A cloud backup is also known as an online backup. It sends a copy of data (documents, photos, etc.) to an offsite vendor, sometimes called a cloud provider. This third-party network or proprietary keeps the information secure and available in real-time. Typically, there is a fee based on bandwidth, capacity and the number of users accessing the cloud.

Most individuals and businesses choose a cloud backup instead of a storing it locally because they do not want to risk valuable information being compromised or lost. Another reason people decide to use a cloud backup is to archive essential information that they do not need to have access to a daily basis.

For over 25 years, firewalls have been set up to secure and protect networks. We highly recommend using a firewall to protect your network from hackers, worms and viruses that try to reach your computer through the Internet.

A firewall works as a security device for networks that monitors incoming and outgoing traffic to determine what is or is not safe for the network based on predefined rules, established at the time the firewall is set up.

Firewalls can either be software or hardware that will work to screen out hackers, viruses, or worms that may try to reach a computer on your network through the Internet. Firewalls are commonly used at businesses where there are many users searching the Internet or accessing websites that may or may not be a threat to network security. As our home networks have grown to include multiple devices and computers, firewalls have become a necessary security method at home as well.

In schools and businesses, firewalls often protect the network by blocking sites that are known to spread viruses, worms, or contain inappropriate content. A network admin will usually establish what type of sites to block based on the type of content hosted there. For example, if management believes that viruses or inappropriate material can be found on Facebook or Twitter, your admin may set sites that are flagged as social media to automatically be blocked.

A firewall can be found on hardware, such as a router, or on software, within each of the machines on a network. Firewalls are easy to set up and worth the time spent setting them up properly considering they can save your network from potential damage that could cost a lot of money or time to repair.

Once you have determined that your computer has been hacked, there are several steps you can take to try to minimize any potential damage such as destroyed files and compromised personal information security.

Detach Computer Access to Any Network

This is necessary to make certain that the hacker is not able to access further information and damage any other devices that are connected to your computer. First, detach the network cable from your hacked computer, then manually turn off your Wi-Fi connection.

Power Off Your Computer and Pull Out the Hard Drive

Once you have done this, place your hard drive in a USB drive caddy to connect internally to another computer as a secondary non-bootable drive. Make certain that the computer you are connecting the hard drive to has current antivirus and antispyware software installed.

Scan Your Hard Drive for Spyware and Malware

Use the antivirus and antispyware programs on the host computer to scan your hard drive to make certain that there is no residual infection from the hacked computer.

Backup Your Files on the Host Computer

You can do this by copying all of your personal information, documents, media, photos, and video from the previously infected hard drive to either a clean hard drive, a DVD, or a CD.

Reinsert Your Hard Drive in Your Computer, Then Wipe It Out

Once you have your hard drive back in your computer, set the drive’s dip switches to “Master”. Next, you will need to wipe the drive clean to make sure that all malware is gone. Use a hard drive wipe to totally blank the drive within a few hours.

Reload Your Computer’s Operating System from a Trusted Source

Make sure to do this using only the discs that you received when you purchased your computer and download all updates and patches for your operating system.

Reload Your Security Software

Do this before reloading any of your other applications or information to make certain that your system is not vulnerable to any malware that could reside in them.

Scan Your Information Backup Discs Before Uploading

Taking this extra precaution is an important step in making sure that they are free of viruses, malware, and spyware.

Geeks on Site is Here to Help

Feeling overwhelmed or still not sure what to do when your computer is hacked? Need additional help? Geeks on Site is available to fix your computer today, either through our safe and convenient online remote PC repair delivery method, or with traditional on-site, in-home and in-office service.

It’s a situation that almost everyone who has an iPhone® experiences – Your iPhone is plugged in to charge, but instead of seeing the charge signal at the top right of your phone’s screen, you get a pop-up message that reads “This accessory may not be supported.” It could mean several things and can happen with other devices as well. Restart your phone, or other devices, and see if you receive the same message. If it disappears, you likely experienced a software glitch. If you are still receiving the message, here’s what may be wrong.

· Your charging cable is not functioning properly because it is dirty, damaged, or broken. Check your cable for any signs of dirt and remove it with an anti-static brush. If you find damage, replace the cord or try charging your phone with a different one.

· Your charging port is not functioning properly because it is dirty, damaged or broken. Use a flashlight to look inside the port for any debris or damage. If this is the problem, you may need to replace it. If you have a warranty for the device, this could be covered. Do not attempt this on your own.

