5 Online Safety Rules to Follow

 

Avoiding the dark corners of the Internet

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The Internet is a melting pot of information, social interaction, entertainment, and countless other resources that we rely on daily. It is literally limitless and constantly growing for both the better and worse. Are you following a few basic guidelines to make sure you don’t stumble into the dark side of the online world where the scammers, hackers, and infiltrators are waiting to take advantage of you? If not, here are 5 online safety rules to follow for good measure.

Important Rule #1
Always have anti-virus software that regularly scans your computer to detect and prevent viruses. This can also minimize damage if a virus actually invades your computer.

Important Rule#2
Don’t fall for scams. This includes but is not limited to: popups, ads that sound too good to be true, strangers offering awards or free gifts, job offers making a fortune working from home, congratulations you’re the millionth customer pitch, random surveys, forms that require credit cards, and many other vague advertisements.

Important Rule#3
Research a company before you give them any personal information. If you plan to buy something from their website, try and learn as much as you can about them before you make the purchase. If you have a gut feeling that this seems a little off kilter, then don’t do it!

Important Rule#4
Don’t download files from untrusted websites. If you see an offer for a free software download, it has the potential to infect your computer.

Important Rule #5
Stay away from suspicious websites at all. Suspicious characteristics include but are not limited to: abundant popups, shady side ads, and uncertain links. Stray away from these because one wrong click could send problems straight to your computer.

Online Safety for Children

Clear and easy household rules to keep your children safe online

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If you are worried about the safety of your children when they are on the computer, there are many options to help minimize risk of unsafe or suspicious online behavior. Utilizing parental controls and safeguarding programs helps, but educating your child about online dangers will encourage them to develop safe habits. Also, clearly written rules can benefit every family member and provide an established boundary.

Educate your children to increase safe online habits. Make sure they know what personal information is and why they should not give it out. If they use email or online chat rooms, make sure they realize it is dangerous to meet someone they ‘know’ through the internet regardless of how long they have been in touch. Educate them about online scams and make sure they know to inform you of potentially dangerous or threatening emails.

Stay aware of what your children do online as well. Occasionally, visit their favorite websites to check that they are appropriate. It also helps to be aware of who they chat with and why. It will be easier for you to recognize if your child starts demonstrating suspicious, uncomfortable, or unusual behaviors online. Communication goes a long way when it comes to developing healthy online safety for children, especially when honest two way communication is encouraged.

Technology Time Saving Tips

 

Tips for time convienience

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Parents, managers, teachers, travelers, students, and other busy bees could always use an extra few minutes for leisure in their day. That is why everyone should get to know their technology a little better for the sake of saving time. Technology can sometimes be frustrating, but there is no denying the convenience it adds to our lives. David Pogue, a well-known tech columnist, talks about many technology time saving tips that we could be using daily.

Here are a few he may have mentioned along with a few extras:

  • If you own a Mac, use the Hot Keys!

Space and Shift+Space allow you to scroll up and down a page. Command – and Command + allow you to zoom in and out of a page, Command E allows you to eject, Command-Tab and Command-Shift-Tab allows you to move forward or backward through a list of open applications, Command C allows you to copy, and Command V allows you to paste. There are shortcuts to last for days, but becoming fluent with most of the hot keys saves loads of time.

  • Skip the voicemail instructions on your phone!

After calling someone and you need to leave a message, skip the voicemail instructions! The redundant voicemail instructions are actually avoidable. However, it is different for each service provider. Verizon is the * key, AT&T and T-Mobile is the # key, and Sprint is the I key.

  • Type and edit your words faster!

Rereading pages you have already typed can be meticulous, but when you need to select a word, just double click it and it will highlight it for you. Triple click it if you want the entire paragraph highlighted. If you want to completely change your highlighted selection, don’t delete it, just type over it.

  • Take a picture clearly the first time!

As you are framing that perfect shot, hold the button down half way. This allows the camera to pre-focus instead of it trying to focus after the subject has moved.

To learn more cool time saving tips visit TED.com or view this link to watch David Pogue’s entertaining and informative video. http://www.ted.com/talks/david_pogue_10_top_time_saving_tech_tips#t-272711

10 Apps Worth the Price

 

Apps under five dollars that are worth the price

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Many people aren’t willing to spend a couple bucks on an app when there are so many others that are free. However, here is a list of 10 apps under five dollars that are worth the price tag.

10. CamDictionary  $4.99

Consider this app to be a must when traveling to a foreign location. CamDictionary translates languages when you hover your camera over any text. It also translates verbal languages.

9.  Dark Sky  $3.99

Unlike any other weather app, Dark Sky is able to predict weather down to the very minute. It also displays real-time radar emissions and sends notifications of rain or storms in your location.

