Year: 2015

5 Tips for Shopping Safely Online This Holiday Season

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Thanks to technology people can now shop from the convenience of their homes to local coffee shops using smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices. And with the holiday season already in full swing, many of us are doing so. Not only can online shopping save you time but it can also save you from encountering crowds of people that can suck your energy and holiday spirit dry. If you choose to do online holiday shopping, make sure that you have all your security measures in place. The holiday season is a time where cyber criminals are still very much at large. The following tips are recommended if you’re doing online holiday shopping this year:

Too Good To Be True- One common tactic cyber criminals use is using very low prices on popular items to lure potential victims in.

Use a Credit Instead of Debit– Use your credit card instead of your debit card because if your credit is used for something that you didn’t purchase, it’s easier to resolve issues with your credit card company than with your bank.

Credit Card Alert Features– Take advantage of your credit card alert features. These sort of alerts can alarm you when there’s abnormal activity and is very useful during the busy holiday season!

Safe Apps– For safe online shopping through apps you must make sure there are downloaded from a trusted source, such as the Apple Store or Android Market. Be sure to read through the various permissions the app is asking you to grant and note weather they make sense.

Stay Current– Keep your cyber information safe by ensuring that all of your security software is updated. Once an update is available, cyber criminals have all the information they need to attack your device.

Keep your personal information safe this holiday season by exercising caution when making online purchases. If your computer has contracted a virus while shopping online, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558. For information regarding the services we offer visit our website at www.urcs.net.

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

Scottrade Data Breach Affects 4.6 Million Accounts | Cyber Security

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Data BreachEarlier this month on October 1st, Scottrade announced that they had suffered a data breach affecting 4.6 million of their customers. Federal law enforcements informed Scottrade that they had been investigating the cybersecurity crimes involving theft of information from Scottrade and other finical services.

“Based on our investigation and information provided by federal authorities” Scottrade states in a post on their website “we believe the illegal activity involving our network occurred between late 2013 and early 2014, and targeted client names and street addresses.” The attackers were able to take contact details from the system they hacked into, despite the system having sensitive data such as Social Security numbers, it appeared that the contact information was the focus of the incident.

In the post the company also states “We have no reason to believe that Scottrade’s trading platforms or any client funds were compromised. Client passwords remained fully encrypted at all times and we have not seen any indication of fraudulent activity as a result of this incident.” But despite believing that Social Security numbers were not compromised, Scottrade will being offering those 4.5 million affected customer’s identity protection services.

Scottrade has now secured the intrusion point and has even conducted their own internal data forensics investigation on the incident with assistance from a top computer security firm, while also fully cooperating with authorities. As you can tell the company has since taken the appropriate action to strengthen their network defenses. Click Here to Read Scottrade’s Cyber Security Update.

If you’re interested in staying protected from cybersecurity risks, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 or visit our website at www.urcs.net for information regarding the services we offer.

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

National Cyber Security Awareness Month | Online Security

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Online Security Protection Internet Safety

The National Cyber Security Division within the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Alliance has sponsored National Cyber Security Awareness Month, every October since 2004. National Cyber Security Awareness Month is focused on encouraging individuals to be cautious and to use protection while accessing the internet. Weather we realize it or not the internet impacts our lives on a daily basis. We use the internet to connect with family and friends, to handle business and banking online and rely on it for many other services, like electricity and even transportation, which are supported by online systems. Technology has prompted advancements in business, healthcare, music, government and many other industries.

As technology keeps evolving, our lives are becoming easier and more connected than ever. Yet the more our lives become more connected through the internet, the more we become vulnerable for increased risks of theft, fraud and abuse. No one is immune to cyber risks at this point. As individuals, cybersecurity risks can threaten our identities, finances and privacy. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep yourself, your assets and personal information safe online. The following includes a few tips all internet users can take advantages of the month of National Cyber Security Month and throughout the year:

  • Create Strong passwords and do not share them with anyone.
  • Keep operating system, browser and other critical software’s up to date by installing updates.
  • Raise awareness by talking openly with your family, friends and community about Internet safety.
  • Limit the amount of personal information you share online and use privacy setting to avoid sharing information widely
  • Be very cautious about what you receive or read online – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

For more information regarding online safety and what you can do to stay protected from cybersecurity risks, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 or visit our website at www.urcs.net to discover what services we offer.

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

 

Hackers Hit Bugzilla | Tech News

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Earlier this month Mozilla, the company behind the Firefox Web Browser, reported that hackers had gained access their bug tracker Bugzilla and stole security-sensitive information. It’s believe that the information that’s been stolen was used by the hackers to attack Firefox users.

