technology_center

The Importance of Filtering Your Internet

rod@coachingcatalysts.com (Rodney Noran) — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 22:44:14 GMT

It's a Dangerous World Out There

This is Randy Lawson, your intrepid and tenacious technology investigator, coming back at you this month with some more case studies. I’m not one to kid when things get serious. It can be a dangerous world out there, and the easy accessibility of internet technology can make it more so to the unsuspecting child or naïve parent. Naivety is something you typically see associated with children, but just like we had to program the VCR for our parents back in the day, today’s youth often know more about the services readily available in our home than we do.

But not only should we be worried about the kind of material our children have access to, we should also be concerned about giving access to sites of questionable value or that have links to malicious content. You know me. I had to ask the crew over at the Technology Center what this all meant.

They told me that malicious content includes, but is not limited to, a site being able to download encrypted malware onto my system. Some of it happens to be able to decompress and decipher itself. That definitely peeked the curiosity of this investigator. What can malware do to my system?

Malware includes things like computer viruses, Trojan horses, worms, ransomware, spyware, and scareware. Viruses are nasty things. Just like the flu can knock you off your feet for a while, a computer virus can knock your computers for a loop, self-replicating its program to infect your computer by inserting its own code into your computer’s programs.

Scareware is malicious software that “scares” you into buying unwanted software. Worms infect one computer and then using security holes, spread to other computers on the system. Trojan horses mislead computer users of their intent. When a link is clicked or an email attachment is opened, the Trojan horse creates a backdoor that can grant people that have no good will access to personal information, depending on what you keep on the computer.

This is why the crew at the Technology Center in Joplin, Missouri recommend that I filter my internet. They told me that I did not want these nasty little things to have access to my computer systems and my personal information.

The Case of the Digging Worm – CASE #2021-08

My name is Randy Lawson, technology investigator, and when it comes to computers and other gadgets and associated wizardry, I sometimes get lost among all the wires and bytes and lines of data. These are my adventures.

A friend that runs a local business called me the other day to tell me the computers in his three convenience stores all quit working. They turned on the computers that morning only to find themselves locked out. None of their passwords worked. This would affect his profitability as well as the well-being of his employees.

I hopped in my car and made a quick dash over to his main store. Sure enough, the login screen was useless. It wouldn’t even take his password. Every time he hit the enter key, it just went blank and then the login screen popped back up…empty.

My instincts went crazy. I knew this was going to be a difficult case. We shut down his system and called the Technology Center. They were able to get things cleaned up and running back in top condition.

Turned out that a piece of self-replicating code “wormed” its way into one of his computers and infected the rest of the network. It dropped its payload and highjacked the system to use it as a zombie, sending out spam emails to thousands of computers. I guess the warranties on a whole lot of cars had expired.

My friend and I asked Matt and crew what could have been done to prevent such a malicious attack. He runs convenient stores, and a lot of customers were inconvenienced that day. Matt suggested web content filtering.

There are a lot of sites on the web—over 4.5 billion in a recent assessment. This makes it nearly impossible to block all unwanted content. But a comprehensive filter that has the ability to update on a schedule and that allows changes goes a long way in stopping online threats.

Call the Technology Center for help in determining your internet filtering needs. Matt and crew can fix you up.

The Case of the Missing Data – CASE #2021-09

Another recent case had me deeply perplexed. A local school called me up, asking for help in locating some files that just up and disappeared from their computer systems. And it didn’t happen all at once either. Seems that over the past couple of weeks, ten to twenty files per day couldn’t be found.

After a week of this, the school principal decided to call in the expert. Off I went to track down these missing files with my sleuthing skills. It shouldn’t have been a problem, but this wasn’t like tracking down credit card purchases to follow someone that had dropped out of sight. This was serious. These files had personal information on them.

With the help of the Technology Center, we determined that the problem was a Trojan horse that had been attached to an innocuous looking email. When someone on the school staff opened it, everything started to fall apart.

The corrupting code opened a backdoor that allowed a remote user to extract data from the school’s computer systems. Matt suggested internet filtering in order to stop the loss of data. Filtering your internet can also prevent loss of productivity by preventing employees from accessing sites not related to their work function. Filtering will prevent such things as access to malicious sites, loss of productivity, inappropriate content leaving or entering the system, and being infiltrated by computer viruses and malicious programs.

Check with Matt and the folks at the Technology Center for help finding the solution to meet your home and business computer system needs. Remember, it is a dangerous world out there sometimes. Technology can be a wonderful part of your life, but you need to be careful.

Time for Some Spring Cleaning

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 18:30:26 GMT

A little spring cleaning goes a long way in keeping things running smoothly

This is Randy Lawson, your intrepid and tenacious technology investigator, coming back at you this month with some more case studies. Summer is quickly approaching, and I realize that I still have some spring cleaning to do. With how important technology has come to our daily lives, that annual ritual of backbreaking labor is no longer relegated to making sure the rain gutters are cleaned out and all the smoke alarm batteries are operational.

Today, that means being certain that your home and business computers run at peak efficiency without any burdensome slowdowns. Giving your computing systems a good spring cleaning means getting everything orderly and running like a ship ready to sail the data seas.

Needless to say, when I first started out, I had no clue how much better everything ran with just a little tweaking here and a little cleanup there. Like you, I have come to depend on my computer for many different tasks in my life. Like you, I need someone dependable to help me get everything ship shape.

That’s why I let the crew at Joplin’s Technology Center take care of my spring cleaning needs. They have taught me some of the simple things I can do on my own: uninstalling apps that I don’t use; creating a more organized file structure, cleaning up the task bar, and blowing the dust and cobwebs out of my desktop.

Over the last year, I have noticed a large shift of people starting to work from home. Their commute is from the bathroom to the dining room table or home office. What if something happens to their laptop? What if something freezes up? Since they’re working from home, they no longer have the luxury of calling Lindsey down in the IT department to come see why the screen is all fuzzy and not working smoothly.

Some people are more like me and have a small business with no access to an IT department. That is when I pick up the phone and call Matt, Brent, Amy, and Justin down at the Technology Center. They can help me with any problem that I have remotely. Other options are that I can bring my computer to them, or they can come to my computer.

