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Archives for December 2013

Online Scams

December 30, 2013 By Rob Marlowe

GEEKNOTE:  I’ve got several possible topics for this week’s GEEKNOTE, including an update on companies that are too big to have a clue, the hazards of installing apps on your smart phone without reading the fine print, the imminent demise of Windows XP, and my political plans for 2014, but I think I’ll write instead about something that I’ve been doing a slow burn over for the last couple of weeks:  Online rip-off artists.

For the last couple of months, we’ve seen a series of instances where someone has had their email credentials stolen and their email has been used to send out pharmaceutical spam messages.  The messages originate from all over the world and the one common thread seems to be the use of free anti-virus software (eg. Microsoft Security Essentials).

Two weeks ago, we picked up on another of these incidents with one of the folks we have provided with email service for years.  We immediately blocked the email and contacted the customer.  This is where things got interesting.  This particular customer is in his 80’s.  He got a message several weeks ago that his machine needed service and he was directed to a company in the Miami area who proceeded to sell him a $600 support package that included an anti-virus product of dubious reputation.  Notwithstanding the fact that the support package they talked him into cost more than his computer is probably worth,  his machine was still compromised and his email credentials were stolen.

After hearing his story, I came to the conclusion that his referral to the Miami company didn’t pass the sniff test.

We cleaned up his machine, installed real AV software, and set him up so that we could help him if he had any problems in the future.  The Miami company called him a day or two later to tell him that his machine needed more service from them.  He advised them that he had found someone locally and didn’t need their help.  Their concern immediately turned to whether or not he was going to demand a refund for what he had already paid them.

This scenario has played out several times over the past year.  Someone sees a “Microsoft” message pop up on their screen warning them that their computer is infected or needs some sort of fix.  Alternately, they get a call from “Microsoft” telling them that their computer has a problem and offering to check it out if they let “Microsoft” take control of their machine.  If they fall for the scam, the caller will generate a report that claims to show all sorts of problems and offer to fix everything for $200 or more… $600 in the case of my 80 something year old customer.

This sort of thing makes my blood boil.  I’ve seen far too many people fall for these scams.

Please protect yourself.  Microsoft absolutely NEVER calls to inform you about problems with your computer.  Popup warning messages are frequently bogus.  If a popup message isn’t from your AV program, ignore it.  Whatever you do, do NOT allow some stranger who calls you on the phone take remote control of your computer.

Finally, please avoid installing extra toolbars on your computer.  At least one of these also installs a custom search home page that includes very prominent bogus warning messages about supposed computer problems.  If you click on one of these warning messages, you will be directed to one of the scammers, who will be happy to separate you from your money.

We’d love for you to consider us if you need help with your computer.  We offer fixed price contracts or you can pay us based on the time we spend on your machine.   We have a local office and you know where to find us.

If you’ve got a parent that needs to have someone to call if they see anything odd on their computer, we can help.  We’ve got a fair number of seniors who feel free to call us whenever they have a question about their computer.  We’ll pop in, identify whether or not there really is a problem, and pop out, often in just 3 or 4 minutes.  Most of the time, it’s just an update that needs to be accepted, but occasionally, it’s something malicious that we can nip in the bud.

Please be safe this coming week and New Years Eve.  We’re planning on reviewing how well our predictions last year worked out and making some predictions for the new year in next week’s GEEKNOTE.

Filed Under: GEEKNOTES

GEEKNOTE: Free, and worth every penny you paid.

December 9, 2013 By Rob Marlowe

GEEKNOTE:   One of the nice things about the Internet is that there are a lot of good things available on the net that are totally free of charge.  The flip side is that there are some “free” things on the net that are ultimately quite costly.

Antivirus software is a prime example.   I can’t prove cause and effect, but I’ve seen a pretty strong correlation between using free AV software, especially Microsoft Security Essentials, and badly compromised machines.

Another example is the sort of website you see advertised on TV that guarantees to fix your computer:  They often have some website name that implies how much faster or better your computer will be if you visit them.  We’d probably suggest truth in advertising, eg:   http://ScrewUPMyPC.com.

What these sites generally offer is some sort of registry optimizer that claims to identify errors, typically thousands of them, and then offers you the opportunity to have them fixed for a nominal charge of a few hundred dollars.  Keep your credit card in your wallet.

A number of “free” offers involve the installation of browser helpers that set your computer up so you get a constant stream of advertisements.  I’ve collected quite a list of these programs that I automatically remove when I see them on a computer that comes into the shop.  At the top of my list are any products by Conduit, any toolbars other than perhaps one from Google or Yahoo, MyPCBackup, and pretty much anything with the word “spyware” , “antispyware”, speedup, or “Regfix” in the name.  Individually, none of these are horrible, but combined, they can turn your formerly fast PC into a slug.