Although Mozilla did not provide any details on how exactly the stolen information was used to target Firefox users, the company did say in a blog post that they were making improvements to the bug tracker in an effort to protect their products, developer community and users from these hacker.

Bugzilla is an open source tool that’s used to track flaws in Mozilla software. This information on Bugzilla can be viewed by the public but access to security sensitive information is restricted to certain users. Fortunately, the company planned to update Bugzilla’s security so that similar attacks like this don’t happen again later down the road.

“We are updating Bugzilla’s security practices to reduce the risk of future attacks of this type. As an immediate first step, all users with access to security-sensitive information have been required to change their passwords and use two-factor authentication” Mozilla stated in blog post. “We are reducing the number of users with privileged access and limiting what each privileged user can do. In other words, we are making it harder for an attacker to break in, providing fewer opportunities to break in, and reducing the amount of information an attacker can get by breaking in.”

To read Mozilla’s blog post click here.

If you think your computer has been infected with a virus, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 or visit our website at www.urcs.net for more information regarding our services.

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

5 Common Computer Problems | Computer Repair Corona, CA

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Over time every computer will have problems. These problems could range from being big and complicated to a simple fix. The biggest problem you may face though is not knowing much about computers in the first place. Fortunately, if you have little knowledge on computers or just don’t have the time, Up & Running Computer Solutions is here to help. The following includes a list of the most common computer problems, and their possible causes.

  • Computer Won’t Turn On- I’m sure this is a lot of peoples worst nightmare, you hit the power button and nothing happens. This could be caused by number of things. It could be something as simple as a loose cord, or as serious as the power supply going bad.
  • Slow Computer- When you delete files and applications from your computer they’re still on your computer taking up space. Another reason your computer may be running slow could be due to low hard drive space or not enough RAM (Random Access Memory).
  • Odd Noises- Does your PC make strange noises? This may be caused by a dying fan or a failing hard drive. A fan is an easy fix and often times you can back up your information from your hard drive before it fails or with the use of a recovery software.
  • Overheating- Overheating can cause all sorts of computers problems. Overheating could be caused by poor ventilation, dying fans or even excessive use of the computer.
  • Freezes- The “blue screen of death” is when your PC freezes in a blue screen with an error message. This could be cause by overheating, hard drive failure or a buggy software.

If you are having any of these issues or any other issues that are affecting your computers performance, call Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA for help at 951-737-8558. We are here to get your computer back up and running! For more information regarding our services visit our website at www.urcs.net.  

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

How did my Computer get infected with a Virus? | Computer Repair Corona, CA

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Virus Alert

Has your computer been running a bit slower? Have you been getting annoying pop –ups more frequently? If you’ve answered yes, your computer may have been infected with virus. I’m sure you’re now wondering where or how your computer would have gotten this virus. There are actually many ways a computer can get infected with a virus.

  • Agreeing to Prompts– One of the most common ways a computer can get infected with a virus is agreeing to a prompt without understanding or reading the “fine print”. For instance, you get a pop-up while browsing the internet that says your antivirus is out of date and without fully understanding what you’re downloading you accept the prompt.
  • Opening Email Attachments- Another way computers can become infected with a virus is by opening an unknown email attachment that contains a malicious code. Always be cautious when opening any emails, even if they are from friends, family or even co-workers.
  • No Antivirus- If your computer runs Microsoft Windows it’s highly recommended that you protect your computer by having spyware or antivirus.
  • Not Running Latest Updates- Many updates are meant for security purposes, especially ones associated with Microsoft Windows. It’s very important or you to keep your operating system and programs up to date.
  • Pirating Music, Software or Movies- If you are one of the individuals who participating in the illegal exchange of copyrighted movies, music or software, you may at risk. Sometimes theses sort of files contain spyware, malicious software or viruses.

There are many ways for your computer to get infected with a virus, and it can happen to anyone. If your computer is infected with a virus and need it removed, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 or visit our website at www.urcs.net for more information about out services.

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

The Internet and You | Technology

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There is no denying that the technological boom in America has accelerated the amount of internet users. The internet is readily available on our desktops, laptops, phones and now capable watches! With just about the entire world connected through the internet, it is impossible to get away from.

Whether it is for your business or on your down time, many are on their computer consistently throughout the day. There is an entire movement rippling through the United States to unplug, but it’s simply not realistic. To put it simply, the internet has changed the way we live, work and communicate and that has brought us into the modern world.

