Here’s what’s inside our June 2016 Newsletter:

SECURITY ALERT – A NEW TWIST ON TECH-SUPPORT SCAMS

NEWS FROM THE SHOP

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

FREE FEATURED APPS – THESE THREE ARE WELL WORTH A LOOK

SITES OF THE MONTH

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

SHORT TUTORIAL/FAQ – HOW CAN I CONTROL WHO SEES MY POST ON FACEBOOK?

The Gulfcoast Networking Team

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SECURITY ALERT – A NEW TWIST ON TECH-SUPPORT SCAMS

For some time, scammers have known how to trick innocent computer users into divulging sensitive information (which they can later use for malicious purposes) by calling and offering to “fix” the victim’s computer. To sound convincing, these crooks make up phony reasons why the computer needs to be repaired. Now the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been hearing reports of people getting calls from scammers claiming to be from the Global Privacy Enforcement Network (GPEN) saying that the victim’s email has been hacked and is sending out fraudulent messages. The criminals further claim they must fix the problem immediately or the user will be subject to legal action.

GPEN is a real organization that strives for cooperation in the enforcement of cross-border privacy laws. Its website has issued the following statement as part of an alert addressing this scam: “GPEN and PrivacyEnforcement.net do not contact individual consumers via phone or email.”

The alert further cautions you to not send money, give financial information, or follow instructions if contacted by someone claiming to be from the site. Here are some additional tips from the FTC:

~Don’t give control of your computer to anyone who calls you offering to “fix” it.

~If a caller pressures you to act immediately, hang up.

~If you have doubts about who is contacting you or why, call the company the person is claiming to be from directly with contact information you already have.

Remember, scammers will always try, but they don’t always have to succeed. Cut them off, and they won’t be able to get what they’re after.

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NEWS FROM THE SHOP

In addition to the GPEN scam mentioned above, we have heard from a number of people who have gotten a call from “Microsoft” telling them that their computer has been infected and needs to be cleaned up.  If you get one of these calls, hang up IMMEDIATELY.

Other people have gotten popups telling them something similar and instructing them to call Microsoft at a specific phone number.  If you get one of these, hold the power button until the computer turns off and then restart it.

For good measure, I fixed a machine this past weekend that used the computer speakers to tell the computer owner that the machine was infected.  Again, this is a scam and the computer needs to be checked out, but not by calling the number suggested.

How can you protect yourself from these threats?  The best solution is to have a tech company that you know and trust that you can call any time you have a question.  Gulfcoast Networking offers both consumer and business support plans that provide telephone support, anti-malware protection, and other features designed to keep you and your computer safe.

For Consumers:

We offer a range of Safe Computing Packages.  These plans are affordable and designed to keep you and  your home computer out of trouble.

For Businesses:

We offer a full array of IT management services.  These include real-time monitoring of your network, anti-malware protection, backup solutions, telephone support, on-site support, email, and web hosting.  We can even roll in a subscription to the latest Microsoft Office products.  Your business then has one number to call for all of your IT needs and questions.

All of our consumer and business support options include remote technical support, allowing us in most cases to solve your issues without you having to bring a computer to us or us driving to your office.

We would love the opportunity to talk to you about how you can simplify your life by letting Gulfcoast Networking handle your IT needs.  Give us a call at 727-847-2424 or drop us a line via the Internet.

 

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

Quick & Tasty Lemon Blueberry Layer Cake
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775859866140/

Freeze Fresh Herbs & Save For Later Use
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AdviISXosq0bRDcd6ZdQIGo5jooCP9Ckg3cT988yulLeZW4PaUeDuiA/

Make This Unique Domino Wall Clock
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775859866196/

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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FREE FEATURED APPS – THESE THREE ARE WELL WORTH A LOOK

Stack

In this addictive game, you try to stack colorful moving blocks right on top of each other. While seemingly simple, Stack is surprisingly challenging.

Learn More Here: http://www.ketchappstudio.com/

The Pit Pal BBQ App

Created to help cooks create more consistent BBQ, this app enables you to monitor your cooking, store your information, and take photos of the end product.

