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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With Winter incoming, SofTech Computers in Prescott explains why your machine could be slowing down

As the weather is getting colder, you might begin to be outside less and less. With all of this newfound indoor time, you might realize you’re using your computer a significantly more. Having a slow computer this Fall/Winter could really cut down on productivity, performance, and increase aggravation. SofTech Computers, Prescott's hometown computer repair shop, is here inform you of the plethora of benefits you can experience from getting a computer tune up this Fall.

What can cause computer problems?

Your computer could be filled with junk and adware - If you’ve ever opened your web browser and seen a search engine that isn't Google or Bing, you’ve probably been the victim of adware. Often companies will try to get you to install junk programs that can ruin your computing experience and lead to some serious frustration.

Your computer could contain excess programs - If you’re like us, you probably have lots of programs that you rarely use on your computer. Well, you can’t get rid of them, can you? What if you need them again? Fear not, because we at SofTech can disable your programs for starting automatically, dramatically increasing speed and startup time, while keeping your programs on your computer for later use.

Your computer could be running out of space - Computers will store hundreds of thousands of files for quick access, but many of these files have only been used once or twice. And, to top it all off, the speed of modern computers makes it nearly pointless, as there isn’t usually a noticeable speed increase. A quick computer tune-up can free up much needed space, and even increase system performance.

Your computer could be overheating - Getting a tune-up doesn’t always mean cleaning up software, does it? Your computer can become filled with dust, and, if left long enough, can potentially cause overheating issues. Computers will slow themselves down to generate less heat and prevent damage. So if you have a dusty home (we won’t tell), you might want to consider bringing in your computer and getting it cleaned out.

Your computer could need updates - Updates can often fix annoying bugs and speed things up. But not always do they go smoothly: if an update gets stuck, your computer can be perpetually slowed down until the update goes though. By bringing in your computer for a tune-up, we can make sure that you are both current and have no stuck updates, making you more secure and speeding up your system.

Computer maintenance is the key!

As you can see, it’s definitely a good idea to bring in your computer and getting it tuned up. And, with the SofTech OnePlan, all of this cleaning, plus virus removals and all service charges on 3 computers are included for the whole year, all at one low price. That’s right, bring it to us each time you have an issue and we will fix it. What a deal! Call SofTech Computers today to find out how we can help you be more productive and have more fun on your computer. Questions? You can reach us at 928-443-8770 or visit our website at http://www.softechcomputers.com.

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SofTech Computers in Prescott Explains How to Keep Your Backup Physically Safe

So you have your important files and documents backed up, but you have no need for it right now. How do you keep your data safe once it’s off the computer? Where should you store it? Is there anything I should avoid when storing my data? Fear not, because SofTech Computers in Prescott is here to answer all of your questions and more!

Depending on how you backed up your data, you will have to keep it tucked away in different ways. Some universal good advice is to keep your backup away from magnets and things that might spark. Make sure that your backup device is keep away from any liquids and in a cool, dry place. Keep the backup device away from any places where it might fall, or have objects fall on it. If you have to transport your device, try not to touch any of the ports or the metal on the cable after walking or driving a long distance with it. This could cause an electrostatic discharge and potentially cause problems. Finally, make sure that if you have to plug your backup device into your computer for any reason, eject the device before unplugging it from your computer. Failing to eject the device could corrupt data and cause issues.

If you used an online backup method, make sure that you have a strong password and multi-factor authentication (such as a text message confirmation on login). Anything less could leave your account vulnerable and susceptible to theft. It is also generally a good idea to keep your information both on the cloud and on a personal backup, in case you do end up being a victim of cybercrime. For the maximum amount of security, simply backup your most important files on a cheap 8GB flash drive and put in a drawer somewhere where you won’t forget it.

If you decided to do a full drive backup or disk clone, a good practice is to keep the drive off when not in use, and to not store any additional files on the same drive that you used for backup. The transferring of files between your computer and your backup drive wears out the drive and could potentially make you lose your data off of your backup drive. For that reason, it is a good idea to only put backup files on a backup drive, and nothing else. This will also help make sure that there won’t be any accidental deletions of files as well. Also, it generally isn’t a good idea to store your backups in your computer, because if the computer fails or gets taken over by ransomware, you will lose not only your data, but your backups as well.

