In the last 2 blog posts we have addressed common and dangerous computer security threats and have discussed the # 1 computer problem – slow computer performance. The following post will expand on the topic of widespread computer issues. KARLS TECHNOLOGY hopes that this essential computer knowledge will help technology users prolong the lifespan of their digital devices!

What’s the strange WHIRRING NOISE coming from inside your PC? Most likely this is a sign of an overtaxed or dying FAN. Your fan may have come loose or may have become clogged with dirt and dust, decreasing its effectiveness and requiring it to work harder than it should have to. Thus, it is vital to clean out any dirt and debris that may obstruct the computer’s ventilation. A non-functional fan can potentially cause OVERHEATING as well. All components of a computer demand appropriate and sufficient ventilation and cooling, as they generate heat during operation. When you are dealing with any kind of odd computer noise it is of utmost importance to perform a backup of all valuable, irreplaceable files saved on the system’s hard drive. Although clicking sounds are the predominant, ominous indicators of a HARD DRIVE CRASH, failing to acknowledge other strange noises as a sign of a potentially serious issue could result in catastrophic data loss. There are many possible causes for hard drive failure, including overheating, faulty air filter, power surges, violent vibration, static electricity, mechanical failure and virus infection.

Your PC’s longevity is top priority!

What contributes to a computer’s performance loss?

First and foremost, every technology user should be aware of a computer’s limitations with regards to the amount of storage space, RAM as well as processing power & speed. The more programs you have installed on your computer and the more documents, graphics, pictures, music, videos and toolbars you have saved on your system, the slower your computer will become eventually. Additionally, useless temporary files, cookies and data (e.g. from web browsing and unexpected computer restarts) can accumulate on your system and degrade your computer’s performance gradually. This unnecessary debris takes up precious drive space and needlessly overburdens and exhausts your systems processing load. Low hard drive space, insufficient memory storage and/or deficient processing power to perform your desired actions can also lead to software crashes and cause your system to slow down considerably.

During a computer’s startup process certain indispensable programs are required to start and run automatically. However, there are plenty of applications which, by default, launch at start-up automatically and run needlessly in the background. Combined with the desired programs and applications you have started up yourself, there are likely too many services running at once, further contributing to your computer’s performance loss. Every program uses a small amount of processing power, even if it is merely running in the background. Hence, it takes significantly longer for your computer to start up when it is attempting to load many different apps simultaneously.

Another possible reason for a sluggish computer performance is the fragmentation (‘messiness’) of your system’s hard drive. When creating and saving new files on a computer, they are written onto the surface of the computer’s hard drive in no particular order and in a fragmented configuration. Instead of saving a file as a single unit, it is split up into several units and stored across various locations on the hard drive. Over time users create, save and delete more and more files, thereby steadily amplifying the fragmented nature of the computer’s hard drive. The process of gathering the scattered pieces demands increasingly more time and overtaxes the computer’s resources. Consequently, the computer’s responsiveness slows down.                                                        What can help? –> Defragmentation software!

A computer system’s painfully slow performance may also indicate the presence of malicious security threats on your computer. Be sure to check out our previous blog post which covers the most common and dangerous types of security threats! http://www.karlstechnology.com/blog/computersecurityissues/

Karls Technology Computer Repair will perform regular maintenance on your computer system to sustain the speed and responsiveness of your computer! Don’t be a victim of the # 1 computer problem. Let us help you instead!

Here’s a simple breakdown of the most common & dangerous

COMPUTER SECURITY THREATS

1)      Adware –> Advertising-supported software: Annoying and unwanted pop-ups, clutters  computers with advertisements

2)      Malicious software (MALWARE) –> Destroys files and damages computer hardware, worst-case-scenario: can render a computer non-functional

3)      Virus –> Infects a computer and replicates itself within the system memory, uses the infected computer as a carrier to spread the virus to other computer systems (worm), may have malware programmed into the virus code

4)      Rootkit –> Allows cybercriminals to gain remote access to a victims computer and ultimately provides them with complete and utter control over the computer of an unsuspecting victim

5)      Spyware –> Tracking cookies, surreptitiously gathers information about an individual or an organization, monitors computer processes, records keystrokes, passwords and other sensitive data such as financial information, potential identity theft

If you are confronted with any of these threats, just give KARLS TECHNOLOGY COMPUTER REPAIR a call. We will diagnose, detect and resolve all your computer security issues!

