Cloud technology has made two fairly significant impacts on small business; 1) It’s helped to level the playing field and allowed them more advanced computing capabilities for a lower cost, and 2) It’s made it easier to run an office from anywhere.

80% of businesses say that using the cloud has improved their operations, and 40% of small and medium businesses say it’s more cost-effective than using in-house 3rd party applications.

What cloud services do is host applications on a virtual server rather than your hard drive, making them easily accessible via any internet-connected device. This offers a number of cost saving advantages for small businesses, including:

• Only pay for the users you need

• Easy to scale up or down

• Data is available no matter where you are

• Makes remote working easy, reducing physical office costs

• Low start up costs without any expensive software or hardware to buy 

The next evolution beyond accessing your programs, like Office 365 or QuickBooks Online, via the cloud, is accessing your entire computer environment the same way.

Hosting your Windows operating system, files, folders, settings, etc. in the cloud is referred to as a virtual desktop, and Microsoft is betting this is going to be the next logical step for many companies.

They announced the worldwide availability of their Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) on September 30, 2019, and is promises to make a big impact on companies of all sizes. And just as cloud computing was a game-changer for small businesses, WVD could be just as significant.

Windows Virtual Desktop Overview

Windows Virtual Desktop is able to deliver the only multi-session Windows 10 virtual desktop experience that’s also highly scalable, available on any device, and always up to date.

WVD hosts your computer work environment on an Azure virtual server, which allows it to be available from any of the following: 

• Windows

• Android

• Mac

• iOS

• HTML5

Just imagine hiring a new employee and instead of having to find an unused computer, clean it of any old data and then load the software needed onto it, you could instead just pull up a WVD environment that you had already saved as a template with the proper software loaded. Provision it for the new employee, and then they can access their “new work computer” from any device in minutes.

Virtual desktops allow you to take your computer with you anywhere you go without having to physically carry anything around or email files back and forth to yourself. 

The Benefits of Using Virtual Desktops

It can be a big decision to go completely virtual with your technology, because of the fact that you do need to have an internet connection in order to access it. But cloud applications have definitely been embraced by large and small businesses alike, and they also have that same requirement.

It seems that cost savings, operational efficiency, and ability to run a more mobile office outweigh concerns about offline access for many businesses, because most of what they do requires an internet connection already.

Here are some of the considerations when deciding whether to go completely virtual with Windows Virtual Desktops. 

Lower Hardware Costs

Because your OS and everything loaded onto it is hosted on a cloud server, the physical computer you may use to access it does not need to have the same high-performance specifications. It’s simply being used as a conduit to access the WVD. This means savings on hardware.

Easily Work from Anywhere

Have you ever traveled for business and tried to bring the files you needed with you on a laptop or tablet? You do your best to work remotely but find it’s just not as productive because you don’t have your main computer with you with all your “stuff” on it.

That problem is completely eliminated with a virtual desktop because you can log into your computer desktop environment from anywhere, even from a hotel’s business center, and it’s just like sitting in front of your keyword at work.

Easier, Less Costly Administration

Trying to administer things like software deployment and update management can be time consuming across multiple devices and there’s always a chance that a computer hasn’t applied a security patch, leaving your network vulnerable. 

Using virtual desktops significantly reduces the time it takes to administer multiple staff computers because it can all be done from a central control panel and applied to the virtual desktop environments instantly, saving time and money. Plus, it ensures that the operating systems and software are always up to date. 

Data Security Compliance Built In

Whether you’re worried about getting hit with a ransomware attack or you need to ensure compliance with HIPAA or another data privacy guideline, WVD can make data security compliance easier.

Microsoft Azure holds more compliance certifications than any other cloud provider, including ISO/IED, HIPAA, IRS, ITAR, and many others.

Need Help Migrating Your Data to a Virtual Desktop? 

If you’re intrigued about the possibility of making your office completely mobile with Windows Virtual Desktops, Pro Tech Guy can help you make it happen. We can easily get you set up and migrate your data to the new cloud environment. 

Contact us today to discuss how virtual desktops could help your business save. Call 508-364-8189 orreach us online.

Windows 10 is still a fairly young operating system, being less than 5 years old now. But in that short time, it’s been widely well-received and is currently the #1 operating system in the world with a market share of 54.3%.

While this OS was designed to make diagnostics easier, that doesn’t mean it’s without issues that users may run into from time to time. And when that happens, the last thing you want to do is be on the phone with Microsoft technical support forever.

The experts at Pro Tech Guy have put together this helpful troubleshooting guide based upon our years of experience offering technical support and computer repair services in the Framingham, MA area.

Before you get frustrated, try these troubleshooting tips, and they may just save the day.

Boot and Startup Issues 

One of the scariest PC problems to have is when you can’t get your computer to boot. You feel locked out of your device and can be at wit’s end trying to get to a login screen. Here are some tips to try.

When Your Windows 10 PC Won’t Turn On

First try the obvious:

• Make sure the power cord is secure and hasn’t become loose from your computer

• Check to ensure the plug is securely in the outlet

• Check another electronic device in the same outlet to ensure it’s working

• If using a surge protector, make sure the switch didn’t get turned off

• Change outlets to check if it will turn on with a different one

• Disconnect all peripherals (printers, additional screen, etc.) and try again

If you’ve tried everything and your computer is still not turning on at all, it will need to be looked at, and you can bring it in to Pro Tech Guy.

