Cleanup Computer Files

Cleaning Out Your Computer to Free Up Space – Part 1

June 30, 2016
, Computer Problems

If you are seeing that dreaded spinning rainbow wheel from your Mac or the inverted hourglass icon from Windows, then you may have a slow running computer that needs a little housework. It’s easy to get bogged down in files, pictures and duplicate downloads and all of these can seriously slow down the performance of your computer. Following are some great tips for deep cleaning your computer so you can have it running in tip-top shape once again!

Get Started Cleaning Out Your Computer!

Clearing Duplicate Files

You might be shocked to know that duplicate files take up a lot of your storage space so it’s important to get rid of them. Whether it’s mp3 files you might already own or multiple downloads of the same file, the best way to identify these files is through a third party app that scans for the duplicate files in all your folders and then allows you to review and delete as you see fit.Cleanup Computer Files

For Mac users, search the app store for “duplicate file cleaners.” We recommend one called Duplicate Detective for only a couple of dollars. There is also a version for iPhoto so you can get rid of all those duplicate pictures.

You can do all this manually, but why would you? These apps save you time and get the job done right!

For Windows users, we like Duplicate Cleaner, which doesn’t cost anything. There are versions for normal files, music files and photo files. Many of these apps will also flag photo files for example, that have been edited in some way and allow you to choose the one you want to delete.

Clearing the Cache

This is important because your cache creates lots of small files which are temporary as you run various programs. It stores them so you can get to what you need faster if you come back to it. Clearing all these files out from time to time is a good idea and a very good way to do some basic digital dust-bunny clearing!

For Macs, you’ll go to Disk Utility. Click on First-Aid > Repair to scan your hard drive. Get a good Mac Cleaner from the Apps store in order to clear the cache on your system. This will remove all the temporary files and programs that you don’t need and clear up space and let your computer run faster. You can also choose to have it clear your downloads folder but don’t do that unless you are sure or have something in place to save downloads that are important
to you. In our experience, we cleared over 12 GB of space with this app alone!

For Windows, if you are using the Windows 10 version, search for Disk Clean-Up. For Windows 8, you’ll go to the Control Panel to find it. On older versions, you can find it in Systems Tools.

Clean Out Your Downloads Folder

Your downloads folder should be cleaned out regularly! It can hold everything from e-tickets you’ve purchased, PDF files of receipts and other documents you just don’t need any longer. Whether you are on Macs or Windows, open up your downloads folder and take the time to go through it. You can do this by category to make it easier. Move all unwanted files to the Trash (Mac) or the Recycle Bin (Windows). Once you are finished, be sure to go back and empty the trash bins to free up all the space.

In our next article, you will learn how to sort photo, video and music files. You can leave those alone for now until you’re ready to deal with them!

Let Tech Sentries help you keep your computer running at peak performance! We take care of all the necessary backups to keep you safe and protected from all types of viruses and malware. Call us today to see how easy it is to have the best protection available!

Avoiding Online Scammers

Avoiding Online Scammers After the Orlando Shooting

June 22, 2016
Security

It seems that scammers always come out in the wake of tragedies to exploit the generosity of people who are anxious to help the victims of these events. Unfortunately, it’s no different with the recent shootings in Orlando. The kindness of strangers is always a unique opportunity for the internet scammers to come to the surface. We want to point out some of the things scammers often do in the wake of tragedy and major upheaval.Avoiding Online Scammers

Scammers will appear on the tail of tragic events due to the high level of emotion. The Better Business Bureau of Florida has warned the public to be extra vigilant in the wake of the Orlando shootings. Knowing what to look for and using good common sense will go a long way in protecting you against cybercrimes.

Crowd-funding websites are often quickly organized after these types of tragedies. The problem is that it can be difficult to know who is behind them. Anyone can set up a GoFundMe type of site, claiming to raise money to benefit victims and their families. Because these sites are hard to properly vet, make sure you know who is behind it if you choose to donate through a crowd-funding site. The Better Business Bureau expects fraudulent sites raising donations to come after the Orlando shootings. It’s a way that scammers target people while they’re emotionally vulnerable.

If you would like to donate to the families and victims of the Orlando shooting, please do it through safe online sites, such as well-known charities. If you get emails with links asking you to click on them in order to donate, avoid them and close out that page. Go to your charity of choice directly by entering in their website address or doing a search for them. Avoid links that come in your email. Scammers also will take a popular charity or donation site and register it with a slightly misspelled name, luring people in that way. Many won’t notice it. This is why it’s important to do a double check of the accuracy of the URL address you are typing in.

