Computer Virus?

Three things are certain:
Death, taxes, and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.
~David Dixon, 1998

In an ideal world, your computer will have adequate security and you will avoid getting any form of virus, spyware, malware etc. However, we do not live in an ideal world, and there are times when something nasty could slip through and affect your computer or laptop. But how would you know if you’ve been infected?

The best way to answer this is to have a professional computer technician have a look at your IT, but there are warning signs that may mean you’ve been attacked.

If you can answer “yes” to any of the following questions, then it’s possible that your computer may have a virus.

• Does your computer freeze, lock up, or stop responding?
• Is your computer or laptop running slower than usual?
• Are you getting unexpected messages “popping up”, or programs starting automatically?
• Is your computer crashing or restarting of it’s own free will?
• Are there other applications that don’t seem to be working correctly, or  that are unaccessible?

There may be reasons other than viruses why your computer isn’t running quite as it should, but if you have any suspicions you should get it checked out. After all, having a virus make your computing life a misery is one thing – but spreading it on could land you in even more trouble!

In addition, because there are no guarantees with computing, it is essential that you have an adequate backup procedure in place.

If you have any questions regarding this or any other computer issues, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us, and for the most up to date news, follow us on Twitter. We wish you as ever, continued happy and safe computing.

John F Kennedy (1917 – 1963)

Using Time As A Tool

With time at a premium for so many of us, anything that makes life easier or quicker is usually welcomed.

On most standard keyboards, you’ll probably find a button  that has the Windows Logo on it. Whilst its addition undoubtedly helps with marketing, it also serves the purpose of helping you speed up some processes.

Keyboard Shortcuts For Windows

Below is a list of the 3 most basic Windows keyboard shortcuts that may help with your everyday computing.

1. Windows Logo Solo – by just pressing the Windows Logo button on it’s own, your Start Up menu will be displayed – by pressing it again, it will disappear.
2. Windows Logo key and “D” -  touch the Windows Logo key and “D”, and hey presto, your desktop is displayed! Press the same keys again, in the same order, and you’re back to where you were.
3. Windows Logo key and “L” – an invaluable shortcut for those who have to walk away from their computer whilst in the middle of something – press the Windows logo key and “L”. This locks your screen and means that your little ones, be they children or pets, can’t accidently send your half written email, or delete the document you were working on!

There are a miriad of further keyboard shortcuts, but we hope that these three will help you save time right now.

You will find us on Twitter, where we post any updates as soon as we hear of them, keeping you regularly informed.We will always be happy to advise you further on all computer related issues, and we wish you all continued happy and safe computing.

~Yvonne Craig

What Is Scareware?

As a Computer Service Company we’ve seen a lot of machines in recent weeks that have fallen victim to Scareware; but what exactly is Scareware, how do you identify it, and how can you protect yourself?

What Is Scareware? – Scareware is, at best,  a form of internet fraud, and at it’s worst a way of infecting a computer with a virus, spyware, and/or malware. It is a form of software that fools people into downloading it and/or paying for it when there is nothing actually wrong.

How Do You Identify It? – Scareware “ads” will sporadically pop up whilst you are online. They can seem increadably authentic, seemingly from a reputable company, and to the uninitiated appear very genuine. Scareware, like so much internet fraud, plays on your emotions. There are many different forms of pop up, but see below for an example:

Example Of Type Of Scareware

You may see messages stating things like,

“WARNING! 63 INFECTIONS FOUND!”, “CRITICAL ERRORS!”, “PRIVACY VIOLATIONS IDENTIFIED”, etc,

usually accompanied by further warnings that if you don’t act immediately you will;

“LOSE YOUR DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS”, “INFECT OTHER COMPUTERS”, “HAVE COMPLETE SYSTEM SHUTDOWN!”, etc.

If you are in any doubt at all then do not click the suggested button! And if you do get one of these pop ups, you need to turn your systems off immediately and consult a computer professional.

