Different Antivirus Scans on Windows 10

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The Microsoft Defender Antivirus software, included with Windows 10, protects your machine and data from practically all types of malware and hackers.

To access Windows Security, simply type in “Virus and threat protection” in the search bar next to the Start menu. From there, it will give you the current status of the scans, along with different levels of scans.

Quick scans seem to be used the most, as they only take a few seconds and scan for common attacks in certain folders. If Microsoft Defender discovers a vulnerability during a quick or full scan, it’s recommended to select “Microsoft Defender Offline Scan” on the Scan Options page and execute it right away.

The four different scans are below:

Microsoft Defender isn’t just for Windows 10, however. What’s also great is that the software giant has continued to build services for both Android and Apple’s Mac computers. The Microsoft Store now features what appears to be a Windows Defender preview for both Android and iOS.

If you need assistance with any Google issues, please give us a call at 1-800-620-5285. Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post is brought to you by our staff at the Summerlin Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Summerlin, NV please call the local office at (702) 800-7850.

Notepad and Media Player Updated on Windows 11

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Microsoft stated last month that it will begin bringing out an Android app compatibility and Taskbar upgrades to all Windows 11 users in February. They also included a refreshment of Notepad and Media Player.

At the heart of Media Player is a full-featured music library that allows you to quickly browse and play music, as well as create and manage playlists. All your content in the music and video folders on your PC will appear automatically in your library, and you can also tell Media Player where to look for additional content in app settings. Media Player is optimized for accessibility, with improved keyboard shortcuts and access keys for keyboard users as well as with other assistive technologies.

Source: Windows Blog

The Media Player app has taken the position of the Groove Music app. As a result, if your music collection is already in Groove Music, your library and playlists will be immediately migrated.

As far as Notepad, Microsoft states, “Menus have also been simplified to make it easier to find the actions you want to take in the app, and we’ve added new highly requested features like multi-level undo, colorful emojis, and a modern and efficient find-and-replace experience.” The revamped UI, or user interface, seems modern with a new design aspect from Windows 11.

If you would like to try out the new Notepad or Windows Media Player, just head over to the Microsoft Store and download them.

If you ever have an issue with any Windows updates, give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you by our staff at the Atlanta Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Atlanta, GA please call or text the local office at (678) 695-8120.

Protect Your Data with Carbonite

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Working from home has a lot of advantages. However, it is not without security threats. Cybercriminals target home networks far more than corporate networks. As a result, clicking on an unknown link at home may have unfavorable consequences.

For example, scam links are often sent by e-mail. To ensure that the sender’s email is legitimate, double-check the sender’s email address. Furthermore, customers should not click any links unless they are confident that they were sent by the company. You may also spot grammar mistakes in the text, which is a sign that it’s a phishing email.

The good news is that you can take steps to improve your cyber-defenses, such as making sure your important files and data are backed up to a secure cloud storage. We recommend Carbonite online backup solutions which will protect your data regardless of any type of attack or problem.


If you would like us to secure and and backup your computer or if you are having any problems, call us at 1-800-620-5285 or book an appointment online at www.karlstechnology.com.

Windows 20H2 Needs to Update

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Microsoft shared a reminder for users still utilizing Windows 10 version 20H2:

“Windows 10, version 20H2 will reach the end of servicing on May 10, 2022. This applies to the following editions* of Windows 10 released in October of 2020:

  • Windows 10 Home, version 20H2
  • Windows 10 Pro, version 20H2
  • Windows 10 Pro Education, version 20H2
  • Windows 10 Pro for Workstations, version 20H2

These editions will no longer receive security updates after May 10, 2022. Customers who contact Microsoft Support after this date will be directed to update their device to the latest version of Windows 10 to remain supported.”

It appears that there must be a clear reason why customers should upgrade to Windows 10. However, it is pretty complicated.

People believe it is simply to obtain the top features and to upgrade the digital sector. And, although it is true, there is a lot more to it. Security is one of the biggest features of an operating system.

Outdated OS systems means that security flaws are more prevalent than ever. Because Microsoft releases security upgrades on a regular basis, the risks associated with upgrading to Windows 10 are minimal.