You Have Power, but Can’t Boot to Login

Booting issues can be caused by a number of issues, from file registry problems to hardware incompatibility. If you can’t boot normally to the Windows 10 login screen, here is an alternate method to try.

Boot in Safe Mode: Safe mode allows you to bypass some potential driver or software problems that might be causing the issue. To enter Safe Mode, you first need to enter the Windows Recovery Environment (winRE):

1. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your PC.

2. Press the power button again to turn on your device.

3. On the first sign that Windows has started, repeat step 1 to turn off your PC again.

4. Press the power button again to turn on your PC.

5. When Windows restarts, repeat step 1 for a third time, holding the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your PC.

6. Press the power button again to turn on your device.

7. Allow your device to fully restart. You will enter winRE.

You’ll be presented with a screen, and you want to choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

Once your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options, select option 5 or press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

Screen & Performance Issues 

You See a Black Screen Before Signing In

If your screen is black or stuck on the welcome image and the sign in is not coming up, here are a few things you can try.

Windows Key sequence to wake the screen: Press the CapsLock or NumLock key to see if you get a status light. If you do, press the Windows Logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B, if this works, you’ll hear a short beep and the screen will blink or dim while Windows is refreshing it.

If You don’t see the status light: If you try the above and the status light doesn’t turn on, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to turn it off, then unplug the power cord. After 30 seconds reattach the cord and restart your PC.

Control/Alt/Delete: This trick is particularly helpful if Windows 10 is stuck on the welcome screen image at start up but not giving you the login form, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, and it should pop up.

Remove Third-Party Antivirus Software: According to Microsoft, certain third-party anti-virus software has been known to cause black or blank screens. Remove the software and see if the problem persists. Windows Defender (Windows 10 built-in antivirus), will kick-in if there’s no other antivirus app.

Frozen PC When Browsing Online

It can be frustrating when you’re trying to research something and you hit upon a page with a ton of videos and ads, it can completely lock up your entire computer, making you think you have other performance problems.

Installing an adblocker (such as AdBlock) as a browser extension can quickly clear up this issue and give you back your browser.

Slow Wake with Open Browser Tabs

If you’re trying to wake up your computer and finding that it’s taking forever, it could be because you left open pages in your browser. Even if you minimized it, this can cause a memory drag, slowing you down.

You can save your open pages without the memory issue if you use Microsoft Edge. The browser has a save tabs feature you can access at the top left that quickly saves and restores all open windows. 

Sluggish Computer

Having a slow computer is frustrating and it can be due to any number of issues. Here are several things you can do to try to improve your system performance. 

• Check storage: If you have low disk space, it’s going to negatively impact your PC performance. Go to the Start button, then Settings > System > Storage, this will let you see your disk status and give you options for cleaning it up.

• Make sure automatic page file management is on: This setting has to do with how Windows 10 uses memory. Use your search, and type “advanced system” then choose View advance system settings. In the System Properties, select Advanced, and Settings in the Performance area. Select the Advanced tab and then Change in the Virtual memory area. Ensure that “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives” is checked.

• Adjust visual effects: Those fancy animations and other visual effects that aren’t really necessary can eat up your PC resources. Turn some of them off by searching on “Performance” in the search bar, then select Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows. On the Visual Effects tab, select Adjust for best performance and Apply.

If You’re Still Having Problems, We’re Here for You! 

If you’re still experiencing problems, give us a call! The Pro Tech Guy team can perform expert diagnostics on your Windows 10 PC to find out what’s wrong and get it taken care of for you. We also offer fast emergency services!

Having Windows issues? Call us at 508-364-8189 oruse our contact form.

When you’re in the middle of a project and something goes wrong, you don’t always have time wait on the phone for Apple tech support to help. You just want to get the issue fixed fast, so you can continue your work.

While MACs have a reputation for being fairly user-friendly and glitch-free, that doesn’t mean they don’t still have their issues. This is compounded by the fact that they can be rather pricey as compared to Windows PCs, so users tend to keep them in use longer. And as with any computer, the longer you use it, the more problems can crop up.

Knowing a few tips and tricks to troubleshoot issues can save you a lot of time and frustration. The Pro Tech Guy team put together this handy MAC troubleshooting guide to give you tips for solving some of the most common issues that can be corrected if you know what to do.

We’ve included our years of computer repair and technical support experience in this guide and hope that it’s a helpful reference for you when you’re in a pinch. 

Boot and Startup Issues 

One of the most frustrating computer problems is not being able to turn your computer on or have it boot properly.

If Your iMac or MacBook Won’t Turn On

First try the obvious:

• Make sure the power cord is secure and hasn’t become loose from your computer

• Check the plug into the outlet to make sure it’s secure

• Check something else in the same outlet to ensure it’s working

• If using a surge protector, make sure the switch didn’t get turned off

• Change outlets to check if it will turn on with a different one

• Disconnect all peripherals (printers, additional screen, etc.) and try again 

If you’ve tried everything and you’re still getting a black screen, it will need to be looked at, and you can bring it in to Pro Tech Guy.

Your Mac is Stuck at a Grey Screen and Won’t Boot

If you get the screen loading with the Apple icon and your computer won’t go past that point, there is most likely something wrong with the booting process. This can be a software issue, hardware issue or something else. Here are some things to try.

Boot in Safe Mode: This will run additional diagnostics during boot to try to fix any issues. Hit the power button and press and hold the Shift key. You can release the Shift key after the Apple logo has gone and the login screen appears.

If this works and you’re logged in properly, you can run a file check by opening the Terminal and typing ‘fsck -fy’ and hit enter. This will take a few minutes. 

Boot in Diagnostic Mode: The next thing to try is running your Disk Utility by booting in Diagnostic Mode. Hit the power button and press and hold Command+R.

If this is successful, you’ll have the ability select a Disk Utility Option to run a diagnostic. Select your hard drive and click “Verify.” Then wait for it to finish. If you see a problem, click “Repair Disk.”

Reset the NVRAM: This is a common fix for many different types of problems, which include booting issues. Hit the power button and press and hold Command + Option + P + R until you hear your computer restart, then release the keys. 

Reset the SMC: If the NVRAM reset doesn’t work, next you can try resetting the System Management Controller (SMC). This one involves removing the power cord and has the following steps:

• Shut off your Mac

• Remove the power cord completely for 20 seconds

• Reattach the power cord

• Boot your computer

Screen & Performance Issues

Your Computer is On, but the Screen is Black

This one can drive you crazy at first because you might think your computer isn’t booting. But if you hear the normal sounds, it could just be that it’s stuck but is actually booted.

If this happens, try putting it to sleep with a keyboard command and waking it up again. Hold the S and Power button for 15 seconds and let go of the keys once you hear the fan stop. Then wait another 15 seconds and try to reboot it.

Stuck Programs or Spinning Wheel

There are two ways you can clear up programs that are hogging all your resources and causing your screen to freeze up.

• Force Quit: Hold Command + Option + Escape, the Force Quit Application window will come up, choose the stuck program and click “Force Quit.”

• Activity Monitor: Use the Finder to go Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor. When you open the Activity Monitor, it will show you all the processes currently running and how much memory they’re taking. You can force quit apps from the window

Sluggish Computer

If your computer has gotten slow, you may be low on disk space. Apple recommends having a minimum of 10% free. You can check this by selecting the Apple icon at the top left and choosing About This Mac, then Storage. 

This window will also have a “Manage” button that will help you identify ways to free up disk space such as optimizing storage and reducing clutter.

One other possible fix is to add memory. On iMacs, you can find a Memory option when you access About This Mac and view whether you have available slots. Often an upgrade in memory can significantly speed up your computer.

If All Else Fails, Call A Pro! 

If you’re still experiencing problems, give us a call! The Pro Tech Guy team can perform expert diagnostics to find out what’s wrong and get it taken care of for you. We also offer fast emergency services!

Having MAC issues? Call us at 508-364-8189 or use our contact form.

Smart technology is bound to be on many family wish lists this holiday season if the trends are any indicators. The US smart home market is expected to reach 40 billion USD by 2020, and 57% of Americans say they save at least 30 minutes per day by using smart products at home.

With faster internet speeds coming both from the introduction of Wi-Fi 6 and 5G, we’re only going to see more internet-connected gadgets to make our lives easier coming in the near future.

One of the most popular smart home items is a voice activated assistant, and Amazon’s Alexa leads the pack in popularity with over 60% of the market share. 

In their efforts to stay on top, Amazon announced 15 new smart devices at their hardware event at the end of September, and they’re all ones that are currently available, just in time for the holidays!

If you’ve been wondering what’s going to be a hot ticket item this holiday season, we bet that several of these Alexa-powered products will be showing up under trees and in stockings this Christmas.

Here’s a rundown of some exciting new Amazon gadgets.

New Amazon Alexa Smart Products… Just Out!

From a glowing Echo just for kids to a “secret agent-like” wearable ring, there’s something for everyone in the newly released Amazon smart products. Here are some that look like they’ll be big hits this holiday season. 

Echo Glow – Smart Lamp for Kids ($29.99)

Bringing a colorful and more fun look to smart technology, the Echo Glow multicolor smart lamp is going to be a popular addition to many kids’ rooms this year. 

By pairing it with another Alexa device, like an Echo Dot, you can add voice control to the lamp. It includes fun features like Rainbow Timer and the ability to add color and lighting effects while playing or listening to music.

Echo Flex – Plug-in Mini Smart Speaker ($19.99)

If you like the thought of having a smart speaker, but don’t have much space or are looking for a budget price, the Echo Flex is designed just for you. It plugs directly into an outlet and is about the size of a pluggable air freshener.

It also has a handy built in USB port for charging phones or adding an optional accessory like a nightlight or motion sensor.

Echo Show 8 – Smart Display ($79.99)

You may have noticed all the commercials lately for visual voice assistant and video call displays like the Portal. Amazon’s product in this arena is the Echo Show 8 smart display.

It takes Alexa a step farther by adding visuals and you can use it to do things like watch TV or movies, video calling and messaging, and show off photo albums from Amazon Photos.

Echo Loop – Smart Ring with Alexa ($129.99, invitation only price)

If you like wearables, the Echo Loop is a smart ring that allows you to make quick calls, fast answers, and speak to Alexa. You currently have to request an invitation to purchase the Day 1 editions and quantities are limited. 

The ring is water-resistant, made with titanium, and gives you one-click assess to Alexa while you’re on the go.

Echo Frames – Eyeglasses with Alexa ($179.99, invitation only price)

Another wearable that might make you feel like a secret agent is the Echo Frames product. These are also available to be purchased for Day 1 edition by invitation.

The frames are designed to be used with prescription lenses and they give you hands-free access to Alexa to make calls, set reminders, listen to podcasts, control smart home devices, or just about any other Alexa activity. 

Amazon Smart Oven ($249.99)

Not only will Amazon’s new Smart Oven give you voice control and preset assistance for cooking a meal, it will also tell you when dinner’s ready or when the oven has reached the preheat temperature.

Even without the cool voice connection, it’s a pretty handy appliance as a 4-in-1, including being a: 

• Microwave

• Convection Oven

• Food Warmer

• Air Fryer

Echo Buds – Wireless Earbuds ($129.99)

People have been ditching the wires when it comes to connecting to the sound of their smart devices. Amazon has introduced their own wireless earbuds with immersive sound, active noise reduction, and… Alexa too. 

The Echo Buds are designed to reduce background noise and provide dynamic audio. Beyond working with Alexa, you can also access other voice assistants with them like Siri or Google Assistant.

Echo Auto – A Gift to You if You’re with Nationwide

This product wasn’t announced at the Amazon event, but it might make a nice gift for you or someone else, and it’s free if you happen to be a new or existing Nationwide insurance customer.

Nationwide recently announced that they were giving the Echo Auto (List: $49.99) for free to over a million customers, no strings attached. The Echo Auto is designed to fit in a car vent and brings Alexa capabilities to you while you’re on the road. You may want to check your email for a note about the offer or contact your agent.

Enjoy Your Technology Securely! 

When it comes to internet-connected devices in the home, that also means there’s risk of a hacker gaining access to your network if you don’t have security set up correctly. Pro Tech Guy has a Cloud Care Premiummanaged antivirus and malware protection for computers, and we can also help with you secure settings for your smart home gadgets.

Contact us today to ensure your home network security. Call 508-364-8189 or reach us online.

Your iMac’s Bluetooth has gone out again and your keyboard isn’t working, so you reboot and it’s back to normal. Your Windows PC has locked up for some reason and the memory is crashing…. time for a reboot.

Rebooting has become the “go to” fix when we encounter issues with our computers, and for many types of problems we run into, that reset can often clear them up.

But what happens when you’re continually rebooting or if when you do, the problem comes right back? Not everything can be solved by simply switching your computer off and back on again. Certain issues require professional computer repair, and generally pretty quickly before your PC crashes for good.

Certain problems might seem small when you first encounter them – a strange warning that pops up and then goes away, a millisecond of a grey screen, a weird noise that keeps recurring – but they can often be symptoms of much larger problems that can serious impact your device and the data it stores if they go unchecked.

Warning Signs that You Need to Have Your Computer Serviced 

140,000 hard drives crash in the U.S. every week. Once that happens, there’s a good chance that you could end up losing all your data. You want to have problems taken care of before they end up in a major crash, which is why it’s important to know the warning signs that signal a trip to the PC repair shop is needed.

When Your Computer is Consistently Sluggish 

If your computer consistently locks up and you’re left silently screaming in frustration while staring at a spinning wheel or hourglass, it’s a sign that you need to take it in for a PC tune up. Computers that get slower over time can signal a few different problems, and a computer Pro can identity which ones they are.

Some potential reasons for a slow computer include:

• Not enough memory

• Virus or malware infection

• Beginnings of hard drive failure

• Too many programs running that aren’t properly optimized

Weird Lines on Your Screen

If your computer screen starts flashing weird lines or patterns for a second, then goes back to normal, this could be an indicator that your graphics card is failing.

Hardware that stops working correctly can cause all kinds of other internal issues, such as sudden reboots and difficulty booting your computer at all. This is definitely something you want to have checked out before it gets worse.

Strange Errors Keep Popping Up

Do you randomly see strange error messages popping up that you don’t understand, but you don’t notice anything wrong so you just quit out of them? Just because you haven’t noticed a usability problem yet, doesn’t mean one isn’t headed your way if you leave the problem unaddressed.

It’s a good idea to call a pro when you start seeing recurring error messages, we’ll often know exactly what needs to be done to fix it, because we’ve fixed it for someone else.

Random Freezes and Restarts

As computers age, one of the problems that can arise are random freezes that require you to reboot or the computer rebooting on its own. You might suddenly lose all ability to input from a keyboard or mouse or get cut off during a video conference due to an unexpected reboot.

There is a reason your computer is acting up like this. It could be a conflict with a particular part, for instance if you’ve just added memory, or be due to a number of other factors that an IT tech can diagnose and identify.

You Suspect a Virus or Malware 

Today’s advanced viruses and malware are much more difficult to fully eradicate yourself with a self-help virus program. If you haven’t fully removed the malicious code from your system, it can cause more problems for you in the future and infect other devices that share your same network.

It’s best to have virus removal handled by a professional that can guarantee your system is completely clean and free of any malware.