How Can You Protect Yourself? – The best way for you to protect yourself against such malicious attacks is to have adequate security measures installed on your IT systems; for example, we recommend Bullguard anti-virus, and make sure that your firewall is working correctly.

Scareware can criple your computer, and is notoriously difficult to remove once it’s infected a PC. It is far better to invest in some decent security to keep out unwanted intruders.

If you have any worries or concerns then please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our specialists. In addition, you can follow us on Twitter for  up to the minute alerts – we post them as soon as we know of them! We are happy to also advise on other areas of computing and, as always, we wish you continued safe and happy computing.

Give Your Computer A Break!

“No man needs a vacation so much as the man who has just had one” ~ Elbert Hubbard, 1856-1915

Give Your IT A Break

It’s August; (hopefully) it’s hot and sunny; the kids are off school; business events are taking a break. And unless you’re an ice cream vendor, we hope that you’re enjoying a slower pace of life.

Whilst there’s a lull in business activity it’s a great time to get those IT niggles sorted out. In fact, why not use this time to give your computer a break as well? A health check on your IT systems could mean that as soon as everything is back to being really busy, you can concentrate on what’s important to your success rather than on annoying IT problems.

So what can an IT health check give you?

1. Speed – There are several reasons that your computer may not be as fast as it was, or as you need it to be. Having an experienced computer technician give your systems the once over can pin point areas that can be improved.
2. Virus – Whilst not all anti virus are the same, we hope that you do have some form of computer security installed (we personally endorse Bullguard Anti Virus). However, not all anti virus products pick up on all attacks, and this could leave you with an infected system without you being any the wiser! By having a health check for your computer, any nasties can be identified and removed!
3. Memory – One area that may greatly improve the efficiency of your laptop or desktop is to add memory. How do you know if this would help you? Give your computer a break – a health check will quickly identify if this is something that could help you.

In addition to this, all of your hardware will be reviewed to see if there are any areas where improvements can be made.

So why not take advantage of the summer lull to give your computer a break! If you would like any more information on this, or on any other computer related questions, then please do not hesitate to contact us, or follow us on Twitter.  We wish you, as ever, continued safe and happy computing.

“To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a computer” ~ Farmer’s Almanac, 1978

"To err is human..."

If you are looking for a computer support company, or for someone to repair your laptop etc, then you will be faced with a multitude of options, whether you’re looking online, or through directories. So, unless you are lucky enough to hear of a great IT support firm by word of mouth, what should you be looking for when choosing who should do your computer repairs?

Here are our top 5 tips on choosing the right IT Support Company:

1. Costs – Nobody wants their computer to go wrong, but unfortunately problems will occur at some stage. Whilst there are a lot of areas in life that can be budgeted for, if  your computer “goes wrong” then this can cause a nasty financial surprise. If your machine isn’t under warranty it’s worth asking a few IT support firms what their charges are for whatever your fault is – be it virus removal,  data recovery,  memory upgrade etc. Some firms may charge by the hour, some by the nature of the job, some offer a fixed fee for procedures.
2. Contracts – Many IT support companies offer a maintenance contract, especially to business customers. This suits some people, but it also ties you into a relationship for a set period of time. If you have a fantastic working relationship with your IT Support guys then all well and good. But if issues occur this could be disastrous  for your IT needs if they are not being met as and when you need them to be.
3. Call Outs – How important is your computer to your every day needs? If you’re fine going without it for several days or weeks, then time is not an issue for you. And if you are happy to unplug your IT systems and take them into a repair shop then again a call out isn’t an issue. But if you need somebody to come to you, as and when your emergency occurs, you need to check with computer companies whether they will come out to you and if so how much they will charge for things like travel, out of hours support, or remote connections.
4. Computer Support – Every computer user requires different things from their machines – for some people their ideal would be to have their own IT department, even if they’re just using their computer at home. For others, a little bit of advice as and when would be appreciated, or even some training, either on how to get the best from their systems, or on using online sites etc. Why not check out a couple of local computer firms web pages to see if they list all of their services, and which you may find of use at some point?
5. Choice – If you tap “Computer Help”,  “IT Support”,  “Computer Repairs” etc into any search engine, you will see a huge choice of firms offering a whole range of services with a very varied pricing structure. This amount of choice can seem a little daunting – it is, after all, very important that you get the service you require as and when you need it, at a price that suits your budget, from a firm that you can trust. Whilst it may take a little time to think through exactly what you’re after, it should help you to make the right choice when deciding who you should trust with your IT.

