How would you know if your computer needs to be repaired?

In this day and age we consider having computers to be a basic necessity, whether you are a business owner or a regular employee, there are many daily tasks that have to be done with a computer. It has been a significant part of our life to own a computer or a laptop to aid us in our daily tasks. They can be considered as important as having a car because you need it almost everywhere you go – at work or at home.

However, like cars, computers also need to be maintained and repaired. Depending on the problem, your computer may give you a warning that something is not right. You may have not recognized the warning or you may have neglected these signs. Sometimes you don’t get a warning at all, so how would you know if your computers need to be repaired?

Whether your computer is showing signs that it needs to be repaired or not, here are some things to consider:

1. Physical damage - This is one of the most prominent signs that your computer needs technical attention. Damages such as a broken laptop LCD screen, cracked cases or other abnormal strange noises may signify that the unit has been physically mistreated. If the damage is just cosmetic, the unit may continue to operate without issue, other damage can sometimes lead to more serious technical issues later on.
2. Running slowly - Slow performance of computers is generally caused by software but in some cases can also be caused by hardware. Other issues could be a lack of available memory or the storage drive is reaching capacity and needs to be cleaned out.
3. Overheating - All computers have a built in cooling system that usually involves one or more fans that distributes the air throughout the case & central processing unit (CPU) to avoid overheating. However, there are some instances where the cooling system is not functioning properly, fan failure or dust build up can prevent adequate cooling and can lead to premature component failure.
4. Error messages - If you are receiving error messages, then you must be a reason why. Ignoring messages can lead to bigger problems down the track so it’s best to get them fixed as soon as possible
5. Infected with malware – Infections can effect computers to varying degrees. Some more minor infections can be detected easily and fixed by an anti-virus software solution. However, there are some viruses that can cause major problems to a computer which, in worst cases, renders them inoperable. 

These are just a few signs that your computer is in danger and needs to be attended to urgently.  Ignoring these warnings may cause severe problems or could even lead to unit replacement. Would you risk having to replace an entire PC due to not getting (what could be) a simple problem fixed?

If your computer needs urgent attention or would just like a service done, CKP Computers is here to help. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call, our number is 0447 619 397 or you can send us an enquiry, either through our contact page, by Facebook or by email, helpme@ckpcomputers.com.au.

Three IT mistakes every small business must avoid - CKP Computers

Managing a small business can vary from simple to complex and almost all require the use of computers. In this era where everything depends on the system and computer generated data and reports, an intensive IT background is a must in order to set it up properly. It can be risky if done incorrectly and small business owners can and do make unfortunate mistakes when it comes to their IT system.

Here are some of the most common problems a small business faces when it comes to setting up and maintaining computer systems:

• Inability To Set Up Firewalls & Virus Protection

Computer security has long been an important concern for small business. Many hackers tend to target small business due to lack of defensive resources. Also, computer viruses are becoming more and more dangerous each year that’s why the need to increase protection is urgently needed.

While most small business owners are aware of the importance of protecting their data security in computers, portable devices are often overlooked. In most cases, employees use their personal computers and mobile devices for work related purposes. It might help the owner’s budget from having to purchase additional equipment; however, it can also increase the risk of security concerns. Different ways to protect different machines used at work must be applied.

•  Failure To Consistently Back up Data

Knowing how to set up firewalls and virus protection programs is a vital aspect in small business. However, learning how to properly back up information is definitely another essential part. Backing up properly can save small business owners from unnecessary pain and regret if the worst happened. When unwanted situations occur such as system failure and security breach, backed up data will still be available for access, allowing small business to keep operating.

Most of the time, small businesses fail to consistently back up data. The process of backing up should be a priority at all times and small business owners should make an accurate schedule for backing up their system’s data. That way, everything can go smoothly and be under control.

• Failure To Create Secure Wireless Networks

Majority of small business require a reliable and fast wireless network especially when using multiple portable devices. However, wireless networks also come with their own security challenges. An inexperienced small business owner can find it hard to set up a wireless router. In addition, it is also important to ensure strong security is set or else access to the network can be easily obtained.