Your Computer is Making Weird Sounds

If your computer is getting louder and starting to make strange clicks, whirs, or other weird sounds, there’s a good chance that a part needs to be fixed or replaced. If you don’t get this addressed, it could potentially mean overheating and hard drive failure.

Bring Your Sick Mac or Windows PC to Pro Tech Guy!  

We offer fast and affordable computer diagnostics to find out just what’s going on with your PC. We work on both Windows and Mac devices and can help you with everything from component repair to fast emergency services.

If you’re experiencing any PC problems, don’t wait until things get worse, contact us today! Call 508-364-8189 or reach out online. We proudly serve Framingham, Natick, Sudbury, Wayland, Wellsley, Ashland and surrounding Metrowest area.

Who doesn’t love sneak peeks into upcoming features coming to your computer soon?! While it’s still fairly early and nothing is yet set in stone, there are whispers out there about the next feature release for Windows 10 which is expected sometime around April of 2020.

The release is referred to as 20H1, and Microsoft has of course been hard at work getting it ready for its spring debut to users around the world.

As of October 2019, Windows 10 had over 54% of the global operating system market share and that’s bound to go up prior to this release, because Windows 7 is reaching end of life and losing all support come January 2020. 

So, what exciting new features can you look forward to in the next Windows 10 feature update? Read on to find out!

Features Planned for the Windows 10 20H1 Update this Spring

The Spring 2020 feature update is expected to bring improvements to the update process (yes, more of them!) and encourage more Cortana interaction, among other things. 

Here’s a run down of Windows 10 features to look out for.

A New Cortana Experience

You’ll now be able to type messages to Cortana instead of asking by voice. The brand new chat-based UI will sit in a resizable panel that you can move around your desktop just like other windows.

Your conversation history with Cortana will appear like an online chat and you’ll be able to see results of your queries by opening Cortana from the task bar.

Microsoft also promises an improved experience with Cortana due to updates of speech and language models. 

Cloud Download Option When Reinstalling Windows 

If you need to reinstall Windows 10, you’ll now have an additional option to download and reinstall the operating system via a cloud download. When going to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery and choosing to reset your PC and remove everything, you’ll see Cloud Download appear as a choice.

A benefit of using the cloud download option if that you can save time on updates later because you’ll be downloading a more recent cloud-based copy of windows 10.

Get More Detail into Your Disk Type

SSDs are getting more popular, which is most likely one of the reasons for this next enhancement. The Windows 10 Task Manager will now show you your disk type: either SSD or HDD, which will give you more visibility into the hardware on your system if you use multiple disks.

Rename Virtual Desktops

If you like to keep your workspace organized by using Window 10’s virtual desktops in the Task View, you’re going to be pleased with this next update. Instead of just having them default to Desktop 1, Desktop 2, etc., you’ll now be able to name them yourself and get this… you can even use emojis in the name!

Optional Updates Controls

Windows 10 feature updates in 2019 brought more control over your computer’s update process so you aren’t stuck having an update slow you down at a bad time. Microsoft is continuing to give the user more control in the 2020 update with a new way to view optional updates.

Option updates will have the ability to be accessed in one screen by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View optional updates.

Decide How Much Bandwidth Updates Use

Another update control you’re going to see this Spring is the ability to control how much bandwidth is used to download an update. This can keep a large update from spoiling your movie streaming by hogging up all the bandwidth.

You’ll be able to set either an absolute Mbps value or percentage for: 

• How much bandwidth is used for downloading updates in the background

• How much bandwidth is used for downloading updates in the foreground

New Tablet Experience

If you’re using a Surface or another 2-in-1 PC with a touch screen, you’re going to get a new screen that’s closer to the classic Windows 10 desktop that can make it a bit easier to get around if you’re not using a mouse or keyboard.  

File explorer will be optimized for touch control and the taskbar icons will be spread out a little more. You’ll still have the Tablet Mode if you want it, but it won’t be defaulted to.

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

If you’re a Linux fan, then you’re going to be very happy with this feature update that brings a WSL version 2 that uses a real Linux kernel. Benefits include:

• More powerful Linux environment on Windows 10

• More features

• File system performance increases

• Full system call compatibility

Make Devices “Passwordless”

You’ll have a new option in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in Page that allow you to make your devices passwordless. What this means is that everyone on your PC would be required to sign in with a PIN or another Windows Hello sign-in method, such as fingerprint or face ID.

Need a New PC Before the Next Windows 10 Update?

If you plan to upgrade your computer before the Windows 10 feature update hits next year, come to Pro Tech Guy first before you go the big box stores. We can offer great deals on custom builds (standard, tiny desktop, gaming) so you get a computer that fits your needs perfectly. 

Contact us today and let’s discuss your dream PC at 508-364-8189 or through our website.

Online privacy and data security have become such important issues in today’s digital age that now there’s a whole month dedicated to staying safe online. We just closed out October which is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) and learned quite a few tips.

Personal data, both our own and that in our databases at work, is a hot commodity in today’s digital environment. And from the surveys we take on social media to the emails we open at the office any of them could lead to theft of that information. 

