Computer/ Internet Tips & News
November 2018
This Month: 

  • Latest Antivirus tests may surprise you
  • Are you fed up with your internet provider's email "service"?
  • Don't buy a new computer before reading this
  • Give the gift of computer service with an eGift Card
  • Tell a friend, get $20 service credit
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Reno's PC & Technology Help Experts since 2003 

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Latest Antivirus tests may surprise you
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The latest independent Antivirus tests for Windows have revealed some surprising results. Microsoft's Windows Defender which comes preinstalled with the latest versions of Windows blocks malware just as effectively as other products that charge up to $100/year.

If you're interested in the comprehensive details and test results, see the links below:


If you are paying for an antivirus program or app on your device you should ask yourself - why? With abundant free alternatives including protection already included with the latest Windows operating system, please review the following article: Why most people don’t need to pay for antivirus.
Are you fed up with your internet provider's email "service"?
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The 2 major Internet service providers in Reno – AT&T and Charter/Spectrum – offer free email addresses as part of their service. But the email “service” is an afterthought which they don’t make any money on, and they don't care if you use their email or not.

AT&T’s email is provided by Yahoo, which has been subject to many security breaches, user interface changes and filled with advertisements. Charter/Spectrum’s email interface is slow and clunky. Junk/spam email filtering on both services is poor to non-existent. An important security option for online accounts to thwart hackers is 2-step verification or 2-factor authorization – neither AT&T or Charter/Spectrum email accounts offer the option.

Fortunately there are alternatives to AT&T’s and Charter/Spectrum’s email, and you can continue to use your present email address if you choose. My favorite is Google’s Gmail which offer better security against hackers, superior spam filtering and less advertising – all free of charge.

If you’re frustrated with your Internet service provider’s email,  contact us  to customize an email solution to your needs.
Don't buy a new computer until you read this
If your computer is over 5 years old you may need to purchase a new one to be fully protected against Spectre and Meltdown - a security flaw revealed early this year that exists in most processors that power modern computing devices ( see last month's newsletter ). With the end-of-support for Windows 7 occurring in January 2020, that may be another reason to consider the purchase of a new computer within the next year.

But don't buy just any computer before reading our new computer buying information newsletter .

Some computers come with a Solid State Drive (SSD) instead of a spinning Hard Disk Drive (HDD) - the part that stores the operating system and programs. Computers with a SSD are much faster, reliable and energy efficient - which is particularly useful if you're using a laptop computer.

To read new computer buying information, click here .
News briefs posted to our Facebook feed
Computer service eGift Cards now available for
holiday gift giving
Gift the unique gift of computer service with a Computer Techs eGift Card. Gift amounts start $49 for 1/2 hour of computer service. Click here to learn more and order your eGift Card .
Tell a friend about us - get a $20 service credit
If you’re happy with our service, please let others know by recommending us to your friends and family, and/or by writing a review about our service. If you personally recommend us to a friend or relative and we help them, you get $20 off your next service call.

Why trust someone who “knows” computers and works on them in their spare time? Why trust someone who you called from a pop-up ad on your computer? You shouldn’t! Computer Techs is a local business that works with computers and related devices on a daily basis and has been doing so since 2003. When you need help with your computing devices, you can trust Computer Techs to be there when you need us, and stand behind our service.

When people search for Computer Support or Repair Services on the internet, they often search Google, YellowPages.com or Yahoo Local. Please consider letting others know about our service by posting a review at one or more of the following web sites: