Virus Removal Programs Prevent PC Repairs in Newark

May 2, 2011 By

Avoid PC Repairs with Virus Protection

It doesn’t matter if you use the internet for a few minutes per day, or all day long. The chances of picking up a computer virus from an email or website are incredibly high. Virus removal programs are designed to help you block potential threats so that they never have a chance to cause damage to your PC, therefore avoiding future computer repair costs.  Here are a few benefits associated with virus protection software.

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Protection from Spam

Protection from spam is important for two reasons. A good anti-virus pram will make sure that your personal information is not picked up by those who should not have access, reducing the amount of spam you see on your screen and in your inbox. The program will also ensure that hackers are unable to access your accounts, sending spam under your name. This ensures you aren’t blamed for problems you did not actually cause.

Protection from Malware and Spyware

Malware and spyware are scary words to those who have never heard them before. Malware is defined as a malicious software program designed with the intent to destroy files on your computer. Spyware is considered a type of malware, but is often used to gather data about your computer use – including passwords, the sites you visit, and other personal details. Your anti-virus program will quickly and easily pick up on these types of threats, removing them from your PC before they can cause any damage.

Protection from Viruses

There are, of course, other types of viruses – codes written to force your computer to stop working properly, to not shut down properly, and to do other strange things. Installing anti-virus software will ensure you are safe from all types of threats.

Most anti-virus programs update themselves regularly, ensuring you are protected from even the newest of threats. Install an anti-virus program the moment you take your PC out of the box. Doing so will ensure you don’t have to spend any money on PC repair in Newark – at least not for repairs caused by viruses!

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Be on the Lookout for Fake Virus Removal Warnings

February 19, 2011 By

It’s a frightening and growing online trend. Websites posing as informational databases are really attempting to spread viruses and malware. One of the newest methods for spreading this type of file-damaging information is by using pop-ups to show fake virus removal warnings.

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fake virus alert

How Does it Work?

Imagine browsing the web. Suddenly, a pop-up box appears on your screen. The box looks like a virus checking program. It’s “counting files” and totaling up the number of problems you have on your PC. Once the check is finished, you are warned about the number of viruses on your PC and are encouraged to click on a button to purchase a  virus removal program.

The problem? Most of these programs aren’t virus removal programs. The problems are two-fold. First, you’re giving away your personal payment information to what is likely a scam organization. Second, you’re probably not getting a virus removal program (and if you do get a file, it’ll probably contain a real virus).

What Can I Do?

Fortunately, there are some things you can do if you suspect you’ve clicked on a fake virus removal link. If you realize there is a problem before installing the file, simply delete if from your system. If you’ve already opened and installed the file, boot your computer in safe-mode and run the trusted anti-virus program you already have on your PC.

The sooner you catch a virus, the less damage it can do to the files you have stored on your hard drive. Don’t panic if you aren’t sure what to do. Simply call your local computer repair specialist and he or she will be able to help you get legitimate virus removal software on your PC as soon as possible.

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New! Drop-Off Computer Repair Location

February 6, 2011 By

UPDATE:

As of November/2010, we have a resource for you to drop off your computer at a store front and receive IT Certified Computer help in Newark, DE.  Please visit our Recommended Newark DE Computer Repair Service and Support Center.  Or call them at 302-894-7355.

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Visit Main Street Computers or call them 302-894-7355 to visit you!

Archived Post:

That’s right. I do not maintain a public drop off location for computer repairs. Unfortunately some people end up going elsewhere to have their computer fixed. Some people are a little skeptical. I don’t fault anyone for that at all. I mean, you come across this site and see decent repair rates but maybe you have never heard about DelawarePCtech.com. I think about 50% of the inquiries I get from my website don’t choose me mainly because I don’t maintain a public drop off location.

Here are the biggest reasons why I will come pick up your computer for repair:

  1. This is a home-based business.  My insurance does not cover me for having employees and customers here.
  2. If I leased commercial space my PC repair rates would double at the minimum just to cover extra expenses.
  3. 95% of the repairs I do are more feasibly completed at my location.  For example, virus removal services alone can take 6 or more hours of running scans and utilities required to effectively repair a system.
  4. It is a liability issue if a customer or employee comes to my home.

When I make arrangements with someone to pick up their computer for repair they are given all of my contact information including my address.  You get a contract with my business name and information on it.  That’s fine, you should expect that at the least if I am going to have your computer in my possession.  But, even when that computer is all fixed and ready to return, I still cannot have you come pick it up.  I will return it to you, my gas, my mileage, my time, my service to you.

In my efforts to try to ease future customer’s worries I want you to know that I hold a valid business license in the state of Delaware and I am insured.  Ask any insurance agent and you will learn there are different types of insurance policies.  If I held the kind that allowed me to have employees or customers on my premises than again, you can bet my repair rates would more than double.

So, one other thing I want to do here is invite past customers to comment on this post.  I would love to have the customers that have found me through this site to comment on my honesty, dependability, and dedication to this business.  I have a ton of customers and testimonials from simple word of mouth advertising but now I would love to see my website only customers write a little to help future customers feel more at ease.

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3 Great Spyware Removal Tips

February 5, 2011 By

Spyware, while not necessarily damaging to your computer, can be incredibly damaging to your personal reputation and finances. This type of software can be inadvertantly installed as you are surfing the web and will then watch every move you make, logging keystrokes, stealing personal identifying information, and more. Spyware is, fortunately, relatively easy to remove. Here are three spyware removal tips to keep in mind as you work on your PC or repair your computer.

Renew Your Anti-Virus

It seems silly, but running an old anti-virus program on your PC is worthless. Anti-virus programs update themselves regularly, ensuring you’re protected against new computer threats. Failure to update your anti-virus will leave you vulnerable, and you’re bound to pick up a virus or spyware program that the old version of your software can’t detect. Renew your software each year to ensure you are adequately protected.

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Turn Off System Restore

The system restore feature on your PC allows you to reformat the files on your PC, taking them back to a point in time before a problem took place. Your computer makes an image of itself and when you choose a system restore date, it will recreate a duplicate of that image. Some spyware files install themselves in your system restore files. This means that your spyware may reinstall itself if you have to run a system restore, simply because it’s been saved there. Turn off your system restore function before you work on spyware removal and turn it back on once you’ve finished.

Make Repairs in Safe Mode

Make sure you run your anti-virus or spyware removal program while your computer is in safe mode. Doing so will ensure your computer is only using the files necessary to operate on a limited basis, making it much easier for the software program to find the spyware files it needs to delete.

Take the steps to protect yourself, especially if your computer has been infected for an extended period of time. Monitor your internet accounts, change your passwords, and protect yourself in the future by running your spyware removal program on a regular basis. Your internet experiences will be worry-free.

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Dangers of LimeWire and BitTorrent

January 18, 2011 By

Many people turn to peer to peer file sharing sites to get premium music, software, and other digital files without having to put out hard earned cash.  There are significant dangers involved with using LimeWire and BitTorrent.  Over 90% of the computers I work on for virus removal have either LimeWire or BitTorrent installed.

Sometimes people think that if they are running an Anti Virus program they are protected.  Anti Virus programs are not a silver bullet.  If you voluntarily go to a peer to peer file sharing site and voluntarily download files it is likely you are clicking “OK”, “SAVE”, “INSTALL”, “FINISH”, and all that good stuff.  You better believe you are over-riding anything your Anti Virus program can do to protect you.

These peer to peer file sharing websites are extremely dangerous to your online safety and will corrupt your computer.  All sorts of Malware, Viruses, Trojans, and Spyware are given the opportunity to enter your computer system through these file sharing sites.  Once they get into your system they immediately go to work to disable your Anti Virus protection software.

Here are some very scary consequences of file sharing to consider:

  1. When using a peer to peer file sharing network, you are at a major risk of downloading and installing Malware that gives another user somewhere in the world access to your computer files.  These people will look for things such as tax return documents, bank statements, and even student financial aid applications.  They will look for and steal any documents or files that contain critical information about you.  Now, what do you think will be done with that information?
    Do you want something creepier to think about?  This type of security problem may not be limited to one weirdo farming your computer files.  Because you have this Malware installed it’s as if you are holding a bright light out to cyber creeps to stop at your system and see what they can find.  You think you are sleeping all nice and safe in your warm bed but really, you are being digitally violated.
  2. Something else to think about are the legal implications of downloading intellectual property.  It violates copyright laws.  Look, there are plenty of open source programs to use to get things done.  If someone put a lot of time and effort into creating something for entertainment value or productivity purposes and their business model was to be compensated for it then, yes they should be paid for their talent.
    When you download music and software through these file sharing applications you can be charged with committing a crime.  And, yes, it can be costly to fight it in court.  It can be costly if you are fined.  It can be costly to your desire for freedom and respect in your community.
  3. The most common consequence to consider here is the fact that one day, your computer will become completely disabled due to these viruses that have been downloaded through peer to peer file sharing sites.  So, not only do you have to pay to have it restored but you have to pay for data recovery services.  Sure, if you come to me that whole package shouldn’t cost more than $150 but if you rely on a big box store, it could be 3 times as much.