I keep my car in good working order. Get it serviced, the oil changed, the tires rotated. I depend on my car to get me from place to place, to take me to the cases I investigate. It needs to be operating at peak performance in order for me to get the most out of it. Now that computers are such an integral part of our modern life, why wouldn’t I want it to be performing at its best?

There are helpful suggestions that you can find online. Your child studying computer sciences may even be able to help you. But the folks at the Technology Center come highly recommended. Check out this review from Bob Barth: “Just a big shoutout to Matthew and his staff for superior customer service provided to me when my hard drive crashed. In a couple of hours, I was back up and running!”

Now that is a recommendation if I’ve ever heard one. Matt and crew know their stuff.

The Burdensome Bookmarks – CASE #2021-06

I love the internet. News when I want it and how I want it. Streaming services. Baseball. Football. Basketball. Music. But all of that can bog down the performance of your computer. Not like you would think though. But because it slows me down.

I have bookmarks for recipes, for news articles, for technology advances, for hundreds upon hundreds of things. Having so many sites bookmarked really slows me down. When it slows me down, my work rate suffers.

If you don’t keep them organized in some fashion, you end up scrolling through each one like looking through a rack of birthday cards at the bookstore for the perfect one. That takes time. For those of us that do a lot of work out of our home, time is money.

The crew at the Technology Center directed me how to make my bookmarks work best for me. I use Google Chrome for my web browser, and the crew taught me how to use the Bookmark Manager. I cleared the ones I didn’t use or want anymore. I hid some that I don’t use that often and made my bookmarks toolbar more compact and efficient. They also showed me how I could archive the actual webpage instead of bookmarking it, keeping my bookmarks designated for those things I use every day or every week.

Give them a call or send them a message to see what they can do for you.

The Dust Bunny Collection – CASE #2021-07

Throughout my time investigating different aspects of technology, I have seen some pretty interesting and wide-ranging collections. But one of the oddest I discovered was in my own home office. A couple weeks ago, I had been washing the upstairs baseboards while I was running the Disk Cleanup tool in order that I might free up some space to help my computer operate more efficiently.

When I glanced over at the screen and saw that the whole process had bogged down, I decided to take the computer, keyboard, and monitor up to the Technology Center for a quick service. Be better to have the professionals do it anyway.

That appointment helped me understand that I needed to not only keep the furniture dusted in my office, it also would help if I kept the dust from taking up permanent residence in my computer. Matt opened the housing and gave it a quick burst of canned air. Who knew I had started an extensive collection of dust bunnies.

He told me dust can build up in the computer’s fan and cause it to have to work harder in order to keep the computer from overheating. And that could lead to a whole laundry list of troubles. He also pointed out to me that I should never use a vacuum for this task, only compressed air in a can.

As part of your spring cleaning endeavors, you can clean your screen with a microfiber cloth. This is a safe and effective method to clean the monitor without smearing or scratching it. Using the compressed air on the keyboards helps get rid of the accumulated debris and prevent further damage.

Be sure to stop by or contact the crew at Joplin’s Technology Center to help you get your computer spring cleaning tasks in order. Until next time.

Everyone Needs a Good Backup: Securing Your Files and Data

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 21:04:30 GMT

Continuing Adventures of a Technology Investigator

This is Randy Lawson, your intrepid and tenacious technology investigator, coming back at you this month with some more case studies. Nearly everyone I know has lost their keys at one time or another. We all know how frustrating that can be. Seriously, think about it. It's a cold rainy day, and your arms are loaded down with groceries, but when you reach into your pocket carefully to get your keys to unlock the house door, you can't find them. When you wake up in the morning, you're running a little late, you're rushing out the door, you get to the car…no keys. Now, you're going to be even later. Those are just some of the frustrations that can occur because you lost your keys.

Now, imagine that you're at work. You have a big project that you're trying to get finished. You have been typing and typing away. Everything looks good. You slide the cursor over to the save icon, and with all the confidence in the world, click that left button on the mouse to secure hours’ worth of work. But then all of a sudden, the screen fizzes out, and everything goes black.

Let's go back to our first two examples. What if when you got back to the house with your arms loaded down with groceries and couldn't find your keys but someone was there to open the door and let you in? Frustration averted. Or when you are rushing to work you left the house without your keys but you had a backup key in your wallet? Frustration averted.

Personally, I know I have had that experience of losing important documents and data and case histories that I had stored on the computer. When it happened, I just wanted to wring my hands and pull my hair out. Some of those times, I almost broke down and wept. In my experiences as a technology investigator over the years, I have realized that I do not have to experience those frustrations and those torments if I just back everything up.

If you have any questions about backing up your computer files, data, and important pictures or videos, the crew here at the Technology Center can help find backup a service that fits your needs. Matt, Brett, Amy, and Justin know their stuff. So, instead of worrying about the possibility of losing important material on your computer, get with the crew and they can help you find a backup option that fits your budget needs.

When I first started looking into backing up my data, I had some learning to do. So, what I did was called Matt at the Technology Center. I explained to him what I was using, and what I was looking for. He pointed me in the direction of something that was simple and easy to use. He suggested that I use a service called Carbonite.

Being the science fiction fan that I am, my first thought was of a famous movie where someone was captured and frozen in carbonite. That turned out not to be the case in this issue. Carbonite is a backup service. For under $75 a year I am able to have automatic computer backups that store my data, including videos and pictures on the cloud. I am able to get remote file access and have external hard drive backup. In addition to the backup services that they provide, they also have antivirus services through Webroot.

So, if you have a big project that you cannot afford to lose, then my suggestion is to contact Matt and crew at the Technology Center so they can help you find the service or programs that fit your needs and your budget. Whether it is family photos or extensive inventory data for your small business, the Technology Center is able to fill your backup needs.

The Lonely Writer – CASE #2021-04

It started out to be a wonderful day. We were loading the car for a picnic lunch and we're going to head out to the lake for a pleasant afternoon. As my hand reached out to grab the door handle, my phone rang. As you can imagine, all the kids groaned.

