CrexTechs Blog

The promise of a paperless society with the advent of the computer has not proven out. On average, Americans use about 700 pounds of paper products per year-- more, per capita, than ever before.  Despite efforts, there is little hope that this will change any time soon.

Do we really need to use so much paper?  And what about all the paper we save because we fear throwing out important records.

Getting out from under all that paper can be a real freeing experience and can make it a lot easier to file away and retrieve the paper records we do need to keep.

Here are a few guidelines for what to keep and what can be tossed (shredded and recycled)

• Cancelled checks or paper images of your checks: shred and discard, but keep those related to your taxes, business expenses, and housing and mortgage payments.  Save these for at least 6 years.
• Utility bills: Throw away those not needed for business or tax purposes.
• Personal Tax records: Save these for at least 6 years.
• Business records for tax purposes: Archive these indefinitely.
• Insurance policies: Keep your policy and updates for the life of your policy. Insurance claims records may be needed for tax purposes, save these for at least 6 years.
• Personal documents such as (birth, marriage and death certificates, diplomas, certifications, military records, work permits, passports, divorce decrees etc: Store in a fire safe or safe deposit box indefinitely.
• Mortgage papers, deeds, titles, and abstracts to real property such as your house, cabin or commercial property: Store in a fire safe or safe deposit box indefinitely.
• Wills, power of attorney documents, and other estate-planning documents: Keep the most current copy in a fire safe, safe deposit box or with your attorney.
• Stock certificates and other investment certificates and documents: Store in fire safe of safe deposit box. Save brokerage records for tax calculations at the time of sale.
• Medical records, prescriptions, medical power of attorney and any end-of-life directives: Save pertinent medical records and a list of current medications as well as clinics and doctors you have used where they can be easily accessed in an emergency. Current copies of your medical power of attorney and end-of-life directives should be given to appropriate family members.
• Receipts, warranties, guarantees and manuals for large and small appliances, tools, electronics etc: Keep as long as you own the item.

Staying organize is not easy, nor is winnowing out what you don't need to be discarded. Some records can be kept electronically, like downloaded bank records (be sure these are backed up). Most other records you will want to save hard copies.

January is a good month to get going with cleaning out files as you will want to start collecting the documents needed for tax time.  April will be less stressful if you can get much of the work done early.  Reducing the amount of space you need to store all that paper will be an added bonus!!

Resolve this year to clean up and backup your computer. Delete old files that you no longer need (be careful not to delete system files) including old download files. Arrange your files so that all your documents and pictures are stored in My Documents or on your desktop for easy backup.

I am always harping on backing up your files.  One of the questions we ask when folks bring in their computers for service or virus cleanup is, are there critical files on your machine. We love it when people say, yes but I have a recent backup so don't worry about it.

What is critical data?

• Family photos top the list for most people.
• Financial records in the form of downloaded bank statements, spreadsheets, accounting software files.
• Genealogy records.
• That manuscript you've been working on!
• Job search records--your updated resume and other documents used in job searching.
• Business records and work product that you need for your job or business.
• In short, anything on your computer that you can not duplicate elsewhere or wouldn't want to try to duplicate.

As hard as we try to keep our machines free of viruses and in good working order, they can be crashed by malware or by hardware failure.

So keep this one resolution.  Clean up your files so they are easy to backup, then backup regularly.  You will be glad you did.

If you are uncomfortable navigating through your files, deleting files or moving files for backup, CrexTechs can help.  If you have high speed internet, we can help you by connecting to your computer with our remote utility and can go through files with you, organizing them and deleting what is not needed. We can also help advise you on what you will need to backup your critical data. Remote charges are by quarter hour.  Give us a call at 715-463-2365.

One of the latest scare-ware viruses out there is called XP Security 2012 or Vista Security 2012 or Win7 Security 2012 depending on what operating system you are using.  If you haven't seen this one, you probably will.  Hopefully you will know it is bogus and will sever your connection to the internet immediate--unfortunately, it may already be too late.

It is really hard to tell our customers that the reason they have a virus, even though they have Vipre and Malwarebytes installed on their machine and update and use them religiously, is that they themselves downloaded the virus and installed it, not realizing what they were doing.

It always feels like blaming the victim or like we're making excuses for why our recommended anti-virus program didn't protect them.

Though most users can pretty much tell us what happened just before their machines went haywire, they don't want to believe that they've fallen for a bait and switch--the oldest scam in the book.  But it isn't hard to understand how this happens.

The come-on seems innocuous--open this interesting looking email or get a free something just for answering a couple of survey questions or download this free game or click on an interesting image.  There are hundreds of ways that scammers have of getting you to click.  And clicking is the key.

You may never know what you initially clicked on but what you have now is an official looking message warning you that you are infected with hundreds of viruses and Trojans and must download some software.  So you click the OK button or the Order Now button or any button at all and you are now directed to pay for the download.

