Exceptional Computer Services, Inc.

Heat: A slow death for a computer

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:20:17 +0000

Have you noticed your computer slowing down? You’ve done the usual maintenance and it still seems slow? You may be experiencing heat related slowdown.

The computer has sensors that detect when it is overheating, and it automatically slows itself down to reduce it’s heat output. As a result your computer will run slower and slower. If you ignore this symptom and keep pushing it to work, it may eventually die of heat exhaustion.

There are many fans inside your computer who’s job is to keep the system cool, but they also suck in all the dust into the computer, but they can’t do anything if they don’t have access to outside air. Eventually the inside of the computer will fill with dust. Even if you keep the vents clear, the dust can accumulate preventing that cooling air from reaching components. Every year, have a professional clean the inside of your computer.

So what can you do about it?

Run a vacuum ON THE OUTSIDE of the computer and insure all the vents, front and back, are clear. Do this every three months or more frequently if you smoke, have pets, or are in a dusty environment.
Set your screen saver to show a blank screen. If you computer is drawing images or scrolling text, then it’s working; and this generates unnecessary heat.
Let your computer sleep. People usually use their computer everyday, but not every hour, letting your computer sleep will dramatically reduce its power usage. Less power equals less heat. If you access your computer remotely, you can’t do this.
If you’re not going to use your computer for more than a day, turn it off.
Finally, if your feel hot in the room you’re running the computer, it’s too hot for the computer as well.

A cooler computer means a faster computer. That makes you more productive, and gives your computer a longer life.

Cybercrime is close to home

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 01:03:29 +0000

Identity theft is on the rise, and it’s surprisingly close to home. Symantec released a report showing Port Coquitlam, Langley and Vancouver, BC are among the cities having the highest incidences of cybercrime in Canada.

We don’t know why these areas have higher incidents, but it could be speculated that residents in these areas have more access to computers, the Internet and WiFi hotspots and go online more often to shop, bank and communicate with family and friends, making them greater targets for cybercriminals.

1. Phishing Scams

Phishing email try to trick the intended victim into visiting a fraudulent website disguised to look like a valid eCommerce or banking site. The victim thinks they are logging into their real account, but instead everything they enter on the fake site is being sent to the scammers. Armed with this information, the scammer can wipe out the victim’s accounts, run up their credit cards, or even steal their identity. For an example of this, click on this link for http://youtube.com, but you’ll actually go to this website.

2. Greeting Card Scams

Greeting card scams arrive in email pretending to be from a friend or family member. Clicking the link to view the card typically leads to a booby-trapped web page that downloads Trojans and other malicious software onto the systems of the unsuspecting.

3. Scareware Scams

Scareware erroneously claims the system is infected and instructs the user to purchase a ‘full version’ in order to clean the bogus infections. Sometimes, fake anti-virus software gets installed by the user who fell victim to an advertising scam. Other times, a rogue anti-spyware scanner may be installed by exploit, a so called ‘drive-by install’. Regardless of how the rogue software gets installed, the user is often left with a hijacked, crippled system.

4. A Call for Help Scam

Emails which appears to come from someone you know, asking for money or help and include a link. Clicking on the link infects your system, then directs you to transfer funds to help them out. In the meantime, you system is now sending emails to your friends, and with your bank information, can now clean your bank account.

Being informed is 90% of the battle, and please, don’t do your personal banking on the same computer your children use.

Norman Davie

A false Anti-virus coming soon to you

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 06:35:07 +0000

Example 1 - False Anti-virus 7

Virus writers have taken another page from social engineering and found a new way to separate your hard earned cash from you. Realizing that everyone in the Windows world runs an anti-virus program (or should), now the viruses are masquerading as the programs that are supposed to protect us.

These false anti-virus programs then pop up messages indicating that your subscription has expired and request you “renew” your subscription. Not immediately, but eventually a slew of charges will show up on your card.

So how do these viruses get into your computer?

The most common avenue is through email. (Read about The Dangers of E-mail)
Music sharing or P2P programs;”Free” music. What you don’t pay for in music, you’ll pay for in virus removal.
Not having a hardware router (firewall) between the internet and you. A router is like a one way valve: Only places that you go to can reach back to you. Without a router, anyone can “touch” your computer.
Example 2 - False Anti-virus Security Guard
Assuming your anti-virus program provides 100% protection. With 1,200 new viruses every month, there is no way any company can recognize all new viruses immediately.
Going to a *bad* site. These sites instantly infect your computer as soon as you go to them! How do you identify a bad site? Unfortunately there is no simple rule.

With so many ways to get infected, assume at some time you will get a virus. Be prepared and have all your data backed up ahead of time.

Federal budget offers 100% Capital Cost write-off on computers

admin — Thu, 21 May 2009 19:21:41 +0000

The 2009 Federal budget is offering a 100% Capital Cost write-off on computers and related software purchased for your small business between January 27, 2009 and February 2011.

