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We Have Moved!

We’re now conveniently located near the corner of Whitcomb and Westnedge behind the Burger King. We are the upper suite in the rear of the building. If you need driving directions, please don’t hesitate to call!

Geek Easy Computers
435 Whitcomb St. UL 201
Kalamazoo, MI 49001
(269)548-TECH (8324)

Posts Tagged ‘computer’

Disinfecting Your Computer!

In light of the heightened awareness of cleanliness the COVID-19 pandemic has brought on, we thought it would be prudent to indicate the safe and correct ways to disinfect your devices, especially if multiple people are using them! Viruses, bacteria and germs often lurk in a variety of office equipment, including keyboards, mice, monitors and phones, and are easily transferred by hand contact. This contamination can pose health risks for you and your employees, as well as cost your company time and money in lost productivity. Sanitize your office equipment to prevent the spread of bacteria and disease. Make sure to wash your hands prior to cleaning your equipment.

Computer
Power off the computer and monitor. If using a laptop with a removable battery, go ahead and take the battery out as well. If you are using a wireless keyboard and mouse, power off or remove the batteries for cleaning.

Remove dirt, dust and crumbs from the keyboard by using a can of compressed air. Hold the can approximately 6 inches from the keyboard and spray along the perimeter of each key. Or turn the keyboard upside down and tap on the bottom to dislodge any debris.

Sanitize the keyboard by using a disinfectant wipe or a soft, linen-free cloth dipped in isopropyl alcohol. Rub the cloth or wipe on the top and sides of each key and then clean the surface and bottom of the keyboard thoroughly. Use a new disinfectant wipe or cloth to clean the mouse.

Dampen a microfiber cloth with plain water. Gently wipe the computer monitor to remove dirt and fingerprints. Avoid placing pressure on the screen. Pushing on the screen can damage the pixels of a flat-screen monitor. Sanitize the monitor by using a disinfectant wipe specifically designed for LCD and laptop screens.

Cellphone/Smartphone/Tablet
Wipe the entire surface of the phone by using a bleach-free disinfectant wipe or a soft cloth dabbed in isopropyl alcohol. Use a separate cloth or disinfectant wipe to clean the entire surface of the headset, including the speaker and microphone.

And now, some DON’TS

  • Don’t use disinfectant wipes containing bleach or disinfectant sprays in general.
  • Don’t use an extremely damp disinfectant wipe to clean the area. If you encounter a very damp wipe it may need to be squeezed to remove some of the excess liquid before use.
  • Don’t use rough towels or cloths to dry the area.
  • Don’t use excess force when disinfecting the area around the keyboard; this could damage the keys.

This process will add some time to your always compressed schedule, but in the interest of your health and well being, we are recommending it be done frequently for shared workstations or when a new user takes control of the device. If you have any questions or concerns about cleaning your devices, feel free to give us a call! We want to make your technology easier!

Holiday Safety For Your Computer!

‘Tis the season for online shopping and travel! With excitement and distractions aplenty, it’s easy to get caught unawares by an online scam or hacker. It is also a time for increased sharing on social media. That increased information sharing also makes us more vulnerable to online threats and expensive identity thefts. Below are steps you can take to ensure your personal information stays safe and secure. 

ONLINE

– Limit Your Personal Information Online: Review the security settings of your online profiles and limit access to people not on your friends list (or them too!). The more specific information you share publicly, the easier it is for you to be compromised. .

– Use Strong Passwords and Change Them: Many sites now force you to use strong passwords and that’s a good thing. Use different passwords for each of your online accounts and set up two-step verification, when possible. You should also CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS every three months. If you’re comfortable with it, password manager software like LastPass, Dashlane, RoboForm, etc. can help you set very complex secure passwords without having to remember or write them all down somewhere. 

– Keep Your Operating System Up to Date: Computer operating systems are periodically updated to stay in tune with technology requirements and to fix security holes. Be sure to install the updates to ensure your computer has the latest protection. Make sure your browser is also updated for similar reasons.

– Be Careful What You Download: Opening attachments in email is one of the top 3 (if not #1) way computers get infected with malware or otherwise compromised. Never open an email attachment from someone you don’t know and be suspicious of unexpected forwarded attachments from people you do know. They may have unwittingly sent you an infection!!.

