For a time, it seemed we had reached the high-water mark where Locky Ransomware was concerned. After the big, global attack earlier this year, interest in that particular strain of ransomware seemed to wane as hackers went off in search of the “next new thing” to deploy against the unwitting public.

Unfortunately, rumors of Locky’s death may have been highly exaggerated. A massive new email campaign is underway, using Amazon as a cover, and the infected emails come bearing Locky as a “gift” to anyone who opens them and downloads the attachment.

While no one knows who is behind the Locky software itself, this new email campaign is being run through a large botnet-for-hire called Necurs, which is currently made up of more than five million devices from all over the world.
These devices have been sending out a million emails an hour that appear to come from Amazon and contain downloadable attachments with their malicious payload.

The hackers are being quite savvy about the operation too, timing the sending of their emails so that they arrive during normal working hours, which makes them seem more legitimate. As ever, anyone unfortunate enough to download the attachment contained in one of these emails will soon find all the files on their system encrypted, and get a notification that they must pay a ransom in BitCoin if they want the unlock code to get their files back.

It gets even worse, though. This latest attack does more than just install Locky. It also installs a program called “FakeGlobe,” which appears to be another variant of ransomware that’s designed to trigger after files are unlocked. So, even if you pay the ransom, you may find yourself immediately facing newly encrypted files and having to pay a second one.
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As ever, the keys to avoiding scams like these are vigilance, employee/family education and a robust backup and file recovery plan, in the event that someone in your organization or household does open one of these emails.  And be sure to contact PC Tech for Hire for assistance in establishing your plan.

You've probably seen the news today about the Montgomery County government being hit with ransomware.  Local news has this article about it. 

But what is ransomware?
Ransomware is a form of malicious software that locks up the files on your computer, encrypts them, and demands that you pay to get your files back. Wanna Decryptor, or WannaCry, is a form of ransomware that affects Microsoft’s Windows operating system. The variant that hit Montgomery County is known as the SamSam ransomware.  When a system is infected, a pop up window appears, prompting you to pay to recover all your files within three to seven days, with a countdown timer on the left of the window. It adds that if you fail to pay within that time, the fee will be doubled, and if you don’t pay within seven days, you will lose the files forever. Payment is accepted only with Bitcoin.

How does it spread?
According to the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (USCRT), under the Department of Homeland Security, ransomware spreads easily when it encounters unpatched or outdated software. Experts say that WannaCry is spread by an internet worm -- software that spreads copies of itself by hacking into other computers on a network, rather than the usual case of prompting unsuspecting users to open attachments. It is believe that the cyber attack was carried out with the help of tools stolen from the National Security Agency (NSA) of the United States.

Some forms of malware can lock the computer entirely, or set off a series of pop-ups that are nearly impossible to close, thereby hindering your work.

What can be done to prevent this?
The best way to protect your computer is to create regular backups of your files. The malware only affects files that exist in the computer. If you have created a thorough backup and your machine is infected with ransomware, you can reset your machine to begin on a clean slate, reinstall the software and restore your files from the backup. According to Microsoft’s Malware Protection Center, other precautions include regularly updating your anti-virus program; enabling pop-up blockers; updating all software periodically; ensure the smart screen (in Internet Explorer) is turned on, which helps identify reported phishing and malware websites; avoid opening attachments that may appear suspicious.

If you are not sure if you're protected, I offer services that can help you determine your risk.  My ProActive Care Services​ can help prevent ransomware from getting into your system.  Contact me to discuss your concerns and let me help you protect your files.

As you’ve probably heard, the big news in the tech world is the release of Windows 10. You may have seen the little icon in your system tray about it, and clicking on it brings up a box with more information. If you have done this, you may have noticed the part where Microsoft says ”free.” While this is definitely a welcome change, Microsoft has put out a lot of mixed messages about what that means and how the upgrade to Windows 10 will actually work. The best suggestion I can make is to wait for now. Here’s why:

1. Windows 10 is bound to be a tremendous improvement over Windows 8. So much so that they decided to skip the “9” in the series! But it is so new, techs have not really had a chance to test it much and discover all its idiosyncrasies. (Although there is one big one we know about that I will talk about in #7).
2. Backups are going to be very important. If there is any kind of problem with the upgrade, you’re going to need them. All your backups need to be checked and if you don’t have any at all yet, this is the perfect time to have me help you get those up and running.
3. I do not recommend upgrading to 10 the “easy” way. As a fellow tech said recently, “Windows is only as stable as the foundation it is built on. If your current Windows is not 100% clean and robust, the upgrade won’t be either.” The best bet is to have me install from scratch—that way you’re not bringing old problems with you.
4. If you still want to do the upgrade yourself, backups are going to be very, very important. In fact, I would advise a clone (image) of your hard drive be done first. That way you can revert to your old system if something goes wrong.
5. Microsoft says that once the upgrade is complete, you'll have 30 days to revert back to your previous operating system.  This is assuming you have plenty of hard drive space.  And if you're running out of space, the backup may be deleted before the 30 days is up.
6. If you don’t have any recovery discs made, now is the time! These should be done whether you upgrade or not, because well, disasters happen. I will include this service free with any Windows 10 installation.
7. It has a few bugs and some minor things that need tweaking. One of those things is a new feature Microsoft has included called “Wifi Sense.” Meant to be a convenience, it unfortunately shares your wifi password with all of your contacts by default unless you turn it off. (It is switched ON by default!). So, one of the first tweaks I would make is turning that little security hazard off.
8. Some features will be gone and/or different. A few things disappearing: Windows Media Center, desktop gadgets, and all floppy drive support. Solitaire will be gone as well but can be added back with the MS App store. New additions include the new web browser called Edge (Internet Explorer is still there, just not as the default browser), a new Start Menu, and Cortana—a digital assistant much like Apple’s Siri.
9. If you’re on the fence: if you have had any serious viruses or rootkit infections recently, and your system can handle the upgrade, I would recommend moving to Windows 10 with a reformat at some point (my preferred method, stated in #3). Not only will your system get a new lease on life with a new OS, but any hidden malware will go poof. It’s good for peace of mind.
10. Microsoft’s pricing scheme for Windows 10 is that the upgrade is available for free until July 28th of this year (one year after it's public release). The license cannot be transferred to another machine, as it is tied to the hardware in your computer.  Otherwise, the prices will likely be about what they have been for Windows 8 ($120 for the Home version). 

If you are interested in having your PC upgraded to Windows 10, contact me for scheduling.  I'll make sure everything (that can run on Windows 10) is moved over.  I can provide training, as well, for those who are still unsure about how to use Windows 10.  

Both hard drives and solid state drives are devices used for storing your data; such as photos, music and software. While they do the same thing, there are pros and cons for each one due to the nature in which they store data.

Hard Drives
The main advantage of a hard drive is storage capacity, you can often find a hard drive with a storage capacity of several terabytes (you can store roughly 200 movies on a terabyte hard drive). Inside each hard drive, is lots of spinning parts and it is the speed of these spinning parts that determine how quick your computer can open your files such as pictures, word documents and music.
However, as a hard drive fills up with data, files can become scattered across the hard drive. This can result in a sluggish feel to the device you are using.

Solid State Drives
Solid state drives are built for speed. They do this by storing the data on them using a motionless technology, meaning there are no moving parts. This means the data can be accessed almost instantly. They are also ideal for laptop users as HDDs can be easily damaged if you move your laptop while still powered on. They also use less power than traditional hard drives meaning your battery lasts a lot longer.
The downside to SSDs is the cost. They are a little more expensive compared to traditional hard drives. If you are not using all of your existing drive space, then seriously consider swapping it for an SSD. It is much faster compared to traditional drives, and you can use your existing hard drive, as a external drive, for backups, so it does not go to waste.

So which one should I choose?
The bottleneck on most computers comes from the hard drive, so if you are looking at speeding up and improving the performance of your computer, and have less than 200GB of data you want to keep, it’s worth upgrading to an SSD. However, if you have a lot of data and want to keep costs down, an HDD is perfectly fine.

Thinking about upgrading to an SSD drive?  Give me a call if you need assistance.  Of if there is anything I can do for you, just click on my contact page to contact me.

Have you liked my Facebook page yet?  For a limited time, get 10% off your next service call by liking my page.

Many of you may be aware that Microsoft has released the latest version of their operating system this summer, July 29th to be exact.  There are some great new features in the tech giant's offering.  However, you may want to wait, or at least be very careful, before you make the jump to Windows 10. Below are some things that you need to be aware of before you make the move.  

What's Great About Windows 10?
I have been running a preview of Windows 10 for several months now and I can say that, overall, I really like it.  While no computer program or operating system is perfect, Microsoft is getting a lot of things right with Windows 10.  Here are some highlights:

• The return of the Start menu (well, sort of).  Many of the folks who experienced the previous operating system, Windows 8, were very put off by the Start screen, which highlighted "metro-style" apps and live tiles.  However, in Windows 10 they bring back a more familiar style start menu in the lower left corner of the screen.  It's a bit of a hybrid between the Windows 7 start menu and the Windows 8 app-driven start screen.  However, it's highly customizable and makes it easy to get to most of the things that you need on a daily basis.  Further, Microsoft gives users the option of using the new start menu or the Windows 8 style start screen. 
• Cortana, Microsoft's digital assistant.  Cortana is a bit like Siri, Apple's voice-driven assistant.  In Windows 10, though, Cortana will be available on every device - phone, tablet, desktop and laptop.  You can essentially talk you your computer to perform searches or access information on your computer.  Further, Cortana is a learning robot.  That is, she will use what she knows about you and offer you increasingly relevant information when you ask for it.  For example, you will be able to ask/tell Cortanta, "find me pictures from last month," and she will present you with all pictures on your computer (or in OneDrive) from the past 30 days.  Or you can say something like, "Is my flight going to leave on time today" and she will be able to give you a fairly accurate answer, based on current airline schedules.  
• Microsoft Edge, the new web browser.  A big change for users in Windows 10 will be that Internet Explorer will no longer be the default program to browse web pages on the Internet.  Instead, Edge will be the new, streamlined browser experience.  Edge will be very minimalist compared to Internet Explorer.  There will be no toolbars, icons and settings to get in the way of viewing various web pages.  However, Internet Explorer will still be installed in Windows 10 for users who must use it.  Keep in mind, though, that you are free to install other web browsers, like Google Chrome or Firefox, if you wish.  
• Virtual desktops - Users will be able to set up multiple desktops on their Windows 10 computers.  For example, you can set up a desktop with all of your work-related icons and a separate desktop for all of your personal items.  Another use might be to set up a different desktop for each user in your home, rather than separate accounts for each user.  
• Free upgrade for the first year.  For users who are running Windows 7 (service pack 1) or Windows 8.1, Windows 10 will be available as a free upgrade for the first year after it is released.  However, if you don't upgrade within that first year, you will have to buy the operating system if you decide to upgrade.  Microsoft began pushing out this offer for the free upgrade by installing an update on Windows 7 & 8 machines.  You may have seen a small Windows flag in the lower-right hand corner of your screen encouraging you to sign up for the free upgrade.