A few other things to be aware of are:

  • Vague Appeals – Don’t donate to sites who don’t clearly lay out how funds will be used and how they will be distributed.
  • Proper Government Registration -Most states require bona fide charities to register with a government agency of that state before they can legally solicit funds. Making sure that your charity is registered is another way to stay safe with online giving.
  • Individual Family Funds – Often, families of victims may have their own trust funds set up, and these are not required to be registered. In these cases, the Better Business Bureau encourages you to make sure the funds are received through a legitimate third party, such as a bank or lawyer.
  • Clarity and Transparency – Any legitimate charity should always make it clear on their website how donations will be used and distributed. They will state financial goals and what they hope to do with the funds once they are raised. They want their donors to be as aware of the entire process as possible.

Remember, NOTHING should seem vague when donating to a charity. Never give personal information such as bank accounts, without knowing exactly who you’re donating to. If you suspect you have been scammed, notify the local authorities immediately. Also, be cautious and watch for changes in your credit score, odd accounts opened up with your name, and other signs of identity theft. It’s always a good idea to have an identity theft safeguard policy in place.

The bottom line here is that there are lowlife internet scammers just waiting to take advantage of the Orlando shooting tragedy. They are using a variety of phishing ploys that will try to lure you into everything from blood drives to links that claim to have exclusive video footage of the details of that awful night. Don’t ever click on these links just out of shock value and curiosity! Stay safe online and be sure to go through tried and true charities to donate and help the victims of this horrible crime.

Be sure to warn your friends through social media if you become aware of scammers. Word of mouth is still the best way to help people stay aware! Tech Sentries is always here to help you stay safe online and our prayers go out to all the families of the Orlando shooting.

downloading software safely

Tips for Downloading Software Safely

June 21, 2016
Security

We all have to download software sometimes, and most of the time it’s because we purchased that software from a reputable company, and we don’t worry about the safety of the download.  However, there are other times, we’re sort of “shooting in the dark,” and maybe it’s a free download we saw advertised (and it looks REALLY interesting).

downloading software safely

For the less experienced computer users, downloading software safely might pose some problems and unexpected results.

Can you really trust software developers to have your best interest at heart?  After all, those extra security measures are sometimes costly; it’s so easy to choose profit over safety.

One would think that directly downloading a piece of software from the developer would be a guarantee of rock solid safety.  Unfortunately, this may not be the case.

Here are some tips to make downloading software safer:

1. What’s the Reputation of the Site?

Go ahead and take the time to visit the website of the company offering the product you want to download.  Pay particular attention to the product page.  You can check on the safety rating by using “WOT” which means Web of Trust

If you’re a newbie, be sure to load the WOT Extension as it will prevent you from even loading any unsafe sites, not just download unsafe software.  WOT focuses more on the reputation and the ethical stance of the site, while SiteAdvisor is preoccupied almost entirely with malware detection alone.  Pay attention to what both of these tools tell you.  If your site/software passes muster with both of these tools, you’re probably safe.  But not so fast…

2. Download and Scan 

Go ahead and download the software, but right away you should scan it using your anti-virus software. Upon completion of the scan, you should have a better idea of the safety of the downloaded file. Even still, you are not finished. Read on…

3. Are There Unwanted Extras? 

This might be the last step, but it’s certainly not the least important. This might sound complicated, but you need to check for any and all bundles of extras or options that are simply not needed and therefore, not wanted. The downloaded file can contain or download additional software. Some of these extras can be a real pain in the neck to get rid of — things like changing your browser’s default settings, or messing with your home page. So even if your anti-virus software says the fie is good this no guarantee that you are safe.

Conclusion

In this day and age of ransomware and polymorphic viruses you need more than traditional anti-virus protection. At the current time ransomware and viruses are capable of morphing every 15 seconds. To keep up with the onslaught, the traditional approach would require updating your virus definitions every 15 seconds.

As you can imagine this is an impossible task.

This is where Tech Sentries steps in. We incorporate a Proactive White List technology. Simply said this means it does not matter how many times or how often executable files change, if they are not on our approved list we are going to stop it from running on your computer.

If you want to learn more about Tech Sentries go to our website www.techsentries.com or give us a call at 843-282-2222.

Why Outsource Your IT Provider?

April 19, 2016
Computer Problems

It’s a big decision for any business owner to decide whether to outsource your IT support or go with an in-house approach. Many factors go into this decision and we will help you know what you need to know in this article.

First, let’s look at the term known as outsourcing. The definition of outsourcing typically means to hire an outside provider to take care of any business function. This includes the managed services of IT providers.