We hope that you find these pointers of some help, but if there is anything else you would like advice on then please do not hesitate to get in touch. We wish you all, as ever, continued happy and safe computing.

Linkedin: Become A Center Of Influence

Time and again we hear of people who have signed up to Linkedin, but then done no more with their account. Their reasons are varied, but a common theme is that they just don’t understand it’s use.

This is a shame – Linkedin is one of the best B2B networking sites on the web (as it stands at the moment), and by May 2010, there were  over 70 million Linkedin members across the globe (Linkedin FAQ’s). So if you’re unsure, here are our top five basic tips on how to get more from Linkedin:

1. Your Profile.       Any blogger worth their salt who writes about Linkedin will tell you to get your profile filled in! And for good reason. Linkedin is an ideal place for anybody “Googling” you to come visit first – you have control over what they will see and can make it exactly how you want to be perceived. A half filled in profile gives out mixed messages – can’t they be bothered? Don’t they understand how to use Linkedin? Were they told they had to have a Linkedin profile but their heart’s not in it? Far better to have a profile you would be proud of anybody having a look at!
2. Your Company. This should be part of your profile – if it’s your own company then you need to get it up there on Linkedin. This social networking site makes it a real cinch for you to smatter your keywords all over the place whilst still writing like a “human”. Keyword research by a potential client could lead them very neatly to your web site and your services!
3. Groups. Hooray! You’ve filled in a profile your mum would be proud of. Now what? As with all social media, you need to be engaging with others. Linkedin is about connecting with other business people – great that you have 50 contacts, but what if you haven’t logged in to Linkedin for months now, apart from  to “Accept” another invite? Groups aren’t there as status symbols, they’re there to help you interact with like minded business people. With over 70 million members, how do you interact with the right people for your business? You join groups. And then you join in with discussions. And if there’s no discussions amongst the group members that you want to join in with, you start your own discussion. This way, people will start to get to know you and what you do.
4. Answers. If you have a look at this section you will start to notice there are certain “experts” in certain “fields”. What is stopping you from becoming one of these “experts”? Nobody knows your business as well as you do, and if you can be seen to be the font of knowledge in your respective field, you and your company will be the one potential clients will go to first!
5. #in. There was much rejoicing when Twitter and Linkedin announced that they were joining hands and you would now be able to stream your Tweets directly into your Linkedin profile. Some people still think this is a fabulous idea – some think that Linkedin is not the platform for Tweets and the two should be kept separate. There are very valid arguements on both sides; what is important here is that there are people on Linkedin who are not on Twitter (we know – it’s shocking!) and linking the two accounts when appropriate means that you can reach your Linkedin connections who don’t Tweet. Hootsuite (amongst others) allows you to chose which social network you want to post your Tweet to. Or, if you look in your Linkedin settings you will see an option for Tweets containing “#in” to be the only ones appearing on your profile updates.  By doing this, you will only be posting information that is relevant to your connections.

Our advice is to go and have another look at Linkedin – it can be very beneficial to you if you use it to it’s full potential.

We run training sessions on Linkedin, and other areas of online marketing, either in informal groups or on a one to one basis. If you would like any more information on this, or any other areas of computing, then please get in touch. We wish you, as ever, continued happy and safe computing.

Remote Computer Support

By “remote” we don’t mean a hormonally challenged teenager,  an Island in the middle of an ocean, or a computer technician who’s gaze seems to be somewhere in the distance rather than focused on you.

