Since the beginning of the pandemic, cybercrime has become more rampant among individuals and businesses. Most of you are familiar with common cyber-attacks such as phishing, smishing, vishing, credential stuffing, and ransomware attacks. However, an old tactic called scareware is starting to increase.
     Scareware works with criminals using web browser popups to trick you into thinking your computer or smart device is infected with a virus or has been hacked. What can you do about this latest threat? Check out these quick and easy tips to make sure you don't fall for this latest trap from crooks trying to steal your data.
     99% of all cyberattacks require user interaction. This means, you have to click on a link or pop up before your device is infected. Scareware attacks work so well against you because they use social engineering tactics which create a sense of urgency and fear. This makes you want to take action right away rather than to stop and think if the threat is real. If you get a message on your computer or device that pops up saying there is a virus or other problem, you will want to take care of it immediately rather than having your device ruined. There are several ways hackers will use to launch a scareware attack on your devices:
     Malvertising. Malvertising is known as malicious advertising. Criminals use third-party software to show bogus ads that will take you to infected websites. This allows cybercriminals to spread malware, posing as legitimate ads on popular websites. When looking at ads on a website, make sure it's for legitimate products or services.

     Pop-up Alerts: Web Browser popups are one of the most common scareware attack techniques used by hackers. This method is considered 'drive-by hacking' as it relies on you visiting websites that are designed to infect your devices. Hackers do this by purchasing domain names of the misspellings of popular websites. Once you visit the website, a file or plugin when downloaded to your device and create a popup message. Sometimes the popup alert is small allowing you to close the pop-up. Sometimes the pop-up takes up the full screen of your devices making it impossible to get rid of it. In most cases, these pop-ups are stubborn and difficult to shut down. If you experience such an issue, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to restart your system if you're using Windows. Apple devices you can hit Option, Command, and Esc (Escape) to close the Window. iOS and Android devices, you will have to power the device down completely and restart it.

     Phishing. Phishing comes in many forms, voice, text, and email, and is used by criminals to get you to visit bogus websites. Pretending to be a legitimate company, scareware phishing attempts ask you to click on a link to do a number of things such as downloading software, to help remove a threat, or to fill out a form with your personal information.

     File Downloads/Web Browser Plugins. Sometimes hackers will offer you free software, books, songs, or web browser plugins. Beware, as sometimes criminals will hide malware inside these offers.

     Tips to Avoid Scareware. It doesn't matter your level of tech intelligence; anyone can become a victim of scareware. Always watch where you surf on the web and what you click on. Most people think criminals break into their computers and devices. In most instances, you're the one who is giving access to crooks. Here are some tips to keep you safe.

     Don’t React Immediately. Scareware is fear-based. Sometimes when you download it on your computer, you might hear a warning message, sirens, and other things to make you take action. When you get one of these pop-ups on your device, slow down and take your time. In most instances, you can simply close down the pop-up.

     Identify the Sender with incoming emails. If you get a strange email, you can read it, but never click on links to download files or visit a website without identifying the sender.

     Don't click on unknown links in emails or text messages. If you’re not familiar with a domain address or you can't tell what website the link will have you visit, don't click on it!

     I hope you can use these tips to help identify scareware in any form that it can show up on your devices or computers. If you need further assistance, please reach out to me with any questions you might have. I am always happy to help!

     Looking for More Useful Tech Tips? Our Tuesday Tech Tips Blog is released every Tuesday. If you like video tips, we LIVE STREAM new episodes of 'Computer and Tech Tips for Non-Tech People' every Wednesday at 1:00 pm CST on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. You can view previous episodes on our YouTube channel.


     Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@callintegralnow.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone.

Technology is definitely a blessing when you're traveling during the summer months.  How else would you be able to share those family vacation photos on social media, pull up your trip itinerary, and save all of those memories to the cloud? Along with the perks of technology, you need to make sure you're keeping your devices safe, connected to the internet, and your information secure. Fortunately for you, there are several great ways to minimize your risks and stay safe and secure during summer travel. Check out these quick and easy tips to reduce the tech stress in your life when you're traveling.

1. Before You Travel, make sure your data is backed up regularly, remotely, and redundantly. You never know what dangers your tech devices can face when you're on the road which is why you need to make sure you have automatic backups of all of your devices.  Doesn't matter if you own a laptop, tablet, or smartphone it should perform a backup every time you turn it on and connect to the Internet. If you own a MacBook, iPhone, or iPad you need to enable (and pay for) iCloud backup to save your data.  If you're an Android smartphone or tablet user, use (and pay for) Google Drive.  If you have a Windows laptop computer, purchase and use Carbonite for automatic backups.  If you own a Macbook, you should consider this an option because iCloud will only backup documents created by Apple.  This means if you use Office 365, your stuff won't be saved to the cloud.

2. Activate two-step verification on all accounts before you travel.  Two-step or two-factor authentication works by making your online accounts have two ways of verifying you are who you say you are.  If you log into a website or online account with your password, you will get a notification via email or text verifying you're the account holder.  This way, if criminals get your password, they can't just log into your accounts.  Without that 2nd form of verification, it's a dead-end for online crooks.

