Keeping Yourself and Your Devices Safe

From Your Friends at Integrity Computer Consulting and Repair

Coronavirus – Hygiene and Action Reminder

1. Wash your hands before and after using your own or any community computer.
2. Regularly sanitize your own phones and computers, especially if used by multiple people.
3. Once a week (or once a day), turn your computer off and using an alcohol swab (preferred) or Lysol wipe, thoroughly wipe down your keyboard and mouse, and really any common surface that's touched.  Make sure to get in between the keys and the scroll wheel on the mouse.  If you have a touchscreen, make sure to wipe the screen.  If you have a laptop, wipe the entire case, open and closed.  Be careful of using Lysol wipes around speakers and ports to avoid excessive moisture buildup.
4. For phones, do the same, but be careful of using Lysol wipes around speakers and input jacks/ports to avoid excessive moisture buildup.
5. If using Lysol or Clorox wipes, make sure to read the label and keep the surface wet for the amount of time specified by the manufacturer.

BE AWARE: Contact-tracing text scams, emails, and robocalls

Unfortunately, scammers and hackers are taking advantage of Coronavirus health crisis.  The FTC has issued several warnings and advisories about these scams; that even though Health Departments could reach out via text or email…

Contact tracers will never ask for sensitive identification or financial information!

You can use your cell phone carrier's built-in number blocking on your phone to stop unwanted calls or texts from specific numbers; you can also block offending email addresses in your email account. But with any sort of fraud, scammers often use hundreds of thousands of phone numbers and emails and move very quickly onto the next.  This makes permanent blocking hard. 

To really have an impact, we recommend reporting the offending communication to the FTC.  This can be done online at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

A few rules of thumb for spam calls, texts, and emails:

1. Do not engage spammers.  When you answer or respond, you are showing the scammer, spammer, or robo-system that your phone number or email is "live" and put on another list that is sold over and over and the calls/texts/emails will continue infinitely.
2. Do not answer calls from numbers you do not recognize.  If it is important or a legitimate call, they will leave a voicemail.
3. Do not answer texts from numbers you do not recognize.
4. Do not answer unsolicited or out-of-the-ordinary texts from numbers you do recognize.  The number could be spoofed to fool you.
5. Do not open emails, download any attachments, or click on links in emails from senders you do not recognize.
6. Do not download any attachments or click on links in unsolicited or suspicious emails from senders you do recognize. Their email may have been hacked or spoofed.

If you have any questions about a suspicious email, call, or text, feel free to contact our office via phone 208.288.4345 or email info@integrityidaho.com.

Malware and Viruses

During this time people are conducting a lot of business via email, spending money online, and trying to find information on the internet. Be vigilant when opening emails, browsing the internet, downloading free software or games, and clicking on links in email and on the internet.

1. Fake Adobe Flash Player pop-ups and trying to download the "update" have reared their ugly heads again. If you need to update Java or Flash, we recommend closing the window and going directly to Adobe.com or Java.com and getting the update from the software maker themselves.
2. Malicious pop-ups on the internet are worse than ever. They usually take over your computer, are very loud with either an alarm or voice telling you your computer is infected, and request you call a number for "tech support."  Usually a simple reboot can clear this from your machine.  First, try CTRL+ALT+Delete to correctly reboot your computer; however, in most instances, we are finding that you will have to hard reboot, aka push the power button until the computer shuts down. After you reboot and go back on the internet, make sure to click the option to NOT restore the previous session. 
3. Browser hijackers are also increasing.  You go to a website or download a program and it asks to install an extension… you allow it and then your entire browser is infected. In many instances, we are having to reload computers due to these, as they sometimes install extensions in your internet browser and affect your registry.
4. Click-bait articles, product advertisements, and videos are also a rising nuisance as people try to seek out information on Covid-19.  If it seems outrageous or too good to be true, please do not click on it! Only click on trusted sources only when searching for information or buying products.

If you have any questions about updates, pop-ups, emails, or need a clean-up, this can be done remotely.  Please contact our office via phone 208.288.4345 or email info@integrityidaho.com if you need immediate assistance.