Should You Upgrade to Windows 10?
While I believe that Windows 10 will be successful for Microsoft, I would strongly caution you about upgrading, from your current computer, at least at first.  The initial release of Windows 10 may still have some bugs to work out which may cause issues on your computer.  It may be better to wait a few months for these to be worked out.  If you do decide that you want to upgrade, here are some things that you will need to do first:

• Make a complete backup of everything on your system.  If something goes wrong during the upgrade process, you want to have a way to restore your computer to the way it was before the upgrade.  The easiest way to do this is to use the built-in tools with Windows 7 or 8 to create a system image on an external hard drive.  
• Install all of the latest updates on your operating system.  It would be best to run Windows updates on your system prior to an upgrade to be sure that you have the latest security and system patches.
• Make sure that your current software and hardware is compatible with Windows 10.  It may be that, though everything is running just fine on your current system, it may not run smoothly on Window 10.  Microsoft may release a compatibility tool which you can run to test & see if your hardware and software will work with Windows 10, but they have not done so yet.  We recommend that you install the latest device drivers for your computer (particularly video and network devices) prior to upgrading.  
• Be sure to back up your data.  In addition to a full system upgrade, it would be wise to create a separate copy of your critical data (documents, pictures, music, videos, etc.) prior to upgrading.  Of course, you should be doing this on a regular basis anyway.

Truly, upgrading is a daunting task for most home computer users.  If you feel that this is beyond your technical ability, I encourage you to give me a call.  I will be offering a special Windows 10 upgrade service to my customers for a flat rate of $100.  This package will include all of the above recommendations.  

Want a discount?  Like my Facebook page for 10% off your next service call.  This includes any service I offer, including the Windows 10 upgrade special in this article.  The discount is limited to one time per customer.  

Welcome to PC Tech for Hire, Montgomery Alabama's affordable residential and small business computer repair and service provider.

PC Tech for Hire is pleased to announce a new service called ProActive Care.  Most of the services I provide are reactive.  When something breaks, you call me.  My new ProActive Care service is proactive at taking care of issues before it becomes problematic.  Do you realize that you are about to run out of hard drive space?  ProActive Care can monitor that.  Do you know when your computer's CPU is being maxed out?  Do you know why it is being maxed out?  ProActive Care will monitor that, and in some cases, eliminate the issue.  ProActive Care will also send alerts for serious issues.  And, everything ProActive Care does is recorded and reported to you once a month.  

ProActive Care is being introduced at the low rate of $5.00 per month.  Be sure to click here for more information, and to order when you're ready.  Be sure to try it out with our exclusive 30 day free trial!

PC Tech for Hire is also pleased to announce the addition of ProActive Care - Antivirus.  Most of the free antivirus products available will protect you from viruses, malware and spyware fairly well.  But they are not as good as or as feature rich as some of the paid versions.

ProActive Care - Antivirus will give you business class protection at an affordable price, just $5.00 a month.  Be sure to click here for more information.  And yes, PC Tech for Hire also provides a 30 day free trial of ProActive Care - Antivirus!

Do you have important data that you simply can not lose?  PC Tech for Hire is also announcing the availability of ProActive Care - Backup!  This service provides a secure and highly reliable backup.  And it includes versioning control.  Is the current version of a document wrong?  Versioning control allows you to step back in time and retrieve a copy of that document before it became corrupted.  Most other backup solutions will write over the good copy with the bad copy.  

ProActive Care - Backup only costs $9.00 a month for 10 GB file space.  Click here for more information.  A 30 day 1 GB free trial is available so that you can see for yourself how easy the service is.

The most important advantage of all the ProActive Care services is that PC Tech for Hire is monitoring all aspects of the services.  If you want a PC Tech watching over your computer, making sure everything is running well, then this service is for you.  Contact PC Tech for Hire today for a custom quote!

Stay tuned for more!  PC Tech for Hire is working on additional features and enhancements in the ProActive Care line of services.  More announcements coming soon!