The latest trick

Now for the Free Offer!!!

The Tragic Consequences

Imagine the distress of attempting to cancel the auto-renewal contract of a deceased loved one, only to be met with refusal from companies citing lack of password or email address knowledge. This heartbreaking scenario is all too common. Just last week, a client faced insurmountable hurdles trying to terminate her husband’s indefinite annual Norton LifeLock renewal, as he suffers from advanced dementia. The requirement to communicate with him and obtain answers was not just difficult, but impossible.

This prevalent issue has left numerous individuals in despair, necessitating intervention to resolve matters they could well do without. In my view, the conduct of these companies borders on discrimination.

Next Steps

While navigating this predicament can be daunting, reaching out to the support number provided by the companies deducting funds is often necessary. It’s imperative to gather names, call details, and most importantly, a reference number. Subsequently, contact your bank or credit card provider to explain the situation. Maintain meticulous records throughout. However, be prepared for potential challenges, as financial institutions have their own stringent security protocols to adhere to. Persistence is key; do not relent until a resolution is achieved.

A Preventive Measure

For those yet to be affected, the simplest solution is to ensure that no one in your household is enrolled in any form of auto-renewal service. Take proactive steps to safeguard against potential future complications.

Advice

Never give these platforms your credit card or bank details but if you must then make sure that auto renewal is not activated. Contact https://computercare.co.uk for low prices on security software whenever your renewal is due. We can offer you a substantial price reduction on any autorenewal.

computercareuk

All-round I.T services for business and the general public. Founded Selby, North Yorkshire, February, 1997

computercare.co.uk

Having multiple mailboxes it’s impossible to filter out all the Spam without losing legitimate messages. Scammers are a scurge on our society and having once nealy lost my Mother to a Romance Swindler I take this as all very personal.

A few times a month we have clients calling us for support after being hit by fraudulent transactions to their Bank accounts and others who receive threats to disclose their personal lifes. These low life scamming scoundrels don’t belong in our society and with the world balancing from one disaster to the next the scammers should be thrown into the furnace without mercy.

Ironically my mailbox just received a Scam attempt traced to an individual sat in the Nevada Bankrupcy Court while at the same time using a link to a foreign phone number. It simply beggers belief that even during a trial these oxygen wasters just never give up.

If you ever feel unsure about any messages or phone calls you receive then the chances are it is a Scam! Don’t fall for it! Give us a call or send us an email and we will give you the best advice we can.

If you have already found yourself affected by a financial scam then inform your banks immeadiatley.

computercareuk

All-round I.T services for business and the general public. Founded Selby, North Yorkshire, February, 1997

computercare.co.uk

People use the Internet for various reasons. Most of us will use a browser such as Google to search for a restaurant, for online shopping or maybe to find directions to a location. The net offers a world of other services like our email, cloud backup, online banking. Sadly the internet also has a dark side where criminals want to steal our data, our money and even our lives.

What are the dangers?

Let me start by telling you that computer viruses are now only a small part of internet dangers. Whether you are aware or not you have most likely experienced one of the following attempts to infiltrate your privacy. Malware, ransomware, phishing (pronounced fishing) , spoofing or spamming are the most common methods criminals use.

Are Apple Mac’s Safer?

OK, first things first. Microsoft Windows PC’s seem to fall foul of attacks far more than other machine types. However! be warned that no electronic device is 100% safe. People often think Apple Mac’s don’t get attacked but this is simply not true. iMac’s, MacBook’s, Apple Mac’s whatever we call them don’t use a system registry like Windows machines while their individual programs are self contained. This in effect help’s protect them a little more by closing off some of the roadways, so to speak. But do not assume they are immune from attack because that is simply not true!

What do I need to keep my computer safe and is Windows Defender enough to protect me?

Well since the introduction of Windows 10 (now Windows 11) Windows Defender has very good security protection but we would still advise that higher level security would be beneficial especially for users who do online banking or purchases online.

Beware of fake Security Software links!