We had an emergency. One of my customers was a writer. He pens some exciting adventure stories, and how he does that when he's hidden away in his study for months on end, I have no idea. Somehow, he manages and does a pretty good job. But when I heard his voice on the other end of the line, I could tell something was seriously wrong.

He had just spent the last three months writing his latest novel, keeping the text stored on a jump drive. Because of my discussions with Matt about backing up data, I understood that though a jump drive may be a good source for short term storage, it can be corrupted, causing you to lose everything.

After contacting the Technology Center, my writer friend was able to get the service that he needed in order to consistently and reliably backup his files. Going forward, my writer friend, uses Carbonite to secure his files and prevent the frustration and anxiety-inducing situation of having his work disappear into the ether.

Held for Ransom – CASE #2021-05

It can be a scary world out there. There are people who seek easy money by damaging your business and your reputation. This is another important aspect of why it is crucial that you maintain computer backups for your small business.

Recently, I was contacted by a local business that had been hacked by malicious code and had all their networked computers frozen up and held for ransom. Ransomware can be capable of locking up a system and making it impossible to retrieve files and data because they have been encrypted, and the criminal (there is no other term for it) demands a ransom that will enable the files and other data to be retrieved.

This can be prevented, or actually circumvented, by backing up your data on a regular basis, on a schedule. I have seen this happen, and it is not a good thing. Matt and crew at Joplin's Technology Center can help your small business use the backup service that best fits your business’s needs.

What these services can do is protect files on your server and external storage devices on multiple computers. By backing up the files and data, it enables easy file recovery for computers and systems locked out by ransomware without actually paying the ransom. These services monitor online backups and have data retention requirements to fit your needs.

In my experience with losing data, I have learned that there are some very important things not to do. One of the biggest mistakes I or any small business, or even someone at home with just one computer, can make is to not do a backup. Another blunder that you could commit is to not run the backup regularly and with ample frequency. When you're ready to get more information on the backup services that can provide your computer data and files with the safety that they deserve, reach out to Matt and crew at Joplin's Technology Center, and they will get you all set up.

Adventures of a Technology Investigator

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 18:32:42 GMT

Hi, my name is Randy Lawson. I work the day shift as a technology investigator.

Introduction

In business, it’s all about service. Going that little extra bit to find and provide what it is that a customer needs. My name is Randy Lawson, and I call myself a technology investigator. We are living in a world where the equipment and the knowledge needed to operate and maintain it grows more and more each day. It often moves so quickly that you don’t have enough hours in the day to keep up with everything.

When I first got into searching for the best source to keep me up-to-date and knowledgeable of the changing electronic landscape, I found Charlie Davis of Joplin’s Technology Center. Charlie’s business could not only sell me the technological equipment and software that I needed, it could also provide me with the services and instruction that I needed to make sure everything operated at its most efficient.

One day, Charlie decided to move on. Since service held an important place with him, he searched high and low for the right person to step into his shoes. And he found that person in Mathew Robertson—a young man accustomed to serving the community through his position working IT for Joplin schools. He couldn’t have found a better person to fit the bill.

Matt—as I like to call him—and his crew at the Technology Center made the transition smooth and effortless after Charlie left him the keys. They can do it all even if I needed to start from scratch. These helpful people can come to my place of business or home and take a look at my needs, consulting with me and designing the systems that will best fit.

They can install and configure security cameras for either my home or my business. If I’m having an issue, they can troubleshoot the issue and even make the necessary repairs to my home or business networks. When I come across some piece of new technology I would like to add to my networks, they can install and setup these devices for me.

I started off talking about the importance of customer service. Matt and his crew have a location where you can bring your equipment, but they also make service calls. What more could you ask for? It’s like having your own IT department ready and able to help you.

Their level of service is just what I need. As a technology investigator, I have some cases where the crew of the Technology Center located at 2604 E. 7th Street in Joplin, Missouri helped solve. I would like to share them with you. Filing those cases away as solved with satisfaction sure makes me feel like everything is going to be all right when it comes to technology and network services.

The Missing Desktop Computer - CASE #2021-01

I would like to say it was a cool and pleasant day last year. But that would be an exaggeration because these southwestern Missouri summers often drive the mercury pretty high—if thermometers used mercury anymore, but technology has changed a lot in our lives. If only we could use that technological know-how to invent something to take away the intense humidity that sticks to you like a wet, woolen blanket.

Service calls are a specialty of the crew, and I needed their help with the case we’re reviewing today. Seems that a certain individual had been collecting books and papers to the point he lost the tower that converted all the electronic signals into images on his screen. He had to have an upgrade to accomplish the things he needed during this work-from-home period in our lives.

So, what I had here was a missing computer case. Those can be tricky. You have to be careful. Who better to call than the Technology Center crew? A quick call to their headquarters set the wheels in motion.

When something goes missing in my line of work, things can often get a little chaotic. That never happened here as soon as the crew stepped in. They took control of the situation with courtesy and professionalism.

A quick tracing of the relevant cords revealed the missing computer. It didn’t take the crew very long to have everything in order once again. The customer was satisfied with the quick and effective work performed by Joplin’s Technology Center. They located the equipment and supplied the necessary updates to get the customer up and running so he could accomplish his tasks.

The customer felt like he had his own IT department available to help him. And all it took was a quick phone call to activate the crew.

Best Computer Monitors - CASE #2021-02

In my line of work, I try to keep up with all the changes happening in technology every day. But that can be a little hectic at times. I remember the days when the height of sophistication was an answering machine. These days, you can set up and receive voicemail from anywhere. You can video chat to your best friend while you’re out on the lake fishing.

As all the advances continue to become more and more sophisticated, I have discovered that I need a helping hand every now and then. Getting these technological advances to work as efficiently as possible for me, needs a little foresight on my part. This is where the Joplin’s Technology Center crew comes in. They save the day with their convenient service calls, bringing the experts to me and showing me things that will make my life easier.

For the longest time, I thought monitors were just easy ways to see the data entered into a spreadsheet or words written in a document. Then came better resolution and graphics…and kitten videos. Then I got a Facebook page and talk to my brother across the country on video through the camera. I can see him react to my latest adventure. The most recent addition to my social media life has been Instagram and Pinterest . This way I can keep up with the things that interest my kids.

