Scareware!

Today I want to talk about scareware. Scareware, similar to Malware (short for malicious software) is designed to scare you into thinking your computer is infected. These type of infections are no longer restricted to porn surfers or users that download pirated software.

Typically, scareware will pop up on your screen in the form of a realistic looking "scan" After a few moments you will be notified that you have 100's of infections. This is intended to scare the user into interacting with the program to "remove" the infections. If you click the remove button you will generally be shown a window that states that most of the "infections" have been removed but for the remaining few you will need to upgrade to the professional version of the program. The average user will get their credit card out and this is when the real problem starts. You give your credit card information to pay for the $29, $39 or $49 professional version.

Your computer has been infected with viruses, you have given out your credit card number and have payed a sum of money. Now that the attacker has your card info, they can go shopping. In return, the professional version of the software is actually more viruses. Nice huh?

Make yourself familiar with your anti virus software. Learn how it looks. If you see anything pop up that says it is scanning your computer and the message did not originate from your anti virus software, immediately click the X and close the program. Do not click anywhere else, interact with the program in any way or download any add-ons or plug ins without first searching for it on Google to see if it is legitimate.

If you already have a scareware or another virus issue that has gotten the best of you and your computer, give me a call to set up an appointment. 864 285-0881

Tips for buying a new computer.

There are many things to consider when making your computer purchase. Hopefully this post will help you to make a more informed decision so you don't end up with a computer that can't keep up with you or something that is much more than what you needed.

The very first thing to consider is the amount of money you're willing to spend on your new computer. Next you should decide what you're going to be using this computer for. Is it for home or business use? Are you a casual websurfer? Are you a gamer? Do you plan on doing a lot of photo or video editing? Are you going to be buying a lot of music from iTunes or another service? Now that you know how much you can afford to spend and what you want to do with your new computer you can start to weed out the PC's that aren't for you.

• If all you're going to do with your new computer is surf the internet and send email, then something with a dual core processor, 2 gigabytes of RAM and a 80 gigabyte hard drive should be perfect for you. Something like this is around the $250-300 range
• If you're into photo/video editing, you're going to want at least a dual core processor, 512Mb of video memory, at least 2 gigabytes of RAM and at least 100 gigabyte hard drive. You can find a computer to fit these needs for around $350-400
• If you're a music or movie enthusiast, you can get by with a computer like mentioned above, but you're going to want a larger hard drive so you don't run out of storage too soon.
• The PC gamer will wind up spending the most money for their computer. You should look for a computer with a 64bit operating system (32 bit version of Windows won't utilize more than 3 gigabytes of RAM), a quad core processor, at least 4 gigabytes of RAM, at the very least a 512Mb video card although 1 gigabyte is recommended for newer games and at least a 500 gigabyte hard drive. Something like this can be purchased for $500-800. You can often get away with buying a nice computer with low to mid grade built in video for a little less cash and then upgrade the video capabilities with an after market PCI Express video card.

These specifications are merely suggestions and are not set in stone. There are other factors to be considered when purchasing your new computer but this will get you headed in the right direction. Do not rush to make your computer purchase otherwise you may end up having to upgrade sooner than later.

Another avenue to explore is having a computer custom built for your exact needs. This is often not as expensive as one would think. B-TECH Computer Repair specializes in custom built computers and will gladly help you make an informed decision when it comes to building a new computer.

Getting ready for Windows 7

With just over two weeks left until Windows 7 Hits the shelves, it's time to start thinking about whether or not you will upgrade. Many of you have held on for dear life to Windows XP but with XP support due to fade away very soon where will this leave you?

If you have bought a new computer running Vista since September, you should have received a voucher for a free upgrade to Windows 7. Upgrading from Vista to 7 can be time consuming and possibly confusing for a novice user. However, upgrading from XP to 7 is not possible. The only option is to back up all your files and settings to another drive, format your hard drive, perform a clean installation of Windows 7 and then import them once the Windows 7 installation is complete. Once again, this task could be daunting for a novice user. Another possible but lengthy and not practical process is to upgrade from XP to Vista and then to 7.

The people that have hung on to Windows XP for so long may have a bit of a rude awakening when it comes to learning the changes that come with Windows 7. In my opinion, Windows 7 is a combination of the stability of XP combined with the pretty user interface of Vista. Many of my customers didn't upgrade to Vista because of rumors and here say. Microsoft did eventually iron out most of the kinks that caused people to hate Vista early on. The problem was that by that time, most everyone had heard how awful Vista was and chose to hang on to XP. It's funny when a customer says "I hate Vista" You ask them why and they reply with something like "My sister said it sucked"

I tried Vista when it was first released and while I liked it, the hardware support wasn't there. I wasn't going to buy a new printer, video card and sound card just because the OS wasn't ready when it was released. I chose to go back to XP. Once Service Pack 1 was released, I went back to Vista and have been using it ever since.

I have been beta testing Windows 7 for a few months now and am typing this on my Windows 7 laptop. The change from Vista to 7 isn't a drastic one. There are a few changes that are noticeable but again, the average user will not notice them until they go digging around their new OS. All in all, I like Vista and Windows 7. I have already pre ordered my copy of 7 and am anxious to install in on my desktop.

I think Windows 7 will have a much better reception that Vista did. It's been getting a lot of good press and from a hands on experience I think that things like the absence of the UAC controls (that people hated in Vista,) those that refused to upgrade before will likely greet this with open arms.

If you need help or advice for upgrading, feel free to give B-TECH Computer Repair a call at (864) 252-0881 or email me at brian@btechpcrepair.com.

Tips for keeping your computer virus free.

The first line of defense in keeping your computer running fast and healthy is a good anti-virus program. While having an anti-virus program installed will be a much greater help than having nothing at all, there really is no completely fail safe method for keeping viruses out.