A full 65% of companies in the U.S. have experienced a data breach, which can mean the need for emergency data recovery and have costly and long-lasting consequences, including:

• Downtime costs

• Loss of productivity

• Cleanup costs

• Data recovery costs

• Loss of business and reputation

In 2018, 14.4 million people were victims of identity fraud and the out of pocket costs to repair the damage more than doubled from two year prior to $1.7 billion in fraud expenses that individuals had to pay. 

Mitigating your cyber risk is not only good sense, it’s necessary in today’s technology-driven climate to ensure your personal information or company employee’s login credentials aren’t being sold on the Dark Web to the highest bidder.

Following are several excellent tips that follow this year’s NCSAM theme of “Own IT. Secure IT. Protect IT.

Proactive Steps to Enhance Cybersecurity at Home & Work 

Why does it seem the number of data breaches has been rising? It’s because selling things like SSNs, emails, bank account numbers and other personal information is lucrative for criminals. 

A full ID package that includes several pieces of personally identifiable information (name, address, SSN, etc.) can go for up to $100 on the black market. And often the crooks stay protected, sitting anonymously behind a computer on the other side of the world unleashing scripts via email, mobile app, and social media post.

But there are several proactive ways you can safeguard your data both at home and work. These tips follow the theme of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, so we’ll organize them into each theme area.

Own IT

Own IT is about understanding your digital footprint and taking ownership of ways to protect it. 

Use Privacy Settings on Social Media

You can enjoy reconnecting with friends from high school and sharing photos with family without sharing your information with the world (including hackers and scammers).  

Take time to go through the privacy settings of your social media accounts. These days they can be quite detailed and give you control over who sees your posts and who can or can’t share your posts or photos, giving you more control over your privacy. 

Be Wary When Traveling

It’s easy to make the mistake of logging in to your bank account while on public Wi-Fi when traveling. But that momentary lapse in good data security could cost you big time when you get home. 

While the new Wi-Fi 6 standard will make connections more secure, it’s going to take a while for everyone to upgrade, so assume that anytime you’re logged into a public hot spot, there’s a hacker watching your every keystroke.

Secure IT

Secure IT revolves around everything you can do to proactively secure your personal and business data and protect it from unauthorized access.

Use a Password Manager

Weak or stolen passwords account for about 81% of all hacking-related data breaches. It’s not possible for most people to remember unique and strong passwords for every single login they use so they tend to reuse passwords, which means if one is breached, multiple accounts are at risk. 

Password management applications keep all your strong passwords stored securely and you only have to remember a single password.

Be Wary When Shopping Online

Shopping online has become commonplace and it’s not going to be long before online sales eclipse in-person retail sales. While banks and credit card issuers have increased their fraud policies over the years to combat credit card fraud, there are still some things you can do to help protect your payment card details.

Here are two safeguards you can use when purchasing online, especially if it’s from an online retailer you’re using for the first time. 

• Use a pre-paid credit card that’s not attached to your bank account

• Use a PayPal account, which includes additional buyer protections

Protect IT

Protect IT is about keeping your guard up and maintaining good cybersecurity all the times.

Routinely Check Your Privacy Settings

Social media companies often change their user interfaces and an update can end up defaulting you from a private setting to one that’s not. Be sure to regularly check your privacy settings to ensure none have been altered due to an app update.

Request Your Free Credit Report Annually

All consumers can request a free credit report from the three main credit reporting agencies once a year. This allows you to get a heads up if there’s an unfamiliar account taken out in your name and can also let you know if a creditor hasn’t properly reported a loan that’s been paid off.

It’s good cyber hygiene to monitor your credit report at least annually so you’ll know if anyone’s using your identity to apply for credit and loans in your name.

Good Cybersecurity Starts with a Secure Device  

Do you have a strong firewall at your office? What about antivirus and anti-malware to help combat phishing attacks? Pro Tech Guy can help you with a full data security evaluation of either your business network or home computer and suggest affordable solutions to increase your security.

Contact us today for an IT security check at 508-364-8189 or reach out online.

Unfortunately, data breaches at large companies and retailers have become more common over the last several years. It seems that every month or two we’re reading about another one that leave millions of victims whose personal information has been exposed feeling betrayed and wondering what to do. 

In just the past year, some of the major retailers that have suffered breaches exposing customer information (like SSNs, credit card numbers, and more) include: 

• Ascension: 24 million mortgage and banking documents

• CafePress: 23 million records

• Dunkin’ Donuts: Two separate breaches impacting all DD Perks rewards members

• Fortnite: 200 million users

• Huddle House: Compromised payment card details of customers between 8/2017 – 2/2019

Things like managed antivirus and good data security practices can help you keep you own data safe, but what happens if a vendor or retailer you’ve used has had a breach and compromised the data you entrusted to them?

Following are the steps you can take to help mitigate your risk and protect yourself.

Immediate Steps to Take if Your Personal Data Has Been Exposed  

There’s a feeling of helplessness mixed with anger when you first hear about a data breach at a retailer you’ve shopped with or a website you’ve entrusted with sensitive personal data. 

This is made worse by the fact that by the time they find out and get around to notifying you, your information has usually been exposed for months without you knowing.  

For example, CafePress customers received notifications by mail in early September of 2019 that their personal information (including SSNs and Tax ID numbers) had been compromised. The breach had happened back in February, so their information had already been floating around for over 6 months!

