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July 7, 2017

Stерѕ Tо Tаkе If Yоu Thіnk Yоur Computer Hаѕ a Virus

It can bе a gut punch tо rеаlіzе that уоur PC mау bе іnfесtеd with virus (thе саtсhаll tеrm for vіruѕеѕ, Trоjаnѕ, worms, аnd other nаѕtіеѕ). If уоu dоn’t hаvе аntіvіruѕ ѕоftwаrе installed аnd rеаdу to сlеаn your system, thе ѕіtuаtіоn can dеtеrіоrаtе quickly. But wе have tірѕ for bаѕіс damage соntrоl fоr уоur соmрutеr аnd thе devices іt’ѕ соnnесtеd to.

Dіѕсоnnесt уоur PC frоm the network

Virus’ frеԛuеntlу uѕеѕ the Intеrnеt tо соnnесt уоur PC tо аnоthеr соmрutеr that mау gіvе you іnѕtruсtіоnѕ, mаkе it transmit dаtа оr bоth. Vіruѕ can еvеn rесеіvе раtсhеѕ to fіx bugѕ аnd performance, juѕt as thе legit ѕоftwаrе does. Anоthеr fаvоrіtе асtіvіtу is to ѕеаrсh уоur hоmе’ѕ lосаl nеtwоrk for other computers to infect. That’s оnе оf thе reasons to рrасtісе gооd ѕесurіtу whеn uѕіng рublіс Wi-Fi, аnd thе rеаѕоn whу you ѕhоuld dіѕсоnnесt a PC that уоu believe has been infected.

If уоu are uѕіng аn Internet connection, just unрlug the Intеrnеt саblе. If you аrе uѕіng Wі-Fі оn a laptop, thеrе іѕ uѕuаllу a ѕwіtсh аt thе top оf the kеуbоаrd thаt will tоgglе уоur Wi-Fi оff аnd on. If you аrе using Wi-Fi оn a dеѕktор PC, there usually іѕn’t a ѕwіtсh, and thе vіruѕ mау blосk ѕоftwаrе-bаѕеd аttеmрtѕ tо ѕhut down уоur nеtwоrk соnnесtіоn. You mау аlѕо have both Intеrnеt and Wі-Fі орtіоnѕ оn thе same device, іn whісh саѕе you should disable bоth.

Shut dоwn уоur PC

Even іf the vіruѕ loses іtѕ Internet соnnесtіоn, it саn hаrm the dеvісе that it’s аlrеаdу оn, bу deleting or соrruрtіng fіlеѕ or ransoming thеm. Rаnѕоmwаrе еnсrурtѕ files that appear tо bе іmроrtаnt (mауbе уоur whole Dосumеntѕ fоldеr, fоr еxаmрlе), thеn dеmаndѕ that уоu pay tо rеgаіn ассеѕѕ tо thоѕе fіlеѕ. Sо еvеn if уоu remove rаnѕоmwаrе from уоur ѕуѕtеm, уоu hаvеn’t removed the encryption. That requires a password — designed tо be fаr tоо complex tо guess оr crack in a rеаѕоnаblе аmоunt of tіmе.

Vіruѕ may аttеmрt tо рrеvеnt уоu frоm ѕhuttіng down уоur PC, but уоu саn gеt around that bу hоldіng down thе роwеr button оn уоur PC for about fіvе ѕесоndѕ. This wіll fоrсе a ѕhutdоwn, so ѕаvе уоur documents аnd сlоѕе programs bеfоrе уоu рrосееd, оr еlѕе уоu mау соrruрt files.

Back up уоur fіlеѕ

Circumstances lіkе thіѕ аrе whу rеgulаr backups of уоur dаtа аrе ѕо іmроrtаnt. Put уоur ѕtuff in a ѕесurе cloud, put іt on аn еxtеrnаl drіvе, and store соріеѕ оf уоur rеаllу іmроrtаnt fіlеѕ. Your bеѕt preparation against vіruѕ іѕ tо kеер multірlе соріеѕ of уоur dаtа in multiple locations.