Did you know you can get a monitor with both picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture functionality? This lets me easily view content from different sources at the same time. The Technology Center crew came out to my office and set up my new monitors for me.

They taught me things about blue light reduction that match my usage scenarios and flicker-free LEDs that will save my eyesight. As technology becomes deeper and deeper ingrained into our lifestyles, the crew taught me what I needed to do in order to not be hindered by all the advances. And all it took was a quick phone all to Joplin’s Technology Center.

S mall Business Network Setup Checklist - CASE #2021-03

It was a dark and dreary day filled with gray clouds that seemed to hover right over the rooftops. It wasn’t too stormy. More like damp due to the perpetual mist. It wouldn’t quite open up and rain; neither would it dry up. These are days that some people find it hard to go out and get things done.

This includes one of my latest clients who owned a small business and wanted to set up a computer system that networked her point-of-sale at the front of the store with her warehouse inventory in the back. Much more complex when you understand all the different moving parts involved.

She didn’t want to hold too much inventory and run the risk of it not selling and having to sell it at a loss. Neither did she want to hold too little product on hand and run the risk of missing sales opportunities by not meeting customer demand. I needed a solution that was quick, convenient, and reliable.

Joplin’s Technology Center crew fit the bill. If anyone could swoop in like superheroes and get this job done, it had to be them. Their convenient service calls allowed my client to select the equipment and software she needed. At the same time, they helped her set it up and taught her how to make it best work to fit her needs.

They brought the hardware she needed. Set it up with the software best suited for her business. Taught her how to use it. And are available for any additional assistance or updates that she may need in the future. She doesn’t have to be a huge, multi-national corporation to have an IT department when the team at Joplin’s Technology Center is there to help her. All it takes is a quick phone call to set the crew in motion.

The Story Of The Franken Virus A Halloween Nightmare!

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 13:05:35 GMT

He called his modern day code extrapolation “Franken Virus’!

The inspiration behind our hacker’s story has been leaked over the last couple of years. The goal of our young hacker was to develop a virus, but not just any virus. He wanted to establish himself as a unique one of a kind hacker.

He called his modern day code extrapolation “Franken Virus’!

Establishing unsafe viruses is much less regarding "bragging rights" or satisfying the developer's ego as it is the need for it to become a great revenue generator.

The destruction of data on your computer system or corruption of programs you use is a typical side effect of the “Franken Virus”.

The reformatting of your computer system "c: drive" computer’s hard drive, especially at the office, and also the loss of useful information made use of to will be an unbelievably excruciating experience.

The extensive release of information back up remedies within firms to abide by regulation and also various other factors means much less and much less useful data is now stored on your computer system's neighborhood hard disk.

A lot more importantly for the “Franken Virus'' author, this assault does not generate much concrete revenue so there is very little motivation to create more sophisticated programs to counter better anti virus applications as well as business network protection.

Nevertheless, there is profit for the “Franken Virus” writer consequently turning your computer system into a spam distribution equipment. "Spam" is an email sent out without the authorization of the person obtaining the message.

Cyberpunks gain control of your computer through a Trojan Horse which gives them the very same access to civil liberties as the user.

Once your computer is regulated by the cyberpunk it becomes known as a "Zombie." A group of zombie makers is called a "botnet.".

By controlling a botnet our “Franken Virus” hacker can produce revenue in a number of ways. The botnet can be utilized to exhort a ransom money from a business by threatening to launch a harmful "Distributed Denial of Service" (DDoS) attack against its website.

The botnet can likewise be hired out to various other hackers

One of the most usual ways of making money from a botnet is to use it to send spam email. According to the protection software application firm Sophos over 50% of all spam email now stems from botnets.

Cyberbullies utilize spam email to drive website traffic to pay per click marketing sites or disperse virus programs further. Making use of a zombie computer aids cover their tracks.

The drive for producing profit is clearly obvious in a brand-new kind of infection referred to as "Ransomware" by security specialists which started to appear in 2005.

Ransomware, as the name recommends, holds data on your computer system "hostage." Documents on your hard drive are encrypted with a password. The individual is after that contacted and also asked to pay a ransom money to release the data.

Right here are some straightforward pointers as well as methods to help avoid your computer developing into a "Franken Zombie.".

- Keep your computer system up to date with the most up to date software application patches for Windows and other Microsoft programs. A lot of infections and other malware make use of vulnerabilities in utilized programs.

- Set up a reliable anti infection program, like Windows Defender. It will keep the virus definitions up to date as well as check your computer routinely.

- Buy a router with a hardware firewall. Preferably you need a firewall program service which filters both incoming and also outgoing web traffic from your computer to the web.

- Never ever open spam email or connected email attachments. These are regularly utilized to disperse virus programs. Make use of a spam filter to help reduce the amount of spam you obtain. ,

In summary, it is October the month of “Zombies”, “Spooks”, and other evil phenomena. Here’s what you need to do. Give the Technology Center a call and have Matthew and his team prep you for the coming hacker’s of destruction and mayhem.

They come to your place and prep your devices for the oncoming attack of “Franken Virus” and other concepts of destruction.

Refurbished Laptops For Students

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 00:42:19 GMT

College students spend an enormous amount of money on day to day living and school expenses.

Dorms, books, and food alone will cost parents thousands of dollars per semester. Finding places to cut costs can be difficult, but one major expense can be avoided. Laptop computers are very quickly becoming a necessity for any student, and they are costly. Finding a cheap laptop that will get the job done can save a great deal of money.

Many have found the answer in Refurbished Laptops or Low Cost Chromebooks. One of these type laptops is one that has been returned to the manufacturer and has been restored to a "like new" state. Although the computer is not damaged, it can't be sold as new so the price is slashed heavily. A $2000.00 laptop might be sold as a refurbished item for $900.00 and be no different that it's new counterparts, like Chromebooks. This means that for less than half the cost or in the case of a Chromebook a third of the cost. A powerful refurbished laptop can be purchased, and in many cases be placed under warranty in the same way a new laptop would. Almost every major computer manufacturer offers refurbished laptops including IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Dell. In the case of Chromebooks they automatically come with a great warranty.