3. Enable 'find my device' to track your tech.  When my family and I were in Chicago last winter, I left my iPhone behind at a restaurant.  When our Uber was a short distance away, I got an alert on my Apple Watch that my iPhone was still at the restaurant.  Luckily, I was able to retrieve my iPhone, but this scenario happens to many people every year when they travel.  All tech devices have a 'find my device' feature that allows you to be alerted when your devices are misplaced or if a device is stolen.  This feature users GPS location services and can locate your device within a few feet.  If you value your tech, turn this feature on before you drive or fly to your vacation destination.

4. Extend your battery life with a reliable portable charger.  You never know if you will be near a power supply when on the road or in the air, so make sure you carry a portable charger.  Most are small enough to fit in your pocket and can charge most devices to at least half a charge.  You know how important power is if you need to make a call or look up something on the internet.

5. Only use secure, password-protected Wi-Fi connections. Not all wifi connections are bad, but you should take caution if you have to connect to one.  If you have to use public Wi-Fi, make sure it’s only for general web browsing. You never want to use one to transmit important data, log in to financial accounts, or access shared cloud drives. If you need to access more secure information, use your personal hotspot on your mobile device or virtual private network (VPN) on your devices to add a second layer of security to your Internet connection.

6. Keep your important travel documents in the cloud. This is by no means a way of backing up your documents, but you need to add this to the list of tasks that should be completed before you leave town for summer vacation or board a plane for a work trip. so you can have peace of mind everything you need is at your fingertips. Your documents can be stored in free versions of popular cloud providers like Dropbox, Google, and Microsoft. This means if you lose a device, you still have access to all of your data.

I hope you can use these tips to help you stay safe, connected, and secure when you travel. If you need further assistance, please reach out to me with any questions you might have. I am always happy to help!


Looking for More Useful Tips Tips?
My Tuesday Tech Tips Blog is released every Tuesday. If you like video tips, I LIVE STREAM new episodes of 'Computer and Tech Tips for Non-Tech People'  every Wednesday at 1:00 pm CST on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.   Technology product reviews are posted every Thursday. You can view previous episodes on my YouTube channel.  

Sign Up for My Tech Tips Newsletter! Click this link to sign-up and subscribe and you will receive every tip directly in your inbox each week.  

Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@burtonkelso.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. 

Need computer repair services for your home or business?  If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team at Integral. Our team of friendly tech experts organization can help you with any IT needs you might have.  Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829. ​

     With summer in full swing, it’s time to break out the hats and sunscreen to prepare ourselves for scorching temperatures. And make sure you don't forget your favorite tech devices… they need protection from the heat too!
     The summer heat can cause damage to your mobile devices when left out in the sun. Don't worry! Your favorite tech expert is here to drop some knowledge and help you prevent your smart devices from melting down. Check out these quick and easy tips to help keep your devices cooler in the summer heat.
 
1. Know the "safe range" for temperatures.
     Most tech devices are good to go in temperatures of 50° to 90°. Anything warmer than this is asking for trouble. Laptop, smartphone, and tablet batteries are notoriously not heat-friendly and the components of your delicate hard drive or internal storage might expand—sometimes causing permanent damage which puts you at risk of losing documents, photos, and music stored on your devices.
 
2. NEVER leave your tech devices in a hot car.
     Treat your tech like a baby and don't ever leave it in a warm car—not even in the trunk. The temperatures in your car on a warm day are almost always going to reach outside the safe range of your device. If you must leave your tech in a car, make sure it's been turned off completely.
 
3. Avoid high humidity. 
     Many laptops, tablets, and smartphones can experience electrical problems when the humidity is very high. Don't work outside with your device on days like this, or you could fry it.
 
4. Stay out of direct sun, if you can.
     Yes, heat usually comes with lots of direct sunlight. We've heard all the urban legends about your device's screen becoming damaged from sun exposure, but we can't find anything to support it. Either way, it's better to be safe than sorry.
 
5. Don't put your devices on ice if they start to overheat.
     If your smartphone, tablet, or laptop starts to show signs of overheating, place it under the shade to gradually cool off. Remember, do not put your device in the refrigerator or freezer; the rapid temperature change can cause condensation buildup that could damage the circuit.

     I hope you can use these tips to help you stay safe when you're using your devices this summer. If you need further assistance, please reach out to me with any questions you might have. I am always happy to help!


Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@burtonkelso.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. 

Need computer or technology help? If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team at Integral. Our team of friendly tech experts organization can help you with any IT needs you might have.  Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829. 