Finally, make sure that only you and your trusted cloud service provider has access to your files. There are many scam companies that will try to sell you a place to store your information or have you send your drives for storage. These companies, at best, will usually look through your data, and at worse, hold it hostage from you. If you have a physical backup, never send it to anyone that you don’t trust, and if you have a digital backup on a cloud service, make sure that whoever your cloud provider is, that they are reputable and trustworthy.

Following these rules will keep your backups safe from the elements and others, as well as make sure that they are still there when you need them. These tips will keep your information as secure as an IT Professional would keep his. If you ever need assistance, run into trouble, or need advice about backups and data security in Prescott, call SofTech Computers at 928-443-8770 or visit us online at http://www.softechcomputers.com/ and we’ll be happy to help you.

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Special data backup methods for small business in Prescott - Tips from SofTech Computers

Businesses need more security that the average user, we all know that. But when it comes to backups and data security, what exactly does that mean? SofTech Computers in Prescott is here to explain the different enterprise level data backup solutions for keeping you and your customers data safe and secure. Here are some options that you may want to consider if you run a small business.

If you store large amounts of data, you might want to consider using a Redundant Array of Independent Disks, or RAID. RAID is an enterprise level data backup solution that involves spreading information over multiple disks, which gives it the ability to recreate the information on the disks if one of them fails. This ability gives the option to have little to no downtime when it comes to the availability of your data, and doesn’t use up any additional system resources, and actually may improve performance. This type of configuration will require something called a RAID Controller, which generally runs about $100-600, depending on how many disks you would like to use together. Generally, this type of backup setup is only used in servers, so unless you have a small server, you may want to consider the next options.

If you have many files that are often changed, like client information spreadsheets or databases, you might want to consider an incremental backup solution. Incremental backups work in a way that every time you change a file, that file is updated in the backup without having to run a full backup again. It only saves the changes on top, which saves system resources and has a minimal decrease in performance associated with it. If you might need to eventually look at historical copies of a document, a differential backup is a good idea. It works in the same way as an incremental backup, but instead of overwriting the file that was changed, it just makes a new copy in the backup. This would allow you to go through and find any files that were changed previous to the changes made.

The next type of backup you might want to consider is an easily deployable and very cost effective, but very basic in its features. If you don’t make a lot of changes to files, and don't mind potentially getting set back a little bit in the case of a failure, you could use scheduled full backups. This method takes a full image of your data and stores it in another place for redundancy. This is by far the most basic, but is quite effective for what it does, and can easily be paired both with the first and the final backup solutions, as well as paired effectively with a server for increased security and management.

The final backup option that we would suggest is called a virtual backup. Virtual backups work using a server to manage backups, and can additionally benefit from RAID setups and can add an extra layer of data protection if you really need it. This type of configuration uses a server to process information sent to it and catalog it in a organized fashion so that it is not only synced with the computer that it came from real time, but is also easily accessible to other users. This method benefits from a phenomenon called double backups, meaning that if the server were to break, all of the data is stored in the individual workstations, and if the workstation crashes, the data is stored on the server. Pair this configuration with RAID and you can have data nearly impossible to lose.

Proper data security can save you financially, as well as save you a lot of time and stress. Now that you know what kind of business level data security you would like to use in your business, call SofTech Computers at 928-443-8770 or visit our website at http://www.softechcomputers.com for more information about data security, or to schedule a consultation.

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What should you use to backup your data in Prescott – SofTech Computers

With all of the different services and advertisements on backups, it can be very confusing to figure out what kind of backup solution you should use to keep your data safe. Luckily, SofTech Computer Repair in Prescott is here to help you decide what is right for you. There are 4 options that the general consumer would possible use, each with their own unique benefits and pitfalls.

The first option for backup solutions is probably the easiest, but least comprehensive: copying to a USB flashdrive or external hard drive. This method is, arguably, the faster of the 4 options, but only backs up what you choose to back up, meaning that if you forget a file that you want to keep, you could end up losing that file. One of the other benefits of this method is that the files are usable across all platforms, meaning that if you ever need to go to a newer or older computer, the files that you have don't rely on any proprietary program to work, they just do. If you have very few things that you want to backup, this method is for you.

The next option is the most common option, and arguably the best for most users: Windows Backup or another backup program. This method requires a little bit of money, because you’ll have to purchase an external hard drive that has the same capacity as your computer. These could potentially run you up to $100, so if money is very tight, this method might not be for you. One of the main benefits of this method of backups, however, is that you can restore your entire computer from one of these backups. If you ever were to get taken over by ransomware, you could solve all of your problems very quickly by using this method of backup in the first place. And another added benefit of this type of backup is that you can set it up to backup automatically, even when you aren't using the computer. If you are a typical user and none of the other backup types specifically apply to you, this is the best option for backups. Some common programs for this type of backup are Windows Backup, Macrium Reflect, and Apple TimeMachine.