Learn More Here: http://www.thepitpal.com/

Zillow

This useful app helps you learn everything you want to know – including pricing, features, and nearby schools – about residential real estate all over the U.S.

Learn More Here: http://www.ketchappstudio.com/

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SITES OF THE MONTH

Solving The Retirement Mystery
http://1.usa.gov/25ckk1Q
Fewer pensions and longer lifespans mean Americans need to take control of their own retirement. This site takes a mystery-solving approach to helping you “discover” where you can find money now and in the future. Review it to learn how to save, make your money last, and find planning help.

Farm-To-Table Recipes
http://bit.ly/1syds0v
Summertime is farmers’ market time, but what do you do with all that delectable produce once you get it home? Visit this site to find some great ideas for cooking many fresh fruits and veggies. Try making some fresh asparagus soup, cherry cobbler, or fresh tomato salad. Yum!

Creative Online Marketplace
http://etsy.com
If you haven’t yet discovered Etsy, stop by to find unique goods sold by creative entrepreneurs for yourself or a friend. Shop for clothing, accessories, jewelry, craft supplies, home décor, and more. Or, if you’re the artistic type, consider promoting your creations with an Etsy shop of your own.

Tips For Traveling Light
http://onebag.com
Packing light when you travel can help you save money, increase your mobility, and keep track of your belongings. Yet, lightening the load is easier said than done. This site provides detailed suggestions for what and how to pack, to keep your luggage burden down to just one bag

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

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2016/1606_VIDEO_A.htm

Cyclists Chased By Ostrich
One thing not to worry about on a bike ride: an ostrich chasing you down – right? Not for the two confused cyclists in this video!

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2016/1606_VIDEO_B.htm

Twin Strangers
Watch as a young woman finds her unrelated look-alike. The resemblance is uncanny, especially when they change their looks to appear even more similar.

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SHORT TUTORIAL/FAQ – HOW CAN I CONTROL WHO SEES MY POST ON FACEBOOK?

Question: I want to post some personal news on Facebook, and don’t necessarily want all my friends to see it. How do I choose who can view it?

Answer: There are a couple of ways you can go about selecting who views your posts on Facebook. The first way is to choose a default setting that your posts will automatically adhere to. To do this, follow these steps:

1. From your home page, click the down-arrow in the upper-right corner.

2. Select Settings.

3. In the left-hand column, click Privacy.

4. In the main content area, under “Who can see my stuff?”, select “Who can see future posts?”

5. Click the audience selector, and choose your preference. If you’ve created friend lists, your selection can be even more specific.

6. This selection will now be used for every post unless you change it.

To change your default selection, create your new post as you normally would. Then, follow these steps:

1. Click the audience selector, and choose your preference for this post only.

2 .Click Post.

3. Your post will be viewable only by the people you selected.

You can even change the audience for an item you’ve already posted. To do this, simply find the post on your timeline, click the audience selector, and choose a new selection.

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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, Senior Geek
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.)

©2016 Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.
Portions ©2016 Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc., used with permission

Here’s what’s inside our May 2016 Newsletter:

SECURITY ALERT – THE NEXT-GENERATION IN RANSOMWARE

NEWS FROM THE SHOP

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

FREE FEATURED APPS – THESE THREE ARE WELL WORTH A LOOK

SITES OF THE MONTH

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

SHORT TUTORIAL/FAQ – HOW CAN I TELL IF MY COMPUTER IS DYING?

The Gulfcoast Networking Team

 

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SECURITY ALERT – THE NEXT-GENERATION IN RANSOMWARE

The newest ransomware (malicious software that interferes with your computer’s functioning and requires a ransom to restore it) is even more problematic than previous types, because it not only prevents access to your documents ? it locks you out of your computer entirely. This file, called Petya, is typically transmitted via email. If you open the attachment, or follow the link, it begins running on your computer.

Once this happens, you’ll see a series of things happening, including the Blue Screen of Death, the Windows Check Disk running, and a screen showing a skull and informing you of the ransom you have to pay to get your computer to function again. If you choose to pay the ransom, you’ll have to use another computer to do it.