What Happens Next?

Once a refurbished manufacturer is chosen, the laptop specifics must be looked at to make sure the computer can get the job done. Students are looking for a laptop that is:

Sturdy – Students are on the move, and their laptop will take some damage in its time. Make sure the computer is tough.
Fast – The computer needs to keep up with the student so processor speed and memory is very important. These are not the two areas to cut cost.
LightWeight – No one wants to carry a 50 pound boat anchor around in their already heavy book bag. Make sure the refurbished laptop is as portable as it needs to be.
Wireless – The laptop should already be wirelessly enabled or have an open slot for a wireless card. Universities are becoming wireless hotspots and every student should be able to take advantage of this.
Powered – Make sure that the life of the laptop battery is respectable, and purchase a rechargeable back-up so there is always battery power available.

Additionally...

There is more that should be considered of course, but most options will depend on the needs of the individual. One drawback of a refurbished laptop is that in most cases there is very little customization that can be done before the point of purchase. These computers are already built and ready to go so if you don't like a particular option then you need to buy another laptop.

Of course, this doesn't mean that changes can't be made by the user after purchase, but any further customization will cost additional money and the user needs to be proficient in making the upgrade.

In Summary, Other Things To Consider!

So, other considerations? Yes, you may want to request customizations or other adjustment for your new back to school laptop. If you have other questions concerning refurbished Laptops Solve Money Problems For Students And Parents. If you would like some help with your particular situation then give us a call @ 417-238-1195 or email us by visiting our website contact page: http://www.techcenter.io. We are easy to work with and are excited to help you meet your specific needs. Simply put, do not buy blind, call on the Technology Center’s team of experts to get into the right device.

Desktop Computers vs. Laptop Computers

Fri, 08 May 2020 06:36:04 GMT

In the search for a device, such as, a computer? Are you trying to decide between a desktop or a laptop?

This presentation contains images that were used under a Creative Commons License. Click here to see the full list of images and attributions: https://link.attribute.to/cc/1022706

Are you wondering what criteria you should consider in this decision? Below, you find several considerations when it comes to buying a desktop computer vs. Laptop computer. It is important to make an informed purchase.

Equipment Costs

You need to analyze your computing needs. What will you be using your computer to do? Gaming? Business? Personal? Writing? Desktops start at $400 and go up from there, but it’s all dependent on what you are trying to accomplish, right?

Laptops are somewhat more limited in massive abilities. If you have massive processing needs a laptop will not meet your needs. You’ll need a more beefed-up solution.

However, if you're just looking for something to get online with and do personal computing a laptop is perfect. They range up to $1500 in price. You should note laptops can be beefy too!

But, if your need is for speed, lots of RAM, and storage then a desktop is going to be your best choice.

Portability

Of course, desktops take up much more space than a laptop. Desktops aren’t really meant to be portable. You can move them, but to do it regularly is hard.

On the other hand, laptops are very portable because of their size. They can be transported by backpack or carrying case designed for laptops. You should purchase a laptop if you have a portable lifestyle or computing purpose.

Processor

If you need it to process large files, run high powered software, or are a gamer then a desktop will be your best choice for sure. However, there is one caveat, gamer laptops are most of the time beefy enough to be a potential solution for high end usage.

But, processor speed and size is something you should consider, which will all be dependent on your needs.

Internal Storage

Today, most computing solutions both desktop and laptop have good storage solutions. However, the storage pricing for a desktop and/or laptop can vary widely. Laptop storage and RAM tend to be more expensive, so this may be a consideration in your decision.

External Storage

There is a limitation between desktops and laptops when it comes to external storage. Desktops have more ports and therefore you need to consider your external accessories needs when making the decision between desktop computers vs. laptop computers.

Keyboard

If you have a need for a number pad then you best bet will be a desktop. Desktops have external keyboards with number keypads. Some laptops have numeric keypads, but they become bigger and more bulky in size as a result. So, you should take this into consideration.

Screen Size

If screen size is important to you then desktop is going to be your solution. However, you should note that because of superior portability laptop screen sizes are much smaller. Note, laptops can generally connect to any size exterior monitor you may have need of at the cost of portability though.

Power Usage

Desktops have a greater power usage. If you have important documents, videos, or content in the works you should consider an external backup power source. On the other hand, laptop computers use much less power than desktops. They also have a battery back-up. Power outages or brownouts don’t put your content in as much risk because of the laptop battery.

Upgrading

If you’re considering starting at minimum build out and then upgrading your device the desktop is going to be your best choice. They have more room for upgrades than most laptops have. A need to upgrade a hard drive, ram, or monitor usually demands a new laptop in order to get the job done. This is not so with a desktop.

Repair

When it comes to repairs desktops are much more easily done. A lot of the upgrades and replacement hardware can be purchased and used right off the shelf. Opening, maintenancing, and repairing a desktop computer is easier, much more than a laptop. Plus, a lot of laptop warranties are void if you do the repairs yourself, right?

Summary

So, these are the considerations for the question of desktop computer vs. laptop computer. If you would like some help with your particular situation then give us a call @ 417-238-1195 or email us by visiting our website contact page: http://www.techcenter.io. We are easy to work with and are excited to help you meet your specific needs. Simply put, do not buy blind, call on the Technology Center’s team of experts to get into the right device.

Do I need a New Computer

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 03:27:18 GMT

Do I Need A New Computer?

Do I need a New Computer? This is a great question to ask yourself. When do you need to purchase a new computer, right? You are hit from every direction from the big box stores about how technology has changed. Thus, how you are falling behind, if your computer is more than five years old. You think to yourself, has technology changed that much?

The answer is yes, and no. Computer manufacturers will continue to push you toward their biggest and baddest new computer technology. Look, driving new PC sales is their goal. The question is, do you need the newest computer, right? Well, are you a cutting-edge consumer? Does your personality demand you have the best cutting-edge tech?

If the answer to that question is NO! Then, perhaps new is not necessary. If you are accomplishing the tasks you desire with your current tech, perhaps all you need is a PC tune-up. Afterall, if a tuned-up computer provides all you need to accomplish your top computing task at a higher rate of speed, then a tune-up would put you at the top of your game, right?