With many routers, by default, wireless security is turned off, additionally the default username and password is left at the default (ie admin, admin). Hackers know what the default credentials are for the different brands so it’s vital this information is changed to something only you know.

If you’re a small business owner and you are unsure of whether you are secure we recommend giving CKP Computers a call so we can help you out. We can save you time & money and greatly reduce your risks. Our number is 0447 619 397 or you can send us an enquiry, either through our contact page, by Facebook or by email, helpme@ckpcomputers.com.au.

What is Ransomware, what is does & how it can be avoided

What is it?

Ransomware is cyber threat that uses cryptographic measures designed to extort money from users. They have been around for a number of years now in many variations such CryptoLocker or Torrentlocker. One of the newest is called ‘Satana’ which not only encrypts your files, but also the master boot record on the hard drive so Windows won’t boot! Another recent variation ‘WannaCry‘ also includes a worm (type of virus) that allows it to spread to other connected computers without any user interaction.

One of the earlier variations was the ‘Police virus’ or ‘FBI virus’ which would display an image on the screen of infected computers requesting the user to pay a certain amount in order to unlock the computer. This was supposedly due to illegal activity the user had done. No user files were affected and the infection was relatively easy to remove. The new versions of Ransomware take it to a new level as they hold your personal files to ransom.

What it does?

We will be discussing Cryptolocker as an example, but the process may vary slightly between the Ramsomwarevariations. It starts by typically arriving as an attachment from any number of supposedly legitimate companies & appears to be genuine. Once the user double clicks the file, the process begins. First step is that the malware saves the file to the user’s Windows profile and also adds a key to the registry file so it auto starts the next time you log in. It then starts itself twice in case the user tries to kill the process. Next step is for it to contact the malware’s server to obtain the RSA encryption key & then asymmetric encryption begins. Predetermined files are encrypted, anything from Word documents to family photos, emails and a myriad in between. These files are generally encrypted in alphabetical order.

When finished, an image similar to this one is displayed.

Once this happens, there are a few options of how to proceed. First thing to do is remove the infection with reputable security software but that unfortunately still leaves your precious data encrypted. Without the decryption keys, your files are as good as gone so the next step is to recover the data from your most recent backup. You do have a recent backup, don’t you?

How to avoid it?

Ransomware is not that hard to avoid as long as you take a few precautionary measures. A little education for yourself and any team members you have goes a long way.

1. Don’t open attachments from unknown senders or anyone you suspect looks a little dodgy – use some vigilance.

2. Enable or show file extensions for known file types. By default, Windows hides the file extension for commonly used files (last three characters after the dot ie document.doc). This can be done quite easily in Windows. The malware is typically distributed as an .exe and masquerades to look like a pdf. With the extension hidden, you have no way of knowing the true file type.

3. Create & use a standard user account instead of an administrator account. This is an extra layer of protection to prevent software from installing as it’ll prompt you for the admin’s credentials in order to install anything.

4. Have current and up-to-date security software and updates for Windows. If you are running an unsupported operating system whilst connected to the internet (ie Windows XP) upgrading is essential as no future security patches will be released to fix found vulnerabilities. Doing this is a no brainer for anyone who wants to keep their system secure.

5. Have a consistent & reliable backup procedure in place, preferably offsite. Don’t just rely on an external HDD or cloud based storage (Dropbox, OneDrive, etc) as the malware has been known to encrypt files on those drives also. CKP Computers offers a cloud backup solution and are more than happy to discuss options.

6. Above all else, don’t pay the ransom! If you’ve taken the necessary precautions beforehand, it should never come to this point anyway.

I should point out too, if you suspect you’ve clicked something you shouldn’t have, immediately turn the computer off and leave it off and contact us for support. It takes time to encrypt the files on your system and chances are if you’ve acted quickly enough, only a small fraction of files (or hopefully none) have been affected.

For help with any of these steps, CKP Computers is here to help & keep you safe. Talk to us now for a no obligation discussion on your security needs. Our number is 0447 619 397 or you can send us an enquiry, either through our contact page, by Facebook or by email, helpme@ckpcomputers.com.au.

