Deke "The Geek" Computer Services

09/28/2022

If you're looking for a way to connect to your PC remotely, but aren't too savvy with firewalls and such, consider a Zero Configuration VPN (Virtual Private Network).

I've recommended and used many remote access packages over the years... PC Anywhere, GoToMyPC, and more recently Splashtop. All of these options have their merits, and most options have an associated cost.

The two options mentioned in this article (ZeroTier and TailScale) offer a totally free account for personal use. Your personal private network can have up to 20 devices (TailScale) or as many as 50 devices (ZeroTier). And they are both totally free!

After signing up for either service and authorizing your devices, it's trivial to remotely control your computer when you're away from your home or office.

As always, I'm here to help if you get stuck :-)

https://tailscale.com/compare/zerotier/

10/30/2019

If you've been affected by ransomware and used a free tool to get your files back, chances are you have Michael Gillespie to thank... here's his story:

Thanks to Michael Gillespie, an obscure programmer at a Nerds on Call repair store, hundreds of thousands of ransomware victims have recovered their files for free.

10/01/2019

Need an easy way to *securely* share sensitive files? There's a great *free* tool for that!

The great folks over at the Mozilla Foundation offer a service called "Firefox Send", which enables not only fully encrypted file sharing (end to end), but also automatically deletes the shared file after a few minutes to several days (user selectable).

Those of you who know me already know I *highly* recommend Firefox over other browsers, but you can use this free service in any browser you choose! Send any file up to 1 GB with no strings attached, or sign in with your free Firefox account to boost that size to 2.5 GB. That's large enough to share a TV episode in HD, but most folks will use the service for securely sending financial or legal documents.

Try it here:

Encrypt and send files with a link that automatically expires to ensure your important documents don’t stay online forever.

11/12/2018

Tired of your internet browser asking you to allow every website you visit to show you notifications? Read on for the fix!

I use a lot of different computers regularly, and it seriously annoys the stink out of me that every time I visit a website I get a popup informing me that "www.website.com wants to: Show notifications." This is a new "feature" built into all modern browsers, and it can actually be useful for some things... I allow Gmail to show them, for instance. But seriously, every. single. website? Good grief!

Chrome: Go to settings -> Advanced -> Content Settings -> Notifications... move the slider to Disabled (I didn't say it would be easy)

Firefox: Click Menu -> Options -> Privacy & Security... Scroll down to the Permissions section and click the Settings button to the right of Notifications. On the Settings page, select the checkbox that says "Block new requests asking to allow notifications, and make sure to click "Save Changes"

Safari: In your title bar, click Safari ->Preferences. Select the Websites tab at the top of the window and click "Notifications" in the sidebar. At the bottom of the window, uncheck the box labeled "Allow websites to ask for permission to send push notifications"

Microsoft Edge: Open a single Edge window (close any other Edge windows or this won't work) -> Right click the Edge icon in your taskbar -> click "Unpin from taskbar" -> using the single remaining Edge window, proceed to the download page for any of the above three browsers (Chrome, Firefox, or Safari) and follow the installation instructions -> make sure to say yes when asked if you'd like to set the newly installed browser as your default. Done.

No, seriously... Microsoft Edge really doesn't allow you to disable these notifications. Seriously. Historically, I've found myself somewhere between disappointed and downright angry with Microsoft Edge, but this really takes the cake. If you needed a reason to try another option you just found it...

Tune in tomorrow for instructions on blocking those pesky popup ads that your browser won't block (even though you have popup blocker turned on).

Send a message to learn more

09/18/2018

Is your business vulnerable to cyber threats? Contact me for a quick checkup to avoid incidents like these:

Think you’ve seen it all when it comes to insecure IT? Wait until you hear these security pros’ wildest stories.

04/30/2018

It's storm season in North Texas, and lightning strikes / power surges are unavoidable... is your home fully protected? Contact us for a quote for whole home surge protection! ***A single surge event can easily damage thousands of dollars of equipment, and is entirely avoidable***

Most of us try to protect our delicate equipment with good surge protectors at each outlet, but often use an inferior "power strip" in a pinch and neglect to circle back for the upgrade, leaving our expensive electronic gadgets at risk. Wouldn't it be great if we knew our whole home was protected no matter how our devices connect?

We can give you that peace of mind with industry standard surge protection for power spikes directly at all points of entry:

1. Electrical Panel (Also can lower electric bill... inquire for details)
2. Cable / Satellite DMARC
3. Standard Phone Service DMARC

We partner with licensed electricians and can tailor a protection plan for your specific needs. Contact us for a free quote today!

03/05/2018

Cutting the Cord: Live TV Options for Dallas / Fort Worth – (Sling TV, Playstation Vue, Hulu Live & YouTube TV)

I’ve been answering a lot of questions for clients lately about “cutting the cord” and what options are available in North Texas to fill the gap between an attic antenna and a $200-400 monthly satellite or cable TV bill. Now more than ever, the need for a bulky set top box is disappearing, along with the storm outages, lost recordings from failed hardware, and general frustration experienced by many. Below, I’ll explore three available options for streaming live TV (Sling TV, Playstation Vue, and Hulu Live), but first let’s cover some basics:

1. You’ll need a streaming device for each TV. These include Apple TV ($149-199), Amazon Fire TV ($39-69), Roku ($25-99), gaming consoles (Xbox, Playstation), and various Android streaming devices ($29-99) among others. Although some of the services I’ll mention are available on some Smart TV sets, for the best experience I highly recommend purchasing a separate streaming device strictly for the sake of performance.