So what do we mean when we talk about Remote Support?

In the most basic sense, a remote connection means connecting to and controlling one computer from another computer. To the uninitiated, this can seem a little disturbing – having somebody else accessing and controlling you computer from anywhere in the world. And certainly, the first time you see your cursor being controlled and moved around your screen by someone other than yourself it can elicit thoughts of the “super natural”. However, most people find that once they’ve experienced it they never look back.

But why would you want somebody else to take control of your computer? What is so great about remote computer support? Well, for minor computer problems you get the following:

1. Immediate Attention – just pick up the phone and arrange for a technician to log in. They can have a look and if possible diagnose and fix the problem whilst you’re still sitting at your desk! No waiting around for a technician to come around – no need for you to take your computer to a shop.
2. Instant Access – there’s no need to install any additional software – if you’re online, with your permission, a technician can log in to your systems, without you having to download any other program.
3. It’s Cheaper – a remote connection will cost you less than having a technician onsite or taking your computer in to a shop for repairs.

What do you need to be able to use our remote connection service? Internet and power – yes, it’s as simple as that!

If you look at any other pages here on our web site, you will see a box in the top right hand corner with an area to enter a pin number and “connect to your technician”. The pin number is always unique to you and will be different every time you have a connection. This means that your computer can only be accessed securely when you need it – once the remote connection has finished and your technician has logged off, your computer cannot be accessed again until you put in another unique number.

A lot of our existing customers already take advantage of this service and find it invaluable for solving issues quickly and effectively. We are happy to offer free demonstrations for anybody who still has reservations*.

WARNING! As with many areas of computing, there are people that use this service for unscrupulous means. Make sure that you always know where your remote connection is coming from, and do not accept a cold call remote connection. We are always happy to advise you on this and any other IT related queries, and wish you continued happy and safe computing.

*Terms & Conditions Apply

Brighton Pier

Most of us know somebody who was directly affected by the Icelandic volcano earlier this year, and the consequent Ash Cloud. It was widely reported at the time that Jens Stoltenberg, the Prime Minister of Norway, used his mobile phone to keep “running his country” whilst he was stranded in New York.

But it’s not just when you’re “standed” that being able to continue to run your business (or your country!) from wherever you are is an asset.

We have put together 5 advantages of having your technology set up so that you are able to operate your office remotely:

1. Manage Your Emails. It can be hard enough being out of the office for the day and getting back to an inbox bursting at the seams – but it can be even worse after a holiday, knowing what could be awaiting you! How about having a quick check over a coffee and deleting/filing everything that’s not vital? This way, you’ll know what awaits you when you do get back to your desk.
2. Synchronise Your Calendar. You’re out of the office and you receive a phone call asking for an appointment. Why wait until you’re back in the office to see when you’re available? With fully synchronised calendars you have immediate access to your diary. Your instant response demonstrates professionalism to your (potential) client.
3. Manage Your Online Network. You know the importance to your business of a positive online marketing campaign. But if you are unaware of what’s being posted about your company on Facebook, Twitter et al you could be missing the opportunity for really positive PR. Knowing how to fully utilise your mobile technology and the online sites at your disposal enables you to have total control of your vital marketing campaigns.
4. Monitor Comments On Your Blog. You will, no doubt, have reviewed and vetted your business blog before it is published, and made sure that there are no “untruths” or libelous statements. If you allow comments on your blog, it is essential that you monitor these, both to check for any positive feedback and for any negative comments. Having instant notification of any comments via your mobile phone, and perhaps most importantly of any unwanted spam, enables you to keep your blog the way you intended it to be.
5. Recharge Your Own Batteries. Your mobile phone battery can work as hard as you do, and when it needs recharging, knowing that you’ve dealt with everything, and that no nasty suprises await you back in the office, means that you have a chance to relax and recharge your own batteries!

Stress Free I.T.

