Tips To Finding A Corporate I.T. Provider

When looking for a company to provide I.T. services to your company look for a firm that offers all inclusive services.  There are a variety of services that you should be looking for when it comes to a professional I.T. company to design, install and maintain your network.  Not only are you looking for information technology professionals to work within your commercial infrastructure but you need to find a company that works on residential computer repair as well.

A company that is able to cover your needs from networking to personal computer repair is the most desirable. One professional team of experts to maintain your entire system will be cost effective and offer the most efficient use of technology resources available to your company.  Listed below are just a few of the essential requirements you should be looking for when hiring an I.T. firm for your company.

First you will want to find a company that offers complete computer consulting services.  A complete system and security audit should be done upon becoming a client.  Consultants should be able to not only give advice but to install and operate third party software of all kinds, offer suggestions for office upgrades keeping in mind a budget friendly purchasing strategy, and examine internal and external email systems used for communication between offices as well as with clients.

It is crucial that this company not only works with your servers and network issue but also works to maintain personal computers that are used for work purposes as well.  This means that your information technology specialists should not only be able to design and build a server and create a functional network but should also be able to eliminate a virus from your system.  Finding a company that has several trained team members in a variety of specialties is key when working with I.T. professionals. Minor computer repair and security is as crucial to businesses as is any other aspect of the companies I.T. network.

When it comes to the world of I.T. and growing your business finding a firm that also offers services in app programming and website design can be critical.  Companies that service your technology know you inside and out therefor can help to create apps to allow for your employees to work smarter not harder. I.T. companies that employee web developers and programmers can help your business to prosper online as well.  Ticket systems designed in step with your company can allow your firm to remain competitive and task oriented without ever falling behind.

It is critical in today’s high technology driven society that you find a company that can offer you top quality, all-inclusive I.T. solutions.

Computers Plus Service, in Brighton Michigan, provides a wide range of valuable services for residential computer repair as well as a variety of commercial computer services to the entire Livingston County area including Howell, Brighton and the surrounding areas.  You can find out more about the services offered by CPS at http://www.cpsmi.com.

Computer Virus Removal Done Right The First Time

When you own and operate a computer that is connected to the internet you are almost guaranteed at some point to download a virus.  Computer malware and viruses can be incredibly harmful when they infect your PC.  Not only do they slow your computer down but they also pose a risk to your computers secure data and personal information that is stored on the hard drive.  Computer viruses and malware can often be incredibly tricky to completely remove especially if the virus is one of the more aggressive, nasty ones.  New viruses are introduced into the viral world every day; ransomware being the latest in computer viruses to hit the internet. 

Ransomware is an incredibly nasty virus taking the online community by storm.  This virus spreads quickly and is incredibly difficult to remove and the malware often locks you out of using your computer until you pay the ransom. Even professional computer virus removal companies are having to learn new ways to exterminate ransomware from personal computers.  Often times the ransom is as expensive as purchasing a new computer.  The moral being that it is important to know exactly what you are downloading and to be sure of the source you are downloading it from.

There are a few different ways in which computer viruses that have infected your personal computer can be removed.  PC repair specialists have tools to remove viruses, to ensure all the computer viruses are gone and to install anti-virus protection to avoid future virus infections.  The two main methods of removing viruses are running scans and manual removal of computer viruses.  Some companies offer online tools for removing viruses.  Before giving personal information to any company selling online virus tools it is important to do your homework.

To be safe when it comes to computer virus removal it is best to take your computer in to a certified technician that has knowledge of the different viruses that are infection computers.  They also have all the tools right at their fingertips to properly remove any and all computer infections.  Most computer repair stores can remove the viruses infecting your computer in a manner of a few days.  To do a complete job they will run a number of scans until the computer comes back clean a number of times.  They will also look into the files in your computer to find and files that look suspicious.  Once this is complete they will often complete the virus removal with a proper computer tune up and installation of anti-virus protection.

