Tech Companies Donating to Health Workers

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Worldwide companies are banding together to help the healthcare professionals with supplies for the pandemic.

Tech companies are pitching in to help with the Coronavirus pandemic. According to Cnet, Intel and Apple have supplied millions of masks for those in the healthcare industry to help the fight against COVID-19.

“We will donate masks, gloves, face shields and other gear that we have sourced from our factory stock and emergency supplies, and we’ll continue to look for additional sources of personal protective equipment that we can source and donate as quickly as possible to meet our commitment of more than a million items,” said the director of Global Public Affairs for Intel in a press release yesterday.

The Trump administration announced Apple’s plans to contribute to the cause as well. 2 million industrial masks were committed by Apple to assist healthcare workers to avoid the spread of this virus. Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple also tweeted throughout the week that they were pledging $15 million during this troubling time. This assistance included a large amount of medical supplies to Italy. Facebook has also added to this donation with 750,000 masks.

For help with 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 from our staff at the Mesa Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Mesa, AZ please call the local office at (480) 240-2950.

During Pandemic, This is What’s Happening to your Internet

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The Coronavirus has led the world into full-blown crisis mode. This has made multiple businesses, schools and other companies to shut down their operations until further notice. Quarantine has been set for many cities across the globe. This had led many families to go without pay due to work closures.

Thankfully, Internet providers have made it their mission to allow customers to keep their internet on during this difficult time. This also applies to the users who aren’t able to pay the monthly balance.

According to Axios, a journalist company:

“Companies that adhere to Pai’s “Keep Americans Connected Pledge” commit for the next 60 days to:

  • Not terminate service to any residential or small business customer because of an inability to pay bills due to coronavirus disruptions.
  • Waive late fees that customers incur because of changes in their economic circumstances related to the pandemic.
  • Open Wi-Fi hotspots to those in need.

“I don’t want any American consumers experiencing hardships because of the pandemic to lose connectivity,” Chairman Pai said in a statement.”

This outcome will allow people to work, or school, from home for the next 60 days. Over 60+ companies, such as T-Mobile, Verizon, Comcast and more have joined in with the FCC.

For inquiries with 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 from our staff at the Frisco Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Frisco, TX please call or text the local office at (469) 299-9005.

Possible Future Features for iOS and MacOS

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According to MacRumors, Apple is in the process of working on certain features for your messages. It’s possible that this could end up in the upcoming iOS and MacOS software update.

The first feature would allow you to tag your friends in messages. When you use the @ sign, you could choose from your friends list in group chats. This tagging component can also be seen in Slack, an online platform for work groups in replacement of e-mail.

The second feature would allow you to withdraw texts from your chat. A text would replace your retracted text, stating that the message has been removed. This specific one is similar to WhatsApp, a Facebook owned messaging app. Many Apple users seem to believe that adding this feature would be a waste of time, as you can use other apps in the same way.

Of course, we won’t know for sure if these features will be available in the upcoming update, or ever, really. Apple Insider shared on their blog, “The one Apple release that gets barely any rumors is also the one we can be pretty certain about when we’ll get it. Barring major changes, iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 will be unveiled at WWDC in June 2020. They will then both go into a developer beta preview period, followed very shortly after by a public beta. And finally they will be released at least in time to come pre-installed on the new 2020 iPhones and iPads announced in September.”

For help with iOS or macOS, 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 Mesa Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Mesa, AZ please call the local office at (480) 240-2950.

Microsoft Edge Browser Blocks PUAs

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Microsoft announced a handy feature yesterday for the new Microsoft Edge browser, allowing the users the option to block certain applications. This feature came after raising concerns from users who stated certain free applications come with baggage that could slow down their PC’s.

Potentially unwanted applications can make the user less productive, make the user’s machine less performant, and lead to a degraded Windows experience. Examples of PUA include software that creates extra advertisements, applications that mine cryptocurrency, applications that show offers for other software and applications that the AV industry considers having a poor reputation.

Microsoft Blog
PUA’s aren’t cancerous

Microsoft did state that PUA’s (or potentially unwanted applications) are not regarded as malware. Advertising, Trojan, and Marketing software are just a few categories considered as PUA’s. This browser feature is defaulted to be off, however you can turn it on easily in the browser settings. Here’s how:

  1. On the top right corner of the browser, click on the “ . . . “
  2. Click on Settings
  3. Once there, go to Privacy and Services
  4. Scroll to the bottom to the Services header and click on Block potentially unwanted apps. This will turn on the feature

For help troubleshooting PC 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 from our staff at the Mesa Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Mesa, AZ please call the local office at (480) 240-2950.

Tech Support Scam Victims Receive Refunds from FTC

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Yesterday, the FTC announced on their website that they will be sending out refunds to those who were victimized by tech support scammers.

In a statement, they wrote, “The FTC, along with State of Connecticut and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, alleged that the perpetrators of the scheme, which operated under Click4Support and other names, used ads on search engines like Google and popups on websites. The ads and popups claimed to be from major tech companies such as Microsoft and Apple and tricked consumers into calling the defendants and buying tech support services that consumers did not need.”

This operation led to many users’ computers getting infected with viruses and malware. Many of the viruses look legit, as hackers tend to use the brand logos.

The refund total comes to over $1.7 Billion, and will be dispersed through checks or PayPal over the year. The FTC warns consumers that they will never ask you to pay any fee to cash your check. And if you are asked to do so to call Rust Consulting, Inc., at 1-877-389-4472.