Any business, no matter how great or small, cannot survive these days without the use of computers. But if you are working for yourself, or running a small business, you don’t have the luxury of an in-house I.T. support department.

If you work in a large organisation and your computer doesn’t “recognise” your scanner, even though they’re right next to each other!; or your printer malfunctions for no good reason; or your computer is running so slowly it almost brings you to tears; or your laptop has annoyed you so much you’re on the verge of throwing it out of the window! – then you can pick up the telephone and call the “I.T.Guys” who will come and sort it all out. If you work for yourself, or a small business, you may feel you can’t afford personal I.T. support and so struggle on as best you can.

Until Now!

Dolphin Computer Upgrades Ltd will take away your IT stress. We can’t promise to turn up in a super hero outfit, but we can give you the following:

A Virtual IT Department

We are there for you when you need us, but without charging you the earth. We can do this by coming to your office, you can come to us, we can log in remotely, or we can just try and talk things through with you.

Stress Free Computer Services

Whatever your IT requirements, whether preventative such as online security and backup systems, or cure such as virus removal, new hardware including computer printers, or memory upgrades, we will help you without bamboozling you with “techno speak” and “geek jargon”.

Comprehensive Training

Whether you need to understand your own computer better, use email to it’s full potential, master Excell and Word, or  to market your business online through social networks and blogs, Dolphin Computer Upgrades Ltd will help you to reach your full potential.

We are firm believers in prevention over cure and aim to make the lives of our clients as stress free as possible. We will always endeavour to keep you informed as soon as possible of any developments we feel may affect you by using our online resources.

We are always happy to advise you on this and any other IT related queries, and wish you continued happy and safe computing.

Love Your Laptop

More and more of us are using laptops – they’re portable, small, and can be put out of sight when not needed. But a decent laptop is an investment, and it pays for you to look after it.

We’ve put together a few basic tips on how to care for your laptop, and hope that you find them useful:

1. Nil By Mouth. Tempting as it is to have a coffee, or long cool drink, your lunch, or a couple of biscuits whilst sitting at your pc,  food and drink can cause damage to your laptop. A spilt drink could potentially damage internal parts and/or cause electrical damage. A crumb stuck beneath your keyboard can cause keys to become “stuck”, and nobody likes typing on “sticky” buttons!
   
2. Hot Flushes. One of the advantages of a laptop, especially if you have a good and secure wireless network installed, is that you can use it where you feel comfortable. In the sultry summer months, it’s great to work outside in the garden, or on the balcony. In the cooler winter months, snuggling up under the duvet with your laptop can be an inviting option for working. But laptops are temperate creatures – let them get too hot and they could stop working all together!
   

   Love I.T.

3. Protect & Survive. You should pay special attention to the care and protection of your laptop screen. Not only should you clean it gently using special “screen wipes”, but you should pay extra attention when packing it away. Many a laptop has had it’s screen shattered after it was placed in it’s laptop bag, but without thinking where the cable and plug are in relation to the laptop. And when you shut your laptop, make sure there are no small objects left on the keyboard!
4. Handle With Care. When you move your laptop, always make sure you carry it by the base when it’s open. If you carry or lift it by the LCD display you will be putting pressure on the hinges, and again, you could damage the screen, especially if you’re touching it as you carry the laptop. Any direct pressure can leave scratches, or more serious damage.
   
5. Charge! Your laptop will have both an external power supply and an internal battery. It is important that you don’t automatically plug your laptop in when you start it up – you should allow your laptop battery to discharge every day that you use it. If you don’t do this, you will eventually “fry” your battery and it will no longer work. (As a secondary precaution – do still keep an eye on your laptop, as if you are called away and are unaware that the battery has run out, you may lose things you had yet to save!)
   

   Laptop Notebook

Laptops, as with all technology, do have a “shelf life”, but treating them with care and respect will go a long way to extending their longevity.

If you would like any more information regarding this, or any other aspects of I.T. then please get in touch. We wish you, as always, continued happy and safe computing.