by can_admin | Dec 10, 2015 | Uncategorized
Tis the season for online shopping! While it’s oh so convenient to shop online in your jammies from the comfort of your home, don’t be so quick to purchase that ridiculously low priced item without doing a little homework on the store first. Fraudulent online storefronts that lure you in with absurdly low prices on hot-ticket items not only are a great magnet for credit card fraud, but they can also put spyware and pop-ups on your machine affecting how you view other sites.
Norton.com has a great article of things to review on a site before making a purchase at a new retailer: http://us.norton.com/yoursecurityresource/detail.jsp?aid=secure_shopping. Things like pop-up ads, unbelievably low prices, and the lack of a phone number/address are some of the first signs that it might be too good to be true. Don’t let your computer- or your bank account- become vulnerable to scams. Make smart online purchases from reputable retailers and bask in the glory of the time you saved versus going into the store. Happy Shopping!
by can_admin | Dec 3, 2015 | Uncategorized
If you’re running Windows 10 here’s an important tip: make sure you run Disk Cleanup to free up 20gb+ of space on your computer after you install the November Windows Update.
Now more than ever (thanks to cost-effective solid state drives and cloud-based storage options), computers seem to be coming with smaller hard drives, often making it harder to transition from a transitional drive for many “document hoarders”. Pair that with the latest Windows 10 updates, and many of you are probably wondering where all your hard drive space went. Fear not: the Disk Cleanup utility in Windows has always been a great resource for people who wanted to free up some quick and easy space….but if you’re on Win 10 and have installed all of the updates, there’s a sizable chunk of space that can be freed up. Furthermore, several users are reporting that the upgrade installation files can also be cleared….to the tune of another 4GB! See more details in the following article on lifehacker: http://lifehacker.com/run-disk-cleanup-after-the-windows-november-update-to-s-1743476619?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lifehacker%2Ffull+%28Lifehacker%29
Not on Windows 10 just yet? Run Disk Cleanup in any version of Windows to see what additional space you have to free up…hopefully, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with some newfound space!
by can_admin | Nov 19, 2015 | Uncategorized
We’ve talked about the benefits of Two-Step Authentication before- and why everyone should enable it. Now, better late than never, Amazon has entered the game, allowing users to configure this important security step for their accounts. Once set up, if you’re ordering something from Amazon on a new computer, you’ll be required to type in both your password and a code they text/call you with in order to log in and authorize the account. This makes the account MUCH more secure, and prevents people who might hack into your account from a remote location. Best of all, you can save the settings so it doesn’t inconvenience you every time you visit Amazon from trusted devices (like your cell phone or your home computer), only once you visit from a new computer. Gizmodo has a great write-up on how to enable it- visit this page for more details: http://gizmodo.com/you-can-now-use-two-step-authentication-on-amazon-and-h-1743224068
While you’re at it, use this opportunity to review your other two-step authentication sites, and make sure you’re as protected as you can be online: http://canyonero.org/2015/06/24/have-you-enabled-2-step-authentication-on-all-your-accounts/
by can_admin | Nov 12, 2015 | Uncategorized
When considering ideal situations, most professionals agree your data should be in three different places….1) on your main computer, 2) on a backup hard drive at the same location, and 3) an off-site/online backup. While this is ideal, anyone who has been through a hard drive failure, or lost a ton of irreplaceable pictures can appreciate the recommendation of three levels of data protection (sadly, myself included). So, considering these recommendations, what online backup service do you use? At a fairly minimal cost per year for protection, the perks of automatically backing all of your data up and storing it off-site are clear, and there are several newer contenders in the ring. PC Magazine recently offered a good comparison of the different services, and their perks and benefits in this article: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2288745,00.asp. Before you suffer your next big loss, consider setting up one of these services today….you’ll be thankful if you ever need it. Give a shout-out to your favorite service in the comments below!
by can_admin | Nov 5, 2015 | Uncategorized
Canyonero has always recommended their customers consider manufacturer-refurbished options when buying a new computer; mainly because of the significant cost savings off the retail price. Now, top iFixit professional Kyle Wines is chiming in on why he ONLY chooses refurbished machines, and takes it a step further by claiming they’re superior to their brand new counterparts. Why? Wines cites that more thorough part testing, higher quality control, and potentially better hard drive performance are just some of the reasons to consider a “scratch & dent” or “manufacturer-refurbished” computer your next machine. With the holiday buying season approaching, these are great thoughts to consider!
Click here to read the full article: http://dealnews.com/features/Rebuilt-to-Last-A-DIY-Expert-Explains-Why-He-ONLY-Buys-Refurbs/1493461.html
