your current one is doing that for you now. You might say to me that your computer is too slow. If that is the case then I look at why its running slow and there are a number of reasons. I look at the internal parts like the fans (are they full of dust and debris?), I look at the memory to determine if you could use more, a PC tune up might help as well. Sometimes doing the simple little things can help to speed up a computer and make it run more efficiently.

Thirdly: What is the age of your current computer? I tell my customers who are thinking about buying a new computer that if their current computer is more then 4 years old then it may be time to look at the new computers. But once again age is only a small factor in the decision. It really brings you back to points one and two.

Let me just say this in closing; new computers are faster but not necessarily better. I strongly believe that with the proper maintenance a computer can and will last for years. Like homes or cars your computers need to be checked over, cleaned out, and tuned up once or twice a year. Your computer will be faster, less prone to crashes, and be better behaved when you have it tuned up. I am a big fan of recycling and refurbishing older computers because it keeps them out of the landfill. If you are determined to purchase a new computer then make sure you buy something that will meet your needs now and in the future.

Do You Trust Your Computer Technician?

2009-03-12T09:32:00.007-04:00

I have been in the computer industry for a number of years now, silently sitting back and observing. Now that I run my own computer service I feel I must speak out. I pride myself on my honesty and integrity and can not tolerate dishonest people or poor workmanship. Too many times I have come across another technician's work that was either done improperly or down right illegally. I have been told that I should become the Holmes On Homes of the computer industry and that is why I'm writing this. I want to inform my customers and the public what to look for in their computer technicians. Over the next little while I will be writing my opinions and observations regarding the computer industry. I realize I can't change it but perhaps I can help to better inform you. It is far too easy for a computer technician to take advantage of someone that doesn't know better.

Today lets talk about the Windows Operating System (Windows Vista or Windows XP). I have known people who have gone into a computer shop and had operating system down graded from Windows Vista to Windows XP and had not received a copy of the windows software nor had they received the COA (Certificate Of Authenticity). The COA is a visual identifier that assists in determining whether or not the Microsoft software you are running is genuine. It includes the product key that is required to reinstall Microsoft if the need arises. Keep in mind that the COA should never be purchased without the software that it authenticates.

When you buy Microsoft software they have built in features that prevent piracy and indicates whether or not its genuine. The COA label is one way but the software media is the other. The media will be a DVD with a hologram with the words Microsoft and Genuine on it. Always check to make sure that the hologram isn't a label that can be pealed off. If in doubt check the Microsoft website under How To Tell windows is genuine.

Keep in mind when you go to buy Microsoft software if its a ridiculously low price, then be cautious. I've seen ads for Windows Vista Ultimate for $50.00 to $100 including installation. Think about it, Windows Vista Ultimate is retailed at $330.00 or more. OEM software should never be sold without the purchase of system hardware like a motherboard or harddrive. If you purchase it without system hardware then the copy of windows becomes illegal to own.

I hope you enjoyed reading this and once again please keep in mind these are my opinions. Its best to educate yourself on what is out there to prevent problems in the future. Please feel free to comment on my blog.