If уоu have a rеѕсuе dіѕk оr thumb drіvе, уоu саn ѕtаrt your computer and tеll іt to boot from this ѕtоrаgе mеdіum. Thе rесоvеrу disk оr drіvе lоаdѕ a ѕсаnnеr thаt уоu’vе installed on it, аnd it looks at уоur infected соmрutеr’ѕ іntеrnаl ѕtоrаgе dеvісеѕ fоr vіruѕ bеfоrе Wіndоwѕ loads. Yоu саn, оf course, scan уоur соmрutеr аftеr Windows bооtѕ, but ѕоmе virus can іntеrfеrе with or block thе ѕсаnnіng process, оr simply hіdе mоrе еаѕіlу.

Ideally, you ѕhоuld рlаn аhеаd and сrеаtе a rescue tool bеfоrе you run іntо a vіruѕ. But іf your PC’ѕ already іnfесtеd, уоu nееd a second PC that has an Internet connection or an аntіvіruѕ app with аn еmеrgеnсу media-creation fеаturе. If уоu trу to сrеаtе a rеѕсuе disk оn thе іnfесtеd mасhіnе, thе vіruѕ mау tаmреr with thе process or even copy vіruѕ оntо the mеdіа. Yоu аlѕо nееd a blаnk DVD аnd DVD burnеr оr else an empty USB thumb drive.

Bооt from thе rеѕсuе dіѕk

The рrосеѕѕ for tеllіng a computer to bооt frоm a DVD оr thumb drіvе іnѕtеаd оf Wіndоwѕ vаrіеѕ bу dеvісе. You may have tо соnѕult уоur PC’ѕ documentation to figure whаt buttоnѕ to рrеѕѕ. For еxаmрlе, sometimes уоu juѕt tар F11 while уоur PC іѕ ѕtаrtіng up to gеt a list of dеvісеѕ уоu саn bооt frоm. Navigate thе lіѕt with your keyboard’s аrrоw kеуѕ аnd select with the Enter kеу. Othеr tіmеѕ you muѕt dіvе into the BIOS оr UEFI — a rudimentary іntеrfасе thаt соntrоlѕ mаnу of thе funсtіоnѕ of thе dіffеrеnt соmроnеntѕ іnѕіdе уоur computer — аnd hunt fоr mеnu options related tо bооtіng, then ѕаvе your changes and exit.

Even аftеr you mаkе and bооt a rеѕсuе dіѕk, it mау not dеtесt thе virus, оr thе іѕѕuе mау not bе vіruѕ-rеlаtеd. But аѕ long аѕ you tаkе action ԛuісklу аgаіnѕt vіruѕ, and as lоng аѕ уоu regularly backup уоur dаtа tо multiple lосаtіоnѕ, уоu саn hеlр prevent tоtаl disaster: thе permanent loss оf сrіtісаl files.

Learn more about Creative Programs and Systems, CPS, and the IT solutions they provide including IT consulting, computer consulting, network consulting, networking, server installation, IT disaster recovery, computer repair, virus removal, malware removal, computer tune ups, data backup systems, computer troubleshooting, structured cabling, low voltage wiring, website design, graphic design, logo design, website hosting, search engine placement, iphone app programming, android app programming, and custom programming at www.cpsmi.com. To contact one of our IT experts call 810.224.5252 today or via email at info@cpsmi.com.

June 29, 2017

Is Your Computer Running Correctly?

You likely already know if your computer is running correctly. In today’s fast passed electronic world it’s impossible not to notice when your electronics are not in tip top shape. Even minor glitches can result in major productivity losses. These glitches can nearly always be traced back to hardware or software issues.

As with many other devise computers were out over time. Most have moving internals prone to wear just like the tires on your car. Eventually these parts break down and need to be replaced. Even if your computer is mechanically sound software can become bloated and slow over time. Things like updates and ever more demanding software can cripple your once snappy PC.

It is vital to your productivity, and likely sanity, to keep your computer happily buzzing along. Here are some tips that can help minimize computer problems and your devices start to age:

Keep your computer clean. Heat is one of the biggest killers of computer components. Many components are designed around a steady amount of airflow to keep them cool. Excess heat causes components to wear prematurely or in some cases give up the ghost entirely. Most heat issues can be resolved by simply blowing out the vents of your computer with a can of compressed air once every few months.
Run a credible anti-virus software. Some performance issues can be traced back to malicious software on your computer. While some infections harass you with advertisement and pop-ups, others silently siphon resources away. These silent infections join your computer to something known as a bot net. Hackers use these to spread more infections or hack other targets.
Keep your systems up to date. Updates are frequently release to improve performance or resolve issues as they are discovered. Keeping your computer updated will ensure your computer is secure and operating as intended.
Defragment your computer. As your computer moves data, the hard drive becomes “fragmented”. Your files are stored in many pieces across various areas of the hard drive. As the pieces get farther away from each other your performance will start to suffer. Newer operating systems like Windows 10 defragment automatically.