The Rapid Advancement Of Technology

It used to be, tech was advancing so incredibly fast, it did not take long for your gear to be seriously outdated. This generally meant your computer was not keeping up with the newest demands coming from the computing software industry. You would buy or need software your PC could not handle. When this would happen, upgrades were necessary to keep up.

It was rumored of Bill Gates, saying, “640K is more memory than anyone will ever need.” Of course, he has denied this many a time over the years. But, the fact is, computers have advanced significantly over the years. This is the reason for your original question, “Do I need a new computer?”. Truth is, if you purchased a new computer less than five years ago, you probably just need to get It updated via a tune up .

What has happened since the year 2000 is our ability to perceive the difference of speed, capacity, and operation from one generation to the next generation has waned. One generation seems to be the same as the previous generation. This really has made it easy for consumers to just get a computer tune-up in place of buying a new computer.

“Today, tech is still improving, but not at the pace it was a decade or two ago. Yes, it is still improving and will continue to do so. However, today’s computer user will not notice a drastic difference between a new PC versus one which is a year or two older.”

--Matthew Robertson Technology Center, Joplin MO

The Internet Of Things

Look, a new computer will not speed up the Internet. If, therefore, you are considering a new purchase hoping to get better page load speeds, then all you probably need is to have Matthew Robertson and the Technology Center team do a tune-up on your current rig. This will save you a thousand dollars of out of pocket expense and make you just as happy.

Your Internet connection is really determined by the package you purchased from your Internet service provider (ISP). If you went cheap on the package purchased from your ISP, this is where your page load problem lies. Just upgrade to a bigger package, ok?

Today, internet service providers (ISPs) can deliver speeds up to 50 gigabits, it is all about what you are willing to pay.

Getting A Proper Diagnosis Is Important

Getting a proper diagnosis of the source of your slowness is very important. Generally, you can contact your ISP and have them diagnose their equipment at your house or business. If they do not find fault in their equipment, you can schedule a service call with your local computer repair shop to do a scan and diagnosis of your equipment and recommend a solution. Wherever the problem lies, either in your network equipment, your computer, or your ISP, we can get your equipment operating at maximum efficiency.

It is easy for your computer to become buggy. If you do a lot of downloads, load new software, or never optimize it, it is probably time for it to be cleaned-up and tuned-up. Then this is where the Technology Center at 7th and Florida in Joplin, MO can come to the rescue. Just drop by and ask Matthew, and his team, Amy and Brent, to look it over and diagnose your issues.

Sometimes, they will find dangerous files, cookies, or spyware running on your computer. Some sites you visit are not always friendly. In fact, sometimes they are quite intrusive. You should probably bring your computer in for a tune-up on a regular basis, if being at full operating capacity is important to you.

Working With Us...

We wouldn’t recommend downloading cleaning programs, spyware removers, and or other such software, If you don’t truly understand what you are doing. It would be much more affordable to have us do this for you; because, we have the connections and knowledge base to keep your PC up to date on all known issues.

If your computer is not getting the job done the way you need it to, then give us a call at (417) 238-1195 or visit our website at https://TechCenter.io. We will be glad to help you reach your goal. Of course, we care and look forward to helping you get the solution you need.

If you so desire, we can help you upgrade memory, move to a solid-state hard drive, or replace accessories.

So, back to your original question, “Do I need a new computer?” Please, bring your computer to us, then we can present the facts about your computer. Then, we will tell you what your options are concerning getting your computer issues resolved. You should simply click the contact us button in the navigation or call us at (417) 238-1195 .

Parental Control Software To Keep Your Kids Safe

Fri, 07 Feb 2020 04:49:37 GMT

Parental Control Software To Keep Your Kids Safe

Children are our greatest responsibility as parents. Today’s children spend a lot of time online, leaving them vulnerable to a quandary of attacks and temptations. What is a parent to do? Facts show, if you do nothing to protect your children 1 in 5 of those between the ages of 10 and 17 will be sexually solicited while online. Concerning, isn’t it?

The big problem? You cannot watch your children all the time. It is for this reason, parents look for ways to filter Internet content. Hoping they can protect those they love.

We all know now the internet is a vast depository of information; in fact, whatever information you need to know you can find via the internet. Unfortunately, some information, content, and knowledge really is harmful to our children. So, this is why we recommend parental control software to protect our children from this vast array of evil. This allows you to grab a little peace of mind knowing your family is protected from unwanted content. Do not try to police it alone, use a filtering service. The best part is you can set how stringent or how lax the parental control software is you use.

Parental Control Software & Web Surfing

Like we said, you configure the software to determine what you allow inside your home. Then your filtering service becomes your internet nanny. It is very customizable; so, if you have children of different ages you can stratify the access at different levels.

All parental control software differ in their approach as to how they provide protection. Some use huge databases to determine if a website qualifies as safe. Other services actually examine the content to determine worthiness via keywords. You will want to make sure whatever service you select allows you to choose to open sites to your family, if you believe them to be safe.

Managing Time

What if you want to limit the time your children spend online? These parental control platforms can provide you this ability. This means, you can limit how much time your family spends online. Again, these settings are determined by you. Including the hours of the day they can logon. Plus, you can determine different profiles, times, and activity by each individual user! Cool, heh?

Manage Content Via Parental Control Software

You will even know exactly which sites your children visit. It is truly Orwellian in nature, but you become Big Brother. You get to watch closely what your children view; so, you can teach your children integrity, trust, and propriety with the report generated by some of the services. Some filtering programs can also track instant messaging conversations. This provides you the opportunity to protect your children from predators.

Yes, you will have a variety of filtering options from which to choose. A well known platform is Net NannyTM Justly named, because it is like having a human nanny watching your kids twenty-four hours a day. Afterall, this is about your family and your duty as a parent to protect them.

The filtering program/service you choose should integrate with all the browsers on your computer to prevent your children from creating work arounds. It also needs to work with the majority of instant messaging platforms. Of course, making sure the filtering program you select cannot be circumvented by a creative child. You should also be able to run anytype of report you desire to ensure the filter is meeting your expectations.

