The threat is called DNS Changer, a type of malware (malicious software) that experts estimate is currently infecting over half a million computers worldwide. According to an FBI press release, the virus was created by “international cyberbandits who hijacked millions of computers at will and rerouted them to Internet Web sites and advertisements of their own choosing…” Users whose computers are infected will lose the ability to connect to the internet unless their systems are cleaned before July 9th of this year. According to the FBI’s website, “Users who believe their computers may be infected should contact a computer professional.”

In Northwest Arkansas, of course, that’s us here at Shamrock Technologies, your friend in the computer service business. We’re experts at virus removal, even when your antivirus software fails or retail chain employees assure you it’s just time to buy a new computer from them.

So bring your computer in today for a FREE Optimization Report, and don’t let your internet connection disappear.

• A lady got a quote of $500 replace the screen in her laptop and was told it would take a month or two to get it back because they would have to send it off to be done. We charged a little over $200 and she had it back in two days.
• One gentleman took his laptop in for repair and it sat there for over a month with no word from their store. When he called to find out why, it hadn’t even been diagnosed. Needless to say, he brought it to us and had it back the next  day, repaired.
• Another customer bought security software, on their recommendation, to keep hackers out of their laptop that locked its hard drive. This was actually a rent-to-own unit still owned by us, which, of course, he then turned back in to us without paying the bill. Contacting tech support for the software, we were told that the drive was, indeed locked and permanently rendered useless. It took a new hard drive to get the laptop working again.
• Still another customer was convinced to buy a new computer because they told him his old one wasn’t worth the cost of repairing. When he brought it to us to transfer files to the new computer, we did our System Optimization on the old one for $60 and had it working better than new. Now he has 2 working computers and buyer’s remorse over the money he didn’t have to spend on the new computer he didn’t need from Big Box. At least he’s happy with our service.

These all go to show that a computer owner’s best bet is to keep it local when looking for repair service. With a Big Box retailer you may get a knowledgeable service technician, or you may not.

Our technicians fix computers all day. We aren’t a volume retail giant with a sales quota to meet on new PC’s. We don’t have a script to follow, or another facility we ship repairs off to. We diagnose computer problems ourselves and repair them here in our shop. This isn’t a job we work around a class schedule. We live, eat and breathe this every day.

We’re your local computer shop and IT services provider, we won’t sell you something you don’t need, we provide fast and friendly service, and look forward to seeing you.

Many times I have heard people complain about their slow computer and say, “The darn thing is old and has slowed down quite a bit. I guess it is time to break down and buy a new one.” Sadly, few of us have the money, in this economy, to just go out and purchase a new computer. Sure, there are a lot of cheap computers for sale for around $300, but few of those will last long enough to feel that it was worth the money. Many of these cheap PCs have ended up at our shop with faulty motherboards and other issues too numerous to count. However, buying a more expensive model just isn’t in the cards. So what to do?

We have seen amazing results lately by applying some optimization tweaks to older computers. In many cases, the computers will function almost like new, and some work even better than they did when the owner first purchased them. How? Well first let’s talk about they things that are slowing your computer down.

Viruses

Almost everyone is familiar with the term “computer virus.” Despite this, many still do not understand what a virus does or how it functions. I won’t go into the details of how a virus works here (there are other articles that detail this information) but suffice it to say, they cause a lot of problems. If you are lucky, the virus is just slowing your computer down…for now. In time you will find that you are unable to run certain applications, cannot connect to the internet and finally you may not be able to get your computer to function at all. It is definitely worth catching the problem before it gets out of hand.

Malware

If computer viruses are the terminal diseases of the computer world, then malware (malicious software) is definitely the flu. Although current terminology in the computer world defines all software with a negative impact as malware (including viruses) for the purpose of this article I am simply referring to such things as adware, spyware and other similar applications. These applications run in the background, sapping valuable computer resources without the owner being aware of the problem. Undeterred, malware can slow a computer system to a crawl.