Fortunately, you have a couple of other options to try. Take your computer to an IT technician, who may be able to recover your system. Or, if possible, shut down your computer immediately when you see the Blue Screen of Death. At this point, you may still be able to salvage your files.

Of course, the best strategy is to prevent the file from infecting your computer in the first place. To do this, use standard malware prevention techniques:

*Be wary of all email you receive, especially from people you don’t know. Don’t open any attachments from an unknown source and don’t follow any links unless you know where they go.

*Use complex, varied passwords and keep them private.

*Only download software from known, trusted websites.

*Keep your operating system, browser, and all applications up to date. Regularly install security patches and other updates.

*Use an anti-virus and anti-malware application, and run it regularly to ensure continuous protection.  We sell and support products from AVG, Avira, and F-Secure.

*Perhaps most importantly, back up all your files regularly. Use a reliable offsite backup and recovery service.

For individuals, we recommend Carbonite Personal Edition.  We are a Carbonite dealer and can get your backups set up and configured.

For businesses, depending on your needs, we recommend either AVG Cloudcare Backup or a Barracuda Backup Server.  We represent both of these companies as well and will be happy to discuss your needs with you.

While there is a lot of potential danger in computer and online use, there are also many steps you can take to protect yourself.

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NEWS FROM THE SHOP

Do you have questions about Windows 10 or your computer? Feel free to call us. We’d be happy to answer your questions. Our office number is 727-847-2424.
 

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

Egg Carton Ladybug
Is Easy Kids’ Craft
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775859864947/

Use Mason Jars To
Plant Herb Garden
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/Ac3OckT5w1YJ_70rPiyLRcMwAlo4KOMk8mvUQ1Sn1-LuWwvncTAfUyA/

Yummy Candy Eggs
In Fun Brownie Nest
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775859393377/

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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FREE FEATURED APPS – THESE THREE ARE WELL WORTH A LOOK

BrightNest

This app gives targeted suggestions for household projects based on info you provide. You get instructions and can love, complete, or schedule tasks.

Learn More Here:
https://brightnest.com/posts/home-maintenance-there-s-an-app-for-that
Blocky Raider

Get ready for your newest game addiction. Make your way through the blocky temple while avoiding spikes, traps, lava, and other exciting obstacles.

Learn More Here: http://www.fullfat.com/games/blocky-raider/

 

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SITES OF THE MONTH
 

Support Team USA
http://teamusa.org
With the summer Olympics coming up, check out this site to meet the athletes, get a refresher on the sports, stay updated on the team, and get Rio de Janeiro travel updates. You’ll find exciting stories, photos, and videos. Get even more goodies when you sign up for Team USA updates.

Springtime Salads
http://allrecipes.com/recipes/96/salad
As the weather warms up, you don’t want to be inside for hours preparing food. This site offers recipes for easy, delicious salads. Try one of the Main Dish options for a quick dinner, or search by different criteria to find a super salad to accompany your next meal.

Avoid Bug Bites
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/avoid-bug-bites
You may know that you can catch certain diseases — including Lyme disease, West Nile disease, and Zika — from bug bites, but you may not know how to prevent it from happening. This helpful site describes how to avoid bug bites, as well as what to do if you get bit.

Ultimate Road Trips
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/road-trips
If you love road trips, you won’t want to miss this site. From iconic Route 66 destinations to the best motorcycle rides, you’ll find beautiful National Geographic pictures and great information here. Be sure to explore the Top 10 lists (like the top 10 food road trips) and Road Trip Tips.

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

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2016/1605_VIDEO_A.htm

Kitten Versus Turtle
Watch the hilarious antics of a kitten who doesn’t know quite what to make of a turtle taking a slooooow walk across the floor.

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2016/1605_VIDEO_B.htm

New Mountain Coaster
This Canadian mountain coaster is like a roller coaster in the woods. Enjoy all the ups and downs from a user’s point of view.

 

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SHORT TUTORIAL/FAQ – HOW CAN I TELL IF MY COMPUTER IS DYING?