2. You’ll probably want to upgrade your internet speed. Many of my clients can’t remember the last time they spoke to their ISP about their internet plan, and most get a significant speed boost for the same price or less simply by making the phone call. Major ISPs are actively upgrading their infrastructure in North Texas, and many of my clients now have Gigabit (1,000 Megabit) internet available, so it’s worth the phone call to check what speeds are available to you!

Sling TV – With the lowest starting price point ($20), Sling TV wins the budget wars, but misses a few marks… for one, CBS isn’t part of their offering. This became quite important when we couldn’t watch Super Bowl 50 and had to attach a “leaf” antenna :-(. They have two packages (Orange and Blue at $20 and $25, respectively), and to get all the channels a family household wants you may need to combine them for a discounted price of $40 per month. Their Cloud DVR service is only an additional $5 per month, but only includes 50 hours of storage, which may not be enough for a binge watcher’s needs. On the bright side, the service was solid for me for months, and the guide (image included) is the familiar and personally preferred grid style lineup. ***Be aware, the Orange plan only allows one stream at a time, while Blue and Blue+Orange allow 3 and 4 simultaneous streams, respectively.

Playstation Vue – Vue has been my top recommendation for quite some time, and for good reason… the channel packages are clearly defined and easy to understand, the pricing is fair, and you’ll get all of your local channels as well. A few months ago, the guide interface on Vue left a bit to be desired, but it has since had an overhaul (image included) and is now fantastic in my opinion. The Access plan ($39.99) includes all locals and a fair selection of cable channels, while the Core plan ($44.99) adds more sports options. The Elite plan ($54.99) includes every channel available except HBO and Showtime (add them both for another $20/month). Notably, each plan features UNLIMITED Cloud DVR storage for your favorite 500 shows, and all plans allow 5 simultaneous streams, so it’s great for large family households.

Hulu Live – It’s currently officially in beta testing, but my initial impressions are very good! Hulu Live offers a very similar package to PS Vue’s Elite plan ($54.99) above for only $39.99 per month! I vastly prefer the grid style Vue guide to the “card / icon style” guide currently employed by Hulu (image included), but since it’s still a work in progress this may change to the more familiar grid lineup at some point in the future (PS Vue had the same issue, but corrected it finally... and Sling TV allows both options). In addition to the great channel lineup, Hulu Live also includes the Hulu “Limited Commercial” subscription at no extra charge ($11.99 value). So, if you already have Hulu with Limited Commercials, you’ll pay a measly $28 extra to get Live TV! The base package includes 50 hours of Cloud DVR and 3 simultaneous streams, but for $15 more per month this increases to 200 hours Cloud DVR and 5 simultaneous streams. I’d say Hulu is giving Sony a run for their money!

A late addition to the list (ht: Steven Thomas Wade Jr.) is YouTube TV – As I have only just started the trial, I can only give my initial impressions, but so far it looks very solid. Interestingly, the YouTube TV Guide (although a bit cartoonish in appearance) is likely an easier transition for those coming directly from a cable or dish provider, as it aligns the channels vertically on the left edge of the screen, and time moves forward to right (image included). A couple of notable features set YouTube TV apart: Like PS Vue, Cloud DVR storage is unlimited per show, but there is no limit to the number of shows you can record (just in case a limit of 500 feels a little restrictive). In addition, Youtube TV allows sharing the service with 5 of your closest friends, roommates, or family members... who *also* have separate unlimited Cloud DVR space to keep things organized. YouTube TV costs only $35 per month, includes a huge selection of cable channels as well as locals, and is now available on nearly any streaming device on the market. It looks like YouTube TV is the clear winner for TV service only in this comparison, but if you already subscribe to Hulu with Limited Commercials, or plan to do so, Hulu Live wins on total price vs. services offered.

Worth noting is the generally universal limitation with each of these services... some channels and/or programs are only available when you are connected to your home network (WiFi or Ethernet). This is obviously necessary to prevent unauthorized account sharing across households (and keeps pricing low), but shouldn't be a big deal as most of us don't expect to watch our cable at our friend's house.

All of these services allow a trial period of 5-7 days, so feel free to give each a try in turn, or even sign up for all three to directly compare… either way, you’ll almost certainly save a bundle versus dish or cable! If you need help deciding on equipment or desire a professional installation, please feel free to call or write 😊

03/17/2017

"I've been hacked!"

Just to clear the air... being actually "hacked" means they cracked your password (or changed it) and are now logging in *as you*...

It's likely that what you are experiencing is the work of a simple copy cat. They grab the few pictures that are publicly available on your profile page and create a new profile with the same name and profile picture, then send friend requests to all of your friends. Then, once a few dozen (or hundred) unknowing friends click "accept", the imposter posts spam on those friends' walls for low priced Oakley sunglasses or cheap makeup or some such.

It is quite likely that 99.9% of your friends who think they have been "hacked" have actually just been copied... just as you have (or they don't have a passcode on their device and a friend or family member is playing a prank).

Nothing at all to worry about... Facebook actively weeds out such imposters on an ongoing basis. The important thing to do is to report the profile... unfortunately, only the person being copied can actually report it, so please do send a message to your copied friend and let them know. (In most cases, the imposter will block the original user's profile, so the copied person can't see their activities and sound an alarm.)