 

You can keep your computer clean and virus free using discretion when downloading software and online programs. If something looks suspicious or sounds too good to be true don’t click on the link.  The minute the link is clicked you have given the virus free rein to your personal information and computers hard drive. 

Computers Plus Service, in Brighton Michigan, provides a wide range of valuable services for residential computer repair as well as a variety of commercial computer services to the entire Livingston County area including Howell, Brighton and the surrounding areas.  You can find out more about the services offered by CPS at http://www.cpsmi.com.

Computer Virus And Adware Infestation Removal Techniques

When your computer is infected by a virus or other malware there can be huge security risk to the data stored within your computer including a lot of personal information.  It can also have extreme effects on the performance of your computer and hardware as well as the fact that is can be incredibly difficult to get rid of.  Computer viruses are difficult to get rid of and virus removal on computers is incredibly tricky and should be left up to computer repair specialist.  If you have a nasty computer virus infecting your computer here are some proven ways to save your computer. 

The first step in any and all virus removal techniques is to backup all of the data on your computer.  This should happen before the virus removal process starts.  This will help to make sure that the data is backed up and that anything of value will not be lost if in fact the computer needs to be reformatted.  This will allow you and your business to get up and running without a lot of time invested. 

If you are trying to remove the virus on your own without computer help or a virus removal technician the next step is to check for outside factors that could be slowing down your computer and giving it the same effect that would occur if it is in fact infected with a computer virus.   Some issue that could affect your computer if indeed is not a computer virus would be issues with memory, storage, adware and of course any number of issues.  Hardware and failing hard drives could also slow down a computer and corrupt the files on the computer giving the same effect as a computer virus would. 

Having anti-virus protection installed is super important when it comes to protecting your computer and eliminating computer viruses.  When one does slip through however there are a number of things to do to remove the threat from your computer. There are a number of free and paid versions of anti-virus computer protection that can be installed on your computer to keep it out of harm’s way.  Consider options such as Microsoft Security Essentials, Kaspersky and BitDefender.

You will also download a number of anti-malware programs that will allow you to scan your computer to eliminate any potential threats  These programs pick up things that anti-virus protection do not always catch.  Consider Malwarebytes Anti Malware as well as Adwcleaner and Spybot S&D.  Having and installing a variety of anti-malware programs will allow you to eliminate hazardous programs, tool bars, down loads and so much more before you install them on to your hard drive.

If the virus is affecting your ability to download these programs then you will need to use a USB card to install them.  The problem is that most serious infections have already overtaken your computer and need professional computer virus removal.  Once you have done this and the virus is removed then having these programs and using them regularly will keep your computer free of viruses.   

Computers Plus Service, in Brighton Michigan, provides a wide range of valuable services for residential computer repair as well as a variety of commercial computer services to the entire Livingston County area including Howell, Brighton and the surrounding areas.  You can find out more about the services offered by CPS at http://www.cpsmi.com.

Regular Maintenance To Help Your Computer Run More Efficiently

When it comes to maintenance on our vehicles we already know that regular care and oil changes help keep the car running more efficiently. If you follow the scheduled provided the thought is that the car will run longer therefore saving you money on repairs or the cost of a new vehicle. It is so important in fact that each car comes with its own manual and specific mile counts on when to perform certain tasks.

This however, is not the case when it comes to your computer. This is a huge problem for those who are not tech savvy. We provide manuals and schedules for maintenance for non-auto savvy users but not on for a piece of equipment that people of all ages are using every day. This leads to the issue that often arises in computer repair service. How do you fix a piece of technology when it is on its last leg when a mere understanding of computer maintenance would have made a world of difference?

It is so important that computer users realize that instead of waiting for a crisis or problem to occur with their computer they should seek to do regular maintenance and keep up on the well-being of their computer systems. Whether you hire a computer specialist like you hire a mechanic or do it yourself here are so vital tips to keep your computer system up and running in top condition.