If you are experiencing computer issues, please give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities.  This blog post is brought to you by our staff at the Riverview Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Riverview, FL, please call the local office at (813) 400-2865.

High Alert for PC Users

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Because to the reappearance of the terrible QBot bug, Windows 10 users should be on high alert. This virus initially appeared in 2007, but it has returned and has evolved.

According to Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR), this recent attack can provide hackers with complete access to data such as emails, passwords, and online internet activity within half an hour of an attack.

The issue appears to be able to travel between PCs linked to a network, allowing it to spread wider and quicker. The DFIR had also said the QBot’s reappearance was initially detected in October.

The virus appears to be spreading through phishing emails.

Phishing scams are internet frauds in which hackers attempt to dupe victims into providing personal information. Typically, this is accomplished through the use of e-mail.

These phishing schemes appear legitimate since the e-mails contain identical information to the firm they’re imitating. The recipient may already have an account with the company, such as AOL or Google.

The malware e-mails use subject lines, which include ‘Covid notifications’ to deceive people into installing the bug.

Protect yourself from phishing scams by doing the following:

-Try out Carbonite online backup solutions, which will protect your data regardless of any type of attack or problem. This can ensure your important files and data are backed up to a secure cloud storage. 

-Use 2-factor authentication, which gives an extra set of security.

-Do not click on any e-mail links that look suspicious. If you’re unsure as to who sent you the e-mail, double check their address to verify its authenticity.

If you are needing assistance with any Microsoft issues, please give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities.  This blog post is brought to you by our staff at the Tampa Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Tampa, FL please call the local office at (813) 400-2865.

Routine Maintenance

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Routine maintenance is crucial to a healthy PC.

Keep your computer up to date, whether you use Windows, Apple, or any other operating system. There are a few advantages that ensure the safety of any and all portions of it. This includes security and better performance.

It’s vital to understand that cleaning up your computer’s disk drives on a regular basis may help you free up a lot of disk space. There are a variety of approaches you can take.

The first step is to run an automated operation that cleans up your hard drive, which is fairly easy to perform. Simply choose the drive you wish to clean, right-click it, and choose properties from the menu. You’ll find “Disk Cleanup” as an option. Click on it to begin the process.

Remember, the more apps you have installed and the more documents, photos, photographs, music, videos, and toolbars you have saved on your computer, the slower it will get over time.

Reduce Ram to Improve Performance

Back Up Hard Drive

Backing up your hard drive should be done often. If you’re working on a large project, you may do this every day to ensure the security of your data. Backing up your data preserves crucial files in the event of a hard disk failure or a system disaster.

A failing hard drive is one of the worst things that may happen to your computer because of all of the important documents, photographs, and other items saved on it. Backing up your computer is highly recommended by both Mac and Microsoft technical support, and it will significantly reduce your stress. It’s also really simple to accomplish! We share how to do that here.

If you are needing help with computer issues, please give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities.  This blog post is brought to you from our staff at the Tucson Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Tucson, AZ, please call the local office at (520) 526-9940.

What is Access Time?

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Access time is one of the most regularly reported performance characteristics for CD-ROM drives. It is overused at least as frequently as it is utilized correctly, as is the case with most popularly used performance metrics. Surprisingly, access time is frequently specified in CD-ROM drive specifications but is almost never mentioned in hard disk specifications. Quotes of the other variables that are used to make up access time are far more prevalent with hard disks. (Despite the fact that the devices access data in a comparable manner…)

The term “access time” refers to the length of time it takes from the start of a random read operation until data begins to be read from the disk. It is a composite statistic, made up of the following various metrics:

  • Speed Change Time: For CLV drives, the time for the spindle motor to change to the correct speed.
  • Seek Time: The time for the drive to move the heads to the right location on the disk.
  • Latency: The amount of time for the disk to turn so that the right information spins under the read head.

While access time is made up of the time spent on these individual processes, this does not imply that you can just put these other metrics together to get access time. The link is more complicated than this since some of these events might occur concurrently. There’s no reason why the spindle motor’s speed couldn’t be altered at the same time the heads are moved (and in fact this is done).