Upgrade your RAM. As programs are updated they can frequently become more demanding on your computer. One easy way to stay ahead of this problem is to upgrade your computers RAM or memory. The computer temporarily stores data in RAM for quick access. When it’s all in use the computer has to access your hard drive every time it needs a file resulting dramatic performance loss.

Reduce clutter. It’s always a good idea to keep your hard drive as clean as possible. While this shouldn’t stop you from downloading your favorite movies or music, you should consider removing software you are never going to use again. Computer can run into issues when your hard drive is at 85% capacity or above. Removing old software helps free up space and removes and old processes that may be using resources in the background.

Following these basic steps will help keep your computer functioning as intended. In this new technology depended world there should be a new phrase, “Happy device-Happy life”

June 22, 2017

Why is a Custom Coded Website better for SEO than a Template?

Search engine optimization, otherwise known as SEO, is very important to entrepreneurs who want to promote their business, obtain new clients, and retain current clients. SEO allows business owners to connect with potential clients searching for their products or services, helping to turn them into customers. Keywords, link building, updated content, trust, and more all helps to increase the visibility of a website and lead to a higher number of visitors to the website.

While it may not be straightforward or easy, implementing an effective SEO strategy, especially with recent updates to Google’s ranking algorithm, the Google Keyword Planner, and organic listings are all possible. It is important to determine how customers will search your website as well as how and what you must offer as optimized keywords on your landing page.

Depending on your product, a website design and layout is very important to the overall SEO process. There are two types of websites including: custom coded and templates. Both types of websites have their pros and cons.

Many websites today are developed through a content management system, which allows companies to easily and quickly update their sites without technical support. The most popular CMS is WordPress. It can easily be customized to fit a company’s needs and brand.

Custom coded websites are not created from a template instead are custom designed by a team of graphic designers and programmers from scratch. These sites can be a bit more expensive and take a bit longer to develop. A custom designed site can also be better for search engine optimization and placement of your website within search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing.

Custom Coded Website

Custom websites are built from scratch rather than from a box. Custom websites allow you to show your company’s culture and personality using a unique design. The design can be presented, revised, and built into a custom platform for your website.
A custom website is always expandable. Customized features are added to make your website more flexible and easier to manage.
Custom sites are up-to-date with SEO and code practices. This all helps to increase the longevity of the website.
You have access via your account to the support of skilled developers who code from scratch as well as troubleshoot and fix bugs that may arise on the site.

Website Template

Website templates are user-friendly. You can change the colors and the fonts but the layout is pretty much set-up for you.
You can always change the layout just to avoid other websites resembling yours.
Website templates are often plug and play and take a very short time to develop.
They are less expensive, especially for start-up companies that need a website up quickly and on a low budget.

Templates have limited customization, which is good for companies who simply need to s of website templates is that there is limited to virtually no access to skilled developers. Templates are purchased online and will never gain you access to the person who built it. This reason alone makes a custom website a better option.

June 19, 2017

An IT Network at Your Company Will Save You

As the owner of a company one of your main goals of improved customer relations, increased profitability and fewer expenses. It is critical that you adjust where it makes sense, cut unnecessary expenses, and only make changes that are in line with the companies end goal. One aspect where companies often loose site of the value is within IT.

It is rare that in today’s business world an office will consist of just one or two employees. This makes networking so important to your companies IT services. There are a number of benefits and savings that can be found when companies network their IT systems. From managing important company data to simply sharing interoffice communications securely computer system networking can benefit companies both large and small.

Importance of IT Networking

Manage Data Critical to the Organization

In an organization there are always key elements that need to be accessible to top personnel at all times. A network server allows for an organization to safely store document on one central server instead of individual computers. This help to keep the records organized and allows changes to me made in real time. This means that when the document is pulled up anywhere in the office the changes that were made will be up to date when they are viewed.

When networking is done correctly records on the server will be cataloged in a manner that only allows them to be accessed by those with permission. If one department does not have the same permissions the files they are not allowed to access will be password protected to avoid documentation ending up in the wrong hands. Only information that is to be accessible to the company as a whole will be able to see what is not password protected.