IT Provider

There’s almost nothing in business that cannot be accomplished without the aid of technology. Our computers are our life and they make our business tick! We rely on them more and more with each passing year, especially as they become more and more sophisticated in their capabilities. But technology is only great if you can manage it well.

To manage technology in the office, you will definitely need an IT support system. For many small businesses you may choose to go with an in-house support person for your IT needs. However, very rarely can this include 24 hour support. If you did find someone who is available around the clock to fix any problem that arises with your technology and computers, the cost of maintaining that staff would surely be far more than you’d want to pay.

Here is where outsourcing IT support comes into the picture. Following are just a few of the reasons why outsourcing your IT support is a good idea for your business!

Savings

It can cost up to $60,000 a year to employ an in-house IT person. While it may be possible to find someone for less, any IT person who is good at what they do and has the proper skill and knowledge needed for the job will not come cheap. You should also consider the fact that there will be vacation days, sick leave, and other times when your IT person may be away and you will need to have a sub lined up. You’ll also need to invest into continuing education and training for your IT person. In short, it could cost up to $100k per year between salary and other costs to have a network administrator who is in-house. Outsourcing an IT expert is a great way to save money and cut costs. Outsourcing will prevent you from having to pay benefits, ongoing education and training, and other expenses that come with hiring someone in-house. Outsourcing your IT expert is very convenient because they will already be trained and know just how to expertly handle all your technology needs.

Experience

The great thing about outsourcing is when you do have an IT problem that arises, you’ll be able to rest assured that only the right IT provider who is skilled in that particular area will come and assess and fix the problem.

Overall Improved Performance

Perhaps the greatest benefit of all when it comes to outsourcing IT support is improved speed and performance of your network. IT providers have skill sets and a wider knowledge base that will allow them to have more accountability and a greater understanding of all areas of IT support. They are far more interested in building lasting relationships with clients, which keeps them motivated and on their toes to handle your particular needs. In short, they provide a greater level of excellence all the way around!

Focus on the Strategy of Your Company

In general, make it a goal to outsource the functions that are not essential to what your company does day to day, and leave the in-house functions to what is done well internally among your own people. Following this strategy will help you build a loyal customer base since your people are free to focus on excellent products and services.

A Few Other Perks for Outsourcing IT Support

  • Reduced Risk. It’s expensive to implement new technology and only qualified IT techs really know how to implement it properly and make sure it’s running smoothly, which will save you lots of time and money! They also take the responsibility should anything go wrong.
  • Keeping Your Networks Running Smoothly. No matter what, you need a system that works all the time. If there is a problem, only an experienced IT tech can monitor things and make sure there is little to no downtime should a repair be required. This definitely translates to money saved!
  • Total IT Coverage. If you hire in-house, you’re going to be up against sick leave, holidays and other vacation days. Outsourced IT providers eliminates this problem and you’ll always know you’ve got someone out there watching over your system and available around the clock should any need arise.

 

What should you look for in an IT provider?

Perhaps outsourcing isn’t the right thing for every business, but most companies will benefit greatly from hiring IT providers on the outside. Here are a few tips to help you know what to look for:

 

  • Make sure the staff you hire is well versed in the type of business software and hardware that you use. They should be somewhat familiar with your business, as well as what it takes to run it.
  • Experience is important—and not just for the reasons you think. Yes, you should have the most knowledgeable IT provider you can find, but doing so will save you money usually, rather than cost you money. The reason is because there are fewer hours required from the IT provider who is highly skilled. They get things fixed faster, which requires less time and therefore, less money.
  • Attitude matters! A good IT provider should want to know your industry and what makes your company tick. Fixing problems is great, but it’s even better if you have someone who can understand your business and the unique needs that come with it.
  • Fast Response. This is crucially important. If you have a system problem, you need to know that your IT provider can be there in a snap and get things up and running with as little downtime as possible. A good IT person will always have 24/7 support so that you never have to panic if a problem arises.
  • Remote access. Make sure your IT person has all the software needed to remotely sign into your computers so they can fix most problems remotely. Any time minor issues come up and they can be handled remotely, this is going to save you lots of time and money that would be spent actually coming to your business to trouble shoot the problem. Believe it or not, many IT issues can be solved remotely! Just part of the amazing digital age we live in!

 

In short, outsourcing your IT network support can be a very smart thing to do, both financially and reliability. For more information on outsourcing IT providers, please give us a call today at Tech Sentries!

cyberattack tech sentries

The Most Common Types of Cyber Attacks in 2016

March 22, 2016
Security

2016 presents more cyber threats than ever, but there are also more solutions than ever. Here at Tech Sentries, we’re working hard to help you “Guard Your Technology” and stay protected and secure! The following are some great tips to help you get used to practicing “safe cyber” habits.