– Use Secure URLs: Check to be sure websites are security enabled when performing an online transaction. Look for web addresses that start with “https://” which means the site takes extra measures to help secure your information. Stick to well-known, thoroughly vetted sites. Don’t pick the holiday season as the time to “try out” that new online shopping site that popped up in a Facebook ad!

– Turn Off Your Computer: Probably the simplest solution. When you are not using the computer, turn it off.  It can’t get hacked if it’s not on.

– Trust Your Instinct: If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is.

TRAVEL

The Bag – you definitely want a cushioned protective bag. With the new thinner, sleeker laptops and tablets, it’s tempting to buy an equally sexy case. Unfortunately, those cases tend to be focused on fashion, not protection. Also, a flashy case or bag is like a bullseye for thieves. Don’t advertise that you have a laptop or device! Tamper resistant zippers or checkpoint friendly bags are a good idea if you are flying.

Insurance – Make sure your insurance policy covers theft and loss of personal items, and the amount of coverage will be enough to buy you a new laptop. A good travel rewards credit card may cover travel protection. Check the terms of your card issuer.

WiFi – When traveling, using public WiFi is very tempting and sometimes unavoidable. Using public WiFi networks can lead to security breaches. Especially when using hotel or airport WiFi. Make sure your computer or device is protected by antivirus software, and that the software is updated and current. Avoid shopping online or logging on to your online banking website on a public WiFi network. Consider investing in a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service from a reputable security company. These services protect your connection by encrypting all the data you send and receive online through the security company’s servers.

Backup Your Data – You should be doing this regularly anyway, but definitely do it before you travel with your laptop or device. The data stored in your laptop can be more valuable than the computer to you. Protect yourself from losing your data by backing it up on an external hard drive or in the cloud.

The crew at Geek Easy Computers wants you to be able to enjoy the holidays with your friends and families, and not have to worry about your technology! We are here to make your technology easier! Let us know if you have any questions or concerns!  Happy Holidays!


Adonis Pointer is a photographer, a collector of vintage razors, and a certified technology geek!
Adonis has been involved in computer technology since well, a LONG time! He has been involved in nearly every aspect of the industry from sales to repair to training to consulting. As the Social Media Manager he writes the majority of the posts on the Geek Easy Computers blog.

Are Smartphones & Tablets computers? Not Quite.

Smartphones and tablets have gotten more powerful and capable over the last 5 years. Many people rely on them as their primary device to access the Internet or to consume media (stream video, listen to music). But are they really ready to replace a computer? In this article we’ll clarify the differences between computers & mobile devices, and hopefully answer any questions.


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Computers and Your Health

Computers have become a nearly inseparable part of our everyday lives. We use them in school, at work, and even for play. What that amounts to is an incredible amount of time spent looking at digital screens, typing on keyboards, manipulating mice, swiping touch screens, and sitting. This leads to an ever-growing list of technology related health risks. At Geek Easy Computers we believe part of making your technology easier is providing you with information on making the physical toll less taxing.

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Service: You Get What You Pay For…

“You get what you pay for.”.  It’s a phrase that’s been around for ages and I’m sure you are familiar with it.  But do you truly know what it means?  The phrase gets used a lot, but like most “catchphrases”, people don’t typically give it any real thought.

You-Get-What-You-Pay-For

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Home User Maintenance

Like any other substantial investment such as a vehicle or a home, owning a computer comes with responsibility to maintain it in order for it to perform as it was designed to do.  Unfortunately most computer owners are either uninformed of this, think its relatively unimportant, or just don’t have the knowledge to provide this maintenance.

user_maint

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Your Computer Needs You (Why?)

One of the easiest methods to keep your computer running at its best, is also one of its most overlooked or forgotten.  Regular maintenance of your computer is essential, be it Mac or a Windows machine, to ensure not only efficient operation, but also the security of your data.  Geek Easy Computers, in our effort to help make your technology easier, have previously addressed various aspects of this such as PC Hygiene, Spring Cleaning, and Updating Drivers.

With this new year off to a rousing start, we thought it a good idea to address this topic in depth again.  So without any further delay….

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Beating the Heat!

Overheating is a major cause of motherboard and component failure in computers.  Fortunately it is also a fairly easily prevented situation.

 

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