Of course, we do not want to handicap our children’s education. The internet has a lot of educational material, for certain. However, if you want your children to be safe you should purchase parental control software, like Net NannyTM. The internet is a whole new frontier and you certainly do not want to hinder your children's ability to explore and learn, but if you want them to do it safely you need to invest in internet filtering for your home and family. Then you can relax and let the parental control software do its job.

Working With Us...

We are including some of the top resources for parental control software. However, we must insert a disclaimer here. While our list is comprehensive, we must confess it is not all services or programs you may find in this industry. Also, while we have listed them here for your benefit, we make no recommendations, nor are we willing to back, recommend, or underscore any particular service or software. We do have a few exceptions, which are those we install in house. They are as follows: ADAMnetworks, OpenDNS, and Disney Circle.

A list of others on the market (We do not support):

McAfee Safe Family
SafeDNS
Net NannyTM
Mobicip
Clean Router
Norton Family Premier
Kaspersky Safe Kids
Qustodio
Bark
WebWatcher
Family Time

We are including video speaking to the parental control issue below, we hope you find it useful.

If you select a particular parental control software, service, or program and need help installing or getting it set up we are here to serve your needs. So, give us a call at (417) 238-1195 or visit our website at https://TechCenter.io. We will be glad to help you reach your goal. Of course, we care and look forward to helping you get the solution you need.

In addition, If you so desire, we can help you upgrade memory, move to a solid-state hard drive, or replace accessories as needed or recommended by your parental control software/services. You should simply click the contact us button in the navigation or call us at (417) 238-1195 .

Software Center Becomes The Technology Center

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 15:13:48 GMT

Welcome to Our Grand Opening!

The Software Center Becomes The Technology Center in September 2019

Rodney Noran: I'm here with Matthew Robertson the new owner of The Technology Center. Matthew tell me a little about what is going on in your world?

Matthew Robertson: I purchased the Software Center, which has been in place for 30 years. The previous owner and employees have been providing a quality computer repair service for people to bring their computers to. We going to continue that service.

Rodney Noran: So, what is the big vision?

Matthew Robertson: Well, we want to be a store front repair shop. So, if your technology breaks you're going to be able to come in and get it fixed. The big goal is a place where you get it fixed at a reasonable price and know it'll be done right!

Rodney Noran: Do you have other plans to grow the business?

Matthew Robertson: Yes, on that same note, we need to grow in order to provide more services our community needs. For instance, like being able to do service calls at your business or at your home.

Rodney Noran: Are you already providing these services?

Matthew Robertson: Yes, we do in-home service calls now.

Rodney Noran: Why do you think this service is of benefit?

Matthew Robertson: Well, i f you've got a computer that's kind of buried away in this little nook and cranny and you don't want to dig it all out to bring it in, then we can come to your house.

Rodney Noran: What other services can you provide to your customers?

Matthew Robertson: We also work on printers and other computer/tech accessories, too!

Rodney Noran: You know sometimes your equipment acts up at home, but when you get it into your hands it's like nothing's wrong. This frustrating. So, your in house services call are nice.

Matthew Robertson: So, If you have technology in your home or your business that’s just not quite working right and you know if you bring it in it won't have the same symptoms, we will come to it. We are doing more of those types of service calls.

Rodney Noran: Matthew can you tell our readers a little about yourself?

Matthew Robertson: I attend College Heights Christian Church, and have for almost 10 years. I've got a three-year-old, a five year old, and a seven year old and my wife and I have been married for 10 years.

Rodney Noran: So, when did you purchase The Software Center?

Matthew Robertson: I purchased Software Center in September of 2019 from representative Charlie Davis. We're hoping to grow the business and continue offering the same services they have for the last 30 years. Plus, we want to grow those services by offering support for local small businesses to help them with their technology needs, too!

Rodney Noran: So, tell me the big dream?

Matthew Robertson: The reason we're here, the reason I purchased the business from Charlie, was to provide a service for the community, not just for the Joplin area; but, we want to serve the entire Joplin Metro area!

Rodney Noran: Do you want to expand on that?

Matthew Robertson: There needs to be a quality service center, where folks know they can bring their computer and they get good quality work.

Rodney Noran: Do you have a mission statement?

Matthew Robertson: Our mission statement is to offer a quality service center that people can count on, and get honest advice to integrate technology into their Modern Life, to make their life easier. we're trying to push that mission so that technology can be used as a tool for people to better themselves better their life.

Rodney Noran: So, in closing, is there anything else you would like the folks to know?

Matthew Robertson: Well, I supposed the big thing is where you can find us at: 2604 E 7th St, Joplin, MO 64801 or you can call us at (417) 238-1195 . Thanks for visiting our blog. Please, save our site and come back to read more about what we are up to!

New Vs. Refurbished Computers

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 23:49:44 GMT

“Here, at The Technology Center we offer both new and refurbished options. Because sometimes, you need a new computer to get the job done, and sometimes you don’t.”

When asking yourself this question, “Should I buy a new computer or should I go refurbished?”

The next big question you need to answer is, “What will you be using it to do?” If you will be using it to run specialty software, operating large files, or video editing this is where you are more likely to need a new computer.

However, if it is being used to simply surf the Internet or do simple tasks, which does not require much of its resources, then a refurbished computer would be the way to go. Today, there are robust refurbished units, too!

“Here, at The Technology Center we offer both new and refurbished options. Because sometimes, you need a new computer to get the job done, and sometimes you don’t.”

-- Matthew Robertson, Owner

The Technology Center

Are You An Individual Or A Business?

Although, if you are an individual or a business with very minimal computer technology needs, buying a used or refurbished is a good middle road to take. Instead, of you investing in a new computer, we can help you discern the most cost effective decision, all you need to do is ask for our help.

When we refurbish or buy refurbished computers, we upgrade the hard drive and generally upgrade the memory if it is necessary. We don’t sell any of our computers if it doesn’t have a good base to grow on. You will spend less. Yes, it may be an older machine, but it will perform all the tasks you will need.

The refurbished computers we sell are business-class machines and the reason we focus on business class is because of the research and development done by the manufacturers when they are initially produced. This is common practice by both Dell and Lenovo. The big manufacturers always work to install quality components. This is so their devices will last longer.

