Computer Tech Support Scams on the Rise – How to Protect Yourself

computer tech support scamComputer Tech Support Scams are everywhere and rising!

Scammers posing as computer tech support people from Microsoft, HP, Dell or other computer companies are calling consumers to notify them that their computer either has windows problems, viruses or other issues that need immediate attention. These computer tech support scammers try to get remote access to your computer so that they can do repairs, and ask a ridiculous amount of money ($200 or more). What they really want is  access your online banking information, passwords, or install spyware that monitors your keystrokes. [Read more…]

Ransomware Attacks – Prevention-Repair

Ransomeware AttackHave you been hit by a ransomware attack yet? If not, you’re lucky.

Ransomware damage has jumped from $300 million in 2015 to an estimate $5 billion in 2017. This includes the amount of the ransoms paid, plus the costs of downtime and lost productivity.

Ransomware is a type of program that infects a computer and blocks a user from accessing their data until the user pays a ransom. [Read more…]

Laptop Screen Hinges Broken? Avoid Damage and Repair Quickly

Laptop screen hinges are one of the most delicate parts on your Laptop. MacBook Air and Windows Slimline systems are especially vulnerable to hinge damage due to the very thin aluminum or plastic that surrounds the LCD screen to keep it in place.

laptop screen hinges broken

OK, so you went to open your screen and found your screen hinges are cracked. What now?

First thing…STOP! Do not attempt to open up your screen. There are all kinds of tiny wires that are housed right around your Laptop screen hinges assembly. These delicate cables can get ripped apart easily, increasing the cost of the repair.

This could make the difference between a simple repair and having to buy new parts. Repeatedly opening the screen can damage the screen hinges or even more. It can also cause cracks to spread into the top cover and even the LCD screen. Big money! [Read more…]

Laptop Power Jack Repair Now Easier and Cheaper

Laptop Power Jack RepairLaptop Power Jack Repair Now More Affordable

Was a time when laptop power jack repair was a complex and expensive undertaking, requiring a skilled technician to remove the old soldered in DC jack and solder the new one in. Well for the most part, that is no longer true.

Most of today’s newer laptops use a wire with a plug that simply fits into a socket on the motherboard. Look at the below picture and compare it to the above photo to see the difference. [Read more…]

PC Support Scams – Beware of These Threats

PC Support Scams Are Everywhere

pc support scamHave you gotten a PC Support Scam on your PC yet? If not, you will! What does this type of Malware attack look like? Just look at the image to the left. Pretty convincing, eh? Yes, it says Norton, but it’s fake. Anybody can copy a logo.

What else happens? Well, you’re sitting at your computer and suddenly it freezes. You see a big window pop up and say that your computer is under attack from a virus and you’re instructed to click to repair, or call a fake tech support number.

It can say lots of other scary things too, like that your hard drive is about to die and you must call immediately or you will lose all your data. It can also be a message from a fake technician from Microsoft telling you to call the right away. Sometimes, you might even get a phone call from a scammer saying they’re from Microsoft. [Read more…]

Computer Repair Today is More Complex.

Computer Repair Has Changed Over the Years

Tucson Computer Repair Services
Computer repair has definitely changed over the years. Personal computers only 15 years ago were much simpler devices. The computer usually ran just one program at a time, plus the programs were much simpler.

Today, computers are much more complex. Computers are able to execute many programs simultaneously. You can open a web browser, a game window and a word-processor window at the same time. This complexity leads to many more Computer Repair issues that can arise.

[Read more…]

Virus Threats – Malware Myths and Misconceptions

internet safety securityVirus Threats and Malware Threats – Know the Real Story

Virus threats and malware are subject to so many myths and misconceptions, that it’s hard for anybody to know what to think. Here are a few of the most common myths about Viruses, Trojans and other Malware, along with some tips from a computer repair shop.

Myth 1: I am Fully Protected from Viruses Because I Have an Antivirus Program on My PC

Many people ask us how they can get a virus when they have Norton, Kaspersky, McAfee or some other Antivirus or Internet Security program installed on their computer.

The answer is that NOTHNG is 100 percent effective against virus threats and malware. If Hackers can break into government computers with their sophisticated security programs, they can certainly break into your PC. Being too confident in your security software can lead to a virus repair job. [Read more…]

The Top 4 Computer Repair Issues Caused by Human Mistakes

Computer Repair Issues

Computer Repair Thoughts from an Old Pro

Computer Repair is a funny business. It clearly illustrates the faults and foibles of human nature. Things we all do, that aren’t always very smart.

This is a real issue because computers are at the center of almost everything we do. It’s  more important than ever to know what to do to avoid costly computer repair bills, or at least keep them to a minimum.

Here are the Top 4 Most Common Mistakes people make that eventually land them in a computer repair shop, sometimes hoping for a miracle. Hopefully, you’re not guilty of any of these, but I doubt it. Even I sometimes forget, but since I can do my own computer repair, it doesn’t cost me as much.

[Read more…]

SSD Drive Upgrade is the Best PC Speedup Method

SSD PC Speedup Upgrading to an SSD Drive (solid state drive) from your regular old hard drive (HDD) is the best upgrade you can make to your laptop or desktop computer, hands down!

Hard drives tend to be among the biggest bottlenecks in performance. SSD Drive speeds are insanely fast, meaning using one will make your boot times and application launches super-fast!

An SSD drive is a hard drive that’s made up of memory chips. It works the same way as a traditional hard disk drive. You wouldn’t even know you’re using an SSD if it wasn’t for the difference in speed. [Read more…]

Virus Infections from Fake Support Sites

Virus Infections After a Support Call?

tech support virusOver the past few months, our Computer Repair shop in Tucson has had had dozens of customers come to us with virus infections after having called an alleged technical support site for companies like HP, Microsoft, Dell and even Intuit (Quicken and Quick Books).

The support person got the customer to allow them to make a remote connection so they could diagnose their computer. Invariably, they would scare the customer and tell them their computer was in bad shape with spyware and virus infections, Windows problems and hard drive issues. They would tell them that these were the real source of their problems and that they could fix them. Then they gave them a ridiculous price, often $200 – $300 to repair their computers. Gee, we do it for only $130. [Read more…]