If you want to take advantage of some GOOD free anti-malware utilities, I recommend Malwarebytes and Spybot Search & Destroy, both of which are available at http://www.downloads.com and both of which are quite useful in their free versions.

I recommend you stay away from any of the registry cleaners and fixers.  There are some very good registry utilities available, but they are like a sharp knife and they can hurt if you don’t know what you are doing.

I’m a strong fan of F-Secure Antivirus products.  They start at $40 a year (for up to three machines) and they simply work.  We sell them.  There are several other very good commercial AV products.  The key is to stay away from the free stuff.

If you want backup software, stick with one of the legitimate services like Carbonite or F-Secure Online Backup.  Avoid any PC backup software that just appears on your computer.

The key thing to remember is that free stuff you find on the Internet is generally free for a reason.  Be sure to consider what strings come attached before you accept the offer.

Rob Marlowe, Senior Geek
Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.

Filed Under: GEEKNOTES

GEEKNOTE: Motherboards

December 2, 2013 By Rob Marlowe

GEEKNOTE:  Back in February, I wrote about Intel’s decision to drop its line of desktop motherboards and use those resources to grow their Next Unit of Computing (NUC) line of micro sized systems.  At the time, they indicated that their next generation of desktop motherboards would be the last ones and that we would need to find replacements by 2016.  It seems the future came faster than they thought.  The Intel mini-ITX motherboards we had standardized on rapidly became impossible to get.

While I like the NUCs and we’ve sold a number of them, there are times when you really do need a conventional desktop system.  The NUCs have a limited number of USB ports and drive capacity is both limited and expensive because they use solid state drives rather than conventional rotating platter drives.  Conventional systems, including the mini-ITX systems our customers like, are much more expandable.

We checked out both of the motherboard manufacturers that Intel recommended.  The two manufacturers being Asus and Gigabyte.

Asus has an excellent reputation in the marketplace and we built several systems using Asus motherboards.  They aren’t bad.  The particular models we tried were solid performers, if nothing to get excited about.

We also decided to try out the comparable Gigabyte offerings.  The one I decided to check out had some interesting features, including built-in WiFi.  Okay.  I ordered one.  When it arrived, I couldn’t believe what I saw.  To say that I was blown away would be an understatement.

The attention to detail on these motherboards is absolutely amazing.  The board is from their “Ultra Durable” line.  The RF shield for the back panel has both a foam backing AND the port names are lithographed in the outside.  The layout of components is well thought out and Gigabyte makes a point of the fact that they build the boards with solid Japanese capacitors instead of the less expensive and less durable ones from China and other sources.

The feature set is no less impressive:  Built in Wi-Fi and bluetooth support, USB 3.0 support, 6gb SATA, dual gigabyte LAN ports, DVI and dual HDMI video ports and a whole lot more.

In the last month, I’ve built twelve new systems with the Gigabyte motherboards.  Built out with dual core i3 processors they are impressive.  With i5 quad core processors, they absolutely scream.

I’m less that impressed with Gigabyte’s warranty policy, which doesn’t hold a candle to Intel’s overnight advance replacement policy, but I’m guessing that I won’t be needing to use it very often.

Quality has always been important to us and we back our systems with three year warranties.  That is why we use high end components (eg. Western Digital “Black” drives) even when there are less expensive components available.  We’ve used Intel motherboards almost exclusively because of their reliability.  Based on my assessment, the Gigabyte motherboards are going to be “keepers” and worthy replacements for the no longer available Intel boards.

I’ve been pretty happy with my home PC, but spending time with the latest stuff certainly adds to the temptation to build a new system for myself.

Rob Marlowe, Senior Geek

Filed Under: GEEKNOTES

December 2013 Newsletter

December 1, 2013 By Rob Marlowe

We all wear many hats throughout the year and during the holidays, a Santa hat may be one of them! As you’re making your list and checking it twice, jot down a few tips and ideas from this December issue.

It begins with a warning about fraudulent package delivery emails. While these are always out there, during the Christmas season they tend to become even more prevalent; scammers hope you’ll be expecting lots of package deliveries and will fall for their fake notices. Speaking of fake, you’ll also learn about catfishing (the use of fake online identities) as well as how to avoid a fake Wi-Fi connection while at a coffee shop. On a more festive note, you can enjoy a “ho, ho, ho” lot of recipe and decorating ideas and reminisce with a Bing Crosby Christmas video.

We think you’ll find the information contained in this newsletter to be a valuable tool for enhancing your Internet experience.