8. Last Time $1.99

This is a great app for the forgetful and busy, or anyone striving to be more organized. It is a reminder app that keeps track of your ‘to dos’ and records past endeavors for you to revisit if necessary.

7. Sleep Time $1.99

This app detects movement during sleep while providing a soundscape to encourage quality sleep. It also awakens you during the correct sleep cycle so you will wake feeling more refreshed than ever.

6. Zombies, Run! $3.99

This app improves health and fitness through a narrative story game. The pedometer turns your every step into the journey, rewarding you with points and achievements when you escape the biters.

5. Bodyweight Training: You Are Your Own Gym $2.99

Need a personal trainer? Try this app to get in tiptop shape with over 200 exercises and 2 minutes of your time.

4. Star Walk $2.99

Explore the planets and constellations in real-time while your out at night. Star Walk allows you to track movements, patterns, and alignments with a very informative augmented-reality experience.

3. Reeder 2 $4.99

Stay up to date with the latest news and happenings of the world. It streams content from a vast array of sources and allows you to share or save it to read later.

2. Haze $2.99

Add some charisma to your weather forecast with Haze. This app combines fluid animations, trippy audiovisuals, and informative weather conditions all at the same time.

1.Afterlight $0.99

For the photographers out there, Afterlight is a useful tool for editing the perfect image. Create the look and feel you desire with simple to use tools.

How Fast is Your Internet?

 

Factors that affect your speed

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If you are used to super sonic internet speeds and realize you are slowing gauging down to snail internet speeds, try a few of these options to improve quality.

Just check these off your list!

  1. Clear out temporary files and Cookies. Any unnecessary space and memory being taken up should be cleared.
  2. If possible, reduce the number of applications that are running at the same time.
  3. Check the condition of your wires connecting to your computer.
  4. If the website is congested, it will slow down your speed. Try other websites or pathways that could work faster until the congestion decreases.
  5. Check to see if you are due for any upgrades or updates. Older or outdated programs are bound to run slower than the newer ones.
  6. One of the more obvious solutions, but often skipped, is to restart your computer once in a while!
  7. Try and change browsers. If any are smothered by excess toolbars, they have the potential to run slower.
  8. Make sure you test your computer for viruses regularly. They slow down computers, if not do worse.

Unfortunately, there are many factors that affect Internet speed that are outside of our control. However small the difference, these 8 procedures can improve the portions we can control. The next time you wonder just how fast is your internet, try these first.

Nashville IT Managed Services: Why Network Security is Essential for Your Business

Protect Your Business’s Network Security with Nashville IT Managed Services!

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When it comes to keeping your business running smoothly, safety and privacy are key components. Companies both large and small house a great deal of confidential data, data that is integral to the success of their business–passwords, high priority files such as compensation spreadsheets and annual reports, and the like. Many businesses such as banks, stores, and large corporations also store confidential information about their customers and clients–profiles complete with addresses, phone numbers, credit card numbers and even account balances. Information that could be extremely detrimental if it were to fall into the wrong hands. To keep operations running smoothly and efficiently, it’s important that companies guard their private data with proper security. Protecting your network’s security means keeping your data and information and that of your clients safe from external threats by utilizing the proper programs and frequently monitoring activity. With Nashville IT managed services you can be confident that your business’s network is safeguarded.

Why should you take the time to manage the security of your network?
Leaving your network unprotected can leave your information vulnerable to attacks. The Internet, while it is wonderful in many ways, is a gateway to viruses, hackers and identity and data thieves. Neglect to protect your network and you’re practically inviting these threats to come through the front door! Consequently, customers and employees may be wary of working with you knowing there is a chance their information could be left for the world to see. Nashville IT managed services works to put their concerns to rest and keep your business in good standing.

But why pay for Nashville IT managed services? Can’t a single program keep your network safe?
Unfortunately, creating a defense force against cyber threats is not that easy. You can’t keep your network secure by simply downloading a random program once and then expecting it to protect you! Great security comes from several forms of programs working together. While there are many forms of protection, Firewalls, Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware, IPS, and VPNs are some of the most common tools used.

With that being said, ensuring quality network security is a job in itself. Because most small to medium-sized businesses don’t have the budget for their own IT department, many pay monthly for Nashville IT managed services to monitor their network’s activity for them. Not only do we combine industry leading hardware and software to develop a network solution tailored to your needs, but we take care of all maintenance and updates for you. Nashville IT managed services keeps employees productive and the company thriving by protecting your business from disruption. So if you’re in need of someone to watch over your network or have a question or concern regarding the security of your network, contact the pros at 615.595.6399 or fill out a support ticket

Computer Repair Nashville: Keeping That Laptop Cool

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With summer heating up, how can you keep your laptop running cool?