The third backup method is using an online cloud service to back up all of your data. This type of backup is a great compromise between the ease of the USB backup and using Windows Backup. This method is usually automatic, and very comprehensive, but cannot restore your computer completely (meaning that you will still need to bring your computer into a shop to be fixed in the case of ransomware or a virus). The main benefit of this type of backup is that you can access all of your files anywhere that you have an internet connection. If you find yourself frequently working from multiple computers and needing files off of the other computer, this solution is ideal for you. Some examples of these types of services would be Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, and Carbonite Backup Software.

The final backup method is one that most users will find too complicated, but is the most ideal out of all of the methods. This method is called disk-imaging or disk-cloning. Using a piece of proprietary software, you can create a “carbon copy” of your computer and put it into a file on an external drive. This is ideal because not only would any attacker need the same program that you used to restore the backup, but you can also easily password protect this file. But the real main benefit of this method of backup is the fact that you can restore your computer to the same state it was in before the data loss exactly. If you work with a lot of sensitive data, this method is arguably the best, because it is secure and the most comprehensive backup option out there. If you are an advanced user, this if for you. Some common pieces of software for this kind of backup are HDClone, Macrium Reflect, and Acronis Backup.

Now that you know which is best for you, put your backup plan into action! It’s never too early to be thinking about data backups. Call SofTech Computer Repair in Prescott today at 928-443-8770 or visit us online at http://www.softechcomputers.com for more information about backups and data security.

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Why Regular Computer Backups in Prescott are Important - SofTech Computers

Everyone has trouble with their computer eventually, so why not be ready in case of disaster? We at SofTech Computers would like to explain the benefits of regular backups and how they can help protect you from cyber-crime, ransomware, hardware failure, and theft.  By simply backing up your data once a month, you can save yourself a lot of frustration, headache, time, and money.

Scammers lurk around every corner on the internet, and will often try to extort money from you if you are caught in one of their traps. Many of these scams involve ransomware, or a computer virus that locks down your computer, and the only way to free it is to send the criminal money, sometimes upwards of $1,000. By keeping a regular backup of your computer, you can say “go ahead and keep it!” because all of your files will be conveniently ready for recovery. With just a click of a button you can be back up and ready to get back to what you were doing. And even if it isn't that easy for some reason, it makes the turnaround time at any computer shop much lower.

Another good reason to backup your data is to protect yourself from hardware failure. Just like anything else, computers break over time. They slow down, and come to a crawl, and then eventually crash for good. And, from our 21 years of experience, we can tell you that the most common part to fail on a computer is the storage device, also know as the hard drive. These fail generally after 4-6 years of use, but can be sped up significantly by drops, vibrations, and prolonged use. By backing up your data onto an external device, you can save you pictures, documents, and other important data from a hardware failure that would otherwise corrupt your information.

Imagine if someone were to break into your house and steal your computer: do you have a copy of your data to replace what was lost? Or perhaps you have a laptop that was stolen on vacation: where is your information? In these two situations, a backup to an external device would have saved all of your information. Most criminals probably wouldn’t look for an external drive with the computer, and, in the case of a laptop, your backup probably wouldn't have been near the laptop in the first place.

Finally, backing up your information is easy. You can manually move files that you care about to an external device, use a backup program or Windows Backup, or use a cloud backup service like Google Backup & Sync. All of these services have their own benefits and pitfalls, like:

• Manually Moving Files: Using this method, you use the least space to backup and can have the quickest backup, but you might miss something important
• Windows Backup or Another Backup Program: This particular method of backup is most preferable, but at the highest cost and longest time, may not be the best for everyone. The main benefit of this backup method is the ability to completely restore your computer, rather than just transfer important files, in the case of disaster.
• Cloud Backup Service: The main benefits of this type of backup service lie in its security, ease, speed, and ability to retrieve your files over the internet.

Backing up your information is key to your data’s security and your peace of mind when using a computer. By backing up your data, you can save yourself a lot of money and time if disaster strikes. So what are you waiting for? Call SofTech Computers today at 928-443-8770 or visit us online at http://www.softechcomputers.com for more information on backups.

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