So, is it really worth it to use file sharing applications such as LimeWire, BitTorrent, and FrostWire?  Personally, I think it is much too risky.  I have seen far too many machines corrupted by engaging in file sharing.  The vast majority of files downloaded through these sites contain malicious code design to exploit your computer system.

If you want to learn more about how to keep your computer running smooth then sign up for the PC Tune-Up Video Course.  The knowledge you gain will pay for itself time and time again.

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Top Fake Antivirus Clients

January 13, 2011 By

Here is a quick update on some of the most common and troubling fake anti-virus clients.

Warning Your’re in Danger!:  You just can’t make up something like this.  This particular virus strain places a warning on the user’s desktop and does not let them change it.  Most individuals who have this error also are infected with the fake security client System Security 2009.  Desktop background high-jackings first hit the main stream back in the day with a virus called Smitfraud.  The smitfraud.exe tool actually will restore the desktop settings to the default mode and also resolve the issue of not being able to bring up the task manager.

Those who are infected with this strain need to take action right away.Most people who are infected with this got it from a fake video codec that installed a downloader trojan that then went out and installed this program.  You should run a full in-depth security scan and remove all traces at once.As always backup your important data first.

Home Antivirus 2010 : Home antivirus 2010 looks to be from the same makers as Home Antivirus 2009.  The overall graphic user interface is very similar and the tactics are still the same.  This type of program is commonly known as Scare ware because it scares the user into thinking they have a virus and attempts to get them to purchase the bogus program.  As you may of already guessed this is not a real security product and in fact is part of the virus.Be sure to run a full scan using what ever security client you like or trust the most.
Remove PC Security 2009: This is one of the most anoying ones we have seen in a while because of all the error messages and warnings you see.  All of them telling you that you’re infected and need to purchase this bogus program.  Do not fall for this.  It is fake and they are just out to steal your money.For a fake security client this guy is one of the hardest to fully remove because it normally also has a rootkit with it.  You need to ensure that you remove the downloader trojan in order to be fully clean.  It is recommended you run a full security scan in safe mode for best chances of removal.

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Beware of Windows 7 Themes

December 25, 2009 By

Well, the big gift-giving holiday of the year is complete and many people were lucky enough to get new computers.  The new laptops and desktop computers are being shipped with Windows 7 installed.  Windows 7 is a way nicer than Vista.  The themes, background pictures, and settings in general allow for an aesthetically pleasing user experience.

I had the pleasure of running through the set-up process for several customers that were giving or receiving new laptops as Christmas gifts.  When I run through a PC set-up for someone I optimize the whole system as well as create the system recovery, repair, and back-up discs.  I get rid of “bloat-ware” or “crap-ware”, install desired programs, and make sure there is a good anti-virus program activated and ready to go.

Windows 7 comes packaged with some pretty cool themes but if you want more to choose from you can click on the link within your Control Panel that will take you to a page on the Microsoft website to browse and download additional Windows 7 themes.

That sounds like a safe and great option doesn’t it?  Well, things are not always what they seem.  We even need to be cautious with a Microsoft website that most people would believe to be “safe”.  I have downloaded additional themes and background pictures right from the Microsoft website only to have Trojans included with every download.

These did not seem to be isolated incidents.  I have been using Windows 7 since it came out.  I have run through many PC set-ups in the past few months.  I have downloaded extra themes for several customers and each time found Trojans after installing those themes right from the Microsoft website!

After downloading and installing anything it is good practice to scan your computer with Anti-virus software.  I am a little paranoid and will often use 3 different virus scanners to make sure everything is safe. It is important to understand that a Windows based PC should only run one active Anti-virus engine.  It is possible to run other virus scanners though.  It’s the active Anti-virus protection engines that will conflict with each other if installed on the same machine.  Active AV programs aim to prevent viruses from entering your computer in the first place.  They will also provide alerts if they detect threats already on your machine.  They will run scans at scheduled times and automatically update it’s virus definitions.  A regular scanner does nothing until you interact with it to tell it to scan or update.

