Category Archives: computer updates

Basic Computer Maintenance You Can (and Should) Do It Yourself

June 16, 2014computer updates, diy, how to, virus removalcomputer maintenance, computer repair, Computer Updatesadmin

Like any piece of equipment, digital or not, computers need regular maintenance. If no maintenance is done routinely, the computer will start running slower, will crash more often, and might even get a few viruses. So here’s a few computer maintenance tasks you can do yourself.

1) Update your anti-virus.

We discussed in other blog post why updating your anti-virus software is essential to keep your computer trouble free. A current anti-virus is probably the most important thing you can do in terms of computer maintenance. To do this, open your anti-virus software, look in its menus for the upgrade (or upgrade definition option), and click on it. Most anti-viruses would have the option (somewhere under the Preferences settings) to update automatically. We recommend you set it on automatic updates.

2) Update your operating system.

Both Microsoft and Apple regularly release updates for their operating systems. Check the operating version of your computer OS, and upgrade if necessary.

3) Clean your browser’s cache, cookies and browsing history regularly.

While browsing the Internet, your browser collects lots of small files (called cookies) and also downloads files such as images, and even entire Internet pages that are stored on your computer in hidden folders. In time, the amount of those files can get very big, occupying space on the hard drive, slowing down the browser, causing the browser and even the entire computer to crash. No matter what browser you use, regularly check the preferences settings and choose to erase cookies, cache and browsing history.

Perform these three steps regularly for a well-maintained computer!

Microsoft Stops Support for Windows XP

March 21, 2014computer updatesWindowsXPadmin

Maybe you’ve heard: on April 8, 2014 Microsoft will stop support for its Windows XP operating system. No more technical updates will be published meaning drivers, bug fixes and other types of much needed updates.

What does this mean for you?

1) Your computer will become vulnerable to virus attacks and Internet attacks. Because Microsoft will stop updating the malware and virus information in Windows XP, your computer will become vulnerable to newer viruses that are being created and released after the last update.

2) Your computer will have compatibility issues with newer technology. You might not be able to connect newer USB devices such as photo cameras and hard drives.

3) Your computer won’t be able to run newer software. You also won’t be able to update software that you’re already running. For instance, the next version of Microsoft Office won’t run on Windows XP.

4) Your computer won’t be able to open files created with newer software. For example, if a friend or co-worker sends you a Word document created with that newer version of Microsoft Word, you won’t be able to open it.

How do you stay protected?

The only option is to upgrade to a newer operating system.

MaxTEK Solutions offers operating system upgrades starting at only $39.99. Check out our Services page for the latest prices and our coupons and special page for current promotions.

Did You Know: What Is The Deep Web? What Is The Dark Web?

March 18, 2014computer updates, diy, how to, Miscellaneousinternet, webadmin

Apart from the websites you see and use, there is a huge number of other websites that aren’t visible to search engines and cannot be accessed with a regular browser. The deep web is any website that’s not indexed by search engines. Google, Bing, Yahoo and the other search engines continuously send ‘bots’ (an automated software) that discover websites and classify them accordingly. However, many sites can’t be reached by none of these search engines. Some of the websites that can’t be reach include legit websites such as:

Websites that require a login (news websites, paid websites like Hulu or other video streaming services)
Data driven websites such as the catalog section of a library website
Websites where the publisher enabled the ‘no bot’ option. For instance, you can create a website and choose not to make it accessible to search engines for privacy reasons. The only way your website can be found is if you gave the link to someone such as family, friends, co-workers, etc.

However, a small part of this deep web is referred to as the dark web. The dark web is made of private networks and websites, and yes, some of them sell weapons, drugs or even your ‘friendly’ professional assassin. Here are some stories published in the media about the dark net:

1) Business Insider: There’s A Secret Internet For Drug Dealers, Assassins, And Pedophiles

2) Gawker.com: The Underground Website Where You Can Buy Any Drug

3) Mashable.com: The Deep Net

You can also watch a short video that explains about the deep web:

To access the dark net, you need a special browser called the Tor browser. Most websites in the deep web end in “.onion” as opposed to .com or .net or .org or other commonly known suffix. In all your browsing, on the visible net or the deep one, we ask that you stay safe!

Why Keep Your Computer Updated and How To Do It

February 21, 2013computer updates, how toComputer Updatesadmin

It is very important to keep your computer’s operating system updated. Computers with operating systems that aren’t up-to-date are the most vulnerable to viruses, worms, and hacking attacks on the Internet. In fact, taking advantage of outdated computers is one of the most common forms of cyberattacks and the most common form of compromising a computer’s security.

In short, keeping your computer’s operating system updated is an essential step in keeping your computer secure.

Windows Update Information

Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button. In the search box, type Update, and then, in the list of results, click Windows Update.
In the left pane, click Check for updates, and then wait while Windows looks for the latest updates for your computer.
If any updates are found, click Install updates.

Apple Mac Update Information

The latest Apple OS is Mountain Lion. In Mountain Lion, Mac App Store delivers OS X Updates instead of the Software Update app.

Notification alerts in Mountain Lion inform you that updates are available.

Click “Details” to open the Mac App Store and see details about the updates available.
If present, click “Update” to install software updates.
If present, click “Restart” to install software updates that require a restart.

How We Can Help

MaxTEK Solutions offers computer maintenance that includes operating system upgrades, cleaning your computer of unnecessary software, and updating all other software on your computer. Check our Services pages for more info.

Special note to users with Windows XP – Microsoft will soon eliminate their support for Windows XP operating systems If you are running Windows XP and would like to upgrade to a newer operating system, please contact us.