· You aren’t using a charging cable that is certified. If you are using a cable that isn’t manufactured consistent with the device’s manufacturer’s standards, you will likely see the “This accessory may not be supported” message appear. It is important to use a cable that is certified because others may overheat and destroy your device. Try charging your device with the original cable it came with and see if the message disappears.

· You need to update the operating system on your phone. Sometimes, the reason why you are seeing the message is due to you running an out of date operating system. Allow your device to update the operating system and try again.

Still not sure why you are seeing the “This accessory may not be supported” message on your device? Need additional help? Just give Geeks on Site a call at 1 (888) 799-4335.

A firewall is a network security tool designed to monitor and control all traffic, incoming and outgoing, on a network based on defined security rules. It can serve as a gateway or barrier to keep a network or specific computer safe from corrupted files or content. Firewalls are created with a set of rules that prevent unauthorized access to the computer or network.

Firewalls are often used at businesses to prevent employees from visiting untrustworthy sites or downloading questionable content in order to keep the network safe from potential hacking.

For personal home use, your router functions as a hardware firewall to prevent unsolicited incoming traffic from reaching the computers and devices in your network.

You may be surprised by how easy it is for others to track your personal data. From the websites you visit to the battery level on your device, all kinds of personal data can be tracked while browsing the Internet.

Website Information

Data trackers can access all kinds of information about your Internet presence whenever you log onto the Internet. Why would anyone want this information? Many businesses track the websites you visit and links you click on to provide you a better customer experience. Websites may also track your information to provide you with product suggestions or allow you to review recent searches. Information about how you interact with websites includes:

• Websites you’re visiting
• Links you click on
• Product purchases
• Browser choices
• Installed plug-ins
• Operating systems used

Personal Data

When you log onto the Internet, your IP address can be tracked. This is essentially your entry point on the Internet or your online address. Your IP address can provide trackers with all kinds of personal information on and off the Internet, including your physical location. In addition to your current location, website trackers can also learn:

• The device you are using
• Browsers you use
• Display resolution
• Device battery level
• Mouse movements and clicks
• Default settings such as language or time zone

Needless to say, much more of your personal information is available online than the average user knows. Not sure what steps you can take to protect your personal data? Here at Geeks on Site, we offer a wide variety of services designed to keep your data private. Our team of tech experts is dedicated to ensuring your personal data is protected, whether you are online at your home or office. We offer on-site and remote services, making it easy to get the tech help you need. Call us today to find out more!

Cookies are small data files deposited from a website onto your device to learn about you. The goal for most websites that utilize cookies is to tailor your online experience to your preferences. This can include anything from creating a “recently viewed” product page or remembering your login credentials (i.e., usernames and passwords) to make it easier for you to log in. Although cookies can only retrieve information stored on your device, that is still quite a bit of information for most individuals. Read on to learn more about what data cookies are collecting on you and how you can protect yourself from scammers.

Information Cookies Collect:

• Account Information
  From email addresses to usernames and passwords, cookies can collect a lot of information on you. While most cookies are designed to make things more convenient for users, access to this information could be harmful. Consider this – do you use the same username and password combination on multiple sites? If so, can you see why this could be an issue if that information gets into the wrong hands?
• Viewed Items
  Ever wonder how websites know about products you have been shopping for recently? Cookies enable businesses to learn about which products consumers are interested in and make suggestions to them accordingly.
• Preferred Settings and Themes
  Businesses want to get to know as much as they can about consumers to tailor advertising, products, and services. By knowing your preferred settings and themes, businesses can learn more about you and improve the way you interact with their website.
• Beware of Cookie Scraping
  Scammers can do what is referred to as “cookie scraping.” This entails a scammer copying the cookies from your computer and using them to access your accounts, including bank, credit card, and email accounts. If you have unique usernames and passwords for every site, they will not get very far with your information but if you don’t, this could lead to a lot of trouble.

Not sure how to protect yourself from cookie scraping and other online attacks? Geeks on Site can help you protect yourself from cookie scraping and all kinds of malware and virus attacks. Our team of experts can help you remotely or on-site. Call us to find out more!

