The Computer Hookup: Steer Clear of Cyber Criminals in 2012

Posted by Frank Jovine under Tech Tips

Cyber crime continues to grow at an alarming rate and in 2011 this proved to be very true with all the security breaches, exploits and viruses. What could we expect in 2012? You can bet that many scammers and criminals are already orchestrating their next attacks and most of these will be in the social network space.

When you have an audience of millions of users, it’s the perfect sandbox for criminals to play in. It’s the masses in which gives them the drive to reap rewards from their online exploits. As long as you roam the internet, you are in harm’s way of being the next victim regardless of how web savvy you are.

In order to keep your family safe, you need to educate each person in your household on the do’s and don’ts. Most of what you can teach is common sense, but it’s the things that you are unaware of that can get you in the most trouble. Having all the security software still doesn’t keep you fully protected. It’s the human factor that does keep you and your family safe.

Assuming every site you visit is safe could put you at risk. Sure you been there before, but do you really have 100 percent trust in the site you visit often? How can you be so sure, when it’s only you who feels this way? What if you had a community that provides insight on web sites by grading them on whether or not they are safe? I would rather take the opinion from many, than to rely on one person’s opinion. This is where the “Web of Trust” community comes in. They’re your police, your friend and they are very committed to internet safety. You can download the Web of Trust add-on for Firefox and/or IE by visiting www.mywot.com.

In addition to having a community of security conscious people, you also need to make sure that your security software is updated with the latest virus definitions (removing viruses from computers is never a fun chore).

The more you’re armed, the less danger will come your way.

Safe Surfing!

Be sure to consult with a pro on how to install antivirus software or discuss questions you have about your home electronics installations.

Tags: Computer Security Tips, Cyber Criminals, Link Checkers, Web of Trust

TV Installation Is Not For Everyone

Posted by Frank Jovine under DIY Disasters, Tech Tips

Spending a couple extra bucks on a new TV is much cheaper than repair. Even if the current TV isn’t broken, some of us may even consider making the investment anyway. After all with the prices coming down on last years home electronics models, what better time to enjoy a new home entertainment system than now!

However, installing a TV or home theater system is not as easy as it looks. If you’re going to make the investment on the hardware, don’t risk breaking it before you’ve even gotten the chance to enjoy it!

Some may argue that cats are extremely clever animals, but even they cannot distinguish between certain shades of color such as red. Before fumbling around with wires (especially if you haven’t a clue what the difference is between the red, yellow and white cords), think twice before installing home theater equipment on your own. Instead, consulting a TV installer first may save you from expensive DIY disasters!

Be a cool cat and hire a pro!

Tags: Home Electronics, Installation Services, TV Installation, TV Installers

Data Lost – Game Over!

Posted by Frank Jovine under Tech Tips

Have you ever experienced a hard drive crash? If you have, we hope you backed up your hard drive. Otherwise, you just learned an expensive lesson. To recover data from a hard drive is no easy task and it requires a professional service. Your data is important and you should always back it up daily or weekly depending on how frequently you save new data.

To recover data from a hard drive requires a lot of time and the proper tools. The cost is substantial, depending on how much data you want to recover. On average, most companies in the data recovery business charge by storage size. The cost for this service can run anywhere from $300 to $2000 depending on how much data you need to recover. In some cases it could take a couple of weeks to get your data back.

Here are some ways to backup your data:

• Backup to an external hard drive
• Use a remote backup service – Some offer up to 5 GB free
• Burn your data to a DVD or CD
• Upload data to a server (requires a hosting account)

These are just a few ways you can backup your critical data from a hard drive crash.

Tags: Computer Repair, Data Backup, Data Lost, Data Recovery