Nashville is an exciting city during the summer months, but for those who use laptops, the heat can be overwhelming! Especially if you are working with a deadline, computer overheating issues can become a major inconvenience. While laptops one up desktops in terms of portability, the downside is they run hot. So what can you do to evade the heat and keep your devices running cool? To save you a trip to computer repair Nashville, here are the 5 S’s to keep your laptop from generating summertime temperatures:

1. Settings

Changing your laptop’s settings from high performance to power save mode will keep your device from overheating in that it doesn’t use as much electricity. Toning down the power will allow your laptop to operate more efficiently and stay cooler longer. Along with changing your computer’s performance mode, maintaining a clean laptop helps to ensure the system runs smoothly. Got dust? Even if you can’t see it, it’s there. Dust tends to collect and hideout in small spaces so be sure to clean it out from time to time with a little compressed air.

2. Surface

As tempting as it is, setting your laptop on your lap or on a cushioned surface makes cooling down your machine more difficult as these surfaces don’t allow for the breathing room it needs to release any built up temperature. Setting your laptop on a flat, hard top lets it remove heat as it was designed to. For those who use their laptops for long periods of time, investing in a cooling pad can prove to be beneficial as well.

3. Surroundings

Sitting in an office on a beautiful day will make anyone feverish for some sunshine and fresh air, but beware when venturing outside with your work. Taking your laptop into the sun and un-air-conditioned environment will naturally cause your laptop’s temperature to rise drastically. Though it is best to keep your devices inside in the cooler atmosphere, if you must be outside, choose to work in the shade and be mindful of your laptop’s temperature.

4. Slow Down

Using programs that require a lot of your laptop’s central processing unit makes your laptop produce more heat, too. To keep the heat at bay and to avoid setting those fans a-whirlin’, try to avoid such programs and refrain from overworking your system by running too many programs or windows at once.

5. Storage

As simple as it may be, keeping your devices in a cool location when you aren’t using them can help, too. For example, putting your laptop in the trunk of your car for hours on a summer day is an absolute no-no as it can cause internal heat damage.

Should these techniques not relieve your overheating problems, TechPros, the best in computer repair Nashville, can evaluate your device and help you reach a solution. Whatever your technology needs, our trained IT consultants are happy to assist you! So contact us today (615) 595-6399 and get your laptop back to running at its best!

Data Recovery Nashville: Nursing Your Data Back to Life

Restore your computer system in the event of the unthinkable with data recovery Nashville!

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Data loss. It’s happened to the best of us. The dreaded moment when all systems come crashing down and whatever important file you’ve been working at for hours is gone before you can bid it a “SAVED” farewell. Panic sets in and you begin hysterically probing the computer for any sign of activity, usually to no avail. Sound familiar? Even in the event that you are able to successfully reboot your system, any lasting glimmer of hope is often quickly crushed by some doggone fatal error message. At this point you’re still left, fingers-crossed in panic mode, praying that your data is somewhere to be found. Lucky for you our data recovery Nashville technicians are experts at retrieving lost data so you can resume breathing at a more relaxed pace.

What to do when all signs point to data loss? TechPros’ state-of-the-art lab offers the best in data recovery Nashville and can in most cases recover your data with no problem. Whether you’re experiencing data loss as a result of a hard drive crash, malware infection or damage due to a driver, power surge, fire, water or some other physical element, we take care of IT all! The longer you wait the greater the risk of permanent data loss so it’s to your benefit to get your system checked in for a diagnostic with one of our data recovery Nashville specialists as soon as possible.

Can’t find the time to bring your system in today? Here are some guidelines to avoid permanent data loss in the meantime:

  • Hearing any strange clicking, grinding or whirring sounds? If so, shut down your computer immediately! These sounds could be the read/write heads hitting or scraping the platters on your drive, the outcome of which is not pretty.
  • Before making any attempt to remove the hard drive, unplug the power and be sure to handle with care. Hard drives are extremely sensitive to static electricity and physical jarring or jolts.
  • If your data is critical, be sure to choose a reputable data recovery Nashville service that can properly recover data from physically damaged drives. Even the simplest recovery attempts on a physically damaged drive could render your data unrecoverable and no one wants that!

And remember the most surefire method for preventing your data from disappearing into oblivion is to have a backup strategy in place! Every week 140,000 hard drives crash in the United States. Don’t let the odds stand against you. Contact us today 615.595.6399 or drop on by the store so we can get you set up with a data backup and recovery solution that best fits your needs!

Nashville IT solutions: Parental Internet Control

Worried about your children accessing unsafe or inappropriate Internet sites? TechPros, the best in Nashville IT solutions, recommends a “Safe Eyes” solution for protecting your kids from harmful online influences.