First things first make sure your computer is updated with the proper computer protection. You can choose to purchase anti-virus protection for your computer or consider the free online versions. Both can be scheduled to perform regular updates that work to prevent updated viruses from infecting your computer. Anti-virus protection helps to detect, remove and prevent spyware on your computer. A firewall can also be installed to prevent people and malicious programs from making changes to your computer system. The regular scans that are performed by these programs also help to find an eliminate infections.

Regular file clean-up is also necessary to help keep your computer performing well. This will eliminate build-up of files from websites and downloads which slow down computer use and internet browsing while increasing the overall speed of the scans that your computer is set to run regularly to update software and virus protection.

Disable startup programs that no longer are needed upon startup. Your computer will start to bog down when unnecessary programs are installed and continue to run upon start up. Programs get installed through mischievous practices that often go unnoticed by computer users. How many times have you been asked to download something that will supposedly make the computer run faster? I know I often get fooled. Many times when I am running scans I see a ton of programs in my computer history that have not been used for months. Many of these are secretly downloaded coupon menus and other crazy installations that I was not aware I had downloaded.

These easy steps and maintenance on your computer can easily save you hundreds of dollars in repairs.

Protecting Your Computer From Dreaded Computer Viruses

When it comes to your Windows 7 computer it is important to protect yourself from viruses and other threats that can harm your computer and its operating system.  This isn’t difficult if two requirements are met; you are diligent and you have some idea what to look for. Below is a list, all though not all inclusive, substantial in creating an environment free of computer viruses. 

• First things first, when you purchase a new computer it is important that you should have antivirus software installed correctly.  Keeping the antivirus software up to date will allow your computer to keep defending off viruses that will try to penetrate your email, operating system and computer files. New viruses will continue to appear every day.  Set your computer up so that it is keeping your antivirus updating automatically everyday to prevent even the newest of viruses from getting into your system.
• One of the most common ways that people end up with an infected computer is through email attachments.  Viruses are easily attached to email messages.  As soon as the email is opened the virus will start to spread throughout your computer.  When it comes to email attachments the rule of thumb is to use caution and only open attachments that you are expecting.  Emails can come from friends with attachments that you weren’t expecting.  Before opening the attachment, contact the sender to see if they actually sent something that you need to see.
• Not only is important that you keep your antivirus protection up to date it is also significant that your Microsoft operating system is updated regularly as well.  Microsoft will update your Windows OS regularly with updated security releases. It is imperative that you allow Windows security by turning on the automatic updating option and that it runs regularly.
• You can also add on a Windows firewall that will keep you alerted to any activity that is suspicious. If a virus, worm or hacker attempts to infiltrate your system it will help block it.  If a virus, worm or hacker does get in a firewall should help protect the operating system from having harmful programs from being downloaded.
• Turn on your browsers privacy settings.  This will prevent websites from using your private browsing information and prevent fraud and theft of identify. 
• Personal computer owners should also use a pop-up blocker along with their browser protection.  Turning off pop-up windows will help to create safer browsing as although pop-ups are usually advertisements some of them can be wicked and filled with code that is not safe.  Pop-up blockers eliminate the windows from appearing all together.

These steps will all help to eliminate the possibility of a computer infection.  Even if you apply each of these tips there is still a chance that a virus will slip through and your computer will become infected.  If you suspect that a computer virus has infected your PC you can take the machine into any local computer repair store and they will run scans to see if the computer is actually infected.  If it is they will remove the virus from the computer and update your virus protection and get Window updates running regularly. 

Computers Plus Service provides a wide range of valuable services for residential computer repair as well as a variety of commercial computer services.  You can find out more about the services offered by CPS at http://www.cpsmi.com.

Be on guard against latest computer virus

Have you heard of Crypto Locker? Does it sound like a bad '80s horror movie starring Anthony Michael Hall and Richard Grieco?