Fragmented Hard Drive

Over time a hard drive can become a random jumble of information that is stored in different locations. Files being moved, deleted or copied and having applications installed, changed or uninstalled can caused fragmentation on a hard drive. Imagine trying to complete a jigsaw puzzle but there are pieces of the puzzle kept in different rooms and location in your house. How much faster will the puzzle come together if all the pieces are sitting in front of you?

Hard Drive Space

Today’s computer has become the modern “junk drawer.” When I was growing up we had a drawer at the house where we put random items. Inside was everything from a mini tape recorder to a magnifying glass. Pencils, notepads, screws and a myriad of different items ended up there over time. Eventually the drawer became so full that it was hard to open or close. When that happened, we took out the items we needed and threw the rest away. A computer hard drive benefits from having some “breathing room” so occasionally throwing out old, outdated, useless or junk files becomes beneficial. One might want to invest in an external hard drive to store files that aren’t immediately needed but are not necessarily ones that are ready for the chopping block.

Hard Drive Errors

Your hard drive could contain file allocation errors that may be slowing your computer down. Checking and fixing these errors can sometimes quickly fix many performance problems.

Unneeded Programs

Even new computers can be plagued with a slew of unneeded applications. many new computers are sold with a package of applications that the owner will likely never use. Over time additional programs are added when the computer user downloads an application that is packaged with another. Look closely when downloading any new application and you may see the check mark indicating a new toolbar or virus scan will be loaded as well.

Junk Files

Regular cleaning of temporary files, emptying the recycle bin and deleting internet history, temporary files and cookies can lead to better computer performance online as well as off. Statistically speaking, 85% of the files that most people retain are not needed. If you are still not convinced that they can be brought to the chopping block, perhaps an inexpensive external hard drive is the order of the day.

Registry Errors

Your computer registry is where hardware and software configuration data is held. Over time, the registry begins to develop registry holes, vacant spaces or left behind registry keys as you work with applications, make changes to settings, install or uninstall applications or pretty much anything else that makes changes to your system. Most of the time these unwanted registry entries are automatically deleted, but some remain behind and begin causing problems. Registry errors can cause sudden crashes, system stalls and severe degradation in your operating system stability which causes slower speeds. Safely dealing with registry errors ensures efficient computer operation.

Start-up Applications

If you have ever had to wait an unusually long time for your computer to start, you have had first hand knowledge of what problems superfluous start-up applications can cause. Disabling these applications will help you get on the road to happy computing a lot faster. These start-up applications definitely bog down a computer upon starting or restarting.

RAM

Many older computers benefit from a simple RAM upgrade. As systems become more complex, programs follow suit and get more resource hungry. Older systems all too often handle this badly and upgrading memory can help speed things up. RAM (Random Access Memory), often simply referred to as memory, allows the CPU to quickly access data and reduces the number of times that the hard drive must be searched for specific information. The more memory is available the faster your computer will work.

Overheating

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) of any computer is the most heat-sensitive part on a computer. Heat-sinks press directly on the CPU in order to draw away heat. If the heat sink is not working correctly due to dust and dirt, or the fan is not working properly, the CPU begins to heat up. When the CPU gets hot it doesn’t perform at its best. Regular cleaning and a working fan is vital to efficient operation.

Fixing the Problem

Shamrock Technologies is currently offering huge discounts on analysis of your system. If your computer just doesn’t have the “umph” that it once had, perhaps it is time to investigate what id causing the issue in the first place. Our Computer Optimization Report offers a multi-point inspection of your system identifying the root source of the problems that plague your computer. Addressing these problems can lead to increased speed, decreased wasted time, vastly improve system security and it creates a distinctly improved computer use experience. For businesses this translates into increased productivity and less waste. An additional benefit is that a more efficient system is environmentally sound as it requires fewer resources to complete tasks.