A good free Trojan remover to use is Malwarebytes.  You can download it for here.  The free version will scan for and even allow you to remove threats found.

Another free virus scanner is the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool.  It is not something I solely rely on but in combination with other tools and Trojan, or virus removal skills, you can be pretty certain that your system is squeaky clean.

The premium Anti-virus program that I prefer to use is Bit Defender.  I often will keep several pieces of BitDefender and Malwarebytes stocked in my online store.

The most important thing to know is that you must use caution even when using a trusted website!  Whenever downloading files, your computer is immediately vulnerable to malware.  This is another example of how important it is to become an intelligent PC user and practice safe computing.

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Teaching Safe Computing

December 25, 2009 By

I fix computers.  My customers are the end users of Windows based PC’s.  From home computer repair to educating people on computer use, those are the things I love to do.  Now more than ever seems to be a growing need for safe computing education.  There are constant threats online and bad things can happen instantaneously even to good people.  A little paranoia will go a far but the proper education will take you even further.

Computers have become more of a necessity rather than a luxury.  Children seem to come out of the womb with some sort of digital device and master using laptops as quickly as they can completely cripple them with viruses.

I have worked with many parents and the laptops or desktop computers that they have given their children to use. Some parents are lucky and able to teach their young child or teenager the best and safest way to use the Internet and preserve their windows based PC.  Some parents come to me asking how they can keep their kid off of really popular sites like Facebook.  Ummmm…. that’s probably next to impossible!  Still other parents are at their wits end because their teenager has completely ruined the best laptop in the house for the 3rd time straight due to visiting questionable websites that just download Trojans and other malware as a welcoming gift.

There are times when computer privileges must be revoked all together.  But in today’s digital age, we all know that is just a bandaid on a gushing wound.  There are great software programs out there that can implement Parental Controls to aid with monitoring your child’s online activity.  But really, the absolute best way to keep your children, yourself, and your computer systems safe from online threats is EDUCATION.

Look, this stuff isn’t going anywhere.  It is advancing at warp speed.  A simple click of a mouse can do amazing things these days.  But, if we teach our kids safe computing than we have a fighting chance.

Some things that can keep you and your children safe online are:

  • When using social networking sites such as Facebook, check your privacy settings to make sure everything about you is not disclosed to every random searcher online.
  • Create limited user accounts for your children and password-protect your administrator account on the computer.
  • Don’t install every toolbar for your browser that you encounter.  Some toolbars are really just spyware or adware.  They can slow down your internet surfing speed and collect information on your browsing behavior.
  • Maintain a good Antivirus program.  One with Parental Controls will help. I recommend Bit Defender.
  • Keep your Antivirus program active, updated, and run system scans daily.
  • Read every pop-up message you get from your Antivirus program and click the appropriate action buttons when necessary.
  • Keep your operating system updated with critical security patches.  Windows XP is up to SP3 and Vista is up to SP2.
  • If you are using Windows 2000 consider an upgrade since Microsoft is not even supporting it anymore.
  • Use browsers other than Internet Explorer.  Try Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, or Opera.
  • Practice clicking the red “X” in the upper right corner of dialog boxes when unsure about a pop-up box.
  • Avoid Limewire.com and BitTorrent.com.  Those sites are at the root of every crippled computer or laptop that a teenager once used.  They are file sharing sites that just download viruses to your system.
  • The most important updates for your computer will come from Microsoft and your chosen Antivirus program.  Beware of imposters.  There is a fake internet protection program that will look completely legitimate as if it is coming from Microsoft or another valid Antivirus program.  There are more than a dozen different names for this thing and most of them start with the letter “A”.  If it pops up on your computer do not interact with it.
  • Read every pop up message carefully.  Don’t become complacent and blindly click OK with anything.
  • When installing a new software program always read through the setup screens.  Programs will often bundle other unwanted software and install it by default.  Reading through setup screens will help keep those unwanted programs out of your system.

When all else fails, consult a qualified computer repair technician sooner rather than later.  One that will take the time to help you avoid future problems is ideal.

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