If you don't pay you will keep getting the pop-up and will not be able to use your computer.  If you do pay for the download, you will have no more problems for maybe a week.  Then you will be asked to pay again with incessant pop-ups until you pay or bring in your machine.  We had one customer who paid three times before bringing in their machine.

Was there something you could have done to keep from getting infected? Possibly.  It is important to click on nothing the first time you get the warning that you are infected.  You must shut down your connection to the internet or shut down your machine immediately.  Even clicking on your browser to shut it down, could start the download process in which case shutting down the internet connection or your machine quickly is your only hope of avoiding the virus.

Try these steps:

• Unplug your internet connection or shut off your wireless router if it is handy.  Or...
• Press the on button (the button you use to turn on your computer) on your computer to shut it down.  If it is not shutting down quickly enough...
• Press and hold in the on button on your computer until it goes off or unplug your computer.  This will do a hard shut down which is not good for your machine but it may do less damage than the virus you are about to download.  If you have a laptop you may have to unplug it and pop out the battery to get it to shut down.

Disconnecting and shutting down may not be enough if the program has successfully downloaded and installed.  These are small programs and they will download and install quickly.

If every time you reboot and reconnect to the internet, you get the warning messages, you are already infected and will have to bring your machine in to have it cleaned.

Stop in at Crex Techs and pick up one or more of the following items for useful, inexpensive, last minute gifts

• Thumb drives,  4 gig and 8 gig  (from $15.00)
• Digital memory cards for cameras, 4 gig and 16 gig (from $10.00)
• Surge protectors from ($26.50)
• Standard keyboards (from $24.00) and mice (from $10.00)
• Desk mic ($10.00)

On the higher end we have:

• Gaming keyboard, mouse and headset from Razer (demo items)
• Gaming machine (demo item)
• Other headsets and speakers
• laptops, both new and refurbished
• Widescreen flat monitors, 15 to 22 inch  (from $100.00)
• Battery backup surge protectors
• Backup media up to 320 gig and 1, 1.5 and 2 terabyte

We also have gift certificates as well as anti-virus subscriptions!!

Get a free CrexTechs mouse pad with your purchase.

For a lot of users, smart phones have made old fashioned desktop computing obsolete.  As apps proliferate and communication with friends, family and colleagues is streamlined with these powerful little handheld devices, it is easy to forget to ask, how secure is this?

If you have not asked yourself this question, is my smartphone the right choice for accessing my bank accounts, credit accounts, making purchases or communicating sensitive personal and business  information? then you are at risk and need to take immediate action to safeguard not only yourself but anyone you are in contact with on your mobile device.

Smartphones access communications networks just like computers and are equally as hackable and much more vulnerable.  Malware written for and targeting mobile devices is increasing exponentially.  Yet only about 4% of these devises are protected by some form of third party protection.

This is alarming in that unprotected devices help to spread infection throughout public and private networks and will be instrumental in compromising everyone's security.

Protect yourself, your family and friends and maybe even your employer or customers by making smart choices for your smart phone.   Here is how:

• Don't lose your smartphone!! Easier said than done perhaps. So be sure to password protect your device in case it is lost or stolen.
• If at all possible, limit your use of your smartphone for purchases and accessing bank and credit card accounts. If you must use your smartphone be sure all your account verification is in place and change your passwords frequently from a secure network.  And be aware of who is near you when you are using your phone for these purposes.
• Be sure your IT department at work is aware that you are using your smartphone to access the company network so they can be sure you are using appropriate safeguards.
• If your customers are using their smartphones to access your network, be sure all necessary security is in place and up-to-date.
• Most importantly, be sure you are protected with mobile security software as malware can find you on your mobile devise just as easily as it does on your computer.  Here is a link for comparing the top software out there.

To learn more about the importance of mobile device security check out the following links

96% of smartphones and tablets lack necessary security software

Ten things you should never do with a cell phone

Having trouble with your WIFI reaching the far corners of your house?

Here is the cheapest and easier way to increase your range:

Place your router higher in the house and away from appliances and other electronic equipment.  This will help with the dampening affect of physical objects and walls and help reduce interference from  other electronics. Centrally locate the router if at all possible, in a room without doors or where doors will remain open.

For other helpful informations check out this link:

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/upgrade-your-life/upgrade-life-extend-wifi-range-214513350.html

If you think a new router is in order, check with CrexTechs before you go anywhere else.  We have routers and whatever else you may need to improve your computing experience!

Here is a fun experiment to try  (disclaimer: Crextechs is not responsible for any injury or damage this experiment may cause to people, pets, plants, furniture  or equipment. We do not advocate this method of boosting your WIFI range.)
The steps are pretty self explanatory (step 1 is suggesting you wash out the can first--you will want to work with a dry can so let it drain fully and dry damp parts).  A soda can will work just as well!  Also, use and adhesive that is not permanent when applying the can top to the router.
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Wi-Fi-Booster-Using-Only-a-Beer-Can
If you do try it, let us know at blog@crextechs.com how this worked!!