Question: My computer has been giving me problems lately, but I don’t want to spend the money on a new one if I don’t have to. How do I know when it’s time to give up?

Answer: Generally, a computer should last from three to five years, but could last much longer. To be sure it’s really time to say goodbye to your trusted technology, look for the following signs:

*Frequent program glitches are a classic sign of a dying computer. You may notice that your computer slows down, freezes, crashes, or sends error messages. This is particularly worrisome if several programs are acting up and the problems persist even after rebooting.

*Problems with your mouse, monitor, or flash drive can also be warning signs. If you’ve checked to make sure the cables are firmly connected to your computer and the devices still don’t act properly, your computer could be starting to go.

*A noisy hard drive or system fan is likely caused by malfunctioning parts, which could be due to wear and tear on your computer. Depending on the age of your computer, you may want to replace the parts or buy a new one.

*Error messages like “disk boot failure” could indicate hard drive failure or a corrupt operating system.

*Sluggish performance could be symptomatic of a nearly full hard drive, a computer virus, or an underlying hardware problem.

*Frozen pixels or weird lines on your laptop’s screen could be a sign of imminent screen failure.

Just as you’d take your car to a mechanic when it’s acting up, take action when your computer is not performing normally. Have it checked out by a computer technician and ask if repair or replacement makes the most sense.

If your computer is acting up, bring it in for a complete multi-check. We’ll take care of popups, check out the hardware performance, and make your computer perform the way it should. If hardware is going, we’ll help you decide if it makes more sense to fix it or replace it.

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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, Senior Geek
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.)

©2016 Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.
Portions ©2016 Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc., used with permission

Here’s what’s inside our April 2016 Newsletter:

PHISHING ALERT – BEWARE OF SCAMS FROM DOWNLOADED APPS

NEWS FROM THE SHOP

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

FREE FEATURED APPS – THESE THREE ARE WELL WORTH A LOOK

SITES OF THE MONTH GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN APRIL

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

SHORT TUTORIAL/FAQ – ELIMINATING ANNOYING YOUTUBE ANNOTATIONS

The Gulfcoast Networking Team

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PHISHING ALERT – BEWARE OF SCAMS FROM DOWNLOADED APPS

Given how much information is stored on our mobile devices, it’s no surprise that scammers have chosen to target these devices in their ongoing efforts to steal money and data. The latest threat to Android devices is a phishing app called Acecard that gets downloaded with certain legitimate apps. It then gathers information from your banking apps, or other common programs like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, Skype, PayPal, and Gmail. This sneaky Trojan uses overlays, which are sign-in screens that look just like the ones you’d expect to see for the real apps. With overlays, the scammers capture your login or credit card information and use this data to steal from you directly or sell to others.

Acecard has been in use since 2014, but activity picked up in the second half of 2015, when experts noted 6,000 attacks in countries across the globe. Experts say different versions of the Trojan have been developed, becoming more of a threat over time.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to avoid such attacks:

1.    Note that Acecard is often disguised as a Flash Player, which is no longer used by Android. Don’t download anything that includes Flash as part of the package.

2.    Avoid downloading anything from third-party sources.

3.    Even on Google Store, only download apps from reputable sources, and avoid downloading any app you don’t really need.

4.    Pay attention to the permissions each app asks for, and don’t agree to anything that seems suspicious.

5.    Use a security app such as Kaspersky Internet Security, which offers free basic protection.

Remember, by being careful, you can outsmart the scammers.

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NEWS FROM THE SHOP

The Chasco Fiesta runs from April 1st – April 9th.  Please drop by and see us when you come downtown.  The Sertoma BBQ is not to be missed.  Lots of other stuff will be available in the park and, if you want a sit-down meal, our downtown restaurants will be happy to oblige.

Looking for a new computer?  Come see us.  We have new computers starting at just $400.

We continue to see clients hit by malware.  The nastiest of the current flock, called “ransomware” will encrypt your computer’s hard drive and then demand a ransom payment that exceeds the cost of a new computer.  You can learn more from the US-CERT Website and their latest update, released yesterday.

The ONLY reasonable response is to reformat your hard drive and reinstall your computer’s operating system and restore your files.  You need a recovery disk set for your computer and you need a recent backup.

You should have gotten a recovery disk set when you purchased your computer.  If not, you need to create one. We can help you figure out how do create a recovery set, if you need one.

You should also take advantage of one of the online backup services for your files.  We sell Carbonite subscriptions.

We continue to see folks who have been tricked by someone calling them and claiming to be Microsoft.  Caught early enough, the damage can be limited.  We offer our Safe Computing Packages so that our clients can have unlimited telephone support from someone they trust…us.  Check out all the features of our Safe Computing Packages and pick the one that is right for you.

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

Pretty And Delicious
Flavored Ice Cubes
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775859393443/

Puzzle Pieces Make
Fun Kid Room Decor
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775859393430/

Simple Crock Pot
French Dip Sammies
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775859393309/

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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FREE FEATURED APPS – THESE THREE ARE WELL WORTH A LOOK

Flixter

Flixter offers Rotten Tomatoes’ scores and descriptions for movies in theaters and on DVD and Netflix. Also, see what’s playing nearby.

Learn More Here: http://www.flixster.com/

Retail Me Not

Instead of clipping, download this app to get and use coupons from your favorite stores. Also, get alerts from local stores.

Learn More Here: http://www.retailmenot.com/mobile/

 

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SITES OF THE MONTH GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN APRIL

Keep America Beautiful
http://kab.org
April is Keep America Beautiful month, and this site will teach you how.  The Keep America Beautiful organization has great ideas to end littering, improve recycling, and beautify communities. Find an affiliate in your area, make a donation, or find out how to volunteer.

Spring Weeknight Dinners
http://bit.ly/1Uh6Wqx
When the weather changes, so should your food. It’s time to eat lighter, do some grilling, and clean up faster to enjoy the extra daylight. This slide show offers great ideas for delicious spring fare. Try Roast Chicken With Spring Vegetables, Pasta Primavera, or Grilled Shrimp and Noodle Salad.

Take The Perfect Selfie
http://bit.ly/22A07VD
This fascinating site shares the “science of selfies” and guides you in presenting your preferred image to the online world. Just a few tricks include making sure your smile is real, learning confident body postures, and understanding what your image conveys when you’re photographed from certain angles.

Planning A Family Reunion
http://bit.ly/1q5WJR8
Want to see your family all together, but dread planning a reunion? Visit this site for helpful hints on everything from activities for kids, to creative decorations, to the perfect location. Discover who to invite, appropriate budgets, and even a list of family reunion jokes.

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

http://bit.ly/1604vidA
Flying Underwater
Take a dive under the beautiful waters of Belize and watch these swimmers skim along with help from boat-towed Subwings.

http://bit.ly/1604vidB
The Future Of Parking
This Chinese parking system gives a new meaning to the term “self-parking.” Drivers simply drop off their cars and let machines do the work.

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SHORT TUTORIAL/FAQ – ELIMINATING ANNOYING YOUTUBE ANNOTATIONS

Question: How can I get rid of those annoying pop-ups that sometimes appear during YouTube videos?

Answer: It’s more fun to watch videos without superfluous images and text (called “annotations”) getting in the way. Fortunately, getting rid of them is easy. You can eliminate annotations for one video using the following steps:

1.    On the video you’re watching, click the gear icon.

2.    Click the button next to “Annotations.” The checkmark should disappear, and you’ll no longer see annotations in that video.

To eliminate pop-ups for all videos, you must be signed in with a YouTube account. Here are the steps to follow:

1.    In the upper-right corner of the screen, click the avatar icon. You’ll see your account information.

2.    Within your account information, click the gear icon, which will take you to your Settings.

3.    In the left-hand column, choose Playback, and you’ll see a new set of options. Under “Annotations and in-video notifications,” uncheck the box next to “Show annotations and in-video notifications.”

4.    At the bottom of the screen, click Save.

Now you shouldn’t see annotations in any videos when logged into your account.

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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, Senior Geek
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.)

©2016 Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.
Portions ©2016 Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc., used with permission