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We’re always fiddling with our technological gadgets these day–checking emails, checking in, snapping photos and spiffing them up with cool filters, scrolling through the latest stories featured on our virtual newsstands, social media and blog feeds. You name it, it’s available for our viewing pleasure through a small lit “smart” screen at the palms of our hands or widely displayed before us on our desktop computers. Whether you’re killing time waiting to be called at the doctors office or just want to catch up on the world while commuting to work, there’s never a dull moment to be had. With so many media sources at our fingertips–so much interesting information and hilarious and engaging entertainment, boredom is pretty much out of the question. From random YouTube videos to a wide array of games like the ever popular Angry Birds, Paper Toss, and Doodle Jump, it’s no wonder kids are taking such keen interest to the digital platform. Mom, dad, even grandma and grandpa are thumbing, clicking and scrolling and naturally those curious little tykes want in on all of the action.

In many ways all this technology is a blessing to parents because it keeps their kids engaged while they are busy attending to the demands of adult life. But the fact is while they are keeping fascinatedly busy versing themselves in the digital world, these young impressionable minds are also gaining the ability to access a whole realm of media that goes way beyond their maturity level and understanding, material that if stumbled upon could have a very negative effect on their psychological development. As your best source for Nashville IT solutions, we look out for each and every one of our customers and strive to meet their concerns. Many of us have children of our own and therefore understand that some things are not meant for young eyes, no matter how curious they may be. And even for those who aren’t so curious, just one wrong click and their innocent eyes can find themselves exposed to a wide array of questionable content.

Unfortunately when surfing such a vast search engine you get the good with the bad and both results are equally as easy to find. In fact, studies have shown that more than half of all children who use the Internet are exposed to pornography in their own homes. So how can we let our kids enjoy and benefit from all of the great online programs and resources while shielding them from sites that feature tasteless material containing nudity, violence, etc.? The answer is “Safe Eyes”, one of the highest recommended parental internet filtering softwares by Nashville IT solutions professionals and computer specialists nationwide.

Safe Eyes works to reduce the overwhelming concerns parents have regarding their child’s exposure to the internet by allowing them to pick and choose which sites their children have access to. With a yearly subscription to this web-based software, parents can monitor internet use in their home on up to 3 computers by creating separate user accounts and programming each to have their own customized set of limitations. Parents can choose topically which types of sites to filter overall and can then hone down and identify specific sites that they deem permissible to their child’s use. They can opt to block social networking sites and YouTube all together and allow access to only certain educational sites, or they can give their children a little more leeway and keep close tabs on their activity through the “internet usage report” which they can access remotely. By giving each user their own customized tier of protection, Safe Eyes provides the right balance of security and usability for every member of the family–not a bad system if you ask our Nashville IT solutions professionals!

For further questions about Safe Eyes and other methods of parental internet control give us a call 615.595.6399! Our TechPros are equipped to handle any and all of your Nashville IT solutions 🙂

Nashville Remote Support: Increase Your Convenience!

 Looking for quality computer support that meets you halfway? With Nashville Remote Support you can resolve your problems without leaving your home or office.

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Is your computer giving you a hard time? Maybe it has been for awhile now and you’ve just been waiting it out until you can’t take it anymore. We understand. If you’re like most people you probably have trouble making time in your busy schedule to take care of yourself let alone your computer. With TechPros’ comprehensive Nashville Remote Support service there’s no need to wait out the weeks; you can get the problem diagnosed at your own convenience so there’s no hassle on your part!

For small businesses, Nashville Remote Support is the way to go as it can greatly reduce IT support costs while increasing the speed of handling support issues for managing, monitoring and troubleshooting the infrastructure. And to think you don’t even have to compromise the quality of personal service to do so! Our certified technicians are standing by to help you troubleshoot everything from network and email issues to diagnosing specific computer malfunctions to installing software applications, and more. Not only are they extremely knowledgeable and well experienced in all things computer technology, but they’re extremely friendly and patient. You’re not just talking to some automated machine or some guy across seas, you’re getting the undivided attention and excellent customer service of a real LIVE TechPro–the same awesome team of techs that would so graciously assist you if you showed up at our Franklin or Columbia storefront.

Not only does Nashville Remote Support allow you to solve your problems faster and for a fraction of what it would cost to have a technician administer the problem on site but it gives us the ability to constantly check in on your system (if you so choose). The moment something seems awry or you’re in need of improving your level of service, simply submit a ticket to our Nashville Remote Support technicians and they’ll be sure to take care of your needs before the problem escalates. If you want you can even follow along as we “drive”! No software is needed to install. All you need is a machine that’s capable of connecting to our Support page.

Bring huge benefits to your business and your personal life by resolving your IT problems a little more conveniently for a reasonable $69.50/hour, 1hr minimum fee! Contact TechPros today to setup your Nashville Remote Support service!