There are many anti-virus programs to choose from. Some are paid programs and others are free. Many of the free programs do just as fine of a job as the paid programs do. Keep in mind however that some of the free programs do not scan for things such as root kits.

Here is a list of some anti-virus programs to consider. All of these can be researched on Google.

Avast! (my personal favorite)
AVG
Avira
BitDefender
Computer Associates
ESET NOD32
F-Secure
Kaspersky
McAfee
Norton Anti-Virus
Panda
Trend Micro
Windows Live Onecare

If you intend on purchasing an anti-virus program, it is best to research them a bit before committing to the purchase. By doing this you can better decide what is best for you and your computer. Free programs can be tested hands on since you don't have to worry about no being able to return the software if you don't like it.

There are many "rogue" programs that disguise themselves as anti-virus programs when they actually a virus themselves. Some to definitely keep away from are AntiVirus2008, Antivirus2009, AntiVirusPro and a new one making the rounds, AntiVirus2010. If you happen to find a program not on this list that you want to try, make sure to research it first to make sure it is a legitimate program.

It is important to completely remove anti-virus software before installing a new one. Having to anti-virus programs installed and running at once will only succeed in slowing your computer to a crawl while to two programs fight for supremacy.

Once you have chosen your anti-virus program, it is imperative that you keep it up to date. Many programs release updates weekly and in some cases, daily. Generally programs are set to automatically receive updates on their own. You should leave this option in place to prevent forgetting to manually update on your own. In addition, most programs are set by default to do a daily scan at a set time. It is ok to change this setting so that your computer will be scanned during a time that your computer is normally on.

Remember, even the best programs will not always keep you safe. If you already have a virus you can't get rid of, it may be time to call a professional before it gets worse.

Microsoft to offer Windows 7 upgrade deals

Microsoft announced Tuesday that Windows 7 will start selling on October 22. They also announced that they will offer a special deal to consumers who buy a computer with Vista before the launch of the new OS.

"This program enables participating retailers and OEMs to offer a special deal to upgrade to Windows 7 for customers purchasing a qualifying PC," said Microsoft spokesman Brandon LeBlanc in a post made on the Windows 7 blog.

Details about the cost and eligibility requirements are still unknown and Microsoft has yet to say anything else.

PS3 firmware update will include free music video service.

Sony representitive Jake Osuwah shared some news via Twitter that pointed to exclusive PS3 VidZone video footage. According to his Tweet, a firmware update for the Playstation 3 will be out soon that will include the music video service on the console.

According to the early review version that CVG has, the feature will also allow you to download videos and ringtones for your cellphone for about $2.50. More details will be revealed when it launches at E3.

Plagued by a Playstation 3 YLOD?

Has your Playstation 3 started giving you a flashing red light AKA Yellow Light Of Death? This is caused by extreme overheating. Over time, the heat causes the solder on the graphics and core processor to melt and separate from the system board.

If it's still under warranty, of course you can send it to Sony and have it fixed for free. If not, it's going to cost $150 plus shipping both ways. I can fix it for less and you won't have to wait for weeks. Older and launch PS3's are prone to this, as are units in not well ventilated and/or in areas that are dusty.

I can fix this problem for you for almost half of what Sony will charge. You won't have to wait for the repair time. I can repair this and have it back to you in a day. Contact information is here. Yahoo! Local users have given B-TECH a 5 star rating. Come see why today!

Vista SP 2 now available

I think I may be one of the few people on earth especially in my field, that likes Windows Vista. If there are any others out there, this is good news for you. Windows Vista Service Pack 2 is now available for download.

You can download SP2 from Microsoft's Web site or it will be automatically delivered to your computer via Windows Update within a few weeks. The update weighs in at 384mb and you must have Vista SP1 installed on your system to install SP2.

Vista SP2 also:

• Fixes Wi-Fi issues when Vista awakes from sleep mode.
• Support for recording Blu-ray discs straight from the OS
• Bug fixes that address slow shutdowns and mysterious crashes.
• Updated support for Bluetooth v2.1
• Improves performance of Vista desktop sidebar gadget allowing RSS feeds to perform better.
• Addresses overall Vista system performance issues. Microsoft says SP2 repairs nearly 700 nagging Vista bugs and security updates.
• Boosts power management efficiency by 10%.
• Adds support for VIA Technologies' new 64-bit CPU
• Allows Vista to support exFAT, which can handle larger files and can also use UTC timestamps so you can synchronize files across different time zones.

Gamestop: Tony Hawk Ride bundle to retail at $119.99

If you're Activision you've realized that a lot of money can be made with peripherals. Capitalizing on that fact comes Tony Hawk: Ride, the next new game with a peripheral. There hasn't been an official announcement for the game and skateboard combo yet, however it seems GameStop has some information about it. A listing on the video game retail chain's website suggests that a Tony Hawk: Ride (PS3, Wii, Xbox 360) bundle that includes the skateboard peripheral will cost $119.99.

No word yet from Activision, so for now it falls into the rumor mill. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything to confirm this price point.

Music downloads coming to the PSN for PSP?

CNET is reporting that according to their music industry sources, Sony has been having preliminary talks with some major recording companies about the possibility of providing downloadable music for the PSP through the PlayStation Network.

As usual, Sony is not commenting about the whole thing. However, if you take into consideration the company's dive into digital downloads for PSP games as well as what CEO Howard Stringer recently said about expanding the PSN's reach, it could be feasible.

It would be nice if they do decide to bring a music service to the PSN, they open it up more. We as users need options to make it attractive. ATRAC3 is ok I guess, but most music players support MP3. I'm for one am not going outside of iTunes to download music especially if it can't be played on other devices.