Today, I am just sick of it. It’s about the 12^th time I’ve gotten a stupid email of the sort, that says I have a shipment that UPS tried to deliver to me, but couldn’t. And then the attachment is the tracking info. They want me to open this .zip file attachment; however I know what’s waiting in it. What almost got me today, was that I was expecting multiple shipments and they were also running late.

I think to myself that if I didn’t know any better I would have clicked on it and so I am sure it’s happened to you too.

I’m going to share a few tips with you to help you avoid falling victim to this trap in the future.

Social Engineering?

This isn’t the only kind of, what I call “fishing malware email” that I have gotten. For all you business owners, you might be able to relate to this one. I have received numerous emails claiming to be from the BBB, Better Business Bureau, as well as Dun & BradStreet stating, I have had a complaint lodged against my business and I can find the details in the attachment. I have also received emails containing fax attachments, which are usually in .zip file formats.

The problem with all of this is that I actually do have a fax service that comes via the email. Close call?

Would this one have gotten you?

WAIT… how do they know all this about me? How did they know I was expecting a UPS package?

How real does this look (notice the zip file that the sender wants me to open):

It’s just about every day where I get a call, or a client comes through the doors of the computer repair shop talking  about how they think they have a virus, or malware and their computer is locked up, they can’t run any programs, can’t see their documents, can’t get online, or even the computer boots into a blue screen.

I didn’t do it!

Don’t get mad at me for saying this, but they always say they didn’t do anything … that it just happened, they just got infected, they don’t know how a virus got them or how & where the malware came from. Sometimes, and very rarely will a client express their disdain in the fact that they were tricked into opening something, downloading something, or that they had visited a certain type of website whether it be for listening or viewing pleasures.

Well in my line of work it really doesn’t matter to the computer technician what you like to spend your personal time doing. Either way there is a problem with your computer and our goal is to repair it as quickly and efficiently as possible so you can get back to your business.

Education and Loyalty

Here’s a few tips I will leave you with:

1. If you get a mail from what looks like a company either regarding a fax you have received, a package from UPS or FedEx (or the like), or something from the BBB…(or any mail that has an attachment “with your details in it” in a zip file call the company to confirm it’s real before opening.
2. Do not, I repeat DO NOT open attachments unless you are expecting them… ESPECIALLY in the format of a .zip file. Call the company represented there for verification.
3. Look for the tell-tale signs of a fake fishing email, where the company details are not included in the mail like: address, phone number, return email in the body.

I believe in education and preventative maintenance, more than anything. Even though A Plus pays the bills with doing repair and cleaning work, we would be doing a disservice if I did not try to educate our clients and help raise their awareness regarding such schematic attempts of infiltrating and infecting their computers.

I can keep it real, and hope that since I am, you will feel confident in referring A Plus Computer Support to your friends, family, and coworker as a reputable and honest computer repair service provider in West Palm Beach.

If You Thought This News
Was Valuable Please:

The post Fake Emails With Malware Strikes Again appeared first on A Plus Computer Support.

My mind and body felt the sensation of a few mixed feelings and thoughts as I processed just what I had read. I mean honestly my initial reaction was, well I have been preaching the epic failure of Windows 8 since the beginning.

I patted myself on the back as I realized how I have been proven right, yet again.

But then the reality and sadness began to set in. Here we are talking about a country who is threatening the US, a proven World Super Power and heavy weight with attacks, not to mention other parts of the world.

This same country with the technology, albeit far inferior to ours, to build weapons of mass destruction, couldn’t find a tech during a missile test to work a bug out of a machine that runs Windows 8? Really?

I pondered that for a few moments and thought about how ridiculous they look, and how our government who may have had a similar problem (because Windows 8 is just that flawed) would never have admitted that.

What a joke.

I mean they claimed to be on tech support with Microsoft… really? I still am shaking my head at this one. I can just picture an operator in the launch room on a live chat with some guy in India, talking about how they are trying to launch a test missile and are having Windows 8 networking issues. ~ A Plus Computer Support

Then it dawned on me.

Microsoft finally has done something right! Amazing!

I mean the whole time I was patting myself on the back for being correct in my report regarding Windows 8, I realized I was missing possibly the most amazing accomplishment of Microsoft yet!

Microsoft finally prevented Malware from attacking it’s users!

Meet the best data recovery company in Fort Lauderadale here!