To find out more visit CCA Web site at http://www.budget.gc.ca/2009/plan/bpa5a-eng.asp#Business and scroll down to Computers: Accelerated CCA

Dangers of E-mail

admin — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:18:11 +0000

When you receive an e-mail, do you become excited… or concerned? E-mail has become the dominant form of communication for our modern society, but it is also a doorway that criminal elements can use to take control of your computer, steal your money, spy on you or even copy your identity. Don’t assume an Anti-virus program will protect you. There are currently over 1 million known viruses — how many are unknown? Social engineering is used to entice you to read that joke, view those pictures, or click that link. To truly protect yourself you must change your behaviour. Below is a list of things you can do. The more you do on this list, the safer you are:

Don’t click on links in e-mails. It may look like a link to youtube or your bank, but it may send you to another site. Just by visiting a site a virus could be installed on your computer, and then they redirect you to the original location; you would never know you’ve been compromised.
Turn off e-mail preview. There are many viruses that can be received just by opening an e-mail. There is no difference between previewing an e-mail and opening it up.
Turn off image display. On Windows systems, some viruses can come in just by showing an picture.
Don’t open attachments, even from someone you know, unless they tell you ahead of time and it’s important to you. Their system could be compromised and is now trying to take over your computer!
Don’t read/preview e-mails from people you don’t know. Better yet, change the settings in your e-mail program so you only receive e-mail from people currently in your contact list.

Changing behaviour is difficult. Some of us found it hard to get used to wearing a seat belt in a car, even though there was a huge benefit. Changing your behaviour could save you from a different kind of crash. E-mail is a fantastic way to stay in touch with people, just be careful what you touch.

Norman Davie – President

Environmental Handing Fee changes August 1st

admin — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:12:21 +0000

This doesn’t happen very often, so it’s a pleasant shock when a levy is reduced. As of August 1, 2009, British Columbia will be changing the charges for it’s Environmental Handling Fee (EHF)

Item	Levy (Levy before August 1st)
Desktop Computer	$ 5.50 ($10.00)
Display Devices (Monitor or TV) 29″ or smaller	$ 9.00 ($12.00)
Display Devices (Monitor or TV) 30″ or larger	$31.75 ($45.00)
Desktop Printers	$ 6.50 ($ 8.00)
Portable Computer	$ 1.20 ($ 5.00)
Keyboard or Mouse (charge for each)	$ 0.90 ($ 0.00)

As with all levies imposed by the government, triple taxation has been implemented. The provincial and federal will be imposed on top of this levy; adding another 12% (PST/GST).

For more information on this and other recycling programs, go to the Encorp Pacific Website

Norman Davie – President

Environmental BC

admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 21:23:02 +0000

As of August 1, 2007, British Columbia has implemented a new Environmental Handling Fee (EHF) on the sale of all new computers, monitors, printers, fax machines and televisions.

Item	Levy
Desktop Computer	$10
Computer Monitor	$12
Notebook Computer	$5
Printer / Fax	$8
Televisions	$15 – $45

With the new program, you’ll be able to take your old equipment to the recycling depot at no charge. What materials will be reclaimed?

Steel, aluminum, copper and other metals
Cables, wires, chips and other components
Lead, zinc, mercury and other hazardous materials

As with all new levies imposed by the government, triple taxation has been implemented. The provincial and federal will be imposed on top of this levy; adding another 13% (PST/GST).

For more information on this and other recycling programs, go to the Encorp Pacific Website

Norman Davie – President

Hard Drive Reliability

admin — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 21:22:14 +0000

Backed up your data recently? Google, the largest consumer of ‘off-the-shelf’ drives, prepared a report on 100,000 commercial hard drives ranging from 80GB to 400GB in use since 2001 and found the average life span for drives was only 3 years.

Other interesting facts in the report:

Most hard drives failed in the first 60 days or after 3 years.
Frequently used hard drives failed at the same rate as infrequently used.
Only drives older than 3 years were affected by high temperatures.

Unfortunately, Google omits to mention which manufacturers have the most failure-prone drives. Click here to

read the full Google report.

Being forewarned will help you and your clients avoid lost time and wages, so forward this newsletter on.

Norman Davie – President

Big Changes Ahead

admin — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 21:21:32 +0000

Think you’re ready for Daylight Savings? You may be changing your clocks more often this year than you expect. Your computer will be fine if you have Mac OS X 10.3.9 / Windows XP (both with the latest updates). However your older devices, like watches, VCR’s, cell phones, PDA’s, microwave ovens, heating systems, and point-of-sale devices, may change as they have traditionally done. That means you’ll be changing your clocks four times a year.

March 11	Official Daylight Savings Time(Spring Forward 1 hour)
April 1	Traditional Forward 1 Hour – *Incorrect* (Set your older devices back again)
October 28	Traditional Back 1 Hour – *Incorrect* (Set your older devices ahead)
November 4	Official Daylight Savings Time(Fall Back)

Being forewarned will help you and your clients avoid lost time and wages, so forward this newsletter on.

Norman Davie – President

Dangers of Hotspots

admin — Sun, 13 May 2007 21:20:52 +0000

It’s very convenient to be able to surf the internet at your favourite coffee shop, but be aware of the following dangers:

Shared folders on your computer will become available to everyone
All the traffic coming to and going out of your computer could be monitored, including passwords and financial information.
Evil Twins: Hackers are known to set up their computers to produce a wireless connection hoping you’ll connect their wireless connection. When you do, they perform a direct attack to the computers that attached to them.

What to do if you’re a Windows user:

In the Advanced settings of Wireless Network Connection properties (“Advanced” button on “Wireless Networks” tab), choose “Access Point (infrastructure) networks only”. The unsafe default is “Any available network.”
Turn off “Automatic Connection” to preferred networks in the Wireless Network Connection properties so your network reads “On Demand”. This will prevent your computer connecting to unsafe networks that have the same name as your home or office network.
Turn off file sharing when you’re using a hotspot.
Minimize the amount of sensitive data you store on your laptops and mobile devices.
Make sure you’re on a legitimate hotspot by checking with the host to confirm the network name and connection process.
Insure you have a software firewall installed at running, such as Windows built in firewall, Zone Alarm, or the free product from Comodo (www.comodo.com)

Norman Davie – President