IT Support: Why There is No Room for Computer Problems Today

We are now at the golden age of technology. Nowadays, a computer is considered a basic necessity. It is a powerful device that makes our lives easier. It is also one of the most commonly used mediums worldwide for communication, creating artistic crafts, inputting information and a lot more. Businesses have arrived at an idea of having a paperless office. Thus, the need of efficient and user-friendly computers will is now considered even more important than ever.

There are things that come hand in hand with the trend that computers create. Such as the jobs for computer technicians, starting and building of computer repair shops, an online website that offers IT products and services, and the need for IT experts. Sometimes, these expert people are not tangible persons but an electronic one that can work for you and render services to your company even if they are far away from you. Those are the websites that you can access online. Taking care of your assets will definitely save you a lot of time and money especially if both are running low.

Here’s what an IT support can do for you:

•           In businesses, the use computers are considered a mainstream. They are all fan of computers even before the golden era of technology. One of the most important services that a business must have is IT support services. The company should have IT people: a programmer to ensure that their website is always protected; a technician for the hardware maintenance of the computer; and a developer to keep their websites or applications updated.

•           It is also important that these people are reliable. You hand them your company assets which is your computers, it must be given that these individuals are reliable at all times. They are the one who handles your clients’ database with confidential information. This is the critical information of the company. It is the golden book of the company so this must be taken care of properly and safely.

•           These people are also the one in charge of making sure that all of your files are backed up properly. Files are the most important records of the company and so they must be handled carefully. Retrieving backed up data is very essential when you just had reformatting. IT experts are very good at that.

•           Your computer system is one of your assets in your company. It is best that you ensure it is safe from suspicious viruses online. It can really harm your computer system. Computer viruses are getting strong from time to time so asking help from an IT support expert can be the best thing to do.

•           Computers can also be useless at times. Without the internet, computers can only do the basics. Enhancing your internet connection and ensuring its speed is also a must thing to do. Your IT support is also the one you can call out for help. They can also ensure that only your company computers and other company portable devices can access your wireless network.

There are lots of common computer problems that only an IT expert can fix. It is necessary that your IT support is skilled and professional so that you can avoid any inconvenience because your computers are being maintained and taken care of. Sometimes when you try to fix your computer yourself, you can do more harm on it than actually repairing it. You can only make the problem worse and it will cost you time and money. Perhaps, an expert IT support service is an answer.

To ensure that everything in your computer system works properly, find out more about our services by visiting https://www.ckpcomputers.com.au.

What is a UPS, what they protect against, the different types & how do I choose the right one?

What is a UPS?

A UPS or ‘Uninterruptible power supply’ is an electrical device that’s main purpose is to provide backup power to a computer or other electrical equipment in case mains power fails for whatever reason. Batteries contained within the UPSare used to provide protection from power interruptions by converting the DC (direct current) energy stored in the batteries to AC (alternating current) mains power instantaneously when the need arises.

UPS’s differ from auxiliary power systems or generators as these do not provide instant power fail safes.

The size of a UPS within any given type is usually depicted by its volt-ampere (VA) and sometimes Watt (W) rating. A volt-ampere (VA) is the unit used for measuring apparent power in an AC circuit, in DC circuits, true power is measured in watts (W). The higher the rating, the more power it can provide and the longer the run-time will be (depending on load levels).

The battery run-time for most UPS’s is relatively short (approx 10 mins depending on load) but should be sufficient to either power down the computer safely or give you time to start up an auxiliary power system such as a generator.

Typical UPS in varying sizes

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UPS’s can also provide protection against the following power abnormalities in varying degrees, depending on type. Knowing the different power conditions will give you a better understanding of how the correct UPS is vital for your electrical equipment.

Blackout: Term also known as a power outage is when there is no power. This is either due to a fault, natural disaster (storm) or by the electricity provider turning off supply to do maintenance.

Brownout: Is a term used to describe a voltage drop when the mains supply is not able to provide the rated power typically for a very short period (under a second). Anything longer than that is known as ‘Undervoltage’. Brownouts tend to occur during periods of high power usage such as summer or winter. Many people may be using air conditioners or heaters and this puts a strain on the mains supply. Drops in voltage can cause burnout for many electrical devices, reasons being to compensate for the drop in voltage, the device needs to draws more current and high current leads to failure in devices not designed for it.

