Keep Your Online Information Safe

From Your Friends at Integrity Computer Consulting and Repair

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

• Fake emails from Amazon, Paypal, TurboTax, etc. are a daily occurrence. For most users, your spam filtering on your email account picks these types of emails up.  However, some do get through.  Please be extremely cautious opening these emails or downloading attachments from them. Please check the email address first and foremost, if the email does not line up with the company, mark it as junk and disregard.  Then mouse over (DO NOT CLICK ON) the links in the email; do they take you to a legitimate website? If not, mark it as junk and disregard.  If you have any questions about the validity of an email you can always send it to us at info@integrityidaho.net.  (Be forewarned, if we do not respond within 24 hours, it may have gone into our own junk folder.  Please call our office for a follow-up if necessary.)
• 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. 
• 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.
• Click-bait articles, product advertisements, and videos are also a rising nuisance as people try to seek out information on Covid-19 and the correlating vaccines.  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 at 208.288.4345 or email info@integrityidaho.com if you need immediate assistance.