The post Microsoft Finally Prevented Malware : North Korea Missiles appeared first on A Plus Computer Support.

The HTC One is representing its descendant to the HTC One X along with the HTC One X+ which was established the other year as brand phone for smartphones on AT&T’s increasing 4G LTE network. And since they were established mobile phones, there is still no match for the iPhone 4S, the iPhone 5 or the Samsung Galaxy S3. However not behind the shadows of Apple as well as Samsung, HTC has finally released a new innovative smartphone this year, hoping that it will do its job.

At this moment, according to the HTC company, the release date ““will start fulfilling pre-orders by end March in certain markets and will roll out to more markets as we approach April.” Just like the said declaration, it is still quite vague and they are still not giving the exact time and date of its release.

Based from the latest report, the HTC is still unsure when it will reach the U.S. this March. The European countries usually gets their devices and gadgets before it hits the U.S. that is why it is expected that AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint will miss the hearsay that it will be released on March 22^nd.

Instead based from HTC’s comments, it will be most probably on March 29^th or on early April. They said that these months will be the perfect time for the new gadget. As we have seen it before, couriers have different predictions when it comes to the release date. So it is no surprise at all.

According to the recent report, US still not releasing any news about the price of HTC One, yet we are not surprise why they are not saying anything about the price. The exact date is still not sure so how the price will be?

However some couriers like AT&T and Sprint will most likely offer the mobile phone around $199.99 on-contract since it is a high-end gadget. T-Mobile will soon launch its unsubsidized plans which will be no longer under the contract. ~ A Plus Computer Support

The post HTC One – US Release date Forecast appeared first on A Plus Computer Support.

It was on December 2012 when the Samsung Galaxy Grand made its way on the Mobile World Congress with its other devices like Galaxy Frame and Galaxy Young. Based from the report, the said gadget will be available on both single and dual SIM support.

Design

Just like any Galaxy gadgets, the Grand has a slim (0.38-inch to be exact) feature, with a long rectangular shape that has very rounded corners, with a wide home button at the bottom of the display.

It measures for about 5.65 inches tall and about 3 inches wide, with a nice 5-inch LCD display that’s is actually bright and very much responsive. But the shades of blue and green look brighter than any other colors.

The Grand has a thin chrome strip that covers its edges, and it has a glossy plastic that makes it actually very lightweight.

Here’s Some Specs:

Features

One of the best features of the Grand is Multi Window, it will allow you to do multitasking with your apps with a small window access arrow which is found on the side of the screen itself.

You just have to turn it off on your notification corner and then tap that arrow. You will find rows of common apps like photo gallery as well as Gmail. Through this you can view your current one and then open other apps without any hassles.

You will also like the Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 operating system, 8GB of internal memory, a microSD card slot which can keep for up to 64GB of expandable memory, along with Bluetooth 4.0. Presently, the gadget’s fastest data connectivity capability is HSPA+.

Its hardware specs have a 1.2GHz dual-core processor together with a 2,100mAh battery. You will find an 8-megapixel camera that could shoot 1080p video on the back, and a 2-megapixel camera on the front.

Outlook

In case Samsung Galaxy Grand smartphone will hit America, it will be amazing to see 4G LTE capability. It will also be more amazing for major carriers like AT&T and Verizon, which Galaxy handsets are very much known to.

I actually like the Multi Window feature. Most gadgets nowadays don’t have any assets that can cover the full phone support. But with other apps, it can cover up and provide the support from this amazing gadget.

People who love to travel will surely love the GLONASS support to back up the GPS onboard, which will provide them faster on the go support – however we could not actually try it on during the launching of the phone, but it is still great to spot it on the spec sheet we found.

It is very impressive that the Samsung Galaxy Grand can provide great net browsing, though the speed is impressive enough but not the quality page. Just similar to any Grand gadgets, the Grand has a low pixel count and don’t actually support a good video playback especially when the lens is zoomed out. (Review brought to you by A Plus Computer Support.)

Pros

-       Great due to its solid performance

-       Great camera performance and feature

Cons

-       Quite low when it comes to battery life

-       Quite low when it comes to display

Conclusion For Galaxy Grand

If you wish to buy something that will support your needs and provide you the best feature when it comes to mobile phone then you will surely love this gadget. With its amazing features and apps, you will surely get something worth buying. Computer repair Fort Lauderdale gurus say you will surely love it all the way from its profile down to its features.

The post Galaxy Grand Review appeared first on A Plus Computer Support.

