JH Computer Services

We're all in the same boat with limiting contact due to Covid-19. But did you know that a LOT can be accomplished remotely? A slower time is a great time to evaluate and tune up your office systems. You'll be amazed at the difference!

Tips for staying safe online: We all get those convincingly real looking emails that try to make you click on whatever link they want you to. It's called "click bait", and it's a big problem today. The rule of thumb is to never respond to these via the links in the email. Log directly into your accounts, be it Amazon or any other online account, and do your verifying of whatever they're claiming from there. Remember this basic fact: NOBODY LEGITIMATE is asking you for persona...l information, access to your account or computer or to "click here" to go fix an issue with your computer/order/account. Same thing with phone calls. Unless you initiated the phone call and know who you're talking to (such as a credit card company), don't tell anyone anything or give access to anything. The bad guys are getting smarter all the time and finding endless ways to prey on you. You don't have to be "tech savvy" to protect yourself. If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. It's a sad state we're in that we have to be this suspicious and distrustful. Like it or not, we've decided online is where we want to shop, so be wary of everything in the online world. Restrict personal information to sites you do business with and trust. Hang up the phone as soon as you hear someone ask for personal information if you didn't initiate the call. Go directly to web sites where your accounts are, not via an email link. If you do, you run the risk of logging into not your account, but a fraudulent site that just got your personal account info and/or other private information. You will reduce your chances of becoming a victim if you follow these basic precautions online. Stay safe out there. See more

Do you own or work for a small to medium sized business? Business computers and networks greatly benefit from regular monthly maintenance that's not only very affordable, but can also be done remotely after hours. We have many satisfied customers under maintenance who enjoy these benefits and more: Windows updates are current System settings are optimized for efficient operation Antivirus is up to date and always protecting you... Your system is free of clutter and junk that slows it down Backups are run on an automatic schedule Your server(s) and network is configured properly Your drivers and programs are up to date Protection from intrusions and data theft Think of it as after hours office cleaning for your computer environment. Your systems will run noticeably smoother and faster. And the best part? This invaluable service will pay for itself many times over by reducing expensive service calls and down time. That's real peace of mind. Contact us at 905-339-8723 for a free evaluation of your environment and more details of what we can do for you. Sign up for a three month trial and get a free fourth month. The service can be cancelled at any time if you aren't satisfied, but we're sure you will be when you see the difference properly maintained systems can make!

Did you know that you can upgrade your Windows 7 to Windows 10 for FREE so long as you have a valid Windows 7 licence key? Microsoft could decide to stop this option before the January 14th end of Windows 7 support date, so consider upgrading soon!

Here's some technology from the early days. An old hard drive that would only hold a few pictures today, and a library microfilm machine.

This might be the most valuable thing you'll read today. Honestly, how well do your business computer systems and network run on a day to day basis? If the answer lies somewhere between "Could be better" and "Now what?" then I can help you. That's not just another empty promise, I really can. I will take your poorly running systems and network and bring them back to a stable and worry free running condition. How? By using a proven strategy that starts from the foundation up a...nd builds a stable environment. You may be thinking, "That sounds complicated and expensive." The thing is, it really doesn't have to be, and I'll take you through the logic of that versus downtime and expensive calls for service you may be experiencing too often now. By nature, technicians tend to over-think stuff and make things WAY more complicated than they need to be. The more you complicate things the more potential for problems you create. Most of the process of making things run right is simply proper configuration. Sure, a lot of tech places love to hear "Help! My computers are really slow. Do I need new ones?" You might, but in many cases you don't. All you need is a properly set up environment. After that, you can even optionally choose to keep it that way with surprisingly affordable monthly maintenance done remotely after hours. It really is worth your time to have a free evaluation with JH Computer Services. Take the time to put things right and see the difference it makes. Call us to set up your FREE evaluation at 905-339-8723. Serving Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton and the surrounding areas. See more

Here are some random Windows 10 thoughts that might save you aggravation. Like most techs, I've been dealing with these upgrades a lot lately. Microsoft would have you believe all your settings and preferences won't change. Don't you believe it. First and most important, when you get to the blue setup screens turn off EVERYTHING they default to on. These settings are outright dangerous and jeapordize your privacy and security. Share your info with advertisers? Automatic conne...ctions to hotspots? Insanity. Choose "customize" and Turn 'em off! Some of what can happen depending on the version and environment are: You'll find your remote access turned off if you use RDP (Remote Desktop Services). The firewall often disables the rule that allows it. Also, file and print sharing gets turned off, further blocking remote access and networking. Power management settings get turned on sometimes as well. Older Antivirus will not work, and in some cases you'll be buying an upgrade. One example is Norton Endpoint versions below 12.1.6. They will be uninstalled, and you'll find yourself unprotected. Be prepared to potentially experience problems with Microsoft Office as well. In several cases I had to do repair installs of 2010 and up. There is lots more, but those are the highlights. My advice? Go online before you start and study up on Windows 10 and the upgrade process. Then take the time to put your existing Windows 7 or 8 into proper shape. Get it updated, including current versions of all your programs and Antivirus. Make sure Windows updates are done and Office is 2010 or newer with all updates applied. Clean out the clutter with CCleaner or something like that. The more you prepare the smoother the upgrade process will go. And be sure when it's over that your malware protection is functioning properly. Lastly, grab Chrome if you don't have it. You're going to dislike the new "Edge" browser that replaced your old Internet Explorer. It's still there too, but you have to go hook it back up. Have fun, and give your new OS a hug. If you came from Windows 7, you're in for some re-learning.

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