Here’s what’s inside our December 2013 Newsletter:

PHISHING ALERT – WATCH FOR FRAUDULENT PACKAGE DELIVERY EMAILS

GO PINTEREST-ING! COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS

THIS MONTH’S FAQ – I’VE HEARD THE TERM “CATFISHING” USED RECENTLY. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN DECEMBER

TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

SHORT TUTORIAL – HOW TO PROTECT YOUR DATA WHEN USING PUBLIC WI-FI

The Gulfcoast Networking Team

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PHISHING ALERT – WATCH FOR FRAUDULENT PACKAGE DELIVERY EMAILS

Scammers take every opportunity to trick you into doing what they want and the holidays are no exception. Here’s how their holiday package delivery con typically works: They send you an email (claiming to be from FedEx, UPS, etc.) that describes a missed delivery or shipping address problem and tells you to click on a link to correct the issue. The link goes to a spoofed website which attempts to gather critical information like passwords, Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, and more. Don’t be fooled. The FedEx website says, “FedEx does not request, via unsolicited mail or email, payment or personal information in return for goods in transit or in FedEx custody.” The same is true for the other major package delivery services.

Another similar trick is an email supposedly from the U.S. Postal Service regarding an intercepted package delivery. The email contains a link that, when activated, installs a virus that steals personal information on your computer. Sometimes these emails elicit a sense of false urgency by stating that if you do nothing, you will be charged money.

The best way to combat this type of scam is to avoid opening suspicious, unsolicited emails or clicking on links within them. Warning signs of bogus emails include:

~ Unexpected requests for money

~ Requests for personal information

~ Links to familiar-looking websites that are actually spelled wrong

~ Extensive spelling and grammar errors in the body of the email

You can also adjust the settings in your email application to capture more spam in a junk folder. When you do see emails like these in your inbox, delete them immediately.

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NEWS FROM THE SHOP

It has been a busy couple of months around here.  There are several items I  think you will find interesting:

NEW COMPUTERS:

Windows XP sunsets in April of 2014.  If you have a Windows XP machine, it is not too early to think about replacing it.  We have four options available for you:

First:  Buy a custom built mini-ITX GCN computer with Windows 7.   These systems come with your choice of i3 or i5 processor, up to 16gb of memory, a 1TB hard drive, and a three year warranty.

After Intel’s announcement that they were exiting the desktop motherboard business, we looked at both of the manufacturers Intel recommended.  We have settled on a new mini-ITX motherboard that is really nice.  It even comes with dual HDMI video ports, built in Wi-Fi capability and dual Gigabyte network ports!

We are delivering these systems as fast as we can build them, so if you want one for Christmas, be sure to give us as much lead time as possible.

Second:  Buy a custom built NUC system with Windows 7.  These are the Celeron, i3, and i5 variants of Intel’s new NUC line.  They are very small, very fast, and quite affordable.

If you don’t need a lot of hard drive space or a DVD drive, these computers are worth a look.  They also come with a three year warranty.

Third:  Buy a brand name desktop system.  We’ve located several very affordable brand name systems with Windows 7.  We are keeping tabs on what is available and can let you know what the delivery times are on the model you want.

Brand name systems typically come with a one year warranty.  More details can be found on our Specials Page.

Fourth:  Buy a brand name notebook system.  Like the brand name desktops, we have located several very affordable notebooks with Windows 7.   Be sure to give us a bit of lead time if you want one of these as we are typically NOT keeping them in stock. Brand name notebooks typically come with a one year warranty.  More details can be found on our specials page.

We are not recommending either tablets or Windows 8 unless you specifically need the mobility.

COMPUTER ACCESSORIES:

We will have a variety of computer accessories on sale between now and Christmas.  Come in early for the best selection.

COMMERCIAL / BUSINESS PROJECTS:

We are currently working on several projects for various business customers.   We use enterprise class hardware rather than consumer grade equipment.   High quality commercial grade equipment is often only slightly more expensive than much less capable consumer grade gear.

Example:  We just got done replacing four consumer / SOHO wireless access points (average cost about $90 each) with a single commercial grade access point that cost $100.  In this case, the commercial access point costs much less than all the consumer stuff that it replaced.

If you are a business owner and and you have an IT project coming up or if you are spending too much of your own time on IT, we need to talk.  Our network monitoring and network management packages are very affordable.

 

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GO PINTEREST-ING! COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS

Spicy Toppers
For Starry Cider
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775849633254/

10 Holiday Ideas
For DIY Decor
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775849633260/

For the Photographer
With a Creative Eye
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775849633084/

You haven’t started pinning on Pinterest yet and you want to get started?
To sign up, go here https://pinterest.com/join/signup/

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THIS MONTH’S FAQ – I’VE HEARD THE TERM “CATFISHING” USED RECENTLY. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Question: A friend mentioned seeing a documentary about an online scam called catfishing. What is it and how can I avoid it?