It Simplifies Sharing Data

In order to share information to individual PC’s that are not networked files must be downloaded and uploaded to each individual system from the original source. When an IT network is in place the process of sharing information becomes far less demanding. Information is stored and accessed from one central server. This sever communicates with each PC individually. In order to share information all that has to be done is for access to be granted. There is no need to exchange files between devices using external storage devices. This saves a lot of time and energy when working on projects as a team.

Flexibility in Accessing Information

Since the files are on a central server it doesn’t make a difference what PC you are doing your work on. You can work on a project from your personal computer at home or a PC at work. No matter where you are working from the information will be shared to the server in real time and updated to allow individuals to see the latest information.

Shared Office Equipment

When computers in an organization are networked it allows them all to share one printer, one fax machine, and other necessary resources. This is a whole lot cheaper than supplying a separate piece of machinery for each individual PC; thus saving time and money.

There are a number of reasons to consider consulting with an IT professional today to get your systems networked. The benefits of networking your office will help meet your end goals of providing amazing customer service while increasing profits and decreasing expenses.

June 6, 2017

Is It Important To Network Your Companies Computers?

Have you ever lost files or data on your computer and could not get them back? Did your computer somehow get malware and you aren’t able to access your data? Did your files become corrupt and couldn’t be retrieved? The best solution would be to have some kind of backup before these problems occur. Data backup systems are one of the most important things you should have in place for your business.

The security of vital information is important. Business owners must take necessary steps to ensure that the data is backed up regularly. Unfortunately, only about half of all business owners have a data back up in place. A routine back up is necessary for all business owners. At times, business owners and managers are not experienced enough to carry out data backups on their own. Thus the importance of working with an IT consulting firm that specializes in data backups and networking.

The sad part is that disasters don’t give warnings before they strike. As a matter of fact, dropping a hard drive by mistake can ruin a well-established business. Irrespective of the kind of tragedy your computer networking business may suffer from you should take steps to ensure that your files are in good hands.

The importance of data backup is numerous including:

Higher Reliability

According to IT consultants, the greatest importance of data backup is the reliability it offers. The beauty of the system is that the backup process can be carried out on a daily basis without any problem and that the process is fully automated. Aside from this, you can get access to your files instantly, as the data is stored on a cloud server. So, you needn’t wait for your files to be resent to you.

Easy Set-Up

At first, you may feel that creating a backup of your data is a hard nut to crack, but once you have got an understanding of the process, you will be able to do it with a few clicks. All you will need do to get the system ready and enable the automation feature. Once you have done that, rest assured that your data is safe and backed-up on a regular basis.

Reduced workload

It may take a lot of time to backup files manually. The manual process requires the services of at least one professional. On the other hand, remote data backup is automated, so you don’t need to worry about creating a backup of the files and then storing them on a DVD or USB drive. So, the whole process saves you lots of time.

Greater Security

In remote data backup, the data is stored in a safe location. So, the information is in good hands at all times. Usually, the security is increased through some advanced encryption systems. They are used in both software and hardware level. As a result, there is almost no chance of anyone breaking into the system. Your data will be safe from hackers as well.

Saves Money

For a moment, just think about the equipment required to create a backup of the files your business uses. Aside from the equipment cost, you will also spend a good deal of money to buy space for the equipment installation. And if you own a lot of computers with plenty of data, the cost of the equipment and space requirement will be very high. So, opting for cloud storage can save you plenty of money.

It is crucial that computers within your company are networked to a server that has an adequate backup running at least once a day to avoid disaster if the server or computer should ever fail.

May 24, 2017

Understanding What A Computer Virus Can Do

No matter how careful you are with your computer, it more than likely will face some issue over time. This typically includes slow speeds, error messages, file corruptions, and reboot issues. There are times these issues are due to the computer’s age or simple hardware issues. These can be rectified by replacing the part that has been causing the problem. In other cases, it may be due to a software problem.

However, in today’s day of high-speed downloads, the issue is usually due to a virus or spyware. Computer viruses are software programs that spread within the operating system by multiplying and corrupting essential files, eventually making the computer unusable. Whereas spyware is a piece of code that has been designed to obtain your personal information and send it out to third parties.