Ad hoc google searching for Security Software Software is in itself a risky strategy. The internet is flooded with fake McAfee scams and also many machines are being hit with fake McAfee phishing hacks. 

So the question may be “should I avoid McAfee?” The answer is “No” certainly not. McAfee in our opinion has come back into favour since it now uses far less computer resources than some other products. The legitimate link for McAfee is here but if you’d like a big discount then we can sort this for you inclusive of a remote installation.

What other security products would we recommend?

There are many excellent tools out there such as Bitdefender , F-Secure, Trend Micro and many others. What we would warn you about is not to use Free Antivirus Software as in our opinion such software is inadequate and also they often pop up with constant upgrade links which at the very least is annoying. On the other side of the coin we would like to make you aware that you can also have an overkill of applications. Some providers, especially one who we can’t mention will sell security with so much payload that your computer can become sluggish. It’s also worth bearing in mind that Windows itself does a better job than many of these applications by performing defragging and the like. In fact SSD drives which we find in most modern machines don’t even need defragging and all it does is wear down the lifecycle of the disk.

What about Russian security software such as Kaspersky?

This is a difficult question to answer but due to it having headquarters in Moscow we shall no longer recommend the use of this software as we don’t want to see tax dollars going into the Putin War machine. We are also following advice from Governments on this one.

The software itself is in our opinion excellent however we would advise against at this time

Keep your Children Safe – Watch out for the signs – and it’s not just Children at Risk!

If your children seem to be keeping you away from what they do on the internet then you may wish to talk to them about the dangers. Of course we cannot keep youngsters away from technology completely because this would limit their ability to advance in the future. What we would advise is still to be vigilant because some of the dangers we have seen are beyond comprehension.

My own Mother was the victim of a Romance Swindle and it was only due to my I.T skills which saved her from losing everything she had. This is not even to mention her emotional meltdown thereafter.

What to keep an eye out for

Keep an eye out for things you don’t recognise. Do not install unknown software if it pops up out of the blue suggesting you have a virus or that your data will be encrypted if you don’t pay a ransom. Beware of excessive chatting with strangers and even be very cautious on dating sites because parasites love to live off people emotions.

What is the Dark Web and should I go there?

Danger Alert! stick to the internet as you know it. It’s all you need

Yes we have been on the Dark Web but only for purposes of evaluation. In years before the Web much of what is today found was hidden away in news groups and within we found depravity beyond most peoples imagination. Nothing has improved in fact we have only one word for it. EVIL!!!

Even by just a curious visit on the Dark Web you will be inadvertently directed to some horrendous sites. I shall not go through in detail what is there but if you are a parent it will make you cry for hours. If you hate drugs you will be disgusted. If you want to buy anything illegal, I mean anything. It is an anonymous web but if those who think they are completely safe from authorities or scammers then think again. On the face of it there is a “criminal code” but then the nature of the beast takes no prisoners.

computercareuk

All-round I.T services for business and the general public. Founded Selby, North Yorkshire, February, 1997

computercare.co.uk

Be vigilent if you recieve unexpected messages appearing on your pc, laptop, mac, tablet or even phone. These scammers also thrive on many local social groups. The messages may suggest you have a virus or that your security is not up to date. They may offer you incentives such as unclaimed lottery wins, big pay rates, ways to make easy money, tell you that you are due a tax refund or that you must urgently contact HMRC regarding a due payment. Many scams even suggest you have pornography on your system and that you must pay a ransome.

What to do? –

• Beware of Apps suggesting you should install Security software unless you are sure of their source. Many of these Apps are Scams themselves!
• If unsure DON’T RESPOND
• If concerned DON’T RESPOND
• If it sounds too good DON’T respond
• Inform your ageing relatives

If you have older relatives try keep them up to date about the risks around us

Contact us for a totally free check and advice

This is not an attempt to sell you anything but rather to make awareness. We deal with customers on a daily basis who have been hit by low-lifes who feed of our vulnerabilities

Mobile and Remote Support Service – based in Holme Upon Spalding Moor, established 1997 in Selby North Yorkshire

computercareuk

All-round I.T services for business and the general public. Founded Selby, North Yorkshire, February, 1997

computercare.co.uk

Scammers will never go away so don’t listen to people on the phone or through email if you don’t know who they are.

