Cappy Cross Consulting

05/27/2024

To all of those who gave their all in service for the rest of us - we say Thank You! Gone but never forgotten...

07/15/2021

The PrintNightmare ransomware virus is a beast, make sure you keep all of your Windows updates current because some of the recent ones help patch the hole that allows that to happen. If you should get it and then not pay the ransom required to get the unencryption key, your files will be gone for good without a moment's doubt.

11/11/2019

Warning of another new scam that I just got an email on. Received an email from amazon.com saying my credit card on file had been declined and if I didn't click on the link to update my information my order would be cancelled in 3 days. Since I had nothing currently on order, that was sign #1 of a scam. Tapped on the reply to "amazon.com" address to see the real email address it was sent from and as expected it was some completely scammy looking address. If you get such an email do not click the link in it. When I get any kind of an email from any Bank, credit card company, Amazon, or anybody telling me I need to update anything, I immediately delete the email and then I will go directly to the website of the claimed source and sign in and see if I have any messages from them.

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04/18/2018

Instances of ransomware viruses appear to be rapidly increasing. For those who may not be familiar with what a ransomware virus is, it encrypts all of your files using digital encryption, making them impossible to open without having the key to unencrypt them. The hackers will demand a payment which may be anywhere from $50 to $500 or more and give you a specific time limit within which to pay them or they will destroy the key. If you attempt to use an anti-virus program or otherwise manipulate or try to get back your files without paying them, again your key will be destroyed. In that case you have lost your data for good. Be very careful about clicking on any kind of ads on a web page search result page, and equally cautious about clicking on any links sent to you in an email unless you absolutely know who the sender is. Even then, in case they have had their email hacked, I will sometimes contact them and verify that they intentionally sent me the link and know that it's something safe.

10/01/2017

CCleaner malware attack. An attack within an attack. Apparently targeted mostly at large telecom companies. The malware was estimated to have been installed on 2 + million computers. However only those computers that showed Network links or connection to Telecom businesses triggered the attack inside the attack. Avast / Piriform neutralized the malware. Updating to the current version of CCleaner is recommended, v5.35.6210 (20 Sep 2017).

11/10/2015

I haven't posted anything in ages, so I thought it was time to at least leave some little tidbit lol. Regarding the new Windows 10, I definitely like it, and in the same breath I'm advising my 170 consulting clients to hold off on upgrading for now. They have fixed a lot of the bugs but I'm still seeing a lot of bug reports. Thinking maybe by the end of November or December it'll be time to give it a try for those interested. All of us running Windows 7 or 8 have until next July 29th to upgrade for free, so there's really no rush if what you have now is doing the job for you!

10/08/2015

Doing more and more of my Support work remotely using the TeamViewer remote access program. I can do clean ups and speed ups on computers anywhere in the world from the comfort of my office, while usually keeping prices lower than would be possible with in person visits!

02/20/2015

Did a remote computer service yesterday for the very first customer I had back in February 2012. Guess in some senses I have come full circle lol. My client list has now reached 135, approximately half of the desired number!

02/10/2012

One of the most common mistakes we encounter is customers believing their computers have become slow because they are old! News flash - electrons move at the same speed regardless of age - nearly the speed of light! The primary causes of computers becoming slow are actually pretty simple, and fall into three primary categories:

1. Over time, tons of unnecessary files and old data build up in various areas of a computer, not all of which are easily accessible to the average user. These files can cause delays in both startup and operation as the software has to seek through this mess in the process of doing its work, which can add significant time delays.

2. Many users either don't have, or don't maintain, effective anti-virus / anti-malware software programs. Added to that, even the best programs will occasionally allow a "bad guy" to slip past their defenses, as thousands of new "bad guys" are released onto the market every day! There are a myriad of different viruses out there, some fairly benign, some very malicious. At the least, they can rob your machine of speed as they consume processing cycles and reduce available memory. At the worst, they can cause all kinds of damage to files and software, steal your passwords and personal information, and be used to attack other computer systems!

3. As newer versions and updates to operating systems (such as Windows XP, Vista and 7) and software programs are developed and implemented, they typically become more complex and bulky, and use more of your system's resources and capacity. This causes reduced operating efficiency over time. Increased functional capabilities such as image and audio/video editing and creation also increase the demands on your system. Often, a significant increase in performance can be achieved by simply expanding the RAM (Random Access Memory) or upgrading to a larger hard disk drive, without the need to replace the system.

We perform system cleanups and virus removal, install and setup protection software, and evaluate your existing resources and recommend upgrades and improvements as appropriate. We can often restore performance to new-machine levels or close to it, or advise a client on the best upgrade or replacement path. If a new machine is in order, we can provide various options there also.

Thanks for reading, and happy computing!

02/09/2012

Got the first call from the new advertising already, one small step forward!

01/28/2012

Serving Hernando County and Pasco County Florida!
Exceptional customer service, very affordable prices...if we can't fix it, we don't charge you! Satisfaction guaranteed.