Common Cyber-Attacks:

Cyber-attacks are no joke and unfortunately, they are increasing all the time. According to several reports, the most concerning cyber-attacks for this year include hacking and other means of online extortion, scams that involve hacking and stealing Cyber attack tech sentriespasswords, scams involving asking you to “recovery your passwords,” digital threats and hacks that can actually cause damage to your hardware, and many other such attacks. Because of the huge increase in our use of mobile devices, the attacks on mobile security have also increased significantly.
The best way to prevent mobile cyber attacks is to prevent your personal info from being exposed. This means, if possible, don’t store personal data on mobile devices. If you must keep it there, be sure to NEVER keep it all in the same location! If you were to be hacked on your mobile device, it would be way too easy to gain access to everything—your credit cards, ID, and other info — especially if you make it easy by keeping it all in one neat folder.
There is another cyber-attack method happening more and more called ransomware. This is where entire systems in hospitals and schools, etc., become hacked into and all the files and data are rendered useless. The only way to restore the lost files is for the victim to pay a huge sum of money to the hacker to restore it, which may or may not work! This rewards the criminal behavior, but at the same time, people feel they have no choice. Unfortunately, giving into the demands of these hackers’ only increases the likelihood that the cyber attacks will continue.

Password Recovery Scams:

There are many scams involving password recovery. Cyber criminals hack into your email account and then gain access to passwords and other sensitive information. Not only is your account (and life) seriously compromised, but the hackers also have access to all your contacts, which could cause your friends, family and business associates to be attacked as well. It’s a very ugly problem.

Back Up Your Data:

Since digital attacks can really render your devices unusable or even frozen, it’s important that you make a habit of backing up all your information on a regular basis! Just remember there are three rules to follow – back up, back up and back up. It’s the best and only proven way to recover lost data should anything happen to your computer or mobile device.

One other crucial tip is NEVER use the same password or username for multiple accounts. Get in the habit of creating passwords that are extremely strong, using symbol characters, capital and lowercase letters and numbers. The combination of these characters will make it far more difficult to hack into anything. Change your passwords regularly – at least once every couple of months, and even more often if you can.

Anything that has a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection can be a target of digital attacks as well. You may not be aware that modern appliances such as refrigerators, smart cars, smart TVs, etc., do not come equipped with software programs that protect them against hackers and cyber-attacks. This doesn’t leave you feeling very safe for sure. So what to do? Back up your files and all data! Keep up with your backups and keep them going.

Update Vulnerable Applications:

Keep them up to date and you will be keeping yourself safer. It can be inconvenient, but it’s well worth it! These updates are where programs fix breaches or holes in security. Getting lazy about installing updates just makes you more vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
At Tech Sentries, we do this for you.

We hope these tips have helped you get started with keeping your safe from cyber threats. For more information, call Tech Sentries today! (843) 282-2222!

Tech Sentries Security

The Greatest Offense is a Great Defense

March 3, 2016
Security

There are safe programs that Tech Sentries considers approved for you to use in your computer work. It may happen that, once in a while, a program will be blocked that you really want. Don’t fret…that’s the robust nature of our security checks and this level of guard against malicious threats is unparalleled. You can always tell us if we should authorize a certain program or software for safe use. This approval can be for all computers in a location or the authorization can be for just one.

It’s crazy to think there are people who lurk about online just to steal your identity, harass you slander yoTech Sentries Securityur good name, hack into your personal banking, and a host of other crimes. There are many online threats these days and unfortunately, not many of the products available in the market place do an adequate job protecting you –UNTIL NOW! At Tech Sentries, you can count on the best protection available to keep you and your online presence safe and secure!

And it doesn’t end there—it gets better! Our product can get rid of that obnoxious adware that pops up every time you try to shop online. Even though adware isn’t considered a virus, it can still make you feel hijacked by constantly popping up when you don’t want it or need it. We’ve all felt overwhelmed by annoying adware, but you don’t have to any longer! Whether it’s adware, spyware or ransomware, Tech Sentries can block it for good.

Did you know that you can get a virus without even clicking on anything in certain websites? The virus can get in and infect your computer through security holes in commonly-used software that is often free. Programs like Adobe Flash Player and Java are prime examples. The best way to avoid this issue to is to keep your programs constantly updated, but due to the inconvenience of that, many people don’t bother. At Tech Sentries, we do it all for you automatically, so you’ll never have to think about updating again!

There is no greater security than what you will get with Tech Sentries!