     Summer road trip season officially started on Memorial Day weekend, but you are bound to take a trip throughout the summer months for family vacations, college visits, weddings, and romantic getaways. Vacations can be fun but traveling can put you and your family at risk for identity theft and credit card scams. 
     Fortunately, in our digital age, your smartphone can play a big role in helping protect you from the dangers of cybercrime when you travel.  Want to keep you and your family safe? Check out these quick and easy tips to keep you out of the crosshairs of criminals

1. Pay for everything with your smartphone.  Apple Pay and Samsung Pay are two of the most secure ways to make payments.  For the gas pump, you can avoid credit card skimmers designed to steal your credit card information.  For shopping, your information is encrypted meaning criminals won't be able to wirelessly steal your card information. If you don't have Apple Pay or Samsung Pay, your debit/credit card should allow you to tap to pay at most major retailers.  Use it and stay safe.
 
2. Use the hotel app to unlock your room.  If you're staying at a major hotel this summer, download their app and enable the feature that will let you store your room key on your phone. Room keys are easy to lose and steal.  If a criminal steals your card and knows your room number, you are in trouble.  Room keys stored on your phone are safer. One less thing to worry about.

3. Use a Wi-Fi hot spot rather than that free wireless network.  Not all free wireless networks are bad, but when traveling you never want to take a chance that that free Wi-Fi is actually a criminal's computer collecting your data.  If at all possible, use a Wi-Fi hotspot for the Internet when traveling as it allows a secure connection that criminals won't be able to spy on.

4. If you HAVE to use free Wi-Fi, download a VPN.  Your cellular signal won't be available everywhere you travel and sometimes getting Internet is a must. A VPN or virtual private network creates a secure tunnel for your data when you're on public wireless networks which means the bad guys can't see what you're doing.

5. No public computers. Public computers pose no threat, but what if you forget to log out of your secure accounts.  It means the next person who uses it has access to your sensitive data.

6.  Emergency apps and Road Assistance apps are a must. Emergency apps keep you alerted to the weather in your area. Mishaps occur on the road, so you need to be able to contact someone if you're stranded.

     I hope you can use these tips to help you stay safe when you're traveling.  If you need further assistance, please reach out to me with any questions you might have. I am always happy to help!
     Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@burtonkelso.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. 

     Limiting screen time is always a battle, especially in summer. Your kids may have gotten used to increased screen time during the pandemic and will probably push back against you. The battle over smart devices like phones, tablets, gaming systems, and laptops can sometimes feel like too much.
     As a parent with two teenage sons, I know the stress of trying to wrangle kids off their devices to have them do chores or even settle down for bedtime. The struggle is real! If left unchecked, too much screen time can lead to sleeplessness, irritability, and depression. No matter what devices your children play on, if you're wanting an easy way to help reduce stress in your life when it comes to allowing reasonable screen time this summer, follow these tips:

1. Make sure you set clear rules and consequences.
     You probably relaxed on those screen time rules during the pandemic and now that things are almost back to normal, you're having a heck of a time trying to reinstate them. Whenever you introduce your kids to technology, you need to set rules so there is no misunderstanding of how technology is supposed to be used.
     If you want your kids to do homework or chores before technology use, make sure they understand that upfront. If they are only supposed to play on their devices as opposed to your company laptop, you need to tell them. Sometimes you will sound like a broken record, but you need to keep reminding them what the rules are. Also, don't forget to stand firm with consequences if they don't follow your rules. Don't be afraid to take devices so they understand you mean business.

2. Set a good example as a parent when it comes to your devices.
     You are probably using your devices for work, but you also have to set a good example when it comes to your technology usage. If your kids see you constantly on your devices, then it sends a signal to them that they should be on them too. Set limits for yourself when using technology around your children.

3. Parents, everyone has to be on board with limiting screen time.
     Traditional home life, blended home life, or divorced home life, it doesn't matter. Everyone has to be on the same page when it comes to technology usage during the school year and during the summer months. If one parent is using technology as a babysitter and another parent has consistent rules when it comes to device limits, it's just going to cause confusion and frustration with your kids. Please, please, please ... I'm begging like James Brown, everyone get on board so you can have less stress.

4. Take devices away at night.
     There is no good reason children should have tech devices at night. This means you've enabled parental controls to shut those devices down after a certain time. It means you're not allowing your children to take devices to bed with them. If you don't, you will wake up to a sleep-deprived child who decided they needed to have an all-night marathon playing their favorite game with strangers, some of whom could be attempting to groom your child for a face-to-face meeting. 

5. Make sure you set up other outdoor 'distractions' that will take them away from their devices.
     Things have opened back up again. Take your kids out of the house and leave those devices behind. Day trips, picnics, the list is endless of things you and your kids can do

6. Setup a 'No Tech' Zone for your kids.
     My wife always shares a story of an event that took place years ago when I made kids visiting stack their phones on the dining room table as we ate. You should do the same when it comes to areas of your home. Your child doesn't need a device in every room. They get too distracted. Areas you could make no tech zones include bedrooms, dining rooms, and even outdoors and road trips. This helps your children realize they don't need to have a device with them for every step they take in life.

     I hope you can use these tips to help you limit screen time for those kids in your life. Technology devices are designed to keep you and your children plugged in 24/7. If you need further assistance, please reach out to me with any questions you might have. I am always happy to help!

     Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@burtonkelso.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone.