Category: Computer Repair

The Importance of Backing Up Your Business Server | Server Repair Corona

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Backing up your computer data is important to making sure that your most important files are well-protected. This is especially important when we’re talking about business servers. 

Not only will backing up your business servers keep much of your data safe from hackers and the occasional hardware failure, but it’s also much easier to move data – and prevent data loss – if you back up regularly.  

If you still aren’t convinced that backups are essential, be sure to check out the following reasons below on the importance of backing up your business sever.  

  • While backup servers aren’t cheap, they could end up saving you a lot of money in the long run. Case in point, in the event of any unprecedented data loss, your business won’t have to lose any data permanently. So, even if your original business server crashes, it’s still possible to recover your data. This is also where off-site backup hosting plans justify their extra cost and come in handy, as they can essentially serve as backups to your backups.  
  • Depending on the nature of your business, your business server may also contain data from other users. Some of this information can be considered sensitive, especially if you’re hosting a large social media website of sorts. Your users and clients rely on you to keep their sensitive information not only secure, but also safe. Having backups just in case something goes wrong is a great way to gain the trust of your customers.  
  • Having backups ready and available also makes it a lot easier to migrate data from an old server to a new one. There’s also less chances of a server downtime when using backup for data migration, helping you save both money and time.  

Is Backing Up Data A Time-Consuming Task? 

Not at all! Although manually backing up your files every day can be time consuming, it’s an outdated method that’s no longer recommended these days. Instead, many of today’s backup server systems operate automatically, usually after office hours. Such systems also help streamline the whole process by making sure to make backups only of files that were changed throughout the day. And, because it doesn’t require you nor any of your employees to do anything, such server backup systems will quickly prove to be an invaluable tool for your business.  

Of course, most experts will recommend that businesses do another weekly backup in addition to the automated daily ones. Having a physical data backup stored in an off-site safe or off-site server adds another layer of protection and security, without really costing the business much.  

Back Up Your Business Server Now! 

Take a proactive approach to your data and invest in backing up your business server today. Think of it as an insurance policy of sorts for your business sever, a way to protect your business’ valuable data from both internal and external threats.  

Remember, choosing not to back up your business sever today puts your business sever at risk for data loss, hardware failure, malicious viruses and hackers that may end up costing your business a lot more money in the end! 

Call Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA for help with backing up your server at 951-737-8558. Learn more at our website at www.urcs.net.

 

5 Tips To Prevent Your Computer From Overheating | Corona, CA

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Hard drive failure

Although most modern PCs are built with fail-safe switches that cause them to shut down if a computer is nearing or reaches the point of overheating, it’s still a situation that you generally want to avoid.

Below are five useful tips that can help you prevent your computer from overheating again or ever!

  1. Keep it clean – Keeping your computer moderately clean will make a huge a difference when it comes to temperatures. It doesn’t even have to be sparkly clean. It just has to be free of dust build-up. In particular, you’ll want to clean the fans and heat sinks regularly to keep things cool.

Note: If you plan on removing dust from your computer, make sure that you shut it down and unplug it first before dismantling it. Also, if it’s your first time, take a video of yourself taking the whole thing apart to make it easier for you to put it back together.

  1. Use high-quality thermal compound – Thermal grease, thermal gate, thermal paste, and heat sink paste are among the many things thermal compounds are called.

If you’ve had your computer for a while, chances are that the CPU is generating more heat than before as thermal compound tends to deteriorate over time. Do yourself and your computer a favor and buy a high quality thermal compound from your nearest computer hardware shop and apply a pea-sized amount (Look at YouTube videos if you’re unsure) over your CPU after dusting out your heat sinks and fans.

  1. Ensure adequate airflow – Good airflow requires paying attention to your computer’s layout and to where you place it. Installing enough fans will do wonders in helping keep your computer cool. But, it will even run much cooler if it’s not rammed right up against the wall. As a rule of thumb, put your computer on top of a table where it can suck in cool air and push out hot air properly. Also, make sure that the fans in front are used for intake, while those at the back are used for exhaust.
  1. Install a better heat sink – While most modern CPUs run cool enough using only the stock heat sink it comes prepackaged with, older ones may require better, larger heat sinks. Investing in one could keep your CPU – and in turn, your whole computer – running a few degrees cooler.
  1. Tweak your BIOS settings – Options may vary depending on your computer’s motherboard and cooling hardware. However, regardless, there will be options, so don’t be afraid to jump into your BIOS and see how you can play with it. Most likely, you’ll find all sorts of controls for fan speeds and thermal triggers. With a little bit of trial-and-error, you should end up with just the right mix of cool and quiet.