Opening universal search menu is made simpler. This can simply be done by pressing Windows Key + F. This makes it easy to search for files. You can as well search for settings by pressing Windows Key + W. It’s also easy to display apps search by simply pressing Windows Key + Q. This makes it simply search for already installed programs. By pressing Windows Key + Tab, the toggles as well as Task Switcher are displayed.

It is also easy to open File Explore by pressing Windows Key + E. This is a simple way to show all the drives. Run menu can be opened by pressing Windows Key + R. this menu allows you to launch applications by searching using executable file names. Share menu can be displayed by pressing Windows Key + H. This can as well show Bing Maps, send or receive emails including sharing other information. ~ A Plus Computer Support

Windows Key + X allows you to display a menu that contains advanced system options, File Explorer as well as Windows Control Panel. Other system options you can access are Task Manager including Command Prompt. Windows Key + I also makes it easy to display Setting menu. Also, it shows Internet options especially if you are using Internet Explorer 10. It can also be used to show OS settings.

There are also other Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts. These shortcuts are used to execute specific tasks. The internet is a great place where you can search for all the information you require.

A Plus Computer Support can help you with all your computer repair needs, no matter how big or small.

The post 5 Necessary Win 8 Keyboard Shortcuts appeared first on A Plus Computer Support.

Getting a MS-DOS prompt or Windows command line may be hard especially if you are Windows XP, 7 and 8 users. Here is how to do it.

Window 8 users

Firstly, you need to type cmd at the Start screen. Also, the task can be done by pressing Windows key and X simultaneously.  Another option is to move the cursor using the mouse until it reaches the bottom-left corner. You can then right-click. The power user task menu is then displayed on the screen. Now, you can choose Command Prompt (Admin). You can as well select Command Prompt from the task menu.

Window 7 users

Window 7 users can easily get to a MS-DOS prompt or Windows command line. All they need to do is Click Start and then type cmd. After that, the user can press the enter key.

It is worth noting that a number of options including commands can only work in Window 7 command line if the user run command line (this should be done as Administrator). This task can easily be done by right clicking CMD icon. The user can then select Run as administrator. A Plus Computer Support techs want to caution reghular users when using CMD prompt with elevated permissions.

It is very imperative to start the computer on Safe Mode in case you want to get into Windows command line or MS-DOS prompt. If you are XP user, you can simply do this task by clicking Start and then click Run. You can proceed by typing command or cmd. Then, you can press enter.

In case you are XP user and you cannot boot your computer or system into Safe Mode or may be Normal Windows, you don’t have to despair. With recovery console, you can easily manage your system from prompt.

Lastly, suppose you find it challenging to get into Windows XP, you should run troubleshooting stems. If you want to get Network Administrator into Window command line, you should use MS-DOS boot diskette. ERD diskettes can also be used. If you are in need of data recovery Miami please make sure to visit our page!

The post MS DOS prompt or Windows command line appeared first on A Plus Computer Support.

According to the CEO of StatCounter’s, Aodhan Cullen, the competition between these two browsers is very stiff. The sample or information about Chrome browser and Internet Explorer is generated from fifteen billion page reviews that are constantly posted in the official website of the company. Internet Explorer has been leading in United States and United Kingdom. Reports show that Google’s Chrome overhauled Internet Explorer in the month of May and has been leading for some time.

Internet Explorer started shaking up the market with a powerful storm in the month of August. The Chrome had been leading with about 33.81% against its opponent, Internet Explorer, with 32.04%. However, Internet Explorer fought back by closing the gap. This eventually resulted into decline of Chrome to about 33.59% while Internet Explorer reached 32.85%. This stiff competition has adversely affected the use of other browsers such as Firefox. It’s considered as a slow browse and some of its strongest features aren’t unique.

If you are not sure which browser is compatible with your online needs, don’t hesitate to call your favorite computer repair West Palm Beach company to get your answers.

The comeback of Internet Explorer has surprised many. The main reason why many tend to prefer Chrome is that new releases are being launched after every six weeks. This is not the case of Internet Explorer. For instance, the Internet Explorer 8 is being used lately. There is Chrome 21 and 22 will be released very soon.

The post Chrome Browser Vs Internet Explorer appeared first on A Plus Computer Support.