Surge: Term used to describe an increase in voltage that naturally causes an increase in current or vice versa. External power surges are typically caused by lightning strikes but can also occur internally caused when motors startup or shut down. Surges can also occur after the mains power comes back on after a blackout. Surges can also travel over phone or TV cable services. An ADSL modem not properly protected can also cause damage to a computer if physically connected with an Ethernet cable.

Other power issues UPS’s can correct include line noise (sometimes caused from other devices on same circuit), harmonic distortion (change in expected AC waveform) or any other frequency instabilities.

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Different UPS types:

There are many different types of UPS and the way they operate but for this article I will focus on the three major types, standby, line interactive & online.

Standby: This is the most common type and has the most basic features typically used for personal computers or where low cost is required. During normal operation, the protected devices are connected to the main power supply and switches over to the battery if the primary power source fails or alters outside the acceptable range. The inverter, which is required to convert the DC battery power to AC only starts up when the power fails, ie “standby”.
The switch over time from mains to battery can be up 25 milliseconds depending on the UPS and its circuitry. The UPS then continues to provide power until the mains is rectified or the battery goes flat.

Pros

• Low cost
• Small size
• Simple design

Cons

• Next to no power conditioning
• Slow change over time from mains to battery
• Battery charger may shorten battery life
• Limited functionality

Block diagram of a standby UPS

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Line interactive: This type is completely different and is more advanced in comparison to the standby UPS. It does away with the battery charger, inverter and change over switch and replaces them with an inverter/converter hybrid device which can both charge the battery & provide output power. The main advantage of always being connected to the output is that it can provide extra protection against power issues and allows for faster response in the event of a power failure. During times when power is normal, the inverter is operating in reverse which charges the battery. If the mains power fails, the inverter switches direction.

Line Interactive UPS’s also contain what’s called an autotransformer. This allows the UPS to handle undervoltage brownouts and overvoltage surges without consuming battery power. It instead automatically selects different power taps on the autotransformer compensating for the increase or decrease in the input voltage to provide stable output power. This leads to greater reliability and less premature battery failure.

Pros

• Low cost
• Proper Sine wave output
• Better output power regulation
• Efficient
• Surge, Brownout & other power conditioning

Cons

• Load protection is minimal
• Change over time still slow for sensitive equipment
• Over time protection components can degrade

Block diagram of a line interactive UPS

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Online: With this type of UPS, power change over switches aren’t necessary and the batteries are always connected to the inverter. If the mains power is interrupted, the batteries keep the output power steady and the rectifier is removed from the circuit. When mains power comes back up, the rectifier cuts back in and resumes as normal providing most of the power and charging of the batteries. Online UPS’s main advantage over standby or line interactive UPS’s is that it’s able to effectively provide electrical isolation or firewall from the mains power.

Online UPS’s are necessary for equipment sensitive to power fluctuations and provide outstanding power protection.

Pros

• Zero Change over time, ie nonexistent
• Constant voltage output
• Excellent power conditioning and surge protection
• Provides electrical isolation

Cons

• More expensive
• Larger & heavier
• Efficiency is low
• Higher heat output
• Batteries have to be replaced more often

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Which type is right for me?

Now I’m sure you have a better understanding of what a UPS is and how the types are different from one another. Choosing the correct UPS is dependent on the situation and what equipment it’s protecting. For a simple home use computer, a standby UPS is fine, for business use whether it be a workstation or server, a line interactive UPS would be a better choice. Then for critical equipment, sensitive to power fluctuations, an online UPS would be the one to go for.

Once you have determined which type of UPS you need, next is to determine is the size or VA rating. It’s a good idea to work out what is critical to keep operating & what’s not then make a rough calculation of the power requirements so a UPSbig enough to supply power to those devices is purchased.