The refurbished machines we sell may be three or four years old, but because of these best practices by the manufactures we carry, you should get another three or four years of use

3 Myths About Buying Refurbished Vs. New

Myth #1: Refurbished Hardware Was At One Time Defective

Obviously, all electronic devices returns come with a plethora of reasons. What you don't know most are completely unrelated to defections. Most of the big-box retailers provided a 30-day return policy. As you know, buyer's remorse always plays a big part in returns. Or, the customer found a better deal down the road. This is one of the reasons computers would get the label refurbished.

Other reasons are the device had minor exterior damage from shipping, or it was a demo unit. The product is overstocked, which means it wasn’t sold before the next edition of the product reached the shelves. Of course, it is not that products aren’t returned for defects, but there are a lot of reasons for refurbishing computer products.

However, when it is because of a defect, manufactures really put them through a tenuous refurbishing process. All this before they go back on the shelves as a refurbished device. Yes, the process involves replacing broken parts too! When needed that is.

Myth #2: Refurbished PCs Have No Guarantees

No, this is not true. Almost all dealers guarantee their refurbished devices and do so in writing. Most of the time it includes a 90-day product warranty. This takes place upon the purchase of the refurbish computer. Consumers can also purchase an extended warranty of up to three years for laptops and desktops.

Myth #3: Refurbished Have A Select Audience Like Schools, Etc.

Note. There are a lot of enterprise businesses buying up refurbish computers and laptops. Refurbished equipment is a solid bet for non-profits and small business owners. Actually, you can find certain environments in the development field running completely and entirely of refurbished units.

Shopping Big Box Stores Versus Shopping Local For Technology

So, one of the comparisons we want to contrast is the difference between shopping at the national big box tech store vs. shopping from a local technology store. What’s a big advantage in dealing with us? You're not just a number with us!

We're not just going to sell you a new computer, if you don’t need one. Or, tell you your desktop is too old to fix. We’re going to work really hard to extend the life of your existing machine, when feasible. For us, it's about what is best for you.

About Working With Us

Yes, sometimes it will be more cost effective to buy new, but if we can get you there by the more cost-effective refurbish method, we will! But, we have experienced techs with 15 and 30 years of experience. Who can use their experience to provide the best recommendation for your needs, not ours?

We don’t rely on high school and college kids, who don't have any experience in the field. Our experience is something we want to lean into. For us, relationship building with our clients is important. In fact, it is just as important as a new sale!

“We are members of the community, we grew up in the community. We want to be a part of the community to help you with your technology needs.”

-- Matthew Robertson, Owner

The Technology Center

If all this makes sense, call us today at (417) 238-1195 and speak to one of our small business professionals, today! You will be glad you did. Remember, we are the perfect partner for your managed IT services, if you are not quite big enough to hire a full time on-site IT person.

Managed IT Services for Small Business

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 23:15:55 GMT

Small business owners deal with Internet security just like the large companies.

In fact, once your network has been hacked, it gets really hard to sleep at night. The problem is small business owners don’t have the same budget or manpower to overcome the issues an internal network requires. Especially, when the network climbs to have five to ten workstations on it.

Really, when you reach this many workstations you need a full time I.T. person on staff, but you don’t really have the budget for them. If you go looking to hire an I.T. specialist you’ll discover salaries of more than $45,000 a year. Let’s face it, you have the same risk as the big companies, but these kinds of wages just don’t fit your budget!

Is Managed IT Services Worth The Investment?

Here are five reasons why managed IT services are worth the investment.

Decreased Downtime
Cost Savings
Outsourced Expertise
Employee Productivity
Up to Date Technology

Simply put, you don’t know what you don’t know and what you don’t know can cripple or even bankrupt your business.

How Crazy Do You Become During Times of Lost Production?

Let me ask you, how crazy do you get during times of lost production, because your network crashes? If you have our team on-site regularly to run your network through a gauntlet of tests, which ensure your system is ready for the multiple types of cyberware attacks around the corner, would you sleep better? You’ll not be stressed because of downtime, right?

You May Have Already Been Compromised!

The real pain is if you have already been compromised and have not yet realized it. You’ve heard about ransomware and how handy hackers are at installing this kind of software. This stuff is just above the pay grade of most small business owners, but yet your network is still susceptible to all of it.

What Does A Crashed Network Cost In Real Dollars?

A Managed IT Service Provider Allows You To Know What You Don’t Know

As your managed IT service provider, we are on call to get all your questions answered. We keep all your equipment up to date protecting you against cyberware trends and we are here to help you develop solutions ensuring your team is up and productive, which protects your profits. We also help you when special needs arise and are here to consult with you about all options available for these special times of need.

“It’s just good to know you have us in your back pocket and that we are ahead of the game protecting your profits and data!”

- Matthew Robertson, Owner, Technology Center

Corporate Productivity Is Key For Employee Morale!

Your employees' morale is key to your customers, the employee’s productivity, and your sanity, right? There is nothing more frustrating to all of us when our technology isn't functioning properly. Not to mention employees cost money and having them fat and happy is important to your bottom line.

So, hiring a managed IT professional is simply wise, wouldn't you agree? When your employees know you have a specialist who can get them back up and running fast, they will thank you for helping them manage their stress. Agree?

Biggest Cost Savings Benefit Is Having Up To Date Technology

We here at The Technology Center, as a managed IT service provider will also keep you up to date on technology's progress and what you need to keep your eye on, so you don't have unexpected costs. We will always keep you abreast of costs, which are on the horizon, so you can budget for them.

We can also help train your staff on how to avoid cyber mistakes. Always making sure they know the latest tactics being used by hackers and crooks. This all by itself can be huge cost savings concerning network downtime by keeping employees from falling for deceptive practices of criminals.

So, what are you to do?

Specialized Solutions for the Smaller Business Owner

When You Work with Us

When you work with us, we will find the right business class machine with a great warranty and we’ll be there to service the unit for years to come. This way you are spending six or seven hundred dollars now instead of three or four hundred every other year. This gives you a better long-term rate of return on investment for your purchase, right?