Windows 8 isn’t as User Friendly as Windows 7

Windows 8 appears to be less user friendly compared to its famous predecessors. Users get a hard time looking for and finding the restart button, while the entire experience requires a lot of time to learn. The fact that the previous versions of Windows up to and including 7 were user friendly and learning them was very easy makes this latest OS a tad unattractive for many. The number of apps in this OS is also quite low despite the marketing frenzy which led many people to believe that they would be very high than the previous Windows versions. A Plus Computer Support has always been skeptic about the hype, and recommends users to wait until the bugs are worked out to jump on any band wagon.

Where Does Windows 8 Perform Better than Windows 7?

Whereas there is still a belief that the Windows 8 is not better than Windows 7, there is proof that it performs better in certain aspects. An example is where it takes less than ten seconds to boot the Windows 8, compared to the slightly above twenty seconds taken in Windows 7. There also appears to be an improvement with regard to day to day office performance of the Windows 8 compared with the earlier version. Apps startups take much less time once you figure out how to operate the OS. But these improvements have not translated into the huge sales and popularity envisaged by Microsoft.

Main Reason why Windows 7 Sells Better than Windows 8

Windows 8 performs much better than all the previous versions of this OS in the sense that it displays better features than the immediate predecessor. However, the question then becomes why do eight out of ten people still prefer to purchase and install Windows 7 compared to Windows 8? Computer repair companies know the answer lies in the fact that Windows 7 has enjoyed many years of building and enjoying a solid and reliable reputation in many aspects. The absence or difficulty of locating the Start Menu is making the case for loving Windows 8 very hard for the lovers of this type of Operating System from Microsoft.

The post Windows 8 vs Windows 7 appeared first on A Plus Computer Support.

It is a fact that people send and receive fake emails or spams on a daily basis from all corners of the world. The reasons for sending and receiving these emails are wide ranging. The intentions of senders of these types of emails are unknown but in some cases they are interested in spreading computer viruses to various machines. One needs to be very careful when receiving emails which are unsolicited, or where you are asked to open a strange link or document. In many cases, spam filters have been developed and they are impressive in their ability to detect and separate fake emails from the real.

Getting infected with malware and virus can cause enough damage to your system at times where you may find yourself in need of data recovery specialists in the West Palm Beach area. Do not attempt to repair corrupted file systems yourself or you will reduce the likelihood of a successful recovery from such an attack.

Lately these email offenders are sending mails posing as the Better Business Bureau stating your company has a complaint and there is an attachment they ask you to open to get the details. Also another type is posing as a fax service, as well as DocuSign Support mail asking you to click on a link to get the document signed. You can always call us at A Plus Computer Support and ask our opinion.

Fake Emails Make it Past Security Features

All said and done, fake emails still make it past even some of the great spam filters in the market. People have developed systems through which they can now send fake emails without being detected. This is a huge problem and currently, some of the leading email service providers reported instances where they blocked close to 2 billion fake emails or spams from getting to their clients’ accounts. However, there was a huge number of these types of emails which still managed to find their way through, and get to their intended destinations.

Billions of Fake Emails are Sent Daily

In 2003, it was reported that fake emails were responsible for over 40% of the overall number of emails sent all over the world. There is a huge problem with this issue and you may wonder how they get hold of people’s emails to send you the spams in the first place. There are companies in the world which exist purely for the purpose of obtaining and selling email addresses. Fake emails are amazingly very easy to design and send. Anyone can do it successfully irrespective of whether the intentions are to make sales or send out viruses and malware to several recipients.

How to Protect Yourself against Fake Emails

As a leading provider of computer repair services in West Palm Beach, we are happy to help you avoid these pitfalls.

Unless you have very good anti-virus system or effective security and protective features within your computer, it is advisable to avoid making the mistake of opening emails whose sources you don’t know. If the email is about payment, or asks for your banking details, or to open a document and attach your signature, it could be a fake email, unless you asked for it. Always try to perform a background search on the address of the person sending you the email. If there is a domain name attached, check online to see whether it is really genuine before proceeding to do any of the action steps asked of you.

The post Spam and Fishing Mailers Getting More Sophisticated appeared first on A Plus Computer Support.

Won’t shake you down for extra services or unneeded parts

A Plus Computer Support immediately diagnosed the problem my laptop had and gave me the option of taking it back or repairing it. I would definitely come back and if you’re thinking of having a computer or laptop repair, don’t be afraid of calling Todd as you won’t be scammed in this store.

Rating by Jordan Brown : 5.0 stars

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