A little research shows that many of the advertised online optimization companies use the same anti virus tool. The application used by these online sites is not certified by ICSA Labs, WestCoast Labs, Virus Bulletin (VB100) or AV-Comparative virus testing and certification companies. The tool itself is $49 but if you want to get live help they are very happy to sell you their “Live Help Desk” product for $249.

All of this, of course, is assuming that the malicious software infecting your system still allows you to connect to the internet. As many of us have found out through experience, these viruses usually affect your ability to connect to any web sites which certainly negates most online assistance. If you are able to connect to the internet, you may find that any efforts to connect to a particular website are confounded by viruses that divert you to other another site.

Any reputable computer technician will tell you that it takes more than one tool to effectively seek out the various types of viruses that may infect your system. When finding two individual tools to find, fight and eliminate viruses, it is important that they are able to work well together and not in competition with each other. Equally important is finding an anti virus tool that does not weigh down your system to the point it becomes slow and cumbersome.

Even with great anti virus tools at your disposal, an infected system may not be completely clear after scanning. One may find that scanning a computer and eliminating the viruses therein may get rid of the problem for awhile, but remnants of malicious software can rear its ugly head days, weeks or even months later. The only sure-fire method for getting rid of virus once and for all is a Clean Sweep of your hard drive. At Computer Solutions we completely clean ALL data off of the hard drive and reload the operating system. Viruses all too often will leave “seeds” that can quickly come back to haunt your system.

This method has two advantages. First, eliminating all data ensures that every piece of malicious software is gone. Second, most computers come from the store with loads of extra software that users do not need. These software bundles are provided in the hope that the buyer will buy full versions of the applications. As most of us have found, the software only tends to take up valuable space. What is not always immediately obvious is that these applications also eat up RAM and processing efficiency leading to a slower computer. At first this may not seem significant, but eventually, as more data is added to your computer, you start noticing that your machine becomes slower. Video and music may become choppy and startup time becomes longer. By reloading a clean operating system, your computer will operate at its peak.

It appears on your screen seemingly out of nowhere, looking official and legit, and telling you that your computer is infected with somewhere between 20 and 100 infected items. Oh, and it wants you to click a button and pay a fee, usually around $60, to buy a full version of its removal tool if you ever want your system to work again. Instead, you should take a cue from The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy and “Don’t Panic.” Just call Computer Solutions at (479) 571-2388 for the cure.

In most cases, this type of bug will block your internet access to some of the most commonly visited sites, especially including ones that have real antivirus tools available for download. It may also prevent you from installing anything that can put an end to its nefarious ways.

The only 100% guaranteed method of removal for malware (malicious software) of any kind is the process we refer to as a Clean Sweep.

First we (optionally) back up any files on your computer you need to keep. Next we completely wipe the hard drive blank, removing all traces of the infection. Then we reinstall your operating system, with all the latest drivers so your devices function correctly, and include a free antivirus and anti-malware program to reduce the likelihood of future infection. Lastly, we scan your backed-up files, removing any signs of infection there, and restore the backup to your machine.

Anything short of this process, no matter how good an antivirus program may be, leaves the possibility that the virus may have left a seed-like file somewhere on your system, just waiting to sprout up again if the first one is removed.

And for all the Mac users who sleep soundly at night convinced by a smug salesperson and Apple’s holier-than-Windows ad campaigns that they just don’t get viruses or malware of any kind, you’re not immune, either.

During Google’s I/O event in San Francisco today, the company announced that movie rentals will be making their way to the Android Market.

Starting at $1.99, movies rented via the Android Market are tied to the user’s Google account and can be streamed to both smartphones and tablets.
Read the full article at ZDNet.com

And with that, we expect bathroom breaks to start taking longer.

The rumors that appeared overnight have turned out to be true. Microsoft has confirmed the purchase of Skype for $8.5 billion in cash.
Read the full article here

So we wonder if Skype’s main services will continue to be free, or if they’ll become monetized like their Skype-to-phone service where you pay by the minute.