Computer/ Internet Tips & News
October 2017
This Month's Tips: 
  • Scam calls from "Apple" targeting Reno area 
  • New Information: Protecting your identity following the Equifax data breach
  • Use your digital assistant to call for help when you can't reach the phone
  • Never worry about updates again with our Computer Maintenance Plan
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Scams calls from "Apple" targeting Reno area
If your Caller ID shows an incoming call similar to the one above, ignore it - it's a scam. Answering the call results in a recorded message warning that "your iCloud account has been breached" and urges that you talk to a support advisor. In reality the phone call is from a scammer and is designed to scare you into allowing a fake support advisor gain access to your computer, show you fabricated "problems", and sell you a support service for hundreds of dollars and/or otherwise put malware on your computer.

Whether you own an Apple or Windows device, the following advice applies to all computer users: Avoid phishing emails, fake ‘virus‘ alerts, phony support calls, and other scams

When using your computer, always be skeptical. More scams to watch out for include:

  • Computer pop-ups that tell you to call a number to fix a major computer problem - when in fact there is no problem at all.
  • Phone calls from or to fraudulent tech support call centers where you are told that they need remote access to your computer to explain a problem to you or fix it - again the fact is there is no problem at all.
  • Unusual email from someone you which is usually vague in nature and asks you to open an attachment or click a link. The email may contain a virus, or the link may lead to a fake website designed to fool you into divulging online account login credentials.
  • Unusual email from a business asking you to confirm a shipment or fix a problem with your account. Emails such as this are often "phishing" attempts designed to trick you into typing your online account login credentials into a spoofed website.

Some simple advice based on the scams listed above include:

  • Never call a phone number that pops up on your screen, or from a number in an online search. They are often scammers disguised as real company's websites or tech support.
  • Never allow someone that you don't personally know access to your computer - remotely or otherwise.
  • Never click on a link or open an attachment in an email that you're not expecting. When in doubt call the person or company using the number from a paper bill or by carefully typing in the company's official website.
New Information: Protecting your identity following the Equifax data breach
Last month it was revealed that 145 million Americans may have had their names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and, in some instances, driver’s license numbers exposed due to a data breach at credit monitoring service Equifax. This has people wondering what they can or should do to protect their personal financial information. I trust Consumers Union and Consumer Reports to provide unbiased and well thought-out information. They recently published an article about ID Protection/Credit Monitoring and provide some direction on what may be your best action to take. Click here to read the article .
Use your digital assistant to call for help when you can't reach the phone
You’ve probably heard of services such as Life Alert which can be used to call for help when you’ve fallen or otherwise can’t reach the phone. However, you probably already have a digital assistant that can be used to call for help when you can’t reach the phone. Digital assistants such as Apple’s “Siri”, Amazon’s “Alexa” and Google Assistant allow you to make calls by just using your voice. They are often included with your smartphone, or stand-alone devices such as the Amazon Echo or Google Home.
Never worry about updates again-
sign up for our Computer Maintenance Plan
Many of our clients have been asking for a way to keep their computer secure and up-to-date, and not have to worry about the seemingly constant barrage of updates.

With websites getting hacked on a daily basis, and the increasing chance of your personal information being compromised, it’s more important than ever to keep your computer up-to-date and maintained.

Now you can have Computer Techs maintain, update and check the security on your computer on a convenient schedule. Service takes about an hour and can be performed via a Remote Support session or on-site. Services include:

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