Your computer is NOT locked!

Lots of calls lately about messages warning “your computer is locked, call this number”. 

Some of them even blare horrible alarm sounds.   We’ve talked about this before. . .

THESE ARE FAKE.

Do not call the number on the screen, do not let anyone into your computer, do not give them a credit card number. (And don’t trust calls “from” Apple or Microsoft).

More detail from Microsoft is here.

TIP: If you can’t close the scary warning, use your keyboard:

Mac: CMD + Q (hold the Command key and tap Q, then release both)

Windows: Ctrl + W (hold the Ctrl key and tap W, then release both)

---

And along the same lines, 

Reminder: Don’t Install Browser Extensions!

. . .Unless you REALLY know what you’re doing, it’s easy to fall for a benign-looking screen like this:

But you are putting yourself at risk when you allow this; many of these extensions are designed to steal your data.  (If you’re not sure what this means, watch one of our short videos on how to remove them. 

Here they are for:
Safari,
Firefox, and
Chrome

---

What’s The Fuss About 5G?

You may have heard that 5G service is coming for our phones–it was even featured on the Super Bowl last night.

So. .  what IS 5G?

The short answer is that it’s a MUCH faster cellular network with the potential to change the capabilities of mobile devices from cell phones to cars, IN THEORY. But in PRACTICE, even PC Magazine describes the current state of 5G as “very confusing.” 

What you need to know:

• It’s rolling out slowly among all the major US carriers

• Not all 5G is created equal (a good explanation by the NY Times is here)

• Even if you are seeing a little 5G icon on your phone, it doesn’t mean you have faster speeds

• Using 5G requires network availability AND a compatible (probably new) phone AND a new phone plan, which I am confident in predicting will not be cheaper.

The bottom line: don’t worry about 5G just yet; it will likely be a year or two until the dust settles.  

---

Four Tips for
Better Security Questions

Clients keep getting locked out of accounts because they’ve forgotten their security questions, so herewith a few tips for yours.

1. Don’t reuse security questions and answers more than absolutely necessary, because inevitably they’ll be hacked somewhere. (It’s hard to avoid in all cases because so many sites use the same list of questions, but try to vary your selections.)  

2. Always use SINGLE WORD answers

There’s too much room for error otherwise. For example:

Street you grew up on:  Main, not Main Street or Main St or main st.  
Third grade teacher: Campbell, not Mrs Campbell or Ms. Campbell.

(Note that most answers are not case-sensitive, but punctuation does matter; another reason to avoid titles). 

3. Avoid “favorite” questions; otherwise If you forget the answer, there’s no way to figure it out.  Your favorite movie might change over time, and pepperoni is too easy to guess for favorite pizza flavor.

4. Keep a record of the questions and answers just as you do your passwords. Paper is fine, as long as you know where you put it!