All computers need to be maintained internally and externally regularly. If you use your computer often, you will most likely need a complete maintenance check for it no less than a monthly basis. To complete the task properly so that your computer runs at optimum speed and is protected from malware, most computer owners routinely complete four types of maintenance:

1. Internal Preventive Maintenance Done Weekly
   Maintaining your computer proactively so that faults or failures don’t occur is a best practice for all who own a computer. This includes updating your Windows programs, completing virus and malware scans, and checking that you are backing up files.
2. External Preventive Maintenance Done Frequently
   Taking proper care of the external parts of your computer is essential. Dust buildup in and around your equipment can cause overheating that can burn out its components and cause other malfunctions. Cleaning the dust inside of your computer’s case is one of the most important tasks you can complete to protect its power supply, but many computer owners prefer to have an IT professional take care of this. You should also check often that your surge protectors are working and keep the area surrounding your computer free of clutter, dust, and dirt.
3. Corrective Maintenance Done When Repairs are Necessary
   Common corrective maintenance issues include replacing hardware – such as damaged components, running software to remove viruses and malware, restoring a system, and reformatting. While many computer owners try to avoid doing corrective maintenance by keeping current with a program of preventive maintenance for their equipment, malfunctions can happen even to the best-maintained systems. First, the problem must be diagnosed, and then it can be fixed in most instances. Often, computer owners can do both tasks, however IT professionals are sometimes required.
4. Maintaining Reliability
   These tasks are designed to make certain that every time you use your computer, you can depend on it to run properly, store information correctly, and function at optimum speed. To achieve reliability in your computer’s functions, regularly remove programs you are not using to clear out hard drive space. Also, clear your web activity history and delete any temporary Internet files to boost your Internet speed. It is also important to check that your computer is not storing malware and spyware – remove them if found.

Why Choose Geeks on Site for Your Computer Maintenance?

Geeks on Site IT techs are available across the US for on-site and remote service. Our techs provide a wide array of reliable IT services for individuals and businesses and have the tools and knowledge to get the job done. Our 7-day warranty on our service ensures you are happy with your tech’s performance. Contact Geeks on Site for your computer maintenance needs.

If you know routine computer maintenance is important, but don’t want the hassle of doing it yourself, check out our Geeks for Life Membership for only $19.95 per month.

Accidentally deleting important files can cause panic and stress at the idea of them being gone forever. Fortunately, if the lost files are discovered soon enough, they can usually be restored.

Restore Deleted Files from the Trash

If you have only moved files to the Trash bin, you can restore them with little effort. Just right click on the folder or file within the Trash and hit “restore” or click the file and drag it to the Desktop. You can then easily move it to wherever you need it to be. If you have emptied your recycling bin, you still have options.

Stop Using Your Computer Immediately

As soon as you determine that you have deleted or modified a file, stop using your computer. When you delete a file, the data is temporarily hidden from the directory even after you empty your Recycling Bin. Depending on the computer you use (Windows or Mac) a built in restore feature or one from a third-party could restore your hard drive to a previous version.

Restore from an External Hard Drive or Cloud Service

If you set up a backup system, your deleted files are probably preserved within that system. Accessing your backup files varies based on the type of system you use, but most are easy to navigate. If your system is Cloud-based, you can log into the platform that stores your files and restore to a previous backup.

An external machine will more than likely be accessible by searching your computer for “backup” or the device’s name.

Hire Professionals

Professional tech service providers, such as Geeks on Site, can handle recovering missing files for you. Additionally, professional tech support can get you set up with a backup system that will ensure that you do not ever accidentally delete folders or files again in the future.

Still having trouble recovering deleted files? We can help! Give Geeks on Site a call at 1-888-799-4335 and we’ll walk you through the process of recovering your files, anytime 24/7.

External hard drives are commonly used for storing and sharing data because they are a very safe and reliable way to do so. But what happens when that data gets corrupted or if the drive crashes? Whether you are trying to recover data from an external HDD or SSD, we recommend exercising extreme caution.

Even if you have the know-how, recovering data from an external hard drive can be tricky. For this reason, we recommend you stop using the external hard drive immediately and leave all data recovery activities to the experts. Experimenting with lost data endangers your data’s safety and could cause more damage and hurt your chances of recovering that data.

Which recovery software is best for an external hard drive?

When it comes to selecting the proper recovery software, there are a few things to consider. Free recovery software options sound great at first until you ask yourself why these options are free while other options can be rather costly. Recovery software does not typically include a guarantee or a guided tutorial, meaning you will need
to know what you are doing or you could risk compromising the data further.

We recommend that you invest that money into getting an expert to recover the data from your external hard drive. A knowledgeable data recovery expert will likely begin by backing up your external hard drive and trying to focus on recovering your data as opposed to trying to determine what could have caused the issue with your external hard drive. Data recovery is almost always the priority, it is likely all that you are worried about. Additionally, once an external hard drive has failed once, it becomes difficult to trust it again.

If you are not sure how to recover data from an external hard drive, we highly recommend speaking to one of our experts and not continuing the use of the external hard drive. Our data recovery experts at Geeks on Site can also walk you through options for cloud backups so you never have to find yourself in this situation again.