Be sure you are handling computer viruses properly by downloading anti-virus software, which can detect and remove harmful trojans or malware. It is beneficial to have even if you’re not concerned about a potential threat. Norton and McAfee are well known anti-virus software subscriptions, available for you to purchase online.

Keeping your OS updated to the latest version is helpful as well, as it contains the protection and security needed.

If you are having security problems or any other issue with your computer and would like some assistance, 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 Arvada Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Arvada, CO please call the local office at (720) 441-6460 or schedule an appointment at www.arvadacomputerrepairservice.com.

Live Tiles Getting the Boot on Windows 10

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Windows 10 users have claimed that the Live Tiles feature was one of the more useless ones to include in the current operating system.

However, there are rumors running around, saying that the Start Menu may be getting revamped. This also means that Live Tiles will quite possibly get the boot.

Live Tiles launched on the Windows 7 phone, and updated apps in real time. However, since Windows phones are now a thing of the past, Microsoft hasn’t updated Live Tiles on PCs. And doesn’t seem like there’s any plan to in the future.

If you have any Windows 10 questions, 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 Scottsdale Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Scottsdale, AZ please call the local office at (480) 240-2960 or schedule an appointment at www.scottsdalecomputerrepairservice.net.

Windows 10 Update is Deleting Your Files

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Windows 10 seems to have had a tough beginning of 2020. Updates left and right are causing a plethora of issues for users, and this most recent problem isn’t any better.

February 11, 2020 KB4532693 update has been apparently removing files off of their PC’s, according to the Microsoft Community. This in turn has caused it to revert back to its default settings. Many have shared that after uninstalling the update and resetting, their PC continued to develop problems.

One user wrote, “This update KB4532693 caused all the data on my laptop to be erased. Even after uninstalling the update, the laptop would not successfully boot. Then “Resetting” the laptop to factory settings while choosing to keep all personal data erased everything. EVERYTHING.” 

To uninstall KB4532693, Windows Latest says to follow these steps:
  1. Press Windows key + I to open the Settings app. Update & Security and then on Windows Update.
  2. Click on the ‘View update history’ button and then on ‘Uninstall updates’.
  3. You can now select the update you want to uninstall and click the ‘Uninstall’ button.

If you’re unable to uninstall the patch from the Settings app, you can also remove it from the command line using the WUSA tool. To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Open Windows Command prompt (cmd.exe).
  2. Run Command prompt as administrator
  3. Use the command wusa /uninstall /kb:4532693 /quiet

Not all PC’s were affected by this update. In fact, if you installed it and didn’t experience issues, there’s no need to do anything further. But if you have, make sure to use the steps above to correct it.

For inquiries with Microsoft updates, 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 Frisco Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Frisco, TX please call or text the local office at (469) 299-9005.

End of Service for Version 1809

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If you have Windows 10 version 1809 on your PC, be sure to mark your calendars.

According to the Windows Support blog, version 1809 service will be expiring on May 12, 2020. “Every Windows product has a lifecycle,” Microsoft states. “The lifecycle begins when a product is released and ends when it’s no longer supported. Knowing key dates in this lifecycle helps you make informed decisions about when to update, upgrade or make other changes to your software.”

The editions who are affected by this are below:

For those utilizing the Enterprise and Education editions, service will end on May 11, 2021. Once the date has expired, Microsoft Support will encourage users to update their operating systems to the latest version of Windows 10. This is to assure your PC is getting the best security and performance.

If you are needing help with 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 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.

Someone Hijacked Phorpiex botnet and Uninstalling Their Malware

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Late last month, security analysts recognized a hijack of the Phorpiex botnet.

Phorpiex Botnet is a 10 year old network that has spread malware and has affected computers all across the world. And if you have this particular malware on your computer, you may have found a pop-up message saying “Please install AntiVirus Software and update your computer!”

At first, security analysts thought it was a prank by the Phorpiex network. However, they soon realized that the malware was slowly dissipating from those affected.

Though there’s no definite explanation for this, some say that it’s possible another malware network hacked into the Phorpiex system so they would lose funds. Competition seems to heighten in the cyber-criminal world.

To avoid these, and other malware problems on your PC, make sure to keep your operating system up to date and have the latest anti-virus software installed.

If you are needing assistance with any malware 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 Arlington Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Arlington, TX please call the local office at (817) 756-6008.

Anti-Virus Software Shut Down After Selling Data

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The Anti-Virus Software company, Avast announced they are immediately terminating their Jumpshot operations. The reasoning behind it is due to the reveal of the company’s subsidary collecting and selling their browsing data to advertisers.

According to Vice, it explains that the, “Avast antivirus program installed on a person’s computer collects data, and that Jumpshot repackages it into various different products that are then sold to many of the largest companies in the world. Some past, present, and potential clients include Google, Yelp, Microsoft, McKinsey, Pepsi, Home Depot, Condé Nast, Intuit, and many others. Some clients paid millions of dollars for products that include a so-called “All Clicks Feed,” which can track user behavior, clicks, and movement across websites in highly precise detail.”

Protecting people is Avast’s top priority and must be embedded in everything we do in our business and in our products. Anything to the contrary is unacceptable.

For these reasons, I – together with our board of directors – have decided to terminate the Jumpshot data collection and wind down Jumpshot’s operations, with immediate effect.

Ondrej Vlcek, Avast CEO

Unfortunately, due to the nature and quick decision by the CEO, it was stated that hundreds of people who worked under Jumpshot will be out of the job, along with dozens of customers no longer receiving the service.

For security inquiries, 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 Frisco Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Frisco, TX please call or text the local office at (469) 299-9005.