The average time it takes a company to identify and contain a data breach is 279 days. (IBM Security)

If you find yourself a victim of compromised personal information, here are the immediate steps you should take to help mitigate your risk of negative impacts on your finances, credit, and more.

Review All Breach Information Provided by the Breached Company

Look for a press release or webpage setup to provide information on the breach. You’ll generally receive a URL in the notification you’re sent about it.

You want to look for specifics like exactly what was exposed. Your SSN? Your email and password? Credit card details? Knowing what type of information was compromised will inform the next steps you need to take

The other thing to look for is the offer of free data security monitoring which many companies will set up for 1 to 2 years to help mitigate their risk of losing those customers. Just be aware, in order to take them up on that free monitoring, you’ll have to hand over your personal information to yet another 3rd party.

Change Your Logins for Any Compromised Passwords

If some of the exposed information included your email or username and password, you’ll want to change these right away. Often retailers will force a password change on their own site, but that doesn’t protect you if you’ve used the same login password on any other accounts. so you’ll want to change those too.

Notify Your Payment Card Issuer

If you’ve used your credit or debit card with a breached company, it’s a good idea to notify your bank and request a new card, even if the company doesn’t note that card numbers were breached. It takes months for the full extent of a breach to be realized, so even if they initially thought a breach didn’t include credit card details, upon further research, they may have to amend an earlier notification to include credit cards. 

Review Your Credit Report

Because of the length of time that it takes a company to find out about a breach and contain it, there’s a chance someone has already used your personal information to apply for a loan or take out a credit card in your name. 

You’ll want to immediately review your credit report from the three main credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, to look for any fraudulent activity. It’s also smart to review your credit report at least once a year to make sure it’s correct and you know as soon as possible if your identity has been stolen.

Examine Past Bank and Credit Card Statements

If your payment card details were exposed in a data breach, you’ll want to go back to the earliest date the company has given for when they think the breach occurred. Thoroughly review your bank and credit card statements for any cards you used with the company to look for fraudulent purchases you may have missed.

Often scammers won’t go for large amounts, at least not at first. Instead, they’ll try to fly under the radar with small purchases, hoping you’ll overlook them.

Protect Your Business from Data Breaches Before It’s Too Late!  

No small business wants to be the one that has to contact all their customers and tell them their personal information has been compromised. In fact, a majority of smaller companies that suffer a data breach, never fully recover due the high financial costs.

Learn what you can do to prevent unauthorized access into your network and customer data by contacting Pro Tech Guy today for a full security assessment.

Call 508-364-8189 or reach out online.

Many Windows updates install quietly, addressing things on the backend that don’t make a significant difference to your user experience. But every so often a big update comes around that adds some cool features you can get excited about.

 Windows 10 has become the world’s most popular operating system, recently passing 50% of market share, so when they have a major feature update, it impacts PC users around the globe. 

The latest user update to Windows 10, called update 1903, was rolled out starting at the end of May and throughout the summer, and it includes some user-facing upgrades that can help you work faster, customize more, and gain more control over your desktop computer updates. 

Those who installed the update early, may have noticed some hiccups with problems like Bluetooth connectivity with certain devices being broken, but Microsoft has since worked out the kinks, and the update will help avoid this type of problem in the future.

Let’s dive into the top features in the newest Windows 10 update!

Windows 10 Features Recently Unleashed 

Whether you’re into customizing your desktop or a power user that knows all the keyboard shortcuts by heart, the 1903 update has something for everyone. Here are Pro Tech Guy’s favorite new features that have just been unleashed on your PC.

1. Master Search Panel 

Instead of having to perform separate searches for apps, webpages, and documents, Windows has now turned your search bar into a master search panel. 

Just type in your keyword and you can see keyword search results for:

• Settings

• Applications

• Documents

• Websites

• Email

• Music

• People

• Photos

• Videos

2. Windows Sandbox (Pro Users)

When it comes to security, Microsoft has just amped up Windows 10 Pro significantly with their new Windows Sandbox. It uses hardware virtualization to create a safe environment to run untrusted or questionable programs.

This allows you to check a program prior to installing it on your system and see exactly what it will do without putting your system or files at risk. Once you finish using the Windows Sandbox app, all files are automatically deleted.

3. Get to Emojis & Symbols in a Flash

Need to add an inquisitive face emoji to get your point across? Are you typing up a product brochure and adding the ™ keeps slowing you down? The newest update includes a keyboard command that brings up your emoji and symbols panel in a flash. 

Just press the Windows key and period key (.) at the same time to get the panel. 

4. Change Mouse Pointer Size & Color

If you love customizing your desktop workspace, then you’ll really like this next feature. Windows 10 now allows you to change your mouse pointer color, size, and thickness to help it stand out and be easier to see or just to brighten up your day.

Type “cursor” in the search panel and choose “change mouse pointer color” to get to the settings panel.

5. Bright Mode

Last October’s Windows 10 update brought us Dark Mode and this new update takes a walk on the light side with Light Mode. You can choose it in the colors area of your personalization settings. You’ll also notice that you have the option to do color and accent color customization. 

6. Control and Pause Your Windows Updates

One of the first new things many Windows users noticed with the 1903 update was a window popping up and asking them if they’d like to schedule when the update installed. You now have more power to over those automatic updates. You can pause them if it’s not a good time (for 7 days), and you can also schedule the day and time they update. 

