PurdyTech

11/22/2024

Seriously though, you should go change your passwords. 😅

Better yet, use a password manager! I highly recommend Bitwarden. It's free, secure, and easily accessible across devices.

Need some help getting it set up? Ask about my personal setup package!

03/30/2024

PSA Post about common FB scam!

I hate that we have to be so vigilant on social media, but unfortunately there are scams all over the place. I've talked about this particular approach before, but it has continued to become incredibly popular over the last couple of months, probably because it's proving to be effective.

Q. What's the scam?
A. They will create some kind of emotional post designed to gain traction online and disable commenting so that people can't help identify it as a scam to others. After it gets so many shares they then edit the post to something else - usually too good to be true - that drives traffic to a bogus website with a form to fill out in order to collect/steal info.

Q. How can I recognize it?
A. The good news is that there are a few dead giveaways within the original post that can help you recognize them.

Before the change:
1. The post tugs at your heartstrings in some way.
2. It specifically asks you to share it in order to help find someone.
3. The comments are turned off.

After the change:
1. The post has some kind of incredible offer that sounds too good to be true.
2. There's a link for people to click on.
3. The comments are turned off.

In BOTH cases, the comments are turned off. So before you share a post, the first thing you should do is check to see if commenting has been disabled.

Q. What can I do to help?
A. Share this post. Get the word out. Know what to look for. Tell your friends.

03/05/2024

I've seen an increase in a particular scam attempt on Facebook the last few days, so I wanted to say something.

If you see a post with a particularly sad story/picture (lost child, lost pet, a missing elderly person) that's asking people to share or bump the post to find them or the owner, the first thing you should do is check the original post to see if comments have been turned off. If so, it's almost certainly a scam.

What will happen is that after a lot of people have shared the post, the content will be replaced with something that has a link in an attempt to get people to fill out a form and give their contact information (a real estate opportunity, or an offer of financial assistance, or a sweepstake, etc...all of which are fake).

Just be on the lookout. Picture of my cat Chico looking perturbed for the Facebook algorithm. ☺️

11/13/2023

PSA: If anyone ever messages you on Facebook saying they need a friend to give them a reset code for their Facebook account and asking for your phone number, do NOT give them your number and definitely don't give them the code. It's an attempt to hack into your account.

10/30/2023

Okay, this new feature has just popped up in my feed three times in the last half hour, all to the same post, which claims that by commenting "" on their post, you can see who checks your profile. This isn't really accurate. What the highlight feature does is increase the visibility of a post by notifying some of your friends that you've highlighted a post, but it also makes that post become one of the first thing people see when they visit your profile page.

From what I can tell, it's a little bit like when you purchase a used book that a previous owner has made highlights in. As you're reading, your attention is naturally drawn to what has already been highlighted. I think it's intended to be a way for people to help a post cut through all the noise and gain traction (i.e., go viral), but in this particular instance, it's just being abused.

Here's a useful article that goes more in depth about what this new feature is and how it should be used:

https://www.distractify.com/p/what-does-highlight-mean-on-facebook

Hope this helps!

06/29/2023

If you're still using voice authentication to access any of your accounts, you're gonna want to disable it immediately.

Scientists have been able to bypass voice authentication with a 99% success rate.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/deepfake-software-fools-voice-authentication-with-99-success-rate

05/24/2023

Most tech problems have a quick and easy solution. Find out if your technical headache is one of them!

Book your free consultation now: https://calendly.com/purdytech/15min

04/04/2023

Alert: Malware Through Tax Prep Site eFile.com

If you used eFile.com this tax season on a Windows computer, run an anti-virus/malware scan on it as soon as possible.

Additionally, there are concerns of a potential data breach, but that has not been confirmed at this point. I’ll be keeping a close eye on any developments on this story.

The site displayed a fake error page that downloaded a Trojanized update.exe program.

03/21/2023

About PurdyTech:
My first priority is to understand your specific needs and wants when it comes to making technology work for you, so I begin every client relationship with a free consultation so that we can find solutions that are right for you.

It’s important for you to know that I don’t specialize in hardware, repairs, or data recovery. Rather, I provide “light” tech support, meaning I can troubleshoot common tech problems as well as find ways to streamline and optimize your devices - computers, smartphones, tablets, TVs, printers, smart bulbs, the list goes on and on...and on. I know what’s beyond my expertise and I’m happy to refer you to another company at no cost to you in those situations.

I offer compassionate tech tutoring and ensure that I treat every client with the utmost respect and consideration. I can't tell you how many individuals have said something to me along the lines of “I’m so dumb when it comes to technology.” If that’s something you could see yourself saying to me, then please allow me to assure you that it’s not a reflection on how smart you are.

Technology is a language. It has its own symbols, structure, and vocabulary. It’s constantly changing and, most importantly, it has to be learned. If you struggle with using technology, odds are it’s because no one has taken the time to sit with you and break it down for you.

I can help you improve your tech skills and increase your confidence in using technology. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced user, I can help you master the technology that matters to you.

I strive for 100% customer satisfaction. If you're not completely satisfied, there's no charge. While I try hard to keep my rates affordable, I also offer an alternative avenue for payment where you can earn a $15 credit for every person you refer to me who becomes a customer. I would never want cost to prevent you from reaching out to me. At the end of the day, what I care about most is helping people.

About Me:
I earned a BA in English/Theatre Arts with a minor in Business from Texas A&M University and also a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School. I served as a pastor in the United Methodist Church for five years before deciding to transition into tech. I received a certificate in Full Stack Web Development from the University of Texas at Austin in May 2020. While I enjoy programming and developing web applications, the three things I really love are troubleshooting, solving problems for people, and teaching.

In October 2022, I began working part-time at a local church as their tech and digital media specialist. Shortly after starting, more and more people began to approach me to ask if I could help them with something technical at home. It quickly became evident to me that there was a need for compassionate tech support in the Myrtle Beach area, so I decided to start PurdyTech.