Note: Most modern motherboards have software available – either via CD or via download – that lets you access fan settings without having to go to your BIOS. Such software should come in handy if you want to set your rig to run silent under normal use, and jump into max-cooling mode when you’re playing video games or doing something intensive.

For more information on computer care or if you are experiencing trouble with your computer or network, call Up & Running Computer Solutions. We can help answer any questions you have and can repair any issues. Call today 951-737-8558!

 

 

 

What Is The Difference Between Malware and Viruses? | Corona, CA

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Data Breach

It’s very important to know the difference between malware and viruses. A virus is just one kind of malware, but the actual term is largely used by the public. The term “malware” refers to any type of malicious software that’s designed to infect your computer or mobile device, including a computer virus.

What is Malware?

Malware is a software that’s designed to specifically hard and infect host systems. This includes viruses along with other kinds of malicious software such as Trojans, worms, spyware and adware. Ransomware is also another type of malware that’s used to commit financial fraud and extort money from those that use computers.

Common Malware:

  • Virus- This is a contagious program that attaches itself to another piece of software, and then progresses to reproduce itself when the software is running. Viruses are often spread by sharing files or software between computers.
  • Adware- Adware is the least dangerous and most profitable malware. It displays ads on your computer.
  • Spyware- This is a software that spies on you by tracking your internet activity in order to send adware back to your machine.
  • Worms- This is a program that replicates itself and destroys data and files on your computer. Worms are designed to “eat” the system operating files and data till the drive is completely empty.
  • Trojan Horse- This is one of the most dangerous Malwares. Torjans are designed to discover your financial information and take over your computers system resources.
  • Ransomware- If you see a screen that warns you that you have been locked out of your computer until you pay for your “cybercrimes”, you have ransomware. Even if you do pay to unlock your system, you are not free from of it locking you out again. The request for money is usually in the thousands.

In order for you to protect your devices from the malware mentioned above, you must use an effective anti-virus. If you suspect that your computer is infected with malware, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 today. We can repair your computer and get you back up and running! To learn more about our company or to put in a service request visit our website at www.urcs.net.

What Is Cryptolocker? | Corona, CA

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Cryptolocker is a ransomware that’s designed by cyber criminals. This malicious malware attacks operating systems by encrypting all of the files from the machine. According to security researchers there has been an exponential growth in ransomware infections in the last year. Ransomware such as Cryptolocker and newer versions like Locky are now utilizing new methods to attack machines and encrypt their files before their victims have any idea. Tens of thousands of machines have been affected by this ransomware. These victims are either forced to pay a ransom or hope they have backup recent enough that they don’t lose too much data.

To help prevent your machine from being infected I have complied a few tips on how you can avoid this malicious malware.

  • Be sure to update your operating system and security software on a regular basis.
  • Always backup important data and keep it on unconnected storage.
  • Be sure to keep up with the most recent security patches and other fixes.
  • Always keep your anti-virus and internet security up-to-date.
  • Never open any attachments from suspicious email addresses.
  • If you suspect that your machine has been infected make sure to change network passwords and online account passwords immediately.

If your machine does become infected and you don’t have any backup copies of your data, paying the ransom not recommended. Paying the ransom is never a good solution, as this only turns the malware business into a thriving and profitable business.

If suspect that your machine has been infected with Cryptolocker or another type of malware, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 today.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin, and all surrounding areas.

Tips to Avoid Viruses this Halloween | Corona

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Data Breach

Halloween is one of the most celebrated holidays, and cybercriminals want to be a part of the fun. As Halloween approaches, many hackers take advantage of popular Hollywood titles to spread computer viruses. For example, Google and other search engine results with keywords that are related to popular topics that are used to trick users into clicking on the malicious link.

Another popular form of spreading computer viruses is through spam. Hackers used typically Halloween characters to trick users and lead to where they want. This way, in addition to getting your personal information, hackers will redirect you to other websites selling prohibited products. We must educate ourselves and must be aware that hackers will try to deceive us with practical jokes. However, these practical jokes introduce malware to our equipment which will lead to a huge headache. The following includes a few tips on how you can avoid viruses this Halloween.

  1. Don’t open emails or messages that are received from social networks that come from an unknown source.
  2. Never click links that you get by email, unless you know it’s a reliable source.
  3. If you do click a link in an email, it’s important to look at the landing page. If you do not recognize it, close the browser.
  4. Never download attachments from unknown sources. During this holiday we must pay extra attention to files that come with Halloween related names.
  5.  If you don’t see anything out of the ordinary on a page but it’s requesting a download, do not accept.
  6. Never buy from online stores that don’t have a solid reputation. To be sure that your purchases are safe and secure, look for a security certificate, they’re typically located in the lower right corner.
  7. Don’t use shared computers to preform transitions that require you to enter a password or personal data.
  8. Be sure that you have an Anit-virus installed and updated.

If you think your computer many have a virus, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 today. We can repair your computer and get you back up and running! To learn more about our company or to put in a service request visit our website at www.urcs.net.

Is Your Computer Protected? | Corona, CA

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Several people spend a good amount of time on their computers by going online for certain tasks or entertainment. Some of the things society use their computers for are searching for information, work, shopping, school work, social media, even banking. Doing such things may leave your computer vulnerable to hackers. Hackers are typically after personal information stored in your computer. Thankfully, keeping your computer protected from viruses and Trojans can be quiet easy, however, you must be on top of your computer’s security. The following includes a few tips on how you can reduce your risk of your computer contracting a virus or Trojan:

Use Anti-Virus Software. Installing an anti-virus program is a great benefit for your computer’s protection. An ant-virus program scans for viruses that attempt to get into your emails, operating system or files. Be sure the anti-virus is set to update automatically.

Install a Firewall. Firewalls are able help alert any suspicious activity on your computer, while also blocking viruses, hackers or worms from attempting to download malicious programs onto your computer. Some computers have a built-in firewall, however, they’re typically shipped in “off” mode, so be sure to turn the firewall on. Also, be sure to update your firewall on a regular basis.

Use a Pop-up Blocker- Avoid clicking on any pop-up ads by using a pop-up blocker. Many pop-ups are created by advertisers, but some may contain a harmful or unsafe programs that can damage your computer.

Do Not Open Unknown Emails- Emails can contain computer viruses so before opening an email, make sure you’re receiving it from a known address or sender.

Use a Strong Password- Be sure that you choose a strong password to protect yourself from potential hackers. Don’t choose something simple for your password; many hackers have a program that can try every single word in the dictionary in attempts to get into your system.

If you think your computer many have a virus, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 today. We can repair your computer and get you back up and running! To learn more about our company or to put in a service request visit our website at www.urcs.net.

4 Common Computer Repair Myths

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Woman on Computer

Unless you’re a computer repair technician, chances are you’ve probably been a victim to some computer repair myths at some point in your life. There are many silly myths and misconceptions when it comes to computer repair. If you’re searching to have some computer repairs myths busted, you have come to the right place. Read on to see if you’ve fallen for some of the common computer repair myths.

Myth #1) My computer technician can fix some problems I’m having with a website.

  • This is an all too common computer related myth. Computer technicians can’t usually fix problems with websites because the site itself is on a server, which is a computer built to run web pages and share content located in other places. Only the people who run the site can access the files and the computer which host the website. A technician may be able to tell you why you’re having problems with it or maybe be able to tweak some setting for some small issues, but aside from that, they won’t be able to do much more.

Myth #2) I would know if my computer was infected with a virus, spyware or other malware.

  • Sometimes you may know, but not all malware is obvious. Malicious software is typically designed to run quietly in the background so it can log the keys you press, website you visit, and attempt to steal data and passwords, sending them back to the culprit/hacker. There are also other viruses that can turn your computer into a spamming device without your knowledge.

Myth #3) I can purchase a computer for less than $500, so it’s cheaper to replace my computer than repair it.

  • Computers that you can buy for $500 or less are typically very low-end, cheaply made machines. They’re usually equipped with low-grade processors, little RAM, small and slow hard drive, and are cheaply built. An older computer, 5 years or less, can often be repaired and/or upgraded for a rather cheap price.

Myth #4) I need to be a computer technician to repair every problem I have with my computer.

