Windward Computer Medics

05/07/2025

CHANGE TO BUSINESS
Shop location has been closed to reduce costs. But as always, onsite service calls can be arranged for Windward residents and Windward small businesses. The Tech also continues to assist people with remote services when it is agreed upon that they may benefit from it, and only while speaking with them on the phone. No-charge consultations by phone are also available.
- UNTIL MONDAY MAY 12, 2025 no phone contact will likely be possible due to SPECTRUM's failure to complete the business' phone transition as promised.
- Email ([email protected]) is currently being checked frequently due to the phone failure.
- IMPORTANT: But when the phone is again working, email will NOT be checked frequently because of the Tech's expectation of direct back-and-forth communications by phone regarding specific symptoms of any problem.
- The chaos and stress of this dramatically changing world we find ourselves in is a frustration to all of us and your effort in trying to be understanding is greatly appreciated.

06/16/2023

SCAMS, Scams, and more scams!
In the computer world, scams using fake reviews have been going on for years but here's another big one revealed:

The defendants allegedly came to verification calls with props.

04/26/2023

Antivirus is not as important as it used to be! You should always have an antivirus but the free one Microsoft includes with Windows is fine. I repeat this several times a day to folks in the shop and have been for years.

https://www.darkreading.com/endpoint/malware-free-cyberattacks-rise-how-to-detect

I'm pointing out this article to emphasize that the dangerous crooks are not using "viruses" anymore, even if you're not an "Enterprise" which is what this article is actually focusing upon. Instead, the crooks are tricking people into believing the email or phone call or text they send you is really legitimate. Once you fall for that, it often leads to worse situations than the old virus infections.

Last year, 71% of enterprise breaches were pulled off quietly, with legitimate tools, research shows.

06/14/2022

This article at Zdnet highlights ransomware infections but basically, increasing complexity is the actual cause of all the burnout experienced by computer support personnel across the world! Things are getting far more difficult to manage even for those of us who aren't highly paid security specialists. Two days off per week barely allows me to recover for the next work week's battles.

The unrelenting threat of ransomware is pushing cybersecurity workers to quit

https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-unrelenting-threat-of-ransomware-is-driving-cybersecurity-workers-to-quit/

05/27/2022

Beware FAKE Quickbooks scamming email

Be extremely, EXTREMELY cautious clicking the blue links in emails!
If you weren't expecting the email you probably shouldn't click it. Neither should you open any kind of attachment in an unexpected email either!

Tax software vendor Intuit has warned that QuickBooks customers are being targeted in an ongoing series of phishing attacks impersonating the company and trying to lure them with fake account suspension warnings.

03/29/2022

Crooks and Scammers are EVERYWHERE using anything and everything to fool you! The online world using phones and computers needs a complete overhaul because it's become a MEAT GRINDER. If you don't question everything, you WILL quickly be fed to the crooks. Or, you'll be helping out the crooks!

Hackers Gaining Power of Subpoena Via Fake “Emergency Data Requests”..correct link:
https://krebsonsecurity.com/2022/03/hackers-gaining-power-of-subpoena-via-fake-emergency-data-requests/

March 29, 2022 10 Comments There is a terrifying and highly effective “method” that criminal hackers are now using to harvest sensitive customer data from Internet service providers, phone companies and social media firms. It involves compromising email accounts and websites tied to police depar...

03/08/2022

Do not fully trust the number showing on your phone! These spoofing scams mentioned in the article are not going away anytime soon.
Side Note: if Zdnet throws lots of ads when you visit it, adding Adblock Plus (not Adblock) to your browser can make things tolerable.

FBI warns of online scammers impersonating government officials, law enforcement

Scammers typically call victims and say their identity was used in a crime before asking them to verify their social security number and date of birth.

12/11/2021

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/still-paying-antivirus-software-experts-say-probably-dont-need-rcna6335

Whenever I can I point out that 99% of the PC computers we remove viruses /malware from did indeed have antivirus software when they got infected. A Windows PC should always have antivirus but don't be deceived by fancy marketing claims. The bottom line for all of us regarding malicious software --even MAC users-- is that we should be careful with what we click on, especially email attachments and links in emails.
But many, many bad things happen that have nothing to do with malware. One quote from the above article:
“When I look at all the personal account compromises I’ve seen over the past three years, I don’t think any of them were caused by malware,” Lord said. “They happened because the victims had poor password hygiene and didn’t have two-factor authentication on their accounts.” ..I'll just add to this quote that security pros are pointing out that even when two-factor authentication is used, that doesn't guarantee an End User won't be tricked by determined black hats.

Josh Brunty had spent more than a decade in cybersecurity — first as a digital forensics analyst for the West Virginia State Police, then as someone who taught

06/25/2021

WD "My Book" backup drives BIG PROBLEM !

Big news. But this is only about Western Digital backup drives that have the name MY BOOK on them. These particular MY BOOK backup drives that have an internet cable plugged into them (not just a USB cord) are susceptible to a remote attack that WIPES OUT THE DATA. The manufacturer Western Digital is warning all who have a "My Book" to disconnect the internet cable *if* an internet cable is connected directly to it, to prevent a Factory Reset which would wipe out all the data backed up to that particular model of backup drive. If you don't have a backup drive labeled as MY BOOK this does not apply to you. If you have a My Book and its ONLY connected with a USB cord and its power cord, this does not apply to you either apparently. And unplugging an internet cable from a computer itself is NOT necessary.
https://threatpost.com/my-book-live-wiped-rce-attacks/167270/

I repeat endlessly that that times have changed and the best backup is one you disconnect from a computer and the internet, if that's used, after completing a backup.

05/25/2021

Vaccinations completed in early April but still wearing mask in the shop!

We have had this sign on the door for over a month but since some folks are actually choosing to not vaccinate, it has become clear that a specific statement needs to be made here that anyone and everyone working in this shop will have completed their vaccination(s) and will continue to wear a mask as mandated by state law. If it appears necessary, we may eventually also have the actual vaccination card available for customers to inspect.

03/26/2021

"Expect The Best. Prepare For The Worst."

In recent times, Ransomware is hitting mostly large businesses but any business' best remedy is the same for all of us: HAVE BACKUPS AND DISCONNECT THEM FROM ANY COMPUTER WITH INTERNET ACCESS! Backups will also save any computer user from losing their precious pictures and documents when a computer storage drive fails, and they ALL fail sooner or later.

Article below is one of many stories about how companies and individuals have saved their butts by putting in the effort to make backups that were kept offline and allowed them to rebuild. Its another reminder that "Regret is easy. Forethought is difficult."

"When it hit, we ran to our server room and data centre and started pulling plugs out." How one company was hit by ransomware, but refused to pay up.

01/14/2021

Everyon'e test results negative for COVID-19

BACK TO WORK!
Kaiser test results report the tech does not have COVID-19 and the customer who originally tested positive with a cheap rapid test has retested with a more accurate test and also tested negative. The customer also reports his buddy tested negative.

A printout of a screenshot of the tech's test result is posted in the shop.

Since no one is experiencing any suspicious symptoms and all the latest tests are considered reliable, its back to work and still with that face mask on 100%!

Thank you to those who found out about this and conveyed their Well Wishes!
Much mahalo.