Answer: Catfishing is when someone creates a false identity to lure you into a false romantic relationship online. The term was coined by the documentary Catfish, which tells the story of a woman who used Facebook to create a fake online identity. Such a “relationship” can involve exchanging messages on Facebook or another social media site, texting, emailing, and so on. Catfishing relationships usually begin to unravel when the perpetrator refuses to talk on the phone or via Skype, and won’t reveal basic information like a home address. These scammers may be lonely, bored, or in some way out for revenge. They may even try to get you to give them money.

If you suspect you are being catfished, do a search for the person’s name to see if the information that comes up checks out with what that person has told you. Also, look at their social media profiles; if they are recently established, rarely used, or include few connections, that’s another clue. Even if the person is legitimate, their motivations may not be. Don’t give money or take any other actions that wouldn’t be appropriate in a similar offline relationship. You can avoid catfishing by being selective about who you communicate with online, as well as what you tell them, and by regularly updating social media privacy settings and account passwords.

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SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN DECEMBER

Reclaim Forgotten Assets
http://www.unclaimed.org
The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators has created this site to help you reclaim property you may have forgotten about including bank accounts, stocks, trust distributions, CDs, safe deposit box contents, and more. Just click on the map to search by your name in your state.

101 Holiday Cookies
http://www.foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties/top-holiday-cookies/pictures/index.html
For gifts, entertaining, or just for fun, check out this mouth-watering cookie gallery. View photos and get recipes for a wide variety of types (bars, sandwiches, dipped), flavors (chocolate, cinnamon, fruit), and shapes (crescent, swirled, candy cane). Use the social media buttons to share with friends.

Temporary Email Addresses
http://maildrop.cc
MailDrop offers free, disposable, receive-only email addresses to use instead of your real email address. A MailDrop inbox holds up to 10 messages and is cleared if it doesn’t receive a message within 24 hours.  Use it to receive e-commerce receipts without signing up for retailers’ “latest offers.”

Holiday Lights Around the World
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/holiday-lights-photos/#/02-light-displays-vienna_42267_600x450.jpg
>From Japan to Copenhagen to Sweden to the U.S., this site shows the best places in the world to see holiday lights. Check out the beautiful variety of decorations hung on shops, in gardens, at amusement parks, and other creative places. Plus, learn about the displays and the traditions they represent.

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TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2013/1312_VIDEO_A.htm

Bing Crosby Christmas
Even the Scroogiest will appreciate this video, which includes clips of the crooner’s famous “White Christmas” and a reminder of the holiday’s best qualities. It’s a perfect respite for the busy end-of-year season.

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2013/1312_VIDEO_B.htm

Mountain Bike Ride
Ready for some extreme sporting without the danger? Check out this video and prepare to be wowed. Mountain biker Kelly McGarry’s helmet-camera-filmed ride includes frighteningly narrow paths and several flips.

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SHORT TUTORIAL – HOW TO PROTECT YOUR DATA WHEN USING PUBLIC WI-FI

Access to Wi-Fi in public places — such as coffee shops, hotels, and airports — can be very convenient. It’s great to be able to use your mobile device practically anywhere you go. However, as with most
Internet-related activities, there are potential dangers including stolen data.

Follow these tips to avoid problems:

1. Start with your mobile device at home. Make sure all antivirus, anti-spyware, and browsing software is updated. Keep your firewall activated at all times.

2. Treat all Wi-Fi connections with suspicion. Hackers can set up fake connections whose names might look legitimate.

3. At the Wi-Fi location, ask someone who works there the name of the network to be sure you’re accessing the right one. If you have a choice between a password-protected connection and a non-password-protected connection, choose password protection even if you have to pay for it.

4. Refrain from completing private transactions, such as banking or purchases that require you to enter a credit card number, using a Wi-Fi connection. Save these activities for home.

5. Even if you’re still operating your device, turn off the Wi-Fi connection when you’re done using the Internet.

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We hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It’s our way of keeping you posted on the happenings at our shop.

Thanks for your business!

Best regards,

Rob Marlowe
Gulfcoast Networking, Inc
6335 Grand Blvd
New Port Richey, FL 34652

727-847-2424

(We have used our best efforts in collecting and preparing the information published herein. However, we do not assume, and hereby disclaim, any and all liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions resulted from negligence, accident, or other causes.)

©2013 Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.
Portions ©2013 Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc., used with permission.

Filed Under: Newsletter

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Rob Marlowe

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Phone: 727-847-2424

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