Stay Safe and have great Christmas. We are confident things will start improving by the second half of next year.

computercareuk

All-round I.T services for business and the general public. Founded Selby, North Yorkshire, February, 1997

computercare.co.uk

Covid -19 for all its destructive potential cannot be transmitted through the internet but we still have to be aware of packages we order to the door.

So where do we fit in?

By means of remote computer connections we continue to offer servicing, software and and maintenance to your machines.

If you don’t need us today you may need us tommorow.

Goto http://computercare.co.uk and bookmark us into your browser.

Click Ctrl +D

computercareuk

All-round I.T services for business and the general public. Founded Selby, North Yorkshire, February, 1997

computercare.co.uk

Tips!

• Hang up the phone if you receive a call from anyone calling out of the blue. Common scammers often assume the identity of BT, Microsoft or a Bank
• If you see messages on your computer suggesting you have viruses then check to make sure these are from your security software and not scammers scaremongering you into action!
• When surfing websites don’t click on flashing messages or any website suggesting you have a virus.
• Beware of emails using logos such as Amazon, Ebay or Banks. These may not be legitimate. Never click on these if you are unsure. It is easy for anyone with a little knowledge to impersonate a brand and lead you to a dangerous website.

computercareuk

All-round I.T services for business and the general public. Founded Selby, North Yorkshire, February, 1997

computercare.co.uk

The short answer for any PC running Windows 7 or earlier is yes for sure. Why because older inbuilt security software is simply inadequate in today’s environment.

Windows 10 includes a much better-inbuilt security system. Windows Defender has been greatly improved by Microsoft which not only protects against viruses but also against malware. But this is where we need to be careful. Microsoft Windows software has always been a target for malicious attacks and there’s a good chance their own security will be the target. It is true that using Defender alongside Malwarebytes is a decent and potentially free alternative but they don’t always work as well together as would some others.

Our advice for anyone who uses internet banking, torrent downloading, gaming, online dating etc would be to use a standalone security package.

Warning! – Free Anti Virus software is almost totally inadequate with today’s risk factors. It is also likely to bombard you with popups suggesting an upgrade to an all-in package. “Now why would they do that?”

What is the best package for security?

The answer to this is the same as how long is a piece of string. But at the time of this writing, we have switched our personal desktop security to Bitdefender. This is not a recommendation for everyone but if you are still using “pop3” mail we find the antispam feature excellent versus some of the competition.

Identity protection will also be included in a decent package which is paramount in this day and age.

There are a few security packages which we find excessive in that they offer components which “Windows” is fully capable of dealing with itself. Some of these components can drastically slow down your computer.

The following “Internet Security” packages are also well worth looking at. Some others we have not included for various reasons or because we have not tested them.

Kaspersky – Bullguard – AVG – ESET – F-Secure

Note! prices may be higher when buying direct and renewal prices can be high! Shop around!

We always advise against sharing a business machine with the children because it doesn’t take much for things to go wrong. Yet again a decent fully-fledged security package is likely to include parental control which can be a lifesaver.

computercareuk

All-round I.T services for business and the general public. Founded Selby, North Yorkshire, February, 1997

computercare.co.uk

Backing up your important files is as essential as ever but what are many people doing wrong?

It is often assumed that computers will run out of space when storing hundreds of photos or documents on the computer. Well once upon a time that was very true however times have changed. Today most computers have disks large enough to hold tens of thousands of photos or documents without making a dent into the capacity of the disk.

What we @computercare find is that far too many customers are still moving files off their computers onto external hard disks or memory sticks without leaving the originals on their computer. This happens to be a dangerous method as faulty media or a forgotten encryption key may mean all those precious documents are lost forever.

computercareuk

All-round I.T services for business and the general public. Founded Selby, North Yorkshire, February, 1997

computercare.co.uk