In general, the access time of a CD-ROM drive is determined by the drive’s rated “X” speed, which may and does vary greatly amongst drives. The earliest 1X drives had absolutely terrible access times, frequently reaching 300 ms; as drives became faster and quicker, access times reduced, and top-end drives currently have access times of less than 100 ms.

Part two coming up soon!

(Disclaimer: This post is a rewrite of a past KT blog post dated back in 2018.)

If you ever have an issue with any Windows 10 updates, give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you by our staff at the Garland Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Garland, TX please call or text the local office at (469) 299-9005.

Reduce RAM to Improve Performance

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First, let’s discuss what RAM is.

RAM, or Random Access Memory, is an essential and speedy type of short-term storage that your computer uses to store data that is presently in use.

With this, temporary storage is utilized by whatever apps are running on your computer, such as browsing or word editing. RAM gets purged when you shut down your computer. RAM varies from a hard disk drive or a solid state drive in that it continuously stores files and programs.

According to WindowsLatest, in the current edition of Windows, Microsoft Teams plays a larger role than predicted. The Teams application has been incorporated into the taskbar. This allowed users with personal accounts to initiate conversations or video conferencing calls, as well as add other users to the program.

Certain features and settings are enabled on Windows 11 by default that you might want to disable to improve the speed of the OS. If you have an unsupported device or old hardware with a low amount of RAM, you should immediately limit or disable the Microsoft Teams icon which is pinned to the taskbar of the new operating system.

Source: WindowsLatest

While you can find out the RAM usage on Windows Task Manager, there’s another simple way. Here’s how to find out how much RAM your computer is utilizing, follow the steps below:

  1. Click Start
  2. Search for “About Your PC”
  3. Find the section “Device Specifications”

From there, you’ll see “Installed Ram” information. You can then determine if your computer needs an upgrade.

If you have any Windows 10 issues, please give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities.  This blog post is brought to you from our staff at the Plano Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Plano, TX please call the local office at (469) 299-9005.

Romance Scams are a Thing

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With Valentine’s Day around the corner, it’s best to be reminded to stay vigilant with e-mail scams. Because romance scams are a massive moneymaker for hackers.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, or FBI, “In 2020, complaints filed with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), showed that victims lost more than $281 million to romance scams. South Carolinians reported losses of more than $4.4 million that year. These schemes affect victims from all demographics, but elderly women are often targeted most.”

Outside of a dating website, rapid efforts to contact via email or messaging services is one of the warning signs of a hacker. These attacks often request money, or personal information in exchange for forms of affection or sympathy.

It’s suggested to report a romance scam to the IC3. if you suspect you have been a victim. You should notify the website or application from which the contact originated. If you come across any fraudulent or questionable transactions, you should also inform your banking institution.

For help with any computer issues, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you by our staff at the Pasadena Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Pasadena, TX please call or text the local office at (281) 860-2550.

Let’s Talk Bloatware

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When it comes to computer terminology, seeing any word ending in ‘ware’ is worrisome. Malware, Ransomware, and spyware are just a few that raise red flags as they are created to sneak into unsecured software. This in turn gives hackers the ability to steal personal information such as social security numbers or bank credentials.

No one wants that. We want to feel safe and secure during our time on the web. I’m sure we can all be in agreement that our computer time, in general, should be a pleasant experience.

So let’s talk about another kind of ‘ware’, named Bloatware. What is it exactly?

So a short answer is, Bloatware is simply unnecessary, preinstalled software.

These preinstalled apps can cause issues within the operating system. You may find a reduction in battery life or a lower quality in performance. Just recently, WindowsLatest shared an announcement made by Microsoft. This statement explains how Microsoft understands some of the preinstalled apps available on Windows 10 are often useless to users.

“When you buy a new device, you expect it to be clean with fewer apps. Unfortunately, most new Windows 10 PCs are clogged with unnecessary preloaded software from Microsoft and OEMs, and even the clean install of the OS includes unwanted apps, such as 3D Viewer and Paint 3D.”

Source: WindowsLatest

Thankfully, Microsoft has shared that their upcoming updates will include an ‘optional’ button for those apps you may not use. This change will most likely be seen in the upcoming Sun Valley update in October or November.

If you have any questions regarding Apple OS, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Phoenix Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Phoenix, AZ please call our local office at (602) 445-9862.