Spyware and viruses have the ability to enter your computer through a variety of means. Email attachments, software installs, online games, and untrusted downloads all have the ability to infect your computer with a dangerous virus or spyware. Both the spyware and virus have the ability to slow down your processor speed, change the homepage, alter registry settings, damage your files, and display a wide range of content and pop-ups.

One of the best methods for keeping your computer clean is to avoid putting your computer in such dangerous positions. Before you download anything from a website be sure to read the agreement. Your internet security settings should be set to medium or higher. Even taking the above steps is not enough to keep your computer safe from infections. When your computer is connected to a network, the threat level is magnified.

It is essential that anti-spyware and anti-virus software has been properly installed on your computer. There are a number of software suites available on the market that will cater to your individual budget and needs. However, like all things in life, not everything is what it would seem. There are some anti-spyware programs available online that are spyware programs themselves! It is quite important to download from only trusted sites and once again, read all of the fine print. Once the proper software has been installed on your computer, it is generally just a matter of hitting start to remove the unwanted programs from your computer.

If you feel you know where the culprit is hiding, you can start in that folder. However, it is typically best to scan the entire system, this is done by selecting all drives and folders. This type of scan will take several hours but it will find all viruses and spyware on the computer and remove them. In addition, there are many products available that will offer real-time protection for your computer. These products will prevent any form of malicious code from entering into the computer. They will continually scan the computer looking for anything that may be a virus of spyware and block it. In fact, these products have the ability to warn you of any suspicious sites before you even visit them.

These products are an excellent addition to your arsenal in keeping your files and computer safe. However, there are times when a computer is going to be too infected for one of these products to clean the system. In this case, you will have two options. One is to reformat the hard drive and reinstall all programs. Or bring it to a computer repair shop and hope that the system can be salvaged. They will back up your essential files and important documents and restore the computer to its factory settings.

The most important thing to remember is to think before you click when online. And if the situation becomes too bad, it is best to talk to a professional as soon as possible.

May 24, 2017

How To Choose The Right Commercial IT Specialists And Avoid Danger

As a small business grows it is essential that the amount of data that you store stays safe. This can include sensitive employee files or customer credit card information, regardless it is time to look into the hiring of dedicated commercial IT specialists. However, if you have little knowledge of the IT field, how can you be sure you are choosing the right company? Below are a few tips that will ensure that you hire the right professionals to keep your data safe and move your company in the right direction.

Understand Your Particular Needs

It is essential that you understand what you want and what you are looking to achieve. What role will the commercial IT specialist perform and what requirements will be needed of them? Many businesses will go with the least expensive option a newly graduated student for example. However, while they have the essential knowledge they will lack the formal experience.

A Team Effort

While an individual may be a more cost-effective solution, it may be inefficient. Many times IT is simply not a one-person job, this is especially true for larger businesses.

In addition, there is not one person who is going to be capable to contain all the knowledge that is necessary to perform the job to their fullest ability.

The Difference Between Skill And Talent

A professional IT specialist does not have the luxury to be technical, they must be able to understand it all. Businesses are used to hiring individuals who are skilled in one particular area, however, they may not always understand the process or procedure. It is essential that the commercial IT specialists that you hire are skilled at understanding why security breaches happen as well as how they can be prevented in the future. It is not always necessary to hire someone who is skilled with your particular system. As long as they possess the knowledge of “why”, they will have the ability to adapt and learn your system.

Experience vs. Certifications

While a certification will clearly show a certain level of knowledge, it is not a replacement for daily experience. A job should be posted looking for individuals not only with certifications but a certain level of experience.

The Value Of A Background Check

The individual or company who fills this position is going to have access to some of your companies most sensitive data. It goes without saying that there must be a certain level of trust.

Asking The Right Questions

If you are not familiar with the technology sector it might be well worth it to have an outsider help conduct interviews. It is important to be able to understand the potential candidates ability for troubleshooting on the fly, gauging risks, and prioritizing daily tasks.

A Recap Of Simple Tips For Hiring The Right Commercial IT Specialists

Be sure you know what you need and what you are looking for.
Never assume that one person is going to be capable of performing the job.
Understand the difference between skill and talent.
Do not rely solely on certifications, experience can be much more important.
Ask the right questions of the candidate.
Always run a background check.

Regardless of where you stand with technology, these simple tips will allow your companies data to remain safe while streamlining daily IT activities.