Fortunately, that film was not made, but Crypto Locker in reality is a computer virus and is one of the most ruthless to come around.

The virus appeared in 2013 and is in a family of threats called ransom-ware, defined as a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid.

In the case of the Crypto Virus, once infected you are asked for $300 to be paid to a secure site and if you do not before the deadline expires (an actual clock counts down on your computer) all your files are encrypted and you cannot access them.

To make things even worse, the virus spreads rapidly so you could expose your entire network to the threat. I have heard accounts of people paying the fee and they were actually sent the codes to unencrypt their PC.

Online source Zdnet shows that more than $27 million has been transferred to the creators of this threat worldwide. This was tracked by looking at Bitcoin addresses (if you are not familiar with Bitcoins, see my next column).

You might be wondering where this virus comes from. It usually arrives in an attachment sent via email. A best practice for all email correspondence is to only open emails from people you know, and even then it pays to look closely.

If the subject reads "See this picture from last night" and you were not with that person the night before, delete immediately. Also, the best business level anti-virus should be deployed and it will pick up most threats.

That said, the best anti-virus in the world cannot stop someone from clicking a link, or opening an email that might get through your digital security. I am sure you all have that one person in your office who just “happens” to get viruses all the time but “never” visits questionable sites, opens all emails, etc. We will call that person Dr. Click-a-Lot for today’s purposes.

One of the best ways to avoid a catastrophe in a virus situation is to have a backup of your data and to keep a spare computer available for your organization. This way, downtime is minimized and productivity stays up.

Also, if you are infected, unplug immediately and call your IT professional. The world of technology is full of threats, new ones each day, and most of them certainly are scarier than a Richard Grieco film.

Original Post: http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20140325/BUSINESS02/140325006/Biz-Tech-guard-against-latest-computer-virus

The Importance Of Quality Computer Repair

There is no question that computers have become an important part of our everyday lives in business and on a personal level.  When the network is down within a professional business environment work completely stops which means money is not being made.  This can be a huge problem.  From the router malfunctioning to the server failing all computer problems need to be addressed promptly by experienced IT professionals.  When it comes to your home computer or business network it is vital that computer help is only a phone call away.

Finding and retaining computer help has never been easier than it is now days.  Professional PC support is around every corner.  The problem exists in that not all computer help is created equally. There are a variety of options to choose from when it comes to computer services.  Do you prefer working with a large company that employs hundreds of technicians or a small company that has available two or three computer technicians?

There are benefits and drawbacks to both options.  A large big name computer repair service will most likely always have a technician available to help your with your computer issue no matter what time of day or what issue has arose.  The problem is that with hundreds of technicians available there is no guarantee on the level of service that you will receive being a dime a dozen client.  The other issue is that there is no way to guarantee that the technician that has previously worked on your network will be the one addressing the issue you are currently having.

With a smaller IT company you can almost always guarantee that the two or three technicians that work with your company are all familiar with your computers and the issues you are having.  With only a few people to communicate between you can rest assured that your company is a priority and making sure you are up and running a top speed is their most important priority.  The one drawback is that with only a few professionals available that you could call and all three could be tied up elsewhere, leaving you waiting on one of them to have a moment to open up to address your issue.  The great thing that happens when working with a small company is that when they do show up on sight they already know your system and history and can get it on the issue right away.  A larger company with lots of technicians will always need the history of the problem and what has already been done to try and correct the problem.

With any decision there will always be pros and cons.  When choosing between a large IT company or a smaller IT company to provide care for your business computers and networking needs here are some other things to consider: ease of access, accessibility, expertise, experience, credentials and your budget.  Check with several companies and check to see how they figure out their charges.  Check to see if there is an initial service fee, if drive time is charged and how they charge.  If you are working within a budget try to maximize your money by finding a company that doesn't charge service call fees or drive time.  This way you will only be paying for the time that they are onsite actually working on repairing your computers, servers and networks.