Many websites are beginning to incorporate more password security measures these days. Especially in the wake of a growing number of cyber security incidents. You’ve seen it: “Your password has expired. Please enter a new password to continue.”

It’s a gentle reminder to change your password but not everyone has implemented this feature. So the question is, how old is your password? We’ve touched on it before but it can’t be said enough. Passwords should be changed regularly, whether the site requires it or not.

If you’ve received one of those dreaded “Our company data has been breached” notices, stop what you’re doing and change your password right away. Always do your part to keep your accounts safe.

We see these signs everywhere right? I admit, there are times when this sign is the furthest thing from my mind. Especially, if I’m just running into the corner store for something. I think, “Hey I’ll be back in like two minutes. What can possible happen that fast?”

The answer: A lot!!!

When you’re out and about make sure your devices are with you, completely hidden and you lock your car door. By completely hidden, I mean in your trunk, before you get to your destination. It’s no good to pull up to a parking lot and throw your laptop, tablet, phone etc into the trunk…where prying eyes can see.

Locking it isn’t just about your car. If you’re in the office, local coffee shop or friend’s house be sure to lock your screen. A quick ctrl-alt-del will keep others out of your business until you’re back. Well, if you’re in a coffee shop please don’t leave your computer on the table unless it’s physically locked down but that’s another topic for another time.

What in the world are all of these pop up windows?

I thought I was downloading a game but now my computer is acting crazy!

Your files are now encrypted! Click here to pay and have your files released.

What is happening? Malware! Malware is software that is created to intentionally create havoc within your computer. There are many types of malware including Ransomware , spyware, worms and trojan horse.

Malware can usually be identified by randomly missing files, pop up windows, fake virus software, etc. These are very serious and can affect anyone from your standard home user to major corporations. PurpleSec estimated the cost of Ransomware attacks in 2020 at $20 billion.

Always be on alert. Be very careful about the links you click and any software you need to install.

Stay safe everyone!

Happy New Year from Crowned Computer Services!  We definitely hope that 2021 is much better than the year before. Remember to call us if you need us and we look forward to working with you soon.

Protecting your mobile device requires so much more than just a case (although there are so many that skip the case *cringe*). Mobile device protection should be approached in the same manner in which you would with your computer. Always password protect your device. Enable remote wipe in the event that your phone is lost or stolen.

Never open, respond to or click links within text threads from people that you do not know. Doing either of these things could result in your address book being compromised. Now friends and family are receiving spam texts. Your calendar could also be compromised and spammed with annoying “meeting invites” that constantly send reminders for something you never signed up for.

Protect your device today…and grab a case too 🙂

Bank accounts, email accounts, cash app accounts, social media accounts. Today it’s more important than ever to protect your all accounts as they contain very sensitive information about you. Hackers and thieves are lurking waiting for an opportunity to steal your information.

Here’s how you can protect your accounts.

1. Don’t open emails from people you don’t know. We’ve covered this before but it’s still so important. See the blog post about Phishing.
2. Set strong passwords. At least 8 characters including upper and lower case letters and a number. Don’t write it down and tape it on your computer because it defeats the purpose.
3. When possible enable two factor authentication. Recently someone used my debit card to make a purchase from a well known shoe company in the amount of $170. I was so hurt. I have no idea how this happened but I went into the security settings of my bank and cash app accounts as well my email and enabled two factor authentication. Now, when I log in with my username and password, a 5 digit code is sent to my phone as well and I have to enter that before I have complete access to my online accounts.

Do what you have to do to protect your accounts today!

If you’re like me, the last decade worth of pictures, videos, music, documents and all things life are stored on your computer. What happens if your computer is lost, stolen or experiences an issue that would cause it to never come back on though?

Is your data saved in another place? It should be. Last year I experienced a hardware issue that required me to purchase a new computer. I hadn’t been consistent with backups at all and I was so frustrated with myself. However, I was able to restore old data but I was missing plenty of new stuff.

That situation was definitely a lesson learned and I’m always trying to help others learn my from mistake. Back up your data! Whether it be through the cloud or a physical drive…get it done and keep it up. You’ll be glad you did.

My family had become increasingly frustrated with our shared laptop. It was so SLOW! Even the simplest tasks took forever and would lock up if you were clicking faster than it could process. The laptop is 6 years old and I wanted to replace it but the newer models are even more expensive than the one we have and quite frankly, it wasn’t in the budget.

We tried removing old files and unused applications but that only scratched the surface. There was only one option left…upgrade the parts. After a brand new solid state drive (SSD) and a bump up in the amount of RAM it’s running like new.

While a brand new computer may seem enticing sometimes it’s just cheaper to upgrade the parts…assuming the computer isn’t too ancient 🙂

 

 

 

The world we live in today is all about technology. Let’s be honest though, not everyone is into it. Some people don’t understand and they just flat out don’t see the point. If that’s you or someone you know, don’t be ashamed to ask for help.

The point is not to become some type of expert in all things technology. However, you want to be comfortable performing common tasks that will get you by in today’s world.

Looking for a job? Using a computer to look through popular job search engines will get you faster results than going place to place asking if they are hiring. Once you see something you’re interested in you’ll need to apply…online. You’ll need to upload your resume which already needs to be typed up using…a word processing program.

Don’t be intimated by this. It can be learned…just ask for the help that’s needed. You’ve got this!

 

Password protecting your devices and accounts are important. Here are some tips:

 

• Make your passwords hard to guess but not hard enough for you to not remember.
• Make it at least 8 characters, including an uppercase/lower case letter and a number.
• Don’t use the same password on every site (especially not for online banking).
• Change your password regularly (every 30 to 60 days).
• Don’t write your password on a sticky and put it on your computer computer.