Why You Need An Internet Password Manager

February 23, 2016
Computer Problems, Security

Are you one of the millions of people who have only a handful of passwords for the many websites you access daily? Most likely your passwords are weak or not unique enough to keep your information safe. So, what to do? Enter the password manager.

An internet password manager program takes all the various login information that you have across the internet, logging you in automatically when you visit sites that you have stored. As you enter in all your various passwords to the password manager, it encrypts them so that the only one you’ll have to remember is the main master password.Internet Password Manager

Never Reuse Your Internet Passwords!

Reusing passwords has become a huge problem due to all the security breaches it causes, even on large powerful websites. People who are up to no good can use a password leak to gain your personal information, giving them access to sensitive data on all your accounts. If you use the same password at multiple sites, you are only increasing the chances that your identity could be stolen or your bank accounts wiped out.

Preventing this kind of disaster is largely dependent on using strong, unique passwords on every website you register for. Good strong internet passwords should be a combination of letters, symbols and numbers and be long. The unpredictability of this type of password is the best way to keep your information safe.

Big-time web users may have hundreds of passwords to keep up with, while even just the average person could have dozens. Most people aren’t going to be able to remember all these passwords, so using a password manager can not only keep track of the ones you create, but also generate passwords that are secure and unique for the many websites you visit.

What’s It Like To Use A Password Manager?

For one thing, it will ease your mind. Instead of trying to memorize dozens of passwords, you can spend your energy on being productive. The first time you sign into a website, you will enter your master password in your internet password manager, and that will prompt it to automatically fill in the appropriate fields of usernames and passwords on the site you are visiting. Staying logged into the password manager will ensure that this process happens automatically. You’ll never have to try and retrieve the information you created the account with on a particular website. Instead, the internet password manager does it all for you. When creating new accounts on various websites, a password manager will prompt you to let it generate a random password that is strong, unique and safe. Each time you visit a website you have created accounts on, your password manager will immediately fill in your personal information such as email address, username and password.

For more information on password managers, call Tech Sentries today!

Why Browser-Based Password Managers Aren’t Ideal

February 23, 2016
Computer Problems, Security

All main internet browsers have their own built-in password managers. However, they don’t stack up next to a program dedicated to nothing but managing internet passwords. Many browsers such as Firefox, Chrome and Internet Explorer actually store your various passwords unencrypted on your hard drive. Unless your hard drive has been encrypted, anyone is able to hack into your computer and steal your passwords, and thus, your personal information found on all the websites you visit.password manager

While Mozilla Firefox does allow you to store your passwords in a form that is encrypted using a master password, its password manager isn’t the best option either. It has no features in its interface that allow it to create random auto-generated passwords. It also isn’t able to sync across multiple platforms, such as the iOS systems. A password manager that is dedicated will solve these issues, as well as allow you to manage your passwords on all the devices, computers and smartphones that you use. So, which password managers are best? We think three stand out.

Three Great PassWord Managers

Dashlane is newer than several others, so it may not be as recognizable. However, their apps for nearly every major operating system and platform make them stand out. They also have a dashboard that helps you analyze the security of your passwords. It also has a feature that can randomly change your passwords for you. The best part—it’s free if you’re only using one device. If you need to upgrade, it’s simple and inexpensive. With Dashlane, you can choose to store your passwords in the cloud or on your hard drive.

LastPass is a great password manager that is cloud-based. It has everything you could need to operate it across any operating system and multiple browsers. Not only is it very powerful, it also features authentication that requires two steps for added security. This makes it impossible for anyone else to get into your vault.

KeePass. There are people who aren’t willing to use a cloud-based password manager like LastPass. If that’s you, KeePass is a great option. It has mobile apps, browser extensions, and is a desktop-based application. This allows you to always be able to manage and access your passwords and even the program’s code if you felt like it. The part you may not like is having to manage your passwords yourself. Syncing them between all your devices would need to be done manually.

What You Need to Know to Get Started With a Password Managers

There is only one master password you’ll need to remember and so it’s crucial that you make it very strong. You can change this password at a later time, but not unless you know your original master password. Because of this, you may want to store a copy of it in a very safe place such as a firebox or bank vault. These password managers use heavy encryption and is why no one can ever see your stored passwords. If you lose your master password, you would have to sign in to every website you use and re-create an account with a new password and start the whole process over again.

Finally, once you start using a password manager, you should begin to make all the passwords you use more secure. Programs such as LastPass have features that will notify you of duplicate passwords or weak ones that need to be more unique and secure. You can also use your password manager to store and manage other sensitive information, such as credit card numbers.

For more information, call Tech Sentries today!

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