Proper precautions for keeping your laptop safe when traveling - SofTech Computers in Prescott

Most people travel light - some clothes, a couple things to do on the plane or in the car, your cell phone, and a laptop. Little do they know that bringing a laptop with you can present a lot more hazards than you might expect. From extra trouble with the TSA to hassles with Wi-Fi, it can be a real burden to bring your laptop places. Fortunately, SofTech Computers, Prescott’s hometown computer heroes, can help you make your travel experience less stressful and more what travel should be - FUN!

Airplanes - If you plan on traveling by air, you might want to consider carrying your laptop in an easy to access bag and or in the front pouch of your carry on bag. All airports in the United States now require that you put your laptop and all other large electronics in a separate container for x-ray scanning. You can save yourself a lot of hassle if you are prepared for that. Also, if you are carrying sensitive media like internal or external hard drives, solid state drives not enclosed in a metal housing, or tape drives (not cassette tapes), you should ask the TSA for an alternate screening of those items, as they are what is considered “x-ray and magnetic sensitive media”.

Cars - If you’re bringing your laptop on a trip that is particularly bumpy, like an off-roading trip or a trip where you know you’ll be going down a very bumpy road, we would like to advise you that you should not use your laptop during that time, and even go as far as consider investing in a foam case or pad of some kind that can help absorb the shock from the small bumps. These bumps can really wear on a computer and potentially cause it to die faster than expected.

Wi-Fi - Next, we would like to advise you about security when using Wi-Fi on your laptop. Only trust your friends’ and family’s Wi-Fi connection as secure. Any Wi-Fi that isn’t secure, or that doesn’t need a password to connect to is ill-advisable for anything containing personal information -- passwords, online banking, etc. You should refrain from using your laptop or any device connected to the Wi-Fi if you need to do these things. A great alternative would be using your smartphone as a hotspot, or using a Mi-Fi hotspot because, while they can be expensive, they are the most secure way to bank on the go. Or, purchase a VPN and avoid all the hassle to begin with. If you’d like to know more about VPNs and how they can help you, call SofTech Computers.

Desktops - These tips were relating to Laptops and travel, but what if you are going to somewhere for an extended trip or need to use all of the computing power of your desktop? Always keep your computer on its side, not standing up. Plus, you might want to consider bringing your computer to SofTech to travel-proof it. This constitutes making sure that everything is in place and that there is little to no movement among the parts of the computer. Overall, it is not advisable to move desktops over long distances frequently, and can seriously hurt the life of the machine.

Have more questions about travel safety when it comes to your laptop and personal information? Give SofTech Computers, your local Prescott computer repair shop, a call. We’re always available to help you and would be happy to make sure that you are travel ready. We can be reached at 928-443-8770 or you can visit our website as http://www.softechcomputers.com

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SofTech Computers explains why Prescott computer owners should be wary of anyone telling you that your computer is infected

In the course of computing, you may run across a scammer or two. These people are usually use scare tactics and lies to convince you that your computer is infected with a virus or has corrupted data. Softech Computers, your friendly Prescott computer repair store, is here to help you identify a scam and make sure that you don’t fall for this potentially costly trap.

When you purchase a computer, whether through a reseller or through a computer shop like ours, everything is paid for. Apple and Microsoft are no longer in any way affiliated with you, you don’t owe them money, and will never contact you. These companies are in the business of selling new computers, not trying to get you repair your old one.

A common tactic of scammers is to say they are from Apple or Microsoft using either the phone or a website. Many times these phone calls or websites are obviously fake. Sometimes the scammers are better than the rest and are very convincing. Remember Apple or Microsoft will never contact you!

Here are some fake things to be on the watch for:

• Trying to convince you that you have an infection, corrupted data, or malfunctioning hardware, or that you have done something illegal
• Claiming they work for Microsoft, Apple, Google, IBM, HP, Dell, the CIA, the FBI, or any other company that might help in furthering their claims
• Asking you to download software
• Asking for the ability to remote control, or “remotely fix” your computer
• Asking you to purchase something or give out your credit card

If you happen to take the bait and let the scammer connect to your computer and remotely control it, they will generally claim to run “scans” of some kind. These scans will always claim that they found some sort of problem, and proceed to attempt to charge you a far higher than standard amount of money to fix it. If you accept, you will have a program installed on your computer that will constantly collect data about you and potentially lead to identity theft. If you refuse, you will become locked out of your computer and all your data will be lost.

What can you do?

The best advice is to not call any numbers on the screen, close any browser windows that notify you of any viruses. If you have let these individuals into your computer, SofTech computers urges you to contact us today to have your computer checked out by a local specialist that you trust.

Fear not, because even if you end up (or have ended up) falling for this trap, there is some good news. At SofTech Computers, your locally owned computer repair service in Prescott, can almost always recover your data and get you back on track to a happy and safe computer experience. Give us a call at 928-443-8770 or visit our website at http://www.softechcomputers.com for more information.

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Hang Up and Call Softech Computers in Prescott - A Simple Warning

The phone rings and we want to be a good sport, pick up the phone and say hello. With the smart phone it’s easy to tell who the caller is, if the number matches one in our contacts. When it’s a number we don’t recognize, some of us want to do the better thing and answer the phone to save time and take care of the situation now. The voice claims to be Microsoft warning us that our computer has a virus. Before you panic and wonder what to do next, hang up! That’s right, hang up! These are two words of the wise from SofTech Computers in Prescott.
   
You’re thinking that this is rude, but it’s not. What the person on the other end of the line is attempting to do is far worse. We see victims on a daily basis – people who stayed on the phone long enough to be intimidated and scared half to death while thinking that someone from places unknown is about to take the computer out of peril. This is a scam. It is a crime. This doesn’t happen only in Prescott, it’s a global issue. Phone scammers get away with this because they’re difficult to stop and monitor.

Here is what they do:

•    They will trick their way in and call you on your cell phone – It doesn’t take a landline anymore.
•    Claim that they are employees of Apple, Google, or Microsoft.
•    Install harmful malware onto the device, desk top computer, laptop, or smart phone.
•    Install a program that will in turn install a virus and monitor every keystroke you make to steal passwords.
•    Steal your data.

Most of these calls take place during the middle of the day targeting the elderly or unemployed. These are the most vulnerable and gullible groups. The only way to stop this crime is to be aware; it’s all you can do to protect yourself. There’s no way to know what these criminals are getting away with, or how much money they are making.

Softech Computers would like to remind you that you have the power to hang up. Hanging up is the most useful tool we have in fighting off these scammers. If you receive a call like this and you’re still not sure, hang up and call Softech computers for advice at 928-443-8770. We’re happy to take a look and show you in person whether or not your computer has a virus. Put your trust in us, your local computer guys, to diagnose any problems and remove any potential virus. Check our website at http://softechcomputers.com/

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