Utilize the internet for all it is worth, and when it acts up or runs slow, breathe. There is a whole world out there using this technology, and there is always a technician there to help you through it.

If you are currently experiencing problems with your PC, contact Up and Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 or visit our website at www.urcs.net for more information regarding our services.

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

Windows 10 is Finally Here | Windows 10 Features

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After months and months of anticipation Windows 10 is finally here! This is the biggest update Windows has seen in many years and the new features are fantastic. One of the neat things about Windows 10 is you don’t have to pay for it, so long as you already run windows 8 or Windows that is. With that being said lets dive on into some of best features of Windows 10:

  • New Interface – One of the most obvious changes are the new use interface. Unlike Windows 8, Windows 10 doesn’t force you to use the touch interface features. Windows 10 works equally on mouse and key board PCs and touch devices.
  • New Start Menu- Windows 10 new start of menu is a blend of Windows 7 traditional start menu and Windows 8 Live Titles. The startup menu is two panels side by side, the panel on the left shows pinned and the most recent apps used, while the right side of the panel brings features back from the Windows 8.1.
  • Cortana- Cortana will now be featured on your desktop thanks to Windows 10, and Cortana makes multitasking easier than ever. Cortana is actually built into the native system and will be able to pull local and web based information when you perform a search.
  • Microsoft Edge – Windows 10 is leaving Internet Explorer to be a thing of the past, and is bring on Edge. Edge provides a fast and responsive user friendly experience, while adding a few tricks of its own like incorporating Cortana. Microsoft Edge also allows you scribble on any webpage and share your comments with friends through social networking by using a slide in menu without ever leaving the browser.
  • Action Center- the Action Center organizes your notification by app and also provides fast access to multiple settings such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, airplane mode and other controls.

For questions or information regarding IT Services, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 or visit our website at www.urcs.com.

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

 

What to Do About a Slow Computer | Computer Repair Corona, CA

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Waiting what may seem like decades for your computer to complete a simple task can be quite the annoyance. A slow running PC can start occurring after years of having it, or in some cases it occurs after only having your PC for a few months. There are several things that can contribute to your computer slowing down. It could be caused by bugs in the operating system, failing hardware, or even static electricity from carpet. Before taking your computer in for repair or buying a new PC all together, try out these quick fixes to see it they can get your computer running a bit faster again.

  • Uninstall Unused Programs- When buying a new computer, it usually comes with programs pre-installed and over time your computer compiles more programs.  Most of them you’ll never use and some of them actually run in the back ground, ultimately slowing your computer down.
  • Delete Temporary Files- When you use the internet all of your browsing history remains deep in your computer, and the same goes for when you install something. Make sure to get rid of all the clutter to free up space on your system.
  • Get More Hard Drive Storage- It doesn’t matter how tidy you keep your computer, if you have too much on your hard drive, it will affect the speed of your computer. If you use your computer for things such as recording media or video it’s more likely that you’re hard drive will become full, thus slowing your computer down.
  • Stop Unnecessary Start-ups- Every time you start up your PC there are some programs that automatically start to run in the background. Skype are one of the programs known for this. Every application that is running will use your PCs memory and slow it down.
  • Clean it up- You won’t believe how much dust your computer can accumulate over time. The dust gets sucked in by the cooling fan and can clog the airflow of the computer causing it to overheat and slow down. Use a vacuum on a low setting to gently clean out the insides. Make sure your computer is disconnected from all mains.

If your computer is still running slowly after trying out these quick fixes, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 or visit our website at www.urcs.net for more information regarding our services

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

What is the Blue Screen of Death? | IT Services Corona, CA

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Have you ever been working on your computer when it suddenly freezes and goes to a blue screen with a list of instructions and information? Well, that right there is called the Blue Screen of Death. The Blue Screen of Death can be caused by problems with your computer’s hardware or even issues with the hardware drive software.

A blue screen happens when Windows runs into a “STOP Error”. This type of failure causes Windows to crash and automatically stop working. At this point the only thing Windows can do is stop and restart the computer. This can sometimes lead to data loss if your programs don’t have the chance to back up. It’s ideal for you to have programs that back up continuously just in case you happen to run into the Blue Screen of Death or any other sort of error.

If you’ve run into the Blue Screen of Death and haven’t the slightest clue how to fix it on your own, call UP & Running Computer Solutions. Our knowledgeable computer repair technicians will help figure out why your computer crashed and get it back up and running in no time!

For more information regarding IT Services call UP & Running Computer Solutions at 951-737-8558 or visit our website www.urcs.net.

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