Tag Archives: microsoft

Windows Update Ransomware Exploit

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Magniber ransomware is spreading like wildfire thanks to a coordinated effort that began in early April and involves the exploitation of bogus Windows 10 patches.

What is ransomware?

In the simplest words, ransomware is a type of malware that affects your computer and demands a ransom in exchange for access to it. It encrypts all of your files and directs you to contact the hacker in order to negotiate a payment arrangement. As a result, we have RANSOMware!

According to BleepingComputer, “Based on the submissions to VirusTotal, this campaign appears to have started on April 8th, 2022 and has seen massive distribution worldwide since then. While it’s not 100% clear how the fake Windows 10 updates are being promoted, the downloads are distributed from fake warez and crack sites.”

This particular exploit targeted consumers instead of companies.

To avoid any and all unwanted cyber assaults, make sure that your antivirus software is current on your computer. Keep in mind that Windows 10 and 11 updates are sent through the operating system. Microsoft will never send updates through other channels such as e-mail or social media.

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 article was written by a member of our team 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.

New Windows 11 Feature Available

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A new dedicated feature coming to Windows 11 has tech blogs talking. Named “Voice Clarity”, this particular newcomer is being tested to some PC’s, but not all.

According to WindowsLatest, “Unlike Teams noise cancellation, which is baked into the Teams app, Microsoft’s new Voice Clarity feature works at the OS level and it aims to capture the entire audio spectrum of your audio at higher bandwidth.”

For now, it’s said Voice Clarity only works on Surface laptop Studio, but will hopefully start rolling out to other devices soon.

If you’re experiencing any Windows 11 or 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 Lakewood Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Lakewood, CO please call or text the local office at (720) 441-6460. 

A Brief Insight of File Extensions

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Following the last period in a file name, a series of characters known as the file extension, or file name extension, is used to identify the file and locate it in the file system.

For example, the file extension “.txt” is the same as the word “txt” in the dictionary. As soon as you double-click on a file, the extension informs the version of windows about the sort of file you are opening and the software you want to run.

Aside from the fact that it must begin with a period and have at least one letter, there are no additional formatting requirements for an extension. In most cases, file extensions are made up of three characters, which can be either letters or numbers, and which textually describe the type of file being referred in the text. Text files, mp3 files, jpeg picture files, and files compressed using the gzip application are all signified by the file extensions.txt,.mp3,.jpg, and.gz. Text files, mp3 files, jpeg picture files, and files compressed using the gzip application are all denoted by the file extension.txt.

Text files, mp3 files, jpeg picture files, and files compressed using the gzip application are all denoted by the file extensions.txt,.mp3,.jpg, and.gz. The file extensions.txt,.mp3,.jpg, and.gz denote text files, mp3 files, jpeg picture files, and files compressed using the gzip application, respectively.

This information is contained inside the extension’s real name. It shows you what sort of file is being referenced to and where it is located.

If you’re needing help with computer problems, 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 Boulder Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Boulder, CO please call or text the local office at (720) 441-6460.

Update to Microsoft’s Paint App

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Last month, Microsoft revamped its ever popular Pain App. Round edges and Mica are just two of the new features of Microsoft’s revamped Paint program. A new toolbar based on Office and the rest of Windows 11’s programs was included as part of the redesign.

After a long cosmetic revamp, Microsoft is going to release a new version of Paint.

What is Mica?

According to Microsoft Docs, “Mica is an opaque, dynamic material that incorporates theme and desktop wallpaper to paint the background of long-lived windows such as apps and settings. You can apply Mica to your application backdrop to delight users and create visual hierarchy, aiding productivity, by increasing clarity about which window is in focus. Mica is specifically designed for app performance as it only samples the desktop wallpaper once to create its visualization.”

When Windows 11 version 22H2 is released later 2022, this Paint software will more than likely be pre-installed. We shall see!

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

There’s already talk of Windows 12?!

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Windows 12 rumors have already begun to surface in the computer sector. Microsoft released Windows 11 only a year ago, and some people are still unable to install it on their PC owing to hardware requirements.

Tech blogs from all across the world express their thoughts on the work of a new operating system:

Computerbase reports that “developments on the new operating system are already set to begin,” according to a now-redacted tweet from security expert SwiftOnSecurity.

The original post has been taken down now, with the tweet having “not been well received by Microsoft,” says Computerbase. But the fact this came from a user who’s touting an official ‘Most Valuable Professional’ (MVP) award, coupled with the fact Microsoft took notice all, adds yet more plausibility to Deskmodder’s claims that work on Windows 12 would be starting from March this year.

