With all of the talk these days of the Cyber Attack on our Borough networks, we at Rent-A-Geek thought we should take the time to go over some basic internet safety. While home users are not often targeted by hackers, they are susceptible to scams, viruses, and malware, and for the home users, those can be bad enough. Taking a few minutes to go over safe internet browsing protocol can give you peace of mind on the internet.
Obviously, we want to reassure you that home users are rarely the victim of cyber attacks. Usually, these sorts of attacks happen to large networks, with full IT departments, not smaller home users. If you're not a home user and you have a small home business with computer access, you should remember that Rent-A-Geek is your small company's answer to IT problems. If you are not planning ahead, you could be the unwitting victim of a broader cyber attack. Please plan ahead to save you money and peace of mind in your business.
For the home internet user, browsing lightly, emailing family and friends, and sending photos, here are a few tips to protect your computer and your wallet.
Safe Browsing Tips:
•Never open emails from an unknown email address, even if they use your first name. You can find out WHO is sending you an email by using your mouse or trackpad to hover over the email address. While it may SAY it's from Amazon, Netflix or your dear friend, the address will definitely give it away.
•Likewise be sure you KNOW what you're opening in an email. If your dear friend sends you an email with an attachment that you were not expecting call them and just ask if they sent it. THEY may be operating with a virus and not know it.
•If a site requires a password use something unique that you're not using anywhere else.
•Never click on clickbait, these sites can often be harbingers of malware and other spammy things. Believe me, you don't need to know which Disney princess you are or WHAT you kitten avatar looks like.
•When visiting a site be aware of the web address, HTTP was common to see at the front of a web address, now, most sites are moving to HTTPS with the S standing for security. Extra security measures including encryption have been taken in sites with HTTPS at the beginning of the address to keep users safe. Sometimes these site have a small padlock in the address bar to ensure you that the site is secure.
•Do NOT enter your credit card information unless you are on a trusted site using encryption. Most major retailers use encrypted sites so you can be sure to be safe.
If you get to a place on your home computer where it's acting funny, slow or freezing up, you may need one of two things. You might need just a tune-up, our technicians can go over your computer, clean it up, optimize it and make it run smoothly again. Or you might have malware or a virus wreaking havoc on your computer, don't worry we can help with that too. Our virus and malware removal option comes with a tune-up so your computer can be back in action just like it was in no time at all. Rent-A-Geek is here for you, let us put our 15 years of business experience to work for you, 907-745-5060.
Obviously, we want to reassure you that home users are rarely the victim of cyber attacks. Usually, these sorts of attacks happen to large networks, with full IT departments, not smaller home users. If you're not a home user and you have a small home business with computer access, you should remember that Rent-A-Geek is your small company's answer to IT problems. If you are not planning ahead, you could be the unwitting victim of a broader cyber attack. Please plan ahead to save you money and peace of mind in your business.
For the home internet user, browsing lightly, emailing family and friends, and sending photos, here are a few tips to protect your computer and your wallet.
Safe Browsing Tips:
•Never open emails from an unknown email address, even if they use your first name. You can find out WHO is sending you an email by using your mouse or trackpad to hover over the email address. While it may SAY it's from Amazon, Netflix or your dear friend, the address will definitely give it away.
•Likewise be sure you KNOW what you're opening in an email. If your dear friend sends you an email with an attachment that you were not expecting call them and just ask if they sent it. THEY may be operating with a virus and not know it.
•If a site requires a password use something unique that you're not using anywhere else.
•Never click on clickbait, these sites can often be harbingers of malware and other spammy things. Believe me, you don't need to know which Disney princess you are or WHAT you kitten avatar looks like.
•When visiting a site be aware of the web address, HTTP was common to see at the front of a web address, now, most sites are moving to HTTPS with the S standing for security. Extra security measures including encryption have been taken in sites with HTTPS at the beginning of the address to keep users safe. Sometimes these site have a small padlock in the address bar to ensure you that the site is secure.
•Do NOT enter your credit card information unless you are on a trusted site using encryption. Most major retailers use encrypted sites so you can be sure to be safe.
If you get to a place on your home computer where it's acting funny, slow or freezing up, you may need one of two things. You might need just a tune-up, our technicians can go over your computer, clean it up, optimize it and make it run smoothly again. Or you might have malware or a virus wreaking havoc on your computer, don't worry we can help with that too. Our virus and malware removal option comes with a tune-up so your computer can be back in action just like it was in no time at all. Rent-A-Geek is here for you, let us put our 15 years of business experience to work for you, 907-745-5060.
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