As an example, devices that can or should be connected are:

• Computer
• Monitor
• Network switch
• Modem/Router
• Other critical devices

Devices that should not be connected include:

• Laser printers or scanners
• Any other non critical device to save power

Unless the UPS is large enough to handle it, laser printers and scanners should only be connected to surge protection only outlets (if applicable) due to the high power draw when they start up. This can overload smaller UPS’s and cause damage.

If you need help deciding on the right UPS for your system, CKP Computers is here to help you. Talk to us now for advice and how you can better protect your equipment. Our number is 0447 619 397 or you can send us an enquiry, either through our contact page, by Facebook or by email, helpme@ckpcomputers.com.au.

Keyboard shortcuts everyone should know

With the advent of the computer mouse, people have become reliant on the technology to be able to do a lot of the navigating of their PCs. However by using some simple keyboard shortcuts, you can greatly increase your productivity and reduce unnecessary strain on your hands. You don’t have to take your hands off the keyboard, reach for the mouse to perform the desired operation and then return to the keyboard to continue typing.

What we’ve done is highlight ten of my most used shortcuts which we consider everyone should know. At the bottom, a link is included to a more comprehensive list which some people may find to be a valuable resource to keep handy (courtesy of Microsoft).

Ctrl + C – Copies any highlighted text or item
Ctrl + X – Cuts any highlighted text or item
Ctrl + V – Pastes text or item
Ctrl + Z – Undo last change
Ctrl + Y – Redo the undo
Ctrl + F – Opens the find or search box in a program
Alt + Tab – Switch between open programs
Windows Key + D – Minimises all windows and returns to the desktop
Ctrl + S – Saves the file currently being worked on
Ctrl + P – Prints page or document

Another ten notable short-cuts worth mentioning are:

Ctrl + A – Selects all text
Ctrl + B – Changes highlighted text to be bold
Ctrl + I – Changes highlighted text to be in italics
Ctrl + U – Changes highlighted text to be underlined
F1 – Displays Help
F2 – Rename selected item or file
Alt + F4 – Closes open program or page
F5 – Refreshes the currently open window
F9 – Initiates a Send/Receive in Outlook
Shift + Del – Permanently deletes selected item or file without sending to Recycle Bin

Keyboard shortcut list

As you can see, learning some of these simple keyboard  shortcuts allows you to do many tasks while saving you a lot of time.

Besides out great service, we also sell keyboards here at CKP Computers. If you need anything we are here to help you. Talk to us now for advice or any other keyboard info. Our number is 0447 619 397 or you can send us an enquiry, either through our contact page, by Facebook or by email, helpme@ckpcomputers.com.au.

All in a day’s work – printer & backup issues sorted

I went and saw a new client in Wantirna the other day to sort a few IT issues out that their existing support weren’t able to fix. The first issue was to do with their printer; it would constantly come up with an error message to install a new toner cartridge even though there was a new cartridge installed, or so I thought.

We tried a few things like cleaning the cartridge and other methods to make the printer recognize it but nothing worked. At this point I figured it must be a faulty cartridge or a fault with the printer. After further discussion with my client, it was discovered that although the cartridge was new, it was used briefly in another printer they used to own and now when we tried to use it again, it would not work. Whether the cartridge had simply died, had expired or was empty was unknown. A new cartridge was supplied and all was good again.

Other issues to do with scanning were also rectified by updating the drivers and making a few other system changes.

Next we got on to sorting out their backup needs. The method they were using was cumbersome, time consuming and not very effective. They were using external hard drives and alternated between them each day. Due to being busy business people, most of the time the backups weren’t being done, was inconsistent and ultimately didn’t really work. They paid a horrendous amount of money to their existing support to get this sorted and it never worked properly from the word go.

So I got to work and implemented our Cloud Backup service so now they can sleep easy knowing their data is safe & secure in an offsite storage facility. Completely automated, encrypted, monitored and tested, all for a small monthly fee of less than 50c per day. Just one other thing they don’t have to worry about.

All in all it was a great result and they are very happy.

If you need help with any IT issue, we are here to help you. Our number is 0447 619 397 or you can send us an enquiry, either through our contact page, by Facebook or by email, helpme@ckpcomputers.com.au.