Are you familiar with frustrating situations as portrayed in the above illustration? Perhaps you sought technological advice and assistance for your personal computer needs or for your small business, but the company you hired did not deliver the desired and promised outcome? Karls Technology is your one stop for all your essential TECHNOLOGICAL needs and demands!

There are countless advantages to having Karls Technology as your on-call computer specialist! We can get you set up with a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) to connect your family’s or your company’s computers in case you desire the ability to share documents, files and printers. If there are issues with an existing network, we will run diagnostics and resolve the technological problems, thereby restoring your system’s productivity and efficiency. The security of your wireless network is a paramount concern, as well. We will take fundamental computer safety measures to thwart and/or remove all invasive spyware & hacker threats and protect your personal, sensitive data. Our system optimization and regular maintenance services will furthermore boost and accelerate your computer’s performance! Data backup, secure data recovery and data migration are the requisite procedures and resources we use to prevent catastrophic data loss and/or to safely recover ‘lost’ data (dependent on the situation). Karls Technology also provides installation, repair & upgrade services for internal or external hardware devices as well as operating system installation including all the vital updates for your desktop or laptop.

Karls Technology sincerely aspires to provide you with the professional and superior Computer Consulting Services you deserve!

While surfing the Web your computer/smartphone/tablet is constantly downloading files, graphics and sometimes other software, thereby enabling you to use the web to its full capacity. Nevertheless, it is crucial to be aware of both your privacy and your security when browsing the Internet. Each and every digital device that is connected to the Internet can potentially fall victim to intrusive spyware (adware & malware) and phishing. Malicious software can be surreptitiously installed on any computer without the owner’s knowledge. Unfortunately, there are plenty of Spyware traps lurking on the Internet.  Open a seemingly harmless web page, follow a deceptive hyperlink, a pop-up or a clickable graphic and with just one click you may have unknowingly opened the door for spyware-laden websites that threaten to compromise your web safety and privacy. While adware at its worst can slow down and eventually freeze your system due to the clutter it has accumulated on your computer, malware and viruses can lead you down a more dangerous path. They can take control of your device and perform malicious activities on your computer such as changing settings, harvesting personal data, recording keystrokes to seize passwords and other sensitive information, stealing files and spreading the virus to your email contacts in the form of spam.

Your first line of defense:

Fundamental precautions –> KARLS TECHNOLOGY SMART & SAFE WEB SURFING TIPS:

1)      UPDATE your antivirus software, your web browser and your operating system REGULARLY

2)      STRONG PASSWORDS

3)      Be SUSPICIOUS of emails, instant messages, files, graphics and links from unknown senders, as they could be contaminated with malware. BEWARE, as some websites and pop-ups can infect your system with malicious content, as well.

4)      BACK UP – be sure to back up all the files that are of importance and of personal value to you. Storing copies of all your files will furthermore ensure that your data won’t be lost in case your system crashes.

 Your second line of defense:

Firewalls and Antivirus Software are essential measures any internet user should take as these are powerful tools against invasive spyware – they will attempt to quarantine and delete any questionable content found on your system!

Whether you need diagnostics for your computer, virus removal or just advice on problems with your computer, Karls Technology Computer Repair is here to help!

We live in a world constantly in flux, in an era of awe-inspiring technological advancements with new and exciting digital gadgets and apps developed at an exponential rate. Whether it’s the newest mobile phone technology you crave, the lightest, thinnest and fastest laptop/tablet or the most sophisticated and efficient storage component (SSD vs. HHD), the wealth of technological inventions has considerably changed the way we function, connect and communicate in today’s modern society. Gadgets and devices are becoming smaller, thinner and smarter, while its usage and storage capacities are subject to an incessant optimization. However, in this time of astounding technological development and progress, digital thievery and computer hacking, has sadly seen a soaring and widespread growth as well, targeting not only large corporations but also the individual technology user. This demographic is alarming and worrisome, as most of us have sensitive personal, confidential information as well as invaluable private data saved on our technological devices. Furthermore, any technology user’s digital footprint may inextricably link some of this sensitive data to their online presence. In the face of imminent electronic privacy and security issues KARLS TECHNOLOGY is dedicated to keeping our clients’ data protected against malicious scams and computer viruses.

Detecting and removing malware from a compromised system as well as recovering any ‘lost’ or encrypted data are just a few of the quality services Karls Technology Computer Repair has to offer! Call us with any questions or concerns, for superior advice on all things tech as well as for information on business IT consulting!

Let Karls Technology protect you from digital theft!

Make sure your hardware is not overheating as this can potentially ruin your system! Karls Technology performs MAINTENANCE on both, hardware and software!