Source: PCGamer

So what improvements and new features might Windows 12 bring with it? Users have been peppering Microsoft with feature requests, with some of these wishes set to be granted in upcoming updates to Windows 11, tentatively called Sun Valley 2.

Source: TechRadar

There’s no word from Microsoft about the speculations. And we probably won’t hear any kind of confirmation for a while.

If you’re needing help with computer problems, 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 Boulder Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Boulder, CO please call or text the local office at (720) 441-6460.

Microsoft Patches Vulnerabilities

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This week saw Microsoft’s March 2022 Patch Tuesday, which included solutions for three zero-day vulnerabilities and a total of 71 issues.

Back in November of last year, we covered what Zero-Day exploits are. A Zero-Day attack allows unknown malware to infiltrate software or hardware and cause sophisticated problems long before anybody knows anything is wrong.

According to Bleeping Computer, “Microsoft has fixed 71 vulnerabilities (not including 21 Microsoft Edge vulnerabilities ) with today’s update, with three classified as Critical as they allow remote code execution.”

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.

In Case You Don’t Know About Windows 10 S

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Microsoft has always been about safety and performance when it comes to its Windows 10 operating system. This is why, back in May of 2017, they announced Windows 10 S.

Updated in 2018, and renamed as Windows 10 in S mode, this version allows your security to be heightened while still receiving a similar experience to that of Windows. However, there are limitations within this mode. For example, S mode only allows the Microsoft Edge browser to be used. The reasoning behind this stems from the maximum security you’ll receive, as opposed to Firefox, Chrome, or other browsers.

“With Windows 10 in S mode, your favorite applications, such as Office, Evernote and Spotify, are available from the Microsoft Store where they’re Microsoft-verified for security. You can also feel secure when you’re online. Microsoft Edge, your default browser, gives you more protection against phishing and socially-engineered malware than Chrome or Firefox.”

Microsoft

Windows 10 in S mode also increases performance, as it allows for a better and faster response time and an overall wonderful experience. Processors that S mode will work on include Qualcomm Snapdragon, AMD, and Intel. You can check to see if your PC has any of them by going to the Start Menu-Settings-System-About. Then, under the Device Specifications, you’ll see “Processor,” which will tell you which one you have.

To learn more about Windows 10 in S Mode, be sure to head on over to the Microsoft website and glance through their FAQ.

For help with Windows 10 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 Mesa Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Mesa, AZ please call the local office at (480) 240-2950.

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. 

Some Windows 10 Updates Are Optional

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Microsoft is constantly busy keeping their Windows 10 operating system up to date with the latest and greatest features. Many of these updates include a handful of security features and improvements, necessary to protect your personal information. However, some of their updates are optional.

Optional updates can be quite handy to acquire for the best kind of experience. However, they’re not always needed for the vitality of your computer. And while they sometimes improve the software, they can also lead to detrimental issues.

Last year, a Windows 10 update released with optional drivers updates. However, according to Tech Radar, these updates had been, “pushed to certain devices that are not registered with Microsoft’s Windows Insider Program.” In fact, they’re outdated.

If installed, these updated have the potential of affecting the functionality of the computer’s hardware. So if you are questioning whether or not you should be installing any optional updates, reach out to your local computer repair service for the best advice.

If you have any operating system update issues, or have any questions, 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 Lakewood Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Lakewood, CO please call or text the local office at (720) 441-6460.

E-mail Attachments Not Opening?

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A simple fix to an underlining issue.

If you’re checking your e-mail, only to find that you’re unable to open up any attachments, it can be quite aggravating. This concern is asked by customers many times to computer techs. It’s easy to fix, fortunately.

Tip: Make sure you have the correct software to open up attachments. If there is a PDF file attachment, you won’t be able to open it if your PDF Reader is unavailable or isn’t up-to-date. If you use Microsoft Edge as your browser, PDF attachments should open in Edge. Otherwise, you can use Adobe or another PDF viewer of your choice.

Be Careful of Unknown Attachments

Microsoft e-mail domains, such as Outlook say they accept, “a wide variety of different file types, but blocks potentially unsafe attachments (including .bat, .exe, .vbs, and .js files) that can contain viruses.”

They also highly advise to, “be careful in opening any attachment, especially if it’s from someone that you don’t know or trust. When in doubt, confirm the authenticity of the attachment with the sender. Also, keep your computer antivirus software up to date.”

For help with e-mail questions, 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 Denver Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Denver, CO please call or text the local office at (720) 441-6460.