7. Know Which Apps Are Using Your Camera or Microphone

There are a lot of different apps that may ask to use your camera or microphone, like Skype, Facebook, or others that need access to video and audio. To help protect your privacy, this update includes the following notifications of which app might be watching or listening.

• If your device comes with a camera light, the light will turn on when the camera is in use.

• If your system doesn’t have a camera light, you’ll get a notification to let you know when the camera turns on or off. 

• If an app is using your microphone, you’ll see a microphone icon in the notification area of the taskbar.

8. Ability to Remove More of the Built-in Apps

If you aren’t a fan of all the pre-loaded Windows 10 apps, you now have the ability to remove some of those that weren’t able to be uninstalled in the past. As of the new update you can now uninstall the following if you choose: 

• 3D Viewer

• Calculator

• Calendar

• Groove Music

• Mail

• Movies & TV

• Paint 3D

• Snip & Sketch

• Sticky Notes

• Voice Recorder

Get Help with PC Repair, Upgrades, and More!

You can’t enjoy the new Windows 10 update if you’re having computer issues. If you need help with repairs, a sluggish system, or an upgrade to a more powerful PC, Pro Tech Guy can help.

We proudly serve the Framingham, Natick, Sudbury, Wayland, Wellsley, Ashland and surrounding Metrowest area. 

Contact us today for a free quote at 508-364-8189 or through our website.

One big draw of cloud computing applications is that your data is always accessible from any device. And often cloud services, like Office 365, will offer file storage systems like OneDrive that can save files you’re working on automatically.

But a big mistake that’s often made is that people think the cloud solution is all they need to secure their data and that they don’t need to back it up to a separate local or cloud-based system. Or if they do consider it, they’re not sure how to back up something like Slack or another cloud application.

Backup and data recovery aren’t only things you need to think about for your computers and mobile devices, any of your data that resides in a cloud solution should also be backed up separately in order to keep it protected from loss.

While cloud services do have certain protections in place to safeguard user data, they’re not infallible. Even Microsoft recommends that you back up your Office 365 data using a third-party app. Their service agreement states: 

“We strive to keep the Services up and running; however, all online services suffer occasional disruptions and outages, and Microsoft is not liable for any disruption or loss you may suffer as a result. In the event of an outage, you may not be able to retrieve Your Content or Data that you’ve stored. 

We recommend that you regularly backup Your Content and Data that you store on the Services or store using Third-Party Apps and Services.”

If you’re not currently backing up your cloud applications, read on for some reasons why you should start and some tips on how to do it.

How You Could Lose Your Data in the Cloud 

When you use a cloud application, there is still a physical server somewhere, out there that has your data stored inside, and it’s subject to the same crashes or outages that can happen to on-premise backup drives.

 Data loss happens to businesses around the world every day, and it’s costly. 

The average cost per lost record is $150, and the average number of records impacted in a data breach is over 25,000.

If you’re depending upon your cloud solution to keep the only backup copy of your records, here are some of the ways that you can get burned.  

Accidental Deletion/Employee Error

Employee error is difficult for a cloud platform to guard against, other than popping up an “are you sure?” window when the delete button is clicked. If an employee accidentally deletes a folder out of your cloud storage account, it’s gone unless you’ve backed up the data elsewhere.

Hardware Crashes

Servers in a data center can suffer the same outages as servers that are anywhere else. Older drives can crash due to worn out parts or hardware incompatibilities. This puts your data at risk of being lost, and just like Microsoft does, many cloud providers warn users that their company is not liable if anything happens to the user’s data. 

Natural Disasters 

One of the key tenants of business continuity is to keep a backup copy of all your data offsite in case there is a hurricane, tornado, flood, or other natural disaster at your office location.

The same holds true for cloud services. You don’t want the only copy of all your data to be a server in one of their data centers that can also be subject to physical damage.

Malware/Ransomware

Unfortunately, we’ve seen the number of high-profile data breaches climbing in recent years, with companies like Café Press, Marriott, and Target all being hit by malicious breaches often caused by malware planted in a phishing attack. 

Should your data be damaged in one of these breaches, you could be facing severe business disruption if you didn’t make a backup copy. 

How to Back Up Your Cloud Data 

One of the key things to remember when it comes to backups is the 3-2-1 backup rule. No matter whether your files are housed, on your computer’s hard drive or in a cloud solution, this rule will help to ensure that you always have a recoverable copy when you need it.

The 3-2-1 backup rule states:

• Keep 3 separate copies of all your data

• Make sure 2 of those copies are kept on different media (i.e. cloud or local hard drive)

• Make sure 1 of your copies is kept offsite

Data that’s in a cloud service provider’s system needs a different tool to back it up than you may be using for your computer or laptop, so you want to look for a solution that’s specifically designed to backup cloud-based services.

Here are a few options that you’ll find out there that can backup services like Office 365 and more:

• Acronis

• Backupify

• CodeTwo

• Skykick

Work with Pro Tech Guy to Safeguard Your Data 

Pro Tech Guy can help you safeguard your data, whether it’s on your personal computer or several workstations. Not all backup systems offer fast and easy data recovery. We can help you source and setup the ones that do.

Have cloud backup questions? Call us at 508-364-8189 or reach out online anytime.