  • There are many things that you can do before you have to take your computer to a computer repair technician. You just need to know what you’re doing, which is why there are many websites with tutorials and tips about computer repair. Many computer repairs are simple and require little to no technical knowledge.

There are times when you may need an expert to repair your computer, and others you may not. Some of the silly myths and misconceptions regarding computer repair may have you thinking the worst, when in all reality, there are some things you can do to repair your machine from home.

If you are having trouble with your computer, contact Up and Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA 951-737-8558 today. Or visit www.urcs.net for information regarding computer repair.

Up and Running Computer Solutions proudly serves Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin and all surrounding areas.

Four Simple Computer Maintenance Tips

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Do you know the number one reason people replace their computers? It’s because their current computer is too slow or suffers from poor performance.

If you have noticed a decline in your computer’s performance, and have been using it for the same amount of time and for the same tasks that you did when it was purchased, there are some simple and free things you can try before going out and buying a new one. The following four steps will help keep your computer in tip-top shape:

  • Uninstall programs that you don’t use. Over time, we tend to accumulate several programs, and chances are you haven’t used some in a while. If there is a program that you haven’t used in the last six months, consider uninstalling it to free up some space. This may allow your computer to run the more important programs more sufficiently.
  • Delete temporary and unnecessary files. Every time you visit a website online, your computer stores information, so the next time you visit the site it will load faster. Of course this a great principle, however, temporary files can add up over time and may eventually slow the load time of your applications.
  • Delete all but most recent system restore. You can free up more space on your computer by removing all but the most recent restore point. As a standard function for Windows takes snapshots of your computer’s contents at regular intervals. The process can take up to a half an hour or so if it’s been some time since your last cleanup.
  • Scan for viruses, spyware, etc. After your computer is all cleaned out, use your security software to do a sweep for viruses, worms, and spyware that can potentially damage your computer and compromise your privacy. This step shouldn’t take too long if you’ve already deleted unnecessary files and programs.

If the steps listed above don’t improve your computers overall performance, there may be an underlying problem that is causing the poor performance. If the latter is the case, consider consulting a company that offers computer repair.

If your computer is suffering from poor performance, contact Up and Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA 951-737-8558 today. Or visit www.urcs.net for information regarding the services we offer.

Up and Running Computer Solutions proudly serves Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin and all surrounding areas.

5 Reasons Your Computer May Be Running Slowly

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I’m sure you’ve experienced how frustrating it can be to use a slow computer. I know I have. Of course, the first thing I want to do when my computer is acting “sluggish” is to yank my hair out or toss my computer in the garbage. However, before you take any of those drastic actions I mentioned, you may want to try take a step back and see if it’s something simple that’s causing your computer to run slowly. I’ve compiled a list of possible reasons your computer may be running slowly, which include the following:

  • You have too many programs running at the same time. It’s very common for people to download apps, utilities and other programs that run in the background. If too many programs are running, your computer becomes “less focused” to other things you are having it do. Avoid downloading web browser help, more than one anti-malware program, or apps that claim to speed your computer up, as each one of them will slow your computer down.
  • You don’t have enough free RAM. One of the key factors to fast running computer is free space. Random access memory, commonly referred to as RAM, is what your computer uses for thinking space and temporary working. The more free space your computer has, the faster it will run. Make sure to clean up any old or unwanted files to help improve your computers speed.
  • Your computer has a virus/malware. Both internet slowness and slow computer operation can be signs that your computer may be infected. You can use an anti-virus and anti-spyware application to see if your computer is infected.
  • You haven’t shut your computer down in a while. It’s a good idea to shut your computer down once in a while. Computers cannot complete some of its updates until you restart it. You can also free up memory resources that are linked up with buggy programs by restating your computer.
  • You share a wireless network. For instance, if your internet speed is lagging but your computer is running fast, you may have a good amount of activity on your wireless network. Be sure to check if anyone else on your network is using a lot of bandwidth, such as playing an online game or streaming videos, as this can make your computer run slow. Be sure that your wireless network is secure by creating a password. If it’s not, anyone can use it.

Computers can be difficult to work on, especially if you don’t know what in the world you’re dealing with in the first place. If you have a slow computer that needs some working on, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 or visit our website at www.urcs.net for additional information.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin, and all surrounding areas.

5 Most Notorious Computer Viruses in History

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Many people all over the globe have gotten computer viruses in some fashion or form. For most, the computer is virus is simply a mild inconvenience, which typically just requires a cleanup and the installation of an antivirus software, that you may have been meaning to get around to but never did. However, in other cases, a computer viruses can be a complete and utter disaster, resulting you a various amounts of damage.

While many computer viruses can be easily taken care of, others have gotten out of control, causing millions, even billions of dollars in damage.  Not only are government’s and big companies at risk for these sort of attacks, you can be as well. Your computer could possibly get hacked by a computer virus too, giving hackers access to all of your personal information, wiping your hard drive, corrupting your data, and may even use your computer to spread the virus to the contacts you have stored in there.

The following is list of the five most notorious computer viruses in history, the effects they had on their victims

MyDoom

MyDoom is a worm that was launched in 2004, where it originally spread through KaZaA, a file sharing app, but then eventually spread to emails. In both cases, the user had be open the actual file in order to become infected. When the unsuspecting victim open the file or email, the malicious code downloaded itself and would steal their Outlook address book. From there, the worm spread by sending itself to the contact in the address book and coped of itself to any P2P programs to grow itself though that network.

This virus infected between 600,000 and 700,000 PCs, and cost $38 billion in damage. MyDoom also slowed the internet access worldwide by 10%, and reduced access to some websites by as much as 50%.

ILOVEYOU

The ILOVEYOU virus was launched from the Philippines in 2000, and was allegedly written by Onel de Guzman. Aside from the virus’s innocent name, ILOVEYOU is consider one of the most destructive computer viruses. The virus was an innocent looking email attachment labeled “I Love You”, and when opened it released a malicious program. This program would overwrite the users’ flies with copies of itself to allow it to spread even when the original program was removed, and would erase a number of different files.

Roughly one tenth of computers in 2000 were infected with ILOVEYOU, reaching 45 million people in just one day.  McAfee even reported that a majority of their fortune 100 clients were infected with the virus. ILOVEYOU caused $5.5 billion in damaged the first week, and cause $15 billion worth of damages all together.

Code Red

Code Red was launched in July 2001, and a second virus, Code Red II, was launched later in the year. This worm infected Windows NT and Windows 2000 by exploiting a buffer overload vulnerability.  This allowed the virus to deface and even take down some websites, one being the whitehouse.gov website and forced other government agencies to take done their public websites temporarily too. The worm spread by randomly selecting 100 IP addresses at a time and then would launch a denial service on them, which allows backdoor access to the server, allowing for a hacker to have remote access to the machine.

Code Red infected more than 359,000 computer systems in less than one day, and infected 1 and 2 million computers were infected overall.  This virus caused over $2 million in losses.

Melissa

This particular virus, Melissa, was created in 1999 by David L. Smith, and he claimed to have named the virus after an erotic dancer in Florida. This virus started as an infected Word Document that was posted on the alt.sex.unset group, claiming to be a list of passwords that several “adult” content websites. This for whatever reason, got people curious and when downloaded and opened, the macro was triggered inside and unleased its fury. Melissa would mail itself to the top 50 people in the users email address book, causing email traffic, while also disrupting the services of governments and large corporations. Also, if the day of the month matched the minute the virus would insert a Bart Simpson quote into the document that it sent.

Hundreds of websites were affected by this virus, and the Microsoft Corporation even had to disable all incoming and outgoing email. This virus infected an estimate of at least 100,000 computers, and cause $1.2 billion in damages and losses worldwide.

Slammer

The Slammer virus, also referred to as Sapphire, was launched in 2003. This internet worm caused a denial of service on some internet hosts and severely slowed down general internet traffic. As Slammer began to spread throughout the Internet, it doubled in size every 8.5 seconds! Like other viruses, it selected IP address at random to try to infect, eventually finding all susceptible hosts.

A number of banks were affected by the virus, one being Bank of American, crashing their ATMs. Additional victims that were affected were, a 911 emergency line in Washington State, Continental Airlines and multiple government websites. This internet worm caused 1.2 billion in damages and affected 200,000 PCs.

Be sure you’re protecting yourself and your machine from these notorious computer viruses and internet worms by installing an antivirus software and firewall. If you you’re experiencing problems with your computer suspect it may be a virus, contact Up and Running Commuter Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-7378558 or visit www.urcs.net for information regarding our services.